Void Jigsaw Puzzle

"The opportunity has come!" Guo Ling held his breath, concentrated his energy, and stared at the direction where the footsteps came from. He planned to switch to a virtual form and escape as soon as the door opened a gap.

Although he was still called a "pretty boy" in his middle age and felt a little flattered, escaping was more important.

However, he suddenly discovered that he was unable to switch forms!

It seemed that after his virtual form was discovered in the lobby of the Yuanbao main building above his head and he was forced to switch back to his physical form, he had lost the ability to switch forms.

Guo Ling sighed softly and sat down on the cushion.

The door that had just opened a crack has closed. The person outside didn't say a word, but pushed someone in between the door opening and closing.

Guo Ling couldn't see her appearance or figure, or even where she was. He could only feel her presence through the slight vibration of the cushion under him.

But he knew that this woman was Tan Ping who had just been under house arrest next door.

She used to be the governor of Fengyao City, and now she is the mayor of Houkun City, no, she is the former mayor.

Guo Ling suddenly felt a little funny. He had never met this middle-level leader of the Carbon Clan before, but he already knew her identity, her personality, her ideas, and even her personal privacy.

He even suspected that the conversation next door just now was just a prelude to his own situation.

"Am I just part of their play..."

Guo Ling was still thinking when the woman spoke first: "I'm sorry, although I don't know who you are, there's nothing I can do. My fate right now is not in my own hands."

Her voice was gentle and steady, and it was clear she had a certain amount of experience. Furthermore, the feeling of listening up close was different from just listening through the wall.

Guo Ling felt that her voice sounded very comfortable, and he quickly made a decision.

"It's okay. Although you don't know who I am, I know who you are. Your name is Tan Ping, and you're the mayor of Houkun City. No, you used to be, but you're not anymore... Don't get me wrong, I don't know you. I just happened to overhear your conversation with that man next door."

The most urgent thing was to escape as quickly as possible. Since he already knew her identity from eavesdropping, there was no need to go through the self-introduction again. It would be better to get straight to the point. As for whether it would make her feel embarrassed, he didn't care! If he could really escape, she would definitely understand!

"..."

Sure enough, Tan Ping fell silent.

Although he couldn't see or feel anything in the darkness, Guo Ling still suspected that her cheeks must be burning and she must be feeling a little embarrassed.

But she was a former mayor after all, so she didn't remain silent for long. Instead, she generously admitted, "Now that you know everything... yes, I'm Tan Ping. But don't worry, I'm not as hungry as that bastard said."

"..."

Tan Ping quickly got into character: "I think our goal is the same, we all want to escape, right? If this premise is not met, then I think there is no need for us to continue discussing it. Let nature take its course and let things fend for themselves."

Guo Ling was stunned and found it funny, but he really liked Tan Ping's extremely straightforward style.

He replied, "Yes, I don't want to be locked up in this dark place for the rest of my life. My name is Guo Ling, and I come from Wuming City on the Taibai Star, part of the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall structure."

"The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall structure? Taibai Star? Unnamed City?" Tan Ping had obviously never heard of these places.

"It doesn't matter, just treat me as an outsider, no, an alien."

Tan Ping smiled: "Outsiders and aliens are all fine, as long as they are not locals."

Guo Ling asked: "Why?"

"Forget it, it's not important. It has nothing to do with what we are discussing."

"..."

Tan Ping did not continue to dwell on this topic, but said very seriously: "Since you have just heard our conversation next door, I might as well tell you the specific situation and we can find a solution together."

"Aren't you afraid that I'm a bad guy?"

"Humph, anyone who can be imprisoned here can't be a bad person."

"..."

"This is the central underground prison of Houkun City, specifically used to detain those who are dissatisfied with the Carbon Crown and the leadership of the Carbon Clan. Their methods of imprisonment are brutal. They first feign a warm welcome in the lobby above, then wait for an opportunity to manipulate the floor to open and close, causing people to fall directly. They also set up a gravity balance system during this process, so that people will not fall to their deaths. Instead, they are imprisoned here, living a life worse than death."

"Wait, the lobby floor can just open and close? There's no small room? There's no reception desk?"

Tan Ping replied in surprise, "What is that? The layout of the lobby is very simple, with only a sofa area, and then there are passages leading to the elevator and various places in the building. This is already the core hub of the Tan Clan, the main building. People coming in from outside have already been thoroughly screened at the main gate. Those who can come here have already been allowed in and have received detailed guidance equipment, so there is no need for reception."

"Oh..." Guo Ling became more convinced that what he had just seen was indeed a created illusion.

Tan Ping continued, "The design of this underground prison is very simple and ingenious. All the rooms are pitch black and you can't see anything, but the sound insulation between different rooms is not very good. This is to destroy people's will from all angles. When you can't see anything, your spirit is in a fragile state. If you yourself are unwilling to surrender, but hear people imprisoned in other rooms confess under coercion and inducement, you will suffer a greater mental blow. Every room here is equipped with night vision goggles, which means that they can see our every move."

Guo Ling sat up straight and asked, "What about surveillance? Will they monitor our conversations?"

"No, they only peek, they don't eavesdrop."

"why?"

"Because the key is to see what you do, not what you say. Too much information will affect their correct judgment. No matter how much we talk, if we don't take any action, they will think there is no threat."

"..."

It seems reasonable.