When Luo Shu saw his dorm surrounded by Achilles' Heel operatives, he didn't rush to act. Instead, he pulled up the surveillance feed from his inside man at Hammer Down's dormitory.
At this point, panicking wouldn't change the situation—better to assess first, then move.
After quickly reviewing the footage, he pieced together what had happened.
About ten minutes earlier, after Aiolos failed to open the door and called for backup, Barbie had arrived with her entire team.
In a way, she'd already locked onto Luo Shu as her target.
Even if he wasn't the reality bender she was looking for, given the danger he radiated, she was determined to investigate him thoroughly tonight.
That said, this was Area-14, not Area-13—Achilles' Heel couldn't act as recklessly as they would on home turf.
Upon arriving, Barbie didn't resort to brute force. Instead, she barked: "'Oil'! You're up!"
A Black MTF operative stepped forward, pressing his hand against the door.
Ripples spread across its surface like water disturbed by a stone.
Minutes later, the door darkened, liquefying into a viscous, oil-like substance that rippled at the slightest touch.
Effortlessly, "Oil" passed straight through the transformed door.
Once inside, the door gradually solidified back to normal—as if nothing had happened.
Achilles' Heel's operatives really were all freaks.
That said, "Oil" didn't seem particularly strong—likely just a Level 2 reality bender, given how long it took him to affect a single door.
By the time he finished, Luo Shu had just arrived back at the outpost on his scooter.
After searching the room and finding no trace of Luo Shu, "Oil" turned to leave—only to realize the door wasn't just locked but completely sealed.
Rather than using his ability again, he yanked open the curtains, leaned out the window, and called to Barbie:
"Luo Shu isn't here!"
Barbie whirled on her team. "Find him! NOW!"
Luo Shu arrived just in time to see it.
Not too late. Still salvageable.
In a flash, he teleported behind "Oil," slipped into the bathroom, stripped off his jacket, and deactivated his Unobservability. Then, clad in pajamas, he stepped out.
"What the hell is this?" he snapped. "Barging into my room in the middle of the night?"
His sudden appearance startled everyone—especially "Oil," who gaped at him.
"No way! Where'd you come from? I checked everywhere!"
Jianjia, ever the peacemaker, spoke up: "Maybe you missed the bathroom? He just walked out of it."
"Oil" immediately scowled.
"You yellow-faced bitch! Virus-spreading shit! Mind your own damn business! I checked the fucking bathroom—he wasn't there!"
Luo Shu and Jianjia's expressions darkened simultaneously.
Since the pandemic began, most Western nations—especially the New World—had shifted blame onto ethnic Chinese to cover their own incompetence. This year, the hatred had spread to all Asians.
If this had come from white supremacists, it would've been expected. But Luo Shu couldn't fathom why Black extremists—historically oppressed themselves—would redirect their rage at Asians instead of their actual oppressors.
Pathetic. Too cowardly to fight the ones who wronged them, so they take it out on easier targets.
Luo Shu had been indifferent to "Oil" before. Now? No mercy.
"Who the hell let you in? Breaking and entering is a crime—get the fuck out!"
"Oil" bared his teeth, looming over Luo Shu. At over two meters tall, built like a panther, and radiating killing intent, he was not someone to trifle with.
Wants to kill me?
Try it.
Let's see who dies.
In the New World, shooting a home intruder was legal. As long as Luo Shu didn't expose his abilities, the Foundation couldn't punish him for self-defense.
He was ready to make "Oil" regret his life choices—
Then Barbie's voice cut in from outside:
"'Oil,' stand down! Luo Shu—I ordered the search. You have a problem? Take it up with me."
"Oil" froze, clearly afraid of her.
Disappointing.
Luo Shu had been prepared to drag him into the bathroom and snap his neck where no one could see.
Fine. But this isn't over.
As long as you're in Area-14… death might be off the table, but suffering isn't.
Glaring at Barbie, Luo Shu hissed:
"You're Achilles' Heel's commander, but since when does that give you the right to break into my room? Since when does the Foundation throw out the rules? Trying to rival the Chaos Insurgency now?"
Barbie, knowing she was in the wrong, sidestepped the accusation.
"Your behavior is suspicious! First—why are you awake, fully dressed, at this hour? Second—why was your door 'broken'? Third—I believe 'Oil.' You weren't in that room earlier!"
Luo Shu realized she must have another way to surveil him—how else would she know about the jacket?
But it didn't matter. He'd already taken it off in the bathroom.
"What jacket?" He gestured at his pajamas. "You seeing things now?"
Barbie wasn't fooled. "You know what we're capable of. I don't need to explain myself to you—you're the one who owes answers!"
Luo Shu knew arguing would only dig his grave deeper. Deny everything.
"You're just making shit up. Why should I explain anything?"
The standoff escalated—neither side backing down.