Chapter 90: A Trip to The Research Facility!

"Well..." Ethan started, but Lara immediately cut him off before he could say anything more.

"Nope. This is a stupid idea, a really stupid one! Most students in the academy try their possible best not to be noticed by the Empire’s Association, including me, and what we’re doing is practically presenting ourselves to them if we eventually get caught, which we will. It’ll be trouble after trouble from there on!"

Lara’s expression was filled with genuine concern as she spoke.

"Oh, come on! You’re just being overly cautious. I said I planned this through!" Jake responded, clearly unwilling to give up on his idea simply because Lara had decided it was insane.

Lara, however, had already made up her mind.

She turned her back on him with a resigned sigh. "Well then, you guys can go. I’ll sit this one out!"

She did not even wait for a response before walking away, leaving Jake staring after her for a moment.

Ethan watched Lara disappear down the corridor before letting out a small shrug.

"Well, I guess it’s just the two of us then..."

Jake’s disappointment lasted for barely a second before a grin immediately spread across his face.

"Yeah. Let’s go."

And just like that, their completely questionable adventure officially began.

The Empire Research Facility was located deep within the inner district of the Relia Region, a part of the Empire that was considerably more restricted and difficult to access than the districts surrounding the academy. It was not somewhere students could simply wander into without a reason, which made Jake’s plan of sneaking inside even more ridiculous.

Rather than walking all the way there from the academy,

Jake immediately ordered them a Transit Pod, which arrived shortly afterward. In order to be careful, however, Jake had deliberately chosen a drop-off point some distance away from the research facility rather than having the Transit Pod take them directly there. He did not want to leave an obvious transportation trail leading straight to their destination, especially if they eventually got caught.

The Transit Pod arrived shortly afterward, gliding smoothly to a stop before its doors opened to let them inside.

Ethan glanced at Jake as they settled into their seats.

"This thing is taking us straight there right?"

Jake shook his head immediately. "No way."

He explained that he had deliberately chosen a drop-off point some distance away from the research facility rather than having the Transit pod take them directly there. If they were caught later, there was no reason to leave an obvious transportation record showing that they had been dropped right outside the facility.

It was better to be careful.

Jake had already thought about avoiding unnecessary traces, and Ethan had to admit that, despite how reckless the entire plan was, his friend had actually prepared for several possibilities.

The Transit Pod eventually arrived at the location Jake had selected, and the two of them climbed out.

The moment Ethan’s feet touched the ground, he looked around.

It was nighttime, and the surroundings were considerably quieter than the lively areas of the city they had left behind. The soft glow of distant lamps illuminated parts of the road, while clusters of trees lined the edges of the area, their leaves shifting gently in the cool night breeze. Farther away, faint lights from scattered buildings could still be seen, but they were sparse enough that the area felt almost peaceful.

It was not an ugly place by any means.

In fact, there was something strangely beautiful about it.

The night sky stretched overhead, dark and clear, with scattered stars peeking through the clouds, while the faint sounds of insects and rustling leaves replaced the constant bustle of the city.

Ethan looked around with genuine curiosity.

He had spent so much time inside the academy, and had only stepped out once, that simply being somewhere outside its walls felt strangely refreshing.

"I barely come out of the academy, so this is like an adventure to me," Ethan said with a small chuckle as they began walking.

He deliberately kept his tone light, hoping to make the mood less tense and the long walk ahead feel a little smoother.

Jake laughed.

"Then I’ll personally show you around." As he said that, Jake casually hooked an arm over Ethan’s shoulder and pulled him closer as they walked. "I’ve come outside quite a lot to know that being outdoors is more fun than being cooped up inside academy walls."

"Yeah, I can already tell."

The two continued walking, their conversation keeping the journey from becoming too quiet.

At first, the surroundings still carried traces of the prominent district they had been in earlier, with paved paths, occasional lamps, and signs of civilization appearing here and there. However, the farther they walked, the more those signs gradually disappeared.

Ethan eventually glanced over his shoulder, realizing that they had already lost almost all contact with the lively and bustling area they had initially been in.

Jake, meanwhile, continued walking confidently as though he knew the route by heart.

The path soon became less convenient, forcing them to leave the smoother roads and follow a more uneven trail surrounded by trees and patches of grass. But he soon guessed that the empire had probably chosen this area deliberately.

The more distant, complicated, and difficult the path to the facility became, the less likely ordinary people would be to venture there without thinking twice.

It was almost as though the inconvenience itself had become another layer of security.

They continued deeper into the quieter region, walking for quite some time before eventually reaching a small river that cut across their path.

Ethan stared at the water.

There was no bridge.

Instead, several stones had been carefully arranged across the shallow section of the river, creating a makeshift path to the other side.

Ethan looked at Jake.

Jake simply stepped onto the first stone.

Ethan sighed and followed.

Carefully balancing himself, he stepped from one stone to another while the water flowed quietly beneath them. It was not particularly difficult, but it was certainly not the sort of path anyone would choose if they were simply taking a casual walk.

Once they reached the other side, they continued onward.

The scenery changed even more as they progressed.

Yet, despite how isolated it had become, the area was not downright bad.

It was simply different. More quiet and remote.

The two continued walking through the quiet surroundings, their footsteps occasionally crunching against fallen leaves and small stones as the distant city lights gradually disappeared completely behind them.

Ethan kept following Jake, occasionally glancing around as they ventured farther into the secluded area.

Eventually, after what felt like a considerably long trek, Jake finally slowed down.

Ethan noticed the change immediately and looked ahead.

Jake stopped.

"All right, we’re here."