Endless Silver Machine

Underground drainage pipes require regular maintenance and dredging, so there must be an entrance to the water conveyance channel somewhere in the warehouse.

"found it."

The warehouse is just a place for storing goods, and the layout is very monotonous. There was a yellowed schematic diagram posted next to the power supply gate, and Liuyin used the faint light to find the text label.

The iron gate here was not locked, and they simply entered the dry water pipe.

"I heard it was a pipe, but I thought it was something like a water pipe."

The inside of the water pipeline is not what Aika imagined, but a more scientific design.

Half of the dozens of pipes are buried in the ground. From the exposed semicircular scale, each drainage pipe is as thick as a train.

Drainage pipes are square corridors where these water pipes are placed, illuminated by emergency lights at regular intervals.

The warehouse has lost power, but the drainage pipeline runs through the entire northwest district, so staff will still check here regularly.

"Are there surveillance cameras here too?"

"The monitoring of water pipelines is the responsibility of the ground company that manages this area. There is no responsible company in this area, so this is the most convenient place to move."

"But we are heading towards the source through this pipeline, so we will always enter the management range, right?"

"...At that time, we can only adapt to circumstances."

Liuyin didn't know what he would face next. If he was lucky, he could bypass all surveillance and reach the destination, and then use the fluid base to return to the location where the teleportation magic circle was preset.

"There will always be a way."

Aika was not disturbed by Liuyin's uncertain speech. He knew that Liuyin had his own plan, but he just couldn't express it well in words.

The PDA's map can still navigate correctly underground, which helps a lot in the intricate water pipelines.

"After passing the fork in the road ahead, turn left and you will enter the range of the source point. This area is managed by an organization that specializes in developing new magic tools. The monitored magic burst comes from underneath it."

“Can the aqueduct lead to underground facilities?”

"There are ventilation ducts here, and apart from the elevators, this is the only way to access the underground facilities."

Aika searched around according to Liuyin's words and found that there was indeed an outlet for a ventilation duct on the wall.

However, the position of the exhaust vent is too high, and there are no stairs or anything like that.

The person who designed this ventilation duct would not deliberately place a staircase just to make it easier for the two of them to invade underground facilities.

"If not, make one."

Basic ice magic must be used on the basis of water magic, but Liuyin does not need this intermediary.

Simply make a staircase to that height and you can easily access the ventilation duct.

Although the stairs made of ice are strong, they can easily cause frostbite if held in the hand. Liuyin was not affected by his own magic, while Aika grabbed the escalator through her sleeves.

Liuyin has an absolutely uncompromising principle when it comes to deciding who goes ahead.

"Aren't you afraid that there will be something strange behind you?"

Aika asked jokingly when Liuyin asked her to go first.

"No! I'm not afraid of that kind of thing in the first place!"

The result is what it is now.

Aika supported her body with one hand and removed the partition from the vent. The partitions are not very firmly fixed and may be due to aging, so a lot of effort was not wasted.

The sound of Liuyin came from behind, and she followed closely behind Aika.

"Liuyin, can you throw this away?"

"Can't it be put into the ventilation duct?"

"It's a bit big."

"...It should be fine, just throw it down."

Aika let go and let the partition fall into the darkness, and the sound of landing echoed in the empty drainage pipe.

Although making loud noises here should be avoided, there is no other way now.

The ventilation duct is not too narrow, and there is not a lot of dust. It is just enough to accommodate Aika's body.

Liuyin got into the ventilation duct after Aika, and Aika could only determine the direction according to Liuyin's instructions.

As long as no loud noise is made in the pipes, this is a relatively safe place and there is no surveillance.

Liuyin would only tell Aika the direction in a low voice when a fork in the road appeared, and at other times he would just tiptoe forward.

…………

"We're here, there should be the underground facility where the magic burst originated."

Liuyin made Aika stop. There was a partition under their feet.

From the fence-shaped partition, you can vaguely see a corridor-like place below.

"Is there any way to determine what's going on below?"

Aika was lying on the partition, and the range she could see couldn't provide much information.

"It turns out it will really be useful."

Liuyin took out a small mirror from the pocket of his clothes, and then made a short handle from ice that was connected to the small mirror.

She handed the simple detection device to Aika.

"You still carry something like this."

Luoluo seems to carry a small mirror like this with him, and Aika guesses that this is a common feature among girls.

"Is there anything strange...?"

Listening to Aika's joking tone, Liuyin was a little panicked.

Aika didn't answer her. He thought Liuyin was very cute, and she was charming enough even without pretending to be mature.

But it seemed a bit inappropriate to say such a thing in this situation, so he returned his attention to the task.

From the information fed back from the small mirror sticking out between the bars, Aika came to the conclusion that "at least it's safe here."

After Aika removed the partition, he hooked his hand on the edge of the vent and dropped it to the ground. The vents are not very high off the ground, even for Aika.

"You grab the edge first, and I'll hold you down."

Aika gestured to Liuyin who had not come down yet. It would be a bit forced if she used that kid's body to imitate Aika, who is older than her in every way.

Liuyin hesitated for a few seconds and then followed Aika's instructions.

The small body was still some distance from the ground, and this posture could not be cushioned by the body. Aika hugged her down as agreed.

As soon as Liuyin's feet touched the ground, he immediately escaped from Aika's arms.

"Thank you..." She crossed her arms and shifted her gaze, "Obviously I should be the one to guide you, but now it seems like it's the other way around..."

She felt a little guilty in her heart, but more of a panic.

After the mission started, I have been immature in front of Aika.

Even the fear that had been hidden in his heart was told to him. This may be the reason why he took care of himself so much later.

This is my mission, and I shouldn't have let him worry about me in the first place...

"If I can make any difference here, then I'd like to thank you too."

"It works or something... It sounds like I'm using you..."

"This is not taking advantage. Accepting help from others and taking advantage are two different things. I have said before that I hope you can rely on others while being relied on, so that you will not be too tired."

"……Um."

There is enough lighting in this corridor, and Liu Yin's expression can be seen clearly, and he can't hide it even if he wants to.

Through Liuyin's slightly red cheeks, Aika noticed what embarrassing words she had just said.

"How should we get here? Finish things here as soon as possible and go back."

Aika urged Liuyin, hoping to eliminate the strange atmosphere between the two just now.

"Ah, please wait a moment..." Liuyin took out the PDA again to locate it, "It seems that there is no signal here, and the map will not be of much use here."

"The direction we just walked..." Without the navigation of the map, she could only rely on feeling to determine the direction of travel. Aika looked up at the ventilation duct above her head, "How about walking forward in the direction of the ventilation duct?"

"That should work, and there's only one way here."

There was only darkness in front of and behind the corridor, and there seemed to be no end in sight in any direction.

"Then keep going, Liuyin, just believe in yourself."

"Well, you have to follow me carefully."

"I will follow you wherever you go."

"Oh, all right."

Neither Liuyin nor Aika spoke anymore, and the two began to move deeper into the corridor in the direction they had jointly decided.

…………

In the mansion where only Aika and Liuyin did not exist, Luo Luo still had trouble falling asleep tonight.

It's already getting late, and if I don't go to bed, I might wake up very late like this morning.

"elder brother……"

She hugged the pillow tightly in her arms. She had heard from Wei Xi that she could fall asleep quickly if she hugged something.

But as long as she thinks about where Aika is still working hard, she can't calm down.

Holding the pillow and walking to the bed, Professor Cocona's room was still lit.

Work doesn't seem to be going well lately. After Professor Cocona goes home every day, she spends most of her time in her room processing data at work.

Shun did not allow Luoluo to help him with housework, the reason was so that she could concentrate on taking care of Ling.

But Luoluo can probably guess the real reason. She had already heard Aika say something about Shun. He must not know how to contact himself who has lost his memory now.

Everything like this is too abnormal, and Luoluo hates this feeling.

"Why……"

He couldn't remember how many times he sighed tonight. Luo Luo could only use this method to let out the entanglements he had held in his heart.

…………