Chapter 25 - Our Janitor Was Apparently a Monster
Mr. Zhou fought Victor Vane with a broom.
Not a spear disguised as a broom.
Not a magical broom.
A yellow plastic janitor broom with the word PROPERTY OF RIVERSIDE COLLEGE on the handle.
Victor threw a palm strike that cracked concrete.
Mr. Zhou swept it aside.
Literally.
Eli’s system displayed:
[OBSERVATION MODE ACTIVE]
[COMPREHENSION CHANCE: 0.4%]
“Generous.”
Victor’s second strike created a shockwave.
Mr. Zhou stepped once.
The attack missed him by a fraction of an inch.
Street Step suddenly made sense to Eli in a deeper way.
Movement was not speed.
Movement was arriving where danger was not.
[STREET STEP I → STREET STEP II]
Mr. Zhou slammed the broom into Victor’s chest.
The older man flew through two lab tables.
“Take the evidence and go,” Mr. Zhou said.
Maya grabbed a hard drive.
Jace collected sealed vials.
Trevor took three protein bars from a cabinet.
Eli stared.
“What?” Trevor said. “I’m stressed.”
They escaped through the service tunnel.
Hours later, federal cultivator authorities raided the lab.
Victor Vane was gone.
So was Mr. Zhou.
The news reported an industrial chemical accident.
Night Class received one text from their janitor:
I AM FINE. DO NOT BE STUPID.
Eli’s phone buzzed.
[FACTION QUEST COMPLETE.]
[VOID NETWORK EXPOSED: PARTIAL]
[REWARD: QI GATHERING II]
Then another notice appeared.
[BLACK LOTUS VAULT REQUIREMENT MET.]
The black metal key in Eli’s storage ring began vibrating.
A map unfolded across his phone.
May you like
The vault entrance was beneath Riverside College.
