Half an hour passed quickly. By the time Luoshu was halfway to his destination, his Reverse Warping had worn off.
But he didn't immediately reactivate it.
Doing so would only delay exposure by another 30 minutes—it wouldn't change the situation.
Better to save the second use for breaking through an encirclement if the Foundation cornered him.
With this in mind, Luoshu headed straight for Sanlitun—Beijing's nightlife epicenter, where bars operated around the clock, drawing crowds from across China and the world.
While the rest of the globe grappled with pandemics, China's stability made it a haven.
In such a densely packed area, with proper disguise, the Foundation would have a hard time pinpointing him.
More importantly: They wouldn't dare nuke this place.
Compared to New Atlantis's 680,000 residents, Beijing had 22 million people and tourists.
Replacing New Atlantis's population via SCP-2000 (Mechanical God) had taken a day.
(Note: SCP-2000 could produce 100,000 clones daily, but maintained a stockpile of 1 million for global K-class contingencies.)
But for Beijing? Even that stockpile would be a drop in the ocean.
A nuclear strike here would require half a year to replenish the losses.
The Foundation's Countermove
Luoshu's plan didn't fool the Foundation.
The moment Reverse Warping faded, satellites locked onto him again.
"The Master" joined via secure video call, his first words urgent:
"Abandon all current networks. Relocate to a camera-free zone for further discussion."
Luoshu's ability to hijack Foundation surveillance was well-known—which was why "The God" hadn't punished Barbie for the earlier comms failure.
Following protocol, the team moved outside to an open area, re-establishing a Site-01 Overseer-exclusive satellite link.
"Secure. Proceed."
"The Master" cleared his throat.
"Luoshu's trajectory is clear: Sanlitun's crowds are his shield."
Barbie glanced at "The God"—who remained silent—then asked, "Suggestions?"
"The God" had no easy solutions.
Even with O5 authority, he couldn't drop a second nuke on China so soon.
Sanlitun wasn't some doomed backwater—it was China's pride, with 100,000+ daily visitors.
"The Master" proposed:
"Coordinate with Chinese authorities for a police sweep of Sanlitun tonight. Thin the herd."
A practical play.
Since Luoshu was playing openly, the Foundation needn't fear tipping him off.
Options for Luoshu:
Stay in a emptier Sanlitun.
Flee to a less crowded area.
At "The God's" nod, the Site-CN-02 liaison contacted Chinese officials.
"The Master" added:
"If he moves, anywhere is better than Sanlitun. If he stays, we seal and sweep."
Pausing, he turned to "The God":
"Sir, when can Omega-7 deploy? Achilles' Heel alone may not suffice."
"The God" checked his terminal. "Abel: 30 minutes."
Pandora's Box wouldn't make it in time—but like Barbie, Abel could be ferried via spatial warp.
Still, it wasn't enough.
At Site-CN-06, three powerhouses ("The God," Barbie, Abel) had failed to stop Luoshu.
"The God" pressed: "How do we keep him from escaping?"
"The Master" adjusted his glasses—newly designed Kant Counter lenses that displayed real-time target coordinates.
He gestured to a device on the table:
"Adapted from fighter jet radar data-linking. With two or more pairs, we can track targets within 0.1-meter precision, including altitude."
"The God's" eyes lit up. "Prepare them. I'll retrieve the gear shortly."
Luoshu's Wait
Unaware of the glasses-tech countermeasure, Luoshu sat in a Sanlitun club booth, sipping a drink and anticipating the Foundation's next move.
But he wasn't completely blind.
The restricted zone's temporary HQ and "Bamboo Slips" were his eyes, monitoring "The God" and Barbie.
An hour later, Sanlitun stirred.
The club's music cut abruptly. The MC announced:
"Police inspection imminent. Exit via the rear if needed."
Panicked patrons—drug users, illicit couples—scrambled for the doors, thinning the crowd by a third.
The play had begun.
Startle the snake—flush him out.
Luoshu smirked, remaining seated.
Even with fewer people, Sanlitun was still Beijing's densest hub.
Not time to move yet.