The black cargo van cut through the night.
Gradually the bright city lights disappeared behind them.
The streets grew darker.
Buildings became lower, older, more worn down.
The air carried the smell of damp soil and wild plants from the outskirts.
Mixed with something else.
Something faint.
Something… burned.
Eventually the van slowed.
Then stopped.
In front of a lonely two-story building standing at the edge of a half-abandoned suburban block.
The outer wall was painted a faded yellow.
The sign above the door flickered weakly.
Handwritten neon characters.
Crooked.
Half the lights were broken.
The words read:
"Peaceful Pet End-of-Life Care & Funeral Services."
Only the last four characters—Funeral Services—still glowed red in the dark.
Lin Wan stepped out of the van.
She stared at the sign.
Her eyelid twitched.
So this was the final safe point?
A pet funeral home?
Chen Lin shut off the engine and walked to the front door.
Instead of ringing the bell, he knocked on a metal shutter beside it.
Three knocks.
Pause.
Two knocks.
Pause.
One knock.
A few seconds later—
A small side door creaked open.
Just a crack.
A pair of sharp eyes peered out from the darkness.
They relaxed slightly when they saw Chen Lin.
The door opened fully.
The man standing there looked about fifty.
Gray hair.
Faded work pants.
The faint smell of disinfectant and medicinal herbs clung to him.
His eyes were sharp.
Dangerously sharp.
He glanced briefly at Lin Wan.
Then at Er'gou.
Finally he nodded toward Chen Lin.
"You made it."
"Come in."
The interior of the shop was dim.
The strange smell from outside was stronger here—burned ash mixed with herbs.
The ground floor was small.
Simple shelves lined the walls.
Pet urns.
Memorial frames.
Small jars labeled "Rebirth Soil."
The walls displayed posters explaining funeral procedures and comforting grieving owners.
In one corner stood a small shrine with incense sticks and unknown gods.
The atmosphere was…
Quiet.
Solemn.
And slightly sloppy.
The old man led them past the shelves to a door labeled:
OPERATION ROOM – STAFF ONLY
He pushed open the heavy fireproof door.
And the world changed.
Behind the door was a large underground chamber.
Clearly reinforced and excavated later.
Bare concrete walls coated with moisture-proof paint.
Thick ventilation pipes ran across the ceiling beside bright LED lights.
The underground space was divided into several sections.
Along one wall stood several simple but clean beds—military-style folding cots.
Next to them were tables, chairs, and storage lockers.
In the middle was an open area covered with rubber flooring.
Several dog training obstacles stood there.
Old.
But solid.
At the far end, glass walls separated a small laboratory space.
Inside were basic instruments.
Computers.
Testing equipment.
The air down here was clean.
Filtered.
No strange funeral smell.
Only faint disinfectant.
And…
Dog food.
Chen Lin gestured toward the old man.
"This is Old Wu."
"Former military K9 trainer."
"Also a field veterinarian."
"Retired now."
"The shop upstairs is just a cover."
He paused.
"Fewer than five people know this place exists."
Old Wu crouched slightly and studied Er'gou.
His gaze wasn't the way someone looked at a pet.
It was the way a technician examined a weapon system.
Precise.
Evaluating.
Measuring.
"So this is the 'Prince.'"
His voice was rough.
"Looks more stable than expected."
He glanced at Chen Lin.
"You said his fusion level increased."
"Even formed a dog squad tonight?"
Er'gou met his gaze calmly.
No reaction to the title.
No reaction to the joke.
He simply gave a small nod.
Old Wu grunted.
"Good."
"Settle in first."
He pointed toward the beds along the wall.
"There are private partitions over there."
"Each has a bathroom."
"Food and supplies are in the lockers."
"Chen's already told me about the training plan."
"We start tomorrow."
"Tonight you rest."
"Learn the place."
Then he paused.
His gaze returned to Er'gou.
"One more rule."
"Sometimes the shop upstairs gets customers."
"Sometimes there's… work."
"You stay underground."
"No one goes upstairs without permission."
"Understood?"
That last sentence was directed entirely at the husky.
Er'gou nodded again.
Understood.
Lin Wan carried their bag to the assigned partition.
The room was small but clean.
Bed.
Desk.
Ventilation window.
Everything simple.
But functional.
Er'gou immediately jumped onto the bed.
Of course.
Beds had apparently become his permanent throne.
He lay down.
Closed his eyes.
Resting.
But his ears twitched slightly.
Every sound of the new environment was being recorded in his mind.
Across the room Chen Lin and Old Wu walked into the laboratory area.
Their voices dropped to a quiet murmur.
Lin Wan caught fragments drifting through the room.
"Hormone levels…"
"Neural reflex…"
"Critical threshold…"
"Capture strategy…"
A chill crept down her spine.
This place might be safe.
But the atmosphere was different from the old cinema.
Different from the pet hotel.
Heavier.
Sharper.
More deliberate.
Old Wu clearly wasn't an ordinary man.
And Chen Lin hadn't brought them here simply to hide.
This place wasn't just a refuge.
It was a preparation ground.
For something bigger.
Something far more dangerous.