Chapter 31: The Pool Enclosure

A few days later, Mr. Banning hosted a party at his mansion. This was one of the favorite pastimes of the wealthy! It seemed like these rich folks spent their days enjoying luxury and leisure, and people often envied them, overlooking the tedious struggles they faced to achieve their status.

Ma Jun arrived in a convertible, accompanied by Daley Brittany. At the entrance, a number of guests were already queuing to get in. Lacking an invitation, Ma Jun casually approached a portly gentleman and managed to snag an invite from him, which he tucked into the inner pocket of his suit before quickly returning it. The oblivious wealthy man was none the wiser during the process.

Such high-tech tricks were remarkable, complete with color printing features! A brand new invitation appeared from the upper left pocket of his suit. Thus, Ma Jun and Daley Brittany blended seamlessly into the party.

It must be said that Banning's home was incredibly luxurious, resembling an estate. Joyful music played as several women donned in mermaid tails joked with the guests by the fountain. Parties often required the presence of such ladies, who harbored various eccentric ideas and were managed by specialized companies, hopping from one event to another.

In front of the pool, a group of well-dressed individuals danced freely, moving to the upbeat rhythm. Ma Jun and Daley Brittany joined the crowd, dancing and looking around.

"Your dress looks great tonight!" Ma Jun smiled.

Daley Brittany wore a black strapless gown that revealed a generous expanse of skin, even more alluring than the outfit she had worn at the hotel a few days prior.

"Really?" Daley Brittany replied with a smile, pointing her chin toward the distance. "Look!"

A few men in suits were carrying a strange device filled with yellow liquid, lined up as they navigated through the crowd.

"Let's go!" Ma Jun said, and they began to dance their way over, following the peculiar group.

The odd fellows moved past the dance floor and into a garden behind the house, entering an area enclosed by trimmed greenery. When Ma Jun and Daley arrived, they discovered a pool within the walls, but the men had already vanished.

"Don't tell me the great Mr. Dafflin has run out of ideas!" Daley Brittany frowned, looking around with her hands on her hips.

The area was completely exposed with no hiding spots; nothing was beside the pool except for a low diving platform.

"Want to dive?" Ma Jun said, pulling Daley toward the platform.

"Wow!" Daley exclaimed as she stepped onto the platform, surprised to feel it bend downward beneath her feet.

The dark pool slowly opened from the water's surface, revealing a staircase.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Ma Jun jumped onto the stairs, leading the way down.

Below the staircase were circular passages, undoubtedly Banning's secret base! Ma Jun was thrilled, eager to proceed as they neared the climactic scene.

"Wait, Mr. Dafflin!" Daley Brittany called out, pulling up her gown as she caught up. "What should we do? I mean, maybe we need backup!"

It was indeed a wise suggestion, but this wasn't the time for normalcy. A true hero shone when acting solo!

"Banning is about to set his plan in motion, and soon, all the world's water sources will be contaminated, sparking a world war!" Ma Jun said seriously. "Now is the time to showcase my true skills!"

"Alright!"

The two dashed through the passage, reaching a downward staircase that led to a large open area filled with various research equipment. Above, strange lights hung from the ceiling.

In several pools, bizarre creatures, including snakes and insects, swirled, all subjects of study.

"Hey, who are you?" a disheveled man in a lab coat with glasses suddenly shouted.

Due to their elevated position and the single small exit, they were quickly spotted. The design of the secret laboratory, at least in this regard, was commendable, though it was unclear if it was Banning's idea.

The man in the lab coat was Dr. Sins, the lead researcher. He might have been a brilliant scientist, as he was essentially running the entire operation while other assistants merely handled menial tasks.

Sins perfectly embodied the role of a mad scientist, possessing high intelligence while wreaking havoc. He pointed at Ma Jun and Daley, dramatically shouting, "Capture them!"

A swarm of Banning's lackeys immediately rushed in, calling for backup over their radios.

"We're in trouble!" Daley Brittany exclaimed nervously.

"Did you see that yellow bottle on the ground at the end of the hallway?" Ma Jun wrapped an arm around Daley's shoulders, pointing ahead. "Yes, it contains a container of insects. I'll cover you while you grab it!"

"What is it?"

"There's no time to explain!" Ma Jun kicked an enemy away, scooping Daley up and leaping off the platform. "Let's go!"

This time, Ma Jun and his tuxedo coordinated perfectly, swiftly approaching their target while kicking away the pursuing foes.

"Oh no!" Dr. Sins flailed in panic, retreating to hide under a table.

But Ma Jun ignored him, speeding past and moving forward.

"Hold on to me!" Ma Jun called out as soon as Daley Brittany secured the bottle of insects.

"What?"

"The exit we came through is blocked; hold tight! We’ll go up through here!"

Daley awkwardly clutched the bottle before wrapping her arms around Ma Jun tightly, making it a bit difficult for her. After taking out a few more assailants, Ma Jun looked up. Above, there was a passage leading to the pool where they had been dancing. But he had to manually turn the valve to open it.

Without hesitation, with the help of his tuxedo, he jumped up, soaring over two meters into the air, and grasped the valve.

"Damn it, you two!" The main villain, Banning, finally made his appearance, surrounded by his henchmen. Seeing Ma Jun's actions made his expression twist with rage.

"Capture them! I want them dead!" Banning shouted madly.

Although he looked threatening, Banning and his gang had yet to pull out any weapons. They certainly had them, but anyone bold enough to attack the intelligence agency wouldn’t fear shooting on their own turf.

Ma Jun twisted his body, exerting his strength to turn the valve, but losing his grip, he had to temporarily drop back to the ground.

"Hey, Banning, thanks for the show!" Ma Jun said, shielding Daley while tangling with the minions, taking a moment to express his gratitude to the main villain.

Banning grew even angrier, ripping off his jacket and charging forward, only to be sent flying by Ma Jun's kick. He stumbled back to his feet, looking up and shouting, "Sins, where the hell are you? Shut that valve now!"

The passage above could be opened manually or electronically. Sins scrambled out from under the table, but by then, the passage had already opened!

"Daley, while those guys are occupied, I’ll send you up, and you need to get help immediately! Remember, don't let the insects escape from that bottle!" Ma Jun said solemnly.

"What about you?" Daley asked in surprise.

"I'll hold them off!" Ma Jun smiled. "Alright, I’m going to throw you up!"

Daley looked touched. "You're an excellent agent!" she complimented, then kissed Ma Jun quickly on the lips before the next moment, she was soaring into the air.