The Mighty Mage
Chapter 526: The Plan

Chapter 526: Chapter 526: The Plan

Gu Jin’s eyes narrowed when she heard Pei Ke’s words.

"So even the police can’t be trusted..." she said quietly.

Pei Ke gave a tight nod. "Not a single government office. Every place we tried either refused us or reported our presence. We can’t use our real names, our real faces... we can’t even rest properly."

Jin Mu looked down. "It’s like we’re rats in a cage. No matter where we hide, someone’s watching."

Gu Jin sat back in her chair, her eyes distant and thoughtful.

Then she said, "Good thing you found me. I’ve been in hiding, too—but I still have some connections. Quiet ones. Not all doors are closed."

The connections she was talking about were the clients she had in Country J. Her psychomindris shop was flourishing, and so were her connections in other countries.

Jin Mu looked up. "You mean... You could help us clear our names?"

Gu Jin gave a slight nod. "Not easily. But yes, there’s a way."

Pei Ke looked doubtful. "Even if we do that... the institute will just try again. They made us criminals overnight. They can do it again."

Gu Jin’s red eyes glowed faintly. "Yes. But this time, they’ll have to go through me."

Ten days later

Gu Jin had not left the hotel room. She had gathered reports, bribed information brokers, and even hired someone to hack a few enchanted systems herself.

Every detail about the institute’s main building was now in her notebook, down to the number of steps between each hallway camera.

That evening, she called everyone together.

Mimi, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly stood up before anyone could speak.

"Can I help too?" she asked. "You all helped me. I want to do something."

Jin Mu smiled kindly. "That’s brave, Mimi. But you’re just ten. This place isn’t a school playground."

But Gu Jin didn’t laugh.

She turned to the window, deep in thought. The room fell silent.

After a while, she said quietly, "There is something you can do."

Mimi’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Gu Jin took out a detailed floor map and spread it across the table.

"This is the institute’s North Wing—used mostly for non-magic visitors. It looks harmless, but it’s heavily guarded with mana seals, identity barriers, and layered enchantments.

But they allow family members of top scientists and workers to visit under strict supervision."

"Top scientists, right? But we aren’t some top scientists. Certainly not of that institute." Jin Mu said with a frown.

Gu Jin tapped a red circle on the map.

"Wait, I am answering that, but first, look here. This is a common area with a waiting lounge, some greenery, and one elevator that leads to the restricted lower floor. That plant—right there—is the key."

Pei Ke frowned. "A plant?"

Gu Jin nodded.

"It’s one of the few places not directly under camera surveillance. And the institute’s biggest mistake is that it uses mana-rooted flora to regulate energy levels in that section.

These plants are connected to the institute’s mana grid—they’re close enough to the command room to pick up echo signatures."

Jin Mu looked impressed. "So if we place the bug there..."

"It’ll do more than record," Gu Jin said, holding up a silver disk no bigger than a coin. "It will listen, observe, and mirror their voice signatures. Every meeting. Every private order. Every lie."

Pei Ke crossed his arms. "But getting inside isn’t that simple. Even family guests need clearance."

"That’s where Mimi comes in," Gu Jin replied.

"I traced the schedule of Dr. Ren’s assistant—he takes his niece to visit him every few months. We create a similar guest file. Mimi will pose as the niece. Pei Ke, you’ll go as the uncle."

"We’ll make a fake identity for both of you and try to make you look like the real deal," she continued.

"It will last for one hour—enough to get in and out. Mimi will drop the bug behind the root-plant when no one’s watching. After that, the bug hides itself and begins recording."

"But what if something goes wrong?" Pei Ke asked.

Gu Jin gave a calm smile. "Then we do it my way."

The Next Day

Mimi was dressed in clean clothes, her hair in two neat braids. She wore a small necklace infused with a calming charm. A fake ID badge with a forged aura signature hung around her neck.

Pei Ke, now disguised as a gentle-looking uncle, held Mimi’s hand as they walked up the steps of the tall institute building.

The glass doors were shiny, and two guards stood in front, wearing dark blue uniforms and spirit badges on their chests.

One of the guards stepped forward. "State your name and purpose," he said.

Pei Ke smiled politely and handed over a paper. "I’m Lin Cheng. This is my niece, Lian. We have an appointment with Dr. Ren. Here’s the visitor pass."

The guard took the paper and scanned it with a small crystal tool. The rune glowed green.

He looked at Mimi. "She doesn’t look like she’s from around here."

"She isn’t," Pei Ke said smoothly. "She just came from the outer province to visit me. I thought it’d be fun to show her my workplace."

The guard nodded slowly. "Don’t wander. You stay in the North Wing. Got it?"

"Yes, sir," Pei Ke said with a slight bow.

The doors opened with a soft whoosh, and they walked inside.

The hallway was cold and bright. The floor shone like ice, and soft, magical lights glowed along the ceiling. People in white coats walked past them, not paying any attention.

Pei Ke led Mimi toward the waiting lounge. It had comfy chairs, a small fountain, and potted plants placed near the corners. One of those plants, right next to the elevator, was the one Gu Jin had marked.

Mimi’s hand was sweaty in his. He bent down and whispered, "Remember what Gu Jin said. Don’t be nervous. Just fix your shoelace near the plant and drop the bug."

Mimi nodded. She took a deep breath, then walked slowly to the plant. Her heart was pounding. She knelt down, pretending to tie her shoe.

Carefully, she pulled out the silver disk and tucked it into the soil, right behind the thick roots.

Done.

She stood up, wiped her hands on her skirt, and walked back to Pei Ke like nothing had happened.

But as they turned to leave, a soft red light blinked at the base of the plant.

Beep.

Pei Ke’s heart skipped a beat.

Guards near the hallway turned toward them. One of them narrowed his eyes.

"You there! Stop!"

Pei Ke immediately tightened his grip on Mimi’s hand. "Run!" he whispered.

They turned and hurried down the hall, acting like they were just lost visitors. But the guards were already moving.

Back at the hotel

Gu Jin was sitting in front of a glowing crystal mirror, watching the building through the spirit bug’s signal.

She suddenly saw the image freeze, then go dark.

"No..." she muttered, her expression serious.

Jin Mu, who was watching from behind, asked quickly, "What happened?"

"The sensor near the plant caught something. They detected the bug." Gu Jin stood up fast. "They’ll trace it. We have to change the plan."

Inside the institute

Mimi and Pei Ke were surrounded near the stairs.

"Sir, you’re not allowed in this part of the building," one guard said.

"I’m sorry," Pei Ke said calmly, trying to sound confused. "I thought this was the waiting room."

Another guard moved toward Mimi. "Little girl, be honest and tell us what you were doing?"

Mimi froze. Her heart pounded.

Just then—

Crash!

An alarm went off.

"Unauthorized magic in Zone 2!"

All the guards shouted and rushed away, leaving Pei Ke and Mimi behind.

Pei Ke immediately held Mimi’s hand and ran away. Since most of the guards had run away, Pei Ke thought that they would be able to leave easily.

However, his thoughts were proven wrong when he saw 10 guards who had rushed and blocked his path. One by one they raised their hands and warned,

"Stop right there, otherwise, you will die within seconds."

Mimi frowned and looked at Pei Ke, who nodded. A look of silent understanding passed between them, and they paused. Seeing them not moving, the guards thought the duo had surrendered.

However, before they could heave a sigh of relief, they sniffed a sweet smell in the air and felt something amiss.

Before they could understand anything, they fainted one by one.

Pei Ke and Mimi, seeing the opportunity, ran away.

That Night

Back at the hotel, everyone sat in silence.

Pei Ke looked down. "I’m sorry. The plan failed. We couldn’t even leave the bug in place."

"No," Gu Jin said quietly, looking at the crystal mirror again. "It didn’t fail."

She tapped the crystal, and lines of text appeared.

"The bug was found, yes. But it still sent a short signal before it shut down."

Jin Mu leaned in. "What did it send?"

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