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Boom!

In the middle of a desolate wilderness, shrouded in an eerie silence as if time itself had stopped, a thunderous explosion echoed, shaking the ground.

At a facility some distance from the exploding building, researchers, still in their nightclothes, rushed to evacuate.

"Director! All the researchers are on the bus now!"

The chief researcher, running out of the facility doors, approached the director, who was gazing at the collapsing building caused by the explosion. His voice was a mix of relief and urgency.

"Thank you. It’s fortunate that no one was injured. Now, let’s get going..."

The director began boarding the bus but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Is something wrong, Director?"

The chief researcher asked uneasily. The director stared at the ruined building for a moment before calmly speaking.

"No, I’ve decided to stay here and wait for the emergency team from headquarters."

The chief researcher’s expression stiffened at those words.

"That’s dangerous, Director!"

His voice rose instinctively, but the director responded in a composed tone.

"I am responsible for this facility. As the person in charge, I must be present to investigate the cause of the accident."

"But if you do that..."

The director quietly raised his hand, cutting off the chief researcher’s words.

"You all need to go to a safe place. I’ll be fine. The emergency team will be here soon."

The director’s eyes reflected unwavering determination. The chief researcher, sensing that further persuasion was futile, swallowed his words.

"Understood. Then..."

With those words, the chief researcher reached for the lever to close the bus door. Just before the door shut completely, as if entrusting everything to that fleeting moment, he called out to the director.

"Please guide us again when the institute reopens."

The director gave a faint smile and nodded silently. No further words were exchanged as the door closed with a thud.

The bus engine hummed as it started to move, gradually picking up speed. Watching until the bus disappeared entirely, the director exhaled deeply and began walking toward his vehicle.

Climbing into the driver’s seat, he took one last glance at the exploded research building. Black smoke trailed thinly into the sky.

"This is now a top-secret mission for just you and me," a voice came through the radio.

The director, without a word, gripped the steering wheel tighter and started the engine. As the vehicle hummed softly, he pressed the accelerator. The car began moving smoothly, its low rumble echoing in the desolate landscape. With a resolute expression, the director drove toward the research building.