Chapter 105: A Meeting and Strange Occurrences

"That is the meeting point."

Without needing a reminder from Warm Man, Qi Chen spotted the conspicuous area at a glance. It was a row of buildings decorated significantly better than most of the structures in Yellowstone Town. The large number of armed figures in the uniforms of the City 3 Special Task Force stationed nearby made the status of the residents clear.

"This is where the Mayor of Yellowstone Town lives. Elder Li and his team should be settled here as well," Warm Man said, leading Qi Chen forward.

A figure standing outside the building seemed to notice them and began waving from a distance.

"Warm Man, you’re finally here!" A young man, only a few years older than Qi Chen, walked toward them with a bright smile, though a trace of undetectable anxiety lingered between his brows.

This naturally did not escape the notice of either Qi Chen or Warm Man.

"Displacement, what’s wrong? You seem a bit off," Warm Man asked in a lowered voice, worried about Elder Li’s safety.

The man called Displacement sighed. "Let's talk once we’re inside... and who is this?"

Displacement glanced at Qi Chen with an inquisitive look.

"My partner, Face," Warm Man said, acting as the intermediary to introduce them.

Qi Chen knew that this man was also a Weirdness Walker from City 3—a colleague, and one of the walkers tasked with protecting Elder Li on this trip.

"I’ve heard of you, rookie. According to reports from headquarters, you made a significant contribution during the latest city-wide Weirdness incident!" Displacement’s face lit up with a smile as he gave Qi Chen a friendly thumbs-up.

Qi Chen smiled shyly and offered a polite, standard reply. Displacement quickly changed the subject and led the two toward the mayor’s building.

"You’ve arrived at a timely moment. As it happens... something strange has occurred with the Mayor of Yellowstone Town."

...

From Displacement, Qi Chen and Warm Man finally learned about the progress of Elder Li’s team. After leaving the city, they had reached the meeting point without incident. The summit itself was conducted by high-ranking officials from several cities, so even the Weirdness Walkers were not fully privy to the specific terms discussed.

However, after the multi-city conference concluded, Elder Li was in high spirits, so everyone knew the negotiations had gone quite well. Not wanting to linger, and eager to return to City 3 to handle matters, the team prepared to depart immediately. Yet, after spending one night in Yellowstone Town to resupply, a bizarre incident forced the main party to halt their departure.

"What exactly happened to the Mayor of Yellowstone Town?" Warm Man asked, frowning.

"It’s hard to say. I can only describe it roughly," Displacement replied, looking troubled. "The day we arrived, Elder Li intended to meet with the mayor—you know, the relationship between Yellowstone Town and us is quite good. Elder Li invited the mayor to dine with us and discuss future cooperation, but the mayor brushed it off. We didn't think much of it at the time, but the very next day, he took the initiative to send someone to Elder Li, seeking help."

Even just hearing this sounded wrong. Qi Chen began to think, curious about what could have made the mayor change his mind overnight.

"The mayor has come down with a strange illness. He wanted to ask our medical team to take a look," Displacement continued slowly. "Elder Li, of course, didn't hesitate and lent his accompanying physician to the mayor. But only a few hours later, the doctor returned and told us... the mayor isn't sick at all! It’s more like... the influence of a Weirdness."

At this point, Qi Chen and Warm Man realized the gravity of the situation. Once something involved a "Weirdness," it could not be brushed aside lightly. If the City 3 team ignored it and returned home, the immediate impact might not be visible, but who could guarantee that no one in the team had been infected? Especially since Elder Li was in the party.

Therefore, this strange occurrence involving the mayor had to be resolved.

"So what exactly is this strange phenomenon?" Qi Chen asked, unable to wait any longer for the key details.

Displacement glanced at him, looking completely baffled.

"How should I put it? After the doctor reported to Elder Li, it immediately garnered our high attention. Since it involved a Weirdness, we had to intervene. A few others and I went to see the mayor. His condition is that he is fully conscious, yet he cannot control his own limbs. However, none of us could sense any trace of Weirdness on him. We even suspected the doctor had misdiagnosed him, but the accompanying physicians checked as well—his mental and physical states are completely normal."

"Wait!" Warm Man suddenly interjected. "Could the mayor be faking it?"

Qi Chen had considered this possibility, but Displacement’s next words shattered that theory immediately.

"We thought of that, but that very same night... someone in the Special Task Force developed the exact same symptoms."

It was this development within the Task Force that led Elder Li and the others to decide to postpone their departure.

"Is Elder Li alright?" Warm Man asked, suddenly tense.

"Elder Li is fine. Team Leader Yan Yan has been by his side constantly; it’s impossible for anything to happen to him."

Warm Man breathed a sigh of relief and took the opportunity to introduce the person codenamed Yan Yan to Qi Chen. He was essentially the most senior Weirdness Walker in City 3. Rumor had it he once competed against Fu Ying for the position of head of the Weirdness Handling Department, though he hadn't succeeded. Regardless, Yan Yan’s strength and prestige were legendary; over the years, he had handled countless Weirdness incidents, and his mastery of Weirdness abilities was rated by the Research Institute as reaching a pinnacle. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been appointed as the commander-in-chief of the escort team.

*Creak.*

As they pushed the door open, the three entered the mayor’s building. The security and defenses inside were even tighter than outside. Qi Chen scanned the room; it was filled with City 3 Special Task Force members, and the aura they exuded showed they were on high alert.

"By the way... didn't you say Yellowstone Town has its own Weirdness Walkers? Did the mayor not have his own people look at it first?" Qi Chen suddenly recalled the small talk he’d had with Warm Man earlier and pointed out the discrepancy.

To his surprise, Displacement looked pained.

"Sigh... that mayor doesn't trust his own Weirdness Walkers at all!"