Chapter Thirty-Six: Mission Codename—Sorrowful Firefly

“Radio access in progress...”

“Anti-surveillance devices deployed...”

“Communication system is in place.”

Inside the armored vehicle, under the guidance of the Warm-hearted Officer, Qi Chen was embarking on his first routine mission since joining the Department of Paranormal Affairs.

After taking a day to recuperate from the incident with the old beggar, it was finally time to get back to work.

As the words of the Analysis Division member crackled through the earpiece, it signaled the official commencement of this paranormal containment operation.

“Officer Warm-hearted! Officer Qi Chen! Intelligence Analysis Division, Team Five, will be providing full-process intelligence support for your mission.

“Here is the mission briefing!”

“Free-form Paranormal Entity No. 297—Codename: Sorrowful Firefly.

“Mental Intensity: E

“Threat Level: Community

“Three weeks ago, a fire broke out in the Blissful Community, resulting in twenty casualties. The aftermath and support for the remaining residents were handled by the Administrative Bureau.

“However, since the fire, there has been a high frequency of suicide attempts in Blissful Community—eight prevented so far, three fatalities.

“Upon receiving feedback from field investigators, our Analysis Division was ordered by headquarters to conduct a psychic scan of the community, which detected anomalous psychic fluctuations.

“Subsequently, three investigators were dispatched for a preliminary survey. They all reported the same finding: the anomaly in the community does not possess direct lethality. Instead, it induces overwhelming sorrow in those it affects, often leading to suicidal behavior.

“According to the investigators’ records, at the height of their sorrow, they could see a multitude of fireflies throughout the community...

“...”

The briefing concluded just as the armored vehicle pulled up to the gates of Blissful Community.

With a clang, Qi Chen pushed open the door and stepped out, noticing that the entrance had already been sealed off by the Special Operations Team. Clad in black uniforms and gripping steel rifles, the team members stood guard, securing the exit.

“Free-form anomalies can sometimes spread with the victims to a wider area, so a lockdown is essential,” the Warm-hearted Officer explained.

Qi Chen was eager to absorb any knowledge about the paranormal. He’d come to realize that when dealing with the supernatural, intelligence and understanding were every bit as vital as force—sometimes even more so, especially in special circumstances.

“Now, our task is to enter the community. Ordinary people’s mental strength is too low to withstand the interference from the anomaly.

“Even investigators with exceptionally strong wills among regular people can’t approach the source of the anomaly up close.”

As Qi Chen listened to the Warm-hearted Officer’s deep explanation, he understood why they had been deployed: the anomaly in Blissful Community was beyond the capacity of the Special Operations Team to handle alone.

Moreover, the community was located in a densely populated urban area. Maintaining a long-term lockdown would neither save the residents trapped inside nor prevent panic among neighboring citizens.

Negative emotions, once they begin to spread, soon bear dangerous fruit in this peculiar age.

That’s why the Paranormal Walkers must intervene!

“Pay attention—I’ll teach you the standard procedure we use to handle most paranormal events,” said the Warm-hearted Officer, rubbing his hands as he gazed intently at the shadowed, lightless expanse of Blissful Community.

Without the illumination from the city’s towers, one could easily believe the neighborhood was deserted.

“Investigate! Act! Investigate again! Act again! And finally, execute a full paranormal containment—this is our department’s usual approach.

“Now, let’s go in.”

Qi Chen immediately communicated with the Sovereign in his mind, and followed the Warm-hearted Officer as they strode toward the gates, focusing every bit of his Paranormal Walker’s senses to locate the source of the anomaly.

They had barely walked for two minutes—just enough to reach the central plaza—when an indescribable, invisible force brushed silently over them.

Exchanging glances, both realized they had triggered the power of the anomaly known as the Sorrowful Firefly.

“It seems this anomaly is activated simply by being within its effective range—step into the domain, and you’re infected,” the Warm-hearted Officer analyzed, passing the information along to the Analysis Division through his earpiece.

Meanwhile, Qi Chen was carefully surveying their surroundings, his gaze drifting over everything he could see.

“It’s too quiet. The residents must have all been affected by the anomaly,” Qi Chen said grimly, striving to pinpoint the source.

Yet, even with his abnormally high mental strength, he couldn’t precisely locate the core of the anomaly.

In his perception, the anomalous psychic fluctuations scattered through Blissful Community were as fragmented as a field of stars—or like a swarm of insects, moving erratically through every corner.

“Are you sensing the same thing? Looks like this is a multiple-source anomaly.

“In such cases, the anomaly’s psychic energy disperses into many forms, making the true origin difficult to identify.

“But since it’s a naturally formed anomaly, there must be an original point of manifestation. Based on the intel—it’s most likely the building where the fire occurred.”

The Analysis Division confirmed the Warm-hearted Officer’s hypothesis, stating it matched their assessment.

“Officers, please proceed directly to the building where the fire broke out. We’ll guide you along the way.”

Qi Chen glanced down at his chest, where a small, real-time camera was pinned. It allowed the Analysis Division to provide immediate support, helping the field team quickly assess their environment—even if it couldn’t capture the anomalous phenomena themselves. It was, at least, a practical tool.

The two hurried forward, following the guidance from behind, when suddenly, both halted at once!

A wave of inexplicable sorrow surged from deep within. Qi Chen’s mood shifted abruptly—he was overwhelmed by an urge to burst into tears, and yet, somehow, couldn’t quite manage it.

All he could do was weep in silence.

“We’re under a stronger influence,” Qi Chen said, wiping his eyes. Looking at the Warm-hearted Officer, he saw that his senior was also dabbing at his tears.

“Damn it, why does it feel so heartbreaking...” The Warm-hearted Officer’s nose was red. “If even we can’t hold back, ordinary people must find this force utterly irresistible.

“There’s no light in any of these buildings—their residents are probably so steeped in sadness they can’t escape.”

“Wait!” Qi Chen suddenly interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on the Warm-hearted Officer’s shoulder.

A firefly with softly fluttering wings perched quietly there. Its glowing tail didn’t emit the usual greenish light of its wild kin, but rather a melancholy blue that seemed infused with sorrow.

“You’ve got one on you too!” the Warm-hearted Officer pointed.

Qi Chen saw that a similar blue firefly had settled on his own shoulder.

No wonder they had both been plunged into such an intense sadness.

The source of the anomaly had come right to them.

...