Chapter 53: An Unexpected Holiday

The armored vehicle came to a halt, and Qi Chen peered through the windshield. Ahead stood a city wall towering dozens of meters high—this marked the official boundary of City Three. Walls like these served as the borders for most Alliance cities. Though they demanded considerable manpower, their simplicity and effectiveness made them the preferred method.

Their target for this trip resided near the southern edge of the city, right by the imposing wall.

“It should be over there,” the gentle man pointed out the direction for Qi Chen.

Following the indication, Qi Chen noticed a large cluster of uniformly designed buildings nestled at the base of a segment of the wall, reminiscent of dormitories in an industrial park.

“That’s the City Guard’s residential area. Most of the guards stationed along the southern wall live there, and Officer Lou’s quarters are among them.”

The armored vehicle rolled forward once again, heading slowly toward the City Guard’s dormitory complex. After a straightforward identity check at the gate, the two men entered without trouble.

Qi Chen took in an unfamiliar sight; unlike the Special Operations members, who all looked sharp and elite, most City Guards appeared ordinary, their vigor and bearing noticeably less impressive.

Still, Qi Chen saw many guards training on the open grounds—not idling about.

“Special Operations personnel are usually chosen from the City Guard’s finest,” the gentle man explained, seizing the chance to educate Qi Chen. “The Special Operations team answers directly to our Anomaly Handling Division. Most strange incidents in the city rely on their help.

“After all, when dealing with anomalies, we need the sharpest minds and the strongest nerves.

“The City Guard’s main duty is to watch the wall, keeping creatures from the mist at bay. Their numbers far exceed ours.”

Qi Chen nodded. The gentle man parked the car and signaled for them to get out.

Before them stood a two-story building, clearly guarded and fortified—their destination.

“Anomaly Handling Division. Please open the door,” the gentle man announced, producing his credentials for the sentry. After careful inspection, the guard prepared to let them in.

Suddenly, Qi Chen stopped the guard with a question.

“Brother, does Officer Lou live here alone?”

The guard nodded. “Yes, this is Officer Lou’s quarters for work. His family wouldn’t stay here—they live in the city, of course.”

“Has he left the building today?” Qi Chen pressed.

The guard thought for a moment. “Not today. Officer Lou rarely leaves, except to inspect the wall. Even lunch was delivered to him upstairs.”

“Thanks,” Qi Chen said, ending his inquiry. After exchanging a glance with the gentle man, the pair pushed open the door and stepped inside.

“Looks like Officer Lou is in trouble,” the gentle man remarked.

The oppressive silence in the entryway signaled something amiss. Without hesitation, Qi Chen and his companion hurried up the stairs. As soon as they reached the second floor, they spotted a motionless man slumped over a table in the inner room.

“We’re too late,” the gentle man muttered, frowning as he approached. He quickly confirmed the identity: Officer Lou, whom Fu Ying had instructed them to visit.

Officer Lou had died quietly, so much so that even the sentry outside hadn’t noticed—and this was right in the heart of the City Guard’s compound.

“It must be the work of an anomalous operative,” Qi Chen said through gritted teeth. They had done their best, arriving as swiftly as possible.

Yet the enemy lurking in the shadows had managed to erase the trail faster than they could follow it.

It revealed, too, the power behind the scenes—someone bold enough to murder a senior City Guard officer.

“He’s been dead less than an hour,” the gentle man said after a quick examination.

The killer had likely struck not long before their arrival.

The gentle man relayed the scene’s details to Fu Ying at headquarters through his earpiece.

Qi Chen noticed his companion's expression suddenly shift to utter disbelief, and soon after, the communication was cut off.

“What happened? Was it over that quickly?” Qi Chen wondered aloud. Surely this was news of some significance—so why was the response so brief?

“If you ask me, I don’t know either...” The gentle man’s face was clouded with confusion and disappointment. “Team Leader Fu said the Special Operations team will take over here soon.

“As for us... She told us to take a short break.”

“A break?” Qi Chen blurted out. “Is this really the time for a break?”

The threat was out in the open. Members of the Vertical Eye Society had even attacked them in broad daylight—shouldn’t they be hunting these people down instead?

“Just follow orders,” the gentle man shrugged helplessly. “From what she said, all our leads have dried up.”

The Intelligence Analysis Division was in chaos; every suspect had either vanished or ended up like Officer Lou—dead. The investigation could go no further. There was no way they could venture into the endless mist outside the city to seek the Vertical Eye Society’s lair.

His explanation barely satisfied Qi Chen’s curiosity as to why they were stopping at such a critical moment.

If even the boss said so, what could a mere worker like him do?

“Come on, let’s unwind a bit. The frequency of these anomalous incidents has been exhausting. I feel worn out myself,” the gentle man said, slinging an arm around Qi Chen’s shoulders. The Special Operations team had already arrived to take over.

After a brief handover, the gentle man led Qi Chen out of the City Guard compound. They boarded the armored vehicle and drove back toward the city center.

...

...

“What are you so tense about?” Qi Chen, absorbed in studying the menu, was startled by the gentle man’s voice and looked up to find him visibly impatient.

“Brother, I brought you here to relax, not to analyze the menu prices...” The gentle man snatched the drinks list from Qi Chen’s hands and, with practiced ease, waved over the waiter and ordered a host of beverages, most of which Qi Chen had never heard of.

Recalling the shocking prices he’d seen on the menu, Qi Chen regretted agreeing to the invitation.

Drinking? Home was far more comfortable than this.

“Qi, my boy,” the gentle man coughed twice, adopting a senior’s air, “don’t treat this as mere entertainment. Think of it as a lesson I’ve prepared for you.

“We deal with anomalies every day on the front line. Mental well-being is crucial, so we need proper ways to relax. Drinking—works wonders!”

Qi Chen had no intention of responding. The scene from their first encounter flashed through his mind.

So much for that earnest-looking fellow—he truly was trouble!

...