Chapter Fifty-Six: I Can't Sleep

After Minister Qiu finished speaking, the subsequent meeting dragged on for nearly two more hours. The main focus was on the oversight protocols the inspection department would impose on the Special Action Team, leaving no corner untouched. Though it wouldn’t cripple the core operations of the team, it certainly threatened to hinder and restrain their movements in the future.

“What on earth is the Administrative Office thinking?”

Once the meeting was adjourned, only Qi Chen and a few other anomalous agents remained in the conference room, along with their chief, Fu Ying. The warm-hearted man’s complaint echoed the sentiments of the entire Special Action Team—this was unprecedented. No matter how dire previous incidents had been, the Anomaly Processing Division had always enjoyed complete autonomy.

“There’s no need to guess. We’ve long had enemy claws lurking within our ranks,” Old Monarch sneered, folding his arms as he sat in his chair. His partner, Refraction, hadn’t attended the meeting today. Only Fu Ying likely knew where Refraction had gone.

“No need to get so emotional. Just do what you’ve always done—handle business as usual. I’ll shoulder everything else,” Fu Ying said breezily, seeming utterly unperturbed by the inspection department’s directives. Minister Qiu would certainly be displeased if he heard her now, but Qi Chen and the others found her words quite reassuring.

“Fu... Chief, do we really have no breakthrough at all right now? We can’t just sit idle and wait for disaster...” The warm-hearted man’s expression was grave, voicing his anxiety about their prospects.

Old Monarch, for once, agreed, fingers digging into his golden hair. “The traitors in City Three are now using administrative measures to check us. The longer we wait, the worse it’ll get.”

“Have you spoken to Elder Li about this? Told him how dire things have become?”

Qi Chen listened silently to his old teammates’ concerns, not expecting Fu Ying to steer the conversation toward him.

“You two could learn a thing or two from Faceplate, the rookie,” Fu Ying praised Qi Chen in her own way. “Since we know the enemy is deeply hidden and holds high positions, what’s the point of acting rashly? Are you planning to step out and become targets for them?

“All new leads are being handled by Refraction. What you need to do now is keep calm and wait. Remember, who is the real master of this city? Who represents the majority here? At the very least, we have a stronger backing than those rats hiding in the gutters.”

Fu Ying made herself clear: for now, they were to maintain appearances, while Refraction conducted secret investigations below the surface.

“Warm-hearted, Old Monarch. You two, step outside.”

The order surprised both of them. Glancing at the bewildered Qi Chen, they obeyed and swiftly left the conference room.

***

Suddenly, only Qi Chen and Fu Ying remained in the vast meeting room. Honestly, Qi Chen had never been alone in a room with a woman before. His cheeks flushed, and his gaze unconsciously dropped; he had no idea what Fu Ying intended to say.

“Faceplate, Warm-hearted has reported your performance at the Grand Music Hall to me. Well done. However, did you use the integrated anomaly ability on your own?”

Qi Chen looked up, noting that Fu Ying’s expression wasn’t stern, but it differed from her usual calm.

“I think so...”

“I just want to tell you: anomaly integration is, in some sense, a taboo. We generally discourage its use. I trust Warm-hearted has warned you about the risks of losing control.”

Qi Chen nodded emphatically; Warm-hearted’s warning had been unforgettable, and the potential dangers of anomaly integration were always at the forefront of his mind.

“But every rule has exceptions,” Fu Ying continued, offering thoughts Warm-hearted hadn’t shared but that echoed Faceplate’s own suspicions. “If your mind is strong enough, anomaly integration can become a trump card. In such cases, your anomalous abilities will be perfected. Just remember one premise: always know who you are.”

With that, Fu Ying had nothing more to say and ushered Qi Chen out as well. The reason she disclosed these things was the report from Warm-hearted, which mentioned Qi Chen’s ability to distinguish friend from foe even while using anomaly integration. Had he shown signs of losing control, Fu Ying would have acted differently—likely sending him to the research institute for observation to ensure his mental state was intact.

“What lies ahead will be anything but easy,”

Alone in the conference room, Fu Ying pondered the intelligence Refraction had reported to her, sinking deep into thought.

***

Knock, knock!

In the residential quarter of the Administrative Office, a door was rapped briskly. Hearing the reply from within, a square-faced man twisted the latch and entered.

Curiously, the room was unlit. A man sat in a leather chair with his back to the door, faint white smoke curling from his hand.

“Did you clean up all the loose ends?”

A commanding voice sounded. The square-faced man bowed his head and answered, “Everyone, and every lead, that the Anomaly Processing Division could access has been eliminated.”

The man in the chair shifted his arm, a glow of orange flickering at his lips as he took a deep drag and exhaled a pale cloud.

“What about the anomalous weapons we set up earlier? Can the plan proceed as expected?”

“Absolutely. Though the Anomaly Processing Division recovered and destroyed a few, the remaining anomalous weapons are more than enough to throw City Three into chaos.”

“Good. Keep a close eye on the Anomaly Processing Division. Report anything to me immediately.”

The square-faced man bowed deeply, respectfully withdrew, and left the room. As his foot crossed the threshold, a figure suddenly appeared inside.

Or rather, someone revealed themselves.

“Tsk, tsk. The methods of big shots are truly beyond the imagination of us madmen in the mist,” croaked a shadow-shrouded figure, grinning as he fixed his gaze on the man in the chair.

His words had no effect; the man merely flicked the ash from his high-end cigarette.

“Just do your job.

“Old Li won’t abandon his plan to leave the city—no matter how bad things get inside, he’ll stick to his agenda. After all, he fought hard for this intercity conference.

“I’ve already given you his route outside the city. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Never,” the shadowy figure licked his lips. “The mist—well, we’re far more familiar with it than you city folk.”

“Oh, by the way,” the man said suddenly, extinguishing his cigarette. “I heard the Anomaly Processing Division had a team that did something extraordinary in the Grand Music Hall. My special agent was taken out by them.

“Can you arrange for your people to eliminate them? Otherwise... I won’t sleep soundly tonight.”

The shadow’s laugh was chilling, and in an instant, he vanished from the room.

***