Chapter Sixty-Four: The Eerie Surge of Outbreaks

Ordinary worker Qi Chen left home early in the morning and headed straight for the Department of Anomalous Affairs, his usual routine including two buns on the way. Energized, he arrived at the office. Word had it that the Intelligence Analysis Division had already completed their report on the hotel incident, and Qi Chen was rather curious.

“You’re early today,” the Gentle Guy greeted him as he entered, handing over the mission report he’d just finished reading. Reviewing the report after completing a task was considered an effective method to improve one’s ability to handle anomalous events.

Qi Chen took the report and immediately began to read. Though it was lengthy, he focused on the key points.

“Domain-type anomaly—Number 412, Codename: Aberrant Hotel

“Mental Intensity: D

“Threat Level: Community Level

“Subject Description: The Aberrant Hotel is a domain-type anomaly with a physical location, centered on the Ansheng Hotel in City Three. The cause of its anomalous transformation remains unknown. Its abilities manifest in both overt and latent forms.

“During the daytime, the hotel displays no abnormalities; however, guests who enter the rooms within this period are infected by anomalous powers. When night falls, these infected individuals are transformed into humanoid anomalous creatures within specific rooms.

“Characteristic: Loss of facial features, possessing vitality beyond normal humans, susceptible to firearms. The Aberrant Hotel also contained at least two derivative anomalies: humanoid anomalies and fused anomalies formed from infected guests’ faces. All have now been eliminated.”

Beyond the description of the anomaly, the report included analysis regarding its origin.

Preliminary findings suggested that the source was closely tied to the hotel’s proprietors. Subsequent investigations by the Department of Anomalous Affairs uncovered the mutilated corpse of the hotel owner’s missing husband. Forensic examination revealed he had been dead for a considerable time, his body long decayed.

It seemed that the wife’s twisted longing for her deceased husband, under unknown influences, had transformed the Ansheng Hotel into an anomaly’s epicenter.

Perhaps, she simply wanted to see her husband’s living face again.

Closing the report, Qi Chen was overwhelmed with emotion. In a normal world, longing for the departed could only ever be just that—a longing. But in this fog-shrouded reality, such yearning could become the very key to creating anomalies.

Was it a problem of human nature?

Qi Chen felt that perhaps the world itself bore the greater fault.

“Faceless, Gentle Guy. Get to the conference room, now.”

Suddenly, Fu Ying’s cool voice sounded in their earpieces. Qi Chen and Gentle Guy exchanged glances and immediately rose, hurrying toward the meeting room.

Could it be... there was a lead?

...

...

“Good morning, Captain!” Qi Chen greeted politely as he entered, taking his seat quickly. He noticed that today, not only were members of the Special Operations Team present, but most of the Department of Anomalous Affairs had gathered as well.

The conference room was packed, and to one side of the meeting table sat a group from the Oversight Division, led by Deputy Director Qiu.

It seemed the presence of these outsiders had put a damper on the room’s atmosphere.

“Hmm? Is Refractor back yet?” Gentle Guy glanced at Old Lord’s side—still no sign of the young girl—and asked, clearly displeased.

“She’s in direct contact with Captain Fu now. Gentle Guy, could you go one day without so many questions?” Old Lord, proud as ever, responded with marked impatience.

Qi Chen, sitting between the two, could only offer an awkward smile. When it came to old members’ affairs, he preferred to keep his distance.

Bang! Bang!

At the head of the table, Fu Ying tapped her pointer several times, the sharp sound silencing all the murmured conversations in the room.

“Today’s meeting won’t be long, but the content is crucial. Stay alert!”

Long accustomed to leadership, Fu Ying’s commanding presence brooked no challenge. No one dared underestimate her, nor meet her piercing gaze.

“Two matters.

“First, the Special Operations Team has made some breakthroughs recently. All other department groups will be required to cooperate. Details will be discussed in a dedicated meeting; await further notice.”

As she spoke, Qi Chen noticed Fu Ying glancing, intentionally or not, at the Oversight Division members. Deputy Director Qiu maintained a gentle smile, betraying nothing of his thoughts.

Without delay, Fu Ying moved to the most important topic of the day.

“Have you all seen the materials on your seats? These are the Intelligence Analysis Division’s compiled reports on anomalous events over the past month. You have five minutes to review them.”

Instantly, the room was filled with the sound of rustling papers. Qi Chen realized he had a few thin sheets of reports beneath him, unnoticed as he’d been distracted by Gentle Guy’s and Old Lord’s exchange.

Unfazed, he slid the reports out from under him and, casting a furtive glance at Fu Ying, breathed a sigh and began to read.

Quickly, his brows furrowed.

Now he understood why Fu Ying seemed so stern today.

Most of the report was presented in statistical graphs, offering a strikingly clear picture.

In the past month, City Three had seen sixty to seventy anomalous events, averaging two or three per day!

Though not all incidents had caused severe consequences, the number of affected citizens was still shocking.

“You can all see it. In the past month, the number of anomalous events equals that of the previous three months combined!

“This proves that another period of heightened anomalous activity has begun.”

As Fu Ying spoke, Qi Chen recalled what he’d learned in the department.

Anomalous events might seem random, but over time, subtle patterns emerge—like tides, rising and falling.

Most of the time, outbreaks remained relatively stable, but high-frequency periods also occurred.

Throughout the Alliance’s history, every surge brought significant losses.

Because it wasn’t just about numbers; during these periods, anomalies often displayed greater mental intensity and threat levels.

The report’s graphs made this clear. Previously, most anomalies hovered around E-level mental intensity, roughly comparable to the Crimson High Heels incident.

But at a certain point, the intensity line showed a distinct leap—the average had reached D-level, with threat levels steadily advancing from community to regional scale.

“This moment was when Domain-type anomaly 364, codename Repentance Guillotine, occurred,” Fu Ying’s eyes flashed coldly.

“The current high-frequency period we’re facing has deliberate, human factors behind it!”

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