Chapter 60: Sea Without Light 60
“Are you free tonight? Group meeting,” Red said.
Kui Xin typed, “Yes.”
“Midnight Zero Point, Ruby Red Bar.” Red kept it concise.
“Is Night Cicada participating in the mission?” Kui Xin thought for a moment and asked.
“Yes. I just checked with the boss, and he said we should all go to Kraken,” Red replied. “The boss is placing great importance on this mission, far beyond any previous ones.”
Kui Xin fell into thought as she looked at Red’s messages.
After a while, Red added, “I also asked the boss if you should go, and he said you will.”
Kui Xin’s eyelid twitched slightly.
As an undercover agent needing to hide her identity, it was actually better to minimize her actions, and Red thought so too. That’s why he specifically asked whether Kui Xin should participate, but unexpectedly, Kui Haidong gave an affirmative answer.
If “maintaining the undercover identity” and “sinking the Kraken” were compared on Kui Haidong’s scale, it was clear that the latter was more important. Similarly, when comparing “daughter” and “organization’s future,” the latter was also deemed more important.
“Then I’ll go,” Kui Xin said ambiguously.
Red replied, “That’s right, with Night Cicada there, safety can be assured.”
Kui Xin set down her wristband, opened the bathroom stall door, and washed her hands while also splashing some water on her face.
Red was right; with Night Cicada on the mission, at least their lives would be safeguarded. In fact, Kui Xin was quite unwilling about the investigation task imposed by the system… The investigation progress was already at ninety-five percent, just a little closer, and she would be able to complete it.
Following the pattern from the last completed task, if she smoothly finished this task, the system would still reward her. The rewards for regional tasks in the First World were forum titles, but what would her personal task reward be in the Second World? She was a bit curious, but the high risk of the mission held her back, worried that her efforts wouldn’t yield the expected results.
Just as Kui Xin left the bathroom, the warning lights in the Investigation Building’s corridor suddenly all lit up.
The sharp beeping sound echoed painfully as the red warning lights illuminated the corridor.
“Unexpected incident, unexpected incident.” Adam’s mechanical voice reverberated through the hallway, at a higher pitch and faster pace than usual, “A major explosion occurred at the Harbor Zone docking port, urgent need for assistance. A major explosion occurred at the Harbor Zone docking port, urgent need for assistance. Teams still at the Investigation Building, please quickly assemble and don your gear to head to the docking port for alert and search duties! Please prepare the medical center for incoming casualties! Repeat…”
“Kui Xin!” Liu Kangyun and Lan Lan ran towards Kui Xin.
“Do we need to go?” Kui Xin quickened her steps to keep up with them.
“We have to go. The red lights represent Level One alert, and the yellow lights represent Level Two alert,” Liu Kangyun explained as they ran, “When red lights are on, all security officers in good health must respond to the alert.”
“That’s on page eighty-three of the mission execution manual,” Lan Lan said. “Each year, we need to memorize that for the year-end assessment; if we fail, we will need to retake the exam.”
Kui Xin rubbed her forehead, “Then I’ll make time to review it.”
Security officers were already waiting in front of the gear room, their expressions calm, scanning in one by one. Once inside, they silently retrieved their gear, and within three minutes, they were fully equipped.
Kui Xin still had her combat suit on, so she supplemented her firearms and ammunition. Once confirmed, she joined her teammates in taking the elevator to the helipad. On the helipad, medical rescue vehicles, hovering police cars, and armed helicopters were ready, and Xueyao Shu was waiting there too.
“I didn’t expect such an incident to occur; we need to move quickly,” he said somberly.
“What happened?” Kui Xin asked as she caught up. “Adam said there was an explosion at the docking port.”
“Yes, I have more detailed information. Criminals installed explosives at the docking port, and when the bomb disposal team went to handle them, the devices were triggered unexpectedly, resulting in injuries and many fatalities among them,” Xueyao Shu said. “Our main task now is to search the surrounding areas—every shop, every residence…every place where someone might hide.”
“This operation is quite large…” Liu Kangyun murmured.
On the spacious helipad, there were at least two to three hundred security officers present, with those not on the field team also participating in this operation.
The Harbor Zone was so vast that relying on just one small team’s officers couldn’t complete the search quickly, so quite a few personnel were dispatched from the logistics support team and the criminal investigation team as well.
“How many casualties do we have?” Lan Lan asked.
“Nineteen dead, twelve injured, and light injuries aren’t counted,” Xueyao Shu replied.
Lan Lan gasped, “Who would be so ruthless? How many explosives were used?”
“I suspect it might be related to the extraordinary abilities user we encountered today,” Xueyao Shu mentioned.
Adam prompted through their communication headsets, “Please board Hovering Police Car No. 7 and follow the navigation to the destination. Collaborate with Logistics Support Group Six for the search. The search range is marked on the map.”
“Understood.” Xueyao Shu looked at his teammates. “Let’s go, and everyone must pay attention to safety.”
An urgent search operation involving multiple departments was being conducted firstly because the fatalities in the Investigation Bureau were alarmingly high, secondly because Mechanized Dawn’s activities had raised unprecedented vigilance within the Investigation Bureau, and thirdly, the Kraken was about to dock, so leadership wanted to eliminate any unfavorable factors and stabilize the situation.
However, damage had already occurred, and the higher-ups of the Investigation Bureau could only rush to search the surrounding areas to see if they could find any useful clues and apprehend any suspicious individuals.
This explosive incident at the docking port was unprecedented.
Kui Xin was like a butterfly flapping its wings; her every move could cause different changes.
Because she temporarily changed her patrol route and encountered Silverface and Thorn Rose, the report of those two extraordinary abilities users operating at the port had alerted the high-ups within the Investigation Bureau, prompting the search of the port, which unexpectedly led to the discovery of the bombs set by Mechanized Dawn.
Following this, Red detonated the devices, leading to heavy casualties among the bomb disposal team, which prompted this massive multi-department search.
The occurrence of one event can trigger many subsequent events. She opens a door, leads the way, and the future will race in an unknown direction.
The timeline is twisting; as long as it has not happened, there is an opportunity for change.
……
Mechanized Dawn’s traces were very well hidden, and Kui Xin and her colleagues searched all the areas adjacent to the docking port. Whether it was bars, casinos, nightclubs, or regular restaurants and residential areas, they conducted thorough searches.
They found no traces left by Mechanized Dawn, but they did uncover several hideouts of criminals during this search operation.
The Investigation Bureau also diligently searched the port’s containers and storage warehouses. Originally, Kui Xin was a bit curious if they would find the arms depot set up by Mechanized Dawn at the port, but to her disappointment, it was completely empty; Red had already instructed someone to move the arms.
Kui Xin and the others worked from morning until afternoon, and the intense search and strained nerves were exhausting them. As closing time approached, the Investigation Bureau dispatched another group to relieve them, continuing the search.
The docking port at the Harbor Zone was slightly damaged; although there were many casualties, the offshore floating harbor was not severely harmed since the explosives had mostly been dismantled and would be restored in a few days.
“Looks like they want to turn the Harbor Zone upside down,” Kui Xin sighed.
“Indeed, this behavior is a slap in the face for our Investigation Bureau,” Lan Lan said, removing his helmet and wiping the sweat from his face, his hair damp and limp.
Liu Kangyun, exhausted, leaned against the wall to rest and said, “We in the Investigation Bureau are the city’s largest violent organization; when someone acts against the violent organization, it’s a provocation…a disgrace.”
The high-ups in the Investigation Bureau were not concerned about how many people had died; they were focused on their interests and reputation.
When faced with provocation, they naturally had to retaliate.
Unfortunately, Mechanized Dawn would not stand still and take the hits; they were quite adept at hiding.
“It’s time to clock out; let’s go,” Xueyao Shu patted Kui Xin on the shoulder, “It feels like we haven’t had a chance to rest lately. Thank you all for your hard work.”
“High pay means hard work,” Kui Xin stretched her muscles. “But at this rate, I’m not sure I can even make it to payday this month.”
“The frequency of incidents has indeed increased a lot lately,” Liu Kangyun said, a frown on his face. “There’s no other way, everyone be careful; too many troublesome matters are arising.”
Lan Lan remarked, “The problem is, we don’t want trouble, yet trouble is seeking us out.”
……
Kui Xin returned home, dragging her exhausted body.
As soon as she got home, she collapsed onto the sofa, reaching for a bottle of mineral water and gulping it down.
“Did you get hurt today? Thorn Rose shot you,” Silverface leaned over to ask.
“A bruise from a bullet hit, but it’s not a real injury,” Kui Xin responded, kicking Silverface playfully. “You two really know how to bring me trouble! I’ve been busy all day.”
“This isn’t my fault…” Silverface said quietly, “It’s Thorn Rose’s fault; her temper is too explosive, much worse than yours.”
Silverface recalled several teammates and superiors he had interacted with, feeling that staying with Lady Fortune was the most comfortable; she fed him, let him sleep, and didn’t scold him like Red did or get as agitated as Thorn Rose.
Indeed, good and bad are relative; without comparison, there’s no pain… Silverface thought dejectedly.
“You didn’t slip up, did you?” Kui Xin asked. “My identity must remain confidential; Thorn Rose’s rank in the organization isn’t high enough to know about me.”
“No…she didn’t suspect,” Silverface said wearily. “Because I wouldn’t retract the defensive water curtain, she called me a coward and didn’t want to talk to me.”
“That’s good; I’m not entirely trusting of your acting skills,” Kui Xin said tactfully. “It’s best if she doesn’t talk to you at all; you won’t have to deal with her, so she won’t catch any hints that you might reveal.”
Silverface: “…Although I know what you’re saying is probably true, I still feel really down.”
After resting for a few minutes, Kui Xin made a communication call to Red.
Red picked up right away.
“Hello, Red.” Kui Xin said weakly, “Let’s change the meeting location; the Investigation Bureau’s search perimeter has expanded, and it’s only a matter of time before they check the Ruby Red Bar; they intend to search the entire Harbor Zone.”
Red cursed, “I knew it! Things are already being moved; the sewer’s secret entrance has also been temporarily sealed up. Even if they do come for a search, I’m not worried; the Ruby Red Bar doesn’t engage in illegal business, at most we might get a little gray.”
In the background, the sound of the bartender’s furious yelling could be faintly heard.
Kui Xin said, “The bartender is angrier than you.”
Red replied, “The Investigation Bureau notified all entertainment venues in the Harbor Zone to pause operations for half a month, so naturally, he’s angry; this bar is his life’s work.”
Kui Xin continued, “The new meeting location is…”
“Except for the headquarters, nowhere else is safe; just let Night Cicada use a portal to bring everyone over,” Red said. “The boss might also attend the meeting, and the time remains midnight zero point.”
“Okay.” Kui Xin ended the call.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was midnight.
At the very moment the clock struck zero, a blue light sphere quietly appeared in the living room of Kui Xin’s home, expanding into a vortex. Night Cicada’s hand reached out from the vortex, gesturing for Kui Xin to “come quickly.”
Kui Xin tugged the drowsy Silverface along, stepping into the vortex with him.
In the brightly lit room, a silvery-white long conference table reflected the light.
Wearing a shiny red suit, Red waved his hand at Kui Xin, “You’re here, Lady Fortune!”
The bartender’s dreadful expression softened slightly as he nodded at her.
Night Cicada was seated at the first position on the right side of the conference table. He snapped his fingers and opened another portal, from which Thorn Rose emerged.
Thorn Rose’s mood seemed to be quite poor as well; she coldly nodded to the surrounding people before finding a seat.
Next, the twin siblings Ambereye and Black Obsidian came out from the portal, remaining as quiet as last time, sitting silently in their places without greeting anyone.
“Everyone’s here; let’s start the meeting,” Red said without any small talk.
Night Cicada clapped his hands, and a beam of pale blue light projected down from a gap in the ceiling.
The holographic figure was completed, and Kui Haidong’s virtual projection appeared at the head of the meeting.
“I believe everyone is already aware of the purpose of this meeting,” Kui Haidong’s voice was steady, his expression serious, and his gaze deep. “We have only one goal: to destroy the Kraken.”
