Who left their last words here?

Chapter 48 The Scavenger's Calamity; It Came Just in Time

"boom--"

Lightning flashed through the clouds, and the thunderous roar echoed across the sky.

The rain is getting heavier.

Neon lights crisscrossed the asphalt road, which resembled a deep, dark lake.

And deep in the alley where the lights don't reach,
A sudden battle is drawing to a close.

Or rather, it was a crushing defeat.

No need for [light and shadow harmony], just a short stick rising and falling, eighteen strikes in three seconds, eighty strikes in ten seconds.

This field team suddenly encountered the white boat in the city—

Thus, the entire army was wiped out!
They were just two beginner-level extraordinary individuals with awakened command abilities, plus a few experienced level two specialists.

One and a half Section Chief Lius could solve their problems.

—Not to mention the current state of Shiraishu!
They lay scattered on the ground, their cries drowned out by the sound of rain and thunder.

Whether it was a broken arm or twisted legs, they were all injured.

But no one died.

"Is...me?"

Holding a short stick, Bai Zhou squatted by the roadside, looking at the wanted posters they had dropped, his expression complex and hard to describe.

Espionage, assisting the Blood Worship Cult's invasion, killing Special Administration officials, instigating the Black Box Riot, and escaping with the Black Box...

It's not even big enough to fit on half a sheet of paper!
A-level wanted criminal? Ranked alongside high-ranking members of the Blood Worship Cult?
Bai Zhou felt a chill run down his spine.

Only then did he realize that, without his knowledge, he had become a "big shot".

—Refers to "a person burdened with a major case".

That major was even more reckless than Bai Zhou had imagined.

Fortunately, Bai Zhou managed to get his hands on the new equipment in time.

Otherwise, once the surveillance cameras lock onto him, and a tight net is deployed to surround him,

He was truly trapped with nowhere to turn...

With a "snap"—

A shadow was cast on the ground.

Bai Zhou stood up, held the black umbrella over his head again, and looked down at the group.

"Are you the only ones around here?" he asked casually.

"Bai Zhou, you can't escape!"

The leading Level 3 Commissioner lay on the ground, glaring angrily at this traitor from the Special Administration and the Blood Worship Cult's mole.

Many of his close colleagues died on the night of the Blood Worshipper's invasion.

And now, he knows he is going to die too.

But the other party deliberately spared his life to torment him.

—Despicable blood worshippers!

"If it weren't for the Swordsman who was originally here falling for your diversionary tactic and being transferred to the south city..."

He was so angry at Bai Zhou's cunning that he gritted his teeth.
"Now, it wouldn't be us lying here!"

...South City?!

Bai Zhou remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was filled with dread.

—He didn't use a diversionary tactic!
It was just by chance that I came here to pick up equipment, and it just so happens that I'm not in the South City.

It seems the crow was right.

The more bustling the urban area, the more surveillance cameras there are on the streets, and the better it is to analyze Bai Zhou's movements.

This place is different from Wancheng.

In this technologically advanced city, people can never completely erase their traces.

But Bai Zhou still didn't expect that the Special Administration could shrink the scope to this extent so quickly.

—Is this the efficiency with which the "official" authorities are mobilized?
They even transferred the [Sword Bearer] squad there!
The Special Administration's signboard, a military unit that even crows would solemnly mention...

The major is the one who focuses on cultivating true elites!

Fortunately——

The southern part of the city is mostly deserted and there is no surveillance.

They are unlikely to directly target White Boat's base.

Now that Bai Zhou has intelligence, it's even less likely that he'll blindly walk into the Swordholder's ambush.

—Only when the prey is unaware can it be called prey!

"..."

Thinking this way, Bai Zhou found the comrade on the ground much more pleasing to the eye.

“If I said I have no connection with the Blood Worship Cult… you definitely wouldn’t believe me.”

“No matter what I say now, in your eyes it will be all nonsense and deliberate provocation.”

After carefully considering his words, Bai Zhou faced the crowd and said:

"But just as you doubt me, you can try to doubt anyone around you with that same perspective."

"For example... if you have time, would you like to visit the mausoleum?"

"Seeing for yourselves is more reliable than what I say."

Bai Zhou slowly turned around, his profile obscured by a black umbrella.

"But be careful—"

"This matter must not be known to anyone."

A level-three specialist probably isn't qualified to know anything.

They only need to blindly obey orders from above and enjoy the benefits they are given.

Everyone is a beneficiary unwittingly kept under the control of the major.

Bai Zhou didn't want to kill them because he wasn't a real wanted criminal, nor did he want to become an enemy of the world in the future.

Distinguish who the real enemy is, the damned ones.

This is very important.

However, he didn't really expect these people to succeed.

Believe it or not, it's up to them.

Even if they knew the truth, what choice they would make would still be unknown...

But none of this matters.

The important thing is to plant the seeds of doubt whenever you see them.

Once planted, it will spread.

Although when people see one cockroach, there are definitely countless more behind it.

But also—

When people see the first sparks of light appear...
On the day the prairie fire broke out,

It might not be far off.

……

Their footsteps walked away without a backward glance.

The figure in the trench coat, holding an umbrella, disappeared into the torrential rain.

Large raindrops poured down onto the ground.

The commissioners, lying on the ground soaked to the bone, looked at each other in bewilderment.

"He...he won't kill us?"

One of the specialists asked in a weak, low voice.

"They didn't do anything to us?"

What did he mean by what he just said?

"..."

The commissioners started discussing it.

The leading comrade frowned, seemingly deep in thought, but after a brief struggle, he quickly hardened his expression.

"These are all common tricks used by the Blood Worshippers to deceive people. Forget all those words!"

"And then, now—"

He reprimanded everyone in a stern tone, then shakily pulled a walkie-talkie from his pocket and adjusted the channel.

"Report! We've encountered the wanted criminal Bai Zhou!"

"Remind all groups to take note: We hope the field teams will work together..."

"He is far more terrifying than we thought."

"We hope the higher-ups will change their investigation strategy. Bai Zhou is definitely not someone that a single field team can handle alone!"

"Requesting higher-level support."

After a brief pause, the lead specialist took a deep breath and gave his final report:
"—In this encounter, the C201 field team fought with all their might, but suffered a complete defeat!"

……

Nancheng District, late at night.

A scavenger's camp. Three unassuming vans were blocking the area downstairs.

But the car door opened with a "whoosh,"

What came down was a group of fierce soldiers, armed with guns and bullets.

In front of the dark muzzle of a gun, rusty steel bars offer no sense of security whatsoever.

The scavengers, covering their heads with their hands, were herded from their warm shelters to gather in the open space in front of the building, where it was raining heavily.

The bright beam of the flashlight shone mercilessly into their faces.

A clear column of rain can be seen in the beam of light.

The machine gun was set up upstairs.

A burly officer in a second lieutenant's uniform stood side by side with the captain, a man with a gun and a gas mask, who was described as "the swordsman."

"Where is Bai Zhou?!"

Standing on the steps, the officer looked down at the crowd with a cold expression.

Perhaps because he had to go on duty despite the heavy rain, the officer's voice sounded quite emotional.

A stern shout rang out in the torrential rain, making people's ears ring.

"Plain congee? What plain congee?"

"It's been so long since we've had porridge."

"Sir, are you going to provide us with relief? Thank you, thank you..."

The scavengers started talking amongst themselves.

Everyone was completely bewildered and utterly genuine.

"..."

Upon hearing this, the officer turned to look at the captain of the "Sword-wielding" group beside him.

The captain shook his head, his voice muffled from behind the gas mask.

"Bai Zhou must have been here."

In his hand, he clutched an ancient and mysterious compass:

“Ritual tracking shows that he had spiritual responses in the vicinity.”

"—He must have done something spiritually around him."

"Excuse me……"

Old Joe, with his big beard, slowly got up.

As soon as he opened his mouth, it was filled with rainwater.

He struggled to lift his head and cautiously looked at the two officers.

Who exactly are you looking for?

"We are willing to cooperate with the investigation... but it's raining so hard, could we go back to take shelter from the rain first?"

The officer glanced at him, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Snapped--"

Immediately, a crisp slap landed on Old Joe's face.

The commissioner next to him then kicked Old Joe to the ground.
"When is it your turn to speak?"

"When I'm not asking you, just squat properly!"

"..."

The captain, the one wielding the sword, looked at the officer, his voice tinged with worry:

"When we're out in public, shouldn't we still be mindful of the department's image...?"

"Don't worry, it's raining so hard and the place is so remote."

"There was no one else around, only this group of scavengers."

The officer's casual tone was nonchalant.

He waved his hand, came closer, and whispered.
"There's no need to be polite to them... Don't forget, the researchers need another batch of experimental materials recently."

"What could be more suitable to capture and use as consumables than these carefree, unattached scavengers?"

His voice was very soft, muffled by the patter of rain, and only the captain could hear it.

The captain suddenly understood:

"Indeed... they are rare experimental subjects."

"Even if we don't catch Bai Zhou, we won't go back empty-handed. That should at least make the major feel a little better."

So, if the rounding rule means "one of us," then there's really no need to pretend.

It's like going out hunting.

They didn't catch the fox they expected, but they did see a nest of wild rabbits.

Encountering such a group of scavengers is a decent bonus for the Special Administration, which rarely ventures out.

"Crash..."

In the pouring rain late at night,
The scavengers, soaked to the bone, gathered together, filled with unease.

Old Joe's experience terrified them even more, making them tremble like quails.

"We just received news that Bai Zhou has appeared in the city center, and the [Sword Bearer] has already rushed there."

Upon receiving the latest report from his subordinate, the officer frowned.

"Since some people have already gone, we won't go."

"I think we should conduct a thorough investigation of the surrounding area before withdrawing—"

"Search! Everyone, spread out and conduct a thorough search! There must be some clue about Bai Zhou nearby!"

The officer had just given the order when he slowly turned his head to look at the scavengers.

"This person is Bai Zhou!"

The officer took out a photograph and instructed his subordinates to show it to the scavengers one by one for identification.

"A Class A wanted criminal in Tinghai, extremely vicious!"

"Anyone who knows about this but fails to report it will also be severely punished, as it will be considered as harboring a criminal!"

Old Joe was the first to see the photo.

"..."

When he saw the person in the photo clearly, he couldn't help but shudder.

But he immediately composed himself, and in the pouring rain, it seemed no one noticed.

however,
The captain of the [Swordholder] team, who had been observing him all along, slowly raised his eyebrows.

"Bring him up!"

His ruthless subordinates brought Old Joe over.

"...Sir?"

In the rain, his beard and long hair were tangled, mixed with blood from his mouth, making him look particularly disheveled.

"Ok?"

The officer's fleshy face twitched twice.

He moved closer, staring intently down at Old Joe, and held up the photograph:

"Take a good look!"

A rough, low voice, carrying an air of superiority and righteous indignation, asked:

"—You know him, don't you?"

"Tell me properly, where is he..."

His voice was low, and his gaze was like a knife as he swept over Old Joe and the scavengers behind him:

"You'll give me a satisfactory answer, right? I think you know what to choose."

……

far away.

A pair of eyes slowly opened in the bushes.

Silently watching everything that happened in front of the unfinished building.

The extensive search meant that agents carrying briefcases and fully armed soldiers would frequently patrol the area...

But no one noticed anything unusual about the clump of bushes.

Until Old Joe was staggered out of the crowd—

"Shh..."

The blinking bush swayed twice.

A head popped out from it.

"Rumble--"

The face, dripping with raindrops, was illuminated by a flash of lightning.

The black trench coat made the man blend into the rainy night.
The heavy darkness provided him with a natural disguise.

It seems——

The white boat arrived just in time.

(End of this chapter)