Ark Chess Player

Shi Huaiya breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Hoshiguma, let's go."

Superintendent Chen glanced at the elite Guardians mobilized by the Special Inspectorate, and then at the Rhodes Island operators whose gazes were fixed on them. It was probably because Swire had blurted out "Doctor from Rhodes Island" that they attracted attention.

"Yes."

Hoshiguma didn't ask any more questions, but silently followed the other person's back.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

16:11 AM Weather/Light rain

Longmen City, Sanchuangzi, outside Muhe Warehouse.

"Report: The designated location has been scouted; there is no one around."

The officers from the Royal Guard squad reported the situation, and Hoshiguma nodded, telling him to go down and await further instructions.

“It’s a trap,” Hoshiguma said with certainty.

“The piles of building materials, the abandoned construction site, and the traces of dragging and placing, although washed away by the rain, the mud is still very fresh. Someone must have stepped on it before, probably within half an hour. It is certain that the Reunion Movement has laid an ambush.”

Superintendent Chen rubbed the damp dirt between her fingers, saying helplessly, "The Reunion Movement isn't strong in direct confrontation; most of them are just infected people equipped with makeshift weapons. However, the Reunion Movement's greatest advantage lies in their stealth. Infiltration, surprise attacks, and using special forces to breach fortifications are all common tactics they employ. Moreover, their ability to command disaster-level monsters perfectly compensates for their lack of siege equipment. We must understand why."

"This operation is not just about rescuing the informant. He has gathered secrets about how Reunion controls monsters, and this will be our breakthrough. We must save him no matter what."

"For Lungmen."

This time, Chen Huijie spoke with particular confidence.

Chapter 386 The Hunting Vanguard (4K)

"Old Chen, your informant is Afa, right?"

When the plan to rescue the informant was being formulated, Hoshiguma abruptly interjected.

Superintendent Chen's expression changed slightly. She hesitated for a moment before admitting, "Yes, so you still heard it."

“You know about the Oni race’s racial talents and my sensory abilities; I’ve tried my best not to listen.” Hoshiguma brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing it. “I’ve known him for a long time. I took him in when he fled to Lungmen wounded, and ten years have passed since then. Although I’ve become an inspector in the Royal Guard, it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten my former underlings. When did you recruit him as an informant? I remember he contracted Oripathy a year ago, and his bar in Lungmen City went out of business because of it. I haven’t seen him since.”

Hoshiguma looked slightly forlorn and sighed, "After he left, the new person who took over the bar couldn't mix drinks at all. Not only did the drinks taste terrible, but the glasses he used to clean every day are now just gathering dust. Things have changed, and everything is over."

"...The day he became infected, the gates of Lungmen were closed to him." Chen silently gripped her arm and said in a deep voice, "This is the path he chose, and of course, I also bear responsibility for agreeing to his decision."

“At least you should have told me about this.” Hoshiguma gazed into her friend’s eyes and said calmly, “I always thought he had died somewhere. I’ve been searching for him for the past year. It’s not uncommon for people to disappear without a trace in Lungmen.”

"The key to the informant protection program is that there is only one contact superior, and only one superior. His identity is not in the Guard Bureau's files, so he is safe unless I die. If I die, then his identity will be permanently fixed, and he can make the second choice."

Superintendent Chen said calmly, "This is the tragedy of Infernal Affairs."

Hoshiguma fell silent. She could understand, but she couldn't accept it emotionally.

"Hoshiguma, it's going to rain."

"Ok?"

“We don’t have time to make plans. Start the search immediately. If there are enemies, drive them out of the ambush.” Superintendent Chen said coldly. “There’s no need to hold back or take prisoners. Lungmen’s laws clearly state that we have the right to take military action in the event of foreign invasion.”

Hoshiguma nodded and suggested, "How about this, I'll go and destroy all the Reunion Movement's ambush sites and force them all out. Then you guys come to support us and wipe them out in one fell swoop."

How long will it take you?

Hoshiguma held up one finger.

Chen tilted her head, then raised her index finger, asking doubtfully, "Ten minutes? That's too long. XR02 would have been bleeding profusely by now—"

"One minute."

Before Chen could finish speaking, Hoshiguma interrupted her.

"You... you're just messing around! Destroy all the unknown ambush points in one minute by yourself? I know you're anxious for Afa, but don't let anger cloud your judgment!" Chen said irritably.

"Give me a minute, that's enough."

Hoshiguma gazed at Old Chen silently, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.

Believe me.

Hoshiguma's bright eyes seemed to speak.

Chen Huijie gripped the hem of her clothes. She hesitated for a few seconds, then said in a deep voice, "If you make even the slightest mistake, I will immediately order a general offensive. This is my bottom line. I cannot and will not allow you to be in danger."

"Got it, Old Chen, can I borrow your knife?"

Hoshiguma planted the Hannya in the ground and reached out his hand to Chen Huijie.

"Chixiao?"

"That's too powerful, I can't control it. Just lend me the standard longsword." Hoshiguma quickly shook his head. After the Crimson Sword went out of control, it was like a runaway straw harvester. The scene of Swire being accidentally injured while trying to save Old Chen was still vivid in his mind.

"You haven't used a sword in so many years, can you handle it?"

Old Chen drew her standard-issue longsword from the Guard Bureau. Her weapon was issued by the Guard Bureau, but she had personally reinforced and maintained it. Compared to other people's weapons, it was much sturdier; otherwise, with her unrestrained and bold swordsmanship, ordinary weapons wouldn't have lasted more than a couple of hits before shattering into pieces.

"Some things can't be completely forgotten just by letting go of them."

Hoshiguma took the weapon; compared to the Hannya, the standard longsword was as light as a feather. She held it in her hand, familiarizing herself with its feel. Perhaps because of her high compatibility with Old Chen, it didn't take her long to regain her mastery of the swordsmanship she had abandoned.

In the Eastern Kingdom, swordsmanship and knife skills are originally one.

"Then I'll be right back."

Hoshiguma smiled and turned to walk towards the warehouse.

Old Chen shook his head helplessly, looked at the police officers behind him, and scolded, "Each squad, follow Inspector Hoshiguma's instructions and act quickly."

"Yes!"

Hoshiguma heard the voice behind her and couldn't help but smile again.

Let her act capriciously, while subtly preparing to welcome her, even if it's a mistake, it doesn't matter.

Because she didn't want to be remembered for favors, she had to pretend that it was for the greater good and not a special treatment for each individual... This awkward way of expressing emotions makes one wonder how Chen Huijie spent her childhood.

"One minute."

Hoshiguma slowly closed her eyes, counting down the time in her mind.

A light drizzle fell from the sky, and the raindrops splashed gently on her shoulders.

Hoshiguma opened her eyes, her pupils vertical, and the phantom of the evil demon behind her let out a silent howl.

How many years has it been since I last held a sword?

Why are you forcing me to draw my sword?

The air trembled eerily, and the raindrops burst open as they fell, but without making a sound.

Hoshiguma's figure vanished, and the ground where she had stood suddenly collapsed, creating craters one after another. After a while, a heavy thud was heard, and the tremors materialized, causing a series of vibrations to emanate from the perimeter of the Muhe Warehouse.

Like a falling meteor, Hoshiguma charged into the anticipated ambush point of the Reunion Movement with terrifying force, bringing with her a ghostly and oppressive aura.

The Infected members of the Reunion Movement, despite being prepared for a surprise attack, trembled with fear, helplessly watching their enemies reap lives, unable to put up any resistance. Even the thought of fighting was swallowed up, leaving only despair.

Hoshiguma's eyes were like a blood-red tide rising, the tide rising continuously until it submerged her original eye color.

When she swung her first blade, cleanly and decisively decapitating her opponent, a surge of demonic energy rushed to the top of her head. She swung her second and third blades with almost no resistance. Hoshiguma's swordplay was hardly technical; unlike Chen Huijie, she hadn't spent years learning the Crimson Sky Sword Technique. She simply swung her weapon casually at her enemy—a simple and unadorned style of swordsmanship that even seemed to stop the rain.

As Hoshiguma left, a light drizzle began to fall, carrying away the crimson slime that had covered the ground.

"A ghost! A ghost!!"

"Help! Spare me! Spare me!"

"Don't come near me!"

The cries of Integrative infected echoed from the Muhe Warehouse—heart-wrenching wails of those on the verge of collapse.

Soon, the mournful howls disappeared.

The sound of fine rain masked everything.

One minute.

Not a second over, not a second under.

"Holy crap..."

The officer from the Guard Bureau squad stared in disbelief at the headless corpses scattered on the ground. He couldn't help but swear, "She...she was planning to wipe out the Reunion Movement's ambush site right away, wasn't she? We didn't even have time to provide support, and it's already over? That usually gentle and refined Commander Hoshiguma, that Inspector Hoshiguma who was ranked number one in the Guard Bureau for marriage, she...she's actually this fierce!"

"You're glad you didn't meet her five years ago, aren't you? I haven't seen her like this in a long time either," Chen replied subconsciously. She paused for a moment before realizing what she meant and pressed, "What do you mean by ranking her as the number one person the Guard Bureau most wants to marry? I can't pretend I didn't hear that!"

“This, this… Commander Chen, Inspector Hoshiguma seems to be waving at you.”

The officer blurted out something terrible, and quickly changed the subject! This was a secret kept by all the men in the Guard Bureau. If Chief Chen found out that they had made up some kind of ranking list in their spare time, and that Chief Chen's ranking was very low... he would die, he would definitely die, his colleagues would beat him to death!

"I'll settle accounts with you after this is all over."

Chen Huijie glared at him fiercely; how could she not know what these police officers were thinking?

Back in Victoria Guard Academy, there were some bored boys who had nothing better to do than discuss these things.

Not only that, Chen Huijie's roommates also gave her high marks. The boys called her "the one I want to eat red bean porridge she cooks every morning", "the one I want to drive a tractor with", and "the one who is the woman who can become my mother".

After things at Lungmen are over, it would be nice to visit some friends in Victoria.

Chen Huijie subconsciously thought to herself, but the most important thing now was to see how Hoshiguma was doing.

Outside the gate of the Muhe Warehouse, Hoshiguma stood quietly, her back looking somewhat lonely.

Whether it was from blood or rain, her clothes were soaked, and her waist-length hair clung to her body, making her look somewhat lonely.

Chen asked, "Do you need me to call a doctor to take a look?"

"Do I look injured?"

Hoshiguma forced a smile, but it looked terrible.

"Hmm." Old Chen nodded. "Although you don't look injured, you look terrible."

"It's nothing...it's nothing. I was just thinking about some bad things and why I fled from the East to Longmen."

Hoshiguma shook his head, swung the blood-stained standard longsword towards an empty space, shaking off most of the blood. He then tucked it between his left arm to wipe away the remaining filth before solemnly handing it back to Chen Huijie.

"Thank you. When I waved it, I felt as if you were supporting me from behind."