Chapter 16: The Ominous Forbidden Existence! The Special Departnt’s Overthinking!
“So cold!”
Ning Xin shivered as a chilling breeze swept past, crossing her arms for warmth while internally lanting the person who had reassigned her from logistics to combat.
Did they have no sense of chivalry?
Her complaint made Old Zhang pause mid-step as he prepared to open the door. The captain, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, snorted impatiently:
“Old Zhang, the guy just ca out of the house, and you still want to go in for an inspection? Are you trying to say you don’t trust him? You’ve got rocks in your head.”
Old Zhang froze montarily before stepping back to the doorway, quietly muttering, “No issues.”
Turning to Lu Yu, he apologised, “Sorry.”
Although not particularly articulate, Old Zhang recognised his mistake. Insisting on another inspection might have implied distrust toward Lu Yu, who had just exited the house.
“No problem,” Lu Yu replied with a casual wave of his hand. He hadn’t expected such politeness, especially from an Awakened individual. Their ability to apologise to ordinary citizens indicated admirable character.
Avoiding conflict was ideal; unless his secrets were exposed, Lu Yu had no intention of resorting to violence.
The captain nodded in acknowledgnt. “Let’s move on to the next house. We’ve got several more buildings to check.”
He turned and left, while Ning Xin lingered, glancing wistfully at Lu Yu’s handso face before waving goodbye and catching up.
Lu Yu watched her retreating figure with a tinge of regret. The girl was intriguing, and if not for the captain’s interruption, he might have gleaned valuable information.
Shrugging it off, he yawned and headed back inside to sleep.
anwhile, the trio from the Special Departnt continued down the hallway. As they reached a corner, Ning Xin turned to the captain and apologised:
“Sorry, Captain. I got carried away again. I promise it won’t happen next ti!”
The captain cast her a sideways glance and retorted, “The only way that’ll happen is if you sew your mouth shut.”
“It’s not that bad!” Ning Xin protested loudly, but under the weight of his gaze, she faltered, her eyes darting as she hastily changed the subject.
“Captain, do you really think an ancient entity has awakened in this city?”
The captain glanced at her, ensuring the hallway was empty, before replying coolly:
“Whether or not it has, you still have a job to do. Don’t even think about slacking off.”
Ning Xin flushed montarily but quickly recovered, countering, “I’m not trying to slack off! I just want to better understand the mission to perform it more efficiently.”
“And then go ho and play video gas, right? Your dad warned when he dropped you off—to make sure you see the harshness of the world instead of spending all day gaming.”
Her little sche was exposed instantly, leaving Ning Xin speechless. Rolling her eyes, she muttered, “Captain, don’t be like my old-fashioned dad. Gaming isn’t a bad thing; it’s a hobby, just like your smoking.”
The captain popped a piece of gum into his mouth, dismissing her protests with indifference. “Finish the mission, and I don’t care about your hobbies. But don’t leak classified information again, or you’ll face disciplinary action.”
If given a choice, the captain would rather not take won on missions. They could be indecisive, prone to panicking, and at tis outright disruptive.
“I only chatted a bit more because that guy was handso…” Ning Xin’s voice trailed off, and she quickly changed the subject under the captain’s disapproving glare.
“Let’s discuss how to locate this ancient entity instead.”
Blowing a bubble before resuming his gum-chewing, the captain retorted sarcastically, “You think an ancient entity is as common as cabbages? These beings transcend ti itself, wielding unimaginable power. And all we’ve been told is that the target carries a yellow balloon and wears a mask. Might as well look for a needle in the ocean.”
Ning Xin nodded thoughtfully. “So, we should focus on the balloon clue?”
“Wrong!”
The captain gave her a pointed look before explaining, “Our job is to assist affected residents. As for the mission, we’ll just let fate decide. Any clues we find, we report—no more, no less.”
“But isn’t that our assignnt?” Ning Xin asked, puzzled.
Taking a long drag from his cigarette, the captain exhaled a smoky ring before answering with a smirk, “Ever heard of slacking off? File a workplace injury claim now and then to get so extra compensation. Life’s pretty good that way. Why overwork yourself? Even if we find the target, there’s not much to gain. Better to wrap up early and go to bed.”
“Lazybones!” Ning Xin rolled her eyes but didn’t entirely disagree. She also wanted to go ho and get her beauty sleep, so she quickened her pace to follow.
Walking ahead, the captain gazed at the dark night sky through the corridor window, his playful deanour vanishing.
“I just don’t want anyone else to die…” he thought silently.
Ancient entities were not to be trifled with. Even without malicious intent, their re observation could invite calamity and doom.
He had learned this lesson the hard way, as all his forr comrades had perished in a previous encounter, leaving him as the sole survivor—not due to superior strength but sheer coincidence. He had been away on another task.
The profound sense of helplessness that ca from such insignificance was sothing only he could understand.
Old Zhang, aware of the captain’s past, couldn’t help murmuring to himself, “An ancient entity holding a balloon… What does it signify? The sky, air, or the moon…?”
Convinced there was hidden aning, Old Zhang resolved to comb through ancient texts for answers, though he might never realise the truth.
The balloon simply outshone its owner, with every incident attributed to it instead. The entire narrative was a product of their overactive imagination.
And so, the trio continued their mission, each lost in their own thoughts.
anwhile, the instigator of their speculation—Lu Yu—slept soundly at ho, oblivious to how his fabricated persona had been elevated by the re act of holding a balloon. Now, he was perceived as an enigmatic and omnipotent ancient being.
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