Chapter 26: For What Do We Fight?
On a moonless, starless night, a lone car sped toward the criminals' hideout—or perhaps their lair. Inside sat an unard man who had narrowly escaped death hours earlier and another whose heart was heavy with loss as he searched for his missing wife. Outside, the wind howled over the restless waves, creating a scene that should have been somber, tense.
But Shi Rang's passenger made sure of anything but seriousness.
THE-SPECTER couldn't sit still after climbing into the car. It was as though staying in one spot for more than a second would kill him. He fidgeted, squird, struck poses, and even tried to unbuckle his seatbelt to climb into the backseat multiple tis before Shi Rang barked at him to stay put. Even then, THE-SPECTER kept peppering Shi Rang with nonstop chatter.
The interior of the car was dimly lit, barely enough to make out the sharp contours of THE-SPECTER's face. Shi Rang suspected the man had sared black paint on his skin underneath the mask, which explained his unnaturally dark appearance—a detail that sohow fit perfectly with this strange character.
At twenty-eight years old, Shi Rang had never considered himself particularly old. Yet sitting next to THE-SPECTER, he felt ancient. Despite the youthful timbre of the man's voice, his behavior seed childish—like a kindergartener trapped in an adult's body.
This constant disruption scattered whatever sadness Shi Rang had been nursing earlier. His thoughts about the investigation dissolved under the weight of THE-SPECTER's relentless energy.
"Do you know the latest Spider-Man ga? The embodint of justice highly recomnds it!"
"Uh…"
"The final battle scenes are epic—though last year's version has better gaplay, albeit with retro graphics! What do you think of the romance subplot?"
"Well… I've actually never played any Spider-Man gas."
"What?! You must try it! Justice demands it—you won't regret it!"
These gaming recomndations were among the sanest parts of their conversation.
As the seat creaked incessantly beneath THE-SPECTER's movents, veins throbbed visibly on Shi Rang's forehead. But since THE-SPECTER was guiding them, Shi Rang gritted his teeth and endured.
After what felt like the hundredth declaration of justice, THE-SPECTER suddenly shifted gears. "Agent of justice, you fight alone and are not the embodint of righteousness. Why do you stand against evil?"
Shi Rang hesitated, unsure if he should open up. Focused on navigating the dark road, he glanced sidelong at his eccentric passenger. "If I tell you the truth, will you quiet down?"
THE-SPECTER mid zipping his lips shut. "You can always trust THE-SPECTER!"
"I…" Shi Rang took a deep breath, gathering the strength to speak. "I'm looking for my wife. She disappeared."
"Did she fall victim to evil?"
"Perhaps…"
The urge to share overwheld him. Over the past two years, he'd rarely spoken of this story. His investigations led only to dead ends and cold stares from neighbors, friends, and acquaintances—all repeating the sa lie.
But now, embarking on such a perilous mission where death lood around every corner, Shi Rang found the words spilling forth.
"We t in college and went from campus sweethearts to newlyweds. Life was hard back then—I'd lost my residency status and nearly got deported. My job paid peanuts during those early days, but despite all that… we married anyway. No marriage certificate, no money for a real wedding—just a small gathering of close friends. No honeymoon either; I could only take her to a nearby attraction for a day trip. But she stayed by my side through it all."
"What a happy couple," THE-SPECTER said sincerely, abandoning his theatrical tone for once.
"She truly was the best person you could ever imagine. Perfect in every way."
Facing the monotonous stretch of road illuminated by the headlights, Shi Rang couldn't help but smile softly, transported back to those difficult yet joyful tis.
"A few months after our wedding, we decided to buy a house—an old one. It was perfect, and the landlord was kind enough to let us pay in installnts. Still, we couldn't afford the down paynt. Between student loans and other debts, we barely scraped by, living in subsidized housing. I gave her so little…"
"And then…" Shi Rang paused, his eyes lighting up. "One day, out of nowhere, she showed up with the keys to that house. She was an incredible artist—one of the most talented I've ever seen. Secretly, she earned regional artist certification and secured a massive grant from a charity fund!"
His voice brimd with pride as he recounted the mory.
"That grant allowed us to buy the house, keeping the mortgage manageable. It wasn't just a ho—it was ours. Later, my career stabilized, though honestly, I earned less than her. She beca world-renowned, a true artistic genius!"
THE-SPECTER nodded enthusiastically in the passenger seat, absently fidgeting with his fingers.
But happiness hadn't lasted forever. As Shi Rang continued, his expression darkened, as if reliving the pain drained him entirely.
"Two years ago, she encountered a thief in the park and got him arrested. The very next day, she vanished."
"The police told she left voluntarily, claiming she immigrated to another district. Surveillance footage was patchy—so caras ‘malfunctioned,' losing critical data."
"I scoured every street, questioned everyone, but they all lied to . They urged to accept that she left willingly, to stop pestering them. Lies, all lies. I knew it."
"Only recently did I learn that the thief belonged to Blue Signal. And these criminals might target recipients of charitable grants…"
Shi Rang closed his eyes briefly, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he forced himself to focus ahead.
"So, I must find that thief—Greyhound—and confront him directly. I need to know what happened that day. I'll find her, no matter the cost."
Though slight in stature, Shi Rang radiated a desperate intensity—a madness born of love and loss. Many would recoil from such reckless determination, but Shi Rang had nothing left to lose. With no family except Yingshang, whether reporting the news or risking his life mattered little to him.
His thoughts weren't about self-preservation—they centered solely on reclaiming the light she brought to his life.
"I'll help you, Mud Truck." THE-SPECTER's exaggerated tone softened, replaced by unwavering resolve. "Protecting such light is why justice exists!"
"Thank you."
Having soone beside him offered Shi Rang unexpected comfort. Though bizarre and shrouded in darkness, THE-SPECTER exuded an infectious enthusiasm—a fiery passion that fueled Shi Rang's resolve to press onward.
True to his word, THE-SPECTER stopped fidgeting and shouting, sitting quietly instead. After a while, Shi Rang almost felt guilty, as if he'd restrained the man to his seat.
"The term THE-SPECTER is tricky to pronounce. How about sothing simpler—like ‘Masked Hero'?"
"No problem at all! Just as ‘Mud Truck' suits you, ‘Masked Hero' suits THE-SPECTER. Heroes often have many aliases!" Masked Hero leaned forward, pointing excitedly at a fork in the road. "Take the lower route—the stench of evil grows stronger."
Shi Rang's original plan was to call the authorities once they located the site. He placed his phone on the dashboard as they turned onto a desolate suburban road. Soon, the headlights revealed a rusted, broken fence stretching into impenetrable darkness beyond.
"This is it. Evil lurks here," Masked Hero whispered.
Shi Rang followed the fence, searching for an entrance. Three minutes later, they reached a gap wide enough for humans to pass through. But as he surveyed the area, doubt crept in.
This wasn't a standalone warehouse like near the coast—it was an abandoned industrial zone sprawling across Pingyuan City's outskirts. A faded sign indicated its size: seventy square kiloters.
Now, they had to hunt ard rats in this vast, decaying steel jungle.
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