A Night of Desperation-Chapter 234: Puzzle 232

“Among the mutants, there are some with actual strength. The other members each sensed something afoot with their forces. Especially Chen Xiguang—his three top subordinates have all started moving.

Moreover, in the science department, they just let someone into the city. Based on the appearance provided by our inside source, it should be Yu Hong who’s behind Lin Yiyi that has arrived.” The masked person continued.

“With the Black Blood People here, no one can stop us from completing the mission. Not to mention, the trend is now set. Even if the members have some suspicions, they wouldn’t dare make a move against the minister. After all, no one besides the minister can suppress the Black Disaster and secure the water source.

As for this Yu Hong who’s entered the city, even the other members wouldn’t dare to take action. What kind of disturbance can a slightly stronger mutant cause? You should have more confidence in our association’s executors.” The woman on the other side of the wristwatch spoke in a deep voice.

“At times like this, you sure are confident.” The masked person laughed.

“The reality is as such. You’re not unaware of the association’s strength,” the woman laughed too. “Even if the situation turns sour, our executors can join forces with the Black Blood People to forcefully eliminate all obstacles and complete the mission.”

“That won’t be necessary. There are our people in the other departments too. If they really consolidate their forces, it shouldn’t be a problem to take complete control with a sudden strike,” the masked person responded.

“The issue now is that we have searched the area several times… how could we… wait a moment!” Suddenly, the voice of someone else came from the woman’s side.

After a short conversation, the woman’s tone became urgent again.

“We’ve found them! They’ve entered the city! Detected several hidden drones! According to the flight records, they must have entered the city earlier!! Well done! They’ve really played me for a fool!”

“I’ll report to Sister Lei immediately and apply for a temporary city lockdown!” the masked person said swiftly. “You go into the city and catch them!”

“Okay!”

*

*

*

Science Department.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Yan Yuqiu, the person in charge of this division.”

In the silver-white enclosed metal room.

Yu Hong was brought in and immediately saw an elderly man in a gray coat wearing glasses.

The old man had a ponytail, snowy white hair, and an air of an artist about him with a smiling and amiable face.

He reached out for a handshake as soon as they met.

“I’m Lin Lan,” Yu Hong shook his hand with the other party.

“Lin Lan? Should I say Yu Hong? We have your specific characteristics sent over from Gray City. Although there are some differences in features, the overall hasn’t changed. We could make it out.” Yan Yuqiu smiled.

“You can recognize from that?” Yu Hong said in surprise.

“Yes, a little bit of integrated domain technology.” The old man gestured for a seat to talk. “Mr. Yu, I went through the information and have been paying attention to you for a while. I remember you’ve always stayed at your Black Wind Camp. Rushing such a long way to Aurora City, are you planning to settle here or…”

“I sensed someone trying to harm me,” Yu Hong said gravely, “I hope to meet my friend Lin Yiyi who is here.”

“Lin Yiyi from the Investigation Department, eh? She’s also had her physiological data analyzed here—a kind and good child. But it is said she went missing while out on an investigation not long ago.” Yan Yuqiu frowned.

“Doesn’t the other departments know anything about the Investigation Department?” Yu Hong asked.

“They are not clear. The separation between the major departments is very strong now. Only when there is a problem that requires accountability will it be brought up for resolution and discussion at the council.” Yan Yuqiu nodded. “So if you have any issues, you should go directly to the Investigation Department and contact the various levels of officials under Minister Xin Zhilei.”

“That’s too complicated. I came to the Science Department because I suspect Xin Zhilei herself is part of the problem!” Yu Hong frowned. “I’ve come here, to Aurora City, with two demands.”

He raised his finger.

“First, find my friend Lin Yiyi. If she is alive, I want to see her;if she’s dead, I want to see her body.”

“Second, I want to find out why I was attacked earlier and why there was a problem with the goods Xin Zhilei provided!”

Yan Yuqiu fell silent for a moment, then he was about to speak.

Suddenly, a deep electronic sound came from his body.

“Yan, I think I should come personally.”

Yan Yuqiu immediately stood up, took out a white square communicator from his pocket, and placed it on the table.

“Alright, Adili.”

He gestured to Yu Hong to look at the communicator then stepped back out of the room, carefully closing the door.

“I’m sorry to talk to you like this, Mr. Yu Hong.” Inside the communicator, Adili’s synthesized voice sounded quite sincere. “But as a minister, I bear a heavy responsibility and must avoid any potential risks or threats. I hope you can understand.”

“Minister Adili… Finally, someone who can make decisions,” Yu Hong stood up. “I hope my two demands can be resolved, no problem, right?”

“Human nature, I understand your demands. But… the current situation is not something I can decide on. Matters of the Investigation Department are always resolved internally. Only when it involves the other four departments will it be brought out for joint consultation and discussion. So, I have no authority to interfere with Minister Xin Zhilei’s jurisdiction,” Adili answered.

“Meaning you can’t resolve it?” Yu Hong raised an eyebrow.

“The situation now is, even if it can be resolved, it should not be done. Because… Minister Xin Zhilei holds the method to solve the water supply. Without her, the entire Aurora City would face water shortages.”

“So? Do I just have to bear it, unable to resolve my demands?” Yu Hong understood the implication.

“Not at all. When the timing isn’t so critical, these matters can be resolved later,” Adili persuaded. “You are well aware, the water demand for the entire Second Aurora City is enormous. If the supply is cut off, the hundreds of thousands of city residents will face grave problems.”

“…” Yu Hong fell silent.

Before he came, he thought he could directly find the root of the issue and resolve the problem swiftly. Going to the Science Department was merely to ascertain Xin Zhilei’s location and ensure he could have contact, but now it seems… the situation is more complex than he imagined.

“Mr. Yu, such matters can’t be hurried and need a long-term strategy,” Adili patiently counseled.

*

*

*

While Yu Hong was secretly discussing in the research department.

Somewhere in a secluded apartment building in Aurora City.

Xue Ningning and Deputy Commander Li Han, among others, watched the contents of the USB drive that Lin Yiyi had brought back.

The first file they clicked on opened to reveal a somewhat blurry video.

The video seemed to be shot inside a very spacious cave.

The dimly lit cave had rows of lit candles as the sole source of light.

An elderly woman with a pale face in a black robe stood in front of a huge white stone wall, holding an exquisite gold dagger in her hand.

The video was recorded from the side;it was impossible to see what was on the stone wall clearly, but one could see that the old woman was well-maintained, wearing expensive sapphire earrings and a complex, ornate gold ornament around her neck.

It was an ancient-looking ornament that, at first glance, differed from the typical golden necklace, which generally has a linear structure.

But this ornament had multiple layers, at least ten chains woven into a net, with various peculiar gold symbols or characters as decorative accents.

“As number one, and the first, I volunteer to begin the ceremony and set an example for everyone.”

The elderly woman raised the gold dagger and gently made a small cut on the skin under her neck.

Blood immediately began to seep from the small cut.

She dipped her fingers in the blood and started to write something on the stone wall. At the same time, she muttered something, as if chanting.

“No! You can’t do this!!” suddenly, a panic-stricken male voice interrupted the video.

“Hold him down! Don’t let him disrupt the ceremony!!” someone yelled.

Immediately, a commotion of scuffling and angry shouts erupted.

Bang.

With a gunshot, everything fell silent.

“You Meisha family have been guarding this secret for generations but never learned to utilize it, to grow your own power. Such a waste!” The old woman stopped chanting, her eyes cold as she seemed to be talking to someone.

“So that’s why we need reform.” Off-screen, a calm male voice gently rose.

“Don’t worry, my people won’t kill indiscriminately, just quieting him down,” the old woman said indifferently.

“It’s okay. There’s always some opposition within the family that I can’t eliminate. Having them disappear as collateral is not a bad thing,” the male voice seemed to be in a good mood, completely indifferent to the life and death of his family members.

“Next, number two.” The elderly woman turned around, extended the gold dagger, and handed it to a person standing in the shadow behind her.

Snap.

The video ended there.

In the room, Xue Ningning swallowed hard.

“That old woman… I think… I recognize her…”

No one responded.

Like her, they were in a state of profound shock.

Because they recognized that old woman, too.

“That looks like… the Prime Minister of Willance… Mrs. Eheraf!” Li Han’s voice was hoarse.

Visit freewebnoveℓ.com for the best novel reading exp𝒆rience.

Willance Kingdom and the Free Federation are two of the strongest powers in the world, second only to the two mightiest nations, the East River and Fulika.

If Willance and the Free Federation were to join forces, even East River or Fulika alone would not dare to take them lightly in a head-to-head confrontation.

Both in terms of land area and population as well as overall technological and military capabilities, these two nations were only slightly less powerful than the top two.

And if this video held any truth, it meant that… the current Prime Minister of Willance, Mrs. Eheraf, had long been plotting with the Meisha family.

“Mrs. Eheraf is still the sole head of the new Aurora City in Willance, right…?” a female team member couldn’t help but quietly remind everyone.

The shadow in everyone’s hearts grew heavier.

“Quick, look at the other files! With so many files, we have to figure out what exactly they’ve done! Who was involved!” Li Han suddenly came to his senses.

“Okay!” Xue Ningning quickly clicked on the second file.

Meanwhile, at that very moment, a squad of armed troopers clothed in black stealthily entered the ground floor of the apartment building.

“Based on the surveillance footage reviewed, we estimate they’re in this building,” the leader of the squad murmured softly.

“Which room specifically?” another team leader asked.

“Can’t confirm.”

“Then search each home. If you find anyone, shoot them on the spot. Remember, act fast to avoid making too much noise. And if the USB drive is found, it must be immediately isolated and taken away.”

Swoosh!

Over twenty people in black quickly spread out, some heading through the elevator, others climbing through the stairwells, beginning their house-to-house search, converging on the sixth floor where Lin Yiyi and the others were.