Chapter 220: Here I Am
The water glass crashed to the floor. The boiling water and splintered glass flew everything. Jing Tuoshen’s fingertip bled, but he didn’t seem to notice it as he stared at the screen. No one around him dared to speak. They stood there with their heads lowered. No one expected Situ An to reveal these things. He pushed all the crimes to the investigation centre. Even if he died, he wanted to pull everyone down with him.
After watching Situ An’s last video, some of the lower-level investigators started to waver. To explore the anomalies, they risked their lives in exchange for information. They didn’t ask for power or money. They did it because they were proud to be humans. It was not that they had no fear, but something inside their hearts helped them overcome the fear. That thing was the faith and responsibility given to them by the investigation centre.
Now that Situ An had exposed the conspiracy, some investigators realised that their sacrifices weren’t exchanged for the safety of Han Hai but for the private benefits of the selected few. Faith was the only weapon the investigators had against the ghosts. It was the source of their courage. However, this source had been poisoned.
The chiefs present didn’t know what to say. They knew about the corruption within the centre, but they were not as ‘brave’ as Situ An to expose anything.
“Situ An!” The chilling voice was squeezed out between the teeth. Jing Tuoshen touched his communicator and hissed, “Send all the free investigators to the east city investigation centre. Contact the network safety department. Have them take down all the information in half an hour. Then, release the report we have on Situ An.”
“Isn’t that a bit late?” Chen Tianyun sighed, “Even if Situ An has done some horrible things, wouldn’t you just follow his wishes if you expose them now? People will only think we’re slandering him.”
“Then, what do you think we should do?”
“Do not resist it. Try to calm the situation. Tell the citizens to stay at home to lower the injury and fatality rate.” Chen Tianyun frowned, “Our enemies are not mindless monsters. In fact, they are very clever. They are very good at manipulation and disguises. The battle started a long time ago, but we only saw the anomaly on the surface. We didn’t discern the real danger.” The other chief, Chen Guan, said, “Ol Chen is right. The influence of the shadow world is the most troublesome. Perhaps many people in this city have already been transformed, like Situ An.”
“This is the battle between two worlds. Han Hai happens to be in the middle of the crossfire. I wish to request aid from Xin Lu and Jiujiang…” Chen Tianyun was stopped by Jing Tuoshen.
“The other cities are not doing so well. Xin Lu has done its best to help us. As for Jiujiang… they might not be on our side.” Jing Tuoshen wiped away the blood from his finger. “Put away your anxiety and tiredness. This is not the time for despair. Even if the citizens are temporarily fooled by Situ An, it doesn’t matter. In the end, they can only rely on the investigation centre. They can only worship one god, and that is us.”When Jing Tuoshen called Han Hai Citizens as they, Chen Yuntian and Chen Guan felt a sort of way, but they couldn’t do anything.
The video on the screen changed. Situ An’s final monologue was cut off to be replaced by the east city investigation centre. Then, Jing Tuoshen received the SOS message from Fu Ning. The inside of the east city investigation centre was fully out of control. The guards all vanished. The whole building became a horror story.
Fu Ning’s anxiety on the phone was a huge contrast to the livestream of the situation outside the East City investigation centre. The crowd of protestors maintained the order. There were some investigators who guided the crowds. They gave away umbrellas. Everything looked fine.
“Wait. Are you saying those investigators on Queens Street are not from the east city?” Jing Tuoshen gained shocking information from Fu Ning. “Then, where do they come from?”
“Many investigators disappeared in the shadow world. They have returned! They have returned as ghosts!” Fu Ning screamed as he ran around the building to look for his two sons.
Thanks to Situ An, the city’s eyes were on the east city investigation centre. Jing Tuoshen’s eyes narrowed. A middle-aged woman in the crowd removed the hat from her raincoat. She looked at the camera excitedly. Her face had no eyes and nose, only four mouths!
As if to prove that Situ An was right, the anomaly appeared before everyone’s eyes. Auntie Four-Eyes bent her body and then cackled madly. At the same time, endless ghosts appeared in the shadow of the street. They radiated Yin energy. The protestors were like shocked sheep. They started to run without purpose. Screams and cries echoed through the night. The image was impactful. The fear affected not only the protesters but also the entirety of Han Hai.
The investigators didn’t come out to protect the citizens. Jing Tuoshen had sent most of them to capture the students of Class 13. Those who stayed behind had to deal with Xia Yang. Despair spread. Everyone was running, but no one could find the exit.
A child screamed. A girl was separated from her parents. She was knocked to the ground and couldn’t get up. If no one helped her, she would be trampled to death. Pain came from everywhere. She screamed for her mom until her throat was sore. She was about to faint when a pair of hands held her up.
“Don’t be scared.” The gentle voice came from behind the mask. Gao Ming was like a rock in the sea. He didn’t budge, no matter how big the waves were. Then, more people in strange masks came over. When the investigation centre lost control of the situation, these horror game players took over.
Many citizens saw this. When tragedy came, it was these people in strange masks who took on the ghosts.
As if sensing something, Gao Ming, who hugged the girl, turned to look at the camera in front of the east city investigation centre. He seemed to see Jing Tuoshen behind the camera.
“Aren’t you looking to capture people from Class 13? I’m the English Representative from Class 13, Qian Junran. I’m right here.”