It was an otaku's blissful dream.
Perhaps, with his increased strength, his mind had also settled considerably. He no longer had that strange dream of going to Vienna's Golden Great Hall to perform "The Little Widow Visiting The Grave".
After waking up, he sat in the garden and practiced the piano for two hours, as usual, before Huai Shi received a call from Ai Qing.
"Come out now and wait at the door. Someone will pick you up," she said. "We've found a trace of King Ocean."
They didn't even need the state apparatus. Once the Xinhai Special Affairs Office mobilized, it was as if an inescapable net had been cast over the entirety of Xinhai. Ai Qing conducted Sublimator surveillance through the Astronomical Society, while the Special Affairs Department used its channels among ordinary people. As the two sides began to cooperate, the entirety of Xinhai transformed into a glass fishbowl, everything within it laid bare.
Under his almost insane provocation, in just over a day, the entire transient population from outside the city had been thoroughly screened. After local individuals with criminal records were dragged out and interrogated multiple times, they finally found King Ocean's whereabouts through ubiquitous surveillance and extensive searches.
It was an abandoned manor on a desolate mountain outside the city.
In short, it was the second-ranked Haunted House in Xinhai...
When Huai Shi learned about this, he was so amused he almost laughed out loud.
Damn it, what are you guys plotting? Trying to steal the top spot on my Haunted House ranking?
Once King Ocean's movements were confirmed through surveillance, the Special Affairs Department sprang into action. Numerous tough guys, armed to the teeth and raring to go, jumped into their vehicles, all set and ready. Director Fu really seemed to be fuming over the bomb incident.
After Huai Shi arrived, he was stuffed into Ai Qing's car and they headed towards the city outskirts. Within half an hour, Huai Shi, bewildered after being shoved into a bulletproof vest and Helmet, arrived at the base of the desolate mountain.
"Satellite surveillance is complete. There are traces of human activity inside the manor."
An on-site scout returned to report, "There's a target whose physique closely matches King Ocean's, but it's unconfirmed. Should we deploy a drone?"
"Drones are too easily spotted," Director Fu said, peering through binoculars for a long while before discussing an attack plan with his subordinates based on the manor's map. As a member of the Astronomical Society and its only available Sublimator, Huai Shi was also assigned to the first group set to enter the manor, now shivering.
"How does this thing work? Where's the safety?"
He tried to pretend he didn't recognize the automatic rifle in his hands, harboring a faint hope of escaping the situation. But his attempt resulted in him being bundled into a vehicle by the tough guys.
"Wait, I'm a victim too! Why do I have to participate in the Offensive..." he clutched the door, refusing to get in, and wailed loudly. "If you need a Sublimator, go find Old Liu! Old Liu is so powerful! One glare from him and no one would be left breathing. I'm just a cellist who can only summon an Axe and make a fool of himself. Please spare me... FUCK, don't hit me! Not the face, hey! I've performed meritorious service for Xinhai! I've bled for the Astronomical Society! I want to see Ai Qing! I want to see Ai Qing!"
"..."
Ai Qing, sitting in the car, expressionlessly shifted her gaze away, trying hard not to sigh. "Forget it. Just let him come with me."
Director Fu couldn't bear to watch anymore. He waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to stop manhandling Huai Shi. If they continued, the little brat would start yelling things like, "The Special Affairs Department is assaulting people!" or other such ridiculous claims.
Tsk... What are these young people thinking nowadays?
Liu DongLi used to be so reliable, braving any danger, willing to venture into a Dragon Pool Tiger Den for a reduced sentence. If I had known, I should've arrested this guy and sentenced him for a few years too.
He sighed and looked down at the blueprint on the table.
The abandoned manor on the mountain had been around for some years. In fact, there were many such deserted buildings near Xinhai. Most were built during a prosperous period more than ninety years ago when Xinhai's economy was booming. However, as the economy worsened, the number of wealthy individuals dwindled, and the local real estate industry subsequently declined.
Countless buildings under construction became unfinished projects; even now, a Dragon Horse Building in the old city area remains incomplete.
Chronologically, it was from the same era as the Stone Marrow Pavilion.
But unlike Huai Shi's unfortunate stewardship, this place had fallen into decay long ago, battered by wind and rain. Only a few Tomb Guardians remained, modestly repairing a few houses for accommodation. Later, due to rumors of it being haunted, even the graveyard lost its caretakers and fell into complete disrepair.
Now, according to satellite surveillance, there were traces of several people moving within the dilapidated manor. Apart from King Ocean, other Sublimators could be present.
It was likely that the Savior Association's remaining core members were hiding here, possibly with reinforcements sent by the organization behind them. The thought of some new lunatic stirring up trouble in Xinhai made his head throb.
"Is everyone prepared?"
After triple-checking, Director Fu also inspected his weapons and bulletproof vest, then took the lead, boarding the vehicle with the first assault team.
"Are we starting the operation just like this?"
Ai Qing seemed perplexed. She quickly raised her hand. "Wait a moment, I need to make a call."
「. . .」
Meanwhile, within the ruins of the nearly collapsed main building's fourth floor in the abandoned manor on the mountain, a shadowy figure lay prone behind a broken wall, peering down the mountain through binoculars.
"Are you sure that guy from the Astronomical Society will take the bait?"
The Observer, nervously clutching his phone, asked, "We've been waiting here for two days. How come we haven't seen hide nor hair of him?"
"Don't be impatient, it's almost time," King Ocean's voice came over the phone. "I deliberately made a tour of the city. If they don't notice that, the Special Affairs Department might as well disband."
"The Lord is giving you one last chance," the Observer said irritably. "You'd better think about how to atone for your sins. I really don't see the point in capturing that Little Brag."
As he spoke, he softly whistled twice, soothing the Shadow Beasts hidden in the ruins above. The beasts were stirring, as if they had scented fresh blood.
"You only have leverage in negotiations when you have a hostage, you idiot!"
King Ocean's voice on the phone grew impatient. "If we're lucky, we might wipe out Xinhai's entire Astronomical Society in one go! What plans couldn't we accomplish then? They're heading up the mountain, and the Special Affairs Department's forces are with them. You guys better not screw anything up."
"Four Sublimators, ten Shadow Beasts, and over ninety Avenging Demons—even if the Special Affairs Department's forces show up, they won't have an easy time."
The Observer revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "I'm eager to see if that pretty-boy Cowherd and that crippled woman are as formidable as you claim."
CLICK.
The call disconnected.
The eerie shadow curled up in the darkness, concealing all its presence like a hibernating snake. The entire manor fell silent in an instant, devoid of any sound.
The chirping of birds and insects resumed, making the ruins seem even more sinister.
The speeding convoy halted abruptly on the mountainside. At their position at the foot of the mountain, someone set up a mortar. Following commands, it roared like thunder.
Soon, shells rained down from the sky, blasting the entire eastern side of the manor ruins to smithereens. Huge craters were exposed amidst clouds of swirling dust.
Still, there was no unusual movement, only faint screams of panic could be heard from within the manor.
"Continue?" asked Director Fu, peering through his binoculars from the passenger seat.
"Wait a moment." Ai Qing, in the car, looked up toward the manor with an expressionless face, lifted her phone, and said to the person on the other end, "I need a Longsword for cleanup."
「Three minutes later,」
A mournful wail sounded in the sky.
The dark silhouette of a Steel Flying Bird burst through the clouds, roaring past the speed of sound as it streaked above the earth. From beneath its wings, a pure white steel arrow arced downwards, plummeting towards the ground.
In that moment, the figure crouching on the rooftop stared, eyes wide with shock.
What the hell is that?
BOOM.
The object landed.
The next instant, a violent roar and a blaze erupted from the earth, shaking the entire mountain. Amidst the surging flames and sweeping pressure, the ruined manor once again groaned under the ferocious assault.
In the horrendous explosion, the shockwave completely crushed the manor into rubble, while countless steel fragments scattered death in every direction, accompanied by continuous sharp, piercing sounds.
A massive crater appeared in the very center of the manor. Molten earth, turned to lava, flowed over the charred land, while noxious fumes and dust spread on the violent winds.
A missile!
Before anyone could react, a low whistling sound tore through the air once again.
The shadow of the Steel Flying Bird returned.
After dropping something from the air, it flew off towards the horizon, leaving only a muffled BOOM to reverberate through the sky.
Then, streaks of white smoke, accompanied by descending objects, trailed towards the earth. It resembled a tree growing upside down.
It was as if cruel Angels were shedding their feathers from the clouds. Sacred light and pure white fog enveloped the land, bringing indiscriminate incineration and destruction.
A terrifying temperature burst forth the instant the eerie projectiles landed, with blue and crimson flames erupting from within. The scorching Burning Wind enveloped every corner like a thin white veil, engulfing everything in its path with horrendous fire.
Flames danced wildly on the earth, on the stones, through the ruins, and in flesh. The heat, capable of melting steel, produced toxic smog and dense fog that ravaged the lungs.
In just an instant, the devastation wrought by the White Phosphorus Incendiary Bombs descended upon the ruins. Dancing phosphorus vapor and torrents of fire, flowing like water, penetrated every crevice.
Burn, burn, burn.
First came the missile's terrifying impact, followed by the searing heat of white phosphorus, and finally, a toxic fog that annihilated all living things.
The entire mountaintop was shrouded in destruction.
On the mountainside, everyone gaped at the scene of devastation. They witnessed dozens of monstrous entities, each several meters tall, screaming as they fled the flames. They struggled and writhed on the ground, trying to scrape the teal flames off their whitened bones, only for the vicious fire to reignite from within their marrow.
Eventually, they collapsed, motionless, leaving only remains that slowly carbonized in the fire, accompanied by the sound of bones shattering in the conflagration.
"..."
The group stared dumbfounded at the ruins before them. Director Fu turned to Ai Qing. "You don't want any survivors? Weren't White Phosphorus Incendiary Bombs banned?"
"Only those who survive count as survivors," Ai Qing said calmly, waving her hand. "Anyone who preaches humanitarianism to terrorists definitely has a screw loose."
"..."
"Alright, we can move in now," Ai Qing instructed, finally glancing at Huai Shi. "We can go in now. You're coming, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Huai Shi nodded vigorously. "I am a brick of the Astronomical Society; wherever I'm needed, I'll go! Hey, someone bring me my Fire Kirin AK!"