The early summer heat had settled over Dragon Pearl City like a heavy blanket, bringing with it the usual cycle of afternoon thunderstorms and evening humidity. In the weeks following the Bugong Garden incident, Mark Li and Lin Wei had found themselves adjusting to a new dynamic in their partnership—one that included not only their professional collaboration but also the deepening romantic relationship that had finally blossomed between them.
Their office now held small traces of their changed relationship—a second coffee cup on Mark's desk, a comfortable reading chair that Lin Wei had brought from her apartment, and most tellingly, the subtle way they instinctively reached for each other's hands during quiet moments. The space itself seemed brighter, more alive, filled with the quiet energy of two people who had finally acknowledged the love that had been growing between them for years.
"I still can't believe we finally admitted it," Lin Wei said one afternoon, looking up from the ancient text she was studying. "All those years of dancing around our feelings, and now it feels like we've been like this forever."
Mark smiled, reaching across his desk to take her hand. "Some things are worth waiting for. Besides, it makes facing supernatural entities a little easier when you know you have someone to come home to."
Their moment of domestic bliss was interrupted by the familiar sound of a news report coming from the small television Mark kept in the corner of the office. The volume was low, but the distinctive opening music of the evening news caught their attention.
The news anchor was speaking with unusual enthusiasm about a phenomenon that had been capturing the city's attention. "And in our top story tonight, the so-called 'Virtual Police' phenomenon continues to grip Dragon Pearl City. For the third consecutive night, witnesses have reported seeing semi-transparent, police-uniformed figures patrolling parks and public spaces after midnight."
Mark and Lin Wei exchanged glances, both immediately recognizing the potential supernatural implications.
"According to reports," the news anchor continued, "these 'Virtual Police' appear to be genuine police officers, but with an ethereal, almost holographic quality. They have been seen directing traffic, assisting lost citizens, and even preventing what witnesses describe as 'unnatural incidents.' However, when approached, they simply fade away or pass through solid objects."
"Virtual Police?" Lin Wei said, her expression skeptical but intrigued. "That sounds like something out of a science fiction story."
"Or a supernatural one," Mark added thoughtfully. "Semi-transparent figures, appearing only at night, performing police duties... that has all the hallmarks of spiritual manifestation."
The news report continued with footage taken by various witnesses—shaky mobile phone videos showing indeed what appeared to be ghostly police officers moving through the city's parks. The quality was poor, but the figures were clearly visible: police uniforms, authoritative movements, and the unmistakable presence of law enforcement officers, albeit in an unusual form.
"City officials have been quick to downplay the phenomenon," the anchor reported, "citing mass hysteria and the power of suggestion in the age of social media. However, police spokesperson Chen Wei had this to say."
The screen cut to a press conference where a middle-aged woman in a police uniform stood before a crowd of reporters. "While we cannot confirm the supernatural nature of these reports, we can assure the public that the Dragon Pearl City Police Department takes all reports of unusual activity seriously. We have increased patrols in the affected areas and are investigating the source of these sightings."
"Investigating?" Mark said with a wry smile. "I'll bet they are. This is exactly the kind of case that would confuse conventional law enforcement but fall right into our area of expertise."
As if on cue, Mark's phone rang. The caller ID showed Detective Wang Jun's name, confirming Mark's suspicion.
"Mark Li speaking," Mark answered, putting the call on speaker so Lin Wei could hear as well.
"Mark, I'm glad I caught you," Wang Jun said, his voice sounding more stressed than usual. "I need your help with something... unusual."
"The Virtual Police?" Mark guessed.
"You've heard about them then," Wang Jun said with relief. "The entire department is in chaos. Half the officers think it's a hoax, half think it's some kind of advanced technology, and a few are actually wondering if it might be... well, you know."
"Supernatural," Mark supplied. "What have you found out so far?"
"That's the problem—we haven't found anything substantial," Wang Jun admitted. "No physical evidence, no credible explanations. But the reports keep coming in, and they're getting more detailed. Last night, there were seven separate sightings across three different parks."
"And the police department's official response?" Lin Wei asked.
"Officially, we're treating it as a series of hoaxes and investigating accordingly," Wang Jun replied. "Unofficially, I'm worried. There's something about these reports that feels... different from your typical supernatural sightings."
"Different how?" Mark prompted.
"These Virtual Police aren't just appearing and disappearing," Wang Jun explained. "They're actively performing law enforcement duties. Last night, a group of teenagers were about to vandalize the east side park when one of the Virtual Police appeared and stopped them. The teenagers swear the officer was completely solid until they tried to touch him, at which point he simply faded away."
"That's not typical spirit behavior," Lin Wei realized. "Most spirits either don't interact with the physical world or, if they do, it's usually chaotic or uncontrolled. This sounds deliberate, purposeful."
"There's more," Wang Jun continued, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Two nights ago, there was an attempted mugging in Riverside Park. The victim was saved by one of the Virtual Police officers, who not only stopped the attacker but actually arrested him—handcuffs and all—before vanishing into thin air."
"Arrested him?" Mark said, leaning forward in his chair. "That's impossible. Spirits can't physically interact with objects enough to use handcuffs."
"Unless they're not ordinary spirits," Lin Wei suggested. "Unless they're something else entirely."
"Exactly my concern," Wang Jun said. "Look, I know this is asking a lot, but could you investigate? The department is getting overwhelmed with calls and media attention, and we're not making any progress with conventional methods."
"We'll start tonight," Mark promised. "Which park has had the most consistent sightings?"
"Central Park," Wang Jun replied immediately. "That seems to be their primary location. They appear most frequently between midnight and 3 AM, particularly near the old police memorial statue."
After ending the call, Mark and Lin Wei began preparing for their investigation. The Virtual Police phenomenon was intriguing because it represented something entirely new in their experience—spirits that were not just aware of their surroundings but actively performing duties they had held in life.
"What do you think they are?" Lin Wei asked, gathering their investigation equipment. "Police officers who died in the line of duty, still trying to protect the city?"
"Possible," Mark acknowledged, "but that doesn't explain the uniformity of their behavior or their ability to interact with physical objects. Most spirits who continue their earthly duties do so in a more obsessive, less functional way."
"Maybe they're not spirits at all," Lin Wei suggested. "Maybe they're something else entirely—some kind of thought-form, or perhaps a technological manifestation that we're misinterpreting as supernatural."
Mark considered this. "A technological explanation could make sense in some ways, but the way they're appearing only at night, the semi-transparent quality... that still feels supernatural to me."
As evening approached, they made their way to Central Park. The park was one of Dragon Pearl City's oldest green spaces, with mature trees, winding paths, and various monuments dedicated to the city's history. The police memorial statue that Wang Jun had mentioned stood in a quiet corner of the park—a bronze figure of a police officer from the 1950s, forever frozen in a pose of vigilance and service.
The park was different at night. The normal crowds of joggers and families had been replaced by a handful of late-night visitors and the occasional maintenance worker. The streetlights cast long shadows across the paths, creating pockets of darkness that seemed to pulse with potential supernatural energy.
"Can you feel it?" Lin Wei asked quietly, her supernatural senses reaching out into the darkness. "There's definitely something here. Not just spirits, but... purpose. Intention."
Mark nodded. "It's like the entire park is imbued with law enforcement energy. As if the very concept of protection and service has become a spiritual force in this place."
They found a good observation spot near the police memorial statue, where they could watch the main intersection of paths without being immediately visible. The statue itself seemed to be a focal point of the supernatural energy they were sensing.
"Look at the statue," Mark whispered, pointing with his chin. "The way the moonlight hits it... there's something almost alive about it tonight."
Lin Wei followed his gaze and realized he was right. The bronze statue seemed to have an unusual luminescence, as if it were somehow channeling or amplifying the spiritual energy in the area.
Around 1 AM, they saw the first one. A figure appeared near the intersection of two main paths, gradually materializing out of the darkness rather than simply walking into view. It was indeed a police officer, dressed in the current Dragon Pearl City Police Department uniform, but with the semi-transparent quality they had seen in the news footage.
"It's real," Lin Wei whispered, her voice filled with awe. "And look at that—that's not just a random spirit formation. That's Officer Zhang, I recognize him from the news coverage about his death last year."
Mark looked more closely and realized she was right. The Virtual Police officer bore a striking resemblance to Officer Zhang Wei, a young policeman who had died in the line of duty while responding to a robbery call. His death had been widely reported in the local media.
As they watched, more Virtual Police officers began to appear—one by one, materializing at different points throughout the park. There were five of them in total, each appearing gradually and taking up positions that suggested they were patrolling the area.
"They're not just appearing randomly," Mark observed. "They're appearing in strategic locations—near the entrances, around the darker areas, at intersections where they can observe multiple paths at once."
"This isn't spontaneous spiritual manifestation," Lin Wei realized. "This is organized. They're working together, like a real police patrol unit."
Over the next hour, they watched the Virtual Police perform their duties with increasing fascination. One officer guided a lost elderly woman to the park exit, his voice apparently audible to her despite his semi-transparent form. The officer held what appeared to be a spectral flashlight, creating a beam of soft blue light that illuminated the path for the confused woman, who smiled gratefully as if she were dealing with any ordinary helpful officer.
Another officer broke up a potential fight between two intoxicated men, using an authoritative tone that carried even in his spectral state. What impressed Mark was how the officer didn't simply threaten them with force but instead used de-escalation techniques that spoke of years of experience in dealing with difficult situations. He spoke calmly but firmly, explaining the consequences of their actions while also offering alternatives—suggesting they call friends for rides rather than attempting to walk home intoxicated.
The most impressive display came when a group of teenagers attempted to enter the park with skateboards after hours. Two Virtual Police officers approached them, not with threats or aggression, but with calm professionalism that spoke of years of law enforcement training. Mark noticed that one of the officers had a name tag that read "Officer Zhang"—the same Zhang Wei who had died in the line of duty the previous year.
"I'm sorry, kids," one of the officers said, his voice carrying clearly across the night air. "The park closes at 11 PM. You'll need to leave now."
"But you're... you're not real," one of the teenagers stammered, staring at the officer's semi-transparent form.
The officer smiled gently. "Whether I'm real or not, the rules still apply. Now, let's all be reasonable and head home for the night."
To everyone's surprise, including Mark and Lin Wei, the teenagers complied immediately, apparently convinced by the officer's authoritative presence.
"They have more influence than I would have expected," Mark whispered. "People are responding to them as if they were genuine police officers."
"Because they are," Lin Wei realized. "Not physically, perhaps, but in every other way that matters—the training, the authority, the sense of duty. That's what people are responding to."
Around 2:30 AM, something unexpected happened. One of the Virtual Police officers suddenly became agitated, moving quickly toward the darker section of the park near the old fountain.
"Trouble," Mark said, already standing up. "Something's happening."
They followed at a safe distance, watching as the Virtual Police officer approached a man who was lurking in the shadows near the fountain. The man was tall and thin, dressed in dark clothing, and he seemed to be watching a young woman who was walking alone on a nearby path.
"Excuse me, sir," the Virtual Police officer said, his voice carrying the authority of law enforcement. "Could I ask what you're doing here tonight?"
The man turned, and Mark felt a chill run down his spine. There was something wrong with the man's face—something subtly inhuman, as if it were a mask that didn't quite fit his features. And when he spoke, his voice seemed to echo strangely, as if coming from multiple directions at once.
"Just enjoying the night air, officer," the man said, his words polite but somehow menacing. "Is there a problem?"
"There is if you're planning to cause trouble," the Virtual Police officer replied firmly.
The man laughed, a sound that was genuinely disturbing. "Trouble? Officer, I don't cause trouble. I am trouble. And you, my friend, are exactly the kind of interference I was told to expect."
As he spoke, the man's form began to shift and distort. The transformation was horrifying to watch—it wasn't instantaneous but gradual, as if layers of human appearance were being peeled away to reveal the monster beneath. His features became more monstrous, his body elongating in unnatural ways that defied normal anatomy. His eyes began to glow with a faint red light, like embers in dying embers, and his fingers elongated into claws that seemed to be made of pure shadow rather than flesh.
In seconds, he had transformed into something that was definitely not human—a tall, gaunt creature with elongated limbs and claws that seemed to be made of shadow. The creature's skin was pale and corpselike, stretched tightly over a frame that seemed too large for it. Its movements were jerky and unnatural, as if it were a puppet whose strings were being pulled by some malevolent puppeteer.
"What in the world?" Lin Wei whispered, her hand instinctively reaching for a protective charm.
"It's a shapeshifter," Mark realized, his voice grim. "And not just any shapeshifter—something that feeds on negative emotions, probably fear and chaos."
The creature laughed again, the sound echoing through the quiet park. "You're more perceptive than most humans, detective. But your perception won't save you. The girl's fear will be quite delicious."
Before Mark or Lin Wei could intervene, the Virtual Police officer moved between the creature and the young woman who was still walking nearby, completely unaware of the danger.
"The girl will not be harmed tonight," the Virtual Police officer said, his voice calm but firm. "You'll have to go through me first."
The creature seemed to consider this for a moment, then grinned maliciously. "Through you? With pleasure. It's been too long since I've had the chance to feed on law enforcement energy. There's something particularly satisfying about corrupting the protectors of the weak."
The battle that followed was unlike anything Mark and Lin Wei had ever witnessed. The creature attacked with supernatural speed and strength, its claws and teeth seeming to leave trails of darkness in the air wherever they moved. Each swipe created ripples in what seemed to be the very fabric of reality, as if the creature's attacks were damaging the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds.
But the Virtual Police officer responded with training and skill that defied his spectral nature. Mark was amazed to see that the officer wasn't just fighting randomly—he was using actual police combat techniques, defensive maneuvers that had been developed for dealing with dangerous suspects. The officer moved with the fluid efficiency of someone who had spent years practicing self-defense and tactical response training.
What was most incredible was how the officer could alternate between spectral and physical form. When the creature's claws slashed toward him, the officer would become fully transparent, allowing the attack to pass through harmlessly. Then, when counterattacking, he would become solid enough to strike with what appeared to be a baton that glowed with spiritual energy.
He moved with the fluid efficiency of a seasoned law enforcement officer, using defensive tactics and restraint techniques that had been honed through years of police work. Even though he was semi-transparent, he seemed to have substance when needed, able to block the creature's attacks and respond with counter-moves that would have been impressive in any physical confrontation.
"He's fighting like a real police officer," Lin Wei said in amazement. "Not like a spirit at all. He's using actual police training."
"That's because he is a real police officer," Mark realized. "Or at least, he retains all the knowledge and training he had in life. But how? How is a spirit able to interact physically with the world?"
The other Virtual Police officers began to arrive at the scene, appearing from different directions and forming a coordinated response team. They worked together with the kind of efficiency that spoke of years of partnership and mutual understanding—communicating without words, covering each other's weaknesses, protecting each other's backs.
"This is incredible," Mark said, watching the spectral officers work together. "They're not just individual spirits—they're a functioning unit, a team."
The creature, realizing it was outnumbered and outmatched, tried to retreat. It made a desperate leap toward the trees, its shadowy form seeming to stretch and elongate in an attempt to escape. But the Virtual Police officers had already anticipated this move, surrounding it with supernatural speed and cutting off all escape routes.
"Where do you think you're going?" one of the officers asked, her voice calm but firm. "You're not leaving here until we've had a proper conversation about your intentions."
The creature growled in frustration, its form shifting and distorting as it tried to find a way out of the encirclement. It tried to dissolve into mist, to sink into the ground, even to climb a nearby tree, but each attempt was blocked by one of the Virtual Police officers who seemed able to anticipate its every move.
"You think you can trap me?" the creature snarled, its voice echoing with multiple overlapping tones. "I've been hunted by the best, and none have succeeded. What makes you spectral police officers think you can contain me?"
"We're not hunters," another officer replied, stepping forward with an air of authority. "We're protectors. And we're very good at our jobs. We've been dealing with threats like you for decades."
The creature's eyes widened in fear as it began to understand the true nature of its opponents. These weren't ordinary spirits or inexperienced ghost hunters—they were an organized, trained, and experienced supernatural law enforcement unit.
Mark and Lin Wei watched in amazement as the Virtual Police officers began to perform what appeared to be a kind of spiritual arrest. One officer produced what looked like handcuffs, but they glowed with a faint blue light and seemed to be made of pure energy. The officer approached the creature with the same careful precision that any police officer would use when apprehending a dangerous suspect.
"What are those?" Lin Wei asked, her eyes wide with wonder. "I've never seen spiritual equipment that complex before."
"Spiritual restraint devices," Mark guessed, leaning forward to get a better look. "They must have some way of manifesting their law enforcement tools in spectral form. But the complexity... this suggests years of development and refinement."
As the first officer secured the creature's arms, a second officer stepped forward with what appeared to be a spiritual reading device. The instrument, which looked like a combination of a scanner and a tablet, glowed with green light as the officer passed it over the creature.
"Subject is a class-four shapeshifter with strong chaos affinity," the officer reported, speaking into what appeared to be a spiritual radio. "No prior criminal record in the mortal realm, but multiple violations in the spiritual plane."
The creature struggled against the spiritual handcuffs, but the more it fought, the weaker it became. The handcuffs seemed to be drawing energy from it, neutralizing its supernatural abilities while simultaneously containing its physical form. Mark could see intricate patterns of light flowing through the restraints, like some kind of spiritual circuitry designed to neutralize specific types of supernatural threats.
"It's like they're designed specifically to deal with supernatural threats," Mark realized. "This isn't just ordinary police work—this is specialized spiritual law enforcement."
Once the creature was restrained, the Virtual Police officers gathered around it, their semi-transparent forms seeming to grow more solid and more defined. The spiritual energy that had been concentrated in each officer now seemed to be flowing between them, creating a unified field of protective power that made the air around them feel safer, more secure.
One of them pulled out what appeared to be a radio, though it too glowed with spiritual energy. The device looked like a 1940s police radio but with additional features that glowed with soft blue light. As the officer spoke into it, Mark could see waves of energy emanating from the device, traveling in directions that normal radio waves couldn't possibly follow.
"Dispatch, this is Unit 7," the officer said, speaking into the spiritual radio. "We have a 10-31 in progress at Central Park. Requesting spiritual backup and transport."
Mark and Lin Wei exchanged bewildered glances. Spiritual dispatch? Spiritual backup? What kind of supernatural law enforcement organization were they witnessing?
Before they could get any answers, the air around them began to shimmer and distort. A new figure began to materialize, appearing gradually out of the shadows like the Virtual Police officers had, but with a greater intensity and authority. This one was different from the others—taller, more substantial, and dressed in what appeared to be a police captain's uniform from the 1940s, complete with a peaked cap and insignia that spoke of rank and experience.
The figure had a commanding presence and an aura of authority that was almost overwhelming. Even Mark, who had faced down powerful supernatural entities before, found himself instinctively straightening his posture in the presence of this spectral officer. The figure's eyes held the wisdom of decades of law enforcement experience, and his form seemed more solid, more real than the Virtual Police officers—less transparent and more substantial, as if he had been doing this spiritual law enforcement work for a very long time.
"What's the situation here?" the captain asked, his voice carrying the weight of decades of law enforcement experience.
"Captain Chen," one of the Virtual Police officers reported respectfully. "We have a class-four shapeshifter attempting to prey on innocent civilians. The subject is restrained and awaiting transport."
Captain Chen nodded, then seemed to notice Mark and Lin Wei for the first time. His eyes widened slightly, and he approached them cautiously.
"You two," he said, his voice stern but not unkind. "You're the supernatural investigators I've been hearing about. Mark Li and Lin Wei, if I'm not mistaken."
"That's us," Mark confirmed, trying to maintain his composure in the face of this unexpected development. "And you would be?"
"Captain Chen Yuming," the spectral officer replied. "Dragon Pearl City Police Department, Spiritual Division, 1948 to 1952. Died in the line of duty during the Ghost Train incident of '52."
Mark and Lin Wei both gasped. The Ghost Train incident was a famous case in Dragon Pearl City's supernatural history—a disastrous police operation against a group of spirits that had been haunting the old railway station. Several officers had died that night, their names forever remembered in the department's history.
"You're the Ghost Train officers," Lin Wei realized. "The ones who..."
"Who died and then came back to finish the job," Captain Chen finished. "Yes. And we've been protecting this city ever since."
This was more than Mark had ever expected. Not just one or two spirits, but an entire unit of police officers who had died in the line of duty and returned to continue their service.
"How is this possible?" Mark asked, his mind racing with the implications. "How have you been operating all this time without anyone knowing?"
Captain Chen smiled wryly. "We're the Spiritual Division, detective. We specialize in cases that conventional law enforcement can't handle. We've been operating in the shadows for decades, dealing with threats that most people don't even know exist."
"But why reveal yourselves now?" Lin Wei asked. "Why suddenly start appearing in public?"
"Because the balance is shifting," Captain Chen explained seriously. "There's been an increase in supernatural activity recently—more threats, more dangers, more cases falling through the cracks. We decided it was time to increase our visibility, to let people know that protection is available even in the darkest hours."
The Virtual Police officers had secured the shapeshifter and were preparing to transport it to what appeared to be a spiritual holding facility. The process involved creating a portal of swirling energy that seemed to lead to another dimension entirely.
"Where are you taking it?" Mark asked.
"To the Spiritual Division headquarters," Captain Chen replied. "Where we deal with supernatural threats that are too dangerous to remain in the mortal world."
Mark and Lin Wei watched as the Virtual Police officers guided the struggling creature through the portal, which then closed behind them with a soft implosion of energy.
"You've been operating a secret police force for supernatural threats for decades," Mark said, still trying to process everything he had learned. "And we've been investigating the same kinds of cases without ever knowing you existed."
Captain Chen nodded sympathetically. "We've been watching you, both of you. You have a natural talent for this work, and you've helped maintain the balance in ways we couldn't always manage from our position in the spiritual realm."
"Why didn't you contact us before?" Lin Wei asked. "We could have worked together."
"Because the time wasn't right," Captain Chen explained. "The divisions between the mortal and spiritual worlds have been necessary for maintaining order. But recent events—your successful handling of the Heaven's First Cult, the Bugong Garden incident, even your encounter with the Blood Fox—have shown that the boundaries are becoming blurred. It's time for greater cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Mark asked. "What does that mean, exactly?"
"It means you're being offered a position," Captain Chen said, his expression serious. "As consultants to the Spiritual Division. You would maintain your independence as investigators, but you would have access to our resources, our intelligence, and our backup when needed."
Mark and Lin Wei exchanged glances. This was everything they had ever wanted—recognition for their work, support from a larger organization, access to resources that could help them handle more complex supernatural threats.
"There would be conditions, of course," Captain Chen continued. "You would need to maintain confidentiality about our existence. You would need to follow certain protocols when dealing with spiritual threats. And you would need to be available for consultation when we require your expertise."
"We accept," Mark said immediately, and Lin Wei nodded in agreement.
"Excellent," Captain Chen said with a smile that seemed to make his spectral form glow more brightly. "Welcome to the team, detectives. I think you're going to fit right in."
As the Virtual Police officers began to fade back into the shadows, resuming their patrol of the park, Captain Chen offered one final piece of advice.
"The world is changing," he said, his voice filled with the wisdom of decades of supernatural law enforcement. "The barriers between worlds are becoming thinner, and threats that once remained hidden are now emerging into the light. Your work is more important than ever."
He paused, then added, "And remember—just because you're working with the spiritual police now doesn't mean you can stop being detectives. Your greatest strength has always been your ability to understand both worlds. Don't ever lose that."
With those words, Captain Chen faded away, leaving Mark and Lin Wei alone in the quiet park with the weight of their new responsibility settling over them.
"This changes everything," Lin Wei said softly, taking Mark's hand. "Everything we thought we knew about supernatural investigation in this city..."
"It's bigger than we ever imagined," Mark agreed. "We're not just isolated investigators anymore. We're part of something larger, a network that spans both the mortal and spiritual realms."
As they walked out of the park, hand in hand, they both felt a sense of excitement and trepidation. Their world had just expanded dramatically, and with that expansion came new challenges, new dangers, and new opportunities to make a difference.
"You know," Lin Wei said with a small smile, "I always knew there was something special about Dragon Pearl City. But I never imagined it had its own supernatural police department."
Mark laughed. "Only in our city would the spirits of deceased police officers continue to serve and protect. It's actually kind of beautiful when you think about it."
"It is," Lin Wei agreed. "Deadly serious about law enforcement, even in death. That's dedication."
They continued walking, the weight of their new responsibility balanced by the excitement of the possibilities ahead. The Virtual Police of Midnight Park had revealed a world they had never known existed, and they were ready to explore it together.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them as they always had—with courage, compassion, and each other. And now, with the support of the Spiritual Division, they had the resources and backup they needed to handle even the most dangerous supernatural threats Dragon Pearl City could throw at them.
The night was still young, and the city was full of mysteries waiting to be solved. But for the first time, Mark Li and Lin Wei knew they weren't alone in their mission. They had allies in the most unexpected places, and together, they would keep their city safe from the darkness that lurked in the shadows.