Chapter 238: Anomaly
Chapter 238: Anomaly
Chen Chuan approached his target area and found himself in a residential settlement. The houses were old, the street railings were peeling paint, the connecting rods were dented from being stepped on, and the streetlights had long been damaged. Only a few scattered pedestrians walked the streets.
Using his Boundary Token, he saw very little light and shadow effects, indicating that most residents here likely lacked Citizenship status.
He checked his token again, and according to the previous location, the incident occurred less than 200 meters away, behind a building.
Besides the suspicious commission, he also found related news reports mentioning that this area often had large numbers of dead birds.
This alone wasn't alarming; it could be anything from a leak to the birds getting sick, or even flying into unrecognizable windows.
However, after each such incident, many locals claimed to see a giant bird shadow soaring overhead.
Some people who went to investigate reported seeing a person with a human head and a bird's body standing behind them in window reflections, smiling at them. But when they turned back, nothing was there.
These news stories were eerie and eye-catching, but most citizens treated them as mere oddities, and few seemed to follow up on them.
Although there was a commission to investigate the incident, the source didn't appear to be a local; it seemed more like a wealthy individual satisfying their curiosity.
Chen Chuan quickly located the spot where the birds had fallen—on the rooftop of a crowded tenement building. In the corner, he could still see many feathers covered in filth and dust.
At that moment, he noticed numerous seemingly patterned graffiti on the distant railings.
He walked over and examined them closely, only to find that they were Esoteric Sect symbols.
So, this wasn't an urban legend but... an Esoteric Sect ritual? Based on his judgment, the symbols were amateurish, merely crude imitations of certain patterns.
Esoteric Sect symbols weren't something just anyone could draw; to achieve the intended effect, one needed extreme precision and intense emotional investment, knowing exactly what they were doing and what they wanted.
With confused emotions and unclear purpose, the chaotic drawings would likely only make someone sleepy. However, many in Central City seemed to have a habit of drug abuse. If someone overused drugs and then came here, the influence could intensify, leading to various hallucinations.
Regardless of the cause, after walking around the area, Chen Chuan's Second Self didn't manifest any virtual shadows, indicating that either the haunt didn't exist or had already been cleared.
He wasn't disappointed by this; when he left, he had prepared himself mentally, not expecting to confirm the situation in one go. This was just the first location he was checking today; he still had several more places to visit. So, he left the rooftop and exited the residential area.
At that moment, on the outskirts of the settlement, over a dozen individuals armed with various tools and weapons had gathered and, on the leader's orders, dispersed to hide in the surroundings.
The leader observed the scene leisurely; this wasn't their first time doing this. His men were experienced and unlikely to make mistakes.
He could tell at a glance that Chen Chuan was of moderate means, with a mid-range Boundary Token. He probably wasn't very wealthy and might have come to Central City to seek out a relative.
They had seen many like him: obtaining temporary residence permits through guarantors, then scrambling to find work before their qualifications expired.
Even if they lost their Citizenship status, most employers wouldn't dismiss them; instead, they'd be happy to hire them at lower wages. This way, they could work people to the bone without assuming any responsibility.
Their target might have even practiced combat techniques, but that wasn't a problem; they weren't new to dealing with fighters.
Young fighters, in particular, made excellent targets. Youth implied limited strength, and fighters meant healthy and robust organs and altered tissues, fetching a better price.
As Chen Chuan walked out, he noticed the previously scattered pedestrians had vanished, and the surroundings became eerily quiet. He maintained a calm demeanor and continued walking forward.
At that moment, metal cans were hurled from alleys and corners in all directions, landing on the ground with a clatter and emitting a pungent odor. Thick smoke filled the air, and a faint scent of paralyzing gas, specifically designed to subdue fighters, wafted through.
Rapid footsteps echoed nearby, and amidst the smoke, several individuals with black rubber-coated steel rods rushed towards him. Simultaneously, two others raised launchers, firing electric nets that enveloped Chen Chuan.
The leader watched confidently from behind, knowing that once the net trapped its target, escape was impossible. A relentless barrage of steel rods would swiftly incapacitate even a fighter, leaving them ready for transport and sale.
However, to his surprise, Chen Chuan emerged from the dense smoke, appearing unharmed and with an unusually calm gaze.
The leader's expression changed, and after a moment, he spat out his cigarette and fled.
Chen Chuan had barely run far when a pebble struck the back of his head, causing him to stumble and fall face-first onto the ground. He lay there, unmoving, as a mixture of blood and implant fluid flowed out of him.
The smoke behind him slowly dissipated, revealing a gruesome scene. Several twisted bodies were scattered around, some hanging on the railing, while others were pinned to the wall with their chests caved in, as if embedded into the very structure.
Chen Chuan's stride didn't falter as he passed by the corpses. He glanced at one of them and, recognizing the person's build and face, searched for their information. The individual was suspected of trafficking organs and altered organs.
Judging by the tools these people carried, they were likely planning to capture him alive and then sell his parts.
All of them had implants and moved with remarkable agility, their equipment complete. Even a regular fighter, despite wearing protective gear, could easily be taken down by them.
Chen Chuan had no intention of reporting to the security patrol; he simply left the area. Perhaps their accomplices would do something upon discovering their bodies, but that was none of his concern.
After checking a few other target locations without any success, Chen Chuan realized it was already afternoon. He decided that his efficiency was too low and that it would be better to let Old Qi, the commissioner, handle the search on his behalf. After all, as a commissioner, Old Qi would find it easier to conduct the search, even if it meant paying some fees.
Chen Chuan summoned the communication interface and tapped on Old Qi's icon. After a short wait, Old Qi's voice, sounding slightly fatigued, came through. "Chen, is there something you need?"
"Mr. Qi, I'd like to discuss the commission with you," Chen Chuan replied.
Old Qi's spirits lifted. "Of course...but I'm a bit tied up at the moment. I might not be able to get out for a while. Can you wait for me?"
"Is something wrong?" Chen Chuan asked.
Old Qi sighed. "The patrol team has detained me, and I need to pay a fine. I'm currently trying to gather the money, so you might have to wait."
After a moment of thought, Chen Chuan asked about the amount of the fine and offered, "I can cover the fine for you, but I need your help with something."
Eager to help, Old Qi quickly agreed and repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
"Wait for me," Chen Chuan said.
An hour later, Chen Chuan led Old Qi out of the city patrol security post and sat down on a roadside flower bed. Old Qi drank water from a bottle, gulping it down, and then slumped against the backrest.
After a while, he spoke slowly. "The money I just earned from a private job was all confiscated. It was the biggest sum I've made in years, and now it's all gone to those bastards.
"Those guys showed up right after I finished the job. I've been thinking about it, and I suspect that when we escaped from the border patrol, they might have noted my vehicle's license plate. They've probably been keeping an eye on me these past few days, waiting to cause trouble. This time, they caught me red-handed, damn it!"
"Mr. Qi, you're actually quite lucky," Chen Chuan said. "If it were any other matter, it might not have been as easy to get out as it was today."
Old Qi perked up slightly. "You're right. Chen, I owe you one today. By the way, I haven't asked why you sought me out."
"I need to take on some special commissions, but I don't want to deal with commission companies," Chen Chuan explained.
Old Qi understood immediately. "I see. You want me to handle these commissions while you deal with other issues?"
Chen Chuan nodded. "Yes, that's the idea."
Old Qi hesitated. "Chen, I'm flattered that you'd consider me. You're a regular student at Wu Yi Academy and live in the Xuan Gong Tower. Your commissions must be extraordinary, but I..."
"These commissions don't involve personal grudges or vendettas," Chen Chuan assured him. "They're just special tasks, and you can set the compensation. I won't force you to do anything."
Old Qi's eyes flickered with uncertainty. With the start of the new school year approaching, his daughter's tuition was due, and he couldn't afford to lose face by not paying it on time.
To survive in the central city, one had to either be a naturally talented fighter or rely on education, which was expensive. Old Qi had no choice but to run around, doing whatever he could to scrape together the necessary funds.
Determined, Old Qi clenched his teeth, rubbed his face vigorously, and stood up. "Chen, I'm in!"
Chen Chuan smiled. "Mr. Qi, you don't have to be so formal. I've only just arrived in the central city to earn some money myself. But if I handle this alone, I'll be bogged down with a bunch of trivial matters and won't accomplish anything."
Old Qi nodded in understanding. "What do you need me to do?"
Chen Chuan used the interface token to send the suspicious commissions to Old Qi. "I need you to help me look into the details of these first."
"Okay, I'm on it."
One of Old Qi's eyes flashed with orange light. After a while, he said in surprise, "Chen, so these are anomaly investigation commissions. But there's already a group of people handling these, isn't there?"
...
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(End of Chapter)
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