novelraw Chapter 10: Sea of Darkness - (10)
Chapter 10: Sea of Darkness - (10)
After Silver Mask finished bandaging his wounds, he staggered to the sofa and collapsed onto it. His breaths carried a slight tremor as he endured the pain.
“Tell me about what happened,” Kui Xin said, approaching the sofa and looking down at him.
Silver Mask smiled and said, “It seems there’s truth to the rumors; you truly are cold-hearted.”
He adjusted his sitting position and began recounting, “Last night, upon reaching the port, I followed your instructions to investigate the explosion site. There were security officers patrolling, and it took considerable effort to scan the scene data.”
From his pocket, Silver Mask retrieved a metallic sphere and tossed it to Kui Xin. She caught it precisely, and the metal ball unfolded in her hand, projecting a beam of light. A three-dimensional representation of the explosion site along with complete data analysis appeared before her eyes.
“The blast affected a radius of thirty meters. The estimated explosive was likely a homemade Molotov cocktail.”
Homemade Molotov cocktails—this equipment was quite rudimentary. Given Mechanical Dawn’s capabilities to mobilize resources from Mooring Harbor’s warehouses, their members would not solely rely on such makeshift incendiary devices during their operations; at the very least, they would use standard military-grade ammunition.
This inference suggests that Mechanical Dawn may not be the culprit behind these bombings.
Kui Xin tapped on the projected image, and another explosion site appeared. This time, the blast radius was even smaller, less than ten meters, and the estimated explosive was a glass Molotov cocktail filled with ethanol as fuel.
By continuously switching between data from various explosion sites, Kui Xin could confirm her earlier conjecture.The mastermind behind the previous wave of bombings was not Mechanical Dawn. In the port bombing incident, there was an invisible third party involved.
As for the purpose of this unknown third party and whether their objectives were connected to the Kraken, further investigation is needed.
The Silver Face Operation proved highly efficient, obtaining a significant amount of data just within one night. It must have been exhausting, racing tirelessly through the hours.
Kui Xin tossed the metal sphere back into Silver Mask’s arms and said, “Continue telling me about what you encountered.”
“After obtaining the on-site data, I initially planned to return it immediately and hand it over to you. However, just then, I heard someone’s agonized scream. By the time I rushed to the source of the sound, a security officer patrolling the scene had already been killed by a monster. It was about to lay eggs inside that corpse,” Silver Mask expressed disgust on his face. “I eliminated the creature, but the security officer’s teammate arrived… He saw me, so I had no choice but to kill him, along with the monster. I took care of disposing of their bodies.”
“That was the first monster,” Kui Xin said. “Last night, you encountered three in total.”
“Hmm. The second monster approached me voluntarily; it had parasitized a dock worker. After being infested, the worker became emaciated, with hardly any nutrients left for the creature to absorb. I suspect it urgently needed to accumulate energy for its next metamorphosis and wanted to switch hosts. When it encountered me, it prepared to parasitize my body,” Silver Mask said unhappily. “Tch, disgusting. That second one is what caused my injuries.”
“The third,” Kui Xin prompted.
“There isn’t much to say about the third one. I spotted it as soon as it crawled up from the sea onto the dock.” Silver Mask shrugged. “It didn’t have a chance to find a human host yet—it was a fragile juvenile form.”
These monsters lived in the sea, climbed ashore to seek hosts, and laid eggs within human corpses.
These creatures were not weak in combat; they could kill security officers who possessed significantly higher physical prowess than average individuals and even injure Silver Mask, who had extraordinary abilities.
Kui Xin smiled bitterly inwardly. She should have realized that, in a world combining cyberpunk elements with supernatural phenomena, encountering any bizarre entities should come as no surprise.
Her perception of the Second World’s danger level escalated further.
“In the past, it was uncertain if we’d encounter even one of these monsters in a month. Why so many suddenly tonight?” Silver Mask asked. “We ought to report this to the organization.”
“Yes, we should report…” Kui Xin paused as her communicator, specifically the Investigation Department’s device, vibrated from within her pocket.
The screen displayed the caller’s name—Shu Xuyao.
She pressed the accept button and said, “Captain.”
“Kui Xin, how is your recovery going?” Shu Xuyao’s voice sounded somewhat grave.
“What happened?” Kui Xin detected an unusual tone in his words.
“Last night, Mo Jingtong and Wang Jianmu from Squad 6 encountered an accident while patrolling the docks,” Shu Xuyao said. “Now, the port patrol position is vacant, and there’s an urgent need for someone to be dispatched. Kui Xin, we’ve suffered too many casualties recently, leaving us short-staffed. If you’ve recovered, it’s best to return promptly for duty.”
“… Alright. I’ll return to the Investigation Department tomorrow morning,” Kui Xin said.
Shu Xuyao seemed extremely busy; he wasted no words and hung up immediately after conveying the necessary information.
Kui Xin put down the communicator, her gaze fixed on Silver Mask, who was sitting on the sofa, seemingly engrossed in eavesdropping on the conversation.
Mo Jingtong and Wang Jianmu were members of the Field Operations Team, which was assigned to Squad 6 next door. Kui Xin had reviewed their files before. Last night, Silver Mask witnessed one of them being killed by a monster, followed by dispatching the other individual who rushed over to investigate.
“If you go patrol the port, won’t it be much easier for me to operate there?” Silver Mask exclaimed excitedly. “It would also be incredibly convenient to set up explosive devices at the port. Ha, not bad luck—the person I killed last night wasn’t wasted after all, turning out to be from your Field Operations Team.”
“Yes, indeed. By killing our team member, you left the Field Operations Team short-staffed, reducing my three-day break to just one day,” Kui Xin said. “When I’m at work, I have to spend long periods with my teammates, which means I can’t promptly communicate with you or devise plans.”
Silver Mask paused, taken aback. “I hadn’t considered that… It’s all just unfortunate coincidences.”
“I didn’t expect you to anticipate that.” Kui Xin sighed as she rested her forehead on one hand. “It’s alright; accidents are inevitable. This isn’t your fault, and plans must adapt to changing circumstances. If there’s an unexpected situation and you can’t reach me, handle it independently without waiting for my instructions. Just remember to report back afterward.”
“Understood,” Silver Mask nodded.
Her available downtime had diminished significantly. Last night, she stayed up all hours reviewing documents, and now she urgently needed sleep to regain her energy.
“I have work to attend to. Don’t move around too much until your injuries heal,” Kui Xin said.
“Wait!” Silver Mask called out to stop Kui Xin.
“What is it?” Kui Xin turned back.
“I’m hungry; do we have any food?” he asked earnestly. “I’ve been running all night without sleep or a meal, and using my ability makes me particularly famished.”
Kui Xin pondered briefly. “There’s no food left in the kitchen. Order some takeout, and while you’re at it, get me something too.”
“…Sure, I’ll order,” Silver Mask agreed.
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.
At the entrance stood Xi Liang, dressed in delivery personnel uniform, “Hello, here’s your del… Oh, Senior! So this is where you live!”
Kui Xin was taken aback by Xi Liang’s part-time job delivering food. “Are you working to support your education?”
“Yeah, I’m trying to earn money for college, but I’m not sure if I’ll make enough… It seems quite unlikely.” Xi Liang handed over the takeout bag and said, “I have another delivery to make. Goodbye, Senior!”
Kui Xin waved at him as she closed the door.
“Who is he?” Silver Mask asked.
“A guy who got accepted into the Mechanical Engineering Department of Black Sea Academy. The character I’m portraying also graduated from the Black Sea Academy,” Kui Xin replied while retrieving the takeaway boxes.
“Mechanical Engineering? That’s a field the organization needs talent in.” Silver Mask paused momentarily while unpacking the utensils. “What’s his family background like?”
“Not very good; his parents run a convenience store,” Kui Xin said.
Silver Mask had an epiphany: “So well-informed about him? You’re already thinking about recruiting him, aren’t you?”
It seems that the Mechanical Dawn Organization does admit new members?
“We shouldn’t be too hasty,” Kui Xin responded, maintaining her composure.
“You’re right, we need to observe him further,” Silver Mask agreed, opening the takeaway box.
“However, individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are easier to recruit; they can be readily swayed by money,” Kui Xin suddenly remarked. “With just a small incentive, we can bind them through mutual benefits.”
“Report both the frequent sightings of monsters at the port and the name of the boy who got admitted to the Black Sea Academy,” Silver Mask said. “If he meets the criteria, the organization will send someone to approach him.”
“Alright, you write the report,” Kui Xin directed without hesitation, assigning him the task. “The boy’s name is Xi Liang.”
Silver Mask endured it, suppressing his frustration. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh: “I’ll write it… Anyway, I have nothing else to do while recovering.”
After eating their takeout, Silver Mask meticulously completed the report intended for submission to the organization and handed it over to Kui Xin for review. Only after she nodded did Silver Mask confidently click send.
Kui Xin’s approval of the report pleased Silver Mask greatly. From Silver Mask’s report, Kui Xin observed the commonly used format for reporting to the Mechanical Dawn Organization, which also satisfied her.
She noticed that in the report, Silver Mask refrained from using the term “monster” and instead opted for “special species.” She surmised that “special species” was the formal written terminology equivalent to “monsters.”
Kui Xin returned to her room, while Silver Mask curled up on the sofa with a thin blanket draped over him for rest.
With his eyes closed, a tuft of white hair protruded from beneath the blanket, resembling a cat that had burrowed under covers, convinced it was well-hidden.
Recalling Silver Mask’s behavior and actions, Kui Xin mentally assessed him as “Apart from being obedient and possessing superpowers, he is entirely like a foolish cat.”
There were still parts of the Investigation Department’s documents she hadn’t finished reading, but the remaining time was insufficient for Kui Xin to thoroughly peruse them. She skimmed through quickly, focusing on sections related to “monsters” and “special species.”
At the end of the documents, there was a statement: The Investigation Department’s Emergency Unit has an unknown leader and fluctuating members, with their office located on Underground Level 3 of the Investigation Building. This covert unit’s primary responsibility is the secret elimination of special species appearing in various locations.
The Investigation Department harbored many secrets, such as the mysterious Emergency Unit. Similarly, the Second World contained numerous peculiarities, including the “monsters” and special species mentioned by Silver Mask.
Running out of time for rest, Kui Xin set down her bracelet and forced herself to fall asleep.
Kui Xin slept for eight hours straight.
After her alarm went off, she got out of bed, washed up, and changed clothes.
Splashing cold water on her face, Kui Xin stared at herself in the mirror for a moment before murmuring, “Fear can hinder one’s progress.”
She couldn’t afford to be held back, whether it was in the First World or the Second World; stagnation was not an option.
Kui Xin pushed open the bathroom door and walked into the living room, just in time to see Silver Mask climbing through the window from the balcony.
“I bought groceries this morning; ordering takeout is too expensive.” Holding numerous bags, Silver Mask looked expectantly at Kui Xin.
“Ah, indeed, we should have breakfast,” Kui Xin said. “Put any leftover food in the refrigerator.”
Considering he had spent his own money on groceries, Kui Xin decided to slightly increase her tolerance for him.
She prepared two simple breakfast portions. After eating, Silver Mask conscientiously gathered the dishes and began washing them.
As he washed, he asked, “My injuries have mostly healed. Did you have any instructions for today?”
So fast? Kui Xin thought incredulously.
Do all individuals with superhuman abilities recover this quickly? Silver Mask hadn’t utilized a technological recovery tank to mend his wounds, yet he still recuperated rapidly, almost unnaturally swift for a human.
“Not at the moment,” Kui Xin replied while changing her shoes at the doorway. “If I’m assigned to patrol the port area, I’ll give you further instructions. If not, it’s undecided for now. In the meantime, you can act freely.”
She picked up an umbrella and stepped out.
The rain in Black Sea City persisted for a long time, making it virtually a city of perpetual showers. Kui Xin waited at the electric railcar stop, and within a minute, the railcar arrived punctually.
During the daytime, Black Sea City lost its embellishments from neon lights and holographic advertisements, appearing much more subdued. As far as the eye could see, all buildings took on a deep gray hue amidst the hazy rain, creating a sense of oppression.
After several dozen minutes, Kui Xin reached the Investigation Department building.
“Welcome back, intern security officer Kui Xin. Please place your umbrella on the communal rack,” Yadang’s voice echoed in her ears.
Kui Xin followed the instructions, placed her umbrella, and then took the elevator to Shu Xuyao’s office.
She knocked on the door.
“Come in,” said Shu Xuyao.
As the door opened, Kui Xin’s heart skipped a beat upon entering. The office was filled with about four or five individuals, all members of the Seventh Squad. When they saw Kui Xin, they uniformly turned their heads towards her.
“All right, let’s skip the small talk.” Shu Xuyao tapped on the table, drawing the squad members’ attention back. “Take a seat, Kui Xin. We’re about to discuss the objectives of our upcoming mission.”
Kui Xin approached an empty space, pulled out a wheeled chair, and sat down.
Shu Xuyao activated the holographic projector, casting realistic three-dimensional figures into the air.
“This is our target for this mission. Chai Jian, a sixth-class citizen, committed first-degree murder. However, due to his mental illness, he was not incarcerated but instead received treatment at Black Sea City’s Municipal Mental Hospital,” Shu Xuyao explained. “Just last night, he escaped after assaulting his psychotherapist.”
“How did he manage it?” asked the man seated to Kui Xin’s left. “Is his psychotherapist still alive?”
“His psychotherapist sustained minor injuries—nothing serious,” Shu Xuyao replied. “As for how he escaped, based on analysis, there’s a high likelihood that he has awakened.”
“Awoke? He became an awakened being with superhuman abilities?” The members of the Seventh Squad displayed expressions of surprise.
“Yadang assessed that his awakened ability likely lacks lethal force. The hospital’s monitoring equipment wasn’t violently damaged; it’s probable that he used his superhuman ability to escape,” Shu Xuyao said. “Our mission is to apprehend him and bring him back into custody. If during the process he vehemently resists or poses a threat to ordinary civilians’ safety, we have authorization to eliminate him on the spot.”
“I have a question,” Kui Xin said. “Was this patient’s mental state stable? Before his escape and attack on the therapist, were there any signs or unusual reactions?”
“Indeed, there were.” Shu Xuyao furrowed his brow. “The hospital provided us with Chai Jian’s therapy recordings. He persistently claimed that he wasn’t ill and repeatedly emphasized to the doctors that he was not from Black Sea City. Instead, he believed himself to be from a city called ‘Jiangling’…”
“That sounds pretty severe indeed,” one team member remarked with a smile.
His comment garnered agreement from several others.
However, Kui Xin had no inclination to agree just for the sake of appearing sociable.
Jiangling—Chai Jian, an escaped mentally ill criminal, claimed he was from Jiangling.
Chai Jian must also be a player from the First World!
Author’s Note:
Silver Mask: In this cold and ruthless world, only warm meals can bring a sliver of comfort to my fragile heart (and stomach).
Silver Mask, the hidden food-loving handsome man.