Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 464 - 402: Operating by Imperial Decree_1

Under a sun hat that seemed utterly out of place aboard the Group Star were giant, tourist-style sunglasses, obscuring most of her face.

But instead of a billowing white dress, she wore a rather smart ladies' business suit and leather boots.

The visitor cocked her head, looking at him. She examined his expression, which shifted from astonishment to something akin to horror, a smirk playing on her lips.

Huai Shi was stunned silent for a while. "What are you doing here?"

"Hmm? Let me think."

Ai Qing pondered for a moment and said seriously, "Probably to prove that the boss you keep telling everyone about—the one who supposedly blacklisted you just because you screwed up a field trip—isn't as cold-hearted and ruthless as you make her out to be?"

That must have been quite the challenge, rattling off such a long sentence without taking a breath!

Huai Shi widened his eyes in protest. "You can't just make stuff up – where did I ever say that to everyone!"

He quietly calculated in his head.

It was only one, two, three, four, five... eight times. Just eight times!

"..."

Ai Qing didn't say a word, just looked at him until Huai Shi pressed his hands together, earnestly bowing for mercy. "I'm sorry, I was wrong!"

"I sense you're a bit disappointed that Liu DongLi wasn't the one who came?"

Ai Qing glanced back at the store. "Or is it that I caught you on a date with a young girl suspected of involvement with the Good Evening Club, making you panic as if you'd been caught cheating?"

"Isn't having a girlfriend a prerequisite for cheating?"

Huai Shi rolled his eyes. "You also suspect her?"

"Thanks to someone's urgent report, all members of Decision Room 4 in East Asia had to stay up all night to vet all one hundred twenty thousand passengers on the ship—initially identifying over four thousand suspects."

Ai Qing added, "By the way, that includes me. The woman you're looking at hasn't slept for forty-eight hours, and she has to watch her former subordinate go shopping and on a date with a suspect, discussing art. Please be kind to her."

Would any kind-hearted girl take pity on a poor guy who was blacklisted and abandoned after a failed elopement?

Huai Shi really wanted to say that, but realizing she had shown up here for his urgent report after being gone for so long... Honestly, he was quite moved.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"That sounded sincere."

Ai Qing nodded in satisfaction, stepped back, lifted her hand, and displayed her credentials, aiming the gold Astronomical Society insignia at his face.

"Inspector Huai Shi from Xinhai—"

She announced, "You have been temporarily recruited by the Central Decision Room of the Jurisdiction Bureau for your outstanding record and upstanding character. Welcome to the Original Dark Legion."

With her words, a holographic projection of the star insignia he wore as a Military Officer appeared above Huai Shi's head. Soon, a shadowy grey edge emerged and adorned the insignia.

Thorny crests, symbolizing field-officer privileges, entwined around it.

The temporary authorization change was complete, signifying Huai Shi's triple promotion within the Astronomical Society.

Watching Huai Shi curiously inspect the insignia above his head, Ai Qing waited until he had his fill before waving her hand, dispersing the projection.

"From now until you disembark, you must follow my orders. In a nutshell, if I tell you to jump off the ship, you jump. If I tell you to take the blame, you take the blame—"

She paused, then asked earnestly, "You do understand I'm not speaking metaphorically, right?"

"I know this all too well; I practically did it every day."

Huai Shi sighed, patting his suit, and mockingly bowed to Ai Qing. "Your tool, Huai Shi, is online and at your service. What commands do you have, madam?"

"Let's make this the first order then."

Ai Qing raised her hand and pointed at the cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth. "Give your superior a light."

Huai Shi lifted his hand, conjuring a wisp of Alchemy Fire, and passed it to her. Ai Qing slightly tilted her head forward to light the cigarette, taking a deep breath as the rising smoke veiled her face.

"Welcome back," Huai Shi couldn't help but smile.

Only now did the reality of Ai Qing being so close truly sink in.

Ai Qing shook her head, "I'm just passing through; don't celebrate too soon."

"What are the specifics of the mission?"

"Just be yourself. Follow orders when necessary, and perform your job as you always have. Be a good target."

She pulled out a box from her pocket and tossed it to him. "Hold onto this."

"What's this?"

Huai Shi asked casually, "A local specialty you brought me? A token of affection from somewhere? Or is it an engagement ring from someone whose conscience finally kicked in? Are we moving a bit too fast? I'm only seventeen, not even of legal age yet... Shouldn't we start with holding hands first?"

Through the sunglasses, he could feel Ai Qing's 'Kid, the whole family is disappointed in you' look.

"It's just a Bluetooth earpiece; don't get carried away, okay?"

Upon opening the box, inside was a mechanical device no larger than a pinky fingernail, which fit neatly into Huai Shi's ear without attracting attention.

Seeing Huai Shi put it on, Ai Qing nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Now if you can't keep your mouth shut, I can detonate the explosive in your ear and blow your head off along with it."

"..."

"Time's about up. You should go back and continue your outing with that suspect."

She turned to leave, waving her hand. "Go ahead and unleash your Cowherd skills; I have faith in you."

"What about you?" Huai Shi asked.

"I have things to do; I'll see you tonight."

She walked out of the alley, her figure blurring for a moment before disappearing into the bustling crowd as if she had never been there at all.

Only Huai Shi remained standing in the alley, face somber, deep in thought.

Was he about to embark on an unsanctioned, albeit officially sanctioned, venture?

「Three minutes later.」

"Thank you for your advice."

Standing in front of the store, holding a violin case, Yuan Yuan nodded to Huai Shi in farewell. "Now that I've purchased the violin, I won't take up any more of your time."

"Eh? You're leaving just like that?"

Huai Shi was stunned for a moment. He had been prepared for a battle of wits with the Good Evening Club, but he hadn't expected her to leave so soon. Does this mean I don't even get a chance to conduct my 'illegal business'?

So, she really just bought a violin!

Could this be a feint, playing hard to get?

Underestimating me like this, Yuan Yuan? A true saint never falls for the same trick twice!

Even though he thought this, he couldn't help but politely offer, "Would you like me to walk you back?"

"No need, Uncle Ping is already here to pick me up."

Yuan Yuan nodded, glanced at the old servant waiting at the street corner not far away, and nodded to Huai Shi in farewell. "Thank you for your help. Let's part ways here."

After she walked away a few steps, she stopped, turned around, and asked, "Mr. Huai Shi, will you be attending tonight's banquet as well?"

It took Huai Shi quite a while to remember she was referring to the invitation from the concert hall's host.

It seemed to be a banquet exclusively for the luxury cabin passengers of high social status aboard the Group Star, organized by the hosts. Under normal circumstances, he would never miss such an opportunity for free food and drinks. However, given the situation with the Good Evening Club and the Rotten Dream Queen, his mind was heavy with concerns about the safety of Current Circumstances and the security of the world. He was in no mood to eat or drink.

"Perhaps," he replied ambiguously. "Something else might come up."

"Then I look forward to meeting you again."

The teenage girl in the gray dress nodded gracefully in farewell and left.

Only a bewildered Huai Shi was left standing there, unsure of what had just transpired.

He wasn't certain whether Yuan Yuan had any connection to the Good Evening Club, but too many mysteries remained unsolved, leaving him thoroughly perplexed.

Just as he turned to leave, he heard a distant, faint sound behind him.

It was like an illusion.

Yet it sent a chill down Huai Shi's spine.

He stiffened for a moment, then sharply turned around, but saw nothing.

Only in the depths of the crowd, the girl's slender silhouette receded into the distance, her fluttering gray dress swallowed by the throng, vanishing from sight.

「The conductor's office on the Group Star.」

It was not a narrow, cramped compartment but resembled a grand and magnificent palace, elegantly decorated. Rare sunlight shone through the mimicry windows above, falling upon the desk.

"Someone from the Astronomical Society?"

An imposing elder scrutinized the report, examining the excessively young face in the documents, and chuckled in disdain. "After all these years, the Jurisdiction Bureau has really gone downhill, letting any Tom, Dick, or Harry become an Inspector..."

Speaking, he looked up and ordered his assistant, "Send someone to make contact. Tell him to behave and not cause trouble on the train. No need for violence. Don't the files say he's promiscuous? Just throw a few women his way, let him have his fun, and then he can happily get off the train when he's done."

The assistant nodded and left.

The elder nonchalantly tossed the report into the trash can.

Work continued.

Until the internal telephone rang again.

"Mr. Rudolf, a commissioner from the Jurisdiction Bureau is here to visit."

"...The Astronomical Society again?"

Rudolf frowned in displeasure, but he still straightened his tie and sat up in his chair, speaking into the phone, "Let him in."

"Shall I prepare some tea for you, Mr. Rudolf?"

"There's no need."

The old conductor shook his head. "I fear this visitor isn't someone who can be satisfied with just tea. Make sure we're not disturbed."

The internal phone line went dead.

Before long, there was a knock on the door.

After Rudolf said, "Come in," the person who entered wasn't the serious-faced middle-aged man he expected, but a woman, even younger than anticipated.

It was only after she removed her tourist-like sunglasses that her piercing eyes gave her the air of a Jurisdiction Bureau commissioner.

A pity, she still looked too green.

These days, just about anyone could meddle with his work.

Thinking of that sleazy Inspector on the train, the one who was clearly just here to fool around with women, made his mood worsen.

This visit was probably not going to be a pleasant one.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Rudolf."

The young woman greeted him politely, "I hope my arrival hasn't interrupted your afternoon tea."

"Please sit, madam," Rudolf said after a moment's thought. "I trust your visit isn't merely for a cup of afternoon tea, is it?"

"Since you've asked so directly, I won't beat around the bush—"

Ai Qing sat down and stated seriously, "To put it simply, I need your cooperation to execute a search mission on the train."

"I'm sorry."

Before she could finish, Rudolf shook his head, flatly rejecting her. "That's impossible."