Chapter 196

Chapter 196: The Boundless Dark Realm Part 51

“So, what’s exactly going on here?” Silverface frowned as he stared blankly at the two unconscious figures on the ground.

Roth Thorn scanned with the detector, “This person is Valeri and the other one is Yefim’s assistant. It’s strange; the mission file shows that Yeifim is in charge of this casino, so why is Valeri here?”

The Mechanized Dawn task force had familiarized themselves with the general terrain of the Midnight District and a few key points in the area last night. They took a brief rest during the day and resumed their work by night.

According to his plan, they were supposed to explore the main stronghold of the powerful narwhal gang in the Midnight District, which the Mechanized Dawn in the White Whale City branch supports. The executor of this support was a member from Chuantuo Technology Company; the secretary of the company’s public face boss.

However, when they arrived according to plan, they found some minor disturbances nearby and heard gunshots and explosions coming from afar.

None of this was particularly significant as the Midnight District was always tumultuous at night, but since the casino is under the Narwhal’s control, nobody would dare to make trouble here, making the gunshots unusual.

Silverface and others approached the casino and noticed something odd at the entrance.

Security guards were orderly evacuating the guests, while several doctors in white coats rushed through a small path into the casino.

The entire team became alert, entering the casino themselves. Roth Thorn controlled and interrogated a panicky security guard who revealed that when servants brought dinner to the office according to routine, they found their leader, Yefim, collapsed on the floor, along with his assistant. They believed an attack had occurred, leading them to evacuate guests and summon the doctor.

Hearing this disconcerting news, Silverface immediately barged into the office, knocked out the doctor, and thoroughly searched the room.

The result was that there were some clearly scattered microphones and tiny cameras on the ground and on the table. Silverface also discovered more hidden cameras and mikes in concealed spots such as door handles and chandeliers.

Surprisingly, Roth Thorn said that the person lying on the ground, who looked identical to Yefim, was actually his brother Valeri.

The situation became chaotic.

“Was the casino attacked?” Silverface asked.

“Not exactly,” Roth Thorn promptly reported the scene to Night Cicada. Then he said, “The intruders didn’t come with murderous intent; the two people are still alive with remnants of bugs and cameras left behind. This resembles a planned infiltration, though it was cut short.”

Silverface, as a fighting machine trained by Mechanized Dawn, lacked no tactical skills. He explained, “Someone entered here, knocked out people in the office, and tried to plant eavesdropping devices and cameras, but failed. Someone must have stopped them, and in panic, they fled. The gunfire we heard earlier and the chaotic state here can be ascribed to this pursuit.”

“Maybe… But there’s a critical question.” Roth Thorn lowered his head. “Why does Valeri lie on the ground instead of his twin brother Yefim? That doesn’t make sense. Also, who stopped the intruders? One of Yefim’s subordinates?”

Null gazed towards the outside of the casino. “We should investigate where the gunfire and explosion happened.”

Silverface pointed at the unconscious figures on the ground and the private doctor they had felled. “What about them?”

“Of course, take them as witnesses,” a blue vortex suddenly opened beside them with Night Cicada’s frivolous voice emanating through it, “Good job, Roth Thorn, quick reporting. Silverface, Null, bring Valeri and the assistant into the vortex, ignore the two private doctors lying on the ground, handle them.”

Silverface and Null obediently dragged the unconscious people through the vortex, which led to a branch of Mechanized Dawn in Chuantuo Technology Co., Ltd.

Night Cicada thoughtfully observed the two people Silverface and Null carried over before stating, “Hopefully, they hold valuable information. Now back to your tasks, investigate the scene, find out what happened tonight.”

“Understood.” Silverface turned and stepped into the vortex.

Null followed Silverface, also retreating into the vortex.

“This is interesting,” Night Cicada chuckled, tilting his head at the scholarly-looking man beside him, “Isn’t developing new members your responsibility?”

“A job for me indeed,” the man nodded. “Apologies, I hadn’t anticipated such events…”

Ji Xuan publicly holds the position of president’s assistant of Chuantuo Technology Co., yet privately he is the logistics coordinator at Mechanized Dawn’s White Whale City branch.

“Why blame you? This wasn’t your mistake, just unfortunate.” Night Cicada clapped his hands.

A mechanical vehicle slid in from the metallic door. Two mechanical arms emerged on both sides of the vehicle, lifting Valeri and his associate from the ground and placing them inside for a brain-machine memory read.

“Alright, continue with your work,” Night Cicada said. “Our organization has seen plenty of traitors recently, dealing with them individually is quite strenuous… Don’t miss anything.”

Ji Xuan respectfully replied, “Yes, sir.”

He exited the room with the mechanical vehicle, unaware of the cold sweat breaking across his back, drenching his inner shirt.

…

“Bloody traces, body tissue fragments.” Roth Thorn collected sample tissues, staring at the gruesome scene, “The site is truly devastating.”

“Yes…” Silverface flicked his nose, activating the mask’s purifying function.

The air was filled with a burnt protein scent, causing nausea.

Null gently tapped Silverface’s elbow, pointing towards the ground. “There, bullet holes.”

An iron trash bin lay inconspicuously in a corner, its surface riddled with circular bullet punctures.

Blue light flashed, scanning the entire area. The modeled graphics appeared before their eyes complete with trajectories and angles, including the bin’s impact.

Artificial Intelligence Eden’s voice echoed in Roth Thorn’s ear, “The bullet hit the target effectively. Its trajectory has been marked.”

In the virtual model, among countless green bullets, a clear red line showed its straight path through the skewed trash bin, striking a human figure and then hitting the wall behind it.

Roth Thorn pressed the eyepiece button, finding a few mixed bloodstains with dust on the ground. She knelt down to collect it, while Silverface moved to the wall and wearing gloves pulled the deformed bullet out.

The bullet was covered in dried blood with just a brown trace visible. Carefully placing it in a storage bag, he couldn’t help asking, “Who did the bullet hit? An intruder or the one who intervened?”

“Only through analysis can we know…” Roth Thorn activated her metallic arm, which had a display attached. She tapped on it twice. “Damn it, only familiar with the combat functions of this new model—haven’t had time to use the auxiliary features!”

Eden coldly reminded Roth Thorn, “Voice commands work; place the sample on the scanner and order verbally.”

Obeying, Roth Thorn placed the first extracted sample on the scanner and instructed, “Analyze. Upload.”

“Analysis completed, uploaded for database comparison…” Eden stated, “Comparison complete. The sample belongs to Andrew West.”

A new file popped up showing Andrew West, a gang member wanted for robbery and murder, though not captured by the investigation bureau yet…

“An ordinary civilian…” Roth Thorn analyzed a second sample taken from near the trash can.

“Comparison finished,” Eden’s synthetic voice echoed throughout the squad’s earpieces, “The sample belongs to a defector of Mechanized Dawn named Amber.”

Roth Thorn’s eyes widened in shock, while Silverface too gasped. Only Null remained impassive with no reaction.

“He was an intruder?!” Roth Thorn exclaimed, “He wanted to control the Narwhal gang, but failed. He was stopped… Who were the other side?”

“In-progress memory retrieval on Valeri and others, answer unknown at present,” Eden responded, “Two shooting locations, please swiftly investigate the second location before the site is compromised.”

Not wasting any time, they rushed a block away to another shooting site for an investigation.

The body was still on the ground, although street cleaners were preparing the garbage truck to dispose of a homeless body.

Casinos like this around the Midnight District faced occasional murders every month; too many unattended deaths could negatively impact business, so the Narwhal gang hired cleaners on a retainer basis. They would arrive promptly anytime a body was found near their premises.

“Hold on, that body belongs to us,” Roth Thorn stepped forward.

The cleaner hadn’t protested before Roth Thorn threw a magazine from her pocket, saying, “Payment for the cleanup, standard 09 model rounds.”

Exchanges could include barter in the Midnight District; ammunition was a common medium of exchange. No one here complained about having too little weaponry.

The cleaner gladly accepted, stowed the ammunition, and stepped into the vehicle, revving the motor and driving off while teasing, “Ladies first!”

Roth Thorn’s expression turned grim. Quickly firing two shots:

The truck halted and the driver slumped lifelessly, crimson fluid spreading over the windshield.

“I hate people who can’t shut up,” Roth Thorn grumbled, collecting samples for analysis.

Silverface ducked, a déjà vu-like feeling taking over.

Before, Roth Thorn went berserk in a noodle shop, killing someone who harassed her… They later met the wealthy woman conducting coastal patrols for the investigation bureau, ending in a fight between them.

Compared to Roth Thorn, Red, and even Night Cicada, the wealthy lady remained relatively mild-tempered, at least refraining from unnecessary violence.

In no time, Roth Thorn’s comparison results were available. The homeless man seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary vagrant.

“This doesn’t add up,” Roth Thorn remarked. “A sniper’s one-shot kill signifies this vagrant as the foremost target. But how could a common tramp be that valuable? If I needed to choose, my priority would be Amber.”

Silverface examined the bullet hole at the corpse’s chest and concurred, “Precision shooting, impeccable technique. Errors such as hitting the wrong target are unlikely.”

Puzzlement abounded; too many disjointed pieces of information clouded understanding.

“Beep beep.” Silverface’s headset rang twice.

Night Cicada’s voice crackled through the team’s comms channel: “Ah, something interesting came to light.”

Valeri had been psychically controlled; Mechanized Dawn struggled to retrieve memories but had used excessive methods, rendering him mentally incapacitated.

“We received intelligence about two acquaintances tonight. One is Amber…the other is…”

“The wealthy lady?” Silverface interrupted eagerly before Night Cicada could finish.

Night Cicada paused, “Yes, her.”

The evening wind blew briskly, chilling the bodies.

Null stared intensely at Silverface, studying the complexity of emotions on his face.

Suddenly, an elongated bullet flew toward them. Pthick! It struck Null’s chest!

A spray of blood erupted instantaneously; Silverface instantly shielded with a water curtain, blocking the second incoming shot! Water droplets rippled, and the brass-colored shell clinked loudly as it hit the ground.

From a distant high-rise, Kui Xin hastily retracted the sniper rifle, activating a spatial vortex to vacate the scene.

“Success?” Adam queried.

“No,” Kui Xin’s face grim, “No confirmation, the sniper rifle isn’t the usual K80 model; it’s less powerful. Though it pierced armor, it didn’t fully penetrate the body. The bullet aimed at his head was deflected. Missed twice consecutively; they’ll calculate trajectories to identify our location. I must leave now.”