Chapter 27: The Jet-Black Trail
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“Predation!”
Shakya and Shion spoke the word in unison.
It was almost as though they had read each other’s minds.
According to the Swagger authorities’ investigation into the Brood, it should, without exception, travel in a straight line toward the Root Cube by the shortest possible route.
Yet this creature had clearly been wandering around for quite some time.
That made no sense, at least not according to the information gathered in the past.
“Every day, someone has died along the route it traveled... and most of the incidents occurred in narrow alleyways at night.”
In the archives, Shion scrolled through the recent reports submitted by the agents.
On a personal level, no one wanted innocent people to be sacrificed, but this situation was simply too unusual.
After the creature appeared, it left behind no trace whatsoever. There was nothing in the air or on the ground that could be detected.
The equipment Shakya had received from Shion could detect odors, infrared signatures, radiation, and all kinds of other residue. They had assumed that, since the monster was some sort of gelatinous mass, it would surely leave something behind on the ground. Yet after spending half the day searching the scene, they had found absolutely nothing.
As for the exact composition of the monster’s gelatinous substance, that evidence had already been destroyed after the previous incident involving a reanimated corpse.
Agent K seemed somewhat uneasy about that.
To catch even the faintest clue, they had only the surveillance footage from certain streets to use as a reference. Beyond that, the only way to track it was by following the traces left by its attacks.
After all, the creature was exceptionally cunning, almost as if it were deliberately avoiding detection.
“So most of the victims are homeless people, petty thugs, and the like...”
Shakya rested her chin on her hand and glanced around the alley where they were standing.
“Come to think of it, this crime scene is the same. There’s no trace of the creature here either. Is it really corporeal...?”
As Shakya surveyed her surroundings, the tactical visor she was wearing scanned the alley as well. It detected no trace that could be used for tracking.
“That’s difficult to say... But last time, I clearly saw the gelatinous substance controlling the corpse smear itself across the glass of the isolation room.”
Shion also felt that this creature was no ordinary opponent and that everyone needed to proceed with caution.
Perhaps the previous shop had simply been unlucky enough to be attacked because it was located in a relatively secluded alley.
And ever since the incident in which a corpse had been reanimated and controlled by the Brood’s gelatinous substance, the Swagger authorities had not dared transport the body back.
After negotiating with the police, they had sealed it nearby and would deal with it after defeating the Brood.
“All right, hurry up and tell me the results of the route analysis.”
Shakya was both excited and nervous.
According to the computer’s calculations, they had roughly determined the area where the creature would appear next.
Shion sent the results to Shakya’s phone.
It was an upscale residential district approximately three kilometers from Shakya’s current location.
The search area covered a radius of one kilometer.
“All right. I’ll go take a look tonight. It would be best if I could eliminate it directly.”
Shakya patted the compound gun hanging at her waist.
“Your safety comes first. I think it would be better for me to send K and the others to help surround it.”
Shion favored the more cautious approach.
“Thanks. That would be perfect, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their assignments.”
Shakya felt a little embarrassed. At present, the agents were spread throughout the city, each responsible for one section as they slowly tightened the net.
It would be troublesome if calling them over delayed the investigation in their own areas.
“Don’t worry. We can try closing the net tonight.”
Shion understood what Shakya was worried about.
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She told Shakya that it was time to close the net.
With that, Shakya’s task for the day had come to an end, and she was free to do as she pleased.
“Whew...” Shakya rubbed her temples. It was time to leave.
In the alley, she removed the agent’s clothing and packed it into her backpack. Walking around in uniform and sunglasses would attract far too much attention.
After taking off her tactical jacket, Shakya was left wearing the button-down shirt she usually wore underneath.
Outside, the streets looked as ordinary and uneventful as ever.
Soft sunlight spilled between the high-rises and fell across the people coming and going.
No one realized that a monster had attacked someone right here in the bustling downtown district.
With her backpack on her shoulders, Shakya stepped onto the main street and naturally disappeared into the crowd.
It was only eleven in the morning, and there was still plenty of time before the evening operation. She had not gone shopping in ages, so taking some time to relax seemed like a good idea.
As Shakya passed the subway station on her way to find something to eat, she saw Bruce escorting Longsheng into the station.
She considered going over to greet them, but first, they were about a hundred meters away. Second, she was still on a mission, and now that she finally had some time off, she wanted to enjoy a little peace and quiet by herself.
So she decided to let it go. She would enjoy a comfortable afternoon, then find somewhere to get a beauty treatment and a massage or something.
Who knew what awaited her that night?
She had to drive away some of this fatigue.
Ah, she really did need to steal moments of leisure amid all the work.
With that thought, Shakya hummed a little tune and entered a restaurant in the pedestrian district.
And so, a pleasant afternoon passed.
Later that afternoon, after taking a wonderful nap, Shakya set out once again.
She walked out of the beauty salon in the shopping mall, and as she passed the gym on that floor, she happened to run into Bruce, who had just finished working out.
“Oh? Qin Yun, what a coincidence. What are you doing here?”
Bruce was carrying a sports bag, with an exercise towel draped around his neck.
He also carried the clean, pleasant scent of shower gel.
Apparently, he always showered at the gym after exercising.
In front of her school friend, Shakya had no choice but to greet Bruce under her identity as Qin Yun once again.
“Hi... It’s you. Working out?”
Bruce had always been proud of his physique, and judging by the results, he clearly maintained it diligently.
He struck several triumphant poses.
“Indeed. One must never neglect the cultivation of the body. What about you, Qin Yun?”
“Me? I... went to take care of an assi— I mean, I went for a beauty treatment.”
She had nearly let slip that she had gone on a mission, but fortunately, she changed her words in time.
The two of them left the mall together.
Along the way, Bruce brought up Longsheng. He told Shakya that Longsheng seemed troubled and listless these past few days.
“He apparently came looking for you a few days ago, but you weren’t around. What happened between the two of you?” Bruce asked.
He guessed that Longsheng was so downcast because he had been unable to get in touch with his goddess.
“What could have happened? There was something going on at home these past few days. I only got back today.”
Shakya disliked lying, but this did not really count as a lie.
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She had been exhausted from tracking the monster with the agent squad these past few days.
“Sorry. I’ll get in touch with him later, so don’t worry about it.”
Shakya understood the concern Bruce felt for his good friend.
But rather than pay attention to the boy’s romantic troubles, Shakya wanted only to eliminate the monster as quickly as possible. Otherwise, how would these young people ever have time for romance?
“Things haven’t been very peaceful lately. We’d better go out less often.”
After saying this, Shakya noticed Bruce staring at her in astonishment.
“What?”
“Before Longsheng left, he said something similar to what you just said...”
Shakya had no idea what Bruce was thinking, but she did not want to let his imagination run wild.
“You know a lot of people have died at night recently, right? The news says there’s a strange killer roaming the city!”
Standing at the subway entrance, Shakya spoke to Bruce.
“That must have been what Longsheng was talking about. Bruce, haven’t you watched the news?”
“Is that so...? Then I suppose I was overthinking it.”
Bruce scratched his cheek, looking as though he wanted to say something but could not bring himself to.
“In any case... everyone needs to stay safe. Especially you. Girls should head home early at night.”
Bruce might be loud and boisterous around Longsheng, but in front of a girl, he was quite the gentleman.
Shakya had always seen him joking around with Longsheng. This was the first time she had seen this side of him.
The two of them entered the subway station together.
They boarded the same train.
“Qin Yun, which station are you getting off at?”
Out of courtesy, Bruce asked the question.
Without thinking, Shakya gave him the name of the station.
Bruce’s reaction shocked her.
She had not expected that the direction in which Bruce was returning home was the same area she was supposed to monitor.
Bruce actually lived in that upscale residential complex.
This was troublesome.
Bruce loved asking questions, and moving around with him would make the operation difficult.
“Then I’ll escort you there. Things haven’t been very peaceful lately.”
Bruce offered, once again displaying his gentlemanly manners.
“I... I’m not going home. I’m going to meet a friend...”
Shakya suddenly found herself unable to refuse him.
Bruce did not seem to notice her predicament.
He said he could escort her to wherever she was meeting her friend.
“Well... all right.”
Shakya knew what kind of person Bruce was. He was genuinely simplehearted and full of righteous conviction.
She understood the sincerity behind his concern.
In that case, she would simply wait at the rendezvous point once they arrived and then go directly to meet Agent K.
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