Emperor turned to look and voluntarily handed over the document:
"I happen to have some intelligence meant for the Lungmen Guard Department. Read it, then pass it along to Jiu. As for the explosion, I'll have them investigate it before letting you know."
"Alright, no problem. Leave it to me."
After Officer Chen accepted the intelligence file, Emperor clasped his hands behind his back and left with a slightly comical gait. Texas hurried after him.
In an instant, Shi Lei was the only Penguin Logistics employee left in the square. He had not forgotten the favor of that meal and took the initiative to wave in greeting:
"Hey, Officer Chen. How's it going?"
Chen had been examining the intelligence document with her head lowered. Hearing his voice, she immediately stopped what she was doing and sized up the man before her:
"It's you. What are you doing here?"
Shi Lei waved his left hand in the air, then paused and turned it over.
He pointed behind him at the warehouse:
"I just found a job here, but I'm still in the internship period. I won't become a full employee until three days from now."
At that, Officer Chen gave him a rather subtle look:
"You work at Penguin Logistics?"
Shi Lei had yet to realize how this company differed from other logistics companies, so he answered honestly:
"Yeah."
This well-known local logistics company had several troublemakers who gave the Lungmen Guard Department, top to bottom, massive headaches. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but ultimately held it back:
"Mm. It's good that you have a job. Anyway... keep it up. We have something to discuss, so we'll excuse ourselves."
With that, Officer Chen led the Oni-horned Police Officer to a corner of the square enclosed by walls on two sides. The spot had an open view, so they did not need to worry about unrelated people approaching to eavesdrop.
Shi Lei could tell there was more to her words, but he could not figure out why she had such an attitude toward Penguin Logistics. Wasn't the company a partner of the Lungmen Guard Department? Why did she have to leave things half-said, like she was speaking in riddles?
Sunlight broke through the clouds and shone upon the smooth jade-like legs of the two policewomen, glittering so beautifully that they drew the eye.
Shi Lei turned to head back to the warehouse and look for Exusiai, but after only a few steps, he noticed that the Oni-horned Police Officer and Officer Chen seemed to be arguing. His curiosity was immediately piqued.
As expected, the cause was probably related to that list. But why would they argue over it?
Unfortunately, they were too far away for him to hear what they were saying. There was nothing else in the square to hide behind, and walking straight over would be far too obvious.
The title of the intelligence file gave Shi Lei very limited information. From words like stronghold, undercover agent, and informant, combined with Officer Chen's mention of illegally entered Infected, he guessed that the Lungmen Guard Department had planted undercover agents among the Infected and bought off some informants. They wanted to locate the strongholds of illegally entered Infected, wipe them out in one sweep, and protect Lungmen's public order.
Honestly, Shi Lei was a little tempted to help.
If every Infected could explode, then uncontrollable Infected were terrorists carrying human bombs. They were a major threat that had to be eliminated.
So were the two of them arguing because they could not agree on an operational plan?
After seeing Officer Chen and the Oni-horned Police Officer leave one after the other, Shi Lei quickly ran toward where they had been standing.
In the world of Genshin Impact, stones had memories. Special stones could even rival cameras, replaying images from some time ago and providing key clues.
But this was Terra, not Teyvat. Although he possessed Rex Lapis's powers, he did not know whether he could communicate with stones. With a try-it-and-see mindset, he reached out and touched the ground where they had stepped.
Driven by intense willpower, Shi Lei actually heard the conversation between the two policewomen. The sound was like a recording made while lying face-down on the ground, though, and the volume was not very high.
By the second listen, the sound quality had deteriorated badly, proving that stones could only preserve sound for a limited time. Still, he had basically grasped what they had discussed.
At exactly ten tonight, Officer Chen would lead the Special Operations Team to District 25 in Lungmen Lower City and carry out an extermination operation against illegally entered Infected. The Oni-horned Police Officer named Hoshiguma stated that tonight would be exceptionally dangerous and wanted to participate. However, Officer Chen rejected her on the grounds that the leadership had already chosen the roster, and they ultimately parted on bad terms.
Shi Lei narrowed his eyes and pondered in silence. Whether for his own wishes or to play the role of Rex Lapis, he had to make a trip to Lower City tonight.
Officer Chen was such a good person. It would be too much of a shame if she died in the line of duty. Besides, Penguin Logistics did business with the Lungmen Guard Department, so ignoring this would be hard to justify.
His combat strength was not great, but his defensive abilities were top-tier. Best case, Officer Chen would not encounter any danger. If something did happen, Shi Lei could still protect her remotely from the shadows. He would consider it repayment for that meal, and afterward, neither would owe the other anything. As for the other officers, he would save whoever he could as long as it did not endanger himself.
Exusiai, Party Expert
Not long afterward, Exusiai poked her head out from the edge of Warehouse No. 2's entrance. Only after confirming that Officer Chen and Officer Hoshiguma had left did she come out.
She was often attacked while making deliveries, and damaging public property was nothing unusual. Avoiding the Lungmen Guard Department just now was not because she was afraid. At most, it had been a tactical retreat.
Exusiai knew she was wrong, but she would do it again next time.
Her performance pay for this month was almost entirely deducted. If they deducted any more, she would have no choice but to borrow money from Texas to get by. She did not mind having money deducted, but they could at least wait until payday.
Seeing Shi Lei squatting alone in a corner of the square, Exusiai found it strange and walked over to greet him:
"What are you squatting there for? Did you find money? Come on, I'll take you to eat baked apple pie."
"I'm coming, I'm coming."
Shi Lei stood up and followed her back into the building.
But this time, Exusiai did not take the elevator. Instead, she brought him down to the basement level. She used the ID badge on her chest to swipe open the access door, then flicked on the lights with a snap:
"This is the company's Safe House. Everyone usually rests and throws parties here. Besides this one, there are several Safe Houses around Lungmen. Once you become a Messenger, I'll take you around all of them."
A logistics company having its own dedicated Safe House felt wrong no matter how he thought about it. Considering that the company also offered bodyguard services, Shi Lei did not say much.
A large Penguin Logistics logo was posted in the center of the wall. Aside from the hanging fluorescent ceiling lights, there was also a high-powered floor lamp in the northwest corner that seemed intended for lighting. Based on Exusiai's introduction, it was probably lighting equipment used to set the mood at parties.
The western side was partitioned off by folding doors, with soft red sofas inside. The main hall had a refrigerator, a liquor cabinet, a snack shelf, and an old-fashioned record player in the northeast corner.
Exusiai took ingredients from the refrigerator, did some simple preparation, and put them into the oven. After repeated experiments, she had already mastered the baking time needed for the best texture.
Once she set the timer, Exusiai hopped onto the table and sat down. Tilting her head, she said:
"Texas has to deal with some gang-related business, so she probably won't be back anytime soon. To celebrate you joining Penguin Logistics, why don't we throw a party tonight?"
Shi Lei had something to do outside, so he could only decline tactfully:
"Thanks for the thought, but I'm still in my internship period. It's only three days anyway, so it won't be too late to celebrate after I become a full employee. Besides, I need to go back tonight and sort through my old things."
"Is that so? Alright, then."
The moment she heard the party was off, it was as though all the happiness had been sucked out of Exusiai. She could not hide her disappointment.
She was truly obsessed with throwing parties, to an almost fanatical degree. Like a fish out of water, she could not live properly without parties.
"What, are you bored? Is it really okay to let Texas handle some gang business alone? Why not go help her?"
Exusiai shook her head and explained:
"You probably don't know this yet, but Texas is the daughter of some gang boss. I don't know the details either. She only revealed a little, but she knows how to deal with gangs."
"Oh? She's that impressive? Then which gang is she from, and how big is it?"
"Wow, you're really curious. But she usually doesn't want to talk about this, so you'd better not pry when there's no reason to."
Everyone had secrets, and Exusiai was no exception. She knew Shi Lei's Originium Arts were related to stone, yet she had never taken the initiative to ask.
Based on the information that she was "the daughter of a gang leader" and "unwilling to discuss her past," Shi Lei pictured a gang Eldest Daughter who had refused to follow her father's arrangements, run away from home, and wanted to prove herself.
"By the way, the boss said meals and lodging are included. If you don't mind me asking, where am I staying tonight?"
Exusiai raised her hand and pointed toward the room behind the Safe House partition, sounding somewhat uncertain:
"Maybe you'll sleep in there? Why don't you ask later? Anyway, the boss never arranged staff housing for us. We all rent our own places. You should be like Isu and sleep at the company or in a Safe House."
"Isu? Who's that?"
At the mention of a coworker, Exusiai shifted her body:
"He handles a ton of things. He's the busiest employee in the company. Business negotiations, attending receptions, intelligence gathering, network information security maintenance, even weapon maintenance—all of it falls under Isu. Once you become a full employee and get your ID badge, I'll take you to find him."
The two chatted for a while before the oven chimed. Exusiai immediately jumped off the table, put on oven mitts, took out the fresh apple pie, plated it, and brought it over:
"Come on, give it a try. This is my blazing-hot apple pie."
The freshly taken-out apple pie was scorching hot, and Shi Lei was in no position to enjoy that much passion. He used another empty plate to hold it and waited for it to cool before eating.
Not long after lunch, Exusiai received a call from Emperor. It was probably a new delivery assignment. She left him in the Safe House to look at the map and headed out alone.
Shi Lei was happy to have some peace and quiet. This private space was perfect for testing Rex Lapis's abilities, so he would not make any unnecessary mistakes during tonight's operation.
For example, the maximum casting range of Rock Spine was about fifty meters. Each use gave targets within a certain area a Jade Shield that lasted twenty seconds. But Shi Lei's skills had no cooldown restriction. As long as he timed things properly, he could keep the shield active at all times.
The maximum number of Rock Spines was two, and they likewise lasted twenty seconds. However, if two Rock Spines were already present, casting it again would only shield himself and those nearby.
In principle, Jade Shield could absorb all physical and arts damage. Reapplying it would refresh the shield's durability. Shi Lei could not find any guns or knives in the Safe House, so he could not test its exact damage limit.
But one thing was certain: it was absolutely tough!
November 27, 1094, 9:56 p.m.
Lungmen, Lower City, District 24 Main Road.
If Lungmen Upper City was the optimal allocation of resources planned around the needs of the wealthy, then Lower City was a mass of apartment blocks piled together just to survive.
No one knew when it started, but Districts 22 through 29 of Lungmen Lower City came to be called the Slums. If too many Lungmen Guard Department elites participated in tonight's operation, they could only choose a suitable entrance from the main road in District 24.
Shi Lei had arrived early to scout the area and selected a spot with a relatively clear view. He folded the map to cover half his face and silently observed his surroundings.
Shi Lei did not have a cent to his name, so he could not afford a mask. Besides, wearing one in the Slums would look extremely conspicuous. His gaze drifted back and forth with the scattered lights.
District 24's main road was one of the few spacious streets in this cramped Slums area. Vendors lined both sides of the street, and the clamorous voices of the crowd carried far into the distance.
The barbecue stall owner's face gleamed with oil as passing crowds moved through the curling smoke. The air was filled with the greasy smell. It was unhygienic, but fragrant.
Long streets and narrow alleys gathered the warmth of life; when they scattered, all that remained was the mortal world.
As five sedans bearing the Lungmen Guard Department insignia entered his field of vision from south to north, Shi Lei narrowed his eyes. He slowly drew the cold air into his lungs, then gradually exhaled it. The main road remained as noisy as ever as he shoved his hands into his pockets and quickly followed.
Little Mouse Here Needs Your Help
The dim streetlights flickered from time to time, making Shi Lei, who had not slept well last night, feel drowsy. But the unpleasant fishy stench and complicated foul odors quickly pulled him back to reality.
The five sedans stopped a hundred meters away, and more than ten fully armed Lungmen Guard Department elites stepped out. Once all of them slipped into the alley, the drivers quickly drove away.
Such brazen behavior was nearly impossible to conceal in full public view. If even one Infected accomplice sent word, these elites would fall into danger.
Shi Lei did not know who was commanding tonight's operation. He only hoped they could end it quickly and avoid any accidents.
Pretending to pass by the alley entrance, he glanced inside from the corner of his eye. No one was stationed there, so the entire team had likely rushed toward District 25. He turned back and went deeper inside.
The tighter and narrower the terrain, the more favorable it was for Shi Lei. A narrow alley meant that just two Rock Spines could completely block the road, serving both defensive and enemy-blocking tactical purposes.
He carefully made his way inward, but did not see a single civilian appear along the way. Given the Lungmen Guard Department's prestige in Lungmen, perhaps the best explanation was that civilians did not fight officials.
When Shi Lei reached a fork in the road, he crouched down and lightly touched the ground. He could hear faint, continuous footsteps. Based on the rough direction of the sound, he quietly trailed behind the team.
Gradually, he began to feel that something was wrong. According to the map, he should have entered District 25 by now, but he had not encountered any fighting with Infected during the entire journey.
The streets were too quiet. Quiet in an abnormal way.
The Lungmen Guard Department elites had charged into District 25 like bayonets. They should have used overwhelming force to suppress every illegally entered Infected. Yet even now, had they still not found their target?
It felt as if they had jumped into a prearranged ambush, and he could sense the pressure of a trap slowly tightening around them.
"Ahhh! Murder!"
The scream stopped abruptly, yet it was especially clear in the night. Along with consecutive gunshots and shattering glass coming from forty or fifty meters ahead, battle erupted in an instant.
Before long, civilians unwilling to wait at home for death fled through their doors with their families. There was nothing valuable at home anyway. Running away to preserve their lives was obviously more important.
"Murder! Run!"
Once someone took the lead, it immediately caused a chain reaction. Many civilians near the fighting fled, gradually gathering into a stream of people rushing toward District 24's main road.
Shi Lei's movement was obstructed, so he could only use the folded map to cover half his face, stand against the wall, and wait. Only after the fleeing civilians had passed did he continue exploring.
Other than several corpses lying in pools of blood, there were no Lungmen Guard Department elites at the battle site. As expected, they had likely rushed to the next Infected stronghold.
Shi Lei had delayed for a while to let the fleeing civilians leave first. Now, even after crouching down and touching the ground, he could no longer hear the direction in which Officer Chen and the others had gone.
He had lost the target too.
Before you continue