Crisis and the Imminent Loss?

Although the three of them sensed that someone was watching them after entering the area, the feeling was so subtle that they chose to ignore it for the time being and continue their mission, letting the person follow them to see what these guys were up to.

But just now, the feeling of being watched grew stronger, accompanied by a strong sense of malice... This made Chen, with his accurate intuition, and the experienced Hoshiguma abandon their plan to stay here any longer. They grabbed the unaware Swire and left.

This time, because he could roughly understand and empathize with Swire's absent-mindedness, Chen surprisingly didn't say anything to criticize her.

After all, when she first came to the slums, she wasn't much better off than Char Siu Cat... and for some reason, her feelings were even more complicated.

"So, what happened? Why are you suddenly carrying me so fast?" As she spoke, Swire instinctively tried to break free from their "restraints".

Honestly, Hoshiguma is fine, but she definitely doesn't want to be so closely associated with that damn dragon...

However, before Swire could break free, Hoshiguma's whispered words in her ear extinguished her thoughts.

"The person who's been following and monitoring us seems to have changed. I don't know if they've lost patience or if it's been replaced... There were a lot of people there just now, let's go somewhere less crowded."

"..."

After hearing the explanation, Swire nodded almost imperceptibly, then, knowing she was in the wrong, stopped resisting and let the two of them "flank" her as they continued their actions.

Although she didn't like it, she wasn't unreasonable. Since it was a serious matter... she would naturally cooperate.

Before long, the three of them arrived at the narrow end of a deserted construction site. They slowed down and focused their attention on what was happening behind them, wanting to see how the people following them would react.

However, what happened next was beyond the three's expectations. The owner of the malicious gaze did not show up; instead, he disappeared.

Upon noticing this, Chen and Hoshiguma both frowned, then exchanged a glance before releasing their grip on Swire.

Swire had been walking quickly while being linked arms with someone, almost lost her balance when she was suddenly released. After shaking herself, she spoke, "Couldn't you have given me some mental preparation?"

"Cough cough..."

Hoshiguma coughed twice and said in a high-pitched voice, "Swire, shall we have Gubiden Fish tonight?"

"Swire, we haven't finished watching the movie about the Watcher yet. It seems like someone else is even more eager to see it than I am. Do you want to show it to him later?"

"Um..."

As soon as Hoshiguma finished speaking, Swire immediately realized that Gubden was extremely unpalatable, but it liked to monitor its prey and act as bait. "The Watcher" was a movie that had been playing in Lungmen these past two days, telling a story of surveillance and counter-surveillance.

Recalling her mistake Swire blushed and grinned, revealing her fangs as she said fiercely, "Ugh... Fine, I'll pay for lunch when we get back, this time it's on me."

"Char siu rice with three eggs, please." Hoshiguma smiled.

"Well, at least nothing went wrong... But what is this place?" Looking at the unfinished construction site in front of her, Swire looked at Hoshiguma with some confusion and asked.

Upon hearing this, Hoshiguma dropped her joking expression and earnestly explained to the two people beside her, "This place is called Black Street, a place where gang members bury traitors."

"So what's our next move? The investigation is over. Should we continue to lure out those hiding in the shadows, or go straight back?" After hearing Hoshiguma's explanation, Swire nodded slightly before continuing.

Before arriving, the three of them thought that the problem with the last conflict where the police officers were injured was caused by ordinary people here, but now it seems that there are deeper reasons or even a mastermind behind it.

Chen waved his hand and said, "Let's go back. The investigation is almost complete, and there's no need to send anyone else. It's pointless. Let's try a different approach."

The other two had no objection to Chen's decision.

However, this time the three might be disappointed. Because sometimes surveillance doesn't necessarily require visual observation...

On one side of the narrow alley, amidst the abandoned corner tower and the collapsed concrete slabs, crossbows were already strung.

The sound of crossbow bolts breaking the silence of the tombstones.

Meanwhile, in another block of the slum—

"Hey, Miss Felis, don't run so fast!"

At this moment, Rope, who was being dragged along by Pardofelis at breakneck speed, couldn't help but let out a series of "wailing" sounds.

As for why the two, who were just in the restaurant, suddenly acted so hastily, we have to go back to when they were discussing those guys who were causing trouble.

Although Pardofelis didn't get a definite answer from Rope about whether they had any mineral bombs, and she wasn't sure if the trio had left the slums, a subtle premonition still prompted her to take action.

The goal of this trip was to Rope the neighborhood where those guys were most active...

By the way, Miss Purple Rabbit was initially very reluctant to lead the way, but she couldn't resist someone's wealth and "authority."

P. S.: This one has over 2600 views. I originally wanted to write one with 3000 views, but I just couldn't keep going. No charge for less than 1000 views, damn it. I'm not fully recovered today, so I'll only be posting one update for now.

Chapter 32 Crisis and Imminent Loss? (A long chapter of over 4000 words)

Although time treats everyone equally, it occasionally bares its fangs at those who are less fortunate.

The cemetery in the Black Street is not in the usual form of tombstones or burial plots. The gangs that are spread throughout the Lungmen slums will not treat traitors so well.

Most of those gang traitors were buried in the walls or foundations of unfinished buildings; Hoshiguma watched as the Black Street was built up step by step.

That's why, being so familiar with this place, she also knows one of its "characteristics".

Whether it's due to its unique location or some other reason, when the wind blows through the unfinished buildings in the Black Street, the sound it makes is always like a vengeful ghost demanding death, sending chills down one's spine. This phenomenon gradually came to be known among the people as the mournful cry of the traitors buried here.

For this reason, gang members generally don't want to come unless there's a reason, as they fear being tainted by bad luck. Ordinary people are also not used to it and don't dare to come, since the environment and atmosphere here always seem a bit eerie.

So as time went by, the Black Street gradually became uninhabited and unguarded.

Knowing this, Hoshiguma brought two of her friends and colleagues this time. This place was absolutely perfect for testing the people following behind her.

Unfortunately, arriving at this deserted place not only failed to lure anyone out, but also made Hoshiguma, the slum know-it-all, re-evaluate this place that should have been deserted.

'We've been attacked!'

In an instant, Hoshiguma and Chen realized this.

The sound of the wind would mask the whistling of crossbows, and the whistling wind would always be mixed with the smell of coal ash from the nearby incinerator. These smells would cause certain races to lose their powerful sense of smell.

What's even more troublesome is that the Black Street only has an entrance and an exit.

If anyone were to attempt to jump from the edge of the ruins, the illegal structures would give even the most daring individuals a taste of the malice of the slums.

"Raise your shields!"

As a dragon, Chen sensed the hidden arrows in the ruins with her intuition. She patted Hoshiguma, forcibly turning Hoshiguma to the defensive side. Then, with a graceful turn, she used the scabbard of the Chixiao sword to deflect the incoming crossbow bolts.

Even though these crossbow bolts were deflected, the remaining force still penetrated two-tenths of the earthen wall.

A moment later, it became clear that Chen's judgment was entirely correct. In just that short time, Hoshiguma's shield had blocked at least four crossbow bolts. If it weren't for the fact that the 'Hannya' shield's performance far surpassed that of other shields, Swire, who was hiding next to her, would probably have died on the spot.

While carefully protecting those around her from treacherous attacks, Hoshiguma's battlefield instincts as a senior inspector also allowed her to quickly detect unfavorable situations.

There were almost no safe shelters at the scene, and the three of them still hadn't pinpointed the source of the crossbow bolts.

"Old Chen, build a bunker."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hoshiguma held a shield in one hand for protection and pulled Swire, running towards the wall. During this process, when enemies tried to shoot them in the calves with crossbows, the little tiger wielding a chain mace successfully blocked the shots.

As the two were moving, Chen also quickly sprang into action.

Taking advantage of a lull in the enemy's firing, she drew her sword and slashed at the wooden scaffolding of an unfinished building. The sharp Chixiao severed the main pole, which was as big as a bowl, in a single instant. The perfect force caused the massive scaffolding to fall towards the three of them, and then it was used as a makeshift cover at a corner of the Black Street.

In this way, Chen Shengsheng created a makeshift shelter in the open space, using the walls and collapsed scaffolding as cover. Then, taking advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was drawn to the collapsing scaffolding, she quickly jumped behind the shelter.

Behind the bunker--

After catching their breath, Chen and Hoshiguma exchanged a glance before turning their gazes to Swire.

"As an expert in on-site police dispatch, Swire, do you have any ideas?" Chen quickly summarized the situation and asked Swire first.

In terms of combat, she no longer counted on Char Siu Cat. Come on, the appearance of these strange weapons was more threatening than their fighting ability.

Given the characteristics of that chain hammer, Chen Ke didn't expect her to play any role in this kind of escape battle.

"You idiot, I can see through your rude look. You can just say it." Swire somewhat irritably after noticing the way someone was looking at her.

As she spoke, her head was inadvertently exposed outside the cover. Then, in the next instant, a crossbow bolt shot straight toward her head amidst a whistling sound.

Realizing this, Chen and Hoshiguma quickly pushed Swire back into cover, narrowly avoiding the crossbow bolt.

Looking at the arrow, which was stuck in the wooden pole so close to him, its fletching still trembling, Hoshiguma couldn't help but frown slightly before examining it carefully.

Upon closer inspection of the deeply embedded arrowhead, its tip revealed a sharp, penetrating wound. Her pupils constricted in surprise, and she exclaimed, "Lungmen swearing, Originium arrowheads! The emergency response guidelines need to add a new rule!"

Upon hearing Hoshiguma's words, the two people beside her were initially startled, but they quickly forced themselves to calm down and continued doing what they were supposed to do.

After a moment, Swire observed the terrain carefully and then immediately shared her conclusions with the two people beside her:

"The area is gourd-shaped. We're on the front street, with a narrow passage in the middle that only allows two people to pass at a time, so we can exit through the back street."

"The crossbow bolts came in from the entrance, so it must be blocked. We can't go straight down the narrow passage from here. We'll make a way from the side. Hoshiguma, I'm counting on you for support and clearing the way."

Hoshiguma nodded knowingly after hearing Swire's instructions.

As a member of the Special Inspection Unit, she knew very well that there was no need for too much questioning during this period of coordination and cooperation; it was time to let her brain rest.

Not only Hoshiguma, but also Chen, in a sense, enjoyed working with Swire, provided they didn't argue.

The reason is that when faced with problems or crises Swire can always analyze the situation at lightning speed and plan what needs to be done next, leaving others only to execute and patch up any loopholes.

Even Chen had to admit Swire's outstanding abilities in terms of analysis, strategy, and command.

"Finally, you know how to play baseball, right, you idiot dragon?" Swire said, while searching through the rubble along the wall for a few stones that were roughly the same shape and form.

Upon hearing this and observing her behavior, Chen immediately understood what she meant.

"So..."

Swire wore a confident smile and raised his index, middle, and ring fingers to signal to Hoshiguma and Chen.

Third, Swire lowered his index finger. Chen and Hoshiguma were mentally calculating the shortest path.

Second, Swire lowered his middle finger, and Chen and Hoshiguma began to calculate the location where the crossbow bolt had been fired to increase the probability of defense and support.

First, Swire lowered his index finger, his raised hand like a signal flare in a race against death. The next instant, the two leaped out of cover, then quickly separated, forcing the attacker to choose his target.

Chen's figure was like a blue lightning bolt, while Hoshiguma's movements were like a green torrent.

The crossbowmen unanimously chose to attack in a dispersed manner, but Chen had already calculated their attack angles. With a slight turn of his body, Chen Yilong's physique allowed him to perform a feat that was difficult for ordinary people to achieve, narrowly avoiding the arrows.

In contrast, Hoshiguma's thick shield is her best cover, and she can always block any crossbow bolts.

Swire, who had been hiding behind cover, only moved quickly after hearing the sound of Hoshiguma's shield being hit, and joined her.

After seeing Chen narrowly avoid the crossbow bolt again, she quickly threw the stone in her hand at him and shouted, "Chen, strike!"

Chixiao: Raising her eyebrows, a thin line cleaved the stone. Chen did not intend to cut the stone, so she used the back of the knife.

After receiving the force, the stone hurtled towards the marked location almost like a bullet. As it struck the unfinished building, the exaggerated force shattered a corner of the window and sent the stone flying into the room.

Chen couldn't be sure if the enemy was dead, but at least this move had eliminated one of their firing positions.

Finding their operation effective Swire and Chen continued to use the same tactic, drawing the enemy's attack before knocking down the crossbow firing positions as if hitting a baseball.

This action deterred the enemy from launching another surprise attack; the exaggerated swordplay instilled fear in them, as if they had kicked a hornet's nest. While they hesitated, the three had already sprinted to the end of the main street.

"Go through the windows of unfinished buildings; the chances of someone getting trapped in that 'gourd-shaped' opening are extremely high," Swire shouted immediately, worried that the two might have other ideas.

Without any hesitation, Hoshiguma and Chen chose to believe her. The three of them jumped into the unfinished building, intending to enter the backstreet from there and quickly leave this place of trouble.

Unfortunately, the inspectors on this investigation seemed to have bad luck; they stumbled into another terrible place.

"..."

Inside the unfinished building without partitions, about twenty people stared at the three people who had suddenly barged in.

They haven't received the message yet, and they're wondering if they should take any action. Of course, they might never receive it.

Because they had kicked a hornet's nest, the argument had completely disrupted the command system. The higher-ups behind the scenes did not intend to make enemies of Lungmen's Lungmen Guard Department. The superb martial arts skills they had just witnessed made them realize that if they were left here, the Lungmen Guard Department would give them the most cruel experience.

But the boss stubbornly believed that since they had already become enemies, it was better to leave the person there permanently rather than kicking them out.

Whether they are kidnapped or killed, once they get out, death will be the same for them.

The dilemmas at the top have no effect on those at the bottom; the momentary stagnation on both sides lasts only a moment.

"Damn it, get these cops out of here!" A junior leader charged at the three men, wielding an axe that gleamed with a mysterious luster.

"???"

Seeing a group of guys charging towards them with broken weapons modified from Originium and ore, the three of them were momentarily stunned.

But they quickly realized what was happening and made a swift adjustment, the three of them turning around in unison.

In such a confined space, close combat and fighting in shifts are a clear disadvantage for the side with fewer people. Moreover, if they are cut by the weapons they are carrying, infection will be the only outcome for them.

Therefore, both logically and emotionally, the three of them decisively chose to run away.