Beyond the intersection, fog billowed thickly. The distant streets looked hazy and grotesque through it, while the far-off streetlights swayed faintly like the eyes of living things. Between the crossing beams and fog, suspicious shadows occasionally flashed past—perhaps entities born from the fog, perhaps tactical patrol robots from the Special Operations Bureau, or more likely, nothing but illusions.
There was no doubt that venturing alone into that fog was extremely dangerous.
So Li Lin obediently stayed within the "safe zone" around No. 66 Wutong Road, observing this fog-shrouded Otherworld while waiting for Zheng Zhi, Yu Sheng, and the others to return.
The good news was that the wait was not too lonely. Thanks to the widespread use of the new "Spirit Fox" relay nodes, he could still contact the real world from here. He could also connect to the Special Operations Bureau's dedicated channel covering Mist City. Hundreds of Deep Dive Teams were currently operating in this enormous labyrinth of another world. Though the thick fog kept them separated, seeing the various teams' messages appear in the public channel from time to time made him feel somewhat reassured.
"...So, I'm guarding the house here," Li Lin messaged in the group chat for the Second Division of the Special Operations Bureau, holding his phone as he sat outside the package pickup station. "To be honest, this fog is pretty creepy. After being alone for a while, I keep feeling like something's about to come out of it. No wonder the bureau issued a notice banning solo exploration here."
His phone buzzed, and a new message popped up. Xu Jiali replied in the group: "Solo exploration isn't the only thing that's dangerous. Teams are risky too. The last time I led a team, we nearly got wiped out by the 'Clown.' That