The agents, spies, and infiltrating experts from various countries lurking within the nation were all trembling with fear, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.
In the presidential suite of a five-star hotel in Magic City, an Esper from Country M disguised as a businessman was contacting headquarters through his computer.
The news alert that suddenly popped up on the screen made his face change drastically.
"Nationwide Level One Alert, Large-Scale Manhunts Launched in Multiple Regions"—the headline was especially glaring.
Just as he reached to yank out the network cable and flee, the door burst open with a bang, and two special police officers rushed in with guns raised, their dark muzzles aimed at his forehead.
"Don't move! Hands on your head!"
Naturally, the Esper would not surrender without a fight. Just as he tried to mobilize the energy within him to resist, he was struck by a tranquilizer dart fired by the special police and instantly collapsed to the floor.
Inside a laboratory at a university in Nanjing, a Holy Court Priest from Country F disguised as a professor was secretly transferring data about Magic City's energy field onto a USB drive when the roar of helicopters suddenly came from outside.
He went to the window and saw more than a dozen armed police helicopters flying toward the campus. The athletic field was already packed with soldiers in camouflage uniforms.
The priest's face turned deathly pale. He hurriedly hid the USB drive in his clothes, intending to escape through the ventilation ducts.
But the moment he climbed onto the ladder, a powerful beam of light shone on him.
The special police had already found him. The flashlight in their hands blazed painfully bright. "Get down! Or we'll open fire!"
Beneath an ancient city wall in Xi'an,