At that moment, Song Chushi fired a shot in Azure Harbor, and it seemed to mark the end of a long silence.
He stood quietly where he was. Four figures emerged from the endless sea of lights deep within the city. Three took up positions around the perimeter, while the fourth stood in the middle.
"Dr. Song, it's been a long time."
A polite greeting rang out as the four figures revealed themselves: Zhang Chiguo, Zhao Brahma, Wang Buddha, and Li Moses.
The former Four Heavenly Kings—now three of Azure Harbor's Independent Investigators and a deputy director of the Disaster Management Bureau.
Any one of them was an influential figure, enough to make the anomalies lurking in the shadows tremble.
In a sense, their authority over the world of shadows had grown so great that their reputations alone could be enough to deal with anomalies.
Now, all four had come together. Zhang, Zhao, and Wang took up the Blockade Position.
"We're on a mission. I hope you don't mind?"
Zhao Brahma was the first to speak with a smile. His clothes and hair were a mess. "I suppose only someone like you, Dr. Song, could receive this kind of treatment."
"Secretary Number 5 personally signed the execution order, the Qinggang Empress set up a mirror world, Abyss Studio served as bait, and the Four Heavenly Kings are carrying out the mission in person. Azure Harbor is treating one man as an S-Class Threat. That's a first."
"Even if you die here today, the entire world's Mysterious Circle will remember your name!"
When he mentioned the special treatment Song Chushi was receiving—and the "name" he'd leave behind—there was a hint of envy in his voice.
Wang Buddha smiled warmly. "We all worked for the Special Operations Team back then. We were