Zhang Qifeng didn't explain what the great opportunity was.
Qin Annian left the bureau chief's office and connected to Miss Ju Zi's mission system.
"Unit 4396, Public Security Officer Qin Annian requests reinstatement."
A short while later,
Miss Ju Zi sent him a mission.
[Suppress the remnants of the Cultivation Holders Association and gang members in the southwestern jurisdiction of the Old District, and assist the Assault Team in advancing toward the underground base from the southwest.]
Qin Annian went to the parking lot, got into a police car, and drove toward the Old District.
At that moment,
the person from the Intelligence and Technical Support Brigade assigned to coordinate with Qin Annian also joined his communications channel.
"Hello, Public Security Officer Qin."
"I'm the Supply Ship."
"Before you reach your jurisdiction, there's some important intelligence you need to know."
"First, the Cultivation Holders Association has put you on their bounty list."
"If you appear in their line of sight, you're very likely to be ambushed. Please be extremely careful."
"Second, a large number of gang members have infiltrated your jurisdiction. The Assault Team is sweeping through the buildings floor by floor, and they're very short-handed."
"Your jurisdiction is in urgent need of order. That will be your main responsibility from now on."
Traffic to the Old District had been restricted, and only authorized vehicles could pass.
As a result,
Qin Annian drove quickly.
About ten minutes later, he reached the outskirts of the Old District.
Through the windshield, Qin Annian could see that thick smoke had blotted out the sky above the Old District, while flames lit up the billowing black clouds.
To block the drones' view from above, members of the Cultivation Holders Association had set fires all over the Old District.
Fire engines, escorted by infantry fighting vehicles, headed deep into the district to tackle the blazes. But as soon as one fire was put out, a second and then a third would break out elsewhere.
The firefighting helicopters had already taken off, but it would be a while before they arrived.
"Public Security Officer Qin."
"Sky Net's control has been greatly reduced, so it can't provide you with a timely view of the area. Please be extra careful."
At the edge of the jurisdiction,
rows of barricades had been set up. Residents of the Old District were queuing in an orderly fashion, registering and receiving new-generation personal identity cards with help from government staff.
Nearby,
buses transporting residents were pulling in and out at regular intervals.
"Public Security Officer Qin!"
Just then,
a young member of the Assault Team who had been notified came over to Qin Annian.
"I'm Zheng Yi. I'm the Assault Team member stationed here."
"What about Captain Chen?"
At Qin Annian's question, Zheng Yi replied:
"Captain Chen is leading the team in clearing these buildings."
He took out his tactical panel and circled an area on the map of the southwestern jurisdiction.
"According to the intelligence we received,"
"gang members in the Old District have been gathering in unusual numbers."
"The other squads have already taken up positions throughout the area to block them."
"Captain Chen plans to clear out the people who have gathered here before they can make a move."
Qin Annian saw Zheng Yi hesitate, looking like he had something to say, so he pressed on:
"Is there anything else?"
Zheng Yi took a deep breath and said:
"The Cultivation Holders Association has placed a huge bounty on you, Public Security Officer Qin."
"They're launching a very frenzied counterattack. Captain Chen suspects these gang members may have gathered here for that reason, too."
So, to prevent anything from going wrong, the Assault Team had to take the initiative and scatter them before they could gather in large numbers.
"But..."
"We still don't know what the Cultivation Holders Association is planning."
"Captain Chen told me to warn you to be extremely careful and not venture too deep into the jurisdiction."
Qin Annian looked at the smoke rising everywhere and the flames soaring through the sky across his jurisdiction. He nodded calmly.
"I'll be careful."
At that moment,
a commotion suddenly broke out in the queue.
"Public Security Officer Qin!"
A boy was waving and shouting, trying to climb over the barricade.
Government staff nearby hurried over, ready to restrain him.
"It's fine."
"Leave him to me."
Qin Annian walked over and waved them off.
"Brother Qin!"
"Those people took Lin Zi'ang!"
"Please find someone to save him!"
"Some bastard must've snitched to those thugs!"
It was the older boy who had asked Qin Annian yesterday if they would be safe.
Lin Zi'ang was the child who had been keeping watch from upstairs yesterday before Qin Annian had hauled him over to practice the Standing Posture.
At his words,
Qin Annian's eyes narrowed.
"I understand."
"Do as they say and get settled in the Temporary Housing District first."
"I'll make sure Lin Zi'ang comes back safe and sound."
After the older boy left with the crowd, Zheng Yi, who had been standing nearby, spoke gravely:
"Public Security Officer Qin."
"It's too dangerous. You can't go."
"I've already reported the details to Captain Chen. He'll send people to look for the boy."
Qin Annian took a deep breath.
The smell of burning and gunpowder filled his nose.
He felt his blood being ignited by the flames.
"I promised them yesterday that as long as I was here, they'd be safe."
"I'll leave this place to you."
With that,
Qin Annian returned to the car, took out a long case, and slung it across his back.
Then,
he strode toward the depths of the jurisdiction.
Seeing this, the Assault Team member had no choice but to report the situation.
"This is the only jurisdiction where things are so abnormal. They're definitely after Public Security Officer Qin."
"Something big is about to happen here!"
His expression shifted repeatedly. At last, he stamped his foot and followed Qin Annian toward the depths of the jurisdiction.
Flames blazed into the sky, and thick smoke billowed everywhere.
The fire-suppression systems in the old buildings had long since stopped working.
There was no water in any of the fire hydrants, so water tankers were the only way to bring in water.
The only way to put out the fires quickly was to rely on the firefighting helicopters taking off.
The people in the outer buildings had mostly been evacuated.
After all,
the residents of the Old District had accepted reality.
The City Government was determined to rebuild the Old District, and it had already declared war on the Cultivation Holders Association, which had been hiding there.
If they stayed in the War Zone, they might not make it out alive.
Given the circumstances, they had no choice but to leave, however reluctant they were.
Some elderly residents, however, felt they would rather die on their "homeland" than leave.
They thought that sealing the iron gates would shut out the chaos outside.
However,
when the wall of fire came sweeping toward them, despair surged in their hearts!
The Security Bureau's advance had slowed because they had to spare personnel to rescue people.
Thick smoke filled the stairwell.
Amid the crackling of the flames, faint cries for help came from inside a room.
"Help!"
"Is anyone there?"
"Help me!"
Boom!
The iron door, its lock warped by the heat and impossible to open, was smashed apart with a single punch!
Qin Annian, dressed in combat gear and gripping a short firearm, braced the door before it could collapse.
Zheng Yi rushed into the smoke-filled room and soon carried an old man back out.
By then,
the old man was already losing consciousness.
Zheng Yi gave him a little water, and he gradually came around.
"Sir."
"Have you seen Lin Zi'ang?"
Qin Annian took the opportunity to ask.
"Lin Zi'ang?"
"That little rascal?"
The old man had just come back from the brink of death, and fear still shone in his eyes.
But
when he heard Qin Annian's question, he hurriedly replied:
"It was the Iron Rod Gang!"
"They kidnapped Lin Zi'ang and his whole family last night!"
They'd finally found a lead!
Qin Annian immediately said to the Supply Ship:
"I'm going to the Iron Rod Gang's territory."
"Plot a route for me."
Before you continue