Countermeasure Bureau: Afterword

"The reason I called everyone here for this meeting is about the matter in Leping City." In a dark room, more than a dozen images flickered. Most of the people on these images were not clearly visible, but were given code names. The one who spoke was a middle-aged man, one of the few whose face was shown. His code name, or rather his position, was Deputy Director Zhang.

"Give me a report first, then we'll discuss the summary. Aya, distribute the relevant documents and take notes," Director said, and then began his report:

"On [date], we sent a report to our distant observers in Leping City, stating that a supernatural event had occurred at Leping No. 2 Middle School, which we named the Black Wind Incident. Please see page two of the document distributed to everyone for details."

"From [date] to [date], a series of murders began to occur in Leping City. The perpetrators are believed to be individuals with supernatural abilities. Please see pages 3-5 of the document for a detailed report."

"On [date], we decided to send a response team to Leping City, with me in full charge. I then assigned three members, G0158, P1374, and P1546, to Leping City. G0158 is a survivor of last year's Leping City Evil God descent incident. For details, please see pages 6-8 of the document and attachment (1)."

"On [date], a black mist appeared on the Wujiang Bridge in Leping City, condensing into a human shape and calling itself the King of Fear Dark River. We are now aware of the Black Mist Incident. For details, please see pages 9-10 of the document."

"On [date], the response team arrived in Leping City and began recording information. Based on their capabilities, they derived the following intelligence:"

"In Leping City, the followers of the Evil God used Mask Battle Royale to incite seven citizens to perform a ritual of mutual killing in an attempt to summon the Evil God. The information obtained step by step is in Appendix (2), the information of the seven citizens is in Appendix (3), and the information of the followers of the Evil God is in Appendix (4)."

"In stopping the ritual, G0158 perished along with the enemy. The severely injured P1374 destroyed the Evil God's item, triggering a mechanism. Although the mask was destroyed, P1374 died. P1546 was ambushed by the enemy but was later treated and is currently in a vegetative state. Please see Attachment (4) for the evidence and related information obtained."

"This concludes the investigation into the Leping City incident. Surveillance will continue according to the usual protocols." Director finished speaking, then continued, "If there are no further questions, the meeting is adjourned. Aya, cease recording. This incident is classified as S-level confidential."

"Director! I have a question!" a young voice said, attracting the attention of others. The young man did not obscure his face, revealing his resolute features. At this moment, he frowned and raised his objection.

Director, as if expecting this, nodded and said, "Everyone else, the meeting is adjourned. Lin Tong and I will have a private chat. Aya, turn off the surveillance cameras here, and then you can leave."

The images in the room disappeared one by one, until only Director and Lin Tong remained.

"Just tell me what's wrong. I have something else to tell you after you're done." At this moment, Director's voice sounded very tired, even revealing a sense of weakness.

"Why were you so quick to define the Leping City incident? There are still many suspicious points. Why not continue the investigation?" The young man named Lin Tong asked angrily. "Uncle Zhang, Uncle Hu is your old friend and often takes care of me. I can't just watch him and two other people die without knowing why."

"It's also because it involves Leping City, where your father, the former Director, also sacrificed his life, right?" Director said with a smile, his tired and weak tone tinged with pain. "But Lin Tong, it's best to leave this matter here..."

"How can this end here? According to that report, we still need to figure out who the root cause of the Black Wind Incident is, and the so-called eruption caused by destroying the masks is simply not feasible. Although those mask fragments contain shadow-type magic factors, they shouldn't have been able to unleash such powerful Thorn or Bestowal those people such strong abilities."

"The toad that saved Uncle Hu's life has also disappeared. All of this tells us that something is wrong!" Lin Tong said vehemently, "I request that this matter be investigated further, even at the cost of my life."

"Nonsense! You can leave this matter alone, just let it end here, I... cough cough cough!" Director said excitedly, but halfway through his sentence, he suddenly coughed, and the whole image began to flicker.

It should be noted that the transmission signals of these images are among the best in the country, and they utilize some advanced technology. It is virtually impossible for such image transmission to malfunction. Lin Tong realized something was wrong. Through the blurry images, he could see Director coughing continuously, coughing up some black worms. As soon as those worms encountered light, they quickly turned into wisps of light and disappeared.

Finally, after coughing for a while, communication was restored. Director's mouth was covered in black phlegm. He saw Lin Tong's anxious face, gave a weak smile, and said, "That being from Leping City is watching me."

"This is a warning. Let's stop here in Leping City. Continuing the investigation will only lead to greater losses. I'm the one who's been handling all of Old Hu's affairs, so the only contact you can get is with me. But if things continue, things might not turn out the way they did."

"So forget about those suspicious points. Even if you investigate them, you might not find anything, let alone escalate the situation," Director said with a smile. "The people of our Great Yue never compromise, but that doesn't mean we don't need to be patient. You need to understand what it means to not compromise and what it means to be foolishly impulsive."

"Lin Tong, you're the old Director's son. You're talented and capable, just a little lacking in experience. The old Director was my former superior, and I watched you grow up. I consider you my own son. Don't just die like that; your Lin family is still waiting for you to carry on the family line!"

"Uncle Zhang, stop talking. I'll go get the medical staff. It's just some curses. There'll always be a way!" Lin Tong's eyes were bloodshot, even flashing with an eerie light.

"Calm down! Remember you're from the Countermeasure Bureau. Maintaining your rationality is essential!" Director Zhang shouted, coughing up another mouthful of black blood. "You think they didn't show me? It's useless! I'm already in isolation."

"This is the last order I will issue as the deputy Director of the Countermeasure Bureau!" Director said solemnly. "Number P1334."

"Yes!" Lin Tong clenched his fists. He lost his father a year ago, lost Uncle Hu not long ago, and now he was about to lose Uncle Zhang.

"You are now promoted to senior member, number G1334, and will be on a new mission," Director said. "After negotiations, Miskatonic University of the Western City-State Alliance will establish a branch campus with the City of Sound Jing Province in my Yue Kingdom. I order you to go there to study and gather all intelligence. From now on, Aya will be in direct contact with you. That's all!"

The screen went black after Director's image faded, leaving Lin Tong with red eyes and clenched fists, saying, "Mission accomplished!"