1:27 a.m., North Terrace City, outskirts of the villa district
Wang Qiang raised his wrist, the cold glow of his tactical terminal reflecting off his face.
He made a hand signal.
Behind him, two Thunder Squad members stepped forward at the same time, forming hand seals.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique ×2."
Chakra surged soundlessly.
In the direction of the villa district, dense fog rose from the ground like a living thing, silently spreading and expanding.
It did not spread evenly like natural fog, but seeped through in layers, with purpose and direction.
The surveillance cameras were engulfed first, then the walls, and finally the entire villa district.
Within thirty seconds, visibility fell to less than three meters.
"Move."
Under the cover of the mist, twelve figures vaulted over the wall and vanished into the milky-white chaos.
Inside the villa district's surveillance room
Three monitors stood side by side, their displays divided into sixteen grids.
They cycled through live footage from every corner of the villa district.
A ww agent in a black suit sat before the screens, holding a half-cold cup of coffee.
Two others stood by the window. It was cracked open, and the red glow of their cigarette tips flickered in the night.
"Damn weather." One of them exhaled a puff of smoke.
"It was still clear this afternoon. How did such thick fog roll in at midnight?"
"That's how it is in the mountains. You'll get used to it," the other replied.
The agent in front of the screens was about to answer when his gaze suddenly sharpened.
The third grid showed the camera on the eastern wall. At that moment, it displayed nothing but grayish white.
He enlarged the image.
Still grayish white.
He switched to the fourth, fifth, and sixth grids... every outward-facing camera