Investigation

Back at the branch office, Captain Wang swiftly reported his findings and preliminary assessment. The atmosphere throughout the Youcheng Special Administration Bureau suddenly tightened.

In the director's office, Liu Zhenguo studied the photos Captain Wang had brought back of the destroyed spirit-pattern stakes and the map of demonic beast traces Sun Haoran had drawn. His expression was dark as water.

He did not lose his temper. His fingers merely drummed rapidly against the desk a few times before he issued a string of orders:

"Information Division, Monitoring Division: activate SkyNet's Level Three response. Retrieve all public surveillance footage, traffic cameras, and accidental civilian drone recordings from across the city over the past seventy-two hours, especially around District Nine. Conduct intelligent comparisons and abnormal behavior analysis. Focus on screening suspicious individuals and points of abnormal energy fluctuation."

"Patrol teams: cancel all rotating leave. Double patrol frequency and cover all old residential areas, underground facility entrances, and urban-rural fringes. Carry standard beast-repellent Potion and capture nets. Any demonic beast below E-Rank is to be eliminated or captured on the spot. Anything above E-Rank must be reported immediately. Do not engage recklessly!"

His gaze shifted to Captain Wang. "Operations Division, your mission has changed. The Information Division and patrol teams will handle the ground and air. You will handle underground."

"Go to the Equipment Division immediately and collect portable spirit-energy sniffers. Work in pairs and conduct a thorough scan of the city's major underground pipelines, abandoned air-raid shelters, building foundations, and other areas where small demonic beasts could be hiding."

"Remember: this is reconnaissance, not a purge. If you find concentrated abnormal energy or life signs, mark the coordinates, report back immediately, and wait for support."

"Unauthorized action is absolutely forbidden, especially if you may encounter groups of demonic beasts or higher-ranked targets!"

"Yes, sir!"

Captain Wang accepted the order solemnly.

Before long, the Operations Division sprang into action.

A line formed outside the Equipment Division as team members collected palm-sized "spirit-energy sniffers" that resembled old mobile phones, though their screens were far more complex.

These devices could detect abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations and life heat within a certain radius. They were effective at detecting hidden demonic beasts, but their range was limited and they could easily be disrupted by complicated terrain or certain special abilities.

The group assignments were quickly finalized.

Taking experience, complementary abilities, and one newcomer's special circumstances into account, Captain Wang made his arrangements.

"Sun Haoran, you'll be paired with White Butterfly."

Captain Wang handed a sniffer to the perceptive Sun Haoran, then looked at Hua Yin. "White Butterfly, your task is to observe, learn, and, only after Sun Haoran has determined that it is absolutely safe, understand the threats that may exist in a real environment."

"All actions are to follow Sun Haoran's command. Unless you encounter an immediate threat to your life, you are not to use your ability without authorization. Understood?"

"Understood."

Hua Yin nodded and accepted the other sniffer Sun Haoran handed him.

The device was slightly heavy in his hand, its casing made of non-slip black engineering plastic.

Sun Haoran looked at the partner before him, who was both too young and too calm. He still had his doubts, but orders were orders. He forced a fairly friendly smile at Hua Yin. "Relax, kid. Stick with me, watch and learn. This thing isn't hard to use."

He pointed at the sniffer. "Green means safe. Yellow means weak abnormal fluctuations, or maybe small animals like rats. Red, along with a continuous buzz, means there's something nearby. Its energy signature is at least at the level of an E-Rank demonic beast. When that happens, listen to my orders. Retreat when it's time to retreat. Don't try to be a hero."

"Mm."

Hua Yin responded and was already studying the device in his hand.

A simplified grid map filled the screen. A green dot in the center represented them, and there were currently no other signals.

The other groups finished assembling as well. Zhao Tiezhu was paired with another enhancement-type member, while Zhou Mingyu partnered with a team member skilled in diversion and guerrilla tactics.

If you come across ads such as "Are you a real person?", just ignore and close them. Do not scan any codes or send text messages!

Captain Wang led a group himself, taking responsibility for several areas that were likely the most dangerous.

"Move out!"

At Captain Wang's command, the groups quickly dispersed, and their vehicles drove out of the underground garage one after another.

Hua Yin followed Sun Haoran into a van painted with the words "Municipal Maintenance" and headed toward an old industrial district in the city's northeast.

Its underground pipelines were tangled and complex, and it was filled with abandoned factories. It was an ideal hiding place.

While driving, Sun Haoran tried to lighten the mood and give the newcomer a little background knowledge. "Don't let the fact that we look like sewer workers fool you. This job matters."

"Those little things might not cause much trouble alone at E-Rank, but if enough of them are hiding somewhere, suddenly swarm out, or attract something bigger and nastier, then we've got a serious problem."

"Last month, a city in a neighboring province had a nest of Venom-Sting Bats get in. They harassed a residential complex in the middle of the night. No one died, but several people were injured, and the whole place was terrified."

He glanced at the quiet Hua Yin in the passenger seat and continued, "Most of the time, this is the kind of dirty, exhausting work we do at the Special Administration Bureau—preventing trouble before it happens."

"Trading blows with demon kings every day like in the movies? That's work for the real top brass."

"As for us, we tighten the fence, clear out the rats and cockroaches, and let ordinary people live in peace."

Hua Yin watched the streets outside gradually become more rundown and asked, "Do inspections like this happen often?"

"Depends. There are regular inspections under normal circumstances. But this time, we've clearly found signs of destruction and intrusion. That makes it a full-scale investigation at the highest priority."

Sun Haoran's expression turned serious as well. "That's why I said this isn't simple. Destroying spirit-pattern stakes isn't something ordinary demonic beasts can do. Even ordinary illegal Awakened wouldn't dare do it—it's a direct provocation against the nation's defenses. There's definitely something fishy behind this."

He paused and lowered his voice. "Brother, your codename is White Butterfly. You ran into something like this right after arriving, so you've really... had your eyes opened. But stick with me, and I'll make sure you see what the real front line is like—and understand that we don't wear this uniform for nothing."

"If something unexpected happens later, how about showing us what a codename agent can do?"

"We'll see."

Hua Yin brushed him off casually.

The van stopped beside a rusted iron cover marked "Municipal Pipeline Maintenance Entrance."

Sun Haoran efficiently put on a fluorescent vest, took out his tools, and pried open the heavy manhole cover. A subterranean stench mixed with mold and a faint fishy odor surged upward.

He switched on a high-powered flashlight and shone it down, then checked the sniffer in his hand. The screen was still green.

"I'll go first. Stay close behind me. Watch your footing—it's slippery."

With that, Sun Haoran was the first to climb down the wet ladder.

Hua Yin took a deep breath, clipped the sniffer to his belt, and followed him down.

Cold, damp darkness instantly closed around him. Only Sun Haoran's flashlight and the faint glow from the sniffer's screen illuminated a short stretch of circular tunnel ahead, covered in moss and water stains.

The faint sound of dripping water came from afar. Deeper inside was nothing but darkness, as though it led to some unknown beast nest.

At his fingertips, a nearly imperceptible pale glow silently flowed.

The spiritual energy within him seemed to pulse a little more actively in this underground environment full of the unknown and potential danger.

The investigation into the shadows beneath Youcheng had begun.