The atmosphere inside the vehicle was heavy. No one spoke.
It was not entirely because of Jiang Chen.
The Netherworld Messengers in the other vehicles were silent too, not exchanging a word. The bloody smell of battle had yet to fade, and an inexplicable sense of oppression hung in the air.
Tonight's hunt beneath the cover of darkness seemed to be merely the prelude to something, a light rain on the eve of a great storm, especially cold and biting.
"I keep feeling like something big is going to happen..."
"They recalled us days ago and kept us at the bureau all this time. Now they suddenly had us hunt down Dark Alliance members. Eliminating threats inside and out-something big is coming!"
"Remember what happened in Xunhe City a few days ago?"
"So many places have been in turmoil lately. Could Jiangbei be next?"
"..."
A handful of people spoke sporadically.
As it turned out, the less you wanted something to happen, the more likely it was to happen.
The moment the Netherworld vehicles turned onto the main road back to the branch bureau, everyone's phones began chiming with a series of notifications.
They tapped them open.
The first was a bombshell.
Effective immediately, all of Jiangbei was under a Level One Combat Readiness Order. All Unusual Persons of D-Rank and above were to form groups of at least three at once, taking turns standing watch and resting at night to ensure they could fight at any moment!
All Netherworld Messengers were to return to the branch bureau and await orders.
Some of the more experienced people immediately widened their eyes. A Level One Combat Readiness Order, and a citywide one at that-this was terrifying.
It meant that, in the Netherworld's judgment, whatever was about to happen could potentially result