In the end, only part of the data that Yang Zicang wrote from memory turned out to be usable.
“Sorry, this is all I can remember. “
Maxim patted him on the shoulder in understanding. Being able to mobilize so many materials contaminated with bloodline energy at once—anyone in his shoes would not be in the best spirits.
Yang Zicang felt as though some obstacle lodged in his chest.
Many detailed images had slipped from his memory, and what he could recall was less than half of what Alian had. On top of that, quite a bit of the data was actually wrong.
“It will have to do for now… unless we can find another sample of that material. Sigh… ” Alian’s whole demeanor reeked of deep dejection. Emotion so potent stirred Maxim, still one of her doubters, into lowering his own estimation of her liability to the barest minimum.
“Mr. Yang, I hope we can stay in touch. And I hope we‘ll have the chance to call on you again in the future to help us examine the data from this crystal shard. “
If one wishes to contact a particular Fogfolk, all that is needed is to send a letter to the nearest rental property, and the opportunity will arise.
Yang Zicang surveyed the scene around him and asked, “Well, the important thing is nobody was hurt. By the way, if you were to find another sample of that material, as you mentioned, about how long would that take? “
At least Maxim understood the implication in Yang Zicang’s words.
“If we hired someone with similar abilities from the Fogfolk, it probably wouldn’t take long. It’s just… this crystal bears secrets far too critical to share casually. “
“We don’t want to rashly entrust unreliable people with it, ” Researcher Alian said excitedly. “And more importantly, what’s crucial now is that lost piece of data. If the thief hands it over to another nation, it could threaten our country’s strategic development going forward. “
Strategic development…
Hearing this phrase, Yang Zicang realized that Heiwen Zhike planned to follow the path of Steffin.
Recalling what Yao Xiaoqin and the gentleman beside her had said—even in the subsequent Dawn era, the rulers of this era’s nation might still try to reclaim territory in the other world to restore their country…
He looked up. “I heard you already have someone in mind as a suspect. Who might it be? “
“It’s the man I mentioned last night, ” Alian sighed in self-reproach. “It’s my fault too—if I’d let him participate last night, maybe none of this would have happened. “
Yang Zicang, who had been somewhat immersed in the oppressive mood, let out a slight “Uh. “
He scratched his head. “Damn… ” It seemed the natives’ stereotype of the Fogfolk was about to deepen.
-｛Distributor Loki Tata Mingqi looks at me with “anticipation. “｝
“In that case, ” Yang Zicang sighed, “perhaps that gentleman just wanted to ensure people knew he was involved in this matter. If I go retrieve it, there might still be a chance. “
But he was already somewhat uncertain whether he could truly recover it.
-｛Distributor Tataming gave me a “Favorable Review “.｝
-｛Distributor May Valkyrie gave me a “Neutral Review “.｝
“Really, sir? ” Ms. Alian’s eyes instantly lit up with a glimmer of hope. “To be honest, this research is my last hope for the development of this world. “
“Ms. Alian… ” Maxim raised his hand, guessing that the woman might have long known the endgame of this world. But he hadn’t expected the researcher to hold such deep, profound emotions toward this study.
“Teacher… “
“The knowledge I’ve learned is already useless. I don’t want to let things— “
“Teacher, I’m sorry… Maybe I provoked that bastard Lu Yang last night. “
“No need to blame yourself. Your punishment won’t be let off that easily. ” Maxim’s tone instantly turned cold.
Yang Zicang rubbed his temples.
Soon after, a military officer delivered the latest investigation report:
“Dear sir, I’m very sorry you’ve been dragged into something like this. He’s probably already fled to Waldestadt across the border. We’re not sure yet if he used the mass hallucination tactic of the ‘Dim Radiance’ bloodline, and we’re still uncertain if he has accomplices. “
……
An hour later, Yang Zicang left the research institute, carrying a detailed investigation report along with some materials on the Dim Radiance bloodline and Lu Yang. He was taken by a vehicle arranged by the regiment toward the border.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to tag along? ” Xue Qi asked in the car.
Yang Zicang looked up from the documents. “Ah, this trip might be dangerous. In addition, I’d like to ask you to go to the rented land and check if there’s any mail for me. Don’t worry, as long as I have these thirty-thousand sequences you lent me, I can definitely count your contribution when there’s a battle. “
Xue Qi leaned back against the seat and let out a soft snort.
“Alright, alright, fine then. Keep me updated on any new developments…sigh, if only the Red Model could directly contact the White Model. “
“That day will come. “
The car stopped near a small village with a railroad track. There were barely any farmers to be seen; everywhere were people dressed in military uniforms.
The driver, clad in a green uniform, opened the door and handed Yang Zicang a small handbag.
“Inside is the identity information we’ve prepared for you. As for the problem with the beasts you mentioned… “
The man before him spoke with some hesitation, “At most, we can only provide you with about a dozen beasts. That might be just a drop in the bucket for you folks. “
Even that would provide several hundred years of use.
Sighing inwardly, Yang Zicang followed the driver to an enclosed compound. Inside were some animals with strangely deformed appearances, as if malformed from disease.
“These are… “
“Hmm, this is the result of that blood shell’s power, ” the uniformed driver said. “That thing… it’s actually extremely dangerous. Researcher Ailien is putting her life on the line as well, making sacrifices for our country. “
Yang Zicang let out a heavy sigh as he ended the lives of these deformed cattle, sheep, horses, and large birds with a few pebbles.
｛I obtained 723.7N.｝
After stepping out of the courtyard, Yang Zicang glanced at the surrounding soldiers. “From what I can see, even though the world is at war, it seems everyone is exercising restraint, mostly locked in standoffs. “
The driver’s face flickered with a hint of awkwardness. “Well… according to many veterans, if too many people die, demons will appear. “
“Hah, hmm… Have you changed your surname? “
“You’ve hit the nail on the head, sir. “
The driver chuckled, pointing at the soldiers busy at work around them. “About forty percent of the people here have already taken on new surnames one after another. That way, one’s bad luck gets diluted among brothers who share the same surname. “
Making a great effort to keep a straight face, Yang Zicang pressed down on his hat. “I wish you all good luck. “
After eating and waiting until the sky darkened, a courier delivered the latest intelligence from the Waldestadt border. Clutching it close, Yang Zicang disguised himself, swiftly crossed a dense poplar forest, and made his way to a rushing river. He entered the country on the opposite bank under the cover of night.
……
A contact was waiting there. Seeing the young man with an ordinary face wading ashore, the man, who looked like a farmer in his fifties, approached and said,
“Went down to the river to catch some fish? “
“If not to catch fish, then why go into the river? “
“Hah, pulled in any? “
“Two. Let ’em both go. “
“Follow me. The checkpoints are really tough around here. “
Yang Zicang followed the farmhand all the way, eventually entering through the backyard of his home. After changing his clothes again, the old man handed him a new human-skin mask:
“Those people over there might not be reliable either. The ones giving you intel might be spies from this side. So you better use this face for your operation. “
Yang Zicang’s gaze shifted slightly.
“You mean, his whereabouts might already be known to people here? “
“That’s for sure. I suspect the higher-ups here might already know there’s a Fogfolk man who stole our top-secret technical blueprints from the research institute and got away. So you’re not the only one chasing him now. Be careful. “
This was suspicious… A touch of wavering crept into Yang Zicang’s heart.
“What, having second thoughts? “
The man before him, looking like a farmhand, saw right through his inner emotion.
“I’m guessing you can’t be a rookie intelligence agent posing as Fogfolk. That’s fine. As long as you don’t act rashly, and just send the intel back, we’re got people who’ll figure a way to get it. “
｛I feel like the man in front of me is testing me.｝
This man led him toward the front courtyard, offering reassurance:
“The intelligence hasn’t leaked out yet, and things around here are already complicated enough. Who knows, maybe this is our chance to fish in troubled waters. “
Hearing that last somewhat disjointed remark, Yang Zicang gave him a closer look. The other man’s eyes met his gaze, smiling back without a trace of hidden feeling.
It seemed he hadn’t caught the euphemism.
Wearing a new mask and coat, he walked out of the front yard and swiftly vanished into the night.
After Yang Zicang left, the man in the yard furrowed his brows slightly and turned his gaze to a young man who had entered from the back.
“Such an important document, and they only sent this kind of person? “
“Not sure. I thought he was one of Mr. Maxim’s veterans, but apparently not. ” The man fell silent for a moment, then said to his companion, “We need to leave now. It seems Mr. Sim no longer trusts the line we’re on. “
“What? No way. “
“Even a ten percent chance is already too big a risk. Leave immediately. Godammit, they sent some green rookie to handle such a critical channel. What else is there to say? Screw them all. “
The younger man frowned, sighed silently, and without another word, packed up and destroyed all traces of special marks, then melted into the darkness.
……
Yang Zicang took a glance at the intelligence reports and maps delivered that morning and afternoon. After committing all the information to memory, he raised his hand in a secluded corner. A faint flickering flame instantly reduced the papers to ashes.
That man named Lu Yang must have been in disguise as well.
He already had some ideas brewing about how to retrieve the documents, but another question lingered in his mind: Why was it necessary to study this crystal on the border?
“Because of the high number of soldiers here? ” The irony, however, was that it had been stolen outright.
There was a small town less than two kilometers ahead.
If Lu Yang intended to flee, he definitely wouldn’t linger long in this town. Yang Zicang arrived near the town, expanding the Silent Night to wait. If the local intelligence agents came to confirm the situation, they would surely appear nearby.
Sure enough, before midnight, two groups of suspicious-looking individuals appeared nearby, gazing around. Yang Zicang discerned their identities. Spotting one team that seemed more professional and sharp, he quietly tailed the duo accompanied by a hunting dog.
“If he’s heading this way, is he planning to hop a freight train? “
“That shouldn’t be it. He’s not stupid enough to expose his whereabouts right under our people’s noses. “
“Then this Fogfolk might have found another way to get transportation. “
From tens of meters away, Yang Zicang strained through the Silent Night to make out their voices, while keeping an eye out for the hunting dog, whose ears were perking up with alertness.
“Looks like they’ve already discovered Lu Yang’s trail. Hmm… no, ” Yang Zicang mused. “Maybe the spy hiding over there picked up something Lu Yang used. “
As this thought crossed his mind, Yang Zicang felt an undercurrent of something deeper.
If the spies could think of such a method, why wouldn’t Mr. Maxim’s people? Perhaps I’m not the only one they dispatched.
With this realization, Yang Zicang’s heart lightened considerably. True enough, this kind of task couldn’t possibly have been entrusted solely to someone who barely knew anyone involved. He smirked, suddenly recalling the complicated feelings the natives harbored toward people like him.
Now, he could infer with high probability that this operation to dispatch him was merely a temporary measure to get him out of the way and avoid causing further trouble over there.
“Since that’s the case, I’ll handle this matter in my own way. “
With a significantly lighter heart, Yang Zicang immediately arrived at a decision.
……
Having followed three waves of investigators in the vicinity overnight, Yang Zicang—using the hands of these intelligence agents—learned of Lu Yang’s likely destination: the Central Dispatching Station in Krostiten, a city located in the tri-border region of the eastern territories.
That place could be considered the largest railway hub in the entire eastern continent.
With the “Trajectory Master ” business card in hand, Yang Zicang raced toward the city at top speed, possibly even arriving before Lu Yang.
“Woo—woo— “
Before even approaching the city, round-nosed trains belching thick smoke shuttled busily in and out of the city blanketed by smog-covered skies, scattering in every direction.
Gentlemen in bowler hats and wool overcoats jostled shoulder-to-shoulder with workers wrapped in coarse tweed coats and carrying wicker suitcases.
“Get your tickets, find your lodgings! “
“Sir, are you here to catch a train? “
More and more people poured onto the roads.
The entire city itself was akin to a giant, never-stopping machine—brimming with crude, chaotic, yet vibrant energy.
Yang Zicang watched the bustling, vibrant crowds and thought to himself: if Lu Yang were hiding among such a sea of people… it would indeed be a troublesome thing.
A peasant woman with a headscarf approached him and said, “Sir, there’s a checkpoint up ahead. If I guide you, we can cut through the line and take a special passage. “
“No need. “
“Without me, you’d be queuing for ages. Just give me fifteen iron coins. “
Yang Zicang wore an expression that said,Do you think I’m stupid?
“Really? Oh my god, please take me there quickly! “
A young man’s voice suddenly came from behind him. Yang Zicang turned his head to see the youth lugging heavy luggage, looking like he’d found a savior as he rushed to the woman’s side.
Yang Zicang smiled, stepped aside to let the neckerchief-wearing young man pass, and followed the stream of people toward the massive city gate, rising like a triumphal arch.
“So this is the crossroads of the Eastern Continent — the city that houses Krostiten’s Central Dispatch Station… ” An old man had appeared beside Yang Zicang, sighing in awe.
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