136: Chapter 136 A Nighttime Call, A Silent Clash

Ling Ye's fingertip hovered for a moment, his eyes sharpening as he pressed the answer button.

At the same time, he instantly adjusted his breathing to the weakest and most steady state, relaxing his body's muscles while keeping his mind highly tense. He pushed his "Spiritual Sense" to its limit, attempting to capture any subtle sound from the receiver, or even any "information" it might contain.

No sound came through immediately.

The receiver was filled with a deep silence, accompanied by the characteristic background noise of electronic equipment. This silence was not entirely soundless; it seemed as if one could hear a faint, low hum from far away, like a ventilation System or machinery running, but there was absolutely no human voice, breathing, or environmental noise.

The other party was also silent.

This was a silent contest on both ends of the radio waves.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Ling Ye's heart beat steadily and powerfully in his chest, but his consciousness was like a frozen lake, without a single ripple. He could feel that the communication connection was stable; the other party had not hung up.

Five seconds, six seconds...

Just as Ling Ye was almost beginning to think this was a meaningless silent standoff, or that the other party's equipment had malfunctioned—

A faint "click," like metal gently colliding, came from the receiver. Immediately after, a synthesized voice—obviously modulated, neither male nor female, and carrying a cold, electronic texture—spoke two words in a flat, monotone tone:

"Ling Ye. Leave."

The voice was very soft, but every word was clear, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.

Ling Ye's pupils constricted! The other party not only knew his identity but had also given a direct order! And all this at the critical moment when an anomaly had just erupted in the Old Factory District and official personnel might be rushing over!

Was it a warning? A threat? Or... some form of "reminder"?

He did not answer, nor did he even change his breathing to indicate he had heard. He simply maintained absolute silence, as if there were no one on the other end of the communication.

Seemingly having anticipated his silence, the synthesized voice did not pause in the slightest and spoke again. The speed was steady, but the content was even more shocking:

"Target: Oak Street Community, basement of the Old Factory District. Protocol: 'Cleaning' has been initiated. Unrelated parties will be cleared. You are off the list. Final warning: Leave. Before dawn."

As the voice finished, the communication was unilaterally disconnected by the other party with a snap.

The dial tone came through, sounding exceptionally jarring in the silent room.

Ling Ye slowly lowered his arm. The communication interface on the terminal screen had vanished, as if the brief and eerie conversation had never happened. But his heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and a chill spread from his spine all the way to the top of his head.

The amount of information was immense, and it was full of omens!

"Target: Oak Street Community, basement of the Old Factory District." — The other party had explicitly pointed out the target and knew there was something underground!

"Protocol: 'Cleaning' has been initiated." — "Cleaning"! This term was definitely not official or academic jargon; it was filled with a cold, mission-execution implication. What kind of protocol was this? Who initiated the "Cleaning"? What was the target? Eliminating the anomaly? Or... everything related to it as well?

"Unrelated parties will be cleared." — Cold and ruthless. Anyone deemed "unrelated" who got involved would be "cleared"! This was practically a death sentence for those ordinary residents who might have approached the Old Factory District out of curiosity or by accident, including even those in the know like "Old Zhao"!

"You are off the list." — He was not on the "cleared" list? Why? Because he was a "student," a "victim," or because... some "traits" of his had been identified, deeming him "harmless" or "of other value"? Or was this simply a lie to paralyze him?

"Final warning: Leave. Before dawn." — An ultimatum. He had to leave the Oak Street Community before daybreak! Otherwise, he would bear the consequences!

Who was it?!

The Security Department's special operations unit? The style didn't match; the Security Department wouldn't use such a secretive, cold, and jargon-filled method to warn residents to evacuate.

The forces behind "Deep Space Frontier Capital"? They owned the property rights and were interested in the "anomaly," but the phrasing of "Cleaning" and "cleared" sounded more like an armed or special operations unit.

Or... that third faction that had been setting up/retrieving things where the red light flashed? Were they related to this phone call?

Regardless of who the other party was, the information revealed indicated that a military or paramilitary operation codenamed "Cleaning," targeting the basement of the Old Factory District, had been initiated and was about to unfold before dawn! The rules of engagement were ruthless; they would "clear" all "unrelated parties"!

The community was in danger! He himself was in danger! "Old Zhao" and the other Neighbors were also in danger!

He had to make a decision immediately!

Leave? According to the warning, evacuate the community before dawn and take refuge in the academy dormitory or elsewhere to avoid the potential "Cleaning" operation. This was the safest choice, but it meant giving up the chance to investigate the secrets of the Old Factory District and abandoning "Old Zhao" and other potentially unaware Neighbors to danger. Moreover, was it really safe just because the other party said he was "off the list"? What if an accident occurred during the "Cleaning" process, or if the other party changed their mind?

Stay? The risk was extremely high. He might face the "Cleaning" operation head-on and be attacked as an "unrelated party" or even an "obstacle." He might also get caught in the direct conflict between the Old Factory District anomaly and the "Cleaning" forces, with his life hanging in the balance. But this might be the only chance to observe the core of the event up close, understand the various factions, or even... seize a glimmer of survival or critical information amidst the chaos!

Ling Ye's face was uncertain under the faint light of dawn filtering in from the window.

He glanced at the time: 3:40 AM. There was less than two hours until dawn (around 5:30 AM).

Outside the window, the roar of hovering vehicle engines in the distance seemed to have gotten closer, mixed with the faint, warning sirens of non-police vehicles. Official forces were gathering.

In the direction of the Old Factory District, after a brief, violent churning, that "sense of discord" seemed to have fallen back into a kind of oppressive "calm," but that cold, ready-to-strike pressure was more intense than ever before.

A storm was coming; dark clouds were pressing down on the city.

Ling Ye slowly stood up and walked to the window, taking one last look at the community sleeping in the shadow of danger.

Then, he turned around, his gaze falling on the bulging, ready-packed backpack in the corner of the room.