Chapter 308: Alerting the Enemy

Courier stations, small restaurants, internet cafes...Figures from the Aberrant Purge Division appeared at every location that might come into contact with the floating population.

They tirelessly emphasized the amount of the bounty, and even more so, described the danger of the aberrants.

"This is a matter of life and death!"

The internet cafe owner shook his head at the newly posted wanted notices covering the wall: "Anyone hiding someone like that is just asking for death, aren't they?"

The small town's tranquility was completely shattered;every resident became a potential sentinel.

After all, the aberrant on this kind of wanted notice could very likely appear in their area, which was extremely dangerous. So, finding the target as quickly as possible was highly beneficial for their own safety.

Also, there was a bounty for this kind of thing.

Driven by the dual forces of life-and-death danger and tangible cash rewards, countless pairs of eyes began scrutinizing every unfamiliar face.

The next day.

Three figures appeared at the town entrance.

Feng Jue walked at the front.

Liu Ziming looked around curiously.

Xu Hao observed their surroundings cautiously.

"The Aberrant Purge Division has this place sealed up tight."

Liu Ziming clicked his tongue: "Even the aunties at the vegetable market are handing out wanted notices."

"Making such a big show of force means the target definitely isn't simple."

Xu Hao continued: "But with such a large area... searching like this is no different from fishing for a needle in the ocean."

Feng Jue's gaze swept over the newly established checkpoint at the street corner: "He's nearby."

"How do you know?"

Liu Ziming leaned in.

"Intuition."

Feng Jue said calmly: "Since they're focusing their defenses here, it means the target likely hasn't broken through yet."

"If you ask me."

Liu Ziming casually picked up an apple from a roadside stall, wiped it on his pant leg, and took a bite: "This whole production is too exaggerated. Just count them, there are three checkpoints on this street alone."

Xu Hao sighed helplessly, took out his wallet, and silently paid the stall owner for the apple: "According to the mission briefing, the target, Chen Qing, is suspected of possessing the ability to summon the Mist. That alone makes him worth focusing the pursuit on."

"High-risk peak, I know."

Liu Ziming waved his hand dismissively: "But what's his goal? Summoning the Mist in an uninhabited zone, not killing or setting fires."

Feng Jue spoke up: "That's precisely why this abnormal behavior is his biggest secret, and you might be the greatest value of this mission."

"Whatever."

Liu Ziming rubbed his hands together excitedly: "When we catch him, we'll have to make him spill all his secrets. Maybe we can learn a thing or two?"

The three passed through the bustling morning market.

Wanted notices were everywhere, rustling in the morning breeze.

The auntie selling jianbing was gesturing to a customer: "I heard that aberrant can change faces..."

Liu Ziming lowered his voice: "Looks like this trip won't be wasted. I'm really looking forward to meeting the target."

"It's them!"

A vegetable-selling auntie yelled at the top of her lungs, her finger pointing straight at Feng Jue and the other two: "Three unfamiliar faces! They've been wandering the streets for ages!"

That shout had an instant effect.

The breakfast stall owner's wife grabbed her rolling pin.

Old Zhang, the hardware store owner, rushed out wielding a wrench.

In the blink of an eye, the three were surrounded by over a dozen residents armed with makeshift weapons.

"Don't get excited, folks!"

Liu Ziming hurriedly raised his hands: "We're students from Vermilion Bird Academy, here to assist the Aberrant Purge Division."

"Students?"

The vegetable-selling auntie eyed him suspiciously: "Why aren't students in class at school, coming to this remote wilderness?"

"We really are from Vermilion Bird Academy!"

Liu Ziming fumbled to pull out his ID, but was stopped by the hardware store owner's wrench.

The man narrowed his eyes: "Who knows if your IDs are fake? The wanted notice says that aberrant can disguise himself!"

The breakfast stall owner's wife brandished her rolling pin: "We only recognize the Aberrant Purge Division's uniforms!"

The situation was at a stalemate.

A squad of Aberrant Purge Division members in black uniforms arrived upon hearing the commotion.

The squad leader in charge checked the trio's credentials, then turned to explain to the residents: "These three are indeed students from Vermilion Bird Academy, here to assist our work."

The crowd slowly dispersed.

The vegetable-selling auntie muttered as she left: "Wouldn't have been this trouble if you'd worn uniforms earlier..."

The squad leader turned and handed the three neatly folded black uniforms, his tone businesslike: "Apologies. The mission is special at this time. These are temporary uniforms for you."

Liu Ziming shook out the uniform and couldn't help but complain: "This fabric is way too stuffy..."

Feng Jue and Xu Hao silently took the uniforms and put them on.

Liu Ziming pinched his nose exaggeratedly: "Wow! You guys from the Aberrant Purge Division are way more impressive outside than us from Vermilion Bird Academy. Even the common folk only recognize this skin. Who knows about Vermilion Bird Academy..."

The squad leader's face instantly darkened.

Xu Hao hurriedly pressed a hand on his companion's shoulder, stepping half a pace forward to shield him, offering an apologetic smile to the squad leader: "Please forgive him, sir. My classmate here has been overtraining recently and might have damaged his brain."

Feng Jue silently fastened the last button on his uniform, giving the squad leader a slight nod: "Duty calls. Understood."

Liu Ziming was still muttering: "It's true though! Qin Bai's organization puts on more airs than anyone else..."

Xu Hao covered his mouth with his hand, smiling at the livid squad leader: "We'll head to the west district for patrol right away."

Watching the three receding figures.

The squad leader took several deep breaths before calming down.

He turned to his subordinate and said through gritted teeth: "Keep a close eye on these three kids! Especially the talkative one!"

At that moment, Liu Ziming was being dragged by the collar by Xu Hao around the street corner.

Once they were far enough away.

Xu Hao let go of Liu Ziming and sighed, straightening his wrinkled uniform: "Even if you're dissatisfied with him, you can't say it to his face..."

"Was I wrong?"

Liu Ziming rubbed his reddened neck, pursing his lips defiantly: "If it weren't for that idiot Qin Bai, Brother Su wouldn't have..."

Feng Jue suddenly spoke: "Enough."

The three of them stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

Xu Hao sighed softly and patted Liu Ziming's shoulder: "We all know. But what can saying this now change, besides alerting the enemy?"

"I just can't swallow this anger."

Liu Ziming's voice was low and hoarse: "Brother Su... he was clearly the one who least deserved to die..."

Feng Jue clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

He remembered the figure who always trained extra late into the night at the training ground.

He remembered that person's patience when teaching them tactical coordination hands-on.

Finally, he remembered the cold "99.99% probability of death" in the academy's notification.

"Those still alive need to be even more careful."

Feng Jue's voice was calm, but those familiar with him could hear the suppressed turmoil within: "You know Qin Bai's methods. What we need to do now is endure, not throw tantrums."

"Alright, alright, I promise I won't say it in front of them next time."

Liu Ziming grinned, hooking an arm around Xu Hao's neck: "Anyway, we can curse them however we want in private, these beasts in human skin!"

Xu Hao shook his head helplessly.

The three continued walking forward, shoulder to shoulder, just like when they carried out missions under Su Zhan's leadership years ago.