206: earthquake?

After listening to He Jingrui's account, Lu Chuan sighed.

Sometimes, this kind of camaraderie is purer than anything else.

The joys and sorrows of people are not interconnected, so he naturally couldn't empathize with Ban Yangming.

But as a human with innate empathy, he could roughly understand Ban Yangming's feelings.

A companion who had faced life and death together had escaped death, yet was unwilling to acknowledge him.

The complex emotions of surprise, joy, worry, and distress intertwined in his heart, making it difficult even for a man of steel to let go.

"It's okay, there will always be a chance to meet again in the future."

Lu Chuan comforted the downcast He Jingrui for a few moments, then began preparing to open the store.

Just then, both Lu Chuan and He Jingrui's phones vibrated simultaneously.

Pulling them out, they saw that "Guoxin Communications" had sent over a dozen notification messages.

"What's gotten into Guoxin Communications?"

He often received spam messages from this largest national telecommunications operator, but it was never this frantic.

It was as if it wanted to use this method to remind some careless users to check the message content.

Moreover, he received it at the same time as He Jingrui, which was difficult to explain as a coincidence.

Thinking of this, Lu Chuan curiously tapped on it.

The message was very long, taking up more than half of the phone screen.

【Magic City Emergency Command Center】 【Urgent Notice】

【All citizens please note: There is an emergency warning for a major earthquake disaster, with strong tremors and severe damage estimated. After comprehensive assessment by the National Seismological Bureau, the Ministry of Emergency Management, and the city's seismological, emergency, and geological departments, there is an extremely high risk of subsequent strong earthquakes and secondary disasters (landslides, ground collapses, tsunamis, gas leaks, fires, etc.), seriously threatening urban safety and the safety of citizens' lives and property.】

【Now approved by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the Magic City Earthquake Relief Command has issued an order: Immediately activate a city-wide Level I emergency response, executing the emergency transfer and resettlement plan for all citizens.】

【Evacuation Time:】

【Core urban areas (Huangpu, Jing'an, Xuhui, Changning, Putuo, Hongkou, Yangpu): Immediately until August 12, 2025, 20:00, evacuation must be completed.】

【Pudong New Area, Minhang, Baoshan, Jiading, Songjiang, Qingpu, Fengxian, Jinshan, Chongming: Immediately until August 12, 2025, 22:00, evacuation must be completed.】

【Special groups such as the elderly, weak, sick, disabled, pregnant, and young, residents of low-lying flood-prone areas, and coastal/riverside areas: Please act immediately and evacuate with the highest priority!】

【Evacuation Methods:】

【1. Government Unified Organization:】

【Citizens are requested to immediately report and register at their respective communities (residential/village committees).】

【Obey the command of staff, follow designated routes, and orderly take free buses and subway special trains arranged by the government to designated resettlement sites outside the city.】

【2. Self-Evacuation:】

【Preferred routes: Disperse inland towards Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and other provinces via expressways such as G2 Beijing-Shanghai, G15 Shenhai, G60 Shanghai-Kunming, S4 Shanghai-Jinshan, S2 Shanghai-Luchao * . Please plan your route in advance through navigation APP, avoiding congested and high-risk sections.】

【Railways: Shanghai Hongqiao Station, Shanghai Station, Shanghai South Station have added a large number of temporary high-speed and regular trains heading inland. Please check the 12306 official website/APP or station screens and prioritize railway evacuation.】

【Civil Aviation: Pudong and Hongqiao Airports are fully guaranteeing evacuation flights, but capacity is limited and may be affected by weather. Please pay close attention to airline and airport notifications.】

【Waterways (backup): Specific docks (notified on-site by sub-districts) may organize ferries to transfer to safe areas.】

【It is forbidden to go to dangerous areas such as beaches, riverbanks, dams, bridges, and underground spaces on your own!】

【Important Reminder: Carry essential items such as ID cards, common medicines, and simple clothing.】

【Follow official information: Magic City Release, Magic City Emergency, Magic City Meteorology, Guoxin Communications SMS, official websites/public accounts of various district governments, radio stations, TV stations.】

【Keep calm, obey commands, help each other, and prioritize the elderly, young, women, and children!】

【Evacuation Hotline: Citizen Service Hotline 12345, Emergency Help 110, 119, 120.】

【Do not panic! Do not believe or spread rumors! Refer to official releases!】

【Life is paramount, safety first! All citizens must attach great importance, overcome complacency, seize every second, and act immediately! Your cooperation is key to protecting the city and our homes!】

【Magic City People's Government】

【Magic City Earthquake Relief Command】

【December 11, 2025】 【22:00】

The message was very long, but Lu Chuan read every word of it.

"What's going on?"

Lu Chuan held his phone, with an expression like an old man on the subway.

He Jingrui had also finished reading the message.

He scratched his head in confusion.

Then he murmured:

"Squad Leader Ban told me before he left that they were dispersed in Magic City on a special mission. Is it related to this?"

Lu Chuan looked over in surprise, then said with dissatisfaction:

"Why didn't you mention such an important matter just now?"

"I forgot."

He Jingrui smiled awkwardly.

"I'm done with you."

Lu Chuan rolled his eyes at him, then tossed the rag onto the table and sat down in a chair, lost in thought.

He Jingrui sat next to him and asked curiously:

"Is it really going to be an earthquake? Should we still keep the store open?"

Lu Chuan shook his head, then nodded, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.

"Of course, the store must continue to operate. After today, there's only one day left, and I don't want to give up. Also, I don't think it's an earthquake; it might be something more serious."

He Jingrui was puzzled.

"Would the officials lie? This is a massive evacuation of tens of millions of people. If it's not an earthquake, how will the officials explain it afterward?"

Lu Chuan was speechless at He Jingrui's naivety.

"What's left in your head besides eating and practicing martial arts?"

He Jingrui smiled sheepishly at his words.

Seeing him like this, Lu Chuan knew he had spoken too harshly, but he was also very agitated right now.

This mission, compared to previous ones, was truly different in every way, not only full of twists and turns but also more difficult each time.

Lu Chuan couldn't help but feel a vague sense of crisis.

But he didn't know where this crisis came from.

"A Chuan, then tell me about it."

He Jingrui suddenly spoke, interrupting Lu Chuan's thoughts.

Lu Chuan sighed helplessly, then began to explain.

"This kind of earthquake warning is usually predicted based on the time difference between the less destructive P-waves and the highly destructive S-waves, and this time difference is often calculated in seconds."

"So, here's the strange question: has current technology advanced to the point where it can predict earthquakes more than ten hours in advance? Well, even if it's that high-tech, we've been in Magic City these past few days, and with our current perception, have we noticed even the slightest tremor?"

He Jingrui shook his head.

Lu Chuan continued:

"Secondly, the special forces team you were in before primarily dealt with missions related to invasions by alien beasts from other worlds, while natural disasters like earthquakes are handled by the military for rescue operations."

He raised his third finger.

"Finally, I don't know if you noticed... well, you definitely didn't notice, but in the SMS announcement, the resettlement sites are set outside the city!"

Hearing this, He Jingrui couldn't help but ask:

"Setting it outside the city, isn't that normal?"

Lu Chuan shook his head.

"That's the strangest part. The site selection for general resettlement points is definitely based on the principle of safety first, and the country has always emphasized construction in this regard. Places like school playgrounds and parks are the best shelters after a disaster. If so, why go to such lengths and arrange for everyone to go outside the city?"

He Jingrui suddenly understood, then looked thoughtful.

Just as Lu Chuan thought he was about to express some profound insight.

He Jingrui said:

"Maybe Magic City is relatively wealthy, thinking that playgrounds and such places aren't safe enough, so they just move everyone outside the city."

"Sigh..."

Lu Chuan let out a long sigh, then looked at He Jingrui with a pitiful gaze.

"I finally understand a saying now: 'Moderate fitness refreshes the mind, excessive fitness makes your head pointy.'"

"What does that mean?"

He Jingrui scratched his head, indicating he didn't understand.

"Nothing, I'm complimenting you."

Lu Chuan waved his hand, then stood up and stretched.

"It seems there will be no Regular Customers tonight. After all, everyone has received the evacuation notice. Compared to eating, safety is definitely the most important..."

Before he could finish speaking, a burst of laughter and noise erupted outside the door.

"Hahaha, I, Hu Hansan, am the first to arrive!"

"Nonsense, I, Lu Xiaofeng, am the first!"

"Hmph, if you two say so, then I, Kumozhi, must also contend for it!"

...

Watching the Regular Customers vying for the first spot, Lu Chuan was somewhat puzzled, surprised, and bewildered.