Chapter Twenty-Five: The Sorcerer

Wang Meng seemed to have anticipated everything. He rushed out from inside and, before leaving, reminded Hei Yu, “Xuan Hai, you stay here.” Then, burning with urgency, he hurried away.

Hei Yu stood by the door, only realizing something was amiss after Wang Meng had disappeared from sight.

Crack—

The fifteen-story old office building across the street tilted to the right. Where there had been scattered lights inside moments ago, darkness now reigned.

Then, Hei Yu saw the entire building uprooted and lifted into the air.

The scene was identical to what Hei Yu had witnessed when he traveled back in time—the fate of Uncle Liu’s house.

That thing had come here?

“Fifth, can you locate that thing?” Hei Yu asked the system.

[Boss, detection isn’t my specialty, but I can borrow Forty’s subroutine.]
[Retrieving: 8%]
[12%]
…

Hei Yu was speechless. Wasn’t this system supposed to have the same functions? Apparently, they each had their quirks.

If he were to rely on the system to save himself in a critical moment, it might not even be useful.

Better not to depend on the system too much; the key was to strengthen himself!

Inside the building, faint white lights appeared—perhaps phone flashlights?

Counting quickly, there were lights in more than ten rooms.

“Help!”

“Officer, please save me…”

Cries for help echoed from the building, causing Hei Yu to freeze. He almost forgot—he was a police officer now!

He watched as people inside waved their phones at him.

They were asking him for help, living, breathing people, and he was their only hope.

What should he do?

Hei Yu recalled how investigators handled sudden siege situations when reading case files.

Right—call for backup first!

Hei Yu pressed the top button on his watch. Wang Meng’s colorful avatar appeared, dominating the screen, with smaller, grayed-out avatars of Zhang Wu and Chen Yang below.

“Xuan Hai, what’s wrong?” Wang Meng’s voice came through, crackling with static but still audible.

Hei Yu instinctively touched his ear; there were no earpieces. This uniform truly was high-tech!

“Captain, the building across from the station has been lifted. Are you over there?”

“I crawled in just as it started rising. Zhang Wu and the others vanished—I just tried to signal them, but no one responded. Can you try reaching them?”

Hei Yu tapped Zhang Wu’s avatar—only a busy tone.

He tapped Chen Yang’s as well—still busy.

“How’s it going, Xuan Hai?” Wang Meng’s voice came again.

“No response.”

“Don’t worry about them. Double-tap the top button on your watch and have headquarters send reinforcements.”

“Alright.”

Hei Yu called headquarters, explained the situation, and asked for as many backup officers as possible.

Just as he ended the call, he heard rapid footsteps upstairs. Forty or so hooded figures leapt out, soaring towards the building across the street.

Several trapped people were rescued first and brought to the station’s first floor.

So this was headquarters?

At that moment, the system finally displayed its prompt:

[100%]
[Subroutine retrieved successfully. Locating the spellcaster.]
[2%]
[3%]
…

Hei Yu didn’t even bother to complain—this system was utterly useless.

“Xuan Hai, when headquarters arrives, don’t go inside. I’ll stabilize the people in the building now.”

“Captain Wang, isn’t headquarters just upstairs? I just saw dozens fly out from above.”

No answer.

The avatar remained in color, and Hei Yu could hear Wang Meng’s breathing.

“Hey, Captain Wang, should headquarters check on Chen Yang and the others? I noticed blood on Chen Yang’s uniform earlier—something may have happened.”

“Zhang Wu is with Chen Yang. Don’t worry about her.” Wang Meng replied this time.

So the guy really was always online.

But why all the secrecy about headquarters? Wasn’t it just upstairs? Wasn’t it normal for forty people to suddenly fly out?

Was there any need to hide it?

“Did you hear me, Xuan Hai?” Wang Meng urged.

“I did,” Hei Yu replied.

Watching the rescued people, Hei Yu felt numb. After being saved, they were brought into the station and seated.

A middle-aged man in a suit and glasses, whom the system labeled as Kuang Tao.

So he was Kuang Lang’s brother?

Hei Yu’s instincts told him this name didn’t belong to a good person.

He’d just been rescued, and his savior had already flown back into the building for others.

Kuang Tao’s eyes were bloodshot, tears still streaking his face, and he collapsed helplessly on the ground.

Seeing Hei Yu approach, Kuang Tao scrambled toward him on hands and knees.

Hei Yu said lightly, “Sir, don’t be nervous. I’m here now.”

But after just two steps, Hei Yu froze.

[Danger]

A red alert flashed before his eyes.

[100%]

[Spellcaster locked]

A red box framed the man before him, indicating he was the one the system identified as the spellcaster who lifted the building.

Hei Yu kept his smile, though it looked somewhat forced; the man seemed not to notice and continued to approach.

Now, they were less than two meters apart.

If Hei Yu took one more step, he’d be within reach.

Yet Hei Yu didn’t hesitate.

[Forcefully strengthening host’s body]

Hei Yu felt his muscles tense. The energy he had activated during practice now surged in his arms, threatening to erupt.

He felt the same explosive energy in all four limbs, his whole body filled with strength—as if he could shatter Kuang Lang with a single punch.

But Hei Yu didn’t do this.

He helped Kuang Tao up, supporting him into the station.

Kuang Tao made no move to attack Hei Yu. Had he tried, Hei Yu would have torn the flesh from his bones.

Was it because headquarters' abilities were overwhelming, and Kuang Tao dared not make a move?

Or did Kuang Tao not know that Xuan Hai was Hei Yu?

Both were heavyset men, but Xuan Hai was darker and taller.

Hei Yu kept his doubts to himself. Just before setting Kuang Tao down, Hei Yu placed a hand on his shoulder, a silver thread attached to his middle finger.

The hall was crowded, mostly with headquarters’ abilities. No one paid attention to Hei Yu, who swiftly snapped the thread.

Kuang Tao immediately fell into a deep sleep, and Hei Yu gently closed his eyes.

“Have a good rest,” Hei Yu whispered.

Kuang Tao slumped in his chair, sleeping soundly.

A colleague glanced at Hei Yu, but said nothing.

Everyone from the building had been rescued. Wang Meng was the last, carried out by a petite female colleague.

It looked odd.

Hei Yu had always wondered—Wang Meng didn’t seem like an ability user. How did he become captain?

Wang Meng thanked the female colleague, then hurried over to Hei Yu.

“Zhang Wu and the others aren’t back yet?” Wang Meng asked directly.

“Not yet.”

Wang Meng pressed the top button on his watch, still no response.

“Wait here,” Wang Meng said, then turned to the female colleague, “Xiao Hong, fly me again. Zhang Wu and the others may be in trouble.”

She nodded, picked up Wang Meng, and flew off.

The rescued people were now taken upstairs.

The one previously locked by the system was also led up. None seemed surprised by the supernatural feats, and all complied with the police.

Hei Yu sensed something was off, but kept silent. In the blink of an eye, the once-crowded hall was empty, leaving only Hei Yu behind.