Chapter Nineteen: Now a True Professional

No matter which city in the Alliance you entered, the internal department responsible for handling the uncanny always conducted itself with striking arrogance. In a world shrouded by mist, the uncanny belonged to a class beyond the ordinary, their extreme danger inevitably granting them special privileges.

This was why, in certain regions, superstitious worship of the uncanny had even arisen. Out in the wilds cloaked in fog beyond the cities, many uncanny wanderers styled themselves as emissaries of the gods.

Such matters are not easily explained in a few words.

But at this moment, Qi Chen was experiencing firsthand the benefits of the uncanny department’s intimidating authority.

A long convoy of armed vehicles rumbled through the warehouses of East City, heedless of obstacles. Along the way, both urban merchants and seasoned exploration teams accustomed to the dangers outside the city quickly made way with unspoken understanding.

Anyone hoping to survive long in the city knew to cooperate obediently with the uncanny department; this was common knowledge. Defiance might well cost you your life.

“Sir, we’re approaching the target area,” the special operations captain in the front passenger seat turned to address Qi Chen and the man known as Gentle in the back.

“Understood.” Gentle tipped his chin at Qi Chen, signaling for him to get out. Qi Chen wasted no time, pushing open the door and stepping down.

So this was where the enemy might be hiding?

He eyed the warehouse, some four stories high, standing a dozen meters ahead. Qi Chen scrutinized it warily, but sensed nothing out of the ordinary—no trace of the uncanny.

It looked like nothing more than an utterly unremarkable shed.

“Set up a perimeter and call for backup,” Gentle ordered upon arrival, slipping seamlessly into his role as he squinted at their surroundings. “Qi Chen, come with me.”

Overall, it wasn’t a bad spot. The warehouse sat at the edge of the entire East City warehouse district. Foot traffic was minimal, almost nonexistent.

Which, paradoxically, made it more likely something was amiss here—as though someone had deliberately chosen a location so devoid of attention.

“Contact Vice Captain Fu from the car. Have him dispatch two more squads. Seventh Squad alone can’t lock down the warehouse completely.”

Qi Chen accepted the order and headed for the armored vehicle. For now, he was content to follow Gentle and learn about field operations. There was no need to show off.

If he was to prove himself, it would be when the uncanny revealed itself—by playing to his strengths, not feigning expertise in unfamiliar territory.

Quickly relaying Gentle’s request via communicator, Qi Chen prepared to return to him. But he had barely taken two steps from the vehicle when a thunderous roar erupted from the target warehouse!

BOOM!

The tightly closed rolling door buckled outward with a deafening crash, forming a massive bulge. Then, a rapid series of equally ear-splitting blasts followed—one after another, the reinforced door ballooned outward at several points under the impact!

The sudden upheaval drew everyone’s gaze. The armed special operations team instantly raised their rifles, taking up defensive positions and aiming at the warehouse.

“No one fire!” Gentle barked, halting the squad’s advance as he fixed his gaze on the now-silent warehouse, brow furrowed.

“Do you sense anything uncanny?”

“No,” Qi Chen replied, joining Gentle’s side and shaking his head.

He felt nothing, and even when he tried to communicate mentally with Overlord, there was no response.

The warehouse revealed not even the faintest hint of the uncanny.

“Could there be nothing uncanny inside?” he ventured.

“It’s possible,” Gentle replied gravely. “But the absence of the uncanny doesn’t mean there aren’t uncanny wanderers. People are different from pure manifestations of the uncanny—they know how to hide their presence.”

Qi Chen quietly took note of this new insight, but then his expression suddenly changed. He looked to Gentle and said urgently:

“Did you hear that? Not from the warehouse!”

“Hm?”

RAT-TAT-TAT!

A sharp, staccato sound tore through the air—the rapid, overlapping gunfire like stones thrown endlessly into a tranquil lake.

The entire East City warehouse district erupted in chaos at the unexpected barrage.

Both the Alliance and City Three had strict regulations: aside from official personnel, no private groups or exploration teams were permitted to use firearms within city limits.

This was an inviolable rule.

“That’s a standard-issue special operations rifle!” Gentle’s voice was low. He quickly commanded Qi Chen, “Rookie! Get to the source of the gunfire—now!”

Mindful of the enemy’s presence, Gentle chose not to rush off himself; if this was a diversion, he couldn’t risk letting the real target slip away.

As for the possibility of a trap, images of Qi Chen summoning Overlord and that fearsome, repenting executioner flashed through Gentle’s mind. With the strength Overlord had shown, perhaps no one could say who was the true hunter here. Still, Gentle gave a stern warning:

“Remember! Never let your strength make you careless when facing the uncanny. Against certain abilities, brute force is the cheapest currency!

“Keep your mind clear—analyze, and find the key!”

Bidding Gentle farewell, Qi Chen dashed alone toward the source of the gunfire. As he ran, the shots became less frequent, a fact that made his heart sink.

But when he arrived, the scene before him left him utterly bewildered.

The gunfire truly had come from a special operations officer wielding a standard-issue rifle!

In his view were three operatives in black. Two of them already lay sprawled on the ground, bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds. At this rate, they would not last long.

Nearby merchants and exploration teams had wisely taken cover at a distance, though a sizable crowd watched from afar. As Qi Chen approached, someone in the crowd shouted:

“You fool! You’d best stay away from that agent—he’s lost his mind from too much exposure to the mist. The poor devils on the ground are his handiwork!”

CRACK!

The only operative still standing, now accused by the onlookers, whipped up his rifle and fired frantically at the speaker’s direction.

Bullets ricocheted off the heavy steel containers with sharp metallic pings. All the while, the agent screamed in terror:

“Monster! Stay away!”

Reloading with desperate speed, the agent suddenly spun and aimed his rifle at the only person not hiding behind cover—Qi Chen.

RAT-TAT-TAT!

Orange-yellow muzzle flashes tore through the gloom, the burning gunpowder propelling the solid metal rounds out of the barrel with ferocious force.

A stream of bullets with deadly penetration hissed through the air, aimed straight at Qi Chen’s forehead. At such close range, a special operations officer should not have missed.

But—something strange occurred.

Qi Chen stood unmoving, unscathed. Moments later, a spent brass shell clattered to the ground at his feet.

“What monster did you see? Don’t be afraid—I... am a professional!”