Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Assassin

The instant the invisible attack emerged, the existence of the assailant was confirmed beyond doubt.

Yet Qi Chen and the others were astonished—this fellow truly had the nerve to attack three Operatives from the Department of Anomaly Management at once? Even a standard Special Operations Squad would see a significant boost in tactics and combat capability just by sheer numbers, let alone when each member possessed a unique power.

Nevertheless, the invisible attacker was brazen enough to make his move.

“It can’t be someone from the Vertical Pupil Society…” the Gentle One spoke rapidly. “According to our investigations, they have only a handful of anomaly operatives left—even counting possible stragglers and those we’ve already captured or eliminated, there should be at most one or two still at large.

“There’s no one like this among them, and this isn’t at all their style!”

Generally speaking, anomaly operatives from the Mist were far more cautious in their actions than the sanctioned city operatives, though in battle, they cared even less for the lives of ordinary people.

In summary, those who operated outside the cities followed a single principle: self-interest above all.

To launch an attack on three elite operatives at once clearly violated this rule.

“Could it be the Divine Envoys, or someone else?” Prismatic speculated after hearing the Gentle One’s analysis.

Only the large organizations would have the means and motives to orchestrate such a daring assault.

Qi Chen recalled the training materials from the department—he was not unfamiliar with these names.

The Divine Envoys were one of the greatest Mist factions outside City Three, even spanning several allied cities—a mysterious force, as their name suggested. Their core members were anomaly operatives who called themselves messengers of the gods, gathering a multitude of followers in the Mist, and they were not to be underestimated. They had long sought to seize control of the alliance cities.

If they had allied themselves with traitors within the city, it was not impossible.

…

By now, the first wave of attacks from the enemy had subsided, and the only sounds in the black market were the varied rhythms of human breath.

The acrid stench of gunpowder filled the air, setting everyone’s nerves on edge.

Some of the black market merchants, in their desperation, absurdly dialed the Public Security Bureau—the very department they had always sought to avoid—hoping it would offer a lifeline.

—

Firearms were strictly forbidden in City Three’s black market. Anyone carrying a gun was either from the city authorities or a madman who had slipped in from the Mist.

Given the choice, most merchants would rather spend a stint in jail and pay a fine than be gunned down by a lunatic.

“I can’t sense any anomalous energy at all…” Qi Chen strained to detect any trace of supernatural presence, but finding an anomaly operative was far more difficult than sensing a simple anomaly.

“He’ll definitely strike again,” the Gentle One said with absolute certainty. “If his mission was just to tail us and gather intelligence, he could have retreated the moment he was exposed.

“But he attacked instead. That means attacking us was part of his mission from the start.”

Qi Chen added his analysis: “He’s using firearms, which means his anomalous ability is limited to concealment. His own offensive power is lacking, so he supplements it with guns.”

There was no question of him feigning weakness—if he truly intended to kill them, the very first shot would have been the most lethal and decisive.

Bang! Bang!

Two more shots echoed, and all three’s faces changed drastically.

The attack was not aimed at them!

Screams erupted instantly from within the market. The whole black market was a sealed, square enclosure with a single entrance and exit. The desperate cries of the wounded ricocheted off the walls, striking terror into every merchant present.

The enemy was using the ordinary people as hostages.

“Gentle One! Block the exit while I cover you and evacuate everyone inside!” Qi Chen sprang into action at once, rushing out of the shop as bullets whistled past his ears.

But for the Overlord, intercepting bullets was a trivial feat. With a roar, he blocked every round aimed at Qi Chen.

The Gentle One did not hesitate, following close behind. With a burst of speed, he stationed himself at the market entrance—the only way out!

“Everyone I point to, move towards me now! I’ll protect you as you escape!”

He immediately pointed at the nearest person who, just having scrambled to their feet, tried to rush over—only for another shot to ring out.

But Qi Chen was ready; he dove forward, the Overlord standing at the edge of the line of fire, intercepting every bullet.

—

“Watch out for grenades!” Qi Chen shouted, recalling the earlier attack. Enemy bullets and grenades were also invisible for a brief moment, but the turbulence caused by the bullets was easy to sense and intercept.

Grenades, however, were a different matter—who could say if the enemy would throw them or roll them along the ground?

Sure enough, a sudden burst of fire erupted in the market, accompanied by agonized screams.

Qi Chen realized then that the invisible enemy had deliberately chosen to attack in such a crowded place—no wonder he dared to challenge three anomaly operatives alone.

Because he could use all the ordinary people as his weapons.

Rage flared in Qi Chen’s heart. With a low growl, he made a move that even his teammates failed to anticipate—he charged toward the shopkeepers around him.

In an instant, the Overlord hoisted ordinary people and hurled them rapidly in the Gentle One’s direction. The latter quickly understood Qi Chen’s intent, grabbing a wooden board nearby. His Enthusiasm ability infused it, transforming it into a highly effective, shock-absorbing shield.

One by one, the Gentle One caught the airborne civilians and tossed them out of the market behind him, rapidly reducing the number of people inside.

Gunfire intensified—the enemy was getting desperate!

Ratatatat!

The stench of gunpowder thickened, bullets flying indiscriminately at everyone, but the Overlord’s speed at evacuating people could not be matched.

In the blink of an eye, the market was nearly emptied of civilians.

Suddenly—clack!—the lights throughout the black market went out, plunging the room into darkness.

Qi Chen heard Prismatic’s voice from a distance:

“Leave the rest to me.”