Chapter Seventy: Operation Scalpel

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"Operation Codename: Scalpel.

"Mission Objective: Precisely eliminate all confirmed anomalous weapons, ensuring that every potential threat is eradicated at the source."

Inside the off-road vehicle, the gentle man read out their mission statement with solemnity.

Qi Chen and Zheg Guang both wore grave expressions.

To efficiently purge the multitude of anomalous weapons planted throughout City No. 3, the three of them had no choice but to split up, even though this meant each would face greater individual risk.

Yet, personal danger paled in comparison to the safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians.

They had no other choice.

"Mask, considering your experience with anomalies is still somewhat lacking compared to ours, you'll be responsible for just three locations," the gentle man said with utmost seriousness.

Qi Chen did not insist on taking on more. He fully trusted the gentle man’s judgment. Since he was only tasked with three places, he would focus on accomplishing them thoroughly.

"You two, be careful," Qi Chen said in a low, steady voice.

The operation was about to begin.

...

City No. 3, East District Public Security Bureau.

Qi Chen strode into the public security bureau’s main hall, presenting his special identification from the Anomalous Affairs Division. The director of the East District bureau hurried over to greet him.

As the head of a district bureau, he was naturally aware of matters concerning the Anomalous Affairs Division. He rushed to Qi Chen, assuming something serious had occurred.

Qi Chen, of course, would not reveal his true mission. Instead, after stating his codename, he deflected with a vague reference to an ongoing investigation.

"Director, has your district encountered anything unusual lately? Any cases that stand out?"

The director, dressed in his bureau uniform, pondered for a moment. "Nothing particularly strange has happened within our bureau. However, there was one unusual case. A few days ago, we received a report of a suicide. As you know, every suicide is now treated with utmost seriousness... Sometimes, we need your division’s assistance."

"This suicide was odd because the man chose to end his life while wearing a dress. On its own, that might not be so unusual—many people today struggle with identity or psychological issues. But when we searched his home, we found no trace of such tendencies in his daily life."

Qi Chen listened intently. It was indeed peculiar.

Someone with such cognitive dissonance might hide their true self in public, but alone in their private space, especially as a solitary individual, there was no reason to continue suppressing those urges.

"But that’s not all," the director continued with a wry smile. "The report was supposedly filed by his company, but when we followed up, we discovered that the company never actually contacted us. We couldn’t reach the original informant, either."

It seemed as if someone had deliberately reported the case to the East District bureau, just to bring the body there.

Qi Chen maintained his composure. "Would you mind taking me to see the suicide victim’s body?"

Typically, every bureau had a cold storage facility for bodies, streamlining case investigations.

The director readily agreed, personally leading Qi Chen down to the morgue.

As they descended the stairs, the chill from the cold storage was already palpable.

The director shivered and glanced at Qi Chen. "Should I get you a uniform to keep warm? It can get cold down there."

Qi Chen shook his head, his expression turning grave.

He could sense that the cold was not just from the refrigeration units—there was a faint, familiar trace of the anomalous.

"The purpose of planting anomalous weapons in the bureau is clear: to cripple part of City No. 3’s armed and security forces during an outbreak..."

The public security bureau, as the community’s main guardian, played a crucial role—no less important than the city guard.

Almost all cases in the city were handled by the bureau, which also temporarily detained criminals.

If anomalous influence spread within, prisoners could easily become anomalous themselves.

Every location where Zheg Guang had detected an embedded anomalous weapon, upon closer thought, revealed the mastermind’s sinister intentions.

"Old Wang, fetch the hanged man’s body for a routine inspection," the director called out into the morgue, addressing the officer on duty.

But only his voice echoed back through the empty basement. There was no reply.

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"Perhaps he’s just busy," the director said awkwardly, his voice dropping as he saw Qi Chen’s stern expression. "Is something wrong?"

"Go upstairs. Do not let anyone else leave the bureau for now," Qi Chen ordered, eyes fixed on the morgue’s entrance. He could feel the chilling anomaly awakening.

Just as the gentle man had worried, not every anomalous weapon was an instantaneous trigger.

Some were not strict weapons at all, but rather pure anomalies still fermenting.

It made sense—the mastermind couldn’t possibly deploy so many finished anomalous weapons at once.

Some of them had to be anomalies in their nascent stages.

As long as it sowed chaos in City No. 3, the goal was accomplished.

Qi Chen’s commanding tone made the director realize the gravity of the situation. He turned to go back upstairs and issue orders.

But he soon returned, breathless.

"Agent Mask, I... I can’t get upstairs. The door won’t open." The director, more composed than most, showed only a hint of fear but remained calm overall.

"It’s a domain-type anomaly," Qi Chen deduced from the director’s words.

Once such domains unfolded, they could seal off the area—no entry, no exit.

The Crimson Heels Incident at the Hongfeng Tower had been just like this; even if they’d reached the front door, they would not have escaped if the anomaly wasn’t subdued.

"Stay close. Let’s go see what’s inside."

The director stiffened, but drew his sidearm and followed.

After all, one of his officers was still down there.

...