Chapter 83: Request for Investigation

Those in high positions possess something more important than power—the responsibility they must bear upon their shoulders.

At this moment, Fu Ying was confronted with such a choice.

She could either give the immediate order for the City Guard to pound Minsheng Mall to rubble with artillery fire, or she could send another team of Anomaly Walkers into the mall to investigate.

Both options had their merits and drawbacks, but the safest course was undoubtedly to flatten the mall with firepower first.

At least, for now, Minsheng Mall had not displayed the characteristics of a rules-based anomaly, meaning that physical destruction could still be used to strike it.

But if she did so, it would mean formally abandoning the rescue of the thousands of missing citizens trapped inside.

So many lives—living, breathing souls—not just cold, lifeless numbers. Behind each one stood countless families in City Number Three.

Qi Chen and Warmheart both watched Fu Ying in silence. Even Warmheart, usually so cheerful, wore a pained expression; he knew he could not shoulder a decision involving so many lives.

“Captain Fu... make the call,” Warmheart said, turning to his superior, the woman who, in just a few years, had earned the respect of everyone in the Anomaly Containment Division with her abilities.

What would her choice be this time?

...

“Prepare to execute the order,” Fu Ying said at last. The struggle in her eyes vanished in a flash, replaced by utter resolve.

She had already foreseen what would follow. The Oversight Division would seize upon this as a pretext to attack her, and those in higher places would likely use this anomaly as a spear to drive her out of her post.

But none of that concerned her. Her only motivation was the well-being of more people in City Number Three.

“I want to go take a look.”

A sudden, unexpected voice broke the silence. Fu Ying and Warmheart turned to stare at Qi Chen, the newcomer, who looked calm, even wearing a faint smile.

“Mask! This isn’t the time to act tough!” Warmheart rushed to Qi Chen’s side, trying to pull him away, but Qi Chen was stubborn as stone, refusing to budge.

“Are you out of your mind? Most of the people inside are probably already dead! If not, their minds have likely been twisted beyond salvation by the anomaly! There’s no chance of bringing them out!” Warmheart pleaded, nearly shouting.

Did this kid not understand how difficult it was for Fu Ying to make such an order?

“Warmheart, let him go.” Fu Ying’s voice was calm, her sharp gaze locking onto Qi Chen. “Give me a reason.”

“I just think... we shouldn’t give up without even trying,” Qi Chen said, pressing his lips together. “And just let me go. I’m confident.”

“I remember from the training materials, the effect of anomalies on people depends on their mental strength. The stronger the anomaly, the more it warps the mind. But Anomaly Walkers can resist this influence to some degree…”

“Enough!” Warmheart interrupted, anxiety written all over his face. “So what if you have resistance? Anomaly Walkers are still just people! The anomaly in Minsheng Mall could be upgraded to Class C at any moment! How do you expect to—”

“My mental strength is rated at B,” Qi Chen cut him off. “No one is more suited for this investigation than I am.”

Only then did Warmheart recall that Qi Chen’s mental strength was the highest seen in City Number Three in decades. By rating alone, he was even stronger than most anomalies.

According to the institute’s research, someone with Qi Chen’s mental strength would indeed be minimally affected by mind-twisting anomalies.

“You think mental distortion just means someone goes mad?” Warmheart persisted, unwilling to give up. “We Walkers have decent resistance, but exposure to high-level anomalies can still make us lose control and mutate, regardless of our own strength!”

He did not want to see another tombstone added to the graveyard.

“Captain Fu! You can’t let Mask go in alone! If he loses control, it’ll only make things worse!” Seeing that Qi Chen wouldn’t listen, Warmheart turned to Fu Ying instead.

But when he saw the strange look in Fu Ying’s eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

“Mask, I approve your request.”

...

The City Guard’s Third Battalion had already relieved all Special Operations Teams around Minsheng Mall. Trained for large-scale combat, they were, at this moment, even more professional than the Specials.

The cordon was locked down, sealing off the mall completely. The minimum distance between the mall and the cordon was two hundred meters; even those two abnormal entrances couldn’t affect the soldiers standing guard at that range.

...

A command vehicle slowly rolled up to the cordon, a large vehicle with only three people inside.

Warmheart, at the wheel, let out a sigh, leaning back as if all hope had left him.

Inside, Qi Chen sat across from Fu Ying, receiving her instructions.

“For this mission, you have only one requirement: your own safety comes before everything else,” Fu Ying said, her usual forcefulness replaced by genuine concern for her subordinate.

Qi Chen just smiled, saying nothing.

“There’s one more thing you need to remember,” Fu Ying’s tone turned stern, making Qi Chen sit up straight.

“This time, you are not to remove your comms device, and your action recorder must stay on at all times!”

Qi Chen looked embarrassed, realizing she was still upset about last time, but his awkwardness turned to something else as she continued.

“If you disappear without a trace again, I won’t come looking for you.”

“Well... I don’t want to lose such a good job either…”

Clang!

The door opened. After one last check of the action recorder on his chest, Qi Chen stepped out of the vehicle alone. He turned and waved at those inside. His investigation had officially begun.

This time, Warmheart and Fu Ying would serve as his dedicated intelligence analysts.

“I really need a softer mattress when I get back…” His face still a bit flushed, the warmth in his heart lingering, Qi Chen raised his head, fixing his gaze with determination on the mall entrance only a few dozen meters away.

The towering figure of Overlord appeared suddenly at his side. Man and anomaly exchanged a look, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

“I know you won’t give up easily either.”

...