Chapter 55: Tracking – They’re Targeting Them After All!
“The crow has left its nest.”
Continuous drizzle, Su Chen was still adapting to his body shortly after promotion when he received Hu Xiang’s message.
This meant Pan Yu had broken his usual two-point-one-line routine today.
A sharp glint flashed in Su Chen’s eyes, and he immediately thought if the other party was going to make a move on him, but then he denied it.
In the Inspection Department, even if the other party made a move, he couldn’t escape.
“Could it be… he’s going to meet certain people?” Su Chen thought, replying to the message: “Report position at any time.”
He glanced out the window, the raindrops gradually lessening, the lightning dimming, which instead made nightfall even more oppressive, as if the sky was about to collapse.
Su Chen put on the Shadow-Evading Clothes under his clothes, fastened the Mimic Mask, and pinched it on his face.
Though it was late at night, it was still the Inspection Headquarters after all, brightly lit with quite a few people coming and going. Su Chen blended in among them and soon vanished.
……
“This guy, is he going to the outer city?”
Hu Xiang was also wearing Shadow-Evading Clothes, with sparse raindrops pattering on it.
He held a black telescope in his hand, its metal shell engraved with precise patterns that flickered from time to time, capturing a blurry red outline advancing in the shadows within its view.
He didn’t dare get too close; only through this telescope could he track the other’s position.
Fortunately, the other’s speed in the city wasn’t fast. After about half an hour, Su Chen met up with him at a corner.
“Little Brother, this guy really has issues.” Hu Xiang handed him the telescope. “Sneaking out in the middle of the night—if not for this thing, I wouldn’t have spotted him.”
【Shadow-Drawing Telescope（Second Order）: Through the “Shadow-Drawing Engraving,” it can see scenes invisible to the naked eye.】
It was actually a Second Order Item, and an Engraving weapon at that.
Su Chen took the telescope, quite surprised.
Engraving weapons required meticulous carving by Engraving Masters, attaching strange abilities to items through some inexplicable principle.
“This is something I borrowed from the City Patrol Guards—don’t break it.” Hu Xiang saw him fiddling with it and couldn’t help reminding him, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Why did Su Chen feel a bit different?
Su Chen raised it to his eye and indeed spotted that clear red outline.
“Where’s he headed? Meeting someone?” Hu Xiang guessed.
“Uncertain. Let’s follow and see first.” Su Chen wasn’t sure either, so the two cautiously trailed behind.
At this hour, with the drizzle continuing, there weren’t many people on the streets.
Following Pan Yu farther and farther from the Inner City, the surrounding buildings gradually became simpler, and his speed slowed as if identifying a location.
Su Chen hesitated and asked, “What place is this?”
“West District… uh, near the Big Cool River…” The two hid on a rooftop. Hu Xiang surveyed the surroundings uncertainly.
This name felt familiar. A spark flashed in Su Chen’s mind. “Old Han!”
This was near Han Da’s home! He’d heard about it in their last chat.
Su Chen suddenly realized this and reacted sharply.
To investigate what happened the night Qi Chuan died, and why the Strange Artifact went missing.
He wasn’t the first choice; Zhao Xiong and others were the ideal targets.
Not high in strength, not so noticed by others.
As long as it was confirmed they were at the scene the night Qi Chuan died, directly interrogating them would surely yield results.
Su Chen’s expression tightened slightly. He quickly lowered his head to send a series of messages, then turned to ask Hu Xiang, “Does Pan Yu live in the Rich Area?”
“Not exactly, a bit off, but still a villa. What are you planning?” Hu Xiang frowned at him.
………
“No one?”
In the silent room, curtains tightly drawn, Pan Yu’s figure emerged from the shadows.
A pitch-black short blade spun nonstop in his hand, but his gaze fixed on the empty bedroom ahead, his brows furrowing.
“It’s his rest time today. Where could he have gone?”
………
“Little Brother, are you sure this is a task from Chief Inspector Yuan?”
Hu Xiang watched the other tapping and poking at Pan Yu’s safe, looking like he wanted to pocket the whole thing, his cheek twitching.
“Secret investigation—isn’t that normal?” Su Chen looked up and retorted. “Otherwise, what do you think it is?”
Hu Xiang hesitated to speak, but Su Chen asked: “Have you placed the items?”
“The main door, and every corner of the first-floor living room—all placed where they should be. You had me purchase these things before; did you plan for this day long ago?”
Hu Xiang’s expression was complicated. He finally voiced his thoughts: “What we’re doing is breaking and entering, plus murder?”
He had faintly sensed something off, but now getting off the boat was impossible.
“Wrong…” Su Chen shook his head. “Whether it is or not, the Inspection Department will determine it. I’m from the Inspection Department—I say it’s not, so it’s not.”
Hu Xiang’s eyes widened.
………
Deep into the latter half of the night, the entire South Wind City seemed even more serene.
“Did he go out to play? It’s raining today—where could he go? He doesn’t have a lover either.”
Having made a fruitless trip in the middle of the night, Pan Yu wasn’t in a great mood. The time consumed walking there and back was too long; he hadn’t stayed long at Han Da’s home.
After waiting one or two hours with no sign of the other’s return, he turned back.
“Forget it, switch to someone else tomorrow. That Zhou Li should be good—she’s rumored to have a close relationship with Su Chen, might know more.”
Squeezing in from the shadow of the door crack, Pan Yu’s body gradually materialized, the surrounding darkness making him subconsciously cough dryly.
Today’s target was Han Da, unsuccessful, and he didn’t rush to others’ homes—too hasty, prone to problems.
“And she’s one of the flowers in the Patrol Department—perfect chance to enjoy…” Pan Yu walked forward, his footsteps still silent.
He hadn’t intended to target her; she was already a First Order Professional, and any big movement would alert.
But the disappointment of returning empty-handed today stirred his interest.
Suddenly, his steps halted because the voice-activated light didn’t turn on.
“Broken?” he thought instinctively, but a chill hit his heart.
A point of red glow emerged from the darkness, attacking without warning.
Hu Xiang huddled behind the sofa, holding his breath, having accumulated power for a long time, seizing the perfect moment.
His profession was Flame Spear User, also Second Order Middle Tier, excelling in frontal combat, and with a trait: with a matching Rank spear weapon, his combat power surged a level.
Arm muscles taut, Hu Xiang was long ready, gripping the spear tightly, flames coiling around it—one strike to kill!
The piercing whistle of air rent the ear, scorching heat blasting forth.
“Who!”
Pan Yu’s pupils contracted, terror gripping him, but years of experience made his Shadow Concealment instinctual; he subconsciously tried to flee.
Buzz–
The next moment, light sources abruptly lit up from all directions in the room, the pitch-black living room instantly blazing bright, the shadows underfoot vanishing.
Shadow Concealment failed; he could only stand rigidly in place!
The delay had cost him the best chance to resist.
Pfft!
The spear pierced into his body, intense pain flooding his nerves, yet also igniting the viciousness hidden deep within.
