Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1065 556: Knife Labor Ghost of Yuezhou (Part 4)

Shen Jingye ordered a complete lockdown of the construction area, evacuation of nearby residents, and deployment of unmanned reconnaissance drones for a comprehensive search of the site.

The entire Dark Star Bureau was on standby, ready to enter the scene at any moment.

Li Banfeng said, "If it's confirmed that Knife Labor Ghost is on site, Dark Energy Users below the Sixth Layer cannot enter the scene."

Shen Jingye shook his head and said, "This isn't something you or I can decide. I know the site is extremely dangerous, but this is the mission of all Dark Star Bureau operatives! Everyone at the Dark Star Bureau, including myself, must be prepared for sacrifice."

Li Banfeng said, "There's a difference between a mission and pointless sacrifice. Sacrifice is not a solution; sending more people in might just create more Knife Labor Ghosts, don't you understand that?"

Shen Jingye said, "Everyone understands logic, but right now, we don't have time for logic. What matters now is our responsibility and duty!"

Li Banfeng looked at Shen Jingye and said, "Where were your responsibility and duty when Green Flower came? You sold me out, do you think I've forgotten?"

Shen Jingye pursed his lips and said, "The situation was different then..."

"What's different? Isn't Green Flower's threat greater than Knife Labor Ghost's?"

Shen Jingye couldn't answer. To him, the situations were indeed different.

His promotion documents had already been approved, set to be issued this week; he couldn't wait, nor afford any mistakes.

The unmanned reconnaissance drones conducted multiple rounds of searches but found nothing.

Shen Jingye prepared to send the reconnaissance department into the scene, but Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "You can't let them go!"

Shen Jingye said, "We must show the appropriate attitude."

"Knife Labor Ghost doesn't care about your attitude; it's worthless in its eyes!"

Shen Jingye looked into the distance. His attitude truly wasn't meant for Knife Labor Ghost.

Du Wenming stood in the distance, he hadn't taken command of the operations, merely observing from afar.

Shen Jingye looked at the two people beside Du Wenming and said, "See, he brought the Unobservable Ones."

"What's an Unobservable One?" Li Banfeng glanced at the two people beside Du Wenming, "Can't they be seen?"

"Unobservable doesn't mean they can't be seen; it means their use of Dark Ability can't be observed or explained. Frankly, they're the Curse Cultivators from Puluo State. Bringing them shows how seriously Director Du is taking this operation."

Li Banfeng said, "Your attitude is being shown to Du Wenming?"

Shen Jingye said, "Even if he weren't here, we would still have to take action."

"I'll go." Li Banfeng quickly checked his equipment.

Shen Jingye was taken aback and said, "You're going alone?"

Li Banfeng looked at Shen Jingye, "How about the two of us go together?"

Shen Jingye pursed his lips, "One of us has to stay to command the scene."

Li Banfeng said, "So you mean I should stay here and command?"

Shen Jingye remained silent, knowing if he said one more word, Li Banfeng would send him into the site.

Sending him in would be a burden too, so Li Banfeng ultimately went in by himself.

The construction site was planned to have twelve buildings, three of which were already topped out. The remaining nine varied in height from just a foundation to over thirty stories.

Scanning each building, Li Banfeng sensed no danger at all.

The footage of Knife Labor Ghost came from the surveillance of Building Nine. As he reached Building Nine, Li Banfeng suddenly turned around, noticing someone watching him silently from below Building Five.

The figure was extremely blurry, and Li Banfeng immediately raised his guard.

Drones hovered over Li Banfeng's head, and the video feed was promptly sent to the reconnaissance department.

Shen Jingye watched the surveillance feed, unsure why Li Banfeng had stopped.

Drones adjusted their cameras, capturing the direction Li Banfeng was looking, but the footage showed only a blank scene.

Shen Jingye picked up the walkie-talkie, "Bureau Chief Li, what's the situation?"

Li Banfeng didn't answer. The person in the distance was slowly approaching him.

She wore a white shirt, black pants, and sported ear-length short hair, adjusting her glasses as she spoke to Li Banfeng, "I've checked Building Nine; there's no Knife Labor Ghost."

Teacher Song?

How could she be here?

Li Banfeng knew Teacher Song's identity was special and that her cultivation level wasn't low, but he hadn't expected her to appear at this construction site directly.

Teacher Song placed a finger to her lips, signaling Li Banfeng not to speak.

Is she worried about being discovered by people outside?

Do people outside not know she's in the complex?

Li Banfeng looked up at the drones overhead; from this angle, the drones could see Teacher Song.

Teacher Song shook her head, "It can't see me; its video and audio devices can't capture me, and neither can your walkie-talkie."

What Taoist Sect technique is this?

Shen Jingye's voice came through the headset, "Bureau Chief Li, what's going on? Respond if you hear me!"

Li Banfeng said, "I'm observing the surroundings; don't get too jumpy!"

Being reprimanded by Li Qi in front of so many in the reconnaissance department was rather embarrassing for Shen Jingye, but self-esteem was not a priority now.

In the surveillance footage he saw, there was only Li Qi, no one else.

Teacher Song produced a retractable pointer from her sleeve, gently waving it near Li Qi's earpiece, "Banfeng, you can talk to me now; they can't hear your voice."

Li Banfeng said, "Why are you here?"

"I'll explain it to you later, Banfeng. What's your plan?" No matter how urgent, Teacher Song spoke softly to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng said, "I'll use my technique to sense danger and quickly find the target."

Teacher Song nodded, "I'll cooperate with you; from now on, I'll follow your command."

"You've already checked this complex once?"

Teacher Song nodded, "I've checked every building, but perhaps due to my inadequate perception, I didn't find Knife Labor Ghost."

After a moment of thought, Li Banfeng decided to start again from Building Nine.

Li Banfeng walked ahead quickly.

Teacher Song followed closely, staying alert to their rear.

The two quickly searched every corner of Building Nine, finding no Knife Labor Ghost, and Li Banfeng sensed no danger.

Next was Building Ten, adjacent to Building Nine.

...

At the main entrance of the Dark Star Bureau, a soothing harmonica tune played, lulling the guards to sleep.

As the guards drifted into slumber, a wisp of smoke drifted into the lobby.

Today, the Dark Star Bureau Building was especially quiet, with almost all operatives tasked with capturing Knife Labor Ghost.

The smoke slipped through the door crack into the stairwell, drifting up to the fifteenth floor, through the corridor door, and into the iron bars.

Behind the iron bars was a room where Big Head sat, watching the smoke before him.

Having worked at the Dark Star Bureau for many years, experience told him this wisp of smoke came from a high-level Dark Energy User.

A voice came from within the smoke, "Big Head, it's me."

He Jiaqing!

Big Head was startled, glancing around at the surveillance equipment.

The smoke spread, obscuring all the cameras. In the smoke, He Jiaqing said, "Big Head, I came to ask you a question, are you willing to go to Puluo State with me?"

Big Head lowered his head, not answering.

He Jiaqing continued, "If you don't go, you might be locked up forever. Your wife won't know when she'll be released, and your child will never be able to hold their head high in life."

Big Head took a deep breath and said, "But if I leave, what will happen to them?"

"They'll leave with you, all going to Puluo State. I'll bring you a better life, far better than it is now. Can you trust me, brother?"

A glimmer of hope appeared in Big Head's eyes, but it quickly dimmed.

"This is the Dark Star Bureau; I can't escape."

"You can't usually escape, but today you can. Today is the best opportunity, a special opportunity I created for you."

Big Head looked at the smoke before him, then at the iron bars outside the door.

He nodded toward the smoke.

PS: In the campus supermarket locker, He Jiaqing once stored Red Lotus, but at that time, he used Li Banfeng's face.

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