Lin Xian drew a breath: "But this group doesn’t seem like enforcers; they look more like robbers."
"They must have devices to sync their information; whether or not you kill them, I’d guess they’ve already been discovered," Qian Deli said, stepping forward.
Sure enough, just as Lin Xian and the others dealt with the group, a burst of gunfire erupted from the distant tunnel, targeting not them but accompanied by powerful blasts and screams.
The group quickly reacted; a battle was ongoing ahead, but it didn’t last long; within half a minute, the sound fell silent.
Shortly after, a familiar and bright voice sounded even before anyone appeared.
"It’s not as good to arrive early as it is to arrive by chance. Just a few minutes ago, I wondered if this Night Patrol Team wouldn’t be thinking of making a move on Sky Valley Platform, and they were indeed considering it."
Jiang Yun walked with a vigorous stride, followed by Ren Huixian and a well-ard group erging from the shadows. He looked at Lin Xian and said,
"Long ti no see, Captain Lin."
Seeing the unconscious group in front of Lin Xian, Jiang Yun’s n suddenly raised their guns and finished them off.
"I figured it was you," Lin Xian sighed with relief, looking at Jiang Yun: "Won’t killing the Night Patrol Team bring trouble?"
"The Night Patrol Team is already in chaos," Jiang Yun replied. "Do you think these people are here at midnight to patrol dutifully?"
"The Night Patrol responsible for this area accepted our benefits," Ren Huixian said. "Now there is so turmoil in the city; so people want to fish in troubled waters, including the Night Patrol and so thugs in Federation disguise who are committing murder and robbery."
"Now in Night City, people die every day—except in the Inner City and so core areas with large convoys; other places aren’t very safe." Jiang Yun walked to the scar-faced man’s side and kicked his head aside, revealing a fierce wolf head tattoo behind the ear.
"Again, it’s the Blood Wolf Gang; these people originally sneaked into Dawn City robbing along the way. The Night Patrol Power Armor they wear was likely stolen, but unfortunately for them, they t their match this ti."
Lin Xian furrowed his brow: "Is the city in such disarray? Ha, had I known, I wouldn’t have been so polite with them."
"Exactly," KIKI said, looking at the Blood Wolf Gang mbers on the ground with disdain. "I was afraid to use too much force, worried I’d kill them all."
Ren Huixian looked at the Power Armor deford by crushing, then looked at KIKI, slightly surprised.
"It’s fine; the surveillance in this area is offline. We’ve already..." Jiang Yun raised his head to look around the passage, intending to ntion the surveillance caras, only to find the walls empty, not even a wire in sight; he was montarily at a loss, then looked at Lin Xian: "This..."
"Just in case," Lin Xian said.
"Captain Lin is cautious," Jiang Yun said approvingly.
He then glanced at Little Mo behind Lin Xian and instructed his subordinates: "Little Mo, arrange for treatnt."
"Got it!"
A few people erged from the crowd, lifting Little Mo. Jiang Yun also said to Lin Xian, "This isn’t the place for a conversation; co with first."
Then, the group left through the platform’s hidden passage. At 1 a.m., on a rainy night, a strange sll lingered in the old alleys, with only a couple of pink bar lights flickering, indicating to passersby that a few nightlife venues were still bustling with song and dance.
Rain drops clinging to power lines dripped onto the tin lids of garbage cans, creating an annoying rhythm.
Stench, silence, eeriness.
All along the roadside, survivors had set up rain shelters. Since Vice Chairman Zhou Mingyuan declared a citywide curfew, by 1 a.m., the streets were deserted except for the patrolling mbers of the Guard Camp.
In the Old District, the floors of a cramped tenent building were lit with dim cold lights, appearing extrely crowded. Nurous armored vehicles filled several city blocks; this entire building was Jiang Yun’s convoy base. On the rooftop was a specially modified room where Jiang Yun led Lin Xian and his group, introducing the setting.
"This place is temporarily safe, but I know you’re not here for the night market. Besides, there’s not much to peruse in Dawn City anymore. In a month, dawn will disappear, and it will truly beco Night City."
He then looked at Lin Xian, smiling as he extended his hand: "Nearly forgot, glad to cooperate."
Lin Xian shook his hand: "I thought you would have evacuated the city already."
"I considered it, but I guessed you might enter the city, so I stayed to assist. Convenient, right?"
"Jiang Yun, how’s the situation now?" Jian Xuwei asked.
"It’s alright, at least on the surface,"
Jiang Yun looked stern, saying directly: "But now both the Night Patrol Team and City Defense Guard Camp are under high pressure. Curfews are the simplest asure. Whenever a mutant or Uncanny Human attack occurs, it results in mass casualties, and most often, the deaths are collateral damage from the firepower."
"Indiscriminate sweeps?" Lin Xian frowned.
"More or less," Jiang Yun said. "The Federation is very tense, and the city’s residents are jittery. The Deep Red World’s issue, temporarily suppressed by Zhou Mingyuan, now makes many feel sothing might happen..."
"Why?"
Jiang Yun pointed north.
"The Phoenix Society?"
"Yes."
"The Heavenly Calming Ship stationed there imposes absolute pressure on Dawn City. No matter if the Phoenix Society intends to clean up the Descent Faction or has other purposes, it signals the city residents that sothing major is coming. Additionally, the water resource pressure due to the dark invasion is mounting, so unless Dawn City is completely sealed down, it cannot prevent people wanting to flee."
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