Chapter 598: Chapter 598: A Sudden Shift in Style

Book – Chapter 598: A Sudden Shift in Style! Group? From Lin Fa? Something’s been off from the very start (Update 1).

A helicopter landed on the helipad of the National Security Building.

Eight team leaders stood in a row not far away.

As Xiao Yu braved the fierce wind while stepping off the helicopter,

the eight team leaders raised their hands to salute, and Wang Dong also saluted Little Brother.

Xiao Yu’s heart skipped a beat, sensing that something was amiss.

He was never one to consider himself an easy target.

Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was falling apart, even though he had no evidence.

They were all team leaders of equal rank.

Who did he think he was, expecting the other team leaders to line up in his honor?

Returning the salute, Xiao Yu shook hands with the other team leaders, his mind filled with doubts.

Then came the news… the Big Boss had gone off to recuperate.

A major figure who wouldn’t even do his job – off to recuperate?

Xiao Yu’s heart raced once more as he reached a startling conclusion.

The Big Boss was ill!

Well, being sick is one thing – so what does it matter?

After all, there were other deputies and leaders.

But why were these team leaders putting on such a show?

First, you need to understand something:

The ten Special Forces units of National Security fall directly under the Big Boss’s command; no one else has the authority to direct them.

You could say these ten teams held a special status, reminiscent of the old Imperial Guards or the Royal Embroidered Uniform Guards.

But now, with the Big Boss sick, the group was left leaderless.

However, before leaving for recuperation, the Big Boss left one directive:

Xiao Yu was to command and coordinate all ten National Security teams!

After things were assessed,

Xiao Yu felt not a trace of worry over the Big Boss’s condition.

Instead, his expression turned disturbingly bizarre.

Isn’t it a twist of fate – too early for recuperation, too late for recovery?

Just then, a case suddenly awaited him in Capital City.

And so, the Big Boss opted to recuperate.

If it were you, would you buy into such a coincidence?

If the Big Boss’s condition were truly severe and sudden,

would these team leaders still be grinning so casually?

Xiao Yu recalled someone once saying,

“When you witness the absurd…”

“…know that even more absurdities have already taken place.”

Perhaps that was exactly what was unfolding before his eyes!

At just 23, the pressure was more than he could bear… Xiao Yu was on the verge of tears.

Then, the ten team leaders entered the large conference room.

Wang Dong had dragged him into Capital City, yet Xiao Yu hadn’t even taken on his case.

The team leaders convened for a meeting.

Meeting highlights:

Nine team leaders reported their work to a disheartened Xiao Yu.

It felt like he was being forced into the spotlight, and it wasn’t pleasant at all.

Even a fool could tell that the Big Boss was ‘training’ him,

preparing him for his future duties.

Moreover, the other team leaders were more than willing to cooperate.

Xiao Yu was held in high regard by these seasoned seniors.

After a year together, what abilities, skills, or smarts did Little Brother have?

Which team leader wasn’t envious?

Try bringing in an outsider – see if these team leaders would pay you any mind.

Even if you were parachuted in, you’d be utterly useless.

This isn’t a joke!

Xiao Yu recalled that back in high school, he served as class monitor for a term.

But because he covered for a classmate, the teacher removed him from the position.

Later, after a re-vote, Xiao Yu became class monitor once again.

Do you know why?

Even if you’re the teacher, if you don’t fit in, the students will sideline you.

No matter how remarkable you are, if you’re not respected, you’ll be overthrown.

Take Group Nine for example – a band of elite warriors, killing machines.

They can be commanded by anyone?

So, in that sense, the Big Boss of old was no ordinary man!

They held a meeting for an hour.

Fortunately, the other groups hadn’t reported any major issues.

Small problems could be handled by each team on their own, which pleased Xiao Yu.

That’s the perk of being a leader.

When leaders are forced to do everything themselves…

what need is there for you team leaders?

Are you just here to loaf around?

……

After leaving the conference room,

Xiao Yu felt like he was finally letting go.

His head pounded with pain.

Something was off – this script felt entirely different from before.

He had been promised a life of ease, enjoying life without the hassle of cases, and sweet, tender moments with his sister.

So why did the vibe suddenly shift?

Good heavens, can’t things just be fun for once?

Do you ever follow the script?

After waving goodbye to the other team leaders, Xiao Yu glanced over at Wang Dong.

Wang Dong, clearly embarrassed, said, “Hey, let’s head out to eat.”

Xiao Yu smirked and retorted, “When you’re being half-hearted, at least try to be serious. Let’s investigate the case first.”

“I’ve been waiting for you to say that,” Wang Dong replied.

Wang Dong then led Xiao Yu to the Team Two barracks.

There, a suspect lay on a special hospital bed.

A single glance revealed a gaunt, skin-and-bones figure, nothing more than a skeleton.

Xiao Yu thought it was nothing short of a miracle that the man was still alive.

Tube after tube of IV fluid was attached to the suspect, injecting nutrients.

The EKG showed that his heart rate was extremely unstable.

His breathing was dangerously weak, teetering on the edge of a critical state.

Wang Dong handed him a tablet displaying a written confession.

After being discovered, the suspect had given a confession…

【That day, on my way home from work, I suddenly collapsed.】

【When I came to, I found myself in a terrifying place.】

【It was a cube-shaped room, four meters high and four meters wide – every room was a perfect cube.】

【On every wall – top, bottom, left, right, front, and back – there was a one-meter square metal door.】

【I was terrified, even panicked, not knowing where I was.】

【I screamed for help, but no one responded.】

【I tried to leave and opened one of the metal doors, only to find myself in another identical cube room.】

【I desperately opened door after door, trying to escape… All day long (Li, Wang, Zhao), I couldn’t break free from those cubes, as if trapped in a maze.】

【Furthermore, as I moved from one cube to another, I discovered corpses.】

【Some had died recently; others were mummified, and one appeared to have been partially devoured, with distinct bite marks.】

【An indescribable fear overtook me—I felt my legs go weak, as if everything around me was about to swallow me whole. My mind went blank, and all I could think of was only escaping this terrifying place.】

【I lost track of days. Just when I was about to starve and dehydrate, I finally found a piece of bread and a bottle of water…】

【So I kept wandering through those cube rooms, hoping that luck would bring me more bread and water… for a month? Two months? I can’t even remember how long it was.】

【Just as I felt I was about to lose my mind… I finally escaped!】

Wen

Xue