Chapter 96: The Silent Siege

“Since Drunkard already made it to Qingjie Bridge, this area should be fine…”

Han Bing’s voice continued, accompanied by the rustling of papers and complex background noises. After a moment, she spoke rapidly into the channel, “There are four major special pollution incidents in the Second Satellite City. Additionally, one section of the high wall is under attack by heavily polluted individuals.”

“Currently, out of the four major pollution incidents, Section Chief Chen has one under control. Mr. Lone Soldier just resolved another. Drunkard, who arrived promptly to provide support, should also be able to handle one location. And we just received word that Doll has dealt with the third incident—the special pollution event near Tianshui Plaza. She’s now heading to the fourth site and will arrive in five minutes…”

“That leaves one uncontrolled chaotic situation within the city.”

“Gecko is currently at the South Wall, helping fend off the assault from the heavily polluted individuals, but the situation is extremely tense…”

“Mr. Lone Soldier, if you still have the strength, please head over there to provide support immediately.”

“…”

“Understood!”

Following Han Bing’s directions, Lu Xin raced towards the South Wall, anxiously asking questions along the way.

“What’s the problem at the South Wall now?”

As far as his eyes could reach, the Second Satellite City seemed engulfed in chaos.

At every intersection, panicked crowds seemed to be running frantically.

Some were screaming, others hid behind glass windows, trembling as they watched the outside world. Every so often, towering flames would erupt somewhere in the city, or a heart-stopping tremor would ripple through the ground, causing panic to spread even faster.

Chaos and panic enveloped the entire city.

Even the stray cats and dogs in the dark corners were moving in packs, running as if they were well-trained teams…

Anyone normal caught in this environment wouldn’t know where to go.

Even if they wanted to help others, they’d find people needing help everywhere, constantly. They’d just end up running themselves ragged across the city, exhausted to the bone, without reducing the city’s panic one bit…

Fortunately, Han Bing was on the channel, guiding Lu Xin.

She had promptly gathered all the chaotic information from the Second Satellite City, screened it, and informed Lu Xin which areas were under control and which were on the brink of collapse, needing his immediate support.

“People are attacking the high wall!”

Han Bing’s reply was concise yet clear: “After Section Chief Chen reported the theft of the oil painting retrieved from Bengbu Port, the Second Satellite City went into lockdown. About twenty minutes later, a large number of citizens began attacking the South City High Wall. Due to the suddenness of the event and insufficient personnel, a considerable number of people managed to escape over the high wall amidst the chaos…”

“Now, large crowds are still converging on that area!”

“…”

“Has mental pollution broken out there too?”

Lu Xin instinctively felt a knot of tension tighten within him.

South City was the area where Teacher Xiao Lu’s orphanage was located; it was a place he subconsciously cared about.

“It’s currently unknown.”

Han Bing’s response on the channel surprised Lu Xin slightly.

This was the first time since he’d known her that Han Bing couldn’t provide any information.

He didn’t press further, simply accelerating. He pulled a motorcycle from the debris on the ground.

For short distances, relying on his sister’s ability allowed him to move faster than a motorcycle.

But for longer distances, riding was faster and conserved energy.

Besides, after experiencing chaos for so long, Lu Xin worried his sister might be getting tired too.

Twisting the throttle to its limit, the motorcycle roared deafeningly. Its twin headlights pierced the deepest darkness of the night. Lu Xin drove it with unnatural speed and agility, weaving through the chaotic crowds and haphazardly parked vehicles lining the road. The sound of explosions erupted nearby, casting his shadow erratically across the ground as he sped past.

Soon, he reached the South City area. But it was different from the places he’d just passed through. There was no chaos, no noisy crowds. Even the surrounding residential buildings were mostly dark, only a few lights on. The area felt dark and silent.

“Could it be that everyone around here has gone to the high wall?”

Lu Xin’s heart grew heavy.

Having grown up within a high-wall city, he knew that damaging or climbing the high wall was a serious crime.

If anyone approached the high wall without authorization, the City Patrol Army had the authority to shoot them on sight.

Moreover, under the current chaotic circumstances within the city, attacking the high wall, whether driven by pollution or not, could lead to major trouble.

Thinking of this, he twisted the throttle again, accelerating towards the high wall.

Soon, the motorcycle’s blinding headlights cut through the thick darkness ahead, sweeping light into the distance.

Then, Lu Xin suddenly froze.

The situation here was different from what he had imagined. It wasn’t chaotic or frenzied like the inner city.

Instead, it was unnervingly quiet!

…

…

As the motorcycle’s bright lights swept across the area, he saw countless people gathered beneath the high wall. Some wore work clothes, others pajamas. They stood there in dense groups under the wall. In the distance, many, many more people could be seen approaching, seemingly unconsciously, silently swaying, walking step by step towards the high wall.

On top of the high wall, two squads of City Patrol Soldiers held their weapons, aimed at the crowd below.

Below the wall, a dense black mass of people had gathered. They weren’t shouting, nor were they scrambling to climb the wall. They simply gathered silently beneath it, then lifted their heads, quietly, almost deathly still, staring at the wall.

“What is going on?”

Startled by the scene, Lu Xin leaped off the motorcycle, letting it crash into the nearby ruins.

He quickly scanned the area, found a gap in the crowd on one side, slipped through, and then used his hands and feet to swiftly scale the wall, reaching the top. During this, no one attempted to stop him.

Lu Xin could even sense that among the people below the wall, not a single person had even glanced his way.

“Who are you?”

The defensive soldiers on the wall were startled to see someone appear on top and sharply questioned him.

A swath of bright white flashlight beams shone towards him.

“I’m Single Soldier, a member of the Special Action Team, here to provide support!”

Lu Xin, now experienced, already had his ID in hand. He raised his hands while holding it out for them to see.

“Brother, you finally made it! I thought I saw you earlier…”

“…Riding that motorcycle like a stuntman!”

“…”

The flashlight beams quickly lowered. From the crowd, Gecko, dressed in black tactical gear, walked up. He looked drenched in sweat, as if he’d just been through a major battle, even walking seemed a bit unsteady. His expression was strange as he said, “Brother, I’ve seen people cry, and I’ve cried at people… Especially back when dozens of guns from the Security Hall were pointed at me, I cried really loud…”

“But have you ever…”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but glance nervously down at the wall below, seemingly shuddering slightly.

Lu Xin subconsciously looked down as well, and he too couldn’t help but shudder.

Only then did he realize that the people gathered below the wall weren’t just standing there doing nothing.

Their eyes were blank as they stared at everyone on the wall, tears slowly streaming down their faces.

Countless people, countless faces, not causing trouble, not speaking.

Just standing there silently, weeping quietly.

…

…

Gecko’s voice strained as he finished, “…seen tens of thousands of people… crying at you?”