"Mm… Agility like that? Better than most rookies in the Bureau." Qing Yi winked playfully, raising one hand with a teasing finger-point. "Hey, bestselling author, how about becoming a Security officer? You'd be placed right under the lovely Captain Zhu Yuan. Won't even interfere with your writing. Best of both worlds, no?"
Having heard Zhong Yan's full account, Qing Yi threw him a lighthearted invitation.
And to be fair, if Zhong Yan did end up working under Zhu Yuan, her rapid rise in rank meant his position wouldn't be low for long.
But the identity of a Security officer came with far too many restrictions. Otherwise, Zhong Yan might've actually considered it. After all, that job—honest and respectable—wasn't something just anyone could get.
"P-Please, senior, what are you saying?" Zhu Yuan stammered as her face turned crimson, clearly flustered by Qing Yi's "under your command" suggestion.
Qing Yi grinned, but then her tone grew more serious. "Okay, okay, just teasing… but honestly, it's hard to joke around with everything happening right now."
Their eyes drifted toward the nearby medics who were still scrambling to treat the wounded.
They all knew the truth: an incident of this scale… most of those people weren't going to make it.
And then Zhong Yan spotted Anby.
He'd been so focused on the chase and apprehending the bomber that he'd lost track of her. She hadn't come looking for him either, which made him worry.
He quickly excused himself and approached her.
Only then did he see her expression from the side.
Anby was frozen in place, staring at the wounded being carried away. Her face was etched with grief, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
After a moment, she turned to look at him—like she'd just found the one person she could rely on. Her hand grasped his arm, and her head leaned softly against him.
"Zhong Yan… most of them probably won't make it. I couldn't save them…" she murmured. Her voice was so low it trembled—and Zhong Yan could swear he heard her choking back a sob.
He didn't feel guilt, exactly—more regret. But for Anby, it was different.
She was kind by nature. Seeing so many lives lost right in front of her… she couldn't accept it. She blamed herself for not being able to stop it.
Zhu Yuan felt the same way, too—but as the officer in charge of the scene, she had to keep her emotions in check.
All Zhong Yan could do was gently stroke Anby's head and whisper, "It's not your fault. You couldn't stop a roller coaster falling at that speed. And the bomber's been caught. He will pay."
His words eased her pain just a little. She knew, deep down, that no one person could've prevented this disaster.
As for Zhong Yan, he knew full well that the things he'd done in the past—things that couldn't be forgiven—weren't erased just because he saved the residents of Canvas Street.
You don't balance death with rescue.
But seeing Anby like this hurt him.
And so…
He would get involved.
If the Red Fang Gang had been the first to fall, then the Mountain Lion Gang would be the second.
Within Kamui's space, his shadow clone—now dressed in full Uchiha combat gear—received the command:
"Find them."
——
Not long ago, just after Jane Doe parted ways with Zhong Yan, she arrived at a second rendezvous point.
"Jane? Where's the other guy?" a muscular man from the group barked the moment she returned alone.
Jane had already prepared an answer.
"Something unexpected happened. He got caught. I barely made it out. But the mission itself? It succeeded."
"Oh?" the man narrowed his eyes. "That's odd. You're one of the top picks—even the boss trusts you. You're saying someone gave you trouble? Was it Security?"
Jane was well-trained. No change in expression, no cracks in posture.
"Maybe I'm not better than you, but what would you do against a guy who can toss lightning with his bare hands?" she said flatly, her body smeared with strategically applied dust and grime, as if she'd fought her way out of hell.
Her performance sold it. The leader was convinced.
As sirens started blaring in the distance, he snapped to action. "Move out!"
The group quickly disappeared into the alleys. By the time Security officers arrived, they were long gone.
——
Meanwhile, back at New Eridu Public Security Bureau—
"God damn it! These maniacs picked now to strike? Haven't we had enough chaos in New Eridu lately?!"
A senior officer slammed his fist onto the desk, his face twisted with fury after learning the Mountain Lion Gang had bombed the amusement park—killing a high-ranking official and dozens of civilians.
His subordinates stood silent, terrified he might turn his wrath on them next.
The real reason for his rage? This was the fourth major incident in recent memory.
The Red Fang Gang. Nin-Village. Vision Corporation. And now—Mountain Lion Gang.
The higher-ups had already been breathing down their necks, ranting about how important it was to maintain stability ahead of the municipal election. Every new disaster made things worse. He'd been scolded so many times, he'd lost count.
"Send for Zhao Anmen," he finally said, forcing himself to calm down. "I want him on this case. He must root out the Mountain Lion Gang—and whoever's backing them."
He wasn't stupid. For the Mountain Lion Gang to so brazenly assassinate a high-ranking official… someone powerful had to be behind them. Possibly someone within the Bureau itself—or even a higher government branch.
They'd seen it before—with the Red Fang Gang. The official who shielded them had already been arrested.
This time, the only way to shut up the higher-ups was to bring in Zhao Anmen—the Bureau's most capable agent.
He'd recently been promoted after major accomplishments. If he cracked this case, his standing would skyrocket.
At that point, with his track record and connections, unless he made some huge mistake…
When the current Public Security Bureau Chief stepped down, there'd be only one man fit to take his place.