13 Lunatics

The fire in the old city soared, and the night sky was dyed red as the sound waves from the explosion spread across the sky.

Shao Zifeng looked in its direction with a slightly unfathomable expression. No one knew what he was thinking about.

The scaleless armadillo lizard also stared blankly at the shocking power, and there was a hint of envy in its eyes.

Just as Shao Zifeng was about to turn around after a moment of silence, he stopped.

A figure in a white coat was standing under a nearby street lamp. Much like during the day, the person's clothes were immaculate, and his hair had been meticulously combed. He pushed the frame of his glasses and smiled at Shao Zifeng. "Shall we go for a drink?"

...

Simultaneously, at the center of the explosion, a group of MAD vehicles with flashing strobe lights stopped in the vicinity.

The original alley had become completely unrecognizable for a long while now. Heatwaves were still present in an explosion crater that was dozens of meters in diameter. The old apartment buildings on both sides had also collapsed. Thankfully, the apartment buildings had been abandoned long ago, so there were no civilian casualties.

Chen Zhenglong, who was standing on the edge of the explosion crater, had a grim expression. Everyone could see that he was trying to suppress his anger.

"Captain, we have reports regarding the three corpses on the scene." A young member of the MAD saluted Chen Zhenglong while he held a stack of folders.

"Out with it!" Chen Zhenglong said without even turning back.

The young cadre gingerly wiped his sweat away and reported to Chen Zhenglong with some nervousness.

"Mi Na, female, 24 years old... A native of Sucheng... Has experience studying abroad at her own expense... After returning to Daxia, she joined Sucheng Radio Station under the pseudonym, Xiaoxin. She is the host of a popular radio show. Three years ago, Mi Na arranged for her parents to travel overseas. She currently has no relatives in the country."

Due to the residual fire element in the air, the young cadre's throat felt a little dry.

Hence, he cleared his throat and continued, "Li Jianchi, male, 42... Sucheng native and a businessman... Started his business as an Exim trader during his early years and later returned to Sucheng to invest, setting up three factories and two companies. He currently has no family in the country.

"Based on the clues left on the scene... it is very likely that they are linked to the gang we are after."

Chen Zhenglong continued to suppress his anger and asked, "What about the third body?"

The young cadre looked a little down and whispered, "Chen Yan, female, 18 years old... From Chenjia Village in Sucheng City... A freshman in Sucheng City... Both of her parents have died, but she has an elder grandmother at home. She... She's a victim."

"Useless! All of you! This is the perfect control you've told me about? Why was there a victim?!" Chen Zhenglong suddenly turned around and shouted.

All of the MAD staff on-site stopped their work one after another and bowed their heads in silence.

Chen Zhenglong glared at them as he looked around and continued his tirade, "Five people have been killed in three days. Tell me, can we live up to the badge on our cap? Can we live up to the trust of the citizens? Are you guys all dumb now? Where's your usual cocksure air?" Chen Zhenglong thumped his chest, and his hometown dialect came rushing out in his fury.

"Captain, there's one more thing," the young cadre whispered.

"Just spit everything out in one go!" Chen Zhenglong glared at him.

 "We suspect that the person from that organization has struck," the young cadre said cautiously.

Chen Zhenglong's expression changed as he hissed. "Those lunatics."

He kept quiet for a moment. "Continue to look for clues. If it was their people who crossed the line in enforcing the law, I will get an explanation out of them even if it means discarding this uniform.

"Also, check every person, unit, company, and factory that has to do with Mi Na and Li Jianchi! I don't believe that they can hide forever in Daxia!" Chen Zhenglong said before he got back into his car.

After Chen Zhenglong's car left, the MAD staff on-site became busy again. At a corner far away from the scene, an operative in the shadows surreptitiously said something into a phone.

"Xiao Li, what are you doing? Come and help me!" a distant voice shouted.

Hearing someone call him, the operator known as Xiao Li stuffed something into the crack of a wall and hurriedly whispered into the phone, replying, "Brother Wang, coming."

...

"Xiao Pei, you're off work. Xiao Li said that she would make you a delicious meal today."

"Uncle Sun, you're going out for a few laps?"

Pei Yong smiled and exchanged a few words with the old man upstairs before he returned home with a smile. His wife immediately came out to greet him. After he hugged his wife for a bit, Pei Yong gave a work-related excuse and went to the study.

The moment he reached out to shut the door and saw his wife's joyful, smiling face, as well as her busy pregnant figure in the kitchen, a trace of conflict appeared on Pei Yong's face. Some time later, he finally became calm again.

Klak.

As the door closed, the last glimmer of light in the study disappeared. Pei Yong fumbled before he turned on his computer. After he entered one password after another on a web page, he logged into a chat room in the end.

"Now that everyone is here, we will start today's meeting."

The computer screen was pitch black, and the display screen was divided into eight areas separated by thin white lines, each area representing an organization member.

"Li Jianchi and Mi Na are dead. That Daxian bureau intervened, and our branch's plan completely failed. An insider has reported that Sucheng's MAD team will conduct a large-scale investigation. HQ has sent a message informing us that all operations in Sucheng are completely frozen for now. All members, lay low and remain incognito.

"Without permission from the HQ, no one can interfere with the investigation of this incident. The HQ will send someone to take charge of the matter.

"Meeting over."

A white line flashed past the computer screen, and the room fell silent.

Pei Yong leaned his head against his chair's backrest and looked at the ceiling.

"That's good. I should be able to stay alive until the child is born at least."

Pei Yong breathed an inexplicable sigh of relief.

"Hubby, dinner's ready."

Hearing his wife's tender voice, Pei Yong broke into a gentle smile.

...

"The beer here is pretty good; give it a try."

In a remote wine house in the old city, Shao Zifeng and Luo Feng sat opposite one another. The commotion outside had already died down, and aside from the occasional official MAD vehicle passing by, the entire old city seemed to be the same as usual.

Shao Zifeng was wearing the clothes that Luo Feng had brought for him as he looked seriously at this man who took his own glass out for a drink.

"Who on earth are you?"

"Didn't I say that we're just having a drink? Have a taste." Luo Feng took another sip as he said that and let out a long beer burp. His fair face appeared a little flushed.

Shao Zifeng did not speak and just fixed his eyes on Luo Feng. It was the little guy that saw Luo Feng enjoying his drink and secretly climbed up Shao Zifeng's cup, drinking a few mouthfuls. The lizard immediately turned red as it released a small burp and spat out some black smoke before it flopped over onto the table.

"Hahahaha, you are not as interesting as that armadillo lizard." Luo Feng looked at the little guy before he tapped the table and laughed.

Shao Zifeng looked at the laughing Luo Feng and simply felt that this person could not hold his liquor. He had undergone a change of personality with a little drink.

The laughter gradually grew fainter. When Luo Feng noticed that Shao Zifeng was still looking at him blankly, he felt a little embarrassed and softly muttered, "Really? It's still not working?"

"Let's talk about you then." After Luo Feng cleared his throat, he looked at Shao Zifeng and spoke.

"Shao Zifeng, 19, a native of Longcheng County in Sucheng City... A sophomore majoring in nurturing at Sucheng University... Mother, Shao Yuying is a retired teacher from Longcheng County's First Primary School. She now has a home for stray pets in the western suburbs of Longcheng County. Father..." As Luo Feng reached that point, he paused and looked at him.

Shao Zifeng's heart tensed up as he secretly clenched his fists.

"Father, Zhou Zimin, a junior company officer attached to an army division... A military academy graduate with a bright future, but during an urgent mission, an act of cowardice resulted in the death of all 18 soldiers in the mission, and finally—"

"Enough!" Shao Zifeng slammed the table and got up. His eyes were red as he stared intently at Luo Feng and hissed out the following words, "What... are... you... trying... to say?!"

The owner of the wine house looked to the side and saw his aggressive expression. He muttered something as he entered the kitchen.

Shao Zifeng's emotions fluctuated violently, and the drunk armadillo lizard suddenly opened its eyes before it crawled up in a jittery manner. Next, it glared at Luo Feng and let out its Dragon's Roar.

"Eeekk eeekk... Hic..."

Then...

A puff of black smoke came out of its mouth.

Armadillo Lizard: (°ー°〃)

Its visibly cute appearance caused the atmosphere to ease up a little.

"All right, all right, calm down. I'm not your enemy. On the contrary, if I didn't happen to pass by the old city today and deal with those two rats, do you think that you can sit here all safe and sound?" Luo Feng extended his hand to motion Shao Zifeng to sit down and talk.

"So, you came looking for me just to tell me that you've saved me and humiliate me along the way?" Shao Zifeng spat back, but after he calmed down, he felt that he had overreacted too. However, growing up in a single-parent family meant that he was a lot more sensitive than the average person. He always tried to disguise his weakness as if it would spare him from hurt.

"You don't have to spit barbs at me, and I don't need your thanks. I only want to recruit you because of this armadillo lizard. Do you know that you've killed today? Even though I've tried to destroy all traces of the battle, I cannot guarantee that there aren't any clues left behind."

"You may not be looking for trouble, but trouble will sometimes find you on its own. Such scenarios, tsk, I've seen all too many of them now." Luo Feng finished the beer in his glass in a single gulp, and his eyes seemed unusually forlorn.

"No thanks to your father, it's basically impossible for you to be a combat trainer, but I can help you. Even if you're not afraid of death, you should think of your mother as well. I'm very optimistic about this little guy, and my organization needs fresh blood... Once you're done thinking about it, give me a call." Luo Feng pushed a name card up to Shao Zifeng, speaking earnestly while pushing his glasses.

After that, he took his glass as he got up and walked out.

Shao Zifeng's heart was a mess as he gently caressed the little guy. It could sense Shao Zifeng's thoughts, and it looked a little worriedly at him before it lay down obediently to let the former caress it.

"Hey, back then, in the old city..." Shao Zifeng shouted at Luo Feng's back.

"I did it. After all... our organization is considered a group of lunatics in the eyes of certain departments," Luo Feng replied indifferently.

While Luo Feng pushed the door, he turned around and said, "Also, we are an official, sanctioned organization, so don't go having wild thoughts, young man."

...

Shao Zifeng sat quietly in the wine house and recalled what had happened today. The little guy had already balled up and fallen asleep by his hand.

Putting the little sleeping guy back into his pocket, Shao Zifeng got up and prepared to go home.

"Hey, handsome, you haven't paid for the drinks yet."

Shao Zifeng was taken aback.