Chapter Fifty: The Case of the Lost Breath

After walking in for a short while, they saw two people lying stiffly on the ground. Wang Zixuan checked them over and found nothing seriously wrong.

Wang Zixuan said, “They’re still breathing, and their physical condition is fairly good.”

He then led Hao Yingjun further inside. They hadn’t gone far when the crunch of someone stepping on shattered glass reached their ears. Instantly, weapons and gazes swiveled toward the sound, just in time to see a shadow slowly rising to its feet. The sight so startled poor Hao Yingjun that his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

An accidental discharge followed—two trigger pulls rang out. A tranquilizer dart shot through the air, quickly followed by a capture net. The dart’s trajectory was uncertain, but the net landed squarely, wrapping its target up tightly.

Xiao Deng struggled furiously. “My god, what the hell!”

“Brother Deng, are you alright? Who did that? Who fired?” asked Xiao Deng.

Wang Zixuan couldn’t help bursting into laughter. He shouldered his Remington and walked over.

Wang Zixuan said, “Serves you right. It’s friendly fire.”

Hao Yingjun stood frozen, too dazed to move. Xiao Deng helped Xiao Deng remove the capture net. Xiao Deng looked utterly disheveled, and both men shot Hao Yingjun a disgruntled glare.

Hao Yingjun stammered, “S-s-sorry. This is my first time in the field. I was, well, a little too nervous.”

Xiao Deng took off his gas mask and said helplessly, “Honestly, ma’am, how do you train your rookies? On future missions, maybe you should worry about your own team’s safety first, huh?”

Wang Zixuan removed her own mask. “Enough with the sarcasm. Did you lose a kidney or not?”

Xiao Deng dared not retort further. He pulled out a comb and began tidying his hair in the mirror atop the counter.

Xiao Deng greeted Hao Yingjun warmly, “Hello, rookie! We’ve met before, you know.”

Hao Yingjun responded with a greeting.

Xiao Deng continued, “That’s my supervisor, the famous oddball agent—Kevin Deng.”

Hao Yingjun said, “Oh, I’ve heard so much about you, Agent Deng.”

Xiao Deng shot Xiao Deng a glare, then replied to Hao Yingjun with a cold sneer, deepening the awkwardness hanging in the air.

Xiao Deng introduced himself, “My name’s Deng Yun, from the Ghost Division. Everyone calls me Xiao Deng.”

Suddenly, Hao Yingjun recalled that it was this same Xiao Deng who’d stunned him with a taser the other day. But with Xiao Deng’s warmth, he could only offer an awkward smile.

Xiao Deng called out, “Xiao Deng, having a good chat, are you? All done with your smoke?”

“Oh,” Xiao Deng replied, then dutifully returned to work.

Wang Zixuan asked, “Any leads?”

Xiao Deng reported, “I checked the surveillance footage. It seems a non-human released a toxic gas, causing this explosion. Several people were mildly incapacitated. Among those at the blast center, three were poisoned, but they’ve already been taken to the hospital—nothing serious. I’ve swept the site. The suspect vanished without a trace.”

Wang Zixuan asked, “Why are you two here instead of following your assignments?”

Xiao Deng replied, “Isn’t this exactly what you taught us? When a case breaks out, get to the scene as fast as possible—never mind any assignment. Showing up first is a basic agent’s skill. You are too late.”

Wang Zixuan pressed, “Then why didn’t you follow my order to wait downstairs? Where were you? It took me three minutes and forty-five seconds from departure to arrival. Where did you spring from? Faster than me?”

Xiao Deng was visibly uncomfortable under Wang Zixuan’s gaze. He knew that if he didn’t explain himself clearly, he’d be in real trouble.