âOfficials?â HuMing's brows furrowed slightly, his previously calm expression showing its first hint of change.
Over the years, heâd had his fair share of interactions with government personnel. However, for safetyâs sake, he had rarely laid a hand on them.
Not to mention the governmentâs overt strength, there was also the fact that they occasionally hired people like him in secret.
The relationship between them was indescribableâa mix of black and white, so entangled it was impossible to discern the true color.
Hu Min continued speaking as she watched HuMing.
âDo you remember the person who hired you? He was originally a government official. But I heard that after he got his hands on the experimental sample, he vanished.â
âBetrayal?â
âYes. The government has been hunting him down all these years, but he seems to have disappeared into thin air. Oh, and back then, didnât he give you a lead and tell you to monitor someone? That person is now⦠dead.â
Hu Minâs words stirred memories that were buried in HuMingâs mind.
He froze in place, recalling the final words that man had said to him.
[If I die, could you come back one more time?]
It was as if the man had anticipated his death. From the beginning, he never intended to hand over the item.
HuMing felt as though his experience was shrouded in mist, obscuring everything before him. seaÊá´h thÑ NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Sensing his emotions, Hu Min waved her hand and said, âTake a few days off, go enjoy yourself. Youâve no idea how much of a robot youâve become. If this goes on, Iâm afraid youâll turn into nothing more than a killing machine.â
Hu Min jumped off the bed, planted her hands on her hips, and laughed loudly.
Meanwhile, HuMing clasped his hands together, lost in thought.
â¦
Years later, he returned to the city. The bustling seafood market was as noisy as ever.
The same woman worked at the stall, her voice hoarse as she shouted to attract customers. The business was just as lively as he remembered.
Standing amidst the crowd, HuMing slowly raised his head, looking at the familiar high-rise. A light shone from the room he had visited before, indicating someone was home.
His shoes splashed through a puddle, sending tiny droplets flying.
Though he already knew of Ah Zhaoâs death, he still had to face Ah Zhaoâs mother with the demeanor of someone completely unaware.
He stood before the green door and knocked.
âComing, coming.â
The door creaked open to reveal the worried mother he had met so many years ago. Her hair was now completely grey, with only a few strands of black left.
The woman looked at him curiously and asked, âYoung man, who are you looking for?â
âIâm looking for Ah Zhao. Is he home?â
HuMingâs voice was steady, his gaze emotionless.
At the mention of Ah Zhao, the womanâs face stiffened, her smile fading into sadness.
âAh Zhao⦠Heâs gone a few years ago.â
â...â
Seeing his silence, the woman thought he didnât understand and explained further, âAh Zhao died in a car accident.â
âIâm sorry.â HuMing bowed slightly in apology, but the woman waved her hand quickly.
âItâs alright. Itâs been a while, and Iâve come to terms with it.â She forced a small smile, but HuMing could sense the bitterness behind it.
She seemed to have much to say when she spoke of Ah Zhao. Suddenly, as if recalling something, she hurried to Ah Zhaoâs room.
When she returned, she was holding an envelope.
âI think you must be the person Ah Zhao mentioned. He once told me that if someone came looking for him, I should give them this letter. At the time, I thought he was just heading out for work again. I didnât expect⦠what happened to him.â
She placed the envelope in HuMingâs hand.
Gripping it, HuMing felt an overwhelming urge to open it.
But he resisted.
Perhaps Ah Zhao had sacrificed himself to protect his mother from being dragged into this mess.
That was HuMingâs guess, though it couldnât be confirmed.
He stood up and bid the woman farewell.
As the door closed, he heard faint sobs coming from the other side.
[She says sheâs moved on, but she hasnât forgotten, has she?]
With his back to the door, HuMing turned and walked toward the stairs.
â¦
[By the time youâre reading this letter, Iâm probably dead. But itâs okay. Iâll tell you what the experimental sample is.]
[Itâs a USB drive containing the formula for a drug that can control people. I stole it because someone promised to protect me in exchange for it.]
[Now that you have it, it means theyâll come for me to silence me.]
[I donât know what choice youâll make, but if you can, please help those innocent people. I saw countless lives being controlled by them in that place. That seemingly powerful organization stands on a foundation of corpses.]
[Go to the No Manâs Land. There, youâll find someone named Zhou who can explain everything to you.]
The letter ended abruptly. HuMing quietly memorized every word before setting it aflame with a lighter.
He tore open the envelope to find an address insideâlikely where Zhou was located.
Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes in contemplation.
To go or not to go?âThis was the question HuMing struggled with.
As Hu Min had said, people in their line of work couldnât afford emotional entanglements.
Yet HuMing couldnât ignore the image of the green door and the sound of sobbing behind it. He also remembered the conversations between Ah Zhao and his mother at the dinner table.
Rising from his seat, he went to his wardrobe and pulled out a black trench coat. Though old, it was recognizable among his peers as his mission attire.
In the living room, Hu Min was drinking herself into a stupor. When she saw him leaving with a suitcase, she called out, âHey, where are you going?â
âOn a trip,â HuMing replied, adjusting his hat before closing the door skillfully.
âDamn, going on a trip without inviting me? Youâve changed! You donât love me anymore! Wahhh!â
Ignoring her theatrical wails, HuMing opened his umbrella and stepped into the pouring rain.
He had no idea that this journey would irrevocably change him.