Chapter 252: A New Mission

"Teacher, why is your complexion so poor?"

In front of the Aurora Base gate, Chu Shiduo sat in the driver's seat. Seeing Tan Xin come out of the base with a grim expression, he got out to open the door for him, asking with concern.

Tan Xin did not answer. He sat silently in the back seat, his gaze toward the Aurora Base incredibly complex.

"Teacher?"

"...Let's go. Back to headquarters."

"Understood."

Sensing that Tan Xin's mood was off, Chu Shiduo didn't ask further. He silently drove the vehicle out of the base's perimeter, heading toward the Enforcer headquarters.

Tan Xin watched the streets and pedestrians flashing by outside the window, lost in thought.

He suddenly spoke:

"Where is Han Meng?"

"Han Meng?" Chu Shiduo was taken aback. "Speaking of which, there are some things I need to report to you..."

……

A car horn suddenly sounded from behind.

Han Meng looked back and saw a black car parked outside Dove Plaza. The dark window rolled down, and Tan Xin, sitting in the back seat, was smiling as he met his gaze.

Seeing this, Han Meng's eyes narrowed slightly, and he stood up to walk over.

"How did you know I was here?" Han Meng asked.

"I didn't. I was just on my way back to headquarters and happened to pass by." Tan Xin gestured to the seat beside him. "Get in."

Han Meng hesitated for a moment before opening the door and getting in. As the vehicle slowly started moving, Tan Xin's voice sounded again:

"I heard there was a small accident during the court trial?"

"It was fine."

"That was my oversight. I didn't expect that some dying cats and dogs would get desperate and start biting people indiscriminately." Tan Xin smiled. "But the final result was good."

"If you're here to apologize to me, there's no need."

"That's not it. I'm here to see you about a serious matter." Tan Xin's expression turned serious. "You just came out of the Black Prison. You have no place to stay in this city, and no assets. If you have nowhere to go, I can recommend a place for you..."

"You said before that you wouldn't order me to do anything."

"This is certainly not an order, just a suggestion. You can choose to refuse." Tan Xin paused for a moment. "I just think that in that place, you should be able to find some things that interest you..."

"For example?"

"For example, the truth about Aurora City, and... the secrets of the Enforcers."

Hearing this, Han Meng's brow gradually furrowed. He stared at Tan Xin for a long time before speaking, word by word:

"Are you talking about the Aurora Base?"

"That's right."

"If I remember correctly, that is the highest-level classified area in the entire realm. Even high-ranking Enforcers have no right to enter or leave at will."

"Indeed." Tan Xin nodded. He met Han Meng's gaze.

"Then what if I said I have a way to get you in... will you go, or not?"

……

In the courtyard, Jian Changsheng sat alone by the pond, holding a fishing rod and yawning lazily.

Chen Ling had gone to work, and Chu Muyun had gone to see patients. He was the only one left to guard the courtyard. Ironically, Jian Changsheng was currently in the midst of recovering from severe injuries and was full of energy, but here, besides fishing, the most physically demanding thing he did was laundry...

But how could he, the dignified [Spade 6] of the Twilight Society, a terrifying existence who had stirred up blood and chaos in Aurora City, spend his days doing laundry?

Just as Jian Changsheng was sighing, the courtyard gate opened, and two figures walked in side by side.

"Why did you two come back together?" Jian Changsheng asked in surprise as he caught sight of them.

Chu Muyun pushed up his glasses. "We came back together, of course, because there is an important matter..."

"An important matter?"

Jian Changsheng was stunned for a moment, and then, as if thinking of something, a look of excitement appeared in his eyes!

"[Spade 6], are you ready to welcome your first mission?" Chu Muyun's lips curled upward slightly.

Hearing this, Jian Changsheng almost cried out on the spot. He tossed the fishing rod aside, suddenly feeling full of strength, and hurriedly asked:

"What is the mission?? Who do I need to kill!?"

"It's not about killing. It's about infiltrating a place and investigating some things."

"...A place?"

"How much do you know about the Aurora Base?"

Hearing the words "Aurora Base," Jian Changsheng looked thoughtful. After all, he had grown up in Aurora City since he was a child and had heard quite a few things.

"It is said that after the Great Cataclysm over three hundred years ago, the original order of humanity completely collapsed. After the large-scale Gray Realm convergence began, only nine human bases remained. After long periods of exploration by survivors, the activity areas of the base people gradually expanded. Later, through reconstruction and expansion, it evolved into the 'Realm'."

"From the Aurora Base to the establishment of Aurora City, and later the division into seven major districts... the entire Aurora Realm is the result of gradual expansion outward, centered on the Aurora Base back then."

"Correct." Chu Muyun nodded slightly. "The Aurora Base is your mission target."

"What are we going there to do?" Chen Ling asked.

"Confirm the status of the Aurora Sovereign and investigate where those explosives secretly transported into it are being kept."

Chen Ling had previously reported news about the "Hand of Redemption" to the Twilight Society, the key to which was the secret transport of explosives. Now it seemed the Twilight Society had begun to take this suspicion seriously, even taking the initiative to send people to investigate.

"The Aurora Sovereign's... status?" Chen Ling read something into Chu Muyun's tone. "What's wrong with the Aurora Sovereign?"

Jian Changsheng's gaze was equally puzzled; it seemed the name "Aurora Sovereign" was very unfamiliar to him.

"It seems you two really know nothing about the Aurora Sovereign." Chu Muyun let out a long sigh. "Do you know why the Aurora Realm can resist the Gray Realm convergence?"

"Because of the Aurora Sovereign. His domain suppresses the Gray Realm convergence... which is the aurora above Aurora City."

"Correct. But now, his lifespan has reached its end." Chu Muyun raised his hand and pointed to the sky above. "Guess what will happen to this realm if the Aurora Sovereign dies?"

Chen Ling and Jian Changsheng were both stunned.

Chen Ling had been puzzled before as to why the aurora had suddenly retreated back to Aurora City, leaving the seven major districts exposed. At the time, he and Han Meng had suspected that something was wrong with the Aurora Sovereign's status. Now, he finally knew the answer.

"The Aurora Sovereign is going to die? How can that be?" Chen Ling frowned, puzzled. "Hasn't he already lived for over three hundred years?"

"The Aurora Sovereign is, in the final analysis, just human... How can a human lifespan reach three hundred years?"

Chu Muyun shook his head. "If it weren't for the fact that over three hundred years ago, he voluntarily accepted injections of a serum and fell into 'hibernation,' the Aurora Realm would never have made it to today... But even so, this could only delay his aging. People must die; this is an insurmountable end."

"And now, the end for Aurora City is coming too..."