First Close Encounter (Part 1)

Dawn broke. On the other side of the city. The orphanage. Luosha had just woken up. She retrieved her phone, glanced at the screen, and suddenly noticed a transfer notification. "0.1 credits transferred in." Attached was a message: "Below are protective measures in case you encounter danger. The moment you notice anything amiss, follow them immediately." "Dial the number 006006957... at once." "Code phrase: It is time for renovation." "The Cardinal failed to kill me. I will remember your help in this matter, and now it is time for me to repay you." "Please trust me." Luosha quickly finished reading the message and scratched her head somewhat awkwardly. A ritual executor. A madman who provided souls to a Great Being. He actually wanted her to trust him? She had long sworn never to trust anyone in the cult again. And yet— This person gave money. He was far more generous than the cult, and he had no intention of taking her life. She had already spent part of that money. It had resolved many matters of vital importance that had weighed heavily on her heart. Leaving that aside... She never expected to receive a message like this. Strictly speaking, this counted as their second "transaction." She had sent him a warning. Merely out of gratitude. Without asking for anything in return. Yet he had immediately provided her with a "protective measure" for emergencies. Neither party had discussed this exchange. Yet both had considered the other's situation. Fair enough. It felt rather nice. Luosha set down her phone, hummed softly, got out of bed, dressed, washed up, and tidied her things. This place was quite far from the municipal library. She had to leave early and squeeze onto the bus for work. Walking past streetlamps that had just flickered out one after another, she happily pondered what to have for breakfast. Breakfast. It had been a very, very long time since she had eaten it. Now, at last, she had the money to afford it. Luosha arrived before an eatery. Just as she hesitated to step inside, her phone suddenly rang. She pulled it out and looked. Every trace of joy vanished entirely, as if it had never existed. Reality was so bitterly cold. Only upon seeing this number did she snap back to her senses— In truth, she was still trapped in hell. "Hello." "In twenty minutes, gather at the usual place. The Cardinal called your name. Your presence is mandatory." "...Understood," Luosha answered numbly. "You probably know what this is about, so don't even think about running. Look across the street." Luosha looked across the road. Two tall, imposing middle-aged women stood there. One stared directly at her, while the other held a phone to her ear, speaking to her. They were— A senior archivist of the Flesh Archive, and a deacon elder. They had come on orders. Was today her turn to be placed upon the high altar for a sacrificial ritual? "Walk over slowly. Don't keep us waiting." The call disconnected. Both women fixed their gazes on Luosha. Her eyes went hollow. Her legs felt filled with lead, rooted to the spot. ...When death truly came, she had no regrets left. And yet, she had finally been about to have breakfast. Must she die at a moment like this? Luosha silently lowered her head. Her mind went blank. Suddenly, she remembered something. Cradling her phone, she dialed a string of numbers with trembling fingers. It connected immediately. "Who are you looking for?" a man's voice asked. "It is time for renovation," Luosha blurted out, uttering those bizarre words. —Would this sentence prove to be a magical incantation, or would it be utterly useless? She did not know. Yet these words were all she had. "Is that so? Time for renovation. Understood. Acknowledged." The man's voice finished and hung up. And then? Nothing seemed to happen. Luosha looked down at her hands. They were shaking. She did not know why they shook. Her hands shook, her legs shook, her entire body trembled uncontrollably. In truth, dying was not terrifying. It was only a fleeting pang of pain. Only— She did not know whether that person had deceived her or had genuinely made arrangements. To hold hope in one's heart yet fear disappointment—that was why she wavered. "Stop shaking," Luosha whispered to herself, her tone pleading. Across the street. Seeing her remain motionless, the two middle-aged women's expressions instantly turned sinister and venomous. One of them suddenly let out a laugh and said, "The Cardinal anticipated she would be afraid of death after all, so he arranged a few men for me." "They should be here soon." Traffic on the road was heavy and fast, with no-parking signs lining both sides. Yet a pickup truck rammed right through the barrier, screeching to a halt before the two women. Several men and women leaped out from the vehicle. A burly man in the lead grinned. "Elder Liu, the Cardinal told me to take your orders—what exactly do you need me for?" "Wang Long, today's task is simple. Just seize her," the middle-aged woman said. Everyone looked across the street. Luosha stood by the roadside, staring blankly. "Ah, it's Luosha. She only joined a few days ago, before she could even really get close with us, and now she's being sacrificed. A bit of a waste," Wang Long said, smacking his lips. "You fancy her?" the middle-aged woman asked, glaring venomously across the road. "With looks like hers, who wouldn't? Be so kind as to put in a word with the Cardinal. I'll donate a sum of money and take Luosha. Once I'm tired of her, she can still earn money for us. Wouldn't that be great?" Wang Long said, licking his lips. "The Cardinal is furious today. He's already sacrificed fifteen souls and hasn't stopped yet. If you have the guts, go ask him yourself," the middle-aged woman known as Elder Liu sneered. A chill ran through everyone's heart. Wang Long seemed somewhat distressed and glanced down at his leather shoes. "Stop looking at those shoes," Elder Liu scoffed. "Back then, you rendered great service, and the Cardinal rewarded you with that woman. That was the only reason you got that pair of human-skin shoes... This Luosha offended the Cardinal. Do you want to die alongside her?" Her voice turned severe and harsh toward the end. Only then did Wang Long rein in his lust, growling, "Men, come with me to grab Luosha." "Yes!" Just as they were about to move, sirens suddenly wailed. Five police cars sped toward the scene, tires screeching shrilly as they slammed to a halt all at once across the street. Luosha had already braced herself for death. Caught off guard by this sudden turn, she stumbled back two steps in fright. "Hands in the air!" "Don't move!" "Freeze!" Officers rushed forward, seized Luosha, bundled her into a police car, and sped away in an instant. The scene left the Black Tide cultists dumbfounded. "Did Luosha commit a crime?" Wang Long asked, squinting. "Who knows? She seemed so meek and honest, but who can tell what filthy business she was running behind our backs," the middle-aged woman muttered. "Interesting. Follow them and take a look," Wang Long said. Meanwhile. On a pedestrian overpass not far away. Five plainclothes officers were already in position. One of them held a walkie-talkie and spoke rapidly: "The informant has been safely evacuated. Initiating facial recognition of suspicious individuals." "Three matches confirmed. Four lack records." "Black Tide cultist gathering confirmed." "Reporting to the Bureau of Investigation's Confidential Affairs Section." *Beep... beep...* "Is this the East District Police Station's Special Security Unit?" someone answered. "Yes, Chief. Awaiting instructions," the team leader said. "Apologies, I forgot to brief you—all follow-up matters regarding this case are to be transferred to Rank-One Investigator Ye Huan of the Mysterious Affairs Section." "I'm routing you over now." The line went silent for a moment. Presently. "What is it?" a man's voice asked, calm and deep, carrying a quality that put one at ease. "Investigator Ye, the safe house has been activated." "Brief me on the specifics." "Yes, sir." ... Elsewhere. Shoved into the back seat of the police car, Luosha was immediately escorted by several cruisers into the district police station. She had not resisted in the slightest. Because an officer had whispered a phrase to her: "Preparing for renovation." It was the code phrase! Luosha breathed a sigh of relief. These people had been summoned by her call. Even if they hadn't been, she would rather be arrested by the police. The cruisers pulled into the parking lot. A few minutes later. Luosha was brought into a temporary detention room. "Only you can enter. Stay inside, and you'll be very safe." A female officer finished speaking, stepped outside, and locked the door. Only Luosha remained in the detention room. Frowning, she had yet to understand what the officer meant when she suddenly heard a sound. One of the detention room's walls slowly rose. Behind it stood a metal wall, fitted with a door. A gentle female voice sounded: "Please align for facial recognition." This, she understood. Luosha walked over and stood before the door. "Recognition confirmed!" the gentle female voice chimed. The door slowly slid open. Inside lay a room of about fifty square meters, complete with a sofa, a bed, a water dispenser, a refrigerator, and a bathroom. Everything one could need was there. "Please enter the safe house to ensure your security," the gentle female voice announced. Luosha stared in disbelief. She stepped slowly into the room, looked around in wonder, and then sat down on the sofa. The heavy door rumbled shut. Silence. Luosha examined her surroundings, cautiously reached out, and touched the armrest of the sofa. Genuine leather. Suddenly, a female voice rang out, startling her so much that she instantly snatched her hand back: "Ventilation system functioning normally. Current room temperature will remain at 26 degrees Celsius. If necessary, please use the panel on the wall to adjust." "Defense systems fully deployed." "Current police station security personnel increased threefold." "Regional defense and patrol units increased threefold." "Surveillance equipment activated." Luosha listened in silence. An unprecedented sense of security welled up inside her. —That ritual executor actually possessed such influence. Right. Should she send him a message to let him know what was happening? Hesitating, Luosha retrieved her phone, transferred 0.1 credits, and attached a message: "I am in the safe house. Thank you." Sent. A few minutes passed. —Why hadn't he replied yet? Luosha stared blankly at her phone. *Beep, beep, beep!* A series of electronic chimes sounded. The safe house door slowly slid open. A young man in a black uniform walked inside, a smile on his face, and greeted her: "Hello. I believe this is our first time meeting in the real world."