Enforcer Manual
Chapter 39: Let’s Take a Break_1

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Let’s Take a Break_1

When Song Lan heard the news and went upstairs, the injured guard, whose condition was now stable, was being carried downstairs on a stretcher.

The injured guard was already asleep, thanks to the effect of an analgesic and a sleeping spray; regardless, his brows still furrowed with an arm hanging limply like a piece of cloth, unrecognizable compared to its original state.

Throughout the journey, he heard colleagues discussing that though the guard would live, should he recover completely, it seemed his right hand would need to be replaced with a prosthetic. Given their meager salary, such surgery would surely drain all his savings.

If he doesn’t undergo the surgery and get a prosthetic, he would have to give up his job as a law enforcer.

Perhaps this might not be such a bad thing for the law enforcers in District Seventeen.

Song Lan stood at the top of the stairs, a rare thought surfacing within his mind.

He and his colleague descending the stairs had not exchanged words, only fleeting eye contact. When their footsteps faded away, he continued toward Lu Xiang’s office.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

As soon as Song Lan entered, he saw a haggard-looking Lu Xiang.

In his memory, Lu Xiang had never shown such a side before. However, even if she appeared to be on the brink of collapse, she remained on the front line, her tablet filled with extensive data.

After giving him the permission to enter, Lu Xiang appeared entirely unfazed by Song Lan’s entry, focused wholly on the data on her tablet and engrossed deep within her own world.

From up close, he could hear her mumbling to herself.

"Controlling invisible forces, ability to flatten objects, as well as entering an abnormal space, disappearing from sight."

"No, a person cannot possibly possess two abilities."

"Moreover, the nature of these two abilities is entirely different."

"So, she probably has an accomplice."

"A support type, capable of instantaneously transporting both people and things."

"It seemed as though she left because she saw someone, but at that time, no one had been outside the guard post."

"The reason she came to District Seventeen was to find someone."

...

Lu Xiang was aware that even if everyone was immersed in the fear caused by Phine Arnhem, she couldn’t stop thinking.

This was crucial information that her subordinates had risked their lives to procure. As the leader of the law enforcers in District Seventeen, she had to figure out where Phine’s weakness lay before her next appearance.

After a long while, Lu Xiang seemed to have remembered something. As she looked up, she noticed Song Lan, who’d quietly taken a seat beside her.

"Oh, it’s you."

She rubbed her forehead and set her tablet aside.

She was aware that currently, the entire law enforcement division was shrouded under the shadow cast by Phine Arnhem’s intimidating presence—she had easily infiltrated their headquarters unnoticed and gravely wounded the on-duty guard. Any sight of the damage inflicted by her abilities will likely be unforgettable.

As an individual who detested conflict more than anyone, Song Lan was likely to be more anxious than others.

"A Love Tip Every Day" suggested that at times like these, she should provide some encouragement, but how could she possibly...

If viewed rationally, Lu Xiang at this moment could not think of any inspiring words to say.

Trying to retaliate against a criminal of Phine’s caliber was unlikely achievable in the short term, and she had long since left school; there was no one to share the load of her analysis either.

On top of that, there was the supportive ability user who enabled Phine to teleport instantly. It was possible that she could appear in front of her office in the next second.

As a result, Lu Xiang had to consider the worst-case scenario.

"Your timing is good."

Lu Xiang collected her thoughts, "I discovered some secrets about this building when I was researching the history of District Seventeen’s law enforcement. There’s a hidden door behind the third cabinet in the storage room downstairs. That’s an escape route left by the original designer for law enforcers. If Phine Arnhem comes back, you have to hide in the storage room and find that hidden door immediately—"

"No matter what, I’m still a law enforcer."

Song Lan interrupted Lu Xiang, uncomfortable with the farewell atmosphere. It sounded like Lu Xiang had fully prepared herself for the worst-case scenario.

It seemed like she was not confident in beating Phine.

"I’ll stay here." Song Lan pointed at the water cup on Lu Xiang’s desk, "If Phine really does come back, I’ll kill her with this water cup."

This declaration left Lu Xiang momentarily stunned.

Kill a wanted criminal with a bounty of 1.73 million using a water cup?

She found herself laughing uncontrollably. In such a stifling atmosphere, Song Lan managed to crack such a ridiculously corny joke.

The man never ceased to surprise her at the most unexpected moments. Although this did nothing to aid their current situation, it did manage to lighten her mood considerably.

"You have been working all night for the past few days and were awakened in the middle of last night. You should rest for a while, otherwise, you’ll wear yourself out."

"But..."

"If you encounter her in your current state, I’m afraid there won’t be any chance of victory, right?"

This time, Lu Xiang did not argue.

The stress that had massively piled up recently was about to crush her. Phine Arnhem was presumably this final straw.

"A quarter of an hour."

Lu Xiang relaxed. She closed her eyes and her body reflexively leaned to the right. By the time she came to her senses, her face was already resting on Song Lan’s shoulder, "Wake me in a quarter of an hour."

"Mm."

Song Lan smelled the faint scent of the shampoo, and the ends of her hair tickled him where it touched his face.

’The beauty at hand’... he wondered whether the phrase refers to this very scene.

Listening to Lu Xiang’s steady breaths and eyeing the small gun-shield flag on Lu Xiang’s desk, a different thought crossed his mind.

Phine Arnhem was indeed very strong, stronger than he had ever imagined.

So, it should be good news, right?

Because after today, Mr. Killer could rightfully and honorably retire, the matters of the Foster Family would no longer involve him, and his life would return to its usual peaceful rhythm.

Song Lan,

You should be happy by now.

Moments later, he looked away.

Perhaps due to the accumulated exhaustion, Lu Xiang fell into a deep sleep, so deep that even lying her down on the couch did not wake her.

Song Lan fetched a blanket. Seeing as Lu Xiang would frequently work overtime at the office, they had prepared a basic sleeping arrangement. He bent over and draped the blanket gingerly over Lu Xiang and then checked the time.

May 11, 2166, 11:21 AM.

Fifteen minutes,

The time given to him was a bit tight this time around.