Enforcer Manual
Chapter 395: Night Visit to District 17 - Part 1

Chapter 395: Chapter 395: Night Visit to District 17 - Part 1

21:30, dusk.

"Cloud Biological Pharmaceutical has started its operation," Bai Zhu announced through the landfill’s internal network, spreading the news. As she released this message, the company’s "guards" had all been mobilized. To ensure the recovery operation was foolproof, they had also enlisted the help of Man Sheng Biopharmaceutical, and dispatched all the "guards" from District Seventeen.

It seemed, as a way to reciprocate the Law Enforcers’ department’s recent favors, Hera, the representative of Man Sheng Biopharmaceutical, made a special call to Lu Xiang.

Business is business, but the recovery of Fengling was a decision made by the headquarters. A mere district representative was not enough to change the council’s opinion, especially when... who wouldn’t be curious about the "miracles" associated with Fengling?

When it came to dealing with Fengling, the company was always the most efficient.

After Grey conveyed his analysis to the council, it immediately attracted their utmost attention. Even without full confirmation, they approved Grey’s proposed recovery suggestion.

The recovery was inevitable; Hera only hoped that Lu Xiang would impose a curfew to avoid unnecessary casualties and minimize conflicts between the citizens and the "guards."

This time, the "guards" received the highest level of recovery orders. If they encountered any resistance, they would prioritize their mission above all. They were merely tools programmed with specific instructions and would not care about the collateral damage among ordinary citizens.

Meanwhile.

"Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock."

Fengling, sitting barefoot on the floor, heard the knocking sound. The persistent and urgent knocking suggested that the person at the door lacked manners.

She put the opened snack bag on the ground, and several Horn Bugs gathered around. She smiled and gently stroked the head of one of them.

The Horn Bugs in District Seventeen were smart. She had grown familiar with these little creatures over the past few days. Watching them every day made her feel less lonely in this strange border city.

But the patience of the person knocking seemed to have reached its limit.

The loud noise interrupted the Horn Bugs’ feeding as the apartment’s security door was torn down by the person. With a nearly three-meter-tall figure blocking the doorway, all paths of escape were cut off.

A Cloud Biological Pharmaceutical’s shuttle parked downstairs, and the "guards" had sealed off the entire street, leaving not a single pedestrian in sight.

"Didn’t they say the test results were normal?"

A flash of displeasure crossed Fengling’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself.

This wasn’t the first time the company had paid a visit in this manner. Their pursuit of efficiency was always carried out brutally.

"Please come with us to the branch office."

"What is the reason?"

"This is an order from the Chief Executor."

The firm answer plunged the apartment into a brief silence.

This was in keeping with the company’s usual attitude. Instinct told Fengling that this was likely not a routine inspection. The company would find ways to get her back to District Two. From the moment she submitted her application, the company never ceased its attempts. They had approached her privately, hoping she would voluntarily withdraw her application.

It was only with the Ragus Foundation’s mediation that she had the opportunity to come to District Seventeen.

Here, she had found a clue. In that deep haze, it seemed there were things she had forgotten, existing in a way that was as intangible as Nothingness. A thought in her heart drove her to want to pierce through the fog.

But soon, Fengling thought of a more practical issue.

Her family’s situation was deteriorating; the old legacy was no longer sufficient for them to survive in this era. If they wanted to maintain the status quo and not be replaced, they could only rely on the company’s support.

Her life, and everything she had ever seen, bore the company’s mark.

This was the company’s sponsorship. As long as she continued to participate in the company’s experiments and follow their directives, the sponsorship would continue.

To her, the "guards" were not powerful. If she wished, no number of "guards" could stop her.

Yet as the next head of the family, she still had to bear the weight of her entire family’s destiny.

...

"Recovery mission completed, in transport," Grey received an exhilarating piece of news in his office at 21:35.

"The guards" once again excellently fulfilled their mission.

He certainly knew that for Fengling, as long as she refused, no number of "guards" could stop her. But thankfully, she was a rational person who clearly recognized the company’s kindness toward her and her entire family over the years. Whether out of gratitude or fear, she had made the wisest decision.

The weight on his heart lifted.

Today, Lady Luck stood by his side, and all his thoughts and wishes were realized without exception.

"Open communication, I want to watch her."

Grey uncorked a bottle of red wine, its rich aroma permeating the office.

There was half an hour left to the scheduled meeting. By that time, Fengling should have been "packaged" up, and he was going to let the entire board know about this historic discovery.

The communication link quickly came on.

He saw Fengling sitting in the backseat, flanked by one of the "guards." Thanks to the curfew issued by the Law Enforcers, the recovery fleet moved unhindered on the highways of District 17.

Grey remembered the core area’s assessment of Lu Xiang, that she could handle all the company’s troubles in District 17, and with excellent service.

He couldn’t quite understand how such a capable talent got transferred to this godforsaken place in District 17, but once they completed Fengling’s transfer, the company would certainly thank Lu Xiang for her assistance.

These "guards" would be given to the Law Enforcers’ department. After all, they would be of no use afterward.

But soon, Grey’s optimism about the future was interrupted by an abrupt change at the other end of the communication. He clearly saw something drifting into the car, which also obscured everyone’s vision.

Fog set in.

Even though the car windows were tightly sealed, the mist still penetrated the glass and entered the vehicle.

The car, as it drove, seemed to have turned into an isolated island, with the driver relying solely on navigation to determine their current position.

It was that accursed foggy weather again.

The frequency of fog in District 17 had been increasing lately.

Grey glanced at the fog-enshrouded window and commanded, "Ignore it, keep driving."

Fog also seeped into the office, eliciting a chill in his heart.

It seemed...

Something else had crept in.

This compelled Grey to divert his gaze from the communication feed, certain that something had made its way inside.

The surface of the office walls began to peel, revealing dark sections beneath; at first, it was only a small patch, but the rate of erosion quickened, and the dark material soon formed one continuous mass.

Everything that met his eyes served to confirm a notion he had deep inside, a name he tried desperately to escape from, yet it lingered like a ghost, omnipresent. He wanted to end his work in District 17 as quickly as possible, to completely discard that name and everything related to it from his mind.

But it seemed the other party had no intention of letting him leave so easily.

"Guards!"

Grey called out toward the door, but the "guards" who were supposed to be unwaveringly at their posts did not respond to his summon.

The office was eerily quiet; he could even hear the sound of the flaking wall paint hitting the floor.

And the ghost that had taken root deep in his mind manifested into reality.

"Long time no see, Grey. How have you been?"

This time, with no trace of frivolity in their expression.

The voice came from behind, just a step away.

It was once a voice that haunted his dreams, but now it brought only coldness.

A chill crawled up his neck.