Chapter 00155: Tip of the Iceberg
# Tip of the Iceberg
Chapter 155
Novel: AFK Game: Portal to Another World
Chapter 155 Tip of the Iceberg
Just as Li Chengxi and the others realized something was wrong, that someone had mixed in with them, a series of footsteps echoed through the mall's underground parking lot.
Due to the police blockade, the underground parking lot should have been completely empty, yet the footsteps did not sound like one or two people, but rather like a group.
Or perhaps, more accurately, like the number of people was constantly changing.
Sometimes the footsteps sounded like seven or eight people walking, other times there was only a single set of footsteps.
The lights would extinguish abruptly as the footsteps approached, but once they passed, the lights would return to normal, as if nothing had happened at all.
The red indicator lights on the surveillance cameras behaved the same way.
In fact, no camera could capture any useful footage.
The moment the footsteps drew near, all nearby cameras would fail simultaneously.
A… thing that one wasn't sure could be called human was strolling through the underground parking lot.
If anyone had been nearby to observe this scene, they would have found it exceedingly strange.
Every observer saw a different image.
Some would perceive a senile old man leaning on a staff, while others would see a woman with a graceful figure.
Its form depended on the observer.
Of course, it also had ways to make observers see only certain specific forms.
Casually walking up to a car, this creature pulled the door open with ease.
It needed no key, for as its fingers neared the door lock, the tips would turn into a substance like liquid metal, slipping inside and effortlessly opening any lock.
The moment it sat in the driver's seat, the car radio immediately screeched with a piercing noise, even though the vehicle wasn't started and the radio had no power at all.
A moment later, the noise subsided, and a cold, electronic voice spoke:
"Where are you?"
"Just strolling about, looking for some fun. What? Is it urgent?"
As it answered, its voice changed several times, as if each word was pieced together from the voices of people of different ages and genders.
"No, I am merely reminding you not to go too far with your fun."
"I always know my limits."
"If you truly knew what limits are, you wouldn't have run off to find fun."
The cold voice seemed to carry a weary tone.
"What did you do just now?"
"Merely added a little color to the dull lives of the locals."
"I am asking for the specifics, not to hear your nonsense."
"Don't be so serious. I found that god you created."
"Oh? That software is already in effect?"
"I didn't look at the finer details, but his divinity and divine power cannot be faked."
"The Earth you are on is wondrous, different from all the other Earths. I suggest you be careful."
"We have no conflict of interest with gods."
"It is precisely because of your careless attitude that you must be more careful."
"I know."
The voice on the other end seemed to sigh, then added:
"Remember to maintain contact, Patrino."
"You as well, Mr. 0."
The radio emitted another burst of piercing noise, then fell completely silent.
The creature called Patrino started the car, swaggering as it drove up the ramp leading out of the underground parking lot.
As the car's taillights faded into the distance, a person in a police uniform spoke into a communicator in the darkness:
"The target has left by car. Prepare for capture as soon as it is clear of the densely populated area."
The unknown things of this world had only revealed the tip of the iceberg...
–‐‐——–‐‐——
A major incident like an armed robbery almost instantly blew up public opinion.
Especially now, when everyone had a smartphone, the speed at which information spread was even more exaggerated.
In less than ten minutes, it was all over the Chinese internet.
If this had happened in Amerikana, it might not have been so strange, but in the Celestial Empire, it was exceedingly rare.
Li Chengxi had also successfully "entered the palace for a second time" and was taken to the police station again.
The police officer taking his statement saw Li Chengxi walk in and, professional though he was, couldn't help but laugh on the spot.
How is it you again?
Li Chengxi was also baffled.
Right, how is it me again…
Although Li Chengxi himself did not want this kind of experience in the slightest, as the saying goes, the first time is strange, the second is familiar.
He recounted the incident in detail to the police, only omitting certain things that shouldn't be said to them, merely stating that he had taken the robber by surprise and leaped up to snatch the gun.
Naturally, Li Chengxi was once again lectured by the police.
Speaking of which, a large part of this matter should have been handled by Section Nine.
However, Li Chengxi did not see Qian Sen in person.
He only received a message relayed through Gan Xiaoyan, who said everything had been taken care of, and that he just needed to be careful with his statement.
It was for this reason that Viola did not have to give a statement at all.
After all, not only did she not speak the language, but she was also currently an undocumented person.
The police would discover this with a single check.
If no arrangements had been made, she might very well have been taken into custody.
Aside from giving his statement, there was nothing else.
Qian Sen also revealed nothing about someone having disguised themselves as Gan Xiaoyan, only saying that they were investigating, and seeming extremely busy.
When Li Chengxi and Viola returned home and turned on the computer, they saw that the incident was the top headline on all the major news websites.
It really had blown up.
The official information released so far was very limited.
It only mentioned that there were no casualties at the scene, the weapon used by the suspect was not a real gun but a modified cap gun that had no lethality beyond making a loud noise, and it concluded by adding that the case was currently under investigation.
When Li Chengxi saw the police announcement, he felt a retort stuck in his throat, making him feel suffocated.
Ah, so it was just a toy?
After all, the sound was very loud, and the person had the suspicious appearance of a black hood and camouflage uniform.
At first glance, of course one would think it was a real gun.
Besides, its shape was too realistic.
Li Chengxi hadn't even noticed it was fake when he got close to snatch the gun, let alone the others.
Of course, the people who were likely suffering even more were the leaders of the local Municipal Bureau.
The previous bank robbery had already earned the heads of the Municipal Bureau a scolding from their superiors.
Such a major incident occurring within their jurisdiction would surely lead to an investigation of their responsibility.
Now, this was great.
Two such incidents in less than two months, and this one instantly became known nationwide.
It might even make it onto the national evening news.
Even if it was a fake gun, even if there were no casualties, for something like this to happen, it couldn't be resolved without a few officials being fired.
After all, such a major incident occurred within your jurisdiction, what are you even doing?
This was a classic case of sitting peacefully at home, only to have a pot fall on you from the sky.
There was nothing to be done.
The responsible parties would definitely be held accountable.
Only after returning home and sitting in front of his computer did Li Chengxi feel the delayed fear.
But this time, it was not the fear of being shot, but the fear that an unidentified third party was lurking in the shadows, a person he had even treated to milk tea.
On the way home, he felt that everyone he looked at seemed to be in disguise.
He was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.
He felt like calling Qian Sen, but he could imagine that the other party must be extremely busy at this time.
Calling now would only be adding to the chaos.
The only thing that gave Li Chengxi a bit of psychological comfort was Viola.
Compared to being home alone, having another person around brought a measure of peace of mind.
And speaking of Viola, her reaction was to have no particular reaction.
As soon as they got home, she stayed by Li Chengxi's side just as she always did, and perhaps even seemed more relaxed.
Before, she would stand next to Li Chengxi.
Now, she had pulled over a plastic stool to sit beside him, as if the events that had just transpired were not even worth mentioning.
Thinking about it, that made sense.
To Viola, who had just recently been the target of an assassination attempt by a Transforming Great Centipede, this was truly nothing to be concerned about.
(End of Chapter)