Leave a comment

CatatoPatch is a freelance translator, you can support them on:

“Principal, I’ve arrived at the museum, but there’s no trace of Lin Feng,” Anna reported into the walkie-talkie, eyeing the museum’s securely locked gates. Her voice betrayed a hint of urgency; she had just stumbled upon a damaged sedan and several zombie corpses nearby, one of which clutched a fragment of what appeared to be Lin Feng’s black robe.

“Really? He might have gone to find transportation or to handle some other matter. Lin Feng mentioned needing two days for his task. Why don’t you take a look inside the museum yourself? Also, I can guide you through dismantling the plane. Could you take some photos for us? We’ll need to prepare the right tools.”

“Alright, I’ll check inside. Principal, could you keep trying to contact Lin Feng and let me know if there’s any news?” Anna ended the call and, spotting a large stone nearby, heaved it through a window to gain entry.

“Lin Feng, is everything alright up there?” Li Ying called out from below. Next to her feet, a frog, almost as large as a human head with eyes the size of fists, gazed curiously at them.

“It’s clear, come on up,” Lin Feng replied, lightly setting the manhole cover back in place and reaching out to help Li Ying.

“Why are you holding that?” Lin Feng asked, slightly irritated, as Li Ying tried to pick up the large frog he had accidentally dislodged with a stone.

The frog, with its glossy green skin, seemed almost endearing. It hadn’t shown any sign of aggression and had followed them to the sewer beneath the police station, resembling a pet set to ‘follow mode’ in a video game.

“No, Lin Feng, a frog this size is a rare find. It’s packed with protein – I’ve only seen one this big in my entire life.”

“Let’s not look for trouble, okay? Put it down. E City is far more dangerous than you realize. Who knows, grabbing the small one might attract something bigger. We’d be in real trouble then. Just put it down and come up.”

Hearing Lin Feng’s warning, Li Ying hesitantly set the frog down and climbed the stairs, casting a lingering glance behind her.

Croak?

“Come on,” Lin Feng urged, pulling her up.

“Hold on a second.”

Struck by a sudden thought, Li Ying whipped out her phone and snapped a rapid series of ten photos of the inquisitive frog still peering up from below. Startled by the camera flash, the frog hopped into a nearby gutter.

Having securely replaced the manhole cover, Lin Feng and Li Ying proceeded towards the parking lot of the police station.

The police station of E City, with its humble architecture, featured a two-story building with a small parking courtyard. Adjacent to it was a four-story office building, its blue and white paint standing out. A few police cars, their red and blue lights still flickering, were haphazardly parked, and zombie officers, strapped into their seats, squirmed inside.

“The documents you’re looking for should be in the office area,” Lin Feng advised Li Ying, glancing at a nearby map. He was intent on quickly assisting Li Ying and then making a swift exit. With only 17 days left until the explosion, there was no time to waste. He needed to expedite the transportation of the plane, and this realization brought to mind the issue of the plane’s takeoff.

It seemed that a significant operation was imminent – preparing a lengthy runway for the plane’s departure.

“What’s the status of the search, everyone?”

“Reporting, sir, nothing found yet.”

“Continue the search. Our superiors have ordered us to locate and destroy that document.”

“Yes, sir!”

Li Ying, tugging at the still bewildered Lin Feng, hurried to a corner. The voices of soldiers echoed from the second floor, prompting Li Ying to raise her voice recorder.