Chapter 342: Four
"Not entirely," Qian Wu replied. "Because every one of us was already dead when we entered, so in theory you can only contact Saturday's family, not Saturday herself."
This statement made Qi Xia and Li Shangwu frown, while Qiao Jiajin's brain simply shut down.
"But doesn't that seem strange...?" Li Shangwu thought for a moment and asked again, "With an earthquake of this magnitude, why are only we dead? How are our families perfectly fine?"
"I don't know," Qian Wu answered. "And I don't want to know. Rather than investigating why my family survived, I'd rather they just keep living well."
"You're right..." After learning that his daughter Xuanxuan might have survived, Li Shangwu's mood clearly improved, but soon another question swirled in his mind—
He turned to look at Qi Xia, hesitant to speak, and Qi Xia understood his meaning. He sighed and said, "Officer Li, the fourteen-year-old me had no family."
"You..." All the questions Li Shangwu wanted to ask were stuck in his throat; he couldn't say a word.
Qian Wu overheard their conversation and couldn't help interjecting, "What's this... Old Li, you couldn't reach the fourteen-year-old Qi Xia?"
"That's right." Officer Li nodded, speaking with implication. "I'm not sure where the problem lies."
"Is it possible that Qi Xia has always been like this?" Qian Wu smiled. "How many of his words to us are true? I'm afraid it's not just you—Qi Xia and I come from the same year, and even I can't reach him."
"What?"
Both Officer Li and Qi Xia were taken aback, but Qi Xia quickly recovered and said, "I'm used to being a loner. It's only natural you can't reach me."
"A loner... I recall you mentioned you had a wife, didn't you?" Officer Li asked again.
When Qian Wu heard this, she was slightly stunned, then looked at Qi Xia with confusion.
A wife?
"Yes," Qi Xia nodded very seriously. "I have a wife. I hope she's safe."
Though Qian Wu looked puzzled after hearing this, she remained silent. She turned to look at Nineteen and asked, "Can we do more today?"
Nineteen wiped the sweat from his forehead and shook his head. "No... my 'Faith' can't hold out much longer."
"Then let's stop here for today." Qian Wu nodded and said to Qi Xia and the others, "I'd like to invite you to stay here for one day. Tomorrow, after Nineteen recovers, I still have some things I want to discuss with you."
The three of them looked at each other and found no reason to refuse.
"We have some food. Let's eat something here this afternoon." Qian Wu smiled and nodded at them, then stood up to leave.
"Wait a moment." Li Shangwu stopped him.
"What is it?" Qian Wu turned back.
"Does your 'Cat'... still take new members?"
Hearing this, Qian Wu smiled faintly and nodded. "Of course, Officer Li. You were born to be a member of the Cat."
"Me?"
"You're like most people here—you don't really want to leave. You just want to earn some money for your daughter, right?"
"Yes... How do you even know that?"
"Just stay here." Qian Wu nodded at Officer Li. "From now on, you're our comrade. I can give you a number you'll be satisfied with."
Officer Li never expected joining the Cat would be so easy—without even a test or an interview.
"So I can't call myself Li Shangwu anymore?" Officer Li asked again.
"Correct." Qian Wu nodded. "That name no longer belongs to you. Starting today, you are a 'Cat' roaming the Land of the End. We are the 'Zodiac' without titles. We are all one and the same."
Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin both looked at Officer Li. Though they weren't particularly close yet, the thought of parting ways with him made them feel a bit sad.
"Why that look?" Officer Li laughed heartily. "I'm joining the Cat, not dying. That Qian Wu guy... woman seems decent enough. I doubt she'll stop me from associating with you all, right?"
"Of course." Qian Wu nodded. "You can even move freely. When there's a task, Saturday will inform you."
"Shake hands." Saturday extended her hand flatly. "Remember to shake my hand every time after you revive. I never leave Fifth Brother's side and will relay his tasks."
Officer Li reached out slightly and touched Saturday's hand, then she quickly withdrew it.
Her lips moved a few times as she murmured something softly.
Suddenly, Officer Li heard her voice in his ear: "Testing, testing."
"Li Shangwu received. Go ahead," Officer Li said habitually.
"Tsk, no need to be so formal." Saturday waved her hand. "Alright, as long as you can hear me."
At that moment, Qi Xia suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Zheng Yingxiong, who was hiding behind him.
Zheng Yingxiong took a few breaths and whispered, "It's very faint... but I can still smell it. The fragrance of 'Voice Transmission.'"
Hearing this, Qi Xia looked up at Saturday and asked, "May I ask what your 'Echo' is called?"
"Tsk, 'Voice Transmission,'" Saturday said impatiently. "Got any pointers, Mr. Smart Guy? You need my Voice Transmission too?"
"No, I don't need it." Qi Xia shook his head. After three rounds of verification, it was clear that this child named Zheng Yingxiong could accurately identify other people's Echoes.
But how was that possible?
Was it his ability?
"That child..." Qian Wu glanced sideways at Zheng Yingxiong behind Qi Xia. "I haven't asked earlier—is he with you too?"
"Yes," Qi Xia nodded. "Let's stay here together for now."
"Alright." Qian Wu nodded, then turned to Song Qi. "Seventh, arrange rooms for them."
"Okay. There are a few rooms behind Twenty-One's. I'll settle them in for now," Song Qi nodded.
"No, Officer Li doesn't need to stay behind Twenty-One." Qian Wu shook his head. "Give him the room in front of mine."
"What...?" Song Qi was stunned. "Fifth Brother, did I hear you wrong? The room in front of yours is..."
Saturday also frowned slowly. "Tsk, Fifth Brother, what are you doing? Isn't this guy 'Li Twenty-Two'?"
"When did I ever say he'd be 'Twenty-Two'?" Qian Wu said, his eyes fixed on Li Shangwu. "From today, Officer Li is 'Four.' He ranks ahead of me."
At these words, everyone in the room frowned in confusion.
Four?
"Why?!" Song Qi asked, full of incomprehension. "Fifth Brother, you've always been the leader of our 'Cat.' What do you mean by giving him 'Four' now?!"
"You've got it wrong." Qian Wu shook his head, then revealed a complicated smile. "It's not that I gave him 'Four.' It's that he gave me 'Five.'"
Everyone was momentarily stunned by this statement.
"You... you mean..." Officer Li blinked, as if accepting some fact. "A long time ago... I was 'Four' here?"
Qian Wu nodded. Nearly seven years had passed, but she still remembered that offhand remark—
"You're Zhang San, Li Si, Qian Wu, Saturday."