# 518
**Chapter 518: The Mysterious It**
Lin Qiye nodded. “Agreed. That glance it gave the camera—it clearly knew we were watching. It knew we’d use the feed to spy on it.”
“Maybe it’s linked to the ability of that eye of its,” An Qingyu mused. “Judging from its behavior, just as Captain Guang said, it’s not particularly aggressive, yet it’s radiating the aura of the ‘Infinity’ realm. In other words, in some area other than direct combat, it possesses terrifying potential.”
Lin Qiye nodded again.
Realm wasn’t the decisive measure of a “mystery’s” combat power; what made them dreadful was the bizarre nature of their abilities.
Take Li Yifei—the Nanda Serpent Demon. Its personal fighting strength was mediocre, yet it could silently infiltrate any species through “snake seeds,” perfectly mimicking appearance and inheriting memories, all paired with a frighteningly high intellect…
If it hadn’t been accidentally spotted and then run into a freak like Lin Qiye, all of Cangnan might have quietly turned into the serpent’s city.
Or A Zhu: front-line combat strength close to zero, yet able to hook away souls with spider silk, killing without a trace.
From what they’d gathered, this “mystery” belonged to that same type.
“Pity we don’t have access to the Night Watch database; we can’t identify this thing or its ability,” An Qingyu sighed.
Lin Qiye’s captain privileges had been revoked; until he cleared every training module he couldn’t pull the Night Watch’s classified “mystery” files. Their intel would be far thinner than what Team 007 could obtain.
“Intel, huh.” Sitting in the audience, Shen Qingzhu glanced at Lin Qiye and An Qingyu and spoke calmly. “I’ll handle it.”
The two looked at each other. “How?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Shen Qingzhu gave a faint smile, patted the Baili Pangpang beside him. “Fatty, come with me.”
“Huh? Oh…”
Baili Pangpang scratched his head, stood bewildered, and followed Shen Qingzhu out.
Watching them leave the theatre, An Qingyu turned to Lin Qiye. “Will they manage?”
“They will.” Lin Qiye nodded. “You can always trust Mr. Cool.”
An Qingyu adjusted his glasses. “Right now the key is locating this ‘mystery.’”
“With its intellect, conventional methods won’t be easy.”
“Then we’ll use something unconventional.”
An Qingyu smiled, snapped his fingers.
A dense tide of rats surged from the theatre corners, flooding half the hall in the blink of an eye and startling the nearby officers.
Lin Qiye’s eyes lit up. “Your rat tide has already spread to Huaihai?”
“Not far from Cangnan, and we’ve been here long enough to prepare.” An Qingyu flicked his hand; the swarm retreated into the sewers and vanished.
“It’ll take time for the rats to comb all of Huaihai. I want to check the nearby surveillance first.”
“Will cameras catch it?” Lin Qiye frowned.
“If it doesn’t want to be filmed, of course not,” An Qingyu said slowly. “But if it deliberately exposes itself—then it’s a different story.”
Lin Qiye glanced at the camera in the stage corner, thoughtful. “You mean it wants us to find it?”
“That possibility exists.”
“All right. You and Jiang Er go. I’ll start from this theatre and sweep outward with mental perception���see if I pick up anything.”
“Got it.”
…
Two minutes later.
Han Qing entered the theatre with the rest of Team 007.
Lin Qiye’s group had already left; only a few officers remained.
After viewing the footage, their brows knitted.
“This ‘mystery’ is smarter than we thought,” Han Qing murmured. “Linlin, Zhao Kun—go back and pull its file. Find out what it is.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Zhao Kun and Chen Linlin nodded and hurried toward Team 007’s station.
“Xiaoyu, can you sense its movements?” Han Qing asked Qi Xiaoyu.
Eyes shut, Qi Xiaoyu searched.
“I’ve got it.”
A moment later she opened her eyes. “Infinity-realm ‘mystery’ fluctuation—currently on the eastern edge, heading south.”
“South?” Han Qing frowned. “Any idea of its destination?”
“…Not certain. Along its straight path, the only crowded place is the Gymnasium in the south district,” she said hesitantly.
Han Qing nodded. “Pursue!”
…
Eastern district.
Old fringe quarter.
A figure in a black top-hat and long coat strolled the sidewalk, left hand in pocket, right cane tapping tiles with elegant rhythm—light steps, like a leisurely tourist.
Yet if any passer-by paused to study his face, they’d see his eyes were shut… but under the hat brim, no one noticed.
Suddenly he stopped.
“Hm?”
Puzzlement crossed his face.
He turned, lifted the brim with a finger, and the crimson vertical eye in his brow regarded a roadside camera.
A strange red gleam flickered within.
Moments later he lowered his head, pulled the brim back down.
“Why is that team catching up first… Need to shake them off.”
He muttered, stepped into the street, waved down a taxi. A polite smile curved under the brim as he opened the rear door.
“Where to?” asked the balding middle-aged driver.
“City Hall.”
“Got it.”
The driver flipped the “occupied” sign and sped off.
Fifteen minutes later the cab eased to the City Hall gates.
“Here we are.”
“To the aquarium.”
“What?” The driver thought he’d misheard.
“The aquarium.” The man repeated.
“Weren’t you going to City Hall?”
“Plans changed—aquarium now.”
“…”
“Relax.” The man tugged his brim. “Keep the meter running; I’ll pay the full fare.”
Grumbling, the driver made a U-turn and raced toward the aquarium.