Chapter 320: The Fastest Capture in History

Regardless of whether it is or not, for the time being it has little to do with the few of them.

Black chains appeared from the void, then vanished, leaving absolutely no trace to be found.

The few of them couldn't possibly attack those black chains either; doing so would most likely be suicide.

Tang Luo and Ao Yulie, on the other hand, could give it a try.

Right now everyone still needs to keep a low profile, search for the Book of Life and Death, and look for clues related to the opposing camp.

By the time the sound of ambulances drew near, Tang Luo and the others had already left, found a luxurious star-rated hotel, and booked three rooms to stay in.

In Yu Yanbin and Xiao Han's words, this is called "the great recluse hides in the world," going against the grain.

Normally speaking, when hiding one would certainly not choose a star-rated hotel with heavy foot traffic, only some small inn.

But this time the situation is slightly different.

First, checking into a star-rated hotel is no stricter than a small inn; both just take a casual glance at your ID, there aren't many cameras, and wearing a hat is enough to easily cover your face.

Second, everyone assumes the information spread through this city's underbelly; those out-of-the-way, remote little inns are actually easier to be discovered.

The ones they need to avoid aren't official forces.

Five days' time — Divine Walkers without skills or equipment can turn the underbelly of this city, where public security isn't particularly good, into their ally.

But official government power is not so easily dealt with.

Unless those people have already hooked up with the chaebols and great clans that truly control the lifeline of this country burdened with various historical legacies.

In that case, there is some possibility of using certain means to leverage official power against them.

Night fell, inside the quiet room.

Ao Yulie brewed two cups of tea, one for Tang Luo and one for himself, sat in a chair by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the quite prosperous city nightscape below, without any sense of tension from carrying out a mission whatsoever.

Tang Luo was much the same, sitting on the sofa, casually pressing the remote.

Until he saw a news report and stopped.

This news reported the "accident" that occurred in Xijing this afternoon — the very one Tang Luo and the others witnessed.

That man was an idol star; he died unexpectedly during a roadshow, cause of death myocardial infarction, and before that his body had been relatively healthy, with no related illnesses.

The news on TV was standard and measured.

But the talk online was different.

Someone compiled a list of similar recent events — identical causes of death, and similar identities.

The deceased all shared two commonalities: one, they had money or power; two, "they grew rich through injustice."

"Grew rich through injustice" here means they all had all sorts of bad records; some were confirmed criminals but escaped punishment through connections, others had no hard evidence but all kinds of bad records and even conspiracy theories flying everywhere.

Anyway, in the eyes of most ordinary people, the dead were no good things.

The kind you'd spit on the corpse before walking away.

It's very obvious that someone is consciously cleaning up these criminals.

This person, or this team, is called "X".

Some people became X's followers, thinking the killing was well done, that those high-and-mighty grand masters should get a taste of what fear is.

Others, however, feel X is just a murderer.

Both sides cursed each other into a ball — it was quite lively.

"Master, can Doggy find the Book of Life and Death?" Ao Yulie said.

"Take it slow; if it's in this city, sooner or later we'll find it." Tang Luo said.

Xiaotian Quan's departure was naturally on Tang Luo's orders.

But the order he gave Xiaotian Quan wasn't actually to search for the Book of Life and Death, but to wander the city looking for any "anomalies".

Whether enemy Divine Walkers or the Book of Life and Death, both fell within Xiaotian Quan's search range.

This time, Tang Luo truly used Xiaotian Quan as a hound, rather than the previous "guide dog".

"Does this count as a three-way melee? Whoever can't stay calm gets unlucky." Ao Yulie said.

Three parties — referring to them, the enemy camp, and that Mr. X who uses the Book of Life and Death to kill.

Whichever side shows its head first will appear in the other two's sights.

If Mr. X continues like this, he'll end up like the booklet's development, becoming the target of all arrows.

But the difference is, here there are two additional batches of ferocious Divine Walkers who won't bother with evidence.

Once they discover a suspected target, they'll strike ruthlessly.

Counting on Divine Walkers to "expose their own shortcomings" is impossible.

Yu Yanbin waited for that X to gradually show his hand, reveal more information, then enter a race against time with the enemy camp.

Whoever finds that X faster, seizes the Book of Life and Death, wins the victory.

However, the development of events was faster than anyone expected.

Two days later, while Yu Yanbin and the others were still investigating X's information, a video — or rather an audio clip — appeared online.

The audio content was X's speech.

In it he stated that he was responsible for the recent events; everything was done by him.

But this wasn't a surrender audio; it was a declaration.

After acknowledging his identity, X clearly expressed his disgust for all criminals; he declared he would punish all criminals in the world, especially those who clearly committed crimes yet escaped punishment.

He wants to become the world's scavenger, to build a perfect world without criminals.

When chuunibyou possesses powerful "force" and can put it into practice, it's no longer chuunibyou — it becomes a "pioneer" who changes the world.

Within a few hours of the audio breaking, it spread across the net, directly stirring up a storm.

Just as everyone — some panic-stricken, some expectant, some sneering — wanted to see what changes this X would bring to the world.

That Mr. X was caught!

There was no battle of wits, no amnesia and deep cover — just using the video as a lead to find that X.

Yes, this X's IP address was traced, and following the vine to the melon they went to the door and caught him on the spot.

The specific details have not leaked out.

But according to rumors, this X is an unemployed youth staying at home, and the address is in Xijing; however, exactly where, a bunch of people swear it's right next door to them, so there's only a general range — the specific address still needs to be found.

From the video's release to the arrest, it took a total of three hours.

Fast enough to make one feel this was a ridiculous farce.

But it was this farce that laid the difficult problem completely before Yu Yanbin and the others.

Act, or don't act?

Is that X really the possessor of the Book of Life and Death? Could he be a decoy thrown out by the real X?

Or could it be a trap set by the enemy camp?

Utterly passive, caught in a dilemma.

Not stepping on it means completely giving up everything, only able to be slaughtered; stepping on it, if it's a trap, they probably won't come back.

"There are three police stations in Xijing that can detain criminals," Yu Yanbin said, pointing at the map. "We don't know exactly which one X is locked in, so we can only go investigate."

"Wouldn't that be too dangerous?" Dou Yiqing asked. "It just feels like things are changing too fast."

"No choice, danger or not we have to go," Yu Yanbin said. "We'll split into three routes, two per group. Whether the captured X is the true holder of the Book of Life and Death or not, he can't escape involvement — a lead like this absolutely cannot be missed."

"Alright." Dou Yiqing nodded.

"Master Xuanzang, you and Mr. Ao are both Fate Bearers — can the two of you…" Xiao Han looked at Tang Luo and asked.

"No problem, we can split up — this poor monk will go with Benefactor Dou." Tang Luo said.

Ao Yulie and Pi Xiong as one group, Dou Yiqing and Tang Luo as one group, Xiao Han and Yu Yanbin as one group — each heading to a police station to investigate.

After confirming the rendezvous point after the investigation, everyone set off immediately.

"Tang Sanzang, how do we get there?" Dou Yiqing looked at Tang Luo, steady as an old dog beside her, and asked.

Tang Sanzang is the alias on Tang Luo's ID; with outsiders present, everyone uses aliases to address each other.

"Take a car." Tang Luo casually hailed a taxi and said.

Dou Yiqing froze — take a taxi? This development didn't match her mental expectations at all.

She thanked herself for being like Deadpool walking among gods and demons — other superheroes either take fighter jets, fly themselves, or swing on spider silk, cool beyond measure, doing whatever looks coolest.

Result: Deadpool — hello, taxi.

But the other person is a Fate Bearer, the very powerful kind, so she'd better just obey.

Arriving near the police station, although it was already night, the crowd gathered outside was still not small.

Despite officers repeatedly announcing that X really wasn't here, the crowd didn't disperse, because the other two stations were saying the same thing to the public.

Could it be that X is locked in some secret base?

Who would believe that!

Anyway, just stand guard — once they catch sight of him they can make headlines, the explosive kind.

Those reporters naturally wouldn't leave either, standing by until dawn — if they succeed they can get a raise and promotion, become editor-in-chief, reach the peak of life.

It's only eight in the evening now; onlookers are plenty as well.

Probably won't quiet down until the middle of the night.

"Then, what do we do?" After getting out of the car, Dou Yiqing looked at the building not far away and said.

Whether the front door or the back door, there are people, but no blockade — people come and go from time to time, and quite a few are being brought in.

Very much the feel of a police station in a movie.

"Are you going in with me, or waiting outside?" Tang Luo asked for Dou Yiqing's opinion.

"Isn't the question how to get in?"

"Going in is simple — alone is more convenient for me."

"Then I'll wait for you there." Dou Yiqing pointed at a dessert shop nearby.

"Good." Tang Luo said.

The words barely fell when Dou Yiqing felt a gust of wind blow past her side; by the time she reacted, there was no sign of Tang Luo — she couldn't help but be startled.

A Fate Bearer, so powerful!

Dou Yiqing instantly felt she'd clung to a big thigh — this mission might actually be a sure thing?

Tang Luo, in an invisible state, jumped onto the police station's roof, opened the small door on the roof, entered the interior, and went downward.

…

"X isn't here, let's go." Dou Yiqing in the dessert shop had only just found a seat and sat down when she heard Tang Luo's voice from behind — she jumped.

Almost grabbed a fork and stabbed backward.

"You're already done searching?" Dou Yiqing checked the time — only ten minutes.

"Mm." Tang Luo nodded.

He found the extremely corrupt station chief, directly performed soul-reading, learned a pile of his illegal and disorderly deeds, and confirmed X wasn't here.

But where X is, he didn't know either — he only knew higher-ups ordered him to create the illusion that X might be here.

Some officers thought X was right here; others thought they'd guessed X was here.

Having made this chief turn himself in, Tang Luo left — took ten minutes; the biggest gain besides merit power was X's exact home address.

At least this station chief knew from where X was arrested.