Chapter 1494: Level-One Disaster Response Protocol Activated

Hui-Three Agricultural Department Director Yang Benming was a very punctual person; the meeting ended promptly at eleven o'clock sharp.

Xia Qing stuffed her notebook and certificate of honor into her briefcase, and after the leaders left, she stood up, greeted her colleagues on either side, and walked out together with Tan Junjie and He Hui.

The three planned to first head to the Inner City Administrative Hall to meet up with Ye Yang and the others, change Tan Qi's name, then go together to the Tang family restaurant for lunch, and afterwards meet the rest at the mall.

It was a rare trip back, and Xia Qing wanted to take the opportunity to buy some gifts for her companions, and along the way pick up some novel trinkets to trade back to a certain discerning big shot.

He Hui, who wore a prosthetic limb that made a faint metallic sound when she walked, held her head high and chest out as she followed beside Xia Qing. Though people streamed past and kept glancing at her, He Hui wasn't nervous in the slightest — her sense of security was through the roof. First, because this was the highest-security Inner City office district, where no one except guards was permitted to carry weapons; second, because on her left was top-tier combatant Xia Qing, and on her right was Investigation Team Captain Tan Junjie.

He Hui was well aware that these people were focused on the most legendary figure of Hua Nation beside her — the top sniper who even came to meetings wearing a hazmat suit and a mask. The vast majority didn't dare meet Xia Qing's eyes directly; after a hurried glance, their gaze would fall on He Hui, curious about her identity.

He Hui also straightened her back, letting others clearly see the green badge pinned to her left chest, letting them know she was He Hui, a Level-Two Speed Evolver and Deputy Director of the Ninth Central Office — that she was able to ride a special plane with the leaders to attend the meeting was because she was outstanding enough!

"Xia Qing."

The moment the three of them stepped out of the office building, Hui City Ministry of Agriculture Director Pan Yuanwen, accompanied by Hui-Three Agricultural Department Deputy Director Wang Lizhi, walked over with two assistants.

Xia Qing handed her briefcase to He Hui, stepped forward two paces, and said, "Uncle Pan, Director Wang."

Hearing the respectful address and tone in Xia Qing's voice, He Hui and Tan Junjie were both a little surprised, while Wang Lizhi's heart gave a jolt, wishing he could immediately kick away this old man who had come to snatch his base — the top sniper.

Pan Yuanwen smiled warmly. "Where are you headed now?"

Xia Qing answered expressionlessly, "The Administrative Hall, to take care of something."

Pan Yuanwen smiled. "Then our paths don't align. I'm heading to the Base Commander's side. If it's not a bother, when there's a chance in the future, I'd like to visit your Ninth Center."

Seeing Xia Qing and Pan Yuanwen come out, the car waiting to pick them up slowly drove toward the entrance of the Agricultural Department; a cleaning vehicle slowly drove over from 150 meters away.

The cleaning vehicle cleaned the streets on a fixed schedule and route. The members of the Azure Dragon team who had come to pick up Xia Qing and the Hui-Three military personnel protecting Pan Yuanwen took a look, confirmed the identity of the cleaning vehicle's driver, and continued scanning the surroundings for possible threats.

Seeing the Deputy Director nod to her, Xia Qing then answered, "Your coming to guide our work is an honor for our center. Whenever you have the time…"

While speaking, Xia Qing raised her hand and felt her pocket, paused, and nodded apologetically to the two leaders. "Uncle Pan, Director Wang, I left my pen in the meeting hall. I need to go back and get it."

Just as He Hui, standing behind Xia Qing, was about to speak, Wang Lizhi spoke first. "Go ahead. They're cleaning the meeting room right now. If you can't find it, ask them."

Xia Qing turned and walked back, and He Hui naturally followed. Tan Junjie didn't want to stand around with the leaders, so he went back as well to help Xia Qing look for the pen. The car waiting to pick up Xia Qing saw her turn back, so it didn't drive forward.

The three had only just reached the meeting room when they heard a tremendous "BANG!" — the glass on the meeting room door trembled from the shock — followed immediately by two more violent explosions.

By the time Xia Qing grabbed He Hui and ran behind the meeting room's load-bearing wall, the Agricultural Department's alarm had already gone off; the rapid, piercing alarm and the stern, calm announcement hammered against every person's heart.

"The Agricultural Department building has activated Level-One Disaster Response Protocol. All departments are to perform their duties; those who abandon their posts will face severe punishment. The Agricultural Department building…"

Hearing the disaster level was One, Xia Qing and the other two immediately put on their protective masks, while the staff cleaning the meeting room rushed to the equipment room to put on hazmat suits and protective masks.

Tan Junjie finished putting on his protective mask and looked at Xia Qing.

He was an outsider to the Agricultural Department. Once the department activated its Level-One Disaster Response Protocol, if no one actively conscripted him, he had to stay put and protect himself and those around him. If he wandered around, he would be treated as an intruder and killed on sight.

Xia Qing was a cadre of the Agricultural Department and had to participate in disaster relief.

Xia Qing set the protective mask on her head, rushed quickly to the seat, rummaged around for a few moments before prying out the gold pen she had hidden in the chair crevice and tucking it into her pocket, then returned to Tan Junjie and He Hui's side, handed the pen to He Hui, and asked her to keep it safe for her.

Xia Qing had "lost" the pen in the chair crevice ahead of time precisely so she wouldn't have to travel the same route as Pan Yuanwen, avoiding unnecessary danger. Facts proved her caution was absolutely correct.

Xia Qing took out her phone, confirmed that the Azure Dragon team member coming to pick her up was unhurt, then switched her walkie-talkie to the emergency disaster-response channel and heard Director Yang Benming, serving as Disaster Elimination Commander, issuing orders one after another.

In a gap between the commander's instructions, Xia Qing pressed the button. "Top sniper Xia Qing is currently in the meeting room, requesting to participate in disaster relief."

Yang Benming immediately gave the order. "Xia Qing, you join Squad One. Your sniper rifle is in position."

As a top sniper, Xia Qing held a permit to carry a firearm in non-restricted areas of the security zone. If she entered a restricted area, her firearm also had to be stored according to regulations.

When she entered the Agricultural Department, she had, in accordance with regulations, stored her sniper rifle in the firearms management room at the department's entrance.

"Copy." Xia Qing immediately switched her walkie-talkie to Squad One's dedicated channel, pressed the button again, and said, "Sniper Xia Qing, ordered to join Squad One, requesting task assignment."

A voice that was not unfamiliar to Xia Qing came through the channel. "This is Squad One Captain Xu Di. Sister Qing, report to Room 105 immediately for assembly."

"Copy." Xia Qing nodded to Tan Junjie and He Hui, dashed out of the meeting room and ran toward Room 105, when she heard the broadcast sound again: "Toxins detected in the air. All personnel are to immediately put on hazmat suits and protective masks."

Xia Qing glanced at the purple-black smoke outside the office building, ran through the clean, bright corridor, rushed into Room 105 and took her sniper rifle, confirmed the weapon was in perfect condition, then looked up at Agricultural Department Security Captain Xu Di.

"Sister Qing, this is He Zhongzhen, a Level-Four Visual Evolver. You two will form Group One." After introducing Xia Qing to her temporary disaster-relief partner, Xu Di began briefing her on the current situation and mission. "The cleaning vehicle that passed by just now exploded. Minister Pan Yuanwen, Deputy Director Wang, and several others are injured. Our squad's mission is to clear all suspicious targets within a 2,000-meter radius and prevent the disaster from spreading. Sister Qing, you and He Zhongzhen go to the top floor and hold the north side."

"Copy." Xia Qing and her spotter He Zhongzhen left Room 105, took the stairs up to the rooftop, and saw that the Hui-Three Research Institute three kilometers ahead had also sent up billowing smoke.