Chapter 227: New Member

"It seems the law enforcers stationed there recorded and reported my investigation of the scene and the extraction of debris fragments. I admit my attitude was a bit forceful when I showed my press pass, but isn't it a journalist's job to investigate the truth? Today, law enforcers came to investigate my home. Fortunately, I had hidden the license plate investigation details, debris, and other evidence, so they didn't find anything."

"They seem to be afraid of what I'm investigating. The more they act this way, the more it proves there's a big secret behind it all. But they are too cautious; all my leads have dried up, and the investigation has hit a bottleneck."

"I know what to do next! Since the vehicle carrying trinitrotoluene exploded midway, it means the necessary raw materials weren't delivered that day. If I continue to stake out at night, maybe I can catch the transportation process again? But the original transport road has been destroyed and is currently under reconstruction. Which road will they use for transport instead?"

"I surveyed all the streets in West City. Not many roads can accommodate the width of a truck. And inferring from the route of the previous exploded truck, the vehicles came from the Seven Districts. This means they must pass through the west city gate."

"This is my third day staking out. For three days, no vehicles have passed by late at night."

"This is the tenth day of staking out, and still nothing. Was I wrong?"

"This is the sixteenth day of staking out. I finally found a new truck! It seems they were worried about people paying attention after the explosion, so they deliberately left a safe transition period of over ten days. However, they seem to have underestimated my patience."

"It's clear this truck has been upgraded; its safety features are higher, but its transport speed is also slower. I secretly followed the truck until it entered the military restricted zone deep within the center of Aurora City. I couldn't enter there because it's the Aurora Base, the origin of Aurora City and even the entire Aurora Domain back then, and also the most heavily guarded place in all of Aurora City."

"I took photos of the truck entering the Aurora Base, and I also got its license plate. Sure enough, that vehicle also belonged to the law enforcement system."

"This is the twenty-third day of staking out. I found another truck transporting trinitrotoluene. How much of this stuff are they sending to the Aurora Base? Based on my calculations, the current explosive equivalent in the Aurora Base is enough to blow up a significant portion of Aurora City!"

"This time, I was prepared. I had placed a special pen and notebook near the checkpoint of the Aurora Base in advance. They did not disappoint, fully recording the conversation between the transport driver and the law enforcement officer at the checkpoint. There wasn't much valuable information, only four words, which were the most crucial: 'Hand of Redemption.'"

The manuscript ended here. The final four words, "Hand of Redemption," were heavily bolded, as if someone had sat at a desk, repeatedly deepening the letters with a pen in confusion, deeply pondering their meaning.

"Law enforcers are transporting large quantities of explosives to the Aurora Base?" Chen Ling frowned deeply. "Is this the 'Hand of Redemption'? What exactly are they trying to do?"

Chen Ling now largely understood the rest. Wen Shilin's secret investigation had eventually been exposed. All the evidence, including photos, explosion debris, and the license plate, had been stolen by Ah Cheng and handed over to the law enforcers. Only this handwritten manuscript remained. However, a document consisting solely of speculation and records, without concrete evidence, would not be considered news; even if shared, few would likely believe it.

On second thought, Wen Shilin was incredibly patient when it came to news investigation. Staking out for twenty-three consecutive nights? Who has that kind of free time?

Chen Ling put the manuscripts away and walked straight out of the room.

The courtyard in the night was as quiet as ever.

Jian Changsheng, covered in bandages, lay motionless inside the house like a corpse, while Chu Muyun sat on a rock by the pond, thoughtfully gazing at the shimmering moonlight on the water.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Ling asked, walking up beside him.

"Messages."

"Messages?"

"The Gray King just sent a message," Chu Muyun said, pointing to the moonlight on the water. "But it's gone now..."

Chen Ling glanced at the moon's reflection in surprise, then looked up at the bright moon hanging in the sky, unable to help but exclaim, "The Gray King's methods are truly remarkable. What did he say?"

"He told me to recruit Jian Changsheng into the Twilight Society."

"Huh?"

Chen Ling was taken aback, but then he recalled how the Gray King had transformed into a mysterious and powerful 'Weapon God' expert at the manor, fighting evenly with the Red Paper monster. Suddenly, the Gray King's decision seemed reasonable. Recruiting Jian Changsheng into the Twilight Society would simply add another 'monster' like himself. The Twilight Society seemed to enjoy recruiting peculiar individuals, including him.

"Hmm... that's normal too."

Chu Muyun shrugged, stood up from the rock, and walked straight into the house.

"Come on, let's go wake up that unlucky guy. He probably won't expect that he just took a nap and woke up with a position in an organization." Chu Muyun paused, "Of course, this 'position' is no different from an invitation from the King of Hell..."

Chu Muyun walked directly into the room. Jian Changsheng, in his deep sleep, seemed unaware of their approach, still emitting soft snores. Seeing this, Chu Muyun slowly raised a finger and poked one of Jian Changsheng's wounds.

"Ahhh!!!"

Jian Changsheng shrieked and sprang off the bed.

"You heartless doctor! How long are you going to torment me?!" Jian Changsheng was furious. He widened his eyes and yelled, "Didn't you say I could sleep for a bit? What's the meaning of poking my wound now?!"

He saw Chu Muyun and Chen Ling standing together, suddenly paused, and then asked suspiciously,

"You two... know each other?"

Chen Ling smiled but said nothing.

Chu Muyun looked at him expressionlessly and spoke slowly:

"Jian Changsheng, on behalf of the Twilight Society, I congratulate you on passing the assessment. However, it seems you don't intend to cherish this opportunity?"

Jian Changsheng was instantly stunned.

"You... you, you, you..." Jian Changsheng's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're with the Twilight Society?"

"Yes, and you were right about one thing... I am indeed 'heartless'." Chu Muyun pulled out a playing card from his pocket and placed it on the table. A large "Spade" was clearly visible on its face.

The Seven of Spades.

Jian Changsheng's face immediately darkened. He recalled the scene from two seconds earlier when he had been yelling at Chu Muyun, and cold sweat began to seep from his forehead. He obediently sat down on the edge of the bed, forcing an awkward smile from beneath his bandages.

"Uh... Senior Chu, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding..."