I'm being held captive by a monster

Chapter 294 We're all adults now
"Lin Xing'an hasn't gone back yet?"

In the siege department office, Zhang Guang frowned and asked.

Liu Yang, on the other end of the phone, took two breaths.

"...No, the captain is in the neighborhood, downstairs, he hasn't come up yet."

He spoke, savoring Lin Xing'an's scent.

"Right downstairs? Okay..."

Zhang Guang pointed to the speech he had prepared for tomorrow's "trial of Xu Zhe" on the table.

After hesitating for a moment, he still didn't voice his doubts about Liu Yang.

"What is Lin Xing'an doing..."

He didn't hang up the phone; instead, he turned off the sound first.

Although Lin Xing'an said that he had deliberately circled around in the air and followed that strange route to test Liu Yang...

But Zhang Guang still had some doubts.

What if... Lin Xing'an is trying to convey some kind of message?

What if Xu Zhe's last words were right?

So the first thing Lin Xing'an did after leaving the department was to call Liu Yang.

Let Liu Yang use the smell to determine Lin Xing'an's route and location.

As expected, Lin Xing'an did not return immediately.

But what was even more unexpected was that Lin Xing'an was just waiting downstairs...

“Minister, I just glanced out the window.”

"You can see Captain Lin sitting on the bench by the lake in the community."

Liu Yang's voice came again.

"Understood, I'll hang up now."

Zhang Guang turned on his voice and sighed.

"Is the pressure really that high?"

He clicked his tongue.

That's understandable.

Sometimes, when he goes home from work, he sits in his car for half an hour...

But Lin Xing'an has been here for almost two hours now...

"Yeah, how could the pressure not be great..."

Zhang Guang nodded to himself again.

After all, Mai Yuran and Mai Lingbu were still inside the house.

Even though the twins had pretended to be well-behaved.

But for Lin Xing'an...

It's like I'd rather sit outside alone than see them...

Why would I suspect An'an?

"It's already at a time like this..."

Zhang Guang rubbed his temples.

I cleared my mind of all distractions.

He took a deep breath, continued looking at his speech, and began practicing in front of the mirror.

For parts that didn't feel quite right, I kept deleting and revising them.

She even added a few lines to play the victim.

After all, the main purpose of his speech tomorrow is not to boost everyone's morale in the search for the 16th month.

Finding the Sixteenth Month only requires Lin Xing'an's special operations team.

What he wants is for everyone to know about his silent dedication and hard work, so that everyone will vote for him!
"Whether we can turn the tide depends on tomorrow..."

Zhang Guang looked at himself in the mirror and clenched his fist.

"Buzz!"

After practicing his facial expressions and tone of voice again, his phone rang again.

Seeing that it was Lin Xing'an calling, Zhang Guang quickly answered the call.

"Minister, the mole on the animal control side who's been in contact with Xu Zhe has called me."

Lin Xing'an got straight to the point.

"Oh?"

Zhang Guang was taken aback. "What did he say?"

"Xu Zhe must have promised to turn him into a gluttonous ghost."

"So this animal made me swear an oath, and made all sorts of promises to him in the name of my mother, to give him a sense of security."

Lin Xing'an said, somewhat amused and exasperated.

"Isn't that how humans and animals are? Then just promise it!"

Zhang Guang smiled too.

"Yes, I swear this oath in...the name of Director Xu."

"His voice was deliberately made hoarse, so that neither the humans nor the animals could tell, and they thought that Director Xu had been infected with the [epidemic]."

"I was mainly afraid that he would realize it wasn't Director Xu, and that things would get complicated."

"Please speak to Director Xu for me. After all, it's a bit disrespectful to swear an oath in his name."

Lin Xing'an scratched his head, looking quite embarrassed.

“…Okay, but it’s alright, Xu Zhe won’t mind.”

Zhang Guang paused for a moment before speaking.

"That's fine. After I swore an oath, that beast did indeed say two things."

Lin Xing'an's tone became serious.

"Firstly, just tonight, a few hours ago, Zhang Hang ordered all the people and livestock hiding outside to return to the base."

"Secondly, a defense system is currently being activated at the human and livestock base."

"It's probably a special ability of the human and animal faction that allows their entire base to 'enter another space'."

"Once this system is started, no one can enter or leave from the inside; only the simplest information can be transmitted."

"The duration will be at least one month."

Lin Xing'an's words made Zhang Guang's brows furrow into a knot!

"...Zhang Hang sent all the people and livestock out to return home tonight?"

Zhang Guang repeated the words again, emphasizing each one.

"It's like they know I've formed a special operations team and want to go all out and do something big..."

he murmured.

How could it be such a coincidence?

Or……

Is this really a coincidence?

"Minister, didn't you announce that all colleagues would be attending the trial tomorrow?"

"I think it was this news that made animals smell danger."

"Of course, Zhang Hang understands the current situation and has the courage to act decisively."

As if sensing Zhang Guang's suspicions, Lin Xing'an also paced along the lakeside and spoke in a low voice.

"...This news of mine..."

Zhang Guang squinted.

He spread the news mainly to make people think that the gluttonous ghosts were all going to participate in the trial, thus lowering their guard and making it easier for Lin Xing'an and his group.

Unexpectedly, both humans and animals managed to return during this opportunity...

They even activated this protection system...

"Minister, I just received news that I am in the same situation as you."

"But after thinking about it carefully now, I think... it's a good thing."

Lin Xing'an stepped onto the lake surface one step at a time, as if he were walking on water with lightness skills.

"Minister, first of all, not all animals and livestock returned this time."

"The reason that protective system needs to retain an opening for information exchange is because there are still people and animals left outside."

"And those people and livestock left outside must be the most important!"

"He must know the most information!"

Before Lin Xing'an could finish speaking, Zhang Guang's affirmative voice came from the other end.

"In other words, Minister, Zhang Hang's actions have actually helped us filter out the important and unimportant people and animals."

"While this might mean we can't find more people and livestock in the short term, once we do, they'll be big fish!"

"We no longer need to waste time and energy on those small fish; in fact, it has improved our efficiency!"

Lin Xing'an pressed his advantage and continued speaking.

Although he had no idea that his comrades had stayed outside.

We don't know the specific reasons why these comrades stayed.

Zhang Guang nodded repeatedly!

"Hmph, the humans and animals are getting anxious too!"

He beamed.

Lin Xing'an makes a good point!

Zhang Hang's actions actually helped them filter out the useful people and animals!
"Minister, I suspect you deliberately leaked the information back then, perhaps because you had this in mind?"

"Hahaha, just going with the flow."

Zhang Guang waved his hand.

"An'an, did this beast say anything else?"

"Nothing."

Lin Xing'an returned to the shore, saying, "He said he is now under suspicion from within the human and animal community."

"So he's in a real hurry now, really eager for us to keep our promise to turn him into a gluttonous demon." "Minister...we're not really going to turn this beast into a gluttonous demon, are we?"

He paused for a moment and then asked.

Zhang Guangze burst into laughter.

"Of course not, even if we wanted to, we wouldn't have the ability to change it!"

"This human is utterly stupid..."

He snorted coldly.

"Then, Minister, from now on, this beast... will most likely be of little use."

"Whatever, let's just give up on it."

"understood."

Lin Xing'an lowered his eyes and nodded.

"An'an, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I won't give you any orders to find the Sixteenth Month within a week."

"Just do your best, I believe in you."

Zhang Guang chatted with Lin Xing'an for a couple more minutes.

After hanging up the phone, he took a deep breath.

"It's a perfect storm of favorable timing, location, and people!"

After making a remark, Zhang Guang looked at his speech again.

A more fully emotional connection.

……

……

"What? You're going out?"

At the base, Zhang Hang looked at Wen Wen, who was heavily pregnant, and his first thought was that he must have misheard.

"You...you're not kidding, are you?"

"I'm not kidding, I... hiss..."

Wen Wen shook his head.

But as if sensing something, she clutched her stomach, her face turning pale in an instant.

"How many days has it been? She's probably due by now, right?"

Zhang Hang quickly helped Wen Wen sit down in his chair.

"It's alright, it's alright, this child is just being naughty."

After catching her breath while lying on the chair, Wenwen gently stroked her belly and said.

"What are you thinking? Why are you going out at this time?"

"Are you planning to have the baby outside of your hometown?"

"Isn't it much more dangerous outside than at the base?"

Zhang Hang frowned and said.

The defense mechanism will be fully operational in another half hour...

"Old Yuan's ability isn't as dangerous as people say."

"Just like how you were required to turn on airplane mode when you boarded a plane, there's really no danger if you don't turn it on."

"If a person crashes without even piloting the plane, will their cell phone still be in their possession?"

"And you don't need to worry that your child won't be able to adapt; children aren't as fragile as you think."

Zhang Hang also poured Wen a glass of water and said.

The base's defense system is based on Lao Yuan's Class B ability, [Alternate Dimension].

However, because "alternate dimensions" are not very stable.

It's alright to move in a lifeless, inanimate object like a base.

If a living, breathing person is present in the base, there is a chance that it will cause spatial fluctuations and lead to accidents.

Therefore, before fully opening this space, Lao Yuan would first pull people into this space and let them stay for thirty or forty seconds.

The principle is the same as when transferring fish from one body of water to another, you first put the fish in a basin of water from the other body of water to allow them to adapt to the water temperature and quality.

Safety comes first, just in case of accidents...

Wenwen could adapt, but the baby in her womb could not.

"I asked Lao Yuan, and he said there's basically no danger."

"It's impossible for your production to cause any spatial fluctuations that could destroy the entire base."

"Or it could cause an accident for your child or something."

Zhang Hang said again.

"I dare not gamble!"

"What if something really goes wrong, what if..."

Wen Wen gritted his teeth.

Zhang Hang opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say!
"...Wenwen, where can you go after you get out?"

"The gluttonous ghost is about to make a big move. If you get caught then, it will mean the death of both you and your unborn child!"

"Do you really think that producing on the base is more dangerous than outside?"

"Especially given your current situation..."

Seeing that Wen Wen was about to stand up again, Zhang Hang sighed and tried to dissuade him.

"My current situation is that I'm about to give birth!"

"A newborn baby being born in another dimension... No way!"

"As a mother, I absolutely cannot allow my child to be born in such a dangerous place."

“Outside, I can hide myself from the gluttonous ghosts, but here, I can only pray that there won’t be any turbulence in the space.”

Wen Wen seemed determined to leave.

"not to mention……"

She turned her head and glanced at Zhang Hang out of the corner of her eye.

"Besides, haven't you always suspected me of being the mole?"

"Isn't it just what you wanted for them to leave now?"

"You don't need to say anything more. I know why I'm suspected. Sometimes I even doubt myself."

"But... I have children... How could I possibly reveal information to a gluttonous ghost?"

Wen Wen had an expression that suggested she was hurt but had come to terms with it.

Her words silenced Zhang Hang, who was about to say something more.

"You're all adults now. Since you've made your own decision, then... take care."

“But, Wenwen, the child is innocent.”

"Think it over. Is it because you're afraid of spatial turbulence that you want to leave, or is there some other reason?"

Zhang Hang emphasized the word "child" very heavily.

"Don't forget how your husband died."

he said again.

But Wen Wen only paused for a moment.

He left the base without looking back.

"……hiss……"

Although spring has already arrived.

But it was still extremely cold at three in the morning in the north of the city.

However, there wasn't a single gluttonous ghost along the way.

"Baby, this is the wind, the wind of freedom, the air of freedom."

Wenwen faced the wind and took a deep breath.

This was the first time she had left the base since becoming pregnant.

"Mom will take you home."

Wen Wen naturally knew that now was not the time for lamenting.

She put on a long robe and walked along the pedestrian street towards the Tiexi District.

That was Wenwen's home when she lived away from home.

“…Baby, stop making a fuss…”

"Let Mom... take you home first..."

After walking a few hundred meters, Wenwen suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.

Her face turned pale, and she leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

"Baby……"

But the abdominal pain was like a relentless tide, showing no sign of stopping!
Wenwen's face grew increasingly pale!
After gritting her teeth and walking a few dozen meters more, sweat was pouring down her forehead uncontrollably!
His body was trembling uncontrollably!

"Pat-pat...pat-pat-pat..."

Wen Wen lowered his head, panting heavily.

Puddles of water, mixed with blood, dripped from between her legs!

My water broke...

Her heart sank!
"hiss……"

The pain suddenly escalated to a higher level, causing Wen Wen's vision to go black, and he could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground!
She tried to shout for help, but there wasn't a soul around.
not to mention……

Now, when they call, will the person they call actually be a person?

Just as Wenwen was feeling desperate, two gray-haired figures appeared from around the corner ahead.

"...It's a person!"

Lü Zhumei also saw Wen Wen.

She was stunned for a moment, then quickly left Xie Jiujiang, who hadn't even reacted yet!
"Hold on!"

Just before Wen Wen fainted from the pain, she saw Lü Zhumei helping her up.

(End of this chapter)