Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 95 Red Code Forbidden Zone
"Hello, officer, I'm Qingqing, the assistant director of Ciguang Orphanage. A-Jie and Xiao-Hai are both wearing blue tracksuits with the Ciguang Orphanage logo today, Xiao-Yu is wearing a yellow sweatshirt, and Xiao-Ya is wearing a red sweater. They're also each carrying a backpack," the girl named Qingqing next to the old man said.

"Do you know why the children left? Were there any other witnesses after they went out?" Jiang Jin continued to ask.

"They originally went out to collect bottles. By the time we realized the children were missing, it was already late, and all the shops and supermarkets on the nearby streets were closed. We couldn't find any witnesses... To be honest, it's all my fault. The children were worried that the director was away these past few days and came to ask me. I had no experience, so I casually told them that the director was sick and had been in the hospital for the past few days, only returning this afternoon... I was busy compiling the hospital's food budget for next month when A-Jie came to me and said to take a few children to the nearby streets and neighborhoods to continue collecting bottles to sell. They were worried that the director's illness would cost a lot of money, and they had already been collecting bottles for three days. And nothing had happened in the past few days; they had returned every day around dinner time. I... I just gave them a few casual instructions and gave them a pass to go out. Who would have thought..."

The young girl kept explaining, tears streaming down her face.

"Qingqing, this isn't your fault. You've been working yourself to the bone these past few days, busy from morning till night..." The old man hugged the girl, tears streaming down his face.

"Did they mention where they went to collect bottles these past few days, and how much money they made each day from selling the bottles?" Jiang Jin asked.

"Well... I need to go back and ask the other kids who are familiar with them. I haven't been paying attention to them these past few days," Qingqing said hesitantly.

"One last question, did they have any communication devices? Like cell phones, wristbands, or GPS trackers?"

We live in an era of meme pollution, and even minors generally try to equip themselves with mobile phones to store SAN value reports.

"We have a cell phone, but it's probably out of battery. We've been trying to call, but we can't get through. Their phone number is..."

"Understood. Don't worry, the police will help with this. You've worked hard all night. Qingqing, please take Dean Lin home to rest. Don't let the Dean's health collapse before the child is found."

Jiang Jin sighed inwardly, gently comforted the two, and instructed them to notify him immediately of any new developments. After exchanging contact information, he reminded them before parting, "You must remember the rule that minors cannot be reported missing for more than 24 hours! Then, send me photos of all the children, and give me their phone numbers. My phone number is..."

Then, Jiang Jin called the local police to report the situation and confirmed that the local police would immediately open a case to investigate the nearby street cameras. He also told the two to go back and wait for the local police to come and investigate if necessary. After seeing the two off, he felt relieved. He thought for a moment, then opened the mobile map app again and asked the driver, "Sir, do you know which places within six or seven kilometers of this area might have a lot of discarded bottles and other valuable trash?"

The driver leaned forward, looking at the map on his phone, and pointed out each location: "There are two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school within five kilometers that are prone to bottle-related incidents, but the schools have security guards, and they have electronic gates that require student or teacher cards to enter and exit. They normally can't get in, and even if they did, they would be kicked out..."

"Besides that... these three streets nearby have the most restaurants, so it's easy to find empty bottles left behind by customers..."

Jiang Jin frowned as he listened to the driver's introduction, his eyes scanning the map.

Before coming here, he had already studied the map information of this area. Considering the fact that the children had gone missing while just picking up bottles, Jiang Jin had a feeling that this was not an ordinary missing persons case.

Since these kids have been collecting bottles for several days, they should be becoming more efficient and familiar with where they can find more bottles each day. It would be great if Dean Lin and Qingqing could get some crucial information when they return; otherwise, they'll just have to wait for the local police to investigate the surveillance footage.

Now, the only thing I can do is to hurry up and eliminate the most dangerous and least desirable possibilities...

Thinking of this, Jiang Jin repeatedly weighed the three areas marked with red codes within a seven-kilometer radius of Ciguang Orphanage, and suddenly asked, "Master, which of these three red-coded areas is most likely to yield more valuable trash?"

"Ah, a red...red code area? That can't be right. Red code areas are all blocked off with roadblocks and warning tape. Even if the children don't know any better, there are drones monitoring them. They shouldn't be able to get in, right?" the driver said in surprise.

"Master, it's like this. You see, it's the middle of the night. It's definitely not as efficient for the two of us to search slowly as it is to wait for the nearby police station to check the surveillance footage. I think what we should confirm right now is whether the children have accidentally entered the red-code restricted area. If not, and it's just that they haven't been able to go home for other reasons, that would be the best. But if they accidentally entered the red-code restricted area for some reason, then we have to race against time to rescue them. At the very least... we must notify the cleaners to go and rescue them immediately..."

"If you have to put it that way, this is it!"

After persuading the driver, the two drove straight to a red-code area three kilometers northwest of the Ciguang Orphanage—Minghui Glass Factory! A place that had become a red-code area this month due to violations of the monthly rules!

When the taxi reached a hundred meters from Minghui Glass Factory, Jiang Jin checked the time on his phone screen; it was already eleven o'clock.

He said to Lao Chen, "Sir, just stop here. After all, the area ahead is a high-risk red-code restricted zone. I'll go down and check it out first. No matter what happens, don't get out of the car. If there's any danger, leave immediately and report to the Membrane Contamination Monitoring Department!"

"Alright, Officer Jiang, you should be careful too."

The area around Minghui Glass Factory was cordoned off with numerous "No Entry" signs. A sweet, cloying chemical smell filled the air, and the surrounding ground was muddy.

At the factory gate, the drones that were supposed to prevent people from accidentally wandering in were all gone! Not only that, but the anti-wandering talisman that he, as a reincarnator, should have been able to see was also gone!
How is this going?

Moreover, there were several footprints that were clearly children's at the factory gate!
He shouted at the stainless steel door in front of him, "Is anyone there? Is anyone inside?"

The echo bounced back in the empty factory area, creating an eerie sound.

Jiang Jin picked up his phone and called Dean Lin. After the call connected, he said urgently, "Dean Lin, it seems there are footprints that look like a child's in front of the factory, and all the drones here are gone. Please contact the police and the people from the Membrane Contamination Monitoring Department again and explain the situation!"

"What? This..."

"Don't panic. First, explain the situation to the people in the Membrane Contamination Monitoring Department. Trust their expertise! I'll wait here for them to arrive!"

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Jin checked the photos of the child and the phone number that the dean had sent him.

It all depends on luck whether we can get in touch with the child this time.

If the children do go inside, he needs to find out the situation on the ground and inform the cleaners when they arrive so that they can be rescued!

However, Jiang Jin didn't quite understand why the cleaner, who belonged to the reincarnation system, couldn't be teleported over directly.
Now, inside the red-code restricted area, cell phone signals become extremely unstable, which is why the dean couldn't contact them before. Jiang Jin can only try his luck now, doing his best and leaving the rest to fate.

As he dialed the number, Jiang Jin stared at the sign at the entrance of the abandoned factory: Red Code Restricted Area - Membrane Contamination Level: High Risk.

The red code on the signboard looked like a bloodshot eye in the night.

He called a child named Xiaoya.

Suddenly, he heard a cell phone ringing. Looking more closely into the factory area, he found a cell phone ringing next to the bushes about 100 meters away!
When you hang up the phone, the ringtone stops.

Jiang Jin's breath hitched for a second.

Minors have a much stronger immune system against meme contamination than adults, but if this continues, once their SAN value drops below 60%, they will fall into the Lost Layer! And the only way to survive is to become a Reincarnator and undergo trials in terrifying dungeons!
What should he do now?
The Meme Contamination Prevention Law prohibits ordinary police officers from entering any restricted areas; only patrol teams under the Meme Contamination Monitoring Department are allowed entry in special circumstances to assist sanitation workers. However, as a reincarnator, he is strictly exempt from this restriction.

Of course, once inside, he wouldn't be able to use any of the Reincarnator's skills or items. Although the system's shielding of him and the Reincarnation Watch was practically nonexistent, he couldn't be sure whether using skills or taking out items from the watch would reveal his identity as the Cunning Lawyer to the Reincarnation System! And to make matters worse… Deathstroke wasn't with him at that moment!

Furthermore, once inside, his memetic contamination will almost certainly relapse! Moreover, this is a high-risk red-code restricted area, and the potential for his SAN value to drop will also increase. He might have to immediately enter the terrifying dungeon trial again in a short period of time!
Suddenly, he heard a scream that sounded inhuman coming from inside!

At this moment, the effects of the alcohol were starting to rise in Jiang Jin's head, and then he reached into his pocket for the medicine bottle his brother had given him.

He didn't know when the cleaners would arrive, but it was clear he couldn't wait any longer! Otherwise, probably few of the children would make it out! And the drones outside were gone; there was likely someone deliberately causing trouble behind this!

Can't wait any longer!

If he's willing to watch his child die just to protect himself, why did he even apply to police academy in the first place? Was it just for the look and prestige of the uniform? He could have just gone through another terrifying ordeal beforehand!

Jiang Jin rushed forward, grabbed the stainless steel door, and leaped over it!

(End of this chapter)