I write obituaries for the gods

.......

Investigation Bureau, rooftop helipad.

Jiang Zhengge stood at the edge of the tarmac, holding an umbrella and gazing at the sky.

Beside him, Hua Molan and Bruce stood side by side.

"Boom..."

Amidst the thunder and flashes of lightning, the silhouette of a helicopter emerged from the clouds, slowly descending through the torrential rain.

“Stand back. We don’t know which executor is coming,” Hua Molan said in a low voice. “You know the nature of the Secret Party members. The closer they are to the mayor, the more powerful they are.”

"If we say bad things now, he might already be able to hear us," Jiang Zhengge complained.

Watching the helicopter gradually descend, Jiang Zhengge felt a surge of emotions.

So many years have passed, and everything seems to have returned to square one.

......

Chapter 136 The Black Sword (Third Update)

"Da da da da..."

The helicopter landed on the helipad, and the propellers gradually slowed down.

The cabin door opened, and a dark figure jumped out, landing with a heavy metallic sound.

Hua Molan stepped forward, looked up at the tall figure walking slowly towards them, and a smile appeared on her lips:

"Senior, it's been a long time."

The dark figure gradually revealed its true form: his body was almost entirely made of cybernetics, and his undulating contours resembled those of a medieval noble knight, with dark mechanical armor covering his body.

In the torrential rain, a red light shone through his full-coverage helmet, flashing with a sharp gleam.

"Xiao Lan, it's been a long time," the knight said in a mechanical voice. "You've blossomed into a beauty, no longer that little green onion."

Upon hearing the nickname "Little Green Onion," Jiang Zhengge and Bruce exchanged a glance, trying hard not to burst out laughing.

Hua Molan, however, was not shy at all. She smiled faintly and turned to introduce:

"Let me introduce you. This is 'Black Sword,' an executor of the Secret Party."

Jiang Zhengge and Bruce nodded toward "Black Sword," which in turn nodded slightly.

Hua Molan continued, picking up where she left off:

"You've been in the US for so long, why did you suddenly come back to Chongqing?"

“I came back after the CIA. They used the Rain City Star Carnival to send a group of people in,” Black Sword replied. “Super America has started to increase its infiltration of Rain City. The situation in the Liberty District is even more chaotic than before, so I came back to cover for them.”

“It seems the foundation is indeed about to make a big move,” Hua Molan nodded. “The Americans have rarely been this panicked in all these years.”

“It should be related to the W weapon you found,” Black Sword said. “This is a breakthrough, so I’m here to help you.”

"What's your opinion on the Euclid incident?" Hua Molan asked.

"The same old methods."

Black Sword shook his head.

"It was all staged by himself."

“I thought it was a factional struggle,” Bruce couldn’t help but interject. “Didn’t they have an internal conflict?”

“Factional struggles are just a symptom. If they become too big to be reconciled, the F Council will certainly check and balance each other,” Black Sword’s voice was like a rusty steam engine. “However, so far only Euclid has met his end, which means that everything is still within the F Council’s own plan.”

"To put it simply, the foundation is still putting on an act," Jiang Zhengge laughed.

"Tens of thousands of casualties, just to play along with their act?" Hua Molan sighed softly.

“The Foundation has always been like this; their tentacles are everywhere in Rain City,” Black Sword said calmly. “The leader’s meaning is simple: Euclid’s plan is unstoppable, so we should take advantage of it and begin to take the initiative.”

"So, the higher-ups also mean to attack 'Whale Nest'." Hua Molan nodded.

“I will assist you,” Black Sword said.

He looked around and then said:

“Where is Oswald? I thought he would miss me. It’s so sad.”

“As usual, based on my understanding of him, he has most likely already infiltrated the whale nest.” Hua Molan smiled.

"I heard him mention that new young man named Lin Chen?" Black Sword nodded. "That kid sounds promising. Jiang Zhengge, is he someone you picked up again?"

“Yes,” Jiang Zhengge said.

"You really know how to pick things up. One minute you've picked up a demigod, the next you've picked up something... even more terrifying than a demigod," Black Sword said. "Teach me next time. I'm thinking of taking over too. It's about time I found someone to take over for me..."

“You’re still very young, why are you thinking about retiring?” Jiang Zhengge sighed.

"They just look young. Considering my professional age, I'm already considered long-lived," Black Sword laughed heartily.

After exchanging a few words, he seemed to remember something and slapped his forehead:

"By the way, I heard that the natives of Raintown have become active again recently. Have you come across any cute little masks?"

“Yes, just today,” Hua Molan nodded. “A bronze mask entered the foundation building and took some data before we did.”

“I knew it, the waters are about to get muddied again,” Black Sword looked up at the night sky. “The peaceful days in Rain City are numbered.”

......

After entering the dream, Lin Chen did not rest, but instead entered the "Mirage City" as usual.

After entering the white city, Lin Chen adjusted the timeline to the 45th floor server room.

He watched as the man in the bronze mask infiltrated the server room, skillfully hacked the cameras, and then made his way to the control room, easily taking care of the security guards.

Looking at the bronze mask frozen in the white city, Lin Chen gently stroked his chin.

The native inhabitants of Raintown...they're getting involved...and at this particular time...

After experiencing the ruins of the "scorched earth" operation, Lin Chen searched for information about the original inhabitants of Rain Town.

In Yuhen County, at the northeastern end of Yuzhen, a large number of Yuzhen's original inhabitants live together and still maintain a certain degree of alienation from the modern society of Yudu.

They are mostly secretive and rarely reveal their identities, but there are persistent rumors that the ancient guerrilla tradition has continued among those indigenous people to this day.

Those local residents who live in seclusion in the city must know something to have taken the initiative to intervene in the current situation.

Lin Chen noted down the features of the bronze mask: it looked very similar to the masks exhibited at Sanxingdui, and Lin Chen even felt that it would fit in the Sanxingdui Museum without any sense of incongruity.

He continued to advance the timeline until the moment came when he had to part ways with Professor Jürgen.

This time, Lin Chen got into the car with Jürgen.

He sat quietly in the back seat, looking at Professor Jürgen beside him.

The scholar's smile vanished the moment the car door closed, replaced by unease, and his wrinkles deepened.

Before parting, he gave Lin Chen his last smile.

"..."

As the vehicle started, Professor Jürgen stared stiffly at the rain outside the window.

“Drive faster,” Jürgen said to the driver. “We’re in a hurry.”

“Okay, Professor,” the driver replied.

Jürgen rubbed his hands together gently, as if trying to calm his anxiety.

As if by some strange twist of fate, just before the seven seconds recorded by the "Mirage City" ended, Jürgen turned his head and looked at Lin Chen in the side seat.

Lin Chen saw a variety of emotions on the professor's face at the same time: relief, anxiety, and a hint of eagerness.

What was Jürgen thinking? He was about to travel to America to try and secure one last chance for Litty before he retired.

Lin Chen didn't know much about Jürgen's past; all he could do was piece together a picture of the father from snippets of conversation.

A father is about to fulfill his long-cherished wish.

This moment was forever frozen in the "City of Mirages".

"..."

Lin Chen reached out and placed his hand lightly on Professor Jürgen's hand.

“Professor, I will avenge you,” he said softly.

His fist clenched slightly, the sound of rain lingering in his ears, indistinguishable from reality or history.

......

Chapter 137 Operation Code Name: The Whale Hunter (Fourth Update)

The following morning, the First Investigation Bureau.

When Lin Chen and Li Zhanyi walked into the office together, they were not surprised to see Jiang Zhengge yawning and slumped in his chair.

"You're here?" Jiang Zhengge looked up. "Breakfast."

"I brought it for you." Li Zhanyi picked up the rice noodles and soup in her hand and handed them to Jiang Zhengge.

Jiang Zhengge took the breakfast and immediately started showing off.

Lin Chen and Li Zhanyi remained silent, simply watching Jiang Zhengge and waiting for him to finish his meal.

"Why are you so silent?" Jiang Zhengge looked up. "I'm under so much pressure. How am I supposed to eat if you guys keep me like this? Go, go, go. If you're so eager to work, go to the tactical command center, on the 46th floor."

"Isn't the meeting in the First Department office?" Lin Chen asked.

"This operation is too large in scale. It requires the collaboration of multiple disciplines and cannot be led by any one discipline alone. Go quickly, I'll catch up in a bit."

"..."

When the doors to the tactical command center on the 46th floor opened, a cacophony of noise rushed out.

The entire floor here is an open-plan space, with conference tables, instruments, and cluttered whiteboards scattered about, and white pigeons coming and going everywhere.

Currently, hundreds of people work on this floor, a scale that Lin Chen could hardly imagine.

“That’s why I said don’t always think about taking on everything alone,” Li Zhanyi gently nudged Lin Chen with her elbow. “Look, there are so many people, all working at high intensity.”

“It is indeed quite…spectacular.” Lin Chen nodded.

As the two stood at the door, countless eyes were drawn to them. Upon seeing Lin Chen appear, people began to whisper among themselves.

"Lin Chen, over here!" A figure leaped repeatedly, reaching out from the edge of the crowd.

Lin Chen and Li Zhanyi made their way through the crowd's gaze to a conference table: bouncing around was Senior Lucy.

"Ouch, I'm exhausted, my back is killing me." Lucy rubbed her back.

She glanced at Lin Chen with concern:

"How were you? Did you rest well?"

"It's alright," Lin Chen nodded. "Seniors...didn't you sleep all night?"

“Yeah, after all, I didn’t do much yesterday, I just assisted Jiang Zhengge,” Lucy yawned. “But it’s alright, anyway, we’ve almost finished our work, I’m going to take a nap in a bit.”

“Let me give you an overview of the current situation,” Louis said, looking up from his notebook. “After last night’s efforts and communication with various parties, we have finalized the general framework for our operation.”

After Louis finished speaking, he turned the notebook around and pushed it towards Lin Chen:

Operation codename: Whaler.

Lin Chen took the notebook and began to read.

"A crucial premise of the operation: the W weapon could be fired at any time, and its destructive power is measured in radius from the straight-line distance between the coordinates of the Whale Nest and the Iron Horn Bridge. The entire sea area, airspace, and coastline need to be completely cleared to prevent civilians from being harmed."

"At the same time, all those involved in the operation will sign a waiver of life or death, because once the W weapon is activated, no one will survive within range."

"Understood," Lin Chen nodded. "Is the evacuation work completed?"

“It’s done. I have to thank your connections for this,” Louis nodded. “I contacted Shen Xuanyi of United Concrete Group on your behalf, and she immediately agreed to cooperate with us. This morning, she arranged for a large number of people to carry out a large-scale road closure in the coastal area of ​​Iron Corner District, which was publicly announced as ‘road construction’.”

“This can prevent unnecessary panic,” Li Zhanyi nodded. “Miss Shen Xuanyi is really reliable... She didn’t run away, and she’s even helping us.”

“Although I don’t like capitalists, she is indeed quite different from those capitalists,” Louis nodded. “After the road was blocked, the Armed Section 3 and the Rapid Response Section 3 deployed this morning, setting up a large number of dimensional stabilizing anchors on the shore to prevent any form of subspace erosion as much as possible.”

The laptop showed real-time monitoring footage from the drone: along the coastline, anchor points stood on the beach, with a tent spaced a short distance apart.

"Won't this alert the enemy?" Lin Chen looked up.