Back at the provincial department, the remains were being examined by the forensic department. I was also assigned the boy’s remains, but after a thorough examination, I found nothing special, just like any other corpse previously bitten by rats. Thus, I gave up further examination, leaving the follow-up work to Xie Chuchu and the others.
“Senior, leave this to me. You’ve been running around these past few days; you must be tired!”
“This is nothing. You all have to examine countless remains; it’s the same for everyone!”
“At least we don’t have to move our legs much; we only use our brains!”
“Heh heh, I guess using your brain is even more tiring!”
“It’s okay, but I’m used to it. If I don’t have corpses to examine, I actually feel quite bored!”
That night, I had just bid farewell to Xie Chuchu when, the moment I walked out of the forensic department, a deafening explosion suddenly rang out from a corner not far from the provincial department. I quickly opened the corridor window and looked outside. On the street not far away, in the center of a tall building, countless red-eyed rats surged out. Then, they all pounced down from a height of about 26 floors. Due to this height, many rats were crushed to death on the ground, while their companions used their corpses to cushion their impact and continued to spread to other areas below the building!
“Not good!” Before I could even notify everyone, the police sirens blared. “Colleagues from the Criminal Investigation Team, Special Police Team, and Armed Police Team, please note that a plague outbreak has occurred in various corners of Guangming City. All personnel please respond immediately to maintain order at the scene!”
I sprinted to the provincial department’s parking lot. Numerous armored vehicles had already driven out. Just as I was about to get into a car, I saw He Xin and the Punishment Squad arrive. Seeing He Xin, I anxiously said, “You still want to respond to the call?”
“It’s okay, Father. Trust me; it will be very dangerous for you without me at the scene this time. This isn’t Lester; this is Guangming City. They cannot do without me!”
“Alright, alright! Be careful. You are different now than you were before!”
The members of the Punishment Squad didn’t understand my meaning, but Dao Zhiyong coughed and said, “He Xin, if you don’t feel well, you should go back!”
“It’s fine, Zhiyong!”
“Then let’s go!”
Everyone boarded the armored vehicles simultaneously. Dao Zhiyong was driving this time. Thus, we left the provincial department with the armed police and special police. Dozens of armored vehicles departed from the provincial department at once, heading in all directions of Guangming City!
We were assigned to the skyscraper, the building I had seen earlier. As we drove over, many pedestrians were struggling. I saw people and shouted, “Quickly turn on your phone lights, flashlights! They are afraid of light!”
The citizens who heard my shouts quickly turned on their illumination devices. Soon, the rats dared not approach. Seeing its effectiveness, many citizens followed suit. With everyone working together, they were no longer afraid of these red-eyed rats.
We reached the vicinity of the skyscraper and watched many rats slide down from the building. After getting out of the car, we directly strapped spotlights to our foreheads and, holding our guns, advanced towards the base of the building.
Upon entering the first floor of the building, the elevator doors opened directly, and a person completely covered in rats, screaming, ran out!
“Quick, save him!” Gao Mingqiang’s veins bulged. He was about to rush forward, but I forcefully held him back. “He can’t be saved!”
“How is that possible!”
Gao Mingqiang struggled and tried to lunge forward again, but I firmly grabbed his shoulders. “Calm down, Gao Mingqiang! I know you hate these rats and the perpetrators, and you’re worried about Gao Meng, but…”
“I want to save him!” Gao Mingqiang was still struggling, but the next second, something appeared in my hand. “Gao Mingqiang, stop right now!”
Gao Mingqiang’s pupils contracted slightly as he faced the cold, dark muzzle of the gun. A drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead!
“How did you do that…”
“You’ve seen what this is, right?”
“I asked how you did that?”
“I asked you what this is?!”
“This is my service pistol!”
“You don’t even know how your own gun got into my hands, and you still want to save someone, Gao Mingqiang! Wake up!!”
“I… Team Leader He…”
“Calm down! You can’t help Gao Meng like this! We are all as anxious as you are, but don’t lose your reason just because your loved one is in danger, or I’ll have to ask you to recuse yourself! Our People’s Police are an important force for public security administration and criminal justice in the country. Their main tasks are to maintain national security, social order, protect citizens’ personal safety, personal freedom, and legal property, protect public property, and prevent, stop, and punish illegal and criminal activities. Under the new historical conditions, our People’s Police must be loyal to the Party, serve the people, enforce the law fairly, and maintain strict discipline, working wholeheartedly to enhance the people’s sense of gain, happiness, and security, and resolutely completing the mission and tasks assigned by the Party and the people! Do you understand, Mingqiang! This is what we should be doing!!”
After speaking, I handed the gun back to him and patted his shoulder. “We all want to help Gao Meng, as well as the people of Guangming City. Also, also Liu Siya, that girl, is different from others.”
“I… I understand. I’m sorry, everyone!”
“It’s okay. If my sister were among them, she might have gone mad too,” Dao Zhiyong said with rare seriousness.
Watching that person being consumed and turned into a skeleton, we all felt extremely distressed, but what could be done at this moment?
We had no choice but to step over the corpse and use strong lights to drive away the rats. As we approached the elevator, He Xin stopped us and said, “At a time like this, are we still using the elevator? Aren’t you afraid the rats will damage it?”
“That’s right, it’s better to take the stairs!” I said, turning with everyone towards the stairwell. There were rats all along the way. When we reached a spiral staircase, a large swarm of rats climbed up, rushed in through the window, and poured in. Gao Mingqiang, who was at the front, actually opened fire. Although he could only kill a few rats, the deterrent effect made some rats hesitate to approach.
We moved forward quickly, pointing our guns around, vigilant, afraid that a large swarm of rats would suddenly appear from any corner and catch us off guard. However, we reached the fifth floor without incident. As we continued upwards, we found that near many desks, people were still holding flashlights to protect themselves in fear!
It seemed they had also discovered that light could deal with rats. We quickly went over and asked. We learned that these were all employees here. I instructed some people to escort them away and then continued upwards. We had to reach the 26th floor, where the rats had originally emerged. I guessed something must have happened there…