The maglev car was stopped by traffic police before reaching Star River Road.
"Temporary traffic control ahead. Please detour if necessary," said the traffic officer, looking cool in his sunglasses.
"Excuse me…" Zuo Yiming began, but Lu Lin pulled him back and stepped forward to face the officer.
"Officer," Lu Lin said, "we need to go home. Surely your traffic control doesn't prevent people from returning to their homes, does it?"
"Go home? Where do you live?"
"Lakeside Mansion."
The officer paused, hearing Lu Lin mention "Lakeside Mansion."
Taking off his sunglasses, the officer frowned. "Lakeside Mansion, huh? I'm afraid you three won't be going home for a while."
"Why?" Luo Ling asked anxiously. Her sister, Luo Yu, was still in Lakeside Mansion. She'd tried calling her at least thirty times on the way, but none of the calls went through.
"Because…" The officer started to explain, then suddenly stopped. He put his sunglasses back on and waved impatiently. "Go on, all of you. Leave this area for now. It's very dangerous here."
With that, he turned and walked away without another glance at them.
Luo Ling, Zuo Yiming, and Lu Lin exchanged puzzled glances, completely unsure of what to do next.
"Luo Ling, don't worry. Didn't the traffic officer just say…" Zuo Yiming started, then continued, "Forget it. Worrying here won't help. Let's go back first and figure things out. Maybe your sister didn't even come here."
By now, even the slowest among them realized they wouldn't find Luo Ling's sister today.
Luo Ling was frantic. After all, she was just a recent high school graduate with little social experience, and she couldn't think of any solution.
"Wait, Luo Ling, can you locate your sister?" Lu Lin suddenly asked.
Back on Earth, even a lost cell phone had a tracking feature. There was no reason a more powerful Biological Chip couldn't do the same.
"Yes, yes!" Luo Ling exclaimed joyfully, activating her Biological Chip to find her sister's location.
"Found her! My sister… is in Lakeside Mansion, just ahead!"
"Lu Lin, what do we do? I think I heard gunfire just now."
"What if my sister gets injured… I… I…" Luo Ling stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
Zuo Yiming was also scratching his head in frustration.
"Don't worry. Just follow me."
Lu Lin glanced in the direction the traffic officer had gone, then led the other two away.
Luo Ling and Zuo Yiming were out of ideas and could only follow Lu Lin.
"This way!"
Lu Lin activated his Perceive Star Skill, avoided the security cameras, and led them to the outer wall of a villa complex.
"Climb over!"
Zuo Yiming and Luo Ling did as he said.
At this moment, an inexplicable excitement surged through both of them. So thrilling! It was as if they were outlaws skirting the edges of the city.
Along the way, the trio continually evaded cameras, climbing over any walls they encountered.
Thanks to their well-conditioned bodies, further enhanced by their recently awakened Star Power, the three reached the outskirts of the Lakeside Mansion Community without incident.
"Luo Ling, check your sister's location again…"
BOOM!
Before Lu Lin could finish his sentence, a massive explosion thundered nearby.
The three looked towards the sound, only to see a plume of dust and smoke billowing into the sky.
The windows of the residences in Lakeside Mansion Community instantly shattered into pieces.
"This…" Zuo Yiming's mouth fell open, unable to believe his eyes.
Someone had detonated a bomb in Lakeside Mansion.
A high-end villa, built of brick and stone, vanished instantly in the blast.
Luo Ling subconsciously checked Luo Yu's location again.
"Oh no!"
"What's wrong?"
"My sister… her location is not far from the villa where the explosion just happened…"
"What?!"
Lu Lin exclaimed. Suddenly, he heard the sound of many footsteps approaching and quickly pulled the other two into some nearby bushes.
"Get down! Quick! Don't let anyone see us!"
Lu Lin felt his heart pound, his hands trembling uncontrollably. This isn't fear, nor is it nervousness.
The heavy footsteps drew closer.
Lu Lin pressed their heads down hard, keeping them hidden, while he cautiously peeked out.
A squad of soldiers in dark green military uniforms, armed with live ammunition and wearing high-tech electromagnetic imaging helmets, sprinted past them.
Lu Lin exhaled softly.
"Kids!"
The sudden voice startled all three of them.
Lu Lin looked up to see three soldiers standing before them.
"Kids, it's very dangerous here. This isn't a place to play!" a cold voice stated, making the three of them shiver involuntarily.
"No, we're…" Lu Lin was too nervous to speak. At that moment, Zuo Yiming stepped forward.
"Officer, we're here because…"
"Irrelevant."
"This area has been designated a temporary military administration zone. Will you leave on your own, or do I have to escort you out?" the soldier, his face hidden by his helmet, said coldly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"But Officer…"
"I'm not your 'Officer'!" the soldier snapped, seeing Zuo Yiming trying to sound familiar. "Don't try to get chummy. I'll say it again: leave!"
Zuo Yiming turned his head away and took half a step back.
"We can help! My classmate's sister is inside. She can help you pinpoint the criminals' locations!" Lu Lin seized the opportunity, speaking loudly.
"Hmm?" The soldier turned his head to look at Lu Lin.
"Do you know the consequences of deceiving a soldier?"
"I don't need to know!" Lu Lin pulled Luo Ling forward. "We're students from Golden Sword High School. Her sister said she was coming to Lakeside Mansion to meet someone, and then we lost contact with her."
"We saw the explosion just now. It was no more than thirty meters from where her sister was."
"Luo Ling, tell this soldier the name and address of your sister's client."
"It's… it's Lakeside Mansion, Building 31, Room 102. The client's name is Li Sha."
"Li Sha?" the soldier muttered. Without another word, he quickly contacted his superiors through his Biological Chip.
Li Sha was merely an alias for a low-level operative in this vicious kidnapping case. Their true identities were members of the nefarious Black Shark Society.
"Understood. I'll bring them over immediately."
The soldier ended the call. He smiled at the three of them, though they couldn't see it through his helmet.
Through his Perceive Star Skill, Lu Lin sensed the soldier's oppressive aura lessen. It was as if a man-eating tiger had become an ordinary one.
Federal Soldiers indeed. Their killing intent was so overwhelming that Zuo Yiming was struck speechless, and Luo Ling could barely stand. Only he, Lu Lin, could subtly withstand such terrifying pressure.
They followed the soldier to the main entrance of Lakeside Mansion. The Joint Command Center for this kidnapping case had been established in the property management office there.
"F-Father?!" Zuo Yiming exclaimed as soon as he entered, spotting Zuo Zhenyu studying a layout of the villas.