"In any case, just be careful, and don't act recklessly."

He let out a bitter laugh, waved, and left with Ji Jue.

However, before leaving, Ji Jue couldn't help but turn back and take another look at the small crack behind him.

It seemed even smaller than before, as if it were an illusion.

Even if it was just a little bit.

With a fleeting glance, beyond the eerie, dazzling rainbow crack, it seemed as if a faint flame light flickered silently once, like a final flicker before extinction, releasing a last trace of afterglow.

Then, it completely extinguished, disappearing without a trace.

Extinguished.

The door closed, and they returned to the real world once again.

After explaining the precautions, Chen Haiqiu didn't say much more. He hitched a ride with Ji Jue back to Xinquan, then left on another bus.

Leaving the troublesome aftermath for Ji Jue to handle.

Ji Jue could only scratch his head, trying to calm the employees who were stirred up again due to the recent disturbance.

Something about abnormal weather discharge phenomena, some scientific wonder physics phenomenon...

It was the first time he envied those experts on TV who speak so casually.

He lamented that he had read too much, suffering the consequence!

Now, it's almost hard to even make up a plausible theory...

Meanwhile, after leaving Xinquan, Chen Haiqiu changed clothes in Tide City and reopened a safety house disguised as a residence.

He dialed a landline phone.

"Any results?" someone on the other end asked.

"It's been reconfirmed. The Seed of Abyss remaining in the Crack Realm has already been extinguished, impossible to rekindle," Chen Haiqiu said. "That Evil Demon must have been after this."

"And beside that?" the voice on the other end asked. "What about the other matter?"

"Guardian Lv's endorsement has no issues whatsoever."

Chen Haiqiu replied decisively, "Through close contact on-site, there is no reaction between Ji Jue and the Seed of Abyss, ruling out the potential for him being an Evil Demon."

"That's the best news indeed," the voice on the other end seemed relieved.

Chen Haiqiu asked at last, "Should we continue with the recruitment efforts?"

"No need to rush for now. If young Lv is correct, the lad's character likely doesn't want to bother with us locksmiths," the old man sighed softly. "Let's watch and wait, take it slow, make contact gradually.

Such a remarkable wedge has become increasingly rare."

"Understood."

The phone call ended, and communication ceased.

.

.

"Whew! Mission accomplished!"

At this moment, on the perpetually rainy sea, cheers erupted everywhere.

On a drilling platform temporarily converted into headquarters, every face bore an excited smile, as if the arduous journey had ended.

And it really had ended.

Massive chains and giant hooks slowly lifted a several hundred meters long mermaid corpse from the sea, finally piling it with other remains like a mountain atop the drilling platform.

The last group of mermaids that intruded into the Federation's coastal areas had been completely eradicated.

"Congrats, Plant,"

Wen Wen tilted her head, lit the last White Star cigarette, "After this job, you'll be heading to Central Earth as the person in charge, right?"

"Don't laugh at me."

Bloodstained all over, Tong Shan shook his head and sighed, leaning against the nearby railing, too exhausted to even wipe away the bloodstains after days of fierce battle.

"Sitting fine at home, then kicked out the door to find my way. Central Earth is a hellhole, with increasing friction these years; who knows what big troubles await."

"With great ability comes great responsibility, Central Earth is pretty nice; if someone doesn't obey, you just hammer them, and nobody cares," Wen Wen chuckled, pulled out a bottle of liquor from her chest, took a swig, and sighed, "I'd swap with you if I could, but alas, I'll have to retire to the second line..."

Tong Shan glanced at her, "Didn't the doctor tell you to quit drinking and smoking?"

Wen Wen sneered, countering, "Didn't your family ever ask you to go on a date and find a partner?"

"..." Tong Shan immediately went silent.

Originally one person was unhappy, now everyone was unhappy.

Still, I guess I should have beaten my younger sister more...

Better give her another thrashing before I leave!

After a long while, he sighed, "What do you think about this senseless upheaval? Surely those mermaids wouldn't run amok for no reason?"

Can't withstand changing the topic, huh?!

Wen Wen burst into laughter, casually replied, "Didn't they say it's probably due to a volcanic eruption? This year the sea temperature rose much faster than before; they went crazy during the premature foraging season, starving probably drove them mad?"

"Hmm, perhaps."

Tong Shan bowed his head, gazing over the mix of ink green and crimson sea, "I just find it odd."

"Hmm?" Wen Wen puzzled.

"They should've gone mad..."

Tong Shan lowered his eyes, staring at the remains of the mermaid, and that distorted expression, "Why, then, do they look more like they're escaping?"

No one answered.

Only the howling wind and the suddenly heavy and urgent rain.

The storm was coming.

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