Li Ang's charm value was only four points. It was completely ineffective in calming the rabbit through pacification, and Cat's Eye's hallucinogenic special effects also failed to work on it.
Fortunately, Liu Wu Dai was sitting next to him. She simply stroked the rabbit's back a few times, settling it down.
After testing, they discovered that although the rabbit could not speak, it could understand human language. It possessed the intelligence of a four- to five-year-old human child. Its furthest memory was being installed in the car six months ago, but its memories in between were rather blurry. However, it did have some impression of Liu Wu Dai and was thus willing to accept her commands.
Its texture was still hard plastic, devoid of a heartbeat, pulse, or blood flow. However, if its base spring was removed, it could move freely, its mobility corresponding to its size.
When Li Ang asked it to do a split, backflip, rap, and moonwalk, it just gave him a blank look that seemed to say, "You're really putting me, the little white rabbit, in a tough spot."
This ability is basically equivalent to creating life, even though it only lasts for ten minutes. Once the ten minutes are up, it ends.
Li Ang pondered and ceased the Necromancy Technique. The plastic rabbit remained in the same pose, lying flat on the ground, unmoving.
If the object of my skill is a figurine or a doll-like humanoid, could it perhaps speak? If it's a Gundam model, could it fly? Could it use its miniaturized ship-cutting saber and floating cannons to attack? Probably not. Otherwise, this skill wouldn't just be of rare quality at this stage.
His thoughts swirling, Li Ang maintained an expressionless face, nodded to Liu Wu Dai, and put the rabbit back in its place.
Before they knew it, traffic gradually congested, and the number of pedestrians increased. Many were holding their phones, checking them as they walked in the direction opposite to the car.
"Looks like the road ahead is blocked."
Liu Wu Dai glanced at the traffic lights ahead and pulled out her phone to check messages and the map. She discovered that just a few minutes prior, Yin City officials had sent several messages to the citizens. These messages all stated that an underground pipeline in Yin City's City Centre urgently needed emergency repairs. This necessitated road closures. Residents within the repair perimeter were asked to leave their homes and head elsewhere under the guidance of official personnel, and other citizens were advised to avoid entering the repair zone.
On social media, news about the Yin City underground pipeline leak was plentiful and trending high. Posts were mainly filled with prayers for safety and questions about why pipelines, chemical plants, and gas stations had been experiencing such frequent issues lately.
"The fourth barrier's shrinking area includes the repair zone." Liu Wu Dai spoke softly, "The very center of the repair area is the Qianhua Road district."
Li Ang narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "That probably means they've discovered something else."
'They' referred to the Special Affairs Bureau.
Meanwhile, under the direction of official personnel, vehicles at the front of the traffic started to turn around, seeking alternative routes around the repair zone.
BEEP BEEP—
The vibration of countless phones echoed throughout the street. Numerous people picked up their devices and found new messages from the Yin City authorities.
The text messages were brief, essentially updating the emergency repair warning. They notified citizens of the critical situation regarding the underground pipeline repair. The repair perimeter was expanding again, now covering almost half of Yin City's City Centre. All residents within this area were instructed to evacuate promptly and orderly, heading to safe places such as underground parking lots and subway stations for shelter.
Suddenly, the chatter of pedestrians on the streets grew noticeably louder. Passersby seemed increasingly panicked.
The traffic also became more agitated, with drivers constantly honking their horns, urging the vehicles ahead to move faster.
Li Ang's expression tensed as he pressed the window button, sticking his head out to look towards the traffic light ahead.
At the intersection, officials had cleared a passageway and set up striped barriers.
Between the barriers on both sides, a convoy of more than a dozen heavy trucks, covered with opaque green tarpaulins, flowed through the cleared corridor at the crossroads. They were followed by a fleet of fully armed armored vehicles, some even equipped with firing ports.
The sight was so intimidating that the onlookers by the roadside were speechless. Only after the convoy had completely passed did the noise on the sidewalk suddenly amplify. The pace of pedestrians heading in the opposite direction also quickened significantly.
"The situation is deteriorating faster than we imagined."
Liu Wu Dai took a deep breath. She was almost certain that something had gone seriously wrong at Qianhua Road. Their regular mission, which included the Qianhua Road area, was also definitely connected to the anomaly there.
HUM—
Li Ang's temporary phone also began to vibrate. He adjusted its angle, took it out, and saw it was a WeChat call from Wang Congshan.
Li Ang hung up the WeChat call in a secluded spot and texted, "What's up?"
Wang Congshan typed back quickly, "Did you see the text? Where are you now? You're not in the city centre, are you?"
"Not yet, I'm out shopping," Li Ang typed, "Are you still at home?"
Wang Congshan's residential compound was some distance from Qianhua Road and not within the emergency repair area delineated by the official text message.
That meant her home was safe.
"Yeah. My dad just received orders and went out to maintain order."
"What about your cousin? Is she with you?"
"Why do you ask?" Wang Congshan sent a confused Black man emoji. "My cousin left earlier. She called just now, telling my mom to drive with her parents to the subway station on Lianshang Road, saying it's pretty safe there."
"Good."
Li Ang relaxed a little. Since Wei Linglan had instructed her family members to take shelter at the Lianshang Road subway station, it meant that location was under the protection of the Special Affairs Bureau. It might even be a base for the Mobile Detachment or something similar.
"We've arrived and are heading into the subway station now."
Wang Congshan sent an emoji sticking its tongue out, typing and asking, "Little Leo, where are you now?"
"Sitting in another woman's car, on the passenger seat."
Li Ang typed, "She comes from a prestigious family and has wealth as vast as the sea. Her figure rivals a supermodel's; she's fair-skinned and beautiful, with a doctoral degree, eloquent, and learned. Moreover, she's taken a certain liking to me. She even gave me several million in spending money, telling me to spend it as I pleased."
"Hehe," Wang Congshan rolled her eyes, "How many drinks did you have? You're talking nonsense."
Li Ang typed with righteous indignation, "Fine, don't believe me. By the way, you and your mom shouldn't leave the subway station. The underground pipeline repairs seem pretty crucial."
"Got it, got it. You've been so mysterious all day." Wang Congshan wanted to ask more, but her mother called for her to get out of the car and into the station quickly. She could only send Li Ang a "Talk later" before entering the subway station with her family.
Ending the chat, Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief and put his phone back in his pocket.
Liu Wu Dai had been observing quietly without saying a word. She didn't use any tricks to peek at Li Ang's phone screen either—doing so would only provoke murderous intent from a teammate.
Her gaze remained focused on the stream of armored vehicles moving towards Qianhua Road.
The situation was worse than imagined. What on earth had happened at Qianhua Road?