Apocalypse Forecast

Kate Peterman. He asked everyone to call him KP for short during introductions.

A Sublimator from the Border·Darknet, his origins mysterious, with other details unknown.

But considering his background from the Border, this wasn't surprising.

In that illusory world, like countless nightmares overlapping, violent changes occurred constantly. No one there had a clean past.

Hiding one's identity was just standard practice. Everyone had hundreds of 'vests'; who knew what kind of monster the stranger before you really was.

However, this man clearly had a significant background.

Within two hours of Ai Qing reporting the information, he had, through high-level channels, inserted himself into the communications between the Social Security Bureau and the Astronomical Society, and even directly joined this operation's action team.

"But rest assured, I won't meddle in your actions," he said with a smile. "When necessary, I will ensure the mission proceeds smoothly. Please, carry on with confidence."

Everyone looked towards the man presiding at the head of the table. He slowly nodded.

"That's the situation," he said. "Although Mr. KP's identity cannot be revealed, the higher-ups guarantee he will be an asset to this operation."

He seems so sneaky, definitely up to no good.

Huai Shi curiously scrutinized the smiling face.

KP seemed to notice his gaze. He looked over and gave Huai Shi a slight nod. Huai Shi suddenly felt a bit dazed, as if he'd faintly heard dice rolling—a hallucination, perhaps. But he soon put it out of his mind.

"Then, let's not delay." Smiling, KP bypassed the man presiding and issued the command, "Since everyone's here, prepare yourselves. We'll kick things off in ten minutes... Ahem, I mean, let's begin."

Thus, all the Sublimators involved in the operation stood up and hurriedly began to check their equipment.

Two Third Stages, five Second Stages, and Huai Shi, a First Stage.

They all looked like experienced Sublimators. Apart from two equipped with firearms, the rest, aside from sidearms, all carried cold weapons and appeared proficient with them.

With steel in their hands, the bloodlust in their eyes was even more intense than Huai Shi's.

"See? All official Action Officers hold Border Hunter licenses. Their training and abilities aren't comparable to self-taught Sublimators of the same rank," Ai Qing glanced at Huai Shi, adding a final warning, "Just focus on learning this time. Don't be a fool and rush to the front."

Yin Yan's mocking face appeared from the side. "What are you two talking about?" he jeered. "Is Mommy Chrysanthemum's class in session?"

He looked Huai Shi up and down with satisfaction, nodding. "No wonder you, cousin, would kill that good-for-nothing from the Qi Family for him. This little puppy does look rather..."

BOOM!

The loud report made everyone freeze and look over in astonishment. Nearly all the Sublimators instinctively drew their weapons, their gazes fixed warily on the source of the gunshot.

It came from Ai Qing's hands.

In the silence, only smoke slowly rose from the gun's muzzle.

Yin Yan stared blankly at the dark bore of the gun, feeling the stinging, burning pain at his temple, and swallowed hard.

"Sorry, it misfired. Are you alright?" Ai Qing gazed at her cousin, feigning concern. "Is there a problem with your mouth? If that big trap of yours is making it hard to breathe, how about I help you open another hole?"

Yin Yan's expression contorted, his face turning ashen. He said nothing more, took two steps back, and turned to leave.

After Ai Qing apologized to the others, the remaining Sublimators looked away, confused. The middle-aged man presiding looked like he wanted to speak but ultimately decided not to get involved in the Yin family's troubles. Besides, at this juncture, he had no mind to spare for it.

Only Huai Shi stared dumbfounded at Ai Qing. "Wow, Ai Qing, you're hardcore."

"Impressed?" Ai Qing put away her pistol. "But the one who's out of luck is probably you."

"Huh?" Huai Shi was bewildered.

"That gilded fool wouldn't dare confront me directly, so he'll most likely take his anger out on you," Ai Qing whispered a warning. "Be careful he doesn't try to get you shot in the back."

Meanwhile, outside the cabin, Yin Yan spoke to his operative, who was leaning against the bulkhead smoking. "Keep it clean, understand? Don't leave anything that can be traced back to us."

The smoking operative nodded in silence, his mouth stretching into a grin, revealing sharp canine teeth.

The ten minutes passed quickly.

Nobody spoke again.

In the silence, only the sound of KP rattling dice in his hand could be heard.

Soon, six Sublimators had climbed down the rope ladder to the speedboat below.

When Huai Shi stepped onto the speedboat's deck, his vision blurred.

The massive cargo ship vanished in an instant. It left no trace on the radar; only a vague, distorted shimmer in the air was visible to the naked eye.

It only felt like it was still there when you reached out to touch it.

Old Xiao gave some quick instructions, especially to Huai Shi on his first operation. Then he started the speedboat, heading toward the depths of the vast sea.

Once the novelty of the experience wore off, Huai Shi, seated in his chair, began to feel dizzy, his stomach churning and his face turning pale.

He was seasick.

Before long, he was leaning over the side of the boat, vomiting profusely, with Clement awkwardly beside him, sighing as he handed him tissues.

"Ha, a Sublimator getting seasick," Old Xiao's deputy, a burly man, laughed, heavily patting Huai Shi on the shoulder. "Maybe you should just stay behind and wait for us to return."

Huai Shi lifted his head to say something and then vomited even more violently.

Soon, a faint light appeared in the distance—the light of a boat.

From afar, music drifted from its deck, as if a lively party was in full swing.

Everyone was stunned by the sight of the huge ship riding the waves, their mouths agape.

Those smugglers really had some nerve.

Brazenly using a passenger liner to smuggle Border Relics?

This was completely different from the intel report...

But undoubtedly, this had to be the ship on this route; they couldn't have mistaken it out here. Although the vessel's description was off, when they reported to the command boat, the order came back from KP: continue the operation.

The team members exchanged glances.

Old Xiao, the oldest, was the first to speak. "Alright, we'll stick to the plan but adjust the details. Yuan Long, you're with me on the primary objective. Lei Feizhou and Ni Heng, you provide cover. Clement and Huai Shi, you two... on second thought, find a way to blend in with the passengers. Be ready to provide support if anything unusual happens."

He glanced at his watch. "It's now 11:40. We move in five minutes. Any questions, ask now."

"Uh... Old Xiao," Huai Shi hesitated, raising his hand. He fought back a bone-chilling cold that had inexplicably suffused his entire body and forced a smile. "I feel... not so good..."

In an instant, everyone looked at him with scorn.

"If you're scared, go back alone," Lei Feizhou, who had teased him earlier, said dismissively. "It's not like we'll be short-handed without you."

Huai Shi didn't speak, sitting in the back, shivering.

His face was a frozen shade of blue.

After turning off the motor, Yuan Long, sitting next to Old Xiao, put his hand into the water. An undercurrent stirred, pulling the boat quickly forward, silently approaching the cruise ship.

Several Sublimators exchanged a glance, then quietly climbed aboard.

Clement was the last to go. He sighed, looking at the trembling Huai Shi, and handed him his pistol. "Take this for self-defense. If you really can't handle it..." He paused. "You should go back."

Then he too climbed aboard.

In the silence, Huai Shi struggled to lift his head and gazed at the ship's massive shadow. He felt as if the dark silhouette would swallow him whole. The melodious music from the deck seemed to transform into jarring notes, mingled with hoarse whispers that he couldn't quite decipher, no matter how hard he listened.

Suddenly, a scream erupted from the deck.

Then silence returned.

Only a figure fell from above, hitting the water with a loud SPLASH, then slowly bobbed before sinking. By the dim light, Huai Shi glimpsed a lifeless, vacant face.

It was Old Xiao.

In that moment, he jumped to his feet, started the boat's motor, and clumsily steered the speedboat to turn away and leave.

Boarding that ship is impossible. Not in this lifetime...

Knowing full well it was haunted up there and still trying to force his way on? That's not just being stubborn, that's suicidal! Besides, this time the Death Perception was terrifyingly strong, practically breathing down his neck like a Grim Reaper. If he still dared to charge in recklessly, he'd have to be possessed.

As the speedboat moved further away, Huai Shi felt his body finally begin to ease; the bone-deep chill vanished in an instant.

It was like a reward for making the right choice.

He breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at the dark shadow of the cruise ship.

He shivered.

.

.

When Huai Shi stepped onto the speedboat's deck, his vision blurred.

The huge cargo ship vanished in an instant. It left no trace on radar, only a barely visible distortion in the air.

It only felt real when he reached out and touched it.

"How strange," Huai Shi marveled. "Is this some kind of magic?"

"That's just Phase Shielding Technology from those Scholars. Nothing to be amazed about. You'll get used to it once you've seen it a few times," Lei Feizhou said, giving him a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Young man, you've got promise!"

"Not at all, I'm just a newbie. Big Brother Ho KuoLok!" Huai Shi hurriedly pulled a can of Coke from his jacket and offered it. Old Xiao said nothing. Seeing that everyone was getting along, he briefly reiterated the plan, reminded Huai Shi of some precautions, and then cut the motor.

Yuan Long reached into the sea, and instantly a surge of undercurrent pushed the speedboat swiftly forward.

Clement looked at Huai Shi curiously and asked, "Have we met somewhere before?"

"Huh?" Huai Shi was startled, then shook his head vehemently. "No, no, I've never even met a foreigner in my life! You must be mistaken, my friend. Here, have some sunflower seeds."

Having said that, he handed over a handful of seeds.

Then, for some reason, he shivered. Looks like I'm getting a little seasick, he thought.