Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.
Thank you.
Everyone from Otaku Translation
Chapter 24: Echoes
Shi Rang wasn’t familiar with the terrain of Pingyuan City. He drove cautiously along the winding coastal road, his mind replaying the image of the eerily empty police station over and over again. A gnawing unease clouded his thoughts, making it impossible for him to focus on what might await him at the warehouse.
It’s none of my business, he told himself firmly. What I need to do now is find Greyhound. Find Fan Yingshang.
But even as he tried to steady his mind, he found himself drifting. As he hit a straight stretch of road, he fumbled with his phone and tapped a few buttons, bringing up an old recording.
The voice that spilled out was one he could never forget—a woman’s voice, warm and laced with laughter, even though she wasn’t there in person. It was Fan Yingshang, her words guiding him like a beacon as he continued driving.
“Honey, don’t wait up for me—go ahead and eat dinner without me. I’m still at the police station!” Her tone was cheerful, almost playful.
“My bag got stolen earlier, and I chased after the thief. But get this—he ran into the park and got attacked by a flock of birds! Seriously, don’t laugh; I’m telling the truth! They pecked him so badly he started bleeding. Sure, stealing is terrible, but come on—that’s just bizarre karma.”
“Maybe he stepped through some reeds and startled them or something… Anyway, I scared the birds off and got my bag back. The ambulance already took him to the hospital, but the cops here insist I stick around as a witness. I thought I’d be able to make it to class tonight…”
“Yeah, I know. I told the art studio I’d be late, but there’s no way I’ll make it in time for dinner. Eat extra for me, okay?”
“Oh, you’re coming to pick me up? Great! That means I won’t have to walk home in the dark with a flashlight. Mua~ Thanks, honey!”
For a moment, Shi Rang let his mind wander back to that day when he’d gone to pick Yingshang up from work. He’d stopped at a roadside stall beforehand and bought some grilled skewers as a surprise. When she finally strapped on her helmet and climbed onto the back of his scooter, he revealed them triumphantly.
She’d smelled the meat cooking long before he showed her, but she still raised the skewers high and cheered, “Oh yeah!” like a kid who hadn’t quite grown up yet.
The next evening, he’d taken leave early from work and prepared a feast, waiting to make up for the dinner she’d missed—and hopefully soothe any lingering frustration from the incident. Sitting at the table, he waited eagerly for the doorbell to ring, watching as dusk turned to night.
But Yingshang never came home.
He called her phone—it went unanswered. He called the art studio, where the manager informed him that Yingshang had taken the afternoon off. Later, reviewing the security footage from the police station, he saw her hurrying out of frame, clutching her bag tightly. She never appeared in the next camera feed.
And just like that, the sun in his life disappeared.
If only he’d known sooner that the thief was a gang member of Blue Signal—not some random petty criminal…
If only he’d acted faster…
BEEEEEP!
A deafening horn blared, jolting Shi Rang awake. Instinctively, he slammed on the brakes, nearly jamming the pedal into the transmission. The car screeched to a halt, throwing his body forward against the seatbelt’s restraint before yanking him back hard into the driver’s seat. His entire frame felt like it had been rattled apart.
“What the hell are you doing, driving like that?” a brash voice shouted from outside.
Shi Rang blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. Everything seemed pitch black—not just because of the scare, but also from the pressure of the seatbelt digging into his chest.
“I-I’m sorry,” he stammered, looking up apologetically. “I was distracted—”
“Distracted while driving? You’re lucky to be alive!”
Breathing heavily, Shi Rang glanced toward the source of the voice. Only then did he realize he’d collided—albeit lightly—with a pickup truck. The damage was minimal, barely noticeable as a faint dent. What caught his attention, however, was the vehicle itself. Clearly modified, its tires were twice the normal size, and armored plates lined its surface.
Wait… armored plates?
Peering closer, Shi Rang’s eyes widened as he noticed the mounted heavy machine gun perched in the pickup truck. Bullets lay stacked openly in the cargo bed.
Had he accidentally rear-ended a drug lord’s ride?
“He looks dazed. Maybe the crash scrambled his brain,” the same sharp-tongued woman remarked to her companion.
“Could be scared stiff,” replied a deep male voice.
Finally snapping out of his stupor, Shi Rang focused on the two figures sitting in the front seats of the other vehicle. Both were clad in full tactical gear. The driver was tall and stern, with dark, weathered skin, while the woman beside him had sharp features and an unusually long braid. On closer inspection, Shi Rang recognized the blue emblem emblazoned on their doors.
Ah. Members of the Pancontinental Coalition.
“Hey, snap out of it already! You look suspicious hanging around here. Huh? Do you think he is one of those gang members?” the woman quipped, nudging her partner with her elbow.
“No, no!” Shi Rang quickly pulled out his press credentials from his jacket collar, showing them the small golden badge affixed to it. “I’m a journalist investigating this case. I have authorization from your organization to conduct inquiries. As for your vehicle…” He winced sheepishly. “I’ll cover the damages.”
“A journalist? You?” The woman sneered. “I was wondering which brave soul had come all the way from Yunling City to cover this after a dozen local reporters were scared off. Turns out it’s just a rookie.”
Though usually timid—even somewhat cowardly—Shi Rang felt a spark of irritation flare within him. Being dismissed repeatedly grated on his nerves.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, his voice tight.
Truthfully, he didn’t have to report on this story. If he lost his job, so be it. He wasn’t some crusader for justice; his role as a journalist and his investigative authority were merely tools to help him find Yingshang. But reflecting further, he realized that whether he sought out trouble directly or published articles exposing wrongdoing, either path would inevitably attract danger. There was no safe middle ground.
Still skeptical, the woman shrugged. “Don’t worry about the car—it belongs to the agency anyway. You can still back out if you want. Just live your quiet little life.”
“I’m not backing down,” Shi Rang retorted resolutely. “I’m heading to the scene right now to investigate.”
“Well, don’t chicken out once you’re there, or I’ll hold it against you.” Reaching into her pocket, the woman handed a slip of paper to her partner. The man rolled down his window and leaned halfway out, handing it to Shi Rang. “We’ll be patrolling the area until dawn. If anything happens, call us, and we’ll come running.”
Shi Rang accepted the card, which bore the laminated insignia:
[Coalition Investigators, Scarlett & John]
He almost asked, Are the two of you really enough? but catching sight of the heavy machine gun again, he swallowed the question.
Despite her abrasive demeanor, Scarlett seemed decent enough—willing to lend a hand.
Judging by their accents, Shi Rang deduced they weren’t locals from District Ten. Perhaps they’d been sent across regions to assist in combating crime. Gradually, his irritation faded.
“I’ll make sure the report is accurate. Keep an eye out for it,” he nodded respectfully at the duo.
“Just don’t die before then. Call if you need us.” With a dismissive wave, Scarlett signaled to John, who rolled up the tinted window and prepared to drive off.
Shi Rang reversed his car, navigating past the bend. In his rearview mirror, he noticed the Coalition pair turning their vehicle around to follow him toward the first scene. Though District Ten was infamous—a port city practically overrun by criminals—their presence brought him a measure of comfort.
They parted ways at a fork in the road, and Shi Rang waved goodbye through the window, feeling a renewed sense of gratitude. Continuing onward, he soon reached his destination.
Parking at the end of the road, he stepped out and began walking down a dimming dirt path. Pulling a flashlight from his pocket, he switched it on and saved Scarlett’s number as an emergency contact before proceeding.
The abandoned warehouse was about ten minutes inland from the coastline but close to the highway. Navigating under the Coalition’s caution tape, he arrived at the site. Scattered among the muddy ground near the entrance were remnants of police barricades. Stepping over them, he swept his flashlight beam across bullet-riddled steel walls and a perforated roof, trying to piece together the events described in the case file—human trafficking and gunfire.
The wind howled through holes in the warehouse walls, emitting eerie moans that sent shivers down his spine.
After searching thoroughly, Shi Rang found nothing. No clues, no criminals, not even a seagull. This hideout truly lived up to its reputation as a desolate wasteland.
According to the file, the perpetrators had landed at a hidden dock nearby. Deciding to check it out, he hurried toward the shore, the salty tang of seawater filling the air. Beneath his feet, jagged gravel crunched audibly, while waves crashed rhythmically in the distance, carrying a chill.
Pingyuan City’s coastline was rugged, devoid of sandy beaches, consisting only of these coarse stone shores. The wooden dock wasn’t hard to locate—it was the sole structure in sight. Shi Rang examined the rope marks left behind and peered at seaweed submerged beneath the tide, searching for anything useful.
“Uh…”
A faint groan reached his ears, startling him. Whipping his flashlight toward the sound, he scanned the shoreline but saw no one.
Was it the wind?
Though outwardly calm during his journey, Shi Rang was now on high alert. Alone, he feared encountering humans far more than animals. Holding his phone ready to dial, he nervously swept the area with his flashlight.
“Who’s there?” he called out, his voice trembling.
Only the monotonous crash of waves answered him.
Summoning his courage amidst the relentless noise, Shi Rang inched closer to the source of the sound, eventually reaching a towering coastal cliff. Still, he found nothing.
“It’s okay… just my imagination…” he muttered, exhaling in relief. Turning to leave, he tilted the flashlight downward—
Its beam illuminated something floating between the shallow water and rocks.
Shi Rang froze, squinting for a better look.
It wasn’t fabric—it was a person!
Please vote for this novel at
If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.
How to find a list of chapters
Please find the chapter label next to your favorite translator's name, and click the label.
