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Chapter 25: This Is Role-Playing, Right?
Shi Rang blinked, his phone still in hand, as he processed the scene before him.
Yes, it was definitely a person—collapsed on the shoreline, their body half-submerged and bobbing with the tide. The figure’s black clothing clung to them, soaked through by the relentless waves.
Was this a criminal? A victim of a shipwreck? Or perhaps an unlucky citizen who had fallen into the sea?
Alive or dead?
A flurry of questions flooded Shi Rang’s mind, but there was no time for contemplation. Saving lives came first.
Instinctively reaching out to pull the figure up, he suddenly remembered the fragile electronics in his hands. Quickly stuffing his phone and flashlight into his pocket, he rushed toward the water. Kneeling down, he grabbed the person’s arm and began dragging them away from the rising tide, seeking higher ground where they wouldn’t be swept back into the ocean.
The arm was icy cold but not stiff—there was still life in this person.
However, Shi Rang quickly realized his own physical limitations. Dragging someone across the jagged gravel beach wasn’t feasible. His face flushed red with exertion as he managed to lift the upper body just enough to move the person a couple of steps backward, nearly collapsing himself in the process.
Two steps would have to do!
At least call an ambulance...
Just as he was about to dial, the mysterious figure let out a violent cough and stirred awake.
"Hey, are you alright?" Shi Rang crouched beside the drenched individual, his voice cutting through the darkness. "What were you doing in the water?"
"Justice..." rasped the stranger.
"What?" Shi Rang thought he must’ve misheard. He leaned closer, steadying the person against him.
"Justice... has yet to be served..."
"Serving justice?" Unless the man had swallowed so much seawater that he was delirious, Shi Rang couldn’t make sense of this. "Are... are you part of the Coalition? Or maybe a police officer?"
Suddenly, the man slapped Shi Rang's hand, as if regaining all his strength at once. Shrugging off Shi Rang’s support, he stood up on his own. Shi Rang fumbled for his flashlight again, shining it over the stranger to identify any insignia. Instead, he found himself staring at a figure clad entirely in black—from head to toe—including a long coat and a mask covering the face. It was as though the man had donned a full-body stealth suit designed for night operations.
No wonder the Coalition hadn’t spotted him earlier—he blended in so well he might’ve been mistaken for floating marine debris!
"Are you feeling better? I didn’t catch what you said earlier. Do you need to go to the hospital? I’ve got a car—"
"There are more pressing matters at hand," the man interrupted, coughing a few times before straightening up. With hands on his hips, he took charge of the situation as though Shi Rang were the one rescued from the sea. "Now tell me, what is the current date and time?"
Shi Rang glanced at the man’s wrist, confirming there was no psychiatric bracelet, then checked his phone. "April 5th, around 7:20 PM..."
"What?! A whole day has passed, and justice remains unserved?" The black-clad man shot upright. "This cannot stand! I must aid those trapped in the shadows—I must—"
Before the man could dash off, Shi Rang grabbed hold of his coat. "Hold on! Before you run off, can you explain yourself? Were you here yesterday during the operation? Did you see the criminals’ boat?"
"You mean the criminals who prey upon the innocent?" The man paused. "Are you an enforcer of the law? Do you require my assistance?"
Shi Rang felt an overwhelming exhaustion wash over him. This guy clearly had some issues, speaking in such an exaggerated tone as if he were living out a teenage superhero fantasy.
"I, uh, I’m investigating this case," Shi Rang stammered. "I’m looking for leads. If you have any information..." He trailed off, unsure how to phrase the next question. "So, who exactly are you...?"
“Fear not!” The man pressed a dramatic hand to his chest and proclaimed in a booming voice, “I’m the Specter — ally to all who stand for good, and a warrior for justice wherever darkness creeps or injustice strives to prevail!”
Shi Rang couldn’t take it anymore. He desperately wished he could rewind a few minutes and slap some sense into his past self for engaging with this walking performance art piece instead of simply calling an ambulance. But the conversation had already begun, and Shi Rang lacked the social courage to walk away.
Resigned, he turned to his phone, searching for nearby psychiatric hospitals in District Ten that might have reported a patient convinced they were a superhero. To his frustration, nothing relevant popped up.
As if sensing his confusion, THE-SPECTER struck another pose and repeated: "THE-SPECTER!"
Fine. If that’s what it takes.
Feeling both awkward and exasperated, Shi Rang typed the word into his browser. Still, no results appeared.
Out of desperation, he switched to The Management Bureau’s main site, hoping for answers.
Enforcing justice... why does this remind me of that creative idea I never expanded on?
He scrolled through his notes and found the unfinished draft sitting untouched. Setting aside his absurd thoughts, he searched for “THE-SPECTER.”
[1 Result Found]
What?
Shi Rang quickly compared his phone screen with the eccentric figure still posing dramatically.
This guy was affiliated with The Management Bureau?
---
[Please note, the following content contains informational hazards. Altered phrasing due to anomalous effects is considered normal and should not cause concern.]
["THE-SPECTER"]
Level: B (4494)
Description:
THE-SPECTER manifests as a humanoid entity with an exceptionally high absorption rate of light spectra, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a long coat. In most cases (including under camera surveillance), it appears entirely black. It typically appears during nighttime law enforcement actions when criminals gain the upper hand.
THE-SPECTER possesses communication abilities and refers to itself as THE-SPECTER.
After successfully rescuing individuals, THE-SPECTER vanishes without a trace.
(File created on April 4, 1664)
---
It was a freshly written file—practically steaming hot.
"Uh..." Shi Rang struggled to address the perpetually posing figure. "I just saw something on The Management Bureau’s site. Did you write about yourself as—"
"The Management Bureau?" THE-SPECTER seized on the keyword, halting his constant motion and leaning in abruptly. "So, you’re part of The Management Bureau?"
"Yes, though I’m still new and not entirely familiar with everything..."
"I see—I’ve made my decision!"
Shi Rang gave up trying to steer the conversation back to reality. Let this guy do whatever he wanted. "...And what exactly did you decide?"
"My agent of justice, I beseech your aid! Become my ally and assist me in saving those ensnared by darkness!"
Shi Rang felt like he was losing his mind conversing with this lunatic.
But truthfully, he was out of options. Despite his urgency to find clues, the crime scene was too clean to yield anything useful. Twirling his car keys in silence, he decided to humor the man’s bizarre declarations and analyze further.
"But you don’t need to act—the Coalition already arrested most of the suspects... Wait, Greyhound and a few others escaped, but shouldn’t the victims—"
Shi Rang faltered, hitting a dead end in his reasoning.
Then it hit him.
Could this seemingly unhinged individual actually be engaging in some kind of intense role-playing?
Was this person genuinely playing the part of a vigilante in District Ten, even going so far as to establish an online persona beforehand?
Shi Rang couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect.
Setting aside the theatrical language and persona-driven behavior, the man before him was undeniably brave—a lone wolf daring to confront criminals.
With that realization, the entire scenario suddenly clicked into place.
"Let me summarize—you arrived here yesterday, encountered the criminals, ended up falling into the sea, and washed ashore later. Now that the Coalition has apprehended most of the suspects, you know a few criminals fled by boat, and you’re planning to check if anyone else needs rescuing. Is that correct?"
"Absolutely correct!"
Deciphering this truth felt akin to solving the mysteries of the universe. Shi Rang’s mind buzzed with clarity.
"Do you know where they are?"
"I can smell the stench of evil! The denizens of the night shall never escape THE-SPECTER’s grasp!" Another dramatic pose followed.
"But it’s just us two... Well, I can call for backup once we get there. Worst case, I’ll contact reinforcements." Remembering the business card in his pocket and the Coalition troops stationed nearby, hope sparked in his eyes. "If you really know their location—quickly! My car’s parked just down the road. Tell me which way to drive!"
Shi Rang sprinted back toward the road, only to realize THE-SPECTER hadn’t followed. Instead, the man extended his fist, demanding a bump.
"Agent of justice, what is your codename?"
Though reluctant, Shi Rang reluctantly returned to play along with the charade.
"Mud Truck."
"THE-SPECTER!" The man bumped fists with him. "Let’s move out!"
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