The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 609: Captain’s Summon

Inside an unfinished building in a suburban area. The bare structure was all rough concrete walls and concrete floor covered in dust. There was no door, and the window was a simple square hole, the inconsistently cut rebars protruding.

There was only a mattress and a foldable stool in the barebone room. On the stool were two phones, a power bank, a large bottle of water, and a half-finished pack of hardtacks.

Dressed in a combat outfit with dark-colored camouflage and equipped with various cold weapons, Lithe Snake stood upright with his arms crossed, his eyes closed in rest.

However, he was hanging down from the ceiling like a bat.

Buzz. His phone rang. It was a message from “Boss”.

He opened his eyes in the dark, his lips curled into a cold smile.

...

Late at night, on the bar street bright and bustling with nightlife in the downtown area, a panicked-looking man knocked his way through the packed crowds, eliciting screams after screams from the pedestrians.

“Out of the way! Out...”

“Agh! What the hell are you...”

He had a black waist pack in his hand as he fled recklessly. Soon, he ran out of the alley and was about to dive into a car parked by the road, but then a strong, hairy arm shot out to snake around his neck.

Gray Bear smirked and pulled his arm back, sending the man falling to the ground. The man cried out in pain and saw stars.

Gray Bear crouched down with a half-finished cigarette in his mouth, smiling as he patted the panicked man’s face. “Why don’t you take a break, buddy? Do you really think you can shake us with your short legs?”

Gray Bear’s two colleagues—in plain clothes—caught up with them, rushing out of the bar street. “Where’s the guy? You got him?”

“I got him,” Gray Bear called out to them.

“How are you so quick, Old Bear?” His colleagues panted as they ran up.

“Ha.” Gray Bear pointed at his own head. “Cracking down crimes is about the brains. This is foresight.”

“You’re the veteran here.” His colleagues offered flattery.

Gray Bear was pleased. He took off the handcuffs at his waist and cuffed the man’s wrists behind his back. Ring. His phone, tucked in the back pocket of his pants, rang.

Gray Bear paused and took out his phone. It was a message from “Captain Seven”, and the message was a short one.

A thrill shooting down his spine, he spat out the cigarette in his mouth and jumped to his feet.

“Hey, where are you going?” His colleagues called out to him.

Gray Bear didn’t hear them at all. He took the suspect’s car key and opened the car door, hopping in.

“I’m taking your car!” That was all he said before driving away.

His two colleagues and the suspect were left exchanging awkward glances.

...

Late at night, inside the rundown boxing gym that saw few visitors, the old drunkard who owned the place lay prone on a sofa, drinking beer and watching a boxing match.

Thud, thud. Thud. Thud, thud, thud...

Topless, Nine Frost’s well-built muscles were on full display. He wore a pair of boxing shorts and red boxing gloves, making powerful punches at a large 500-kilo sandbag. The sandbag shook quickly like it was filled with feathers.

The rebar where the sandbag hung down from hummed and rumbled. The whole place seemed to shake slightly in response, as if a weak earthquake had hit.

Ding. The phone inside his pocket rang.

Nine Frost was just getting into it, and with a powerful hook, he tore the sandbag. Countless fine grains of sand splashed out from the opening, pooling on the floor.

“Fuck! How many times have you done this this month? You little bastard!” The old man on the sofa turned around and cursed. Although Nine Frost could break his head with a single punch, he didn’t fear Nine Frost at all.

He had been part of the organized crime world for decades, after all, and he had met his fair share of vicious people.

“You think I can’t pay you for it?” Nine Frost shot back coldly, taking off his boxing gloves and fishing out his phone. A glance told him that it was a message from “Team Leader”.

His eyes sharpened. He turned around and grabbed his jacket, draping it around his shoulders. Then he took out a bank card from his pocket and threw it onto the old man’s sofa with a simple twist of his wrist.

“There’s a few hundred thousand in the account. Renovate this place so that you’ll get some customers. And drink less. Your liver’s gonna fail on you soon.”

The old man was surprised. “Brat, what did you get yourself into? Don’t just run. You can hide here. I’ll shelter you.”

Nine Frost sighed with a smile and strode out of the boxing gym, waving at the old man with his back to him. “My trouble isn’t something you can deal with.”

...

Late at night, in the girls’ dorm at Li City University, Can lay on her bed dressed in light pink coral fleece pajamas, holding her phone up with both hands as she played HOK. Her legs were busily peddling in the air at the same time for muscle training.

Her match was going well. She was carrying the team and running wild with her prowess and skills. Naturally, her mouth was running a mile a second, too.

“Join the group fight. What are you doing, polishing the crystal?”

“Hey, buddy, you’re some help, but not much.”

“I’m gonna get some oranges in the jungle. Stay in the mid lane and don’t wander around...”

Buzz.

Suddenly, she got a message from “Captain Seven Shadow”, and the ringtone she had chosen specifically for him sounded. It was a sound effect that was quite common for fantasy movies when the protagonists suddenly had a holy light shine on them, signifying them being chosen by fate. It felt like a miracle had happened.

At this moment, Can’s God descended.

She flipped to a sitting position with some difficulty and quickly quit the game, going offline when the most important group fight was starting.

She rarely went AFK on her teammates, but this time, she didn’t even hesitate.

She jumped out of her bed and quickly got changed, putting her shoes on and running out of the door with the small backpack she had prepared long ago.

“Orange, where are you going this late at night? The dorm’s locked down.” Zhou Jing emerged from the bathroom in alluring silk pajamas, her face covered in a sheet mask.

“Something comes up,” Can said carelessly. Then she thought of something and quickly went up to Zhou Jing’s vanity, grabbing a box of concealer and powder to remove oil. “I can have these, right?”

“Hey, what are you doing...”

“Love you, Sister Zhou! Bye! Mua!” Can sent her a careless kiss before slamming the door shut behind her.

She jumped, leaping down from the corridor on the third floor, landing safely with Gale.

...

Late at night, at the Witch’s Club, a yellow light lit up the dark room, coming from a black scented candle. The mysterious, otherworldly smell permeated the air. Dressed in a blue and white sailor suit, Nainai wore a black eye patch with a black tattoo sticker on the back of her hand. The pattern looked like an equinox flower from the netherworld.

Lying on a soft mat printed with a hexagram, she held her phone with both hands, reading the novel White Rabbit had recommended to her: My Buddy is the Chosen One.

“It’s...it’s just angsty fluff...” Nainai’s eyes became moist with tears, and her voice trembled. “You think this will hurt this Empress? Wait for this Empress’ judgment, you arrogant author...”

Ding.

Her phone rang. It was a message from “Loyal Servant Seven Shadow”.

After a pause, Nainai sprang to her feet and grabbed the grim reaper’s cape to drape around her, pulling on the hood to cover half of her face, her lips curled into a mysterious smile.

“Ha, the day has finally arrived.”