Féng Yányī squatted at the entrance of the Border Market stairs.
He wore that concise Western-style waistcoat and a wine-red tie. The gold-rimmed glasses that should have given him a refined impression did nothing to soften his features.
Police officers driving patrol cars weaved through the vast expanse of gravel, having completely surrounded the Border Market.
Each of them had a handgun at their hip, ready for a shootout.
The leader, Tián Yuán, the chief superintendent of the Sun City Police Department, wearing the insignia of a superintendent, walked forward calmly and stopped in front of Féng Yányī.
Behind Féng Yányī, the ruffians acting as the Border Market's doormen wore expressions of tension, yet they firmly and resolutely gripped their weapons.
Further back, the townspeople, who had been amiable during the day, had all picked up cleavers, winnowing baskets, and brooms, glaring menacingly at the Radiant Zone police officers surrounding them.
They didn't want to let Fēng Zī and Lǐ Wéi leave, but they trusted Féng Yányī's orders even more.
"I thought you would wait for tomorrow's train to bring your people. So you never left last night."
Amidst this tense standoff, Féng Yányī calmly offered Tián Yuán a cigarette.
Tián Yuán took the cigarette and lit it himself. He stood there, looking down, took a deep drag, and exhaled a plume of smoke.
"The Council gave me five days. If I can't bring Fēng Zī back within five days, the Armed Council Hall will intervene."
"Ever since you compromised and sided with them, your position as superintendent hasn't budged for over a decade, and now even this bit of power in your hands is being diluted?"
"My affairs are none of your concern. You should be giving me an answer now. Are you going to keep protecting these people, or are you going to turn on the Council entirely for Fēng Zī."
The conversation between the two fell into silence, with only the expelled smoke being swept away by the wind and sand.
A moment later, Tián Yuán threw down the butt of his cigarette. He stared at the still-silent Féng Yányī and pulled two pieces of paper from his inner jacket pocket.
"I have a warrant for arrest and a search warrant here. The arrest warrant is to apprehend illegal residents hiding at the edge of the barrier. Those who defy orders may be killed on sight! The search warrant is issued by the Council, authorizing a search for fugitives in the Sun City temporary refugee market. Old Féng, which of these two papers should I give you? You choose."
Tián Yuán did not lower his voice when he said this, allowing the Border Market residents behind Féng Yányī to hear everything.
They all held their breath. Though no one dared to speak, their eyes looked toward Féng Yányī, who was squatting on the ground, with hopeful anticipation.
These people naturally had a unified choice in their hearts. Even though no one spoke, the broad shoulders of the middle-aged man squatting on the ground, bearing the hopes and survival of thousands, visibly sagged.
He didn't take the papers from Tián Yuán, merely waved his hand with his back to the Border Market residents.
"Put down your weapons, bring out the children, let them search."
Everyone present, whether police officers or Border Market residents, instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.
No one wanted a large-scale bloody conflict to erupt here.
Upon hearing this answer, Tián Yuán, without any surprise, ordered his officers to draw their weapons and storm into the Border Market! He himself followed at the end of the group, entering the market. Before leaving, he said to Féng Yányī:
"Don't feel burdened. Making Fēng Zī stop her recklessness is the best outcome for her, for us, and for everyone."
Fēng Zī, draped in a burlap cloak the same color as the ground, asked nervously, crouching low.
"Can we really do this?"
Lǐ Wéi, also wearing a cloak sourced from the Border Market, slung the money box across his shoulder with a rope and kept his eyes fixed on the police car guarded by three officers not far away.
"What else can we do? Do you think we have any other way to get to the church?"
Licking his dry lips, Lǐ Wéi felt the stimulation that caused his adrenaline to surge.
His hand gripping the sword hilt was steady, showing no signs of trembling, as if he were born to do such things. Fēng Zī was not a wilting character, nor was she truly an ignorant fool. Her question stemmed purely from her concern for Lǐ Wéi's safety.
But after receiving final confirmation from Lǐ Wéi, she no longer hesitated.
The three officers left to guard the police car leaned casually against the car doors, chatting idly as they smoked.
They were happy not to participate in the search operation. Everyone was just working for a living; being a police officer was just for the generous salary, not for any noble ideals.
"You should maintain your gun, Baldy."
The bald, middle-aged officer waved his hand dismissively.
"Do you remember the last time the police department fired a shot? The city is very peaceful. The residents of the Radiant Zone have all received good education. The periphery residents are all cowardly commoners. In another couple of years, the Council will pass a gun ban. We won't even need to carry guns on missions anymore."
Another tall, thin officer frowned slightly.
"Don't say 'commoners' in a place like this. If outsiders overhear it, it could easily incite the workers' emotions."
The bald officer chuckled dismissively.
"So what if they have emotions? Won't they just go to church to complain, or find those debauched councilors to report it? Besides, aren't we the only ones here now? We don't need-"
"*Puff!*"
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh suddenly rang out, cutting off the bald officer's unfinished words!
Blood gushed from the blood groove of the short sword, splashing onto the other two officers he was chatting with, making their pupils contract sharply! Their reaction was swift. Before Lǐ Wéi could pull the short sword from the now-mutilated corpse, they both drew their pistols from their waists!
"*Bang bang bang!*"
The deafening gunshots immediately echoed across the gravel plain filled with wind and sand. The two officers retreated, trying to take cover behind the vehicles, and frantically emptied their magazines!
Lǐ Wéi didn't pull out the short sword. Instead, he used it to prop up the bald officer's corpse, using it as a shield in front of him.
Simultaneously, he swiftly drew the pistol from the corpse's waist with his other hand and aimed at one of the officers who hadn't yet managed to retreat behind the car, resolutely pulling the trigger!
"*Bang!*"
The bullet precisely pierced the officer's chest, blood spattering. He collapsed on the spot, eyes wide open!
The Attribute Points added to [Agility] had brought about a comprehensive improvement in Lǐ Wéi's physical condition, not only making his body stronger but also enhancing his neural reaction speed.
It had turned him into a natural sharpshooter! But as Lǐ Wéi quickly turned his gun to aim at the other officer, he pulled the trigger again, only to hear the sound of a jam!
The consequence of the bald officer's long neglect of his firearm maintenance now fell upon Lǐ Wéi.
"Damn it!"
He cursed, trying to quickly retract his extended arm to clear the jammed bullet.
But the officer who had already taken cover behind the police car had also replaced his magazine and was reloading, preparing to empty all his bullets again!
The dense gunfire resumed, like a string of firecrackers exploding!
Most of the bullets struck the bald officer's body, which was already riddled with holes, but one or two of them somehow hit Lǐ Wéi's shoulder!
He only felt a searing pain in his shoulder. Due to the constant surge of adrenaline, he didn't feel much pain.
Just as he was about to bite the barrel of the gun to dislodge the jammed bullet, another abrupt gunshot rang out!
The officer, who was preparing to reload for the second time, breathing heavily, turned in disbelief to look behind him.
Fēng Zī's face was as pale as paper, her hands trembling, yet she tightly gripped a handgun she had found in the police car.
Her gaze was resolute, her expression cold, and she looked at the officer shot in the chest from behind with rapid breaths, falling to the ground in despair!
This series of dense gunshots had already drawn the attention of everyone in the Border Market.