Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Captain's Mission
Writing the report deepened Robin's understanding of Dimensional Rifts. She had just learned that these rifts were classified by "Hazard Level."
The Dimensional Rift Bureau of Anomalous Investigations assigned these levels based on the scale of the damage caused. The lowest level, B, indicated an impact limited to a single street. Level A signified damage spanning several streets, while the highest, S, represented a catastrophic event threatening an entire city.
However, other factors could influence a Dimensional Rift's overall danger level, requiring individual assessment.
As Robin reviewed past reports from Qingcheng, she noticed ratings like "B+" and "B-."
"If it's up to individual judgment," Robin mused, "could I theoretically assign an SS or even a UR level?"
Liang Haikun, seated opposite her, had removed her fake cat ears, letting her snow-white hair cascade freely down her back. Despite wearing headphones and staring at her phone, she responded without looking up. "In theory, yes, if the disaster's scale truly warranted it. But even the Fancheng Virus, the most dangerous incident in the Dragon Nation to date, was only classified as 'S+'."
Robin glanced at the report on Qingcheng's previous Dimensional Rift incident, the "Green Mountain Ruins Veil Incident," classified as Hazard Level B.
It's worth noting that the Green Mountain Ruins were a popular tourist attraction. The Dimensional Rift erupted during peak visiting hours, resulting in nearly a thousand casualties.
After some thought, Robin named this incident the "Gourmet Street Veil Incident" and assigned it a Hazard Level of B-.
Only after completing the report—a mix of copying and improvising from the previous one—did Robin suddenly remember her initial question: "Wait a minute, didn't the Dimensional Rift Bureau of Anomalous Investigations fail to participate in the last investigation? How did we get this detailed report?"
Liang Haikun replied, "We couldn't get involved directly last time, but I interrogated the sole survivor from within the Veil and extracted this information. I wrote this report myself."
As for the butcher who slaughtered nearly a thousand people, his fate was predictably grim. Though spared the death penalty, he was now "happily playing" with his fellow inmates in a special prison.
-
"Whew..." Robin finally finished the report, having racked her brains to the point where she felt her brain cells were dying en masse. Whether they actually were, she couldn't be sure, but one thing was certain: a feather had fallen.
Yes, a feather from the wings behind her ears.
Robin stared blankly as the pristine white feather drifted slowly onto the desk. She froze for a moment, then swiftly snatched it up and tucked it into her pocket. With her other hand, she slid the report across the desk.
She couldn't tell if Liang Haikun, sitting opposite her, had witnessed the incident. Liang put down her phone, glanced over Robin's report to confirm everything was in order, and then said, "Alright, everything seems fine here. I'll have someone take you back to Fancheng later."
"Okay," Robin nodded. All she wanted now was to go home, take a long shower, and get some sleep. She couldn't bear to think about anything else.
"But..." Liang Haikun's demeanor suddenly shifted. Just as Robin's heart began to race, anticipating another task, Liang reached under the desk and pulled out a notebook and pen. She placed them in front of Robin, her expression earnest. "Robin, I'm a fan too! Could I get your autograph?"
Robin: "?"
In truth, Liang Haikun rarely paid attention to online news. As a captain, holding a position similar to Zhong Wanhong in Longcheng, she was usually too busy to know about the recently popular Robin.
Liang Haikun had only learned about Robin's online fame earlier that day, thanks to Black Cat. During a brief lull—while Robin was writing her report—she put on headphones and searched for "Robin."
Which led to the current scene of autograph signing.
Though utterly bewildered, Robin accepted the notebook and pen and signed her name.
Meanwhile, the search of over a hundred civilians had just concluded. True to Robin's suspicion, a uniquely designed knife was discovered on the male student, leading to his immediate arrest and the release of the others.
Before leaving, Robin met Cheng Hui one last time to say goodbye. It wasn't a life-or-death parting; she was merely heading home. Robin smiled and offered the usual parting words: "Let's stay in touch" and "I hope we can collaborate again sometime."
Having gone through this ordeal together, the two had forged a bond akin to near-death camaraderie, their relationship significantly strengthened.
As Robin approached the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, she noticed a black Hummer parked out front. The driver rolled down the window and waved her over. She walked to the rear door, opened it, and climbed inside.
The driver, sporting a buzz cut and an unremarkable appearance, was a member of Liang Haikun's team—one of the four who had entered the Veil during the Gourmet Street Veil Incident.
Robin surveyed the Hummer's spacious interior, marveling at its apparent cost. This car must cost a fortune, she thought, the kind I could never afford in my past life. "Not a police car?" she asked. "I thought the Bureau used official vehicles for operations."
"Normally, yes, but it depends on personal preference. I love this Hummer, and since this isn't an official mission, there's no problem driving my own car," he replied, starting the engine.
"Thanks for driving me all the way back," Robin said.
"No trouble at all. It's the Captain's orders."
The driver was skilled and drove smoothly. With little conversation between them, Robin soon began to feel drowsy.
A familiar song played on the car stereo—one of Robin's covers. Could this taciturn driver actually be a fan?
Listening to her own song, Robin's mind filled with self-praise: Damn, I really nailed that! Wearing a Hanfu wasn't a waste! This song is definitely going viral!
But then, she suddenly realized something was wrong. The song playing was the collaboration she had recorded with Cheng Hui. The problem? Although the video was finished, it hadn't been released yet!
After completing the video production, Robin and Cheng Hui had been trapped inside the Veil. The editor didn't have permission to upload it; only they could do so by logging into their Kuaishou accounts. So where did this person get the song from?!
Robin tried to open her eyes, but a thick wave of drowsiness overwhelmed her consciousness, plunging her thoughts into chaos.