I Went Crazy Killing in the World of Gods and Demons - Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Stepping out of the narrow “elevator,” they were met by a long, cramped corridor flanked by massive, sturdy cylindrical pillars.

The pillars bore reliefs of totem-like patterns, coiling around the columns with an air of ancient mystery.

As they walked, numerous such totem-adorned pillars stood on either side, stretching from floor to ceiling, making the otherwise confined space feel more expansive.

Overhead, dazzling lights shone down, bright as blazing flames, illuminating the corridor as if it were daytime.

Wait it was already daytime. There should be no need for artificial lighting.

Unless they were underground, Xie Qingling thought.

The echo of their footsteps reverberated through the hallway, emphasizing the silence and emptiness of the place.

Soon, Ling Fang led them to the end of the corridor.

There, a door stood, behind which was the real elevator.

Once inside, Ling Fang pressed the button for “1,” and the elevator began its slow ascent.

The elevator was lined with polished steel panels, mirror-smooth and clear enough to reflect the images of all three occupants.

Through the reflective surface, Ling Fang locked eyes with the two behind him and said, “Take out your identity badges and pin them on. Don’t go up without them.”

Hearing this, Xie Qingling took out her button-like identity badge and fastened it to the left side of her chest.

“This will verify your identities and grant you unimpeded access throughout the Old Royal City. Even if people at headquarters don’t recognize you, they’ll recognize your badges,” Ling Fang explained.

By the time Xie Qingling had secured her badge and looked up again, Ling Fang had already fastened his own but his badge differed from those of Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou.

Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou’s badges were entirely gold, with only the corona around the edges made of an unknown material, crafted with meticulous detail.

Ling Fang’s badge, however, had a black corona. It looked like a golden sun descending into the night more understated and dignified, yet also more ornate and enigmatic.

To be honest, Xie Qingling thought Ling Fang’s badge was more aesthetically pleasing.

She surmised that Ling Fang’s badge also symbolized his status marking his position as the department head.

Just then, the elevator chimed “Ding!” and came to a stop.

The doors slid open, revealing the true face of headquarters.

The elevator was situated in the center of the building. Stepping out, they faced a wall constructed entirely of glass. Aside from the massive skylights for natural light, the other glass panels were intricately patterned in varying hues, more vibrant than a garden.

Sunlight streamed in through the tall glass skylights, refracting through the colorful stained glass to cast a blend of cool blues and purples with warm oranges and reds, merging in a wondrous fusion.

The floor was a mirror-like surface, reflecting both the vaulted ceiling above and every detail of those standing upon it. This gleaming expanse made the space feel infinitely vast though indoors, it was as if they stood upon an open plain.

This place…

It was as grand as a palace.

After a brief survey, Xie Qingling averted her gaze and resumed her silent stance behind Ling Fang, flanking him on one side alongside Shen Huaizhou like a pair of guardians.

Ling Fang also withdrew his gaze, adjusted his leather gloves, and checked the fastenings.

He said, “This is the Operations Department’s office.”

…Compared to the architecture of the Old Royal City, the small Western-style buildings of Future City appeared much more delicate and elegant.

“I need to attend a department head meeting at the Administration Department now to see what’s really going on. You two stay here on standby and maintain contact at all times.”

Ling Fang instructed, “Remember, don’t wander around randomly, and definitely don’t leave headquarters without permission.”

“Understood!”

After receiving responses from both of them, Ling Fang turned and departed through the colorful glass wall opposite.

Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou remained on standby as ordered.

After standing around like fools for a while, Xie Qingling started feeling like a pillar.

Strangely enough, though this was supposed to be the Operations Department’s office, there wasn’t a single soul in sight, making it exceptionally quiet.

Xie Qingling pointed toward the entrance: “I think we could probably go wait at the entrance and get some sun?”

Shen Huaizhou nodded, then took the lead.

Ling Fang said to stay put, but as long as they didn’t leave headquarters, it should be fine.

They had no idea how long the department head meeting would take. The thought of having to stand around waiting made both Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou uncomfortable.

Stepping out of the Operations Department, their field of view expanded dramatically outside the entrance lay an exceptionally spacious circular plaza.

The circular area was surrounded by three other tall buildings.

The one directly opposite the Operations Department was slightly smaller and shorter, looking like an ordinary administrative office building. Since Ling Fang had headed in that direction earlier, that must be the Administration Department’s office.

The other two buildings were more distinctive.

To the left of the Operations Department stood a traditional mortise and tenon structure. With its upturned eaves, Dougong brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters, the roof ridge was adorned with various small running animal sculptures.

Xie Qingling only recognized one of them the Black Tortoise intertwined with a snake on its shell.

The mythical Black Tortoise could control water.

She didn’t recognize the others, but assumed they all held special significance.

Finally, to the right of the Operations Department stood a spiral-shaped building full of technological aesthetic, its pinnacle crowned with a tall, sharp spire resembling an upside-down conch shell.

The four buildings encircled the central circular plaza, standing in harmonious contrast with one another.

Xie Qingling pointed at the circular plaza and said, “This wouldn’t be their training ground, would it?”

“Possibly.”

The thought of being able to spar and train in such an expansive area sounded exhilarating.

Xie Qingling felt full of envy.

On this circular plaza, one could definitely fight to their heart’s content without worrying about damaging indoor equipment or holding back. The pavement stones looked incredibly sturdy.

With nothing else to do, she started chatting with Shen Huaizhou: “The department head’s badge looks better than ours.”

“Obviously, department heads outrank us.”

“Do you know about the New Talent Ranking?” Xie Qingling asked again.

“I do.”

“Eh?” Xie Qingling was surprised. “How do you know about that?”

“The department head told me last year. After I’d been in position for a year, he asked if I wanted to apply for a position at headquarters.”

“Oh? You turned it down?”

I heard that when Shen Huaizhou first joined the department, he often caused trouble too. It seems Ling Fang wasn’t confident in him either, so he waited a year before telling him about the Points Ranking.

Xie Qingling received the same treatment.

Shen Huaizhou said: “I declined. Headquarters is too big, too many people, too noisy.”

Xie Qingling: “…”

“What exactly is in the Old Royal City? It looks completely empty why would it need reinforcements?” Xie Qingling continued.

It sounded less like a question and more like she was talking to herself.

Shen Huaizhou also fell silent, not saying a word.

It was so quiet here, at least in the Operations Department.

Generally, if the office was empty, it meant everyone was out… on missions.

A special incident requiring the entire Operations Department to be dispatched must be significant.

But the two of them knew nothing at the moment and could only wait for Ling Fang’s instructions before taking action.

As they were pondering this, rapid footsteps echoed through the empty Operations Department office.

“Tap tap tap,” “tap tap tap” someone was urgently rushing toward the entrance.

The newcomer was also dressed in black, but with golden trim along the edges of his clothing, slightly different from Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou’s uniforms.

Seeing Shen Huaizhou and Xie Qingling, the man paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. But he only hesitated for two seconds before giving up on thinking. His gaze then fell on the badges on their chests and he asked, “Are you two from the Operations Department?”

“Yes!” they replied in unison.

Hearing this, the man immediately furrowed his brows and said, “You two, come with me.”

Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou exchanged a glance, then followed him.

Because the man wore a golden sun badge with a black corona pinned to his chest.

He held the same rank as Ling Fang.

They needed to obey him.

After walking a few steps forward, the man pulled out a white bone whistle from around his neck and blew into it, though Xie Qingling heard no sound.

“Bi Fang!” he called out.

As his voice faded, a corner of the void seemed to shatter, and a white-beaked, sharp-mouthed bird poked its head through the crack, materializing out of thin air.

It was a one-legged bird that resembled a crane but wasn’t black and white. It had blue feathers covered with patches of red spots. The spots were alive, occasionally flickering with tongues of flame, making it look like a burning firebird.

Its body and wings were enormous. With a single flap of its wings, it immediately stirred up clouds of dust from the ground.

[It spews fire from its mouth, smoke rising from its wings. The fire-eating Bi Fang remains perpetually hungry, unable to find wild flames to satiate itself in this concrete jungle. To fill its stomach, Bi Fang lowers its proud head and forms a contract with the Devotee of the Fire God Zhurong, willing to be driven by mortals.]

[When the bone whistle is blown and its name Bi Fang is called, Bi Fang shall shatter the void and arrive, bowing before humans in submission.]

The one-legged Bi Fang Bird lowered its massive head, let out a muffled cry, then crouched down in a posture of submission. Its crane-like head ignited with a cluster of flames, but due to the contract with humans, these flames couldn’t harm humans unless commanded by its master.

The man leaped onto its back first, then glanced back, signaling for Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou to follow.

After hesitating for a moment, Xie Qingling asked, “Excuse me, where are we going?”

“Where?” The man sneered, “East District, Twelfth Street needs backup. Didn’t you hear the order?”

They really hadn’t.

Glancing at the clothes Xie Qingling was wearing, the man thought for a moment and said, “You’re not from headquarters. If you’re afraid of dying, then leave quickly.”

After speaking, he urged Bi Fang to hurry.

As Bi Fang spread its wings, it felt a sudden weight the two people in long skirts had jumped onto the bird’s back.

They landed simultaneously, standing steadily on Bi Fang’s back.

“Let’s go,” Xie Qingling said. “We’re here to provide support.”

The man’s expression remained sour as he said, “I’m Tang Yuanxiao, a member of the Operations Department’s Action Team. Since you’ve followed along, protect yourselves and don’t hold me back.”

He was going to provide backup, and having two clueless burdens in the team would be a real headache.

Tang Yuanxiao even began considering whether to throw the two off midway.

Xie Qingling said, “No need to worry about us.”

Tang Yuanxiao snorted heavily and fell silent.

The Bi Fang Bird sped forward, its body tilting as it flew across the wide circular square. With a flap of its wings, in the blink of an eye, it carried the three of them to a chaotic street.

East District, Twelfth Street.