The Wolf Trap Operation
941 Words
"The Tianhua Mall incident is extremely serious. Of the civilians trapped inside, fewer than one in ten survived. Even those who were rescued are mostly mentally shattered!"
The head of the Jiangyang Division of the Slayers Bureau spoke solemnly, his voice heavy with the weight of the tragic outcome. Nearly a week had passed since the incident, and the casualty report was horrifying.
Fewer than thirty people had made it out alive.
The staff assigned to survey and count the bodies had been replaced several times because the horrific scene was too much for them to bear. They couldn’t endure the hellish sights of mutilated bodies and the suffocating atmosphere inside.
The deadly black mist that had dispersed from the mall still lingered, and the smell of blood was pervasive, slowly creeping through the surrounding area. The residents and shop owners had long since fled the area, and the once-bustling district was now eerily desolate.
"Chengfeng, you were the team leader during the operation. Please summarize what happened for everyone," the head of the division, Zhang Zhong, sighed and gestured toward Li Chengfeng.
Li Chengfeng glanced around at the other officers in the meeting room before standing up. "I entered the mall and followed the loud noises to the third floor. There, I found terrifying footprints and fist marks. I continued to follow the trail and ended up on the rooftop..."
He recounted everything he had seen, including his encounter with the werewolf aberration and the conversation they had. His words stunned the entire room, and the atmosphere turned chaotic.
"Li Chengfeng, this is not just negligence—it’s a betrayal of humanity!"
"Despicable! How could the Slayers Bureau have such a traitor who collaborates with aberrations?"
Several hot-headed slayers slammed their fists on the table, angrily accusing him.
Li Chengfeng remained silent, taking the brunt of their anger. He understood why they reacted the way they did, but he stood by his decisions.
"Quiet!"
Zhang Zhong’s voice was calm but carried undeniable authority. He had clearly anticipated this reaction. After the incident, Li Chengfeng had spent an hour in private discussion with Zhang Zhong.
The slayers who had been shouting angrily reluctantly sat back down, eyeing Li Chengfeng with disdain.
"You all forget that the weapons you wield—those so-called '**'—are products of aberrations themselves," Zhang Zhong said in a low voice, his tone firm and measured. "We are outnumbered, while aberrations are everywhere. If we don't find a way to break this deadlock, Jiangyang could end up like Jiangyin—a living hell."
"But how can we trust the words of an aberration? They are demons who s*******r humans!" one of the slayers asked, bewildered.
Zhang Zhong sighed. "At first, I didn’t believe it either. But several of the survivors said they were saved by the werewolf aberration."
There was a moment of stunned silence in the room. Zhang Zhong’s gaze swept over the group of slayers, and he continued, "Chengfeng told me that the werewolf has high intelligence and doesn’t seem to be interested in harming humans. Its objective is clear—it might need to consume aberrations to grow stronger."
"Doesn’t that mean we’re raising a tiger in our house?" A female slayer immediately caught on. "What if it becomes too powerful to control? How will we deal with it then?"
"Indeed, I foresaw this outcome," Zhang Zhong nodded, but his expression didn’t falter. "That’s why I reported the situation to headquarters. They believe it is possible to establish a specialized project team. The goal is twofold: one, to communicate and assess the werewolf aberration’s true intentions; and two, to monitor its actions and eliminate it if necessary."
The slayers fell silent, their expressions serious. They knew a new mission was about to unfold.
"I’m announcing the formation of the special task force now!" Zhang Zhong declared. "Chengfeng, I appoint you as the deputy leader of the team. Your task is to liaise with the werewolf aberration and coordinate all necessary resources and personnel for the operation."
"Understood," Li Chengfeng replied, nodding. When he chose to tell the truth, he had expected to bear responsibility for the consequences.
Zhang Zhong then appointed several other slayers to positions within the task force. However, he did not appoint a leader right away. The others exchanged confused glances until Zhang Zhong explained, "Headquarters will send a special slayer to provide guidance and combat support. They will lead the team."
"Understood!" The slayers nodded in unison, without objection. Headquarters’ slayers were renowned for their exceptional strength, and with their leadership, the mission was likely to be more effective.
"Operation Code: Wolf Trap! Everyone, disperse!" Zhang Zhong finished, grabbing a file and leaving the room.
The other slayers filed out, but many still shot Li Chengfeng disdainful glares. Though they had to follow the organization’s orders, they couldn’t shake their resentment.
Li Chengfeng sat back down, expressionless. But his hand, hidden beneath the table, trembled slightly, betraying the turmoil within. It wasn’t easy being the target of so much disdain.
“Chengfeng... You’re a brave boy... Stay strong...”
The voice of his late teacher echoed in his mind, and Li Chengfeng couldn’t help but shed a few tears. Large drops of water splashed onto the meeting table and soaked into his clothes.
Even though he had accidentally killed an aberration in an ancient tomb years ago, his teacher had still died in that tomb, unable to be saved.
"Exterminate all aberrations and restore peace to the heavens, even if it costs me my life..."
Li Chengfeng wiped his tears away, his resolve hardening once more.
- Writer
