Esper X Family – Chapter 111 – It Really Is a Patchwork City

“Let’s talk in private.”

The captain spoke to Ye Yao.

Within the Countermeasures Bureau, he was among those who appreciated Sequence 008.

Regardless of their stance, the fact that they actively eliminated high-risk Sequence Espers was enough to earn respect.

Each of those high-risk Sequence Espers had blood on their hands.

They were deserving of death.

Eliminating high-risk Sequence Espers was a service to the people.

Even if Sequence 029, who had been brought by Sequence 008, had once again triggered a supernatural disaster.

He believed that there might be some misunderstanding behind it.

Ye Yao agreed.

She was indeed curious about what he had to say.

The captain glanced at the other team members.

“Stand by.”

““Yes.””

Ye Yao glanced at Fang Tang beside her.

“You stand by too.”

“I’ll fall if I leave you, Ghosty. Don’t abandon me.”

Ye Yao felt Fang Tang’s grip tighten slightly.

She wasn’t sure if it was genuine fear of falling.

“Forget it. Come with me.”

On the other side.

The squad captain also brought someone along.

Both parties moved to a secluded corner.

“I’m Zhou Qing, captain of Countermeasures Bureau Squad A2. This is Li Muhua, my deputy.”

Zhou Qing looked like a muscular powerhouse.

Even in thick clothing, his robust physique was vaguely visible.

Rеαԁ οո ΚаtRеаdіոɡСafе

Li Muhua, on the other hand, was a relatively young woman, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a quiet and elegant demeanor, seemingly not someone suited for combat.

Zhou Qing glanced at Fang Tang, whom Ye Yao was holding, with a puzzled expression.

“Who is she?”

“Her name is Fang Tang. We met on the road. Do you know her?”

Ye Yao inquired.

“No, I have no impression of her.”

Zhou Qing withdrew his gaze and looked at Sequence 008 before him.

“Can you tell us what happened after Sequence 029 went berserk?

We weren’t strong enough to withstand the effects, so we can only rely on you to fill in the details.”

Ye Yao couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re quite polite. The Countermeasures Bureau folks outside are practically treating me as the culprit.”

Because Wu Mi was harmed by the Countermeasures Bureau’s mole.

Ye Yao had little patience for these Espers.

Who knew if the person before her was also entangled with the mole?

Ye Yao couldn’t read their minds, so she naturally had to remain cautious.

“Although our philosophies differ, I don’t believe that you would resort to such underhanded tactics.”

Zhou Qing shook his head.

“To be honest, this isn’t the first time we’ve met. Li Muhua and I were present during the Flame Demon incident.

You might not remember me, but I recall your words. You have your own dignity and principles.”

Li Muhua nodded gently.

She also didn’t believe that Sequence 008 was at fault.

Although they might not be allies, they shouldn’t be enemies.

“The Flame Demon incident? I do remember something…”

Ye Yao had glanced around at the time.

She had a vague impression of the Espers present at that time.

Recalling it now, she realized that they had indeed been there.

Reаd οn KatRеαⅾingСаfе

Ye Yao’s tone softened considerably.

“There’s a Sanctuary mole in your Countermeasures Bureau. The mole’s actions harmed my Wu Mi, causing her to go berserk. It’s as simple as that.”

“How is that possible!?”

Zhou Qing’s first reaction was disbelief.

Ye Yao countered.

“Why not? I’ve seen the Sanctuary’s methods.

The recent Sequence 100 incident was also the Sanctuary’s work.”

Li Muhua remained calm as she began to analyze and judge.

“The scale of the Sequence 100 incident didn’t match his Sequence number.

Under normal circumstances, it’s impossible for him to erupt with such power.

The same goes for Sequence 029. With less than C-rank mental power, she jumped to a strong A-rank upon going berserk. It doesn’t make sense.”

Zhou Qing and Li Muhua had to accept the fact that the Sanctuary’s infiltration into the national Countermeasures Bureau ran deep.

“Regardless, this is indeed our Countermeasures Bureau’s mistake.

Although I can’t speak for the Bureau, I apologize to you here.”

Zhou Qing’s tone was filled with remorse.

He had always viewed the Countermeasures Bureau as a source of honor and mission.

Yet, it had directly led to a supernatural disaster.

Even if it was the work of a mole.

It still filled him with shame.

“Don’t apologize yet. Root out the mole first. Then, offer his head as an apology to Wu Mi.”

Ye Yao’s tone finally eased a bit.

At least she had finally heard a proper apology.

“Tell me, what exactly happened?

What’s the deal with chasing a high-risk Sequence Esper?

Did you capture a high-risk Sequence Esper and bring him back to the Countermeasures Bureau, only for him to get involved?”

Ye Yao could only think of this scenario.

Rеаԁ оո ΚаtRеаԁіոɡCαfe

“And what about your teammates? You know about the real events, but do they not?”

Ye Yao couldn’t help but glance at the three teammates Zhou Qing and Li Muhua had isolated.

She couldn’t fathom why they were being kept at a distance.

Zhou Qing let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

“They’re all illusions. Both the high-risk Sequence Esper we’re chasing and those three companions are shadows of past memories.”

“What?”

Ye Yao almost didn’t understand.

“They’re all fake?”

Zhou Qing nodded.

Beside him, Li Muhua’s mood visibly darkened.

Zhou Qing elaborated further.

“The high-risk Sequence Esper we’re chasing is Sequence 077, possessing A-rank strength.

Back then, my mental power had just reached A-rank.

I led four B-rank team members to pursue the fleeing Sequence 077.

But we underestimated Sequence 077’s strength.

That battle ended in three deaths and two injuries before we managed to kill him.

It was a complete and utter defeat.”

Zhou Qing looked at the three teammates not far away.

“After Li Muhua and I were pulled into this space, we reenacted that mission.

Our long-dead teammates were resurrected.

Even the long-defeated Sequence 077 returned.

Familiar teammates, familiar enemies, familiar battlefield.

That unforgettable past reappeared before our eyes. We couldn’t escape or ignore it.”

Ye Yao finally understood.

This was Zhou Qing and Li Muhua’s cycle.

They weren’t given a simple cycle of bad luck like Fang Tang.

Rеaԁ oո ΚatRеаԁіոɡСafe

Instead, they were forced to relive past tragedies.

Ye Yao suddenly noticed something.

“…Familiar battlefield?”

Zhou Qing concealed the sorrow in his eyes, his gaze regaining its firmness.

“Yes, the environment here is complex, seemingly composed of multiple irregular areas blended together, not the structure of a single city.

I suspect that this space is constructed from the memories of all those pulled in.

Anyone can find a familiar place here.”

The mystery was solved.

Ye Yao had been uncertain before.

No wonder she got lost even following the unscrupulous map’s route.

It really is a patchwork ¹ I’ve mentioned before that the ‘Found Family’ in Found Family System actually means ‘put/piece together’. The ‘patchwork’ here used the same words. city!

Wait, seriously?

You can patch them together like this?

Ye Yao almost couldn’t hold back her retort.

But what concerned her most were the fabricated people.

“Do those fabricated people have their own consciousness?”

“I don’t know.”

Zhou Qing shook his head.

“They feel alive to me. I can’t treat them as mere fabrications. They can communicate normally like living people.”

Ye Yao fell silent.

If that was truly the case.

Then the elements of the world of cycles were far too complex.

Finding Wu Mi’s hiding place would be exceedingly difficult.

Author Note

It’s been raining a lot lately, and the temperature has also dropped. I haven’t even finished moving to my new house yet. Text: Very introverted.

Always walk down the sewers when going out