Chen Ling went around to other factories for a lap.
The situation at the other factories was similar to the Steel Mill, basically all in a state of suspended operations unable to function. Chen Ling didn't waste any more time, directly returning to the entrance of the Factory District, ready to go back and report this matter to Han Meng.
"You haven't left yet?" Chen Ling asked in surprise, seeing the man pulling the rickshaw still waiting for him in the same spot.
"Since you came all the way out here, you definitely have to go back..." The man grinned. "Rather than me running back with an empty cart, it's better to wait for you here and earn a bit more along the way."
It had to be said, this man still had a lot of brains. Seeing this, Chen Ling didn't stand on ceremony, directly getting onto the rickshaw. After paying the money, the man swiftly dragged him back.
"Lord Enforcer, I heard a lot of people in the Factory District lost their jobs?"
"It's just a temporary work stoppage."
"Things were perfectly fine, why the work stoppage?"
"I don't know."
Chen Ling didn't answer, because ultimately this was caused by the actions of Aurora City. He didn't know what that bunch of people in the city were thinking.
Seeing Chen Ling unwilling to speak more, the man also didn't ask further, naturally changing the subject.
"My wife works at the textile factory. She's been doing it for over twenty years, staring at that needle and thread every day, her eyes are almost blind... A work stoppage is good too. She can just stay at home peacefully and look after the kids. With my physique, running a few more trips a day is no problem to feed the two of them."
The man grinned. Sweat seeped out of his dark skin, mixing with the mist, causing his thin clothes to stick closely to his body.
Chen Ling glanced at him. As if he had thought of something, he looked down at his fingertips, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Is this fog getting heavier and heavier?" Chen Ling suddenly spoke.
"Yeah, it was still a thin mist in the morning, but now you almost can't see the road clearly... It's wet and damp everywhere, very uncomfortable." The man wiped his face with a towel and complained.
Chen Ling's frown gradually tightened.
"Go faster." Chen Ling urged.
"Lord Enforcer, I'm also very tired running while dragging the cart. This is already the fastest..."
"I'll give you another twenty Copper Coins."
"Alrighty Lord Enforcer!"
The man's spirit jolted. He took a deep breath, and dragging the rickshaw, his legs started to sprint, almost using all the strength in his body!
The rickshaw passed through the Dense Fog, weaving through the streets. Before long, that familiar glazed dome gradually enlarged in Chen Ling's field of vision... That was the Law Enforcer Headquarters of District Three, and also Chen Ling's destination.
Before the rickshaw even fully stopped, Chen Ling flashed and jumped down from it. Amidst the man's heavy panting, he pushed open the main door of the headquarters.
In the empty hall, two figures wearing black windbreakers were standing under the glazed dome, looking up at the foggy outside world, their expressions somewhat grave.
Hearing Chen Ling push the door and enter, they turned their heads simultaneously.
"Any gains?" Han Meng asked.
"It's Aurora City." Chen Ling truthfully repeated the statements of the people in charge of several factories. "Aurora City has transferred all the raw materials and finished products away. The entire Factory District has completely stopped working, and even many factory directors have been transferred back..."
Han Meng didn't seem too surprised by this answer. After thinking deeply for a moment, he nodded:
"Control of the entire Factory District is in the hands of Aurora City. Without their nod, the factories wouldn't dare to stop working... I have already sent an inquiry to Aurora City, but haven't received a reply yet."
"Did something happen?" Chen Ling asked solemnly. "This fog... seems a bit off."
"You sensed it too."
"Torrential rain, heavy snow, two astronomical phenomena both resulted in a Gray Realm Convergence... Today's fog also came too suddenly, it's hard not to make associations."
"That is precisely what I am worried about." Han Meng looked up at the glazed dome shrouded in mist, only able to see a patch of grayish-white, as if plunged into a sea of surging water vapor. "However, up until now, no abnormalities have appeared... The situation in the other districts is also unclear."
"In any case, under this kind of special astronomical phenomenon, it's better for us to maintain vigilance at all times." Xi Renjie added from the side.
This Xi Renjie was the only surviving Two-Marking Enforcer after Han Meng bathed District Three in blood... When Chen Ling was officially made an Enforcer, he had even seen him give a speech On Stage.
"The previous torrential rain and heavy snow both lasted for several days. I'm afraid this time won't be short either." Han Meng spoke slowly. "I have already ordered all Law Enforcers to increase their patrol rounds by one every day. You two had better also patrol a few more rounds these two days, maintain a state of alert at all times."
"Understood." Chen Ling nodded.
Han Meng took out a palm-sized device from his pocket and handed it to Chen Ling. "The temporary communication system has been activated. Keep this thing on you at all times. Once you discover anything amiss anywhere, report to me immediately."
Chen Ling scrutinized this device, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes... He had seen this thing before. When those two Law Enforcers broke into his home and fought with the Red Paper monster, they used it to call for backup. Chen Ling didn't think much of it at the time, but thinking about it now, this thing didn't seem like it should appear in this era?
"How far is the effective range of this thing?"
"Its communication relies on the Lord of the Aurora's Domain, so anywhere under the aurora, it can connect on the same frequency."
So it wasn't technology, but a Domain... Chen Ling put away the Walkie-talkie and nodded.
Chen Ling and Xi Renjie left the headquarters. After making an agreement, they separately headed in the directions of East Street and West Street to patrol. As for Han Meng, he guarded the Law Enforcer Headquarters alone. As the Commander-in-Chief of District Three, and also its highest Combat Power, he had to ensure he was at the center of District Three at all times.
The black windbreaker passed through the Dense Fog. Visibility had dropped to ten meters. As Chen Ling patrolled the street, he couldn't even clearly see the faces of others from a distance...
Perhaps due to the factory work stoppage, there weren't many pedestrians on the road. After all, without urgent matters, few would choose to go out in Dense Fog weather. The damp streets were uncommonly quiet. Chen Ling walked among them, as if passing through another world.
He didn't know whether this Dense Fog meant another descent of the Gray World, nor did he know which district would be so unlucky as to be enveloped in it... But he hoped that unlucky bastard wouldn't be himself.
Suddenly, Chen Ling stopped in his tracks.
He arrived beside a puddle at a street corner. Since an unknown time, the water stains of the puddle had already connected into two lines of words,
【Audience Expectation Value +5】
【Current Expectation Value: 39%】
Chen Ling's heart skipped a beat.
Fuck, I fell for it!