By evening, the team members returned one after another. It seemed everyone had a bountiful harvest, and they all stepped through the district gates with joyful expressions. "You're all back! Thank you for your hard work," Xinya greeted them with a smile. "This motorcycle's performance is incredible~ from now on, commute times will be greatly shortened," Saiying said, patting Xinya on the shoulder in praise.
After sharing the pleasantries, Xinya's expression gradually grew serious. "We must hold a community meeting tonight." "What do you mean? Is there some important matter to discuss?" Jesse asked, puzzled. Xinya recounted the day's events point by point. After hearing her story, the group nodded in agreement. Following dinner, Xinya used the district's broadcast system to make an announcement, calling for everyone to gather in the central plaza to listen. Once the broadcast finished, the residents of the slum district gradually converged on the center, awaiting Xinya's address.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Xinya walked slowly onto the platform to read her prepared notes, occasionally interjecting with her own viewpoints. "The above is the best plan I, as vice-captain, have been able to formulate. If anyone has better suggestions, please feel free to speak," Xinya finished and began scanning her surroundings. In the silence that followed, someone on the left spoke up: "This break in the wall isn't necessarily man-made; it could have been dug by wild beasts. Besides, we all have our own jobs. If you arrange high-intensity night guard duties, it will likely affect our performance the next day," a middle-aged man voiced his concerns. The crowd erupted into discussions, with supporters and opponents split down the middle.
"What you've said is indeed a problem. If anyone feels they cannot handle the night guard position, you may inform us, and we will not assign you. At the same time, I hope those with extra energy will enthusiastically participate. The safety of our children depends on all of us," Xinya replied calmly. "Let me join! I've been unemployed lately, so I have plenty of spare time for guard duty," another man with a stubbly face raised his hand with a smile. "Thank you for your help~ from now on, you can apply to have your meal fees waived," Xinya replied gratefully. A few other residents followed suit and raised their hands. With that, the night guard team finally had enough members to begin duty from that night on. Xinya finally set her worried heart at ease, little knowing that cunning enemies had already prepared themselves for a sure strike. The crisis was set to erupt that very night.
In the middle of the night, having finished her inspection, a weary Xinya dragged herself home. While bathing, she thought back to the mysterious man: "(In two months this world will be destroyed. Whether you can save yourselves depends on your own destiny.)" These words echoed in her mind again, but she couldn't comprehend their meaning. She decided to ask for clarity the next time she met him. She changed into her loungewear and lay down on her bed, trying to drift into sleep, but her mind remained restless. That handsome face appeared in her thoughts time and time again. "Who exactly is he?" Xinya couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Outside the slums, a team approached rapidly, aided by high-tech equipment that even the night guards couldn't detect. Under the cover of darkness, the intruders, wearing optical camouflage suits, slipped in along the fence. They arrived behind one of the night patrols. "Ugh~" With the effectiveness of a tranquilizer gun, the guard instantly lost consciousness. The group swiftly arrived at a target's front door and tossed an anesthetic smoke bomb inside. The entire interior was instantly filled with thick smog. The children inside were snatched away without anyone noticing. Once they secured one, they handed the child to the perimeter personnel and continued searching for the next target. When they arrived in front of the residence below Xinya's floor, the abnormal sounds of movement caught her attention. She assumed someone downstairs was up late, but the smoke had already drifted to her window. Thinking a fire had broken out downstairs, Xinya immediately got up to investigate. "Who are you?!" What she saw was terrifying—the group was carrying children and preparing to slip away. "I suggest you stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong," a man wearing a gas mask fired a tranquilizer dart at Xinya. Xinya instinctively dodged, and the dart missed. "Intruders! Everyone, come quick!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.
Seeing things going south, the group retreated rapidly while firing more tranquilizer darts at her. Xinya hid inside her room, not daring to come out, and continued to scream for help. The residents were gradually awakened by the commotion and rushed out to investigate. The kidnapper squad quickly used their invisibility cloaks to disguise themselves and escape. "Damn it~" Xinya rushed out of her room, attempting to give chase, but it was already too late. The anesthetized patrol guards were discovered one by one, and screams echoed from various households. After counting heads, a total of five children were missing. "What's going on? Were we invaded?" Jesse rushed over, still in his pajamas. "We failed..." Xinya said, filled with guilt. In the middle of the night, the entire slum district was as lively as day. Every resident discussed countermeasures in anger. No one expected the situation to develop so quickly; they had only finished their meeting that evening, and in an instant, the kidnappers had struck successfully.
"My child~" A mother, having just awakened from the anesthetic, wept bitterly. "I am so sorry. It was my negligence. I swear to you that I will bring your child back safe and sound!" Xinya said, clutching her chest. "Vice-captain, what do we do now?" Ruta stepped forward to ask. "Search, track, and retrieve!" Xinya replied firmly.