48 Hours a Day

Chapter 593 One More Time

“According to our agreement, this thing is now ours,” 1810 said to Shen Xixi. “Be careful. Wherever it came from, it’s packed with technology we don’t understand. Its owner may be able to locate it somehow,” Shen Xixi warned. “We’re not kids; we don’t need telling what to do.” 1810 shot the man with the crossbow a look, who then helped carry the Sphinx into their van.

“It was good working with you. You have my number-call me when there’s another job like this,” said 1810.

After the other group left, Shen Xixi turned to Zhang Heng. “I don’t know how to thank you. I never knew you were such an incredible driver. You did more than half the work tonight, and you should have a share, but I made a pact with 1810’s team-as a reward for their participation in the operation, they get to keep the Sphinx. But I can make it up to you with 10 points, no, 15 points.” Zhang Heng shook his head. “There’s no need for that. Just pay for the traffic tickets we got tonight. Also, better remind those guys that although high voltage electricity can destroy the circuit board components, I don’t think it can be done through a shell. The Sphinx may be only temporarily disabled, more like overload protection of sorts.” “I’ll send 1810 a text, but he never liked people telling his team what to do. Not to mention, they are very experienced guys. They should be able to handle it,” said Shen Xixi. “Let’s hope that’s the case.”

The dinged and badly scraped X3 was now considerably damaged and if highway patrol were to spot it, it would definitely be flagged down for inspection. To avoid that, Shen Xixi ordered another car. “I’ll send Rabbit home first, then return to school. Want to come with us?”

“It’s alright. I need to do something. Got to

go.”

Zhang Heng looked at his watch. It was almost midnight.

He did not want to be sitting in a car when time stopped; he would have to return to the vehicle when the Time Stop ended, so he would instead figure out another way to get home.

Before he left, Rabbit gave him a hug, “Brother Simon, when are we going to do this again?”

“Didn’t you almost throw up?”

“Well, now that it’s all over, I think it was really cool. It was the most exciting ride of my life! When mum drives me to school, it feels like an old lady trying to cross the road.”

“That is the right way to drive… Study hard for your college entrance examinations. If you pass, I’ll drive you around a car park,” said Zhang Heng. “That’s a promise,” Rabbit beamed.

In the van’s co-drivers seat, 1810 had already gotten out of his protective suit and was lighting up a cigarette. His team members all looked pleased with the sight of the object chained up in the trunk. Their goal was simple: they joined the union to earn some extra money. Unfortunately, not long after, the union collapsed.

1810 supported Shen Xixi because the partnership system she devised to monitor unusual activities around the city coincided with their interests. Meanwhile, Shen Xixi and her team valued the problem-solving aspect more than the benefits. The two parties were different, but they were perfectly symbiotic, which was why 1810 regretted the union’s dissolution. Nonetheless, it wasn’t something a team as small as his should be worrying about.

The driver, who went by the name Mole, turned on the stereo and played an upbeat song. He looked at the rearview mirror. “Hey Black Swan, you should probably have enough points to buy that game item you wanted, eh?”

“Don’t ever mention it again. It’s infuriating. Another player bought the bracelet two days ago,” answered Black Swan. The girl with the choker pulled a cigarette out of the box.

The guy next to her, who called himself Little Duck, immediately took out a lighter and eagerly lit her cigarette. “What grade do you think this item is?”

“This thing is not as tough as it looks. When the tranquilizer and captain’s knife didn’t work, I thought it would be challenging to beat. Then, it turned out to be just a machine. I’m guessing probably only F-grade, E-grade at the most,” Black Swan went on.

“Ah, then if that’s the case, there’s not much point to it then,” said Yogurt, a girl who had been resting her eyes since they got on the van.

“At least we get to earn a little something this year…” Little Duck was the kind of person who was easily contended. “We rarely get jobs that aren’t risky.”

1810’s phone vibrated. He took one look at the screen and put it back into his pocket.

“Wife? Lover?” guessed Black Swan. “No, Wonder Woman. I thought that only older women nag, but it seems women of all ages do the same. She’s reminding me to be careful of that machine at the back and that it may only be in a temporary… what’s that word… overload protection.”

“No wonder she hasn’t had a boyfriend until now,” Yogurt joked.

The whole car dissolved into laughter. With the job done, the group was in a merry mood. They planned to head to a safe house about 30 kilometers away, where they would pick the machine apart and find the game item concealed within it.

Only 1810 wasn’t laughing. He turned to Black Swan. “But she does have a point. Just to be safe, turn on the signal inhibitors.”

“Alright, whatever you say.” Black Swan shrugged and turned on the jammer. Immediately, everyone in the van lost their mobile signals.

“Is the chain fastened?”1810 asked Mole again.

“One hundred percent. Its limbs and wings are chained to the trunk so it can’t fly.”

1810 turned to Little Duck, taking out a TASER. It crackled and popped with a menacing sizzle. “If there are any unusual movements, I will make sure it returns to overload protection.”

“Very good. We have to be extra careful when we deal with supernatural events.”

As soon as 1810 finished talking, Black Swan chortled. “Why? Is there a problem?”

“Nothing. It’s just that you criticized other people for being garrulous, but you are even more long-winded. As you said, we are not children anymore. We have completed more than ten quests—so trust us. We have enough experience and skills to do our jobs well.” “You’re better off worrying about your daughter’s junior high school entrance examination.” Black Swan blew a smoke ring, giggling