"Never mind, we can keep going like this. Give me the torch!" I reached out. Lu Tianyu seemed reluctant, as if the lack of a torch would have dire consequences for his life. It was his lifeline. Now, I was a bit angry. "Tianyu, you're nothing like your uncle!"
"What's wrong?" Lu Tianyu asked, surprised.
"He's very brave, unlike you. You remind me of a teammate I used to know, named Gao Mingqiang."
"Uh, really? I'm sorry! Here, take them all!"
Only then did Lu Tianyu give me all the torches he had. I planned to use them sparingly, lighting a new one only when the current one was about to burn out, thus making them last much longer. Seeing that I only lit one torch, everyone understood my intention.
Dao Zhiyong found some sulfur in the laboratory. He told me that mixed with white phosphorus and alcohol, it could create simple fireworks. So, everyone took some, practically ransacking the laboratory before they were willing to leave.
After coming out, we found ourselves in another corridor. Lu Tianyu informed us that the only way to reach the archives, and subsequently the exit of the Public Security Bureau, was through the forensic department. I agreed, and he led the way. En route, we passed through the bureau's hallway and heard screams from outside. We guessed that the townspeople were being attacked again. Though heartbroken, we were helpless. We were separated by walls, and without any cracks, we wouldn't have heard them.
Soon, guided by the torchlight amidst piles of rats, we reached the forensic laboratory nearby. Lu Tianyu mentioned there was a temporary generator there and suggested trying to turn on the lights to see what the rats would do. We entered the lab, everyone staying close to me, fearing they might suffer the same fate as the people here, torn apart by rats. Approaching a lab table, we discovered a dismembered corpse, mangled and torn. Xie Chuchu lamented, "Covered in bruises, severe cranial hemorrhage. This person appears to have been murdered, only to be gnawed by rats after death."
"Stop lamenting. There are too many pitiable people here. We don't have time for sympathy. Let's find the generator first!" Xiaoxiaoling's tone was comforting. Xie Chuchu glanced at her seriously and nodded. I could tell their relationship was quite good.
In a room to the side of the laboratory, Xiao Yuande and I found the generator. However, it seemed to have been unused for too long and was a bit rusty. Xiao Yuande pulled it a few times with effort but couldn't start it. Tired, he handed it over to me. I fared no better. Then, Xiahou came to help. It took almost all our strength to get the generator running!
Hope rekindled in our hearts. We then, relying on the torchlight, went to the lab's light switch. We flipped the switch, and instantly, the forensic laboratory was bathed in blinding light. Soon, the rats began to shriek and retreated, daring not to come near us again.
This strategy indeed worked. I had initially thought they only feared fire, and if that were the case, we would have been in trouble.
The rats had probably retreated dozens of meters. Before leaving the lab, we found more flashlights. We had flashlights before, but for some reason, they hadn't been very effective against the rats then. Now, it seemed the issue was insufficient illumination range. Here, in the lab, we found several large flashlights, significantly increasing our lighting area. They were much better than torches.
However, outside the lab, the lights wouldn't turn on because the generator was only connected to the internal wiring. As we emerged, though no rats were lurking nearby, the screams from outside intensified. He Xin cried out anxiously, "Father, if we don't get out soon, they won't survive!"
"Actually, by now, they might already… but we will still try our best to save people!"
Following Lu Tianyu's directions, we finally navigated another corridor and reached the archives. I wondered how many dusty cases from Lester were stored here. As I passed the cabinets, I casually picked up a few to glance at. Liu Yuning pulled me, saying, "You're still in the mood to read? Let's go!"
"No, I want to see if there are any cases related to rats here."
"Uh, do you think we'll find any? Let's help you!" Liu Yuning said. Dao Zhiyong, Xia Xiaoling, and others busied themselves, leaving only Xiahou and Xiao Yuande to hold their flashlights and ward off any rat attacks.
Amidst the dense files, we searched for recent cases. Our attention was so focused on these documents that our fingertips became worn from the rapid flipping of pages. But I didn't care. We hadn't found anything, but at a crucial moment, my disciple Dao Zhiyong exclaimed excitedly, "Found it! This is a case from a year ago, November 1, 2021, the Lester Town Plague Incident."
I immediately snatched the file. It read:
Case Name: Lester Town Plague
Case Number: d0424582424781
Filed by: Lester Public Security Bureau, Guangming City, Criminal Investigation Team, First Squad
Filed by: Guo Zhengxiong
Date Filed: November 1, 2021
Below the file was a detailed account of the situation: multiple casualties, all found with numerous wounds internally, organs completely torn. Forensic examination indicated that rats likely entered through the victims' mouths and began gnawing at their internal organs in the stomach. Subsequently, rats began biting externally. They were usually absent during the day but appeared in swarms at night, emerging wherever there was no light. Their numbers were also increasing. I reported it to the Chief, but for some reason, he didn't seem to take it seriously. I was helpless and could only lead my men on investigations, but there were no results, and my men never returned. I had to handle it myself. If I don't make it back, and if anyone sees this file, please continue my investigation for me. I am Guo Zhengxiong, the town's criminal investigation captain. He is not the Guo team I met before; he is from this town, just sharing the same surname. I don't know if they are related. wΑp.kanshu伍.net
The criminal investigation captain who made this record is likely no longer alive. Looking at the heavy file, they had investigated the town's affairs long ago but found no cause. Was the Chief here truly involved?
Although I thought so, there was no way to confirm it now, because we found his body here.