Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Mr. Hubbard, it's me, Shawn Scott."

As Master Shawn was sending a message to Hubbard, An Zhe was holding a human head, practicing the art of planting eyebrows on it.

Using a heated needle, he pierced tiny holes in the silicone rubber skin before implanting synthetic hair fibers inside. Once the softened silicone hardened again, the eyebrow would be securely anchored within the doll's skin. Shawn's eyesight had deteriorated, making it difficult for him to continue this intricate work with high intensity. An Zhe assumed that this was one of the reasons why he was eager to find an apprentice.

Shawn put down the communicator and removed the doll from its glass display case, placing it on a chair in the center of the room. The doll's joints could be easily manipulated, so Shawn crossed its legs, rested its arms on its elbows, and finally tilted its head slightly downward, casting a shadow from its eyelashes. This created a posture of someone sitting elegantly yet with a hint of melancholy.

An Zhe lifted his gaze, observing how the dim light cast uneven shadows on the doll's face. The subtle difference between the silicone rubber and human skin was almost imperceptible; it seemed like a silent, living being.

The eerie stillness - the surrounding display cases and shelves filled with items that might be considered obscene by some - took on an even more surreal quality under these circumstances.

The tranquility was disrupted by the sound of a door opening. White light from outside illuminated half of the doll's body. An Zhe squinted, looking at the man who appeared in the doorway.

Backlit, the man was tall with shoulder-length black curly hair and brown eyes. His features were sharp. An Zhe could picture him wielding a gun in the wilderness.

An Zhe waited for the man to come in, but he merely stood in the doorway, his gaze fixated on the doll in the center of the room. He remained motionless for a long while, as if he too had become a lifeless figure.

Until Shopkeeper Xiao cleared his throat and said, "Please come in." The man seemed to awaken from a dream, stirring slightly. He strode into the room and, as he approached the doll, his pace abruptly slowed. An Zhe watched him raise his hand, seemingly about to touch the doll's face. His fingers hovered in mid-air but didn't descend. In the quiet room, only the soft, tremulous sound of the man's breathing could be heard. Perhaps there was a butterfly resting on the doll's eyelashes, and he was afraid of disturbing it.

In the end, he withdrew his right hand to his side, gazing fixedly at the doll and saying, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Shopkeeper Xiao responded, stepping closer with his gray-blue eyes meeting the man's. "I should also thank Mr. Hubbard for providing me with ample data."

Hubbard smiled, though his eyes remained lowered.

Shopkeeper Xiao pointed to the large packing box beside them. "Shall I do it?"

"I'll do it myself."

Finally, his fingers found the doll's shoulder, gently sliding down to lift it up and place it inside the box.

Standing by, Shopkeeper Xiao commented, "I had no idea Captain Hubbard was such an emotional person."

"There were some things left unsaid," Hubbard replied, kneeling halfway on the ground as he slowly closed the box lid. The knuckles of the hand pressing against the lid turned white. After a long while, he stood back up.

Shopkeeper Xiao folded his arms. "The doll needs maintenance every two months. Just bring it over then. If there are any new techniques, I'll apply them."

Hubbard declared, "Shaw Scott never engages in unprofitable ventures."

The boss laughed pleasantly.

"I can't compare to Captain Hubbard's vast resources," he said.

Hubbard asked, "What do you need?"

"I recently received a large order. The person's data is hard to come by, so I was hoping to ask for your help."

Hubbard quipped, "Is there any information that Boss Shaw can't obtain?"

The boss grinned, lifting his arm to make a shooting gesture at Hubbard.

Hubbard curved his lips into a smile and turned to grasp the handle of his suitcase, heading for the door.

"Please wait a moment," An Zhe suddenly said.

Hubbard turned back.

An Zhe approached him hastily, unfastening the top button of his shirt to retrieve the bullet casing hanging around his neck.

"Sir," he said, "do you recognize where this came from?"

Hubbard remained silent, reaching out to take the brass casing in hand. He turned it at an angle, examining it under the light.

An Zhe's heart pounded fiercely.

"One doesn't find this kind of ammunition at supply stations or black markets," Hubbard said after a minute, releasing the casing which fell back against An Zhe's chest. With that, he turned and left, leaving behind a single sentence.

"Military issue."

Hubbard's figure receded into the distance. An Zhe reached for the casing at his chest, holding it thoughtfully.

In the quiet room, Boss Xiao chuckled.

"If Hubbard says it's military, then it must be," he said, closing the door and grinning with narrowed eyes. "Hmm, have you been intimate with someone from the military? Du Sai's network is extensive, isn't it?"

An Zhe shook his head slowly.

"If it's something from the military, what would you do then?"

"Tsks," Boss Xiao said, "Have you lost your wits too?"

An Zhe replied, "I want to find its owner."

Boss Xiao asked, "Hmm? Did this person not pay you?"

An Zhe felt that Boss Xiao's line of thinking was quite off.

He defended himself, "No, it's not like that."

"For military items, someone from the military would surely recognize the model. Let me teach you a method," Boss Xiao said earnestly.

An Zhe asked, "What method?"

Boss Xiao answered, "The main city and the wilderness are out of reach for you. Within the outer cities, the City Defense Office and the Court of Judgment are both under the military's jurisdiction. You can stroll around there at midnight and try to get close to someone. Although the military has strict regulations, there will always be some morally corrupt individuals among them."

An Zhe: "..."

He pondered for a moment and then asked, "Who from the military would go out into the wilderness?"

Boss Xiao suddenly flicked his forehead. "Who do you think drew the maps of the wilderness?"

Feeling the pain, An Zhe bit his lip.

"Feeling wronged now?" Boss Xiao said. "Even the Judges are absent from the base for half a year each year. What do you think? The entire military goes out there."

An Zhe had nothing to say. Lowering his head, he continued planting eyebrows, realizing that he might have to stay in the base for a long time.

Satisfied with the day's work, Boss Xiao allowed An Zhe to leave after work.

An Zhe wanted to have the potato soup from the stall outside the first floor of the black market. Today was his third day working for Boss Xiao. The boss had already paid him a month's salary in advance, so he now had 60 credits in his ID card.

However, when he reached the first floor, he sensed an obvious change in the atmosphere. The usual hustle and bustle was gone, and people were rushing about with anxious expressions. The exits were unusually deserted.

He was slightly puzzled, but the allure of the potato soup was too strong – he still made his way over.

Just as he was about to reach the soup, An Zhe suddenly froze in his tracks.

He paused for a second, turned around, and retraced his steps.

"A return," came the cold voice.

An Zhe sighed inwardly and turned again, taking a few steps forward to stand before the judge at the entrance.

The judge wasn't alone; three young officials in simple attire accompanied him, their faces youthful.

—An Zhe had stumbled upon the court's daily patrol within the city.

Lu Fen commented nonchalantly, "Stiff body language and avoidance of movement. One point deducted."

The young judge behind him, armed with a pen and paper, gave An Zhe a keen glance as Lu Fen spoke, then bent down to scribble something on the paper.

An Zhe looked at them but found himself locking eyes with Lu Feng. He quickly averted his gaze.

"Shifted eyes, one point deducted." Lu Feng's tone remained unchanged, and the young judge behind him continued to jot down notes.

An Zhe felt a sense of déjà vu. Reflecting for a moment, he realized that the judge wasn't merely on patrol duty; he was training newcomers, much like Boss Xiao taught his apprentices. However, unlike Boss Xiao, who was patient and nurturing, Lu Feng's teaching approach seemed rigid and unyielding.

He awaited the next deduction point.

Yet, he found that Lu Fen's teaching, though rough, wasn't careless. The young judge began his inquiry, "What is the outcome?"

"Young Colonel," the young judge replied, "Based on all indicators, the subject is human."

"What is the cause of the abnormal signs?"

" Fear of you, " Lu Fen quirked his lips.

Author's Note: Recommending arrest.