Chill's sudden interest from Ruike Technology might be due to the report Cyrus had Argentum send to the organization. With Ruike's intricate ties to Mechanism Dawn, operating as a facade for the covert group with their headquarters lab nestled within Ruike's own building, Cyrus pondered deeply as she carried groceries home.

Mechanism Dawn cast a long shadow over her heart, a Damoclean sword hanging over her head. After days of observation and analysis, she'd gleaned some insights into the organization, yet her understanding remained superficial. The true scope of their influence and their founding purpose remained enigmas.

She could only infer their reach through certain details.

The squad executing the port bombing each held at least a C-grade awakening, with Argentum, Thornrose, the bartender, and the AmberObsidian siblings ranking at B-grade. Some, like the bartender, were not combat-oriented, specializing in reconnaissance. The python had been the weakest link, a mere C-grade despite boasting near B-grade combat prowess.

As for Red, Cyrus suspected he was A-grade. His authority over numerous awakened subordinates suggested a rank no lower than B.

Unfortunately, Red's provided data omitted any mention of his own supernatural abilities. Perhaps the original host knew, so he saw no need to include himself in the data.

Beyond Red, Mechanism Dawn likely harbored more A-grade awakened.

The world's government hid the existence of alien species from the public but not the awakened ones. Higher-tiered awakeneds could elevate their citizen rank, with D-grade awakeneds jumping directly to level three, on par with some government officials, highlighting the preferential treatment afforded to them.

Yet, despite such incentives, a significant number of high-grade awakeneds still flocked under Mechanism Dawn's banner.

What lured these awakeneds? What methods kept them loyal to the organization?

The longer Cyrus stayed in this world, the deeper her questions grew.

Setting aside broader inquiries, one question pertained to herself.

How did an original host without any awakened abilities become a core member of Mechanism Dawn? Why was she involved in major operations like the port bombing? How did she become teammates, even the deputy commander, among such high-level awakeneds?

Was it solely due to her intellect and undercover status, or was there another, more crucial reason?

Red treated her as an equal, without airs, unlike how he interacted with other squad members, often adopting a superior demeanor and commanding tone.

This authoritative tone, Red never used with Cyrus. He always spoke to her considerately, taking her circumstances and opinions into account.

Cyrus's status within Mechanism Dawn was, to say the least, peculiar.

"Deputy Commander, the last area of the port data scan is complete and transmitted to headquarters," Thornrose messaged.

"Received," Cyrus replied.

As she pushed open her door, she sent another message to Red: "Our data scan is done."

"With Argentum, things are certainly more convenient," Red responded.

Argentum's powers were maximized at the port, controlling liquids—a highly versatile ability.

Truthfully, Cyrus coveted Argentum's abilities, but for now, she couldn't act on him.

Oblivious to Cyrus's dark musings, Argentum delightedly tore into a bag of chips, crunching away happily as she brought food home.

After finishing her bread and drinking a bottle of yogurt, Cyrus retreated to her bedroom to study.

She planned to pull an all-nighter, sleep during the day, and be ready for the night patrol.

Her days were packed and purposeful, her dedication rivaling even her most studious days in high school.

...

August 2nd, 8:00 p.m.

Cyrus clocked in for her night shift on time.

"The upside of night shifts is not needing sunscreen," Lan Lan complained. "Captain, I suggest adding sunscreen to the Coast Security team's standard gear and having it centrally procured."

Lan Lan, lacking sunscreen on his first day, had borrowed from Cyrus, or he would have burnt to a crisp.

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"Wholeheartedly agree," the others chimed in.

"I'll write a recommendation," Shu Xuyao said nonchalantly. "Go change, and don't forget your night-vision goggles. Squad Seven is responsible for Dock No. 5; other docks are covered by different squads."

The team geared up and assembled.

"Let's hope for another peaceful and beautiful day," Cyrus adjusted her goggles and said.

"Another?" Lan Lan chuckled. "Every day in the harbor district is eventful; 'peaceful and beautiful' is hardly applicable."

Cyrus smiled. "My standards are low; as long as there's no threat to us, it's peaceful and beautiful."

"That's true enough," Lan Lan echoed, repeating after Cyrus, "Let's hope for another peaceful and beautiful day."

Jiang Ming grimaced. "Don't jinx it. I didn't expect anything today, but now you've mentioned it, I feel like something's bound to happen."

"Subjective thoughts can't influence these events," Liu Kangyun stated flatly. "If something does happen, just hold on to your gun."

Night patrols required the use of patrol vehicles, equipped with bulletproof glass, capable of hover and road driving, and featuring autopilot and navigation.

Shu Xuyao took the driver's seat, Liu Kangyun beside him, with the rest in the back.

The vehicle lifted off, heading toward Dock No. 5.

The once bustling terminal, now quiet following the recent bombing, was tentatively out of operation. All cargo had been cleared, with the damaged portion of the port nearly restored, expected to resume function the day after tomorrow.

The port was littered with construction equipment and debris, looking somewhat disordered.

Dock No. 5 was vast, accommodating colossal cargo ships during its busiest times.

The patrol vehicle landed on a relatively flat platform, and Cyrus, Lan Lan, and Jiang Ming disembarked for a thorough patrol, while Shu Xuyao and Liu Kangyun stayed in the vehicle, ready to support.

"Even though this dock is currently out of action, smuggling, stowaways, and black market dealings haven't decreased," Jiang Ming cautiously scanned the area with his night-vision goggles. "Let's be careful."

During operational periods, the port was a hive of constant activity, a perfect cover for illegal transactions. Smuggled goods were mixed with legitimate cargo, then quietly moved ashore. Now, illicit deals were even more rampant due to the reduced surveillance.

Smugglers had become brazen.

The security officers patrolling the harbor district were risking their lives, compensated with extra pay during their rotation to Coast Security. Without such incentives, who would take on such perilous work?

Dock No. 5 was a floating harbor, but standing on the floating blocks felt no different from solid ground, impervious to the ocean's undulations, with no hint of instability.

Cyrus remained vigilant, her hand never leaving her gun holster, and even the usually talkative Lan Lan fell silent.

The only sounds were the whistling sea breeze and the breathing of their teammates.

Patrols weren't just a matter of checking for people; they also inspected equipment and potential hiding spots for contraband.

The vast dock required alternating patrols, taking over an hour to inspect once, with a repeat patrol after a half-hour break.

Staying alert was draining, especially on such nights, with everyone on edge and quickly fatigued.

After two rounds of inspections with a brief rest in between, they continued their patrol. By midnight, they would switch with another team.

"Three minutes to midnight, head to the rendezvous for the handover," Shu Xuyao called over the comm. "Great job. We'll head back to the office after this."

The night seemed to fulfill Cyrus's wish for peace and calm.

Lan Lan couldn't help but murmur, "That's odd... We usually catch at least one or two druggies..."

The night was too silent, eerily so.

As Cyrus passed a rusted container, a chill trickled down her neck.

Wiping her neck, the liquid appeared dark through her night-vision goggles. Another drop fell, this time onto the goggles themselves.

Cyrus's face paled as she drew her gun, aiming upwards, and shouted, "Situation!"

Lan Lan and Jiang Ming followed suit, scanning their surroundings.

Above, Cyrus saw a leg dangling from the three-meter-high container. The wind caused it to roll off and drop before her, splattering her shoes with blood.

A severed calf lay at her feet, cut so cleanly it seemed done by a saw.

Her lips twitched, skin crawling.

"Alien creature!" Jiang Ming, with his wealth of experience, looked grim. "The cut is from a scythe demon. Captain, we—"

Before he could finish, Cyrus's danger avoidance kicked in.

A whipping sound came from her side, a long, fast-moving object lashing out like lightning, like a predatory black mamba.

Cyrus dodged by reflex, then felt a cold slash across her abdomen. Her high-fiber bulletproof vest was effortlessly sliced open, her stomach gashed with a massive wound, blood gushing forth.

Had she reacted even a fraction of a second later, she would have been bisected.

"Cyrus!" Lan Lan fired in the direction of the tentacle's origin.

Sparks flew, something evaded his bullets.

The twisted alien creature revealed itself, smaller than Cyrus had imagined, about half the height of a person, resembling a mantis with a triangular face and bulbous eyes. It had two tentacles on its upper body, each tipped with a chalky, hook-like bone blade.

Blood, including Cyrus's, coated the bone blades.

The creature licked the blades with satisfaction, then leaped forward like a mantis, its flexible tentacles whipping out again, targeting Cyrus.

Amidst fear, Cyrus fired repeatedly. Only three bullets hit, all blocked by its chalky carapace. The creature's speed and defense were inconceivably high.

At the last moment, Jiang Ming's bullet struck the scythe demon's soft tentacle, causing it to retract, sparing Cyrus from another strike.

"Backup is on its way!" Shu Xuyao announced over the comm. "Hold on!"

Wounded, the scythe demon became frenzied, its tentacles thrashing wildly, leaving deep marks on the metal containers.

Suddenly, the lighthouse blinked erratically, signaling midnight's arrival.

A new day dawned.

Simultaneously, darkness enveloped Cyrus's vision.

The thrashing alien, Lan Lan, Jiang Ming, the pain of her torn abdomen, even the gun in her hand—all vanished.

Alone in the darkness, a familiar sensation arose—this was the same scene she experienced when she first crossed into the second world.

Blinking, when her eyes reopened, she lay on a soft bed, staring at peeling walls, with a stack of "Five-Year College Entrance Exam, Three-Year Simulation" books on the nearby table.

Beside the pillow, her phone lay lit up, eerily silent.

On the seventh day of her journey to the second world, just as the seventh day came to an end, Cyrus returned to the first world.

Her heart raced, emotions overwhelming her to the point of dizziness.

Cyrus clutched her abdomen, where the alien's bone blade had sliced. The pain felt real, yet her skin was smooth, unblemished beneath her fingers.

"I... I'm back?" Cyrus whispered in disbelief.

She had left that cold, cruel world behind, returning to the mundane, real world of her origin.