Mystery: I can change things in books

Chapter 36 Criminal Gangs
"Of course, Chris will definitely be a reserve member for us first."

Seeing that Horik had no objections, Albert began to introduce other team members to Chris:
"This, Fred Jeff, is the longest-serving member among us. He is 60 years old this year. He is an Extraordinary at Sequence 9 of the 'General Knowledge' path."

The old man with gray hair but good spirits stood up and shook hands with Chris with a smile.

"This is Catherine Leeds, she is an Extraordinary at Sequence 8 of the 'General Knowledge' path."

The lady with long dark brown hair and a dark dress stood up, smiled and shook hands with Chris.

"This is Gray Anne. She just joined our Heart of Machinery last year and is also Sequence 9."

The short girl with chestnut curly hair smiled and stood up to shake hands with Chris. She looked very cheerful and lively: "Please give me some advice."

"This, uh," Albert wanted to introduce Horik, but retracted his hand. He asked in a low voice: "Chris, you should know him..."

"Yes, I know him." Chris smiled and said, "Horrick David."

Horik snorted disdainfully.

Chris looked embarrassed. He really didn't understand why Horik had so much hostility.

"Well, Chris Doty is a Sequence 9 Extraordinary of the 'Peeper' pathway. From now on, we will be colleagues and even comrades-in-arms. We must help each other."

Seeing that no one expressed his opinion, Albert clapped his hands: "The meeting is dismissed."

Fred and Catherine followed Albert out of the conference room. Anne came up to Chris and greeted him with a smile: "Hi, Chris."

Chris touched the back of his head and laughed twice.

"I will pay attention to you." Horik also stood up and tapped the table twice with his fingers. "Don't try to cause anything."

Annie looked at Horik's back and explained to Chris:

"Chris, don't worry. Horik has always been like this. I guess he won't be convinced by anyone except the God of Steam and Machinery."

Chris sighed with a depressed look on his face: "Annie, do you know why he targeted me like this?"

Annie tilted her head and thought for a while, then replied: "Maybe it's not directed at you. He seems to have been like this since Grace Alsa was transferred to Pulitzer Harbor."

Grace Alsa?

Chris had never heard of this name before and quickly asked: "Who is Grace?"

"Our former team member is an Beyonder of Sequence 8 of the 'Secret Peeper' pathway."

Annie patted Chris on the arm: "Hey, do you think Horik likes Grace? He has always had a crush on Grace..."

Anne crossed her arms, looked up at the chandelier blankly, and instantly imagined a romance novel with a tragic ending.

It's not that outrageous, but the secret love may be true...

Chris looked at Annie's demented look and left the meeting room speechlessly.

Albert saw Chris coming out of the conference room and greeted him: "Chris, come here."

The two entered the office and Albert closed the door.

Albert patted Chris on the shoulder and said to him:
"Our Mechanic Heart has recently been tracking down a group of criminals. They are suspected of trading contraband, involving Extraordinary elements. We suspect that at least one of them is an Extraordinary."

"On the night of June 6th, when you, Carlo Baggio and Jason Glenn went to Backlund to attend Juneteenth, a patrolman discovered that the door of the Tequila Bar was open and someone was stealing inside."

"He just blew the whistle once and was killed before he could blow the second whistle."

"The one who killed this patrolman..." Albert sighed, with a solemn expression: "It was himself."

Is it himself? !
Albert continued slowly: "He tore off his two ears with his hands. He died before reinforcements arrived. The cause of death was excessive blood loss."

ripped off his own ear...

"It's also possible that someone tore off his ear."

"No, he died on the opposite side of the tavern. There are no other traces around the body, and there are no other wounds on his body." Albert denied.

"There could be a second scene there," Chris said doubtfully.

"No, it's impossible." Albert narrowed his eyes. "When the patrolman fell, the police reinforcements happened to come around the corner. They clearly saw him slowly falling to the ground."

Albert continued: "This is the result of the channeling by the Nighthawks members. It cannot be wrong."

"But the police reinforcement team launched an arrest operation without waiting for us to arrive. Of the five of them, three were seriously injured and two were slightly injured."

"What's the injury?" Chris asked.

"They were also tearing apart their own body parts, but fortunately they regained consciousness when we arrived."

"Does that mean they were...manipulated?"

"We thought that was the case. The shootout was over when we arrived. We were late."

Albert patted Chris on the shoulder and comforted: "So don't think that this is aimed at you. If you want to talk about responsibility, it is also my fault."

"Captain, how does this relate to the criminal gang you mentioned at the beginning that was tracking down and trading contraband? Is it a group of people?"

"It is possible. After all, it involves extraordinary elements and extraordinary abilities."

"Is it related to the secret organization?"

"It's possible. We now suspect one of the Aurora Society and the Morse Trappist Order. Of course, it may also be other secret organizations that we don't know yet."

Albert sat back in his seat and continued: "But I'm not doubting you. I said I trust Dunn Smith's judgment."

"By the way," he pulled off a note and wrote something on it, "You have to learn to shoot. The members of the Heart of Machine must be proficient in firearms."

Albert stamped the written note, put it on the table, took out a bronze triangular badge from the drawer, and said:
"When you have time, go to No. 3 Zotland Street. There is an underground shooting range there. There is a field dedicated to our Machinery Heart. Practice shooting there."

He handed the note and badge to Chris, leaned back, and continued with a proud tone:

“When the time comes, just give this note to the administrator and show the badge, which is equivalent to a pass.

Our members of the Heart of Machinery have privileges at the shooting range. There is no limit on bullets. You can shoot as many as you want.Moreover, if you think there is a handy gun at the shooting range, you can just take it.

But...it's best not to do this. "

Albert sat up straight, and the chair creaked:
"It's enough to go to the shooting range and shoot three hundred rounds of ammunition. It's best not to take any guns there. If there is a gun you like, write down the model and tell me. There will be a corresponding modified version in the equipment warehouse."

Albert seemed to have thought of something, and stopped Chris again when he turned to close the door:

"Chris, remember what I said, three hundred rounds of bullets are enough!"

After receiving repeated promises from Chris, Albert relaxed, leaned back, picked up a monkey toy and played with it.

(End of this chapter)