chapter 2 woman on bus

Abigail Ning returned to the police station with a belly full of anger and questions, heading straight for Director Zhang's office.
"Evelyn, close the door," Director Zhang said, sitting in front of the computer with several files on his desk, his expression grim.
Director Zhang forced a smile: "We just received news from the prison. Several serious criminals have successfully escaped."
"What?" Abigail was shocked.
"This could be a premeditated attack by bandits. The play in the city center was probably to distract us, the police. Their real goal was likely the prison break. If so, they've been too successful. Sacrificing a few small fries to get back several top managers, these guys are crazy," Director Zhang shook his head in helplessness.
"I can't stay here," Abigail's fiery nature was unchanged.
"Stop!" Director Zhang's face fell, but his tone softened, "Evelyn, you can't always be so impulsive. I've been old comrades with your father, and I've watched you grow up. Although the jailbreak is significant, it's not why I called you here."
"What is it then?" Abigail sat down again.
"According to intelligence, a member of the mercenary organization 'Contract Killers' has infiltrated Fenghuang City!" Director Zhang's voice trembled, especially when saying "Contract Killers", as if he saw something terrifying.
"Contract Killers?"
Abigail was dumbfounded, almost petrified.
"Contract Killers" is an internationally mysterious mercenary organization, rumored to have only nine core members, each possessing terrifying power. A drug trafficking organization once offended one of them and was wiped out overnight by a single person!
The nine core members of "Contract Killers" are said to have such fearsome power!
"This intelligence has been confirmed, look at this file." Director Zhang handed over a file.
Abigail's face grew serious. If a member of "Contract Killers" really infiltrated Fenghuang City, the consequences would be unimaginable. For any country, "Contract Killers" is almost a heart-stopping headache. But when Abigail saw the last page of the file, she stood up in shock!
The last page showed a blurry figure, the ninth core member of "Contract Killers", code name no.9. Although the photo was unclear, showing only a man's back, it looked familiar.
"Evelyn?" Director Zhang noticed Abigail's reaction.
"I think I've seen this person," Abigail's statement was a bombshell for Director Zhang.
"Are you sure you've seen him?" Director Zhang stood up from his chair, walking over to Abigail. This was a member of "Contract Killers" after all, each with the power to intimidate large forces. If he caused trouble in Fenghuang City, it would be disastrous!
"I'm not sure if it's him. Just before I came here, I saw a similar figure," Abigail said cautiously.
But that man was definitely suspicious!
"Contract Killers," for any country, could be listed as one of the most dangerous organizations.
Fenghuang City, a mega-city newly built on the Taklamakan Desert of the Longxia Nation.
In 2050, the country transformed a part of the desert. Numerous private enterprises bid for the project, but Dawn Group, the most powerful enterprise in Longxia, won the bid to transform the desert.
Advances in modern technology made conquering the desert less challenging. Genetic engineering produced plants suitable for desert cultivation. Subterranean rivers discovered beneath the sand played a decisive role in transforming the desert.
Ten years later, a city named Fenghuang City was built in the desert, twice the size of the capital Tianjing.
After another decade, Fenghuang City had become a major domestic city.
The city operated with high autonomy, managed by Dawn Group.
Fenghuang City's GDP had exceeded five trillion yuan, on the verge of becoming the country's largest city.
When the sun rose in the east, the burgeoning city began another day. Streets bustled with people and traffic, lively and vibrant.
"Fenghuang City has changed so much over the years," Tyler Luo walked the streets, seemingly aimless. But at a bus stop, he joined the crowd onto a bus.
The downside of a mega-city is the overcrowding. Especially during rush hour, only the fittest get on buses and subways.
This was Tyler Luo's third day back in Fenghuang City. He wasn't in a hurry to find a job, unlike the hundreds of thousands who came daily seeking work.
Fenghuang City's population had soared to fifty million, the largest in the country. Thanks to technological development and Dawn Group's strong faculty, the city expanded almost yearly.
"Please move inside," the bus driver announced.
Tyler was pushed to the center of the bus, not yet steady, when a high heel stepped on his foot. The sharp pain changed his expression, and he instinctively pulled his foot back. The pain from being stepped on by a woman's high heel can only be understood by those who've experienced it.
"Ah, sorry!"
Tyler twitched the corner of his mouth but managed not to cry out in pain. He nodded to the girl, indicating it was okay, and moved aside.
Fenghuang City's morning rush hour was intense. The bus was already packed a few stops from the terminal, like a sardine can.
Remembering, it had been years since he last visited Fenghuang City. The city's development was beyond recognition. But its growth was impressive.
The bus TV broadcasted the morning news about the recent terrorist attack in the shopping mall. Footage showed police heroically saving hostages.
Seeing this, Tyler couldn't help but smile. These matters were none of his concern. He was just an ordinary person now, back in Fenghuang City, about to face the challenge of finding a job and a place to live. Ordinary life wasn't easy.
He needed to find a place to live first, as staying in hotels was expensive.
Lost in thought, Tyler noticed the woman who had stepped on him being pushed towards him again. Initially, he didn't pay much attention, but his eyes fell on the tall, middle-aged man in front of her.
The man looked up at the stops, pretending to be innocent, but kept pressing against the woman.
The bus was already crowded, and the woman had nowhere to go. Tyler, having experienced more in his years away than many in their lifetimes, watched her bite her lip in humiliation, choosing not to make a scene. He had no intention of helping.