Infinite Nightmares

’Why is Teacher Rabbit here?! Why is it on Bureau 507’s territory?!’

Before Zhang Wenda could figure out what was going on, he heard footsteps approaching from behind him.

He quickly turned and ducked from the cavern back into the tunnel, putting out a hand to stop Tang Xingxiong and Saber. Then, forcing himself to look calm, he said, "Wait! There are too many people over there. If we rush in, they’ll spot us."

However, Tang Xingxiong just shook her head slightly. "I know there are a lot of people. That’s the point."

With that, she bypassed Zhang Wenda and continued down the tunnel.

’I can’t let her know Teacher Rabbit is here! She knows about my connection to it! If she sees it, I’ll be completely exposed!’

Figuring all this out in an instant, Zhang Wenda flashed forward, once again blocking her path. "What’s your plan, exactly? Are you just going to charge in? A lot of them will get away! The Third Line people will know we did this!"

Tang Xingxiong gave Zhang Wenda a strange look. "Why can’t they know we did it? I brought you here specifically to make an appearance. If I don’t introduce you, how will they know you’re one of us?"

As she finished speaking, Tang Xingxiong’s three crows instantly took flight, diving toward the cavern with the machinery. Cries of alarm immediately echoed from inside.

’This is bad!’ Zhang Wenda shot into motion, grabbing Song Jianguo and following close behind the crows, while also quickly putting distance between himself and Tang Xingxiong.

The moment things went south, he would turn on her and join the others in the tunnel to take Tang Xingxiong down.

Just then, Tang Xingxiong’s body began to dissolve into a flock of black crows that followed close behind. After Zhang Wenda charged into the cavern, they blotted out the entire ceiling.

They swirled overhead, frantically attacking the enemy while their sharp beaks continuously pecked at the light bulbs. As the glowing bulbs were pierced and deflated with hisses of leaking air, darkness swiftly began to envelop the cavern.

By now, Zhang Wenda had already rushed into the cavern and begun searching for the rabbit. He wondered if his earlier actions had served as a warning; the rabbit he’d seen moments ago was nowhere to be found among the people being attacked by the crows.

’It knows I’m here? It’s hiding?’

Watching the chaotic scene, watching his Bureau 507 colleagues fighting back with flashlights, Zhang Wenda felt a flicker of surprise.

The next second, just as the cavern was about to be completely plunged into darkness, the flashlights began to flicker with red and yellow light. Bright Orange Light was summoned forth, and small suns rose one by one in the empty space overhead.

But this didn’t last long. Soon, the small suns in the air were pecked by the crows, deflating and dimming.

When darkness fell once more, the shadows under the crows’ black wings seemed to come alive, beginning to devour all living things.

Some of them were still trying to coordinate their attacks with the flashlights, but as the darkness came to life, the situation they had just managed to stabilize instantly collapsed. The entire cavern descended into utter chaos.

"Wait, whose side are we on right now? What are we even here to do?" Song Jianguo was exasperated. The chaotic scene before her had left her as bewildered as her cat.

Seeing that the people here were nearly powerless against Tang Xingxiong’s assault, with some already having been "deflated" by pecking, Zhang Wenda thought for a second and made a snap decision. "Help the Third Line! Let’s move!"

Since 2826 hadn’t reacted, there was nothing to be done if his infiltration mission failed. At worst, he’d just have to give up his mission reward and figure something else out later.

But if he sided with Tang Xingxiong now, he’d really have no choice but to follow the Big Circle down a dark path for good.

He just wanted to escape his identity as a monster, not spend the rest of his life as a rat scurrying from hiding place to hiding place.

Just as Zhang Wenda revealed his scythe, intending to first take care of the spectating Saber, a beam of blue light shot out from the distant tunnel and froze him in place.

Then, with a flick of the blue light, Zhang Wenda was thrown against the wall.

"Fuck! Don’t attack me! I—" As Zhang Wenda started to fall from the wall, a dagger gleaming with cold light grazed his cheek and embedded itself in the wall next to him.

Then, Zhang Wenda felt a voice emerge in his mind. "Don’t expose yourself. We’ve already made preparations here."

It was Hu Maomao’s voice. She was controlling his mind.

’Alright, so the people from Bureau 507 aren’t completely useless. It seems they got a tip from Black Cat and were prepared.’

’This whole chaotic scene must be within their expectations.’

Reassured by her words, Zhang Wenda immediately drew his scythe and began to weave through the crowd, attacking the Third Line members with a clear conscience.

He wasn’t killing them, though, just attacking their joints to incapacitate them. If Tang Xingxiong asked, he had a ready explanation: he needed them to help him improve his skills.

Just as he was attacking his future colleagues, he heard a battle cry from behind him. It was Song Jianguo.

She was brandishing a spear with a cat leash attached, whipping it like a flail at the crows in the sky. The sight took everyone by surprise.

’Crap! Didn’t Hu Maomao tell her?’

When Saber and Crow, who were standing nearby, acted in unison, the outcome was never in doubt. They subdued Song Jianguo in a matter of seconds. Then, both Crow and Saber turned to look at Zhang Wenda questioningly.

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Wenda walked over to Song Jianguo, rapped her hard on the head with the back of his hand, and said in a harsh tone, "Are you crazy? Why are you attacking our own people?! Did your brain leave along with your period?"

"Huh?! No... you... I... this..." Song Jianguo stared at Zhang Wenda in utter disbelief. She’d known he was shameless, but she had never imagined he could be *this* shameless.

Zhang Wenda then turned and apologized to Crow. "Sorry about that. She’s had something wrong with her head since she was a kid, a real nutcase. Who knows what goes on in that brain of hers all day."

"This is why I didn’t want to bring her in the first place. But you guys insisted. See? Now we have to free up a hand just to look after her, don’t we?"

While spouting this nonsense, Zhang Wenda pulled Song Jianguo up and shielded her behind him.

After hearing this, Saber looked at Zhang Wenda with even greater contempt. "You know it’s a crime to fuck an idiot, right?"

"If you can’t say anything decent, why don’t you just shut your mouth?" Zhang Wenda shot back, glaring at him.