Naming Technique of the Night

Qing Chen thought for a moment: "Alright."

"Then how do I join?"

"You send those girls who have been injected with drugs back. After that, someone will come to you wearing a red face mask. At that time, you'll know they are my people."

This might be the Parents' Meeting's first step into the North.

And this is just the beginning.

Zhang Qinghuan looked longingly at the departing steam train, recalling that young man's handsome face, suddenly feeling it looked familiar...

Wait, isn't this the Qing Chen Inspector who just made a huge splash in the Federation, breaking out from the Jindai Consortium's A02 base?!

...

...

The steam train re-entered the void.

In the darkness, the soldiers devoured their food ravenously, almost choking.

Qing Chen said: "Don't eat so much for the first three meals. Start with some bread and water to settle your stomach. Tomorrow we'll have hotpot!"

As the steam train re-entered the light, there was a cheer on board.

They had been worried they might starve on the train, and yet the boss casually solved these problems.

The soldiers unpacked the New Year's goods, handing out cigarettes.

They hadn't smoked for nineteen years, and now they were smoking like madmen.

In just ten minutes, the whole carriage seemed to be on fire, white smoke billowing out of the windows...

It even obscured Qing Chen's vision!

He picked up the sketchbook Zhang Qinghuan had given him and walked silently to the last carriage, sitting atop a pile of Gold Coins to draw.

Just like he used to do beside Osaka Shinsaibashi.

Li Cheng glanced back, suddenly finding his boss sitting unmoved on the pile of Gold Coins incredibly cool.

He walked over and asked: "Boss, are you drawing landscapes?"

"No, drawing people," Qing Chen replied.

Li Cheng leaned over for a look and saw Qing Chen quickly sketching a portrait every minute, highly efficient, and each drawing was of a different man.

He felt puzzled, why was the boss drawing men?

Qing Chen looked up and smiled at him: "Don't worry, you'll soon know what this is for."

Li Cheng suddenly said: "Boss, I feel like you're going to leave."

"Why?"

"Because you notified the Li Clan and Qing Clan by satellite phone, asking them to send people to take us home, but I feel, you have something to do in the North," Li Cheng said sadly, "Actually, we can rest a bit and stay to help you."

"Li Cheng, you are very smart, and I know you're eager to work for me, but this matter I can handle alone," Qing Chen said seriously, "Don't worry, there will be opportunities, once I finish my business in the North, I'll come find you all."

There is no banquet that does not end; Qing Chen still had some scores to settle in the North.

...

...

The steam train continued toward the South.

Just outside City 19, two A-Class Floating ships were waiting there.

One belonged to the Li Clan and one to the Qing Clan.

They had been waiting early on until a steam train emerged from the void.

Qing Ling jumped down from the steam train, clearly seeing those Qing Clan soldiers' faces, brimming with a sacred longing.

The soldiers stood at attention outside the floating ship, but their eyes kept glancing back at the train.

They were looking for someone.

Strangely though, why did this steam train have such a strong smell of hotpot...

Qing Ling glanced at the insignias on these soldiers' shoulder patches; they were clearly from the Shadow Troop.

Within the Qing Clan, the Shadow Troop was still different from the other troops.

Qing Ye stood openly outside the floating ship, smiling and shaking hands with each Qing Clan member: "Thank you for your hard work, welcome home."

After speaking, someone next to him would award them a Second-Class Medal.

Qing Ye explained: "The Shadow Boss was supposed to come today personally, but the Family Head called him back to Ginkgo Manor, so he couldn't make it. I'm here to award you instead, please understand. Additionally, everyone's salary over these years will be recompensed after identity verification, all with a three-level increase. There are some procedures to go through, but since you were once under the Spy Bureau, you understand these procedures cannot be skipped."

Qing Ling nodded: "Understood, we all understand."

Qing Ling and the others watched this scene, feeling as if lifetimes had passed; they had waited too long for this day.

Slowly, everyone on the steam train came out, the soldiers were a bit surprised, Qing Ye was also surprised, holding a Ginkgo Medal, he asked dumbfounded: "Wait, where's that brat Qing Chen?"

This Silver Star Medal within the Qing Clan ranks above First-Class, Second-Class, and Third-Class merits.

In nearly twenty years, one recipient was Qing Mu, who had just returned home, but now his consciousness was obliterated, unable to awaken.

The other recipient of the Ginkgo Medal was Qing Chen.

The Qing Clan soldiers searching the carriage with eyes full of admiration were looking for Qing Chen, a shared sentiment among all the direct Shadow Troop members.

They knew the incredible tasks Qing Chen had completed, the many hardships he had endured.

Yet, the protagonist who should be standing here was nowhere to be found!

At this moment, Qing Ling handed over a thick stack of sketch papers: "This is what the boss asked me to give you. He drew 723 people. You need to use facial recognition technology to analyze their identities. He needs this information, and he said that the Shadow knows how to get the information to him."

Qing Ye flipped through the sketchbook, not recognizing anyone in the drawings, muttering: "I finally snagged this chance to award medals from the boss, but he's gone! Does he really think recognizing faces is that simple, that sketching randomly would work? What a joke..."

The Shadow wasn't unavailable.

If the Shadow truly wanted to award Qing Chen, they could totally wait until the awards were given out then open the Door of Shadow.

It was just that Qing Ye had pestered the Shadow for three days, insisting on getting a chance to become familiar with the future boss, so the Shadow left the awarding to him.

For this, Qing Qu called him a "mean little man" for two days.

At this moment, Qing Ling said: "The boss said he drew according to the 'Six-point facial recognition technology,' so they must be recognizable."

Qing Ye was stunned for a moment, could anyone actually draw faces according to recognition technology?

In fact, when Qing Chen used to draw in Shinsaibashi, even Jindai Yunlo thought his drawing technique was unlike any other artist, like a beginner.

However, only Qing Chen knew that he didn't care about technique or lighting in his drawings, only if they could be recognized by machines!

That was the real purpose of his drawing practice!

Qing Ye questioned: "Who are these people?"

Qing Ling said: "The people the boss wants to kill."

Qing Ye understood, Qing Chen wanted the Spy Bureau to find them all, one by one, and eliminate them one by one.

But what he couldn't figure out was, why did Qing Chen have so many people he wanted to kill...

Qing Ling added: "Additionally, he also wants all the information on Jindai Yunhe, as in 'all'.'

Qing Ye clapped his hands: "Interesting. Let's go, back home!"

Qing Ling and the others boarded the rear entry of the floating ship, turning to look in the direction of the Li Clan before entering.

There, Li Cheng also happened to turn back, and the two exchanged smiles before casually entering their respective floating ships.

This was just a brief separation, knowing they would soon reunite.

They now needn't do anything, just wait for someone to return from the North.