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墨書 Inktalez
Inside the teahouse, the noise surged like boiling water, with patrons either engaged in loud discussions or whispering to one another. The fragrant aroma of tea could not mask the tension and unease that hung in the air. Lin Feng suppressed the turmoil in his heart and feigned calmness as he navigated through the tables and chairs, his gaze sharp as a hawk, quickly locking onto the designated table.
That weathered wooden square table was situated in a corner by the window, providing a perfect vantage point to observe the entire teahouse. As Lin Feng approached steadily, his heartbeat quickened with each step, as if it might burst from his chest. According to plan, he only needed to exchange signals with the person at the table to initiate a crucial intelligence relay that could illuminate a glimmer of hope for the organization amidst this darkening situation.
However, fate seemed to shift in an instant. Just as he was mere steps away from the table, chaos erupted. A group of agents sprang from the crowd like wolves pouncing on their prey. The chief agent, with a stern expression and eyes filled with cold determination, seized the contact person's collar without a word and violently dragged them from their seat. The contact person struggled fiercely but was no match for the agents' brute force. A fleeting look of shock and defiance crossed their face as they turned to Lin Feng, attempting to convey some message, but were interrupted by the chief agent's harsh reprimand.
At that moment, a note bearing their signal was snatched away by the chief agent, like a leaf caught in a storm. The situation spiraled out of control; the original plan crumbled like a sandcastle in a gale. Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine as years of training kicked in, allowing him to suppress the inner turmoil in an instant. His expression remained unchanged as he paused, sidestepping one of the agents as if he were merely an ordinary passerby momentarily delayed by an unexpected scene.
He slowly strolled to a dim corner of the teahouse that appeared casual but kept every nerve taut like a bowstring, his eyes keenly observing the unfolding situation in the hall. The agents escorted the contact person toward the entrance; their defiant figure made Lin Feng anxious. He knew he could not act recklessly; any impulsive move could lead him into irreversible peril and jeopardize the entire underground organization.
In this critical moment, Lin Feng's mind raced like finely tuned gears meshing together. He desperately recalled the contingency plans devised by their organization; those details he had studied repeatedly now seemed shrouded in fog, difficult to clarify instantly.
He remembered that the contact person had vaguely mentioned that in emergencies, one should pay attention to the waitstaff in the teahouse. These seemingly ordinary servers included some planted by their organization specifically to respond to crises. Lin Feng's gaze subtly scanned the busy waitstaff moving between tables, trying to discern any unusual behavior.
Finally, he caught a slight movement from a young server. While refilling water for a table of guests, the server's pinky finger bent slightly and tapped three times on the table—swiftly and discreetly executed. If not for Lin Feng's keen observation, it would have gone unnoticed. This was the agreed signal! Lin Feng's heart surged with hope as he discreetly kept track of where that server went.
Moments later, carrying an empty tea tray, the server headed toward the back room. Lin Feng pretended to get up for a restroom break and quietly followed behind. The back room was dimly lit and filled with dampness and smoky odors. The server sensed someone behind but did not turn around; instead, they whispered: "Stay close." Following their lead, they navigated through twists and turns until they reached a hidden small room.
The server gently knocked on the door with three long taps followed by two short ones. Inside came faint sounds before the door slowly opened. An elderly man sat at a table within, his gaze deep and imbued with wisdom born from experience. Upon seeing Lin Feng, he nodded slightly: "Young man, circumstances have changed; we must find another way. The contact person has vital information entrusted to you; if agents are rampant, that information may fall into enemy hands—we must find a way to remedy this."
Lin Feng anxiously asked: "Is there any way? Time is pressing; if that information leaks out, it would be disastrous." The old man furrowed his brow thoughtfully before replying: "The agents who captured our contact person likely want to extract more information from them but will not act recklessly for now. I have an informant within their ranks—though lowly and insignificant, they can relay small messages. I will attempt to make contact; you wait here and keep your composure—do not panic."
Lin Feng understood that waiting was all he could do at this moment. He paced back and forth in the room while contemplating various possible scenarios and responses. Time seemed infinitely stretched; each passing second felt like a heavy hammer striking his heart. After what felt like an eternity, footsteps finally approached outside. The old man entered with a grave expression: "The situation is dire; agents seem to have sensed something and are conducting citywide searches for suspicious individuals. Our contact person is being tortured but remains tight-lipped."
Lin Feng clenched his fists tightly, anger and determination filling his eyes: "I cannot stand by while our comrade suffers; I cannot let this intelligence be lost." He declared his intent to approach the agents' base in hopes of rescuing them and reclaiming vital information. The old man quickly interjected: "Do not act impulsively; going now would be akin to walking into a tiger's den. We need to think of another plan—the strength of our organization does not lie in one person but relies on everyone's wisdom."
Suppressing his impulse, Lin Feng sat back down as he began discussing more comprehensive strategies with the old man. Outside, night deepened; the teahouse's clamor had long since faded into silence—a thrilling contest had only just begun. In this ink-black night, Lin Feng knew that thorns lined his path ahead; for the sake of dawn’s light and for those suffering behind him, he must press forward and confront the darkness head-on.
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