Poison City

“Yes, reboot. Because the entire network is in essence a spell based on electricity, delivering powerful shocks to certain critical nodes and the ’core’ could give everything a much needed kick. It will not undo all the corruption and pollution over the years. But it will be a start.” Master Liaoran sighed and shrugged: “Curious that sometimes things of the old times could still have similar effects as modern day, right? Don’t worry, as long as you follow this monk and this monk’s instructions, we will be fine. This monk will handle the most difficult and arcane of the steps.”

Marcus thought for a moment, then asked: “And when we complete the process, what should we do? And - what do we need to prepare after we do the ‘reboot’?”

“To be honest with you, detective, this monk doesn’t have an answer for you.” Master Liaoran shook his head: “Because everything is in theory only, this is this monk’s late mentor’s theory - something he crafted when he was formalizing the framework for the electric substations. And when we do it, the entire city’s power might be cut off for a brief moment, and as would the protection provided by the electricity.”

“That - that seems like something we need to send out a city-wide alert for…” Marcus scratched his hair: “Nonono - this is horrible, if we did that, these people will know that we’re onto them.”

“The choice is out of your hand, I’m afraid.” Wuzui interjected: “Things are happening really fast - and I’m afraid we’re out of time already. You can try to warn as many as possible, but for one it will lower your chance of success.”

“Alright - alright, let me - let me think about it. I think we need the help of our captain.” Marcus sighed and shook his head: “Just - just tell me your plan, master.”

“You should have found out where the center of the array is, right?” Master Liaoran looked Marcus in the eyes: “It should be a place with immense electricity consumption or concentration. Wuzui mentioned some power plants, banks or factories, but they are all outside of the city or near the mountains, this would be very improbable because the core of the array needs to be inside of the city, as close to the center of the city as possible - ”

“A datacenter in the Northern City.” Marcus nodded: “That’s one of our officers’ solve - and I believe him. I’m not an expert on this, but data centers consume a huge amount of electricity. And we’re already going to try to figure it out. Once we confirm - we will then try to strike it where it hurts.”

“Wuzui, can you bring me the coin jar and the fortune sticks?” Master Liaoran turned to Wuzui. Wuzui stood up, bowed and ran to the inner sanctum.

“What changed here, master? It’s bothering me a little.” Marcus took the chance to ask the master with a lowered voice.

Master Liaoran chuckled and patted Marcus on his left shoulder: “Patience, detective. Patience is a virtue. Please understand, for many reasons I cannot tell you right now. But soon you’ll see. I promise you that.”

“Alright.” Marcus nodded and pushed his questions back. The thought of the master leaving his post would be too worrisome and burdensome for him right now, he just could not spare the energy and time to ponder it.

Wuzui brought back a clay jar of coins and a wide but short bamboo tube with thin bamboo sticks inside - coin jars and fortune sticks, both tools of divination.

“Are you sure you wanna do this, Master?” Wuzui seemed unsettled by the master’s choice: “Wouldn’t this be - dangerous to you? Even cost you some - some life?”

“This monk has lived enough days, months and years locked in this place and wasting away.” Master Liaoran laughed: “So to finally light up hope for the people in this city, this monk shall not dodge this chance. What’s a few years out of a long life, when important deeds can be done?”

“Okay, master. ” Wuzui sighed, ”Do you want me to start?”

“This monk will start.” Master Liaoran raised his right hand, sticking his middle and index fingers up. His left hand brushed through the two fingers and cut two thin wounds on the fingertips. He picked the coin jar up with his left hand, and dabbed two bloody fingerprints on the jar, before turning it and holding it upside down. The copper coins inside spun from the spinning motion and stayed inside the jar. Tingles and clunks rang from the internal collisions. 

The master gradually slowed the spin. One coin fell from the mouth, and he swiftly turned the jar back up. It was an old coin with a square hole at the center. Four single words were etched around the hole. 

“Come. Day. Veil. Night.” Wuzui read the words on the coin.

“Tomorrow evening.” Master Liaoran’s facial expression was stern: “That’s our optimal time.”

“That’s a bit - too soon.” Maste frowned.

“No matter. Now - onto how likely we’ll succeed.” Master Liaoran picked up the bamboo tube with fortune sticks inside and began shaking it.

Before long, a stick with a red tip dropped from the tube.

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Jonathan

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