Chen Yifei went to check out other factories.
The situation in these factories was similar to that of the steel mill, mostly in a shutdown state unable to operate. Chen Yifei didn't waste any more time and directly returned to the entrance of the factory area, intending to report back to Han Meng about this matter.
"Haven't you left yet?" Chen Yifei asked, surprised to see the rickshaw puller still waiting for him at the same spot.
"Since you've come all this way, you must be going back... Instead of returning empty, I'd rather wait here for you and earn a little on the side," the man grinned, revealing his teeth.
It had to be said that this man was quite shrewd. Chen Yifei didn't hesitate and got onto the rickshaw. After paying, the man quickly pulled him back.
"Sir, I heard that many people in the factory area have lost their jobs?"
"It's just a temporary shutdown."
"Why shut down when everything is fine?"
"I don't know."
"With so many people unemployed, won't they all come to pull rickshaws?" the man joked, "It's not easy for me to earn some money. It won't be good if everyone comes to compete..."
Chen Yifei didn't respond because ultimately, this was caused by the actions of Aurora City. He didn't know what those people in the city were thinking.
Seeing that Chen Yifei didn't want to say much, the man didn't ask further and naturally changed the topic.
"My wife works in a textile factory. She's been working there for over twenty years, staring at needles and threads every day. Her eyes are almost blind... It's good to have a shutdown. She can stay home and take care of the children peacefully. With my physique, I can run a few more trips a day to support them without any problem."
The man grinned, revealing his dark skin soaked in sweat, mixing with the fog and sticking his thin clothes to his body.
Chen Yifei looked at him and seemed to think of something. He lowered his head and looked at his fingertips, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Is this fog getting thicker?" Chen Yifei suddenly asked.
"Yes, it was just a light fog in the morning, but now it's almost hard to see the road... Everything is wet and uncomfortable," the man complained, wiping his face with a towel.
Chen Yifei's eyebrows gradually furrowed.
"Hurry up a bit more," Chen Yifei urged.
"Sir, I'm also very tired of pulling the rickshaw. This is already the fastest..."
"I'll give you another twenty copper coins."
"Alright, sir!"
The man's spirits lifted. He took a deep breath and began to run with all his might, dragging the rickshaw!
The rickshaw passed through the thick fog and traveled through the streets. Soon, the familiar glass dome gradually enlarged in Chen Yifei's vision... That was the headquarters of the law enforcement in District Three, also Chen Yifei's destination.
Before the rickshaw had even stopped, Chen Yifei jumped off and pushed open the headquarters' door amidst the man's heavy panting.
In the vast hall, two figures draped in black windbreakers stood under the glass dome, looking up at the foggy outside world with somewhat solemn expressions.
They heard Chen Yifei push the door open and turned around simultaneously.
"Any findings?" Han Meng asked.
"It's Aurora City," Chen Yifei repeated the explanations of the factory managers honestly, "Aurora City has taken away all the raw materials and finished products. The entire factory area is shut down, and even many factory managers have been recalled..."
Han Meng didn't seem too surprised by this answer. After pondering for a moment, he nodded:
"The control of the entire factory area is in the hands of Aurora City. Without their approval, the factories dare not shut down... I have already sent a query to Aurora City, but there's no reply yet."
"Is something wrong?" Chen Yifei asked seriously, "This fog... seems a bit strange."
"You've noticed it too."
"The heavy rain and heavy snow both led to the intersection of the Gray Realm... Today's fog came too suddenly, it's hard not to make connections."
"That's what I'm worried about," Han Meng looked up at the glass dome covered in fog. He could only see a grayish white, as if falling into a vast ocean of swirling mist, "But so far, nothing unusual has happened... The situation in other districts is also unclear."
"Anyway, under such special weather conditions, it's better for us to remain vigilant," Xi Renjie, who was standing beside them, added.
Xi Renjie was the only surviving second-tier law enforcement officer after Han Meng's bloody purge in District Three... When Chen Yifei became a full-fledged law enforcement officer, he saw him speak on the stage.
"The previous heavy rain and heavy snow lasted for several days. This time, it probably won't be short," Han Meng said slowly, "I have ordered all law enforcement officers to add one more round of patrols each day. You'd better also do a few more rounds of patrols in the next couple of days and stay vigilant."
"Understood," Chen Yifei nodded.
Han Meng took a machine about the size of a palm from his pocket and handed it to Chen Yifei, "The temporary communication system has been activated. Keep this on you at all times. Once you find anything wrong, report to me immediately."
Chen Yifei examined the machine, and surprise flashed in his eyes... He had seen this thing before. When those two law enforcement officers broke into his home and fought with the red paper monster, they used it to seek help. Chen Yifei didn't think much about it at that time, but now he thought about it, this thing shouldn't appear in this era, right?
"How far is the range of this thing?"
"Its communication relies on the Aurora Lord's domain, so under the Aurora, we can all communicate on the same frequency."
So it's not technology but a domain... Chen Yifei put away the walkie-talkie and nodded.
Chen Yifei and Xi Renjie left the headquarters and, after some discussion, went to patrol the East Street District and West Street District, respectively. Han Meng, on the other hand, stayed alone at the law enforcement headquarters. As the chief law enforcement officer of District Three and the highest combat power in the district, he must ensure to stay at the center of District Three at all times.
The black windbreaker traveled through the thick fog, reducing visibility to ten meters. Chen Yifei was patrolling the streets and couldn't see people's faces from a distance...
Maybe because of the factory shutdown, there weren't many people on the road. After all, without any important matters, no one would choose to go out in such foggy weather. The wet streets were unusually quiet. Chen Yifei walked among them as if traversing another world.
He didn't know if this thick fog meant another arrival of the Gray Realm and which major district would be so unlucky to be enveloped... But he hoped that unlucky one wouldn't be himself.
Suddenly, Chen Yifei stopped.
He came to a puddle at the corner of the street. At some point, the water stains in the puddle had formed two lines of words,
[Audience Expectation +5]
[Current Expectation: 39%]
Chen Yifei's heart skipped a beat.
Damn, I've been hit!