[9:00 AM on October 5th]

[New Moon City]

The morning news program of “New Moon Morning” was broadcast on time. Unlike the usual relaxed and lively atmosphere, the broadcast station was adorned with white chrysanthemums mourning the deceased, and both hosts were dressed in black, looking solemn and grave.

“Hello, viewers, let’s focus on today’s morning news.”

“The shocking hostage incident at Xinghai Cinema formally ended last night, with 314 hostages from Chiyang Attached Primary School rescued safely, but unfortunately, 1 student was killed.”

“City Council President Amir returned to New Moon City this morning, expressing deep condolences to the families of the victims and directing the City Council to reflect on urban safety issues, drawing lessons to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

“The 28 Crow’s Nest thugs led by Muto Dongying were detained last night, and both the city’s court and the prosecutor’s office have stated that the most severe punishment will be executed on them.”

“Starting today, New Moon City will enter a month-long security rectification period, with all security forces committed to restoring order. The City Council urges all illegal entrants to leave the Inner City immediately to avoid more severe consequences.”

“Large-scale protests erupted in the Rust Wall District, with Inner City citizens demanding authorities launch a military retaliation to completely cleanse the border groups led by Crow’s Nest.”

“In response to the chaos in handling the crisis, the World Government’s Upper Court Council has initiated an accountability process. A special investigation team has stationed in New Moon City this morning to conduct a comprehensive investigation of multiple departments, including the City Council, Public Security Bureau, and Rusted Wall Defense Command Center.”

“According to morning news, former New Moon City Public Security Bureau Chief Beiyuan Jun is suspected of illegal activities and improper gain, and in this city-wide crisis, severely neglected his duty. He has been deprived of his original position and transferred to the special investigation team to await legal judgment.”

“Mr. Sikinkov, the former Acting City Council President and City Council Executive Committee Member of New Moon City, managed the crisis adequately and received public commendation from the Upper Court Council. He has been nominated as the next Public Security Bureau Chief, to officially take office on October 12th, one week from now.”

“The Xinghai Cinema hostage incident marks the first large-scale attack on children by violent groups. It is a tremendous shock to human morals and values. Our station strongly condemns it and sincerely hopes for world peace, wishing such tragedies never again occur.”

…

After the special investigation team from the Upper Court arrived, Su Mo, the primary rescuer of the Xinghai Cinema hostage incident, was taken for isolated questioning at the station.

Although called “questioning,” it was essentially just a formality.

The investigators from the Upper Court were astute people who immediately understood why mercenaries instead of official troops participated in the rescue and knew Sikinkov’s ulterior motive very well.

No matter what, the result was good, maximizing the reduction of hostage casualties, which mattered most.

Thus, Su Mo was not troubled; the investigators even hinted at their admiration, and the conversation went very smoothly.

As for the chaotic scenes during the rescue, such as issuing random warrants, live sawing of people, and slaughtering Muto Dongying’s entire family, the investigators didn’t even mention them, tacitly allowing them to pass.

This starkly contrasted with Su Mo’s impression of the original plot.

In the “Dawn” game, this rescue mission is a main storyline level ending battle, a must-play, where players can only launch a strong attack on Xinghai Cinema, and children’s deaths belong to “plot kills.”

Afterward, players were isolated and questioned by the investigation team, and it was awful—no food, no water, twenty-four hours under strong lights, tortured beyond human form.

If it weren’t for Sikinkov later pulling some strings for a “plot rescue,” players would have been doomed to death.

Of course, the current situation was all anticipated by Su Mo.

In the eyes of the Upper Court, the result is most important.

As long as the result is impressive, they can tolerate and smooth over any chaos in the process.

Su Mo left the investigation team station past ten in the morning.

The morning sunlight bathed his face, bringing a warm feeling.

Outside the station, three familiar figures were waiting early, and upon seeing Su Mo, they ran straight up to him.

KK was most anxious, grabbing Su Mo’s arm and scanning him up and down, full of concern: “Big brother, did they do anything to you?”

Dongdong lightly poked Su Mo’s belly with a baseball bat, gave a thumbs up, and laughed: “Leader, not bad, I didn’t expect you to have such a cool moment. When you faced off against Muto Ghost on TV, it totally made me swoon~”

Future peeked around, rubbing his hands: “Boss, did the investigation team mention any bonuses? Ask those bigwigs to give our Mercenary Corps some research funds!”

With three different remarks, Su Mo was momentarily unsure whose words to reply to, so he just smiled, “Let’s go home first, I haven’t had breakfast yet, I’m starving.”

When Su Mo and the others left the station building, a crowd gathered outside, consisting of reporters from various major media.

These journalists were well-informed, eager to seize first-hand news when they heard Su Mo was being investigated here.

Due to the large number of reporters, there was also a lot of sheriffs maintaining order at the scene.

As soon as Su Mo appeared, the reporters swarmed in.

“Mr. Su Mo, could you share the contents of your conversation with the investigation team?”

“Can you tell us your thoughts? Why did you step forward during the hostage incident? Was it at someone’s behest?”

“Director Su, do you feel any guilt for killing so many in the Muto family?”

“Someone saw you whispering closely with Anti-Violence Captain Ivan. Are you a couple?”

Su Mo didn’t want to answer any of these questions, especially the last idiotic one.

He wore a polite smile and walked out without speaking.

Apart from reporters wanting a sensational story, others purposefully opposed the trend; everyone regarded Su Mo as a hero, but some vilified him as a villain for notoriety.

Standing before the camera, a reporter from a tabloid indignantly proclaimed, “We can hardly imagine such an event occurring in modern society—killing an entire family!”

“Su Mo, the trampler of human values! Even the families of the thugs shouldn’t be treated like this! We must defend the rights of the thugs! Human rights! Human rights! Human rights!”

Dongdong swung a club from behind, striking him on the head: “I uphold the rights of the *Civilized Border*!”

The reporter, bleeding profusely, lay on the ground and wailed to a sheriff: “Officer! She’s attacking! Arrest her!”

Dealing with these reporters who constantly sought trouble, the sheriff had suffered from their mischief before and was itching for revenge. Now that someone taught them a lesson, they couldn’t be happier.

The sheriff deliberately turned his head away, pretending not to see.

Dongdong smirked viciously: “Hehe, trash bursts into coins~”

The reporter’s cries and laments echoed around.

Not long after, Dongdong returned to Su Mo’s side with spoils.

Holding the wallet snatched from the reporter in her left hand.

Carrying the camera stolen from the broadcast on her right shoulder.

Su Mo was momentarily stunned: “Why did you take his wallet?”

Dongdong replied smugly: “The sheriff doesn’t care, it’d be a waste not to take money.”

Su Mo: “Why did you take the camera too?”

Dongdong righteously said: “Sell it for money, it’s worth a lot.”

Su Mo: “…You’re really frugal.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep