Chapter 863: The Mysterious Coastline

The woman thought for a moment, picked up a flyer beside her, and drew a circle on it with a pen.

“Here.”

“Sunset Coastline?” Lin Qiye’s gaze swept over the introduction of this attraction, deep in thought.

“That’s right. We went to this spot the next afternoon. After they got off the bus to explore, they never came back. After the scheduled time, I waited in the car with the driver for another hour. After all, I thought this attraction was too remote. If they didn’t take the bus, it would be hard for them to return to the city.

But even when it got dark, they still hadn’t returned…”

At this point, a look of panic appeared in the woman’s eyes. “They… they wouldn’t have gotten into some trouble, would they? Are you police?”

“No, they returned safely because we’re all friends. I was just asking casually about what they did,” Lin Qiye lied.

“I have a few questions.”

At that moment, the previously silent An Qingyu suddenly asked, “You must be the tour guide for this travel agency, right? According to your description, when they got off at the Sunset Coastline, you stayed in the car. Why didn’t you, as their guide, go with them?”

“That was their request; they said they didn’t need me to follow…”

“Is it that you can’t follow at every attraction, or just this one?” An Qingyu narrowed her eyes slightly, asking the most crucial question.

“I usually follow at most attractions, but there are a few exceptions…”

The woman recalled for a moment and circled a few more places on the map of the flyer. An Qingyu raised an eyebrow and nodded with a smile.

“I understand now, thank you.”

“We’re not going to any other attractions; we’ll go directly to the Sunset Coastline,” Lin Qiye said to the woman, then returned to the back seat of the bus with An Qingyu and the others.

“What did you find out?”

As soon as he sat down, Lin Qiye curiously asked.

“The places where the [Mask] team doesn’t allow the guide to follow are all near the coastline,” An Qingyu replied.

Lin Qiye pondered for a moment. “So you mean the [Mask] team doesn’t even know the exact task location, only that it’s roughly in the vicinity of the coastline?”

“Yes.” An Qingyu nodded. “Based on the information we have, we can basically reconstruct the content of that phone call… The call was merely to inform the [Mask] team that something seemed to have happened near the coastline in Ningchang County. This matter isn’t urgent; for the [Mask] team, it would just be a small task, allowing them to check it out while on vacation.

Using a tone similar to ‘looking out for them’ can lead the [Mask] team to a certain place without any vigilance while avoiding the cumbersome formal task issuance procedures of the Watchers, thus not attracting any attention.”

At the same time, An Qingyu extended her hand and pointed to the sunshades on both sides of the travel bus.

“The [Mask] team is in a vehicle like this, and the road surveillance can’t capture their traces at all. The infrastructure in Ningchang County is somewhat outdated, and the attractions are mostly natural scenic spots like mountains and seas, where there is no surveillance. As long as they use technical means to block their mobile signals, the [Mask] team can achieve ‘vanishing into thin air.’

So even if the Watchers send out a search team, it would be impossible to find the [Mask] team in a short time.”

“Fortunately, we already have clues,” Lin Qiye said. “As long as we pinpoint the last location where the [Mask] team appeared, finding them will just be a matter of time.”

The two were completely immersed in their own world, oblivious to the way the other team members looked at them as if they were monsters.

“What kind of brains do these two have?” Bai Li Pangpang said with a grin. “Sitting with them makes me feel like an idiot…”

“I agree.” Cao Yuan silently raised his hand in agreement.

“You also think you’re not smart enough?”

“No, I agree that you’re an idiot.”

“…”

…

By the time Lin Qiye and the others got off the tour bus, it was already dusk.

The dim sunset spilled over the rolling waves, and the spray sparkled like broken gold along the brown coastline. A gentle breeze brushed against Lin Qiye’s cheek as he gazed for a moment at the tourists frolicking on the shore, then turned his eyes to the distance.

“There are quite a few people at this attraction,” Shen Qingzhu said after getting off the bus, lighting a cigarette. The smoke quickly dissipated with the sea breeze, leaving no trace of odor. “Where are we going next?”

“The task location of the [Mask] team should not be within this attraction area but somewhere nearby,” An Qingyu pondered. “There are too many people at this attraction. If the [Mask] team really appeared here and did something, there would definitely be some traces left.”

“They indeed didn’t stay here for long.” Lin Qiye turned to look at the coastline, gradually shrouded in the shadows of the setting sun, “After they strolled around here, they went straight over there.”

“Let’s go take a look.”

The group followed the path the [Mask] team had taken that day, gradually distancing themselves from the noisy crowd. Everything around them slowly quieted down, and on the brown coastline, only the sound of waves remained.

They walked for about an hour, and the sky had completely darkened, with faint glimmers of light appearing at the horizon.

Lin Qiye suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Jia Lan asked in confusion.

“Strange…” Lin Qiye lifted the brim of his hat, the crimson eye in the center of his brow flickering with light, his brow furrowed tightly. “The [Eye of Secrets] has failed? How is that possible?”

The others behind him were taken aback.

“Black Eye, what’s going on?” Lin Qiye asked in his mind.

“I don’t know either, Director.” The voice of Black Eye transmitted from the crimson eye into Lin Qiye’s mind. “After coming here, I can’t see the past of this area… It’s as if the history here has been erased. I’ve never encountered such a situation before.”

“What about the future?”

“Same, the future is also a complete chaos.” Black Eye was silent for a moment before reminding, “Director, I feel something is off about this place…”

“…I understand.”

Lin Qiye sighed.

“What happened?” An Qingyu asked in confusion.

“This area ahead is strange; both the past and future are chaotic, and I can’t find any traces of the [Mask] team.” Lin Qiye raised his head, squinting at the distant lights, and slowly spoke,

“It seems… we really found the right place.”