794 A Million Times for You 156 (1/2)
An Xiaoning wiped her mouth and said, ”I didn't think things would get so serious. Did traffic accidents really occur for three days straight?”
”Would I dare to lie to you? It's really spooky.”
”I'll go to the police station with you.”
Happiness was written all over Pan Zhenghui's face as soon as he heard her answer. ”Ah, Xiaoning, you're really the police station's greatest benefactor. You're wonderful. Come, the car's outside.”
”Chief… stop being such a bootlicker,” she quipped.
”I'm not trying to curry favor, Xiaoning. I really meant what I said. You have no idea how worried I was for the past two weeks. I couldn't sleep well at night at all, I was so stressed out every single day. The media has been restricted from broadcasting and reporting about the accidents. But I doubt they can keep the news under wraps every single day. Things are going to get out of hand sooner or later. By then, it'll just end up showing how incompetent we are!”
”Come along,” An Xiaoning said to No. 5 and No. 8, who were uncertain if they should follow her. She then asked Pan Zhenghui, ”Why wouldn't the higher authorities approve of your proposal to prohibit all vehicles from traveling on the roads?”
Pan Zhenghui got inside the car and instructed his subordinate, ”Start driving.”
He then turned around to answer An Xiaoning, ”Because they're afraid of blowing things out of proportion and induce too much fear and trouble for the citizens. We're the top city of the nation and there is a massive number of working-class citizens here. How are they supposed to travel long distances to get to work without vehicles? Thus, we're only allowed to limit the number of cars traveling on the roads to about half of the original number. However, it's still not enough.”
”We don't know where that female spirit is now. If we don't prohibit the use of all vehicles, wouldn't we be creating more chances for her? Have such accidents happened in other cities yet?”
Shaking his head, Pan Zhenghui answered, ”No, the accidents have happened on several roads in our city, but they've never repeated.”
”We can't spread the word about the spirit being the cause of these to the citizens. That'd be inappropriate. Alright, let me call the higher authorities and see what they say.”
Pan Zhenghui had no idea who she was referring to, though he agreed, ”Okay.”
The call went through quickly. An Xiaoning said solemnly, ”There have been major car accidents happening in A City rather frequently of late. Have you heard about it?”
”Yes, I've already sent people to investigate.”
”That won't work at all. How are you supposed to get to the bottom of the matter when the culprit is a spirit? That'll only delay the progress of solving the problem. Immediately send orders to restrict the use of all vehicles in A City. That'll help keep the situation under control for a while.”
”A spirit? How did you know?”
”I saw it with my own eyes.”
”Really?”
”Absolutely. Those people who were responsible for the accidents have all been manipulated by the spirit. I reckon it must be a rather powerful one. Otherwise, it wouldn't have had the ability to control one's senses and manipulate them. I'm afraid we won't be able to track it down so quickly.”
”You shall be in charge of investigating this. How does that sound?” Tuoba Gucheng suggested.
”I would do that even without your orders, but since you've instructed me to, will you reward me if I manage to solve the problem?”
Tuoba Gucheng chuckled and said, ”You actually dare to ask me for a reward?”
”Why not?”
”What would you like to have for a reward?”
”I want you to promise me one thing.” There was no way An Xiaoning would shortchange herself.
”Speak.”
”I'll tell you over a text message. That way, there'll be evidence that I can keep,” said An Xiaoning, who then hung up immediately and proceeded to send him a text message.