Outside the South China Seafood Market, night had fallen and a fine drizzle drifted down. Raindrops slid from the edges of umbrellas, splashing into tiny ripples on the wet pavement. The market's lights blazed brightly, yet the atmosphere felt strangely hollow—the usual clamor had been replaced by an oppressive tension.
"Qin Xiao, what's the situation?" Fang Zhiguo asked quietly, his eyes cutting through the curtain of rain toward the busy figures moving inside.
Qin Xiao flipped quickly through the tablet in his hands, which displayed real-time surveillance data and satellite images. "Preliminary reports show this is the earliest known site of unexplained pneumonia cases. Our team is already inside investigating. Early suspicion is that Patient Zero was infected here."
Fang Zhiguo frowned, worry flickering in his eyes. "Oh? And what does that mean?"
"The seafood market has heavy foot traffic, and just three kilometers away is the country's largest railway station. That means the virus could spread rapidly nationwide," Qin Xiao said gravely. "We must identify the source before it escalates further."
The two quickened their steps and entered the market. Inside, medical staff and national security agents in protective suits worked under tense urgency, collecting samples from stalls, warehouses, and the surrounding environment, while spraying disinfectant. The air reeked of a pungent mix of chemicals and the fishy stench of seafood.
They pushed through the crowd to a makeshift command center where several tables were lined with maps, reports, and data sheets. Experts huddled in heated discussion.
"Captain Fang, Qin Xiao, you're here," a national security officer greeted, handing them reports. "These are the latest test results."
Fang Zhiguo scanned them quickly. "Viral samples have already been extracted from seafood remnants and wastewater." His brows knitted as his gaze lingered on the maps, searching for the source.
"We must locate the very first patient, and everyone and everything he contacted," Qin Xiao added firmly. "Only then can we cut off the transmission chain."
They split up—Fang Zhiguo to trace the seafood's origins and transport channels, and Qin Xiao to track potential patient movements.
In the warehouse district, the air was thick with the fishy tang of stacked seafood shipments. Fang Zhiguo meticulously checked each shipment's origin, focusing on imports. At last, he spotted a batch of frozen seafood from Japan, with packaging dates matching the outbreak's timeline.
"This batch is suspect," he told his team, pointing at the crates. "Seal off the area and notify CDC for sampling."
Meanwhile, Qin Xiao scoured surveillance footage in the monitoring room. Suddenly, one feed caught his attention: a man in a black trench coat, clutching a black case, slipping into the market. His furtive glances suggested he was hiding something.
"This man is suspicious," Qin Xiao said sharply, pointing at the screen. "Track his movements immediately—I need to know where he went and who he met."
The footage showed the man lingering about ten minutes, briefly interacting with stall owners, then vanishing into the crowd.
"Captain Fang, I've got something," Qin Xiao radioed. "A suspect carrying a black case entered the market. Likely connected to the spread."
"Copy. I've identified suspicious imported seafood as a possible carrier," Fang Zhiguo replied. "We need to catch that man. He could be the key."
They regrouped, pooling their discoveries. Fang's eyes narrowed as he stared at the man's image. "He could be from the Kawashima Group. They might have smuggled the virus in through frozen seafood, using this courier to spread it further."
"We must find him," Qin Xiao said firmly. "That case might contain more virus samples—or even a vaccine."
Just then, Qin Xiao's phone buzzed. His expression darkened. "Captain Fang, intel just came in. The man checked into a Jiangcheng hotel, room 1208."
Fang's eyes flashed coldly. "Move out. We can't give him another chance to spread."
Rain poured harder as police convoys sped through the near-empty streets, their red-and-blue lights cutting through the storm.
At the hotel, Fang Zhiguo secured the exits while Qin Xiao led a strike team to room 1208.
"Go!" Qin Xiao barked. The door crashed open. Inside, the trench-coated man sat on the bed, black case in hand. Shock flickered across his face, but he quickly masked it.
"Who are you?" he demanded in Japanese, his tone defiant.
Qin Xiao didn't answer. He lunged, wresting the case from the man's grip. "We're National Security. You're under arrest for bioterrorism."
The man sneered, eyes glinting with disdain. "You think this will stop us? Foolish." Dark blood trickled from his lips—he had swallowed poison.
"He's committed suicide!" Qin Xiao rushed to check his pulse. Lifeless. "Captain Fang, suspect is down. We secured a black case and phone."
Fang exhaled but stayed wary. "Send the case to the virology lab immediately."
Sirens wailed as vehicles tore through the rain toward headquarters. Inside one car, Fang and Qin Xiao sat grim-faced. They knew the fight was just beginning—the true mastermind still lurked in the shadows.
"Qin Xiao," Fang asked quietly, "what's Kawashima Fukuichiro's next move?"
Qin Xiao thought deeply. "He won't stop. The virus is already loose. Next, he may leverage the vaccine as a bargaining chip."
Fang's eyes hardened. "No matter what, we won't let him succeed. This is a fight we must win."
Outside, the rain eased, and faint light glimmered on the horizon. Though the path ahead was perilous, they believed that one day, light would break through the darkness.
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