chen

Should I give up?

Should I not?

Why?

Sir, I am referring to the incident that took place roughly ten years ago when the city was infiltrated by foreign forces. Several Lungmen citizens were kidnapped, and they are yet to be found.

I will continue to push the city to investigate and locate the missing citizens after my admission to the department.

Ch'en... You have no idea what you are talking about.

Sir, I am perfectly aware of what I am talking about.

I won't argue. How about this, then? As soon as you don't think you can keep it up, just let me know.

Tell me, Superintendent Ch'en. How long do you want to be in the department?

Is this the end?

Is this as far as I can go?

I haven't accomplished anything.

I haven't found her, and I haven't done anything to make this city a better place.

Is it really okay to give up like this?

I still...

I won't take Ah Faat in. He didn't mean to hurt me.

Superintendent Ch'en...

But let's forget we took this walk together.

Oh?

You can drop the act. Since you saved me, I'm sure Wei Yenwu already knows that I'm Infected.

It's only a matter of whether I tell him about it myself.

Hohoh, things aren't quite so transparent between me and Yenwu.

Though it's true that this isn't an easy thing to hide.

I don't know what he thinks, but if I can stay in the L.G.D., I will keep doing my job.

If I can't, I'll find another way.

I'm sure there is a lot that I could accomplish working for you.

But that is not my way.

Sorry.

No need to apologize, Hui-chieh.

You aren't willing to give up yet. I won't say this is a good thing, as the path you have chosen is one without a future.

But you're still young. You have time to figure things out.

Hey, Ch'en, are you okay there?

Hoshiguma? I'm fine. Just ran into a situation.

Okay, looks like Missy's friend wasn't pulling our leg.

We're almost done over here. As for our next step, though. That's for you to decide.

Understood.

I'm on my way.

Thank you for everything, Uncle Lin.

No need to thank me. Thank yourself.

Look, Yenwu. It's like you two are both cut from the same cloth.

That's not a good thing.

Now you say this is not a good thing.

I'm curious. Can an Infected run this city?

If that's what she wants to do, I'm sure she can.

There are certain things you should tell her yourself.

If I told her myself, she wouldn't listen.

That doesn't sound like something an elder who pushed all his arrangements back the moment he heard his niece was Infected would say.

If you don't do something about yourself soon, she will never understand you.

It's not me that she doesn't understand. It's the rules, the shackles.

And since she doesn't have the strength to break free of them, she won't ever need to understand me.

Yet you hope she has that strength, and you're forging the sharpest blade for her. A blade called Lungmen.

We walked all those years together, smiling until the very end, Kojui.

But do any of us really want anyone to repeat the same mistakes we made?

I taught her how to wield a blade, but, in the end, she must wield it herself.

She needs to learn for herself how wield it. That is the only way the cloud-splitting sword she masters can be different from mine.

Her swordhand should not be the same as this one.

Fate. This is all fate.

All the things we fought so hard for, they're all being destroyed before we even have the chance to enjoy them.

You gave Hui-chieh the greatest gift in the world, yet her time is already ticking away.

Heaven certainly knows how to play a cruel trick. Wouldn't you agree, Old Wei?

What Heaven says or does means nothing to me.

But Lungmen will be a more perfect place. That is all I can do right now.

See, that is why I say you are cut from the same cloth.

During the L.G.D.'s first attempt to move into the slums, Ch'en took the opportunity to sweep out several triad elements that had been hiding there.

That is why Ch'en was promoted to Chief of the Special Inspection Unit.

But right when everyone thought the L.G.D. had found its footing in the slums, Ch'en unexpectedly announced the L.G.D.'s retreat from the area.

Most thought their entrance a risky move she took to facilitate the surprise operation that followed.

Half a year later...

Where's Superintendent Ch'en? I got a letter for her.

She went back into her office after pouring another cup of Joe.

Still not going home, huh? What a workaholic.

You said it. Ever since that operation six months ago, she's been pushing herself way too hard.

If she keeps this up, it's really going to wear her out.

What are you two gossiping about?

Oh, Superintendent Ch'en. It's nothing. Here's a letter for you, by the way.

A letter? Let's see...

(It's from Nine?!)

(She... She started working with the Reunion Movement after she got infected?!)

(There's even a number on here...)

(Reunion...)

Hello... It's me.

It's been a long time, Ch'en.