S-Town at night was quiet. So quiet it felt like something was waiting.
The squad had just finished dinner. Zhao Yang leaned by the window, blood mist drifting like a mosquito net. Hu Hao sat on the sofa, magnetic field nearly recovered, adjusting his tea temperature with his consciousness layer. Lin Lan was in the kitchen, testing compatibility between the weather membrane and the microwave. He Xuan sat in the corner, logging magnetic fluctuations. Lu Ye had his eyes closed, constructing a backup particle man. Chen Mo was doing push-ups on the balcony. No one called him. He didn't come in.
"This town feels off," Zhao Yang said.
"You mean the cake's too good?" Hu Hao asked.
"I mean the magnetic field's too uniform."
"The cake's also too uniform."
"Can you stop using dessert as a benchmark?"
He Xuan looked up.
"There's a magnetic frequency circling us."
Lin Lan:
"Not a local."
Lu Ye opened his eyes.
"An outsider."
They didn't move. They just waited.
Five seconds later, the air gave a soft tremor. Time slowed.
Zhao Yang reacted instantly. Blood mist tightened. Magnetic field rewound.
First second—he saw Hu Hao's teacup frozen mid-air. Second—Chen Mo's push-up stalled mid-motion. Third—a shadow flickered past the window. Fourth—Zhao Yang activated Rewind Reality. Fifth—he locked onto the target.
"Someone's outside," Zhao Yang said.
Chen Mo flipped and jumped, leaping off the balcony and grabbing the figure in one motion.
The stranger tried to slow time again— but Chen Mo's grip was like a magnetic nail, pinning his shoulder in place.
"Don't move," Chen Mo said.
"I won't," the man replied, voice sincere—like someone freshly punched into honesty.
Zhao Yang stepped out.
"Who are you?"
"You can call me Lao Zhong."
"Are you a local?"
"No, I moved here later."
"You just attacked us."
"I didn't mean to."
"You slowed time and tried to sneak up on us."
"I was… practicing."
Chen Mo:
"You practiced your way into my fist."
Lao Zhong was pinned against the wall. His magnetic frequency scrambled like a pot of soup.
"Your abilities are too strong. I just wanted a closer look."
Zhao Yang:
"You got too close."
Hu Hao stepped out.
"You nearly knocked over my teacup."
Lao Zhong:
"I wasn't targeting the teacup."
Hu Hao:
"I'm targeting you."
Lin Lan:
"You're a time-slowing type?"
Lao Zhong nodded.
"I can slow time for ten seconds. Speed multiplier is flexible— but the higher the multiplier, the longer the cooldown."
He Xuan:
"What multiplier did you use just now?"
Lao Zhong:
"Eight times."
Zhao Yang:
"Planning to use it again?"
Lao Zhong:
"I did use it— but Chen Mo grabbed me so fast, I activated it for nothing."
Chen Mo:
"Your bones are soft."
Lao Zhong:
"My backbone's not that hard either."
They brought him inside. Sat him on the sofa.
Zhao Yang looked at him.
"Why were you watching us?"
Lao Zhong:
"Your magnetic fields are too bright. Especially you and the mental-type."
Hu Hao:
"I have a name."
Lao Zhong:
"Sorry—Mr. Hu Hao."
Hu Hao:
"Now you remember."
Lu Ye:
"How did you get into town?"
Lao Zhong:
"I walked in."
Zhao Yang:
"You're not a local."
Lao Zhong:
"I'm from the time farm on the outskirts."
Lin Lan:
"Time farm?"
Lao Zhong:
"You grow things slowly— makes them taste better."
He Xuan:
"You're lifestyle-type?"
Lao Zhong:
"I'm the least lifestyle of the lifestyle types."
Chen Mo:
"Anything else you want to confess?"
Lao Zhong:
"Plenty. But can I have some water first?"
Lin Lan handed him a cup. Lao Zhong took it—his hands still shaking.
"You're really strong," he said. "I thought I could scare you a little. Turns out you scared me out of my soul."
Zhao Yang:
"You're not planning to run now, are you?"
Lao Zhong:
"I don't even dare to stand."
They didn't press further. Just let him sit.
He Xuan recorded:
"Lao Zhong · Time-slowing type · Outsider · Purpose unknown."
Lu Ye looked at him.
"You're not a bad person. But you're not exactly good either."
Lao Zhong:
"I'm just… in the middle."
Chen Mo:
"You're one of us now."
Lao Zhong:
"I can be your sofa."
Hu Hao:
"You've got no backbone."
Lao Zhong:
"Backbone's cheap. Life's expensive."
They didn't interrogate him further. The real story hadn't surfaced yet. But they knew— Lao Zhong didn't come empty-handed.
Zhao Yang looked at him.
"We'll ask what you know."
Lao Zhong nodded.
"I know you will."
Chen Mo:
"Don't lie."
Lao Zhong:
"I don't even dare to stand. How could I lie?"
They let him stay. For now.
Lin Lan adjusted the weather membrane. He Xuan locked the magnetic frequency. Lu Ye continued building particle man on the balcony. Zhao Yang sat by the window, blood mist drifting softly. Hu Hao brewed fresh tea— and handed Lao Zhong a cup.
"You're… not like outsiders," Lao Zhong said.
Zhao Yang:
"You're not exactly a local."
Lao Zhong:
"I'm more like the neighbor of a local."
"My name's Zhong Li. Nice to meet you."
The squad responded— a few words each.
No one laughed. But the air felt lighter.
The real story was still ahead. But tonight— they'd found the first thread.