An Eye for News Chapter 9

             “Politics and Legislative Commissioner… So what?!

                Se Cai was still brooding from his dressing down but he knew he had to keep his eyes on the prize.

                The commercial building was so big, he didn’t believe it only had one entrance.

                Unexpectedly, after he b.u.t.tered up the building manager, he successfully got the manager to reveal to him the location of the building’s back stairwell!

                The steel door creaked heavily as it opened into a gaping maw.

                It was obvious that staircase didn’t see regular use. The air inside was stale and it reeked of mildew.

                It belied the commercial building’s long history. Even though the front was remodeled many times, the stairwell had been left to its own device and it showed.

                “This staircase is the building’s original fire escape. It led straight to level 33, the rooftop. Are you sure you want to do this? There’s 33 floors’ worth of climbing and many of the lights had fallen into disrepair. It’s very easy to slip and fall. Why don’t you wait here and I’ll get you a flashlight…”

                The manager said kindly, noting the camera equipment that was weighing Se Cai down.

                “Thank you but I need to go asap. Also, a kind reminder, blatant disregard of a building’s fire escape is a fineable offense…”

                Se Cai admonished lightly to repay the manager’s kindness.

                “Oh. There’s no need to worry about that, our boss has some contacts over at the fire department. We’ve never been fined…”

                “Then, could you help me take care of my tripod. I’ll come back to get it later!”

                Before the manager could reply, Se Cai shoved the tripod into his hands and jogged up the stairs.

                He knew it was going to be a long slog but since the front entrance was blocked by police, this was the only way available to reach the news.

                To get this news, Se Cai had given it his all.

                Unbeknownst to Se Cai, acquiring the Eye for News system had gradually changed him. He started to show true pa.s.sion for his work, for the pursuit of truth!

                “F*ck, this place sure is dark. Thank G.o.d for my enhanced vision!”

                Se Cai observed after he had ran past several floors.

                The manager was right, more than a few lights in the stairwell was broken. The whole place was shrouded in darkness.

                It was then that Se Cai found out the system had also granted him night-vision. Then again, it was after all to be expected since it was a common feature in most cam-recorder.

                However, able to see in the dark and able to climb up 33 floors were 2 distinct things.

                Se Cai’s physical was considered fit since as a reporter, he had to spent most of the days running from one news source to the next.

                Despite that, this wasn’t easy for him either. After about 20 floors, the small camera around his neck started to feel like a dumbbell.

                “d.a.m.n, I might have overestimated myself…”

                Se Cai remarked breathlessly as he slumped to the floor.

                He sucked in a deep breath and picked himself up again. A mysterious force was pus.h.i.+ng him forward, urging him to hold on.

　           “Chances like this come once in a lifetime. I mustn’t let this slip away!”

                “This is all to revenge against the Blue Sky Rehab that wanted to take your hand. Se Cai, you have to keep going or that day will never come!”

                “Stay focused… For the sake of News Point!”

               Se Cai kept feeding himself encouragement. After an interminable time, finally he glimpsed a ray of light in the dark. It was the skylight! He had reached the 33rd level!

                Before he could rejoice though, cruel reality hit Se Cai like a brick to the face.

                The wisps of light that streamed down from the dusty skylight revealed a heavy lock that prevented Se Cai’s way forward.

                “F*ck me! Why that manager didn’t mention there’s still a locked door!”

                Se Cai swore as his blood boiled.

                He calmed down enough to realize it was unrealistic to go back down for the keys then. He leaned into the wall and looked around.

                His eyes eventually fell upon an air duct that was on the wall.

                The air duct was about 10 meters off the ground and was wide enough for a grown man to fit through. With his enhanced hearing, Se Cai could pick up strands of rushed conversations coming from its other end. It should lead him directly to actual scene.

                “When G.o.d closes a door, he opens a window, well, an air duct.”

                Se Cai gathered himself and leaped to grab at its edge.

                Thankfully, the air duct was of the older model that didn’t have an operating fan or else Se Cai wouldn’t have been able to get through.

                A thick layer of dust covered every surface of the duct. Se Cai crawled purposefully through the darkness, staining his clothes and face along the way.

                His determination though held firm. This was all for the news that he wanted!

                “I see it!”

                Se Cai yelped in delight when he saw the duct was reaching an end.

                The other end of the duct was parallel to the rooftop’s floor. The aluminum covering had long since rusted away, leaving behind a huge hole. It had however provided Se Cai with the best vantage point to take in everything that was happening on the roof.

                Se Cai cheered silently, the spot was 100 times better than he had expected. The jumper was literally 5 meters away from where he was, but thanks to the shadow inside the air duct, Se Cai was perfectly hidden from all prying eyes.

                “Phew, thank G.o.d all that effort wasn’t wasted!”

                If the police had let him through, he wouldn’t end up with such a valuable spot because there was no way police would allow him such close proximity to the jumper for fear of agitating him.

                In other words, the rejection had accidentally led Se Cai to a better outcome!