Volume Three, Chapter Six: The Ulong Halo's Soundwave Interference

The morning after the chaotic confrontation at the underground nightclub, Zhang Xiaowai found himself huddled in a forgotten corner of the office building's guard station lounge. He clutched a steaming thermos of goji berry tea, his sole mission to coax his jangled nerves back into some semblance of order after the night's three-frequency brain resonance. His eye bags were darker than the charred remains on a night market barbecue grill , and his hair looked as if he'd spent the entire night sticking his head into a powerful fan at a DJ booth. Every muscle in his body ached with a dull, throbbing protest, a symphony of minor complaints orchestrated by the relentless chaos of the previous evening.

His Ulong Halo had refused to settle all night , buzzing with the manic energy of a child who had consumed an entire bag of sugar. It had kept him awake, forcing him into a nocturnal battle against relentless soundwaves in his dreams. The chilling message from Phantom Sound – "The Clock Tower, before the bell tolls thrice, the truth will be revealed" – was etched into his brain like a laser inscription. Every time he tapped his forehead, the phrase seemed to reverberate three times, a constant, mocking echo of the impending doom. He felt as though his very thoughts were being re-mixed, an unwilling participant in Phantom Sound's grand, unsettling composition.

Liu Piaopiao, ever the vigilant sonic scout, was already at work. She was crouched beneath an office desk, a portable spectrum analyzer clutched in her hands, peering intently at its glowing screen. She was meticulously analyzing the audio signals DJ Xiao K had recorded from the nightclub, simultaneously sipping on a bubble tea through a thick straw. "These audio tracks contain variable frequency interference segments," she announced, her voice precise and focused. "Phantom Sound is using rhythm to induce brainwave resonance". Her meticulous dedication to detail was both impressive and, to Zhang Xiaowai's exhausted mind, incredibly irritating.

"Resonance your head off…" Zhang Xiaowai mumbled, burying his face deeper into the embrace of a worn cushion. "I almost became a sound system testing dummy yesterday". The memory of his brain being bombarded by Phantom Sound's oppressive frequencies still sent shivers down his spine. He longed for the blissful oblivion of a normal, quiet, uneventful day.

Meanwhile, DJ Xiao K, oblivious to the concept of professional decorum, had set up a makeshift mixing console in a corner of the office. He was still in his pajamas, complete with a pair of oversized sunglasses, looking as though he were preparing to record an epic album. He bounced rhythmically on his toes, completely lost in his own world of beats and frequencies. "I've captured Phantom Sound's frequency curve!" he exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement. "Add in the reverberations from when your halo triggered… It's genius! I'm going to release my first concept album: Reverb Crisis: Xiaowai's Special Edition". He even held up a finger, as if conducting an invisible orchestra, already envisioning sold-out arenas.

Tang Xiaotang, ever the pragmatist, was busily editing their collected footage on her phone. She spared a brief, exasperated glance at DJ Xiao K. "You guys stop messing around," she warned, her voice firm. "Phantom Sound must have already started his second phase of the plan. We need to thoroughly investigate the Clock Tower's structure and its sound control core before the bell tolls thrice". Her journalistic drive was undeterred by their colleagues' antics; the story was paramount.

"You know where the Clock Tower is?" Zhang Xiaowai asked weakly, lifting his head from the pillow. The mere thought of another adventure filled him with profound weariness.

Liu Piaopiao, with a flourish, produced a hand-drawn map. "Old Town district, the Ulong City Founding Monument, commonly known as the 'Clock Tower.' It was used as an air raid siren a hundred years ago, but it's abandoned now". Her fingers traced the lines on the map, pointing out the various historical markers.

"Abandoned… sounds perfect for holding brainwashing rituals," Zhang Xiaowai sighed, rubbing his temples. "Can I please quit the team, or maybe transfer to the delivery department?" The allure of a simple, no-fuss job where the biggest challenge was finding the right address seemed infinitely appealing compared to battling sonic supervillains.

Just then, Wang Dazhuang made his dramatic entrance, carrying a steaming thermos. "Come on, come on," he boomed, his voice echoing in the quiet office. "This is pig bone soup my mom made, especially for internal sonic injuries!" He clapped Zhang Xiaowai heartily on the back, almost sending him tumbling off the couch.

"Why are you here again?" Zhang Xiaowai groaned, burying his face in his hands. The sheer ubiquity of his teammates was starting to feel like a cosmic joke.

"How could the person of destiny not show up!" Wang Dazhuang declared, puffing out his chest. "Besides, I've found something! The Clock Tower's foundation might hide an old city drainage system. Phantom Sound could very well be using that structure as a resonance hub!" His eyes gleamed with the thrill of uncovering a new layer of the mystery.

Liu Piaopiao's eyes lit up. "A resonance amplification point? Then we'll start our investigation from underground!" The prospect of a new lead reinvigorated her.

Tang Xiaotang nodded in agreement. "I'll livestream this investigation on my new account. Don't worry, I'll keep it anonymous". She was already envisioning the real-time engagement, the comments flooding in as they delved into the Clock Tower's secrets.

"I'm not afraid of the livestream; I'm afraid of being 'mind-controlled' and turned into an electro-wave wage slave halfway through the livestream". Zhang Xiaowai's voice had lost all trace of a will to survive. The grim reality of his situation was starting to weigh heavily on him.

DJ Xiao K, holding his portable speaker, interjected with a wide grin. "You already are, Xiaowai bro. We're all beta testers for Phantom Sound's plan!"

"Get lost!" Zhang Xiaowai snapped, a surge of adrenaline momentarily overriding his fatigue.

He glanced out the window, his eyes drawn to the distant, dilapidated spire of the Clock Tower. The lingering echoes of that unsettling melody still resonated in his mind. He knew, with a chilling certainty, that Phantom Sound's rhythm had not stopped ; his own life's tempo had been completely disrupted. And his Ulong Halo continued to hum, a persistent, almost mocking vibration, as if whispering: This is just the warm-up; the main melody is yet to come. The city itself seemed to hold its breath, anticipating the next movement in Phantom Sound's sinister symphony. The quiet hum of the Halo was a constant, inescapable reminder that the line between his mundane existence and the bizarre had irrevocably blurred.