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“Chief Inspector Luo, what do we do now?”

Outside the Inspection Bureau, Lauren looked up at the two terrifying phantoms clashing in the sky and could not help but force a bitter smile. After everything that had happened, she had never expected that the crisis within the Inspection Bureau would turn out to be the least significant matter of the night.

To the mastermind behind it all, killing Adrian had probably been nothing more than a convenient way to avoid trouble.

Lauren turned to look at the officers behind her. Since the Inspection Bureau had been founded, it had never encountered anything like this. Even the most seasoned and experienced inspectors wore expressions filled with confusion and fear. It was clear that this incident had completely exceeded the limits of what the Inspection Bureau could handle.

After a brief moment of thought, Lauren gritted her teeth and declared, “Call off the search for Liana. Suspend the investigation into Chief Inspector Adrian’s death as well. We have something far more important to do.”

The moment they heard her words, someone immediately paled. “Chief Inspector Luo… you’re not planning to send us to fight those monsters, are you?”

The *monsters* they referred to were the two colossal phantoms in the sky. But Lauren knew full well that they were no monsters. They were two genuine Saint Realm experts.

Casting a glance at those who had spoken, Lauren said, “I’m not asking you to fight what’s happening in the sky. Since the day the Inspection Bureau was established, we have only ever had one purpose: to protect the people. Countless civilians may die tonight. This is exactly when they need us the most. We cannot retreat.”

“But… with only the Inspection Bureau…” They continued hesitantly, “If we can’t change the outcome, not only will we fail to save anyone, we’ll lose our own lives too…”

“Weren’t you prepared for that the moment you joined the Inspection Bureau?” Lauren cut them off impatiently. “I know tonight may become the most dangerous mission since the Inspection Bureau was founded. But we are the Inspection Bureau. The authority and responsibility that our former Chief Inspector fought to secure from the City Lord’s Manor and the three great families are duties we must fulfill to the very end.”

At that, Lauren let out a quiet sigh. “I know some of you are afraid. Some of you may even be the only son in your family. I won’t force anyone to stay. If you wish to leave, then leave. Just don’t ever call yourself a member of the Inspection Bureau again.”

The officers exchanged silent glances. In the end, roughly one-third of them lowered their heads. Among them were even several senior inspectors.

“…We’re sorry, Chief Inspector Luo.”

Lauren neither looked at them nor showed any sign of disappointment. She merely waved her hand. “There’s nothing more to say. Go.”

As that third of the force departed, the morale of everyone who remained became steadier than ever. Because they all understood that their comrades who had stayed had already accepted death. If that was the case, what was left to fear?

“Senior Inspector.”
“Present.”
“Take your team to the City Lord’s Manor. Things have gone quiet over there, and I’m worried something has happened.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Third Inspector.”
“Present.”
“You’ll take your team…”

Lauren quickly issued a series of orders. She had no intention of involving herself in the battle between Saint Realm experts in the sky, nor did she possess the ability to uncover the truth behind everything that had happened tonight.

Every arrangement she made had only one purpose: to gather every available survivor and save as many lives as possible. At that moment, she even let go of her hatred.

“If it were you… you would have made the same choice.” The image of Adrian’s steadfast gaze surfaced in Lauren’s mind as she murmured softly to herself. Finally, she raised her head and looked at the officers who still stood beside her.

“Let’s go.” She pointed toward the heart of the raging storm. “We’re heading to the southern district.”

***

Screams. Wails. Collapsed houses. Blood flowing through the streets. The farther Lauren advanced toward the southern district, the more horrifying the devastation became.

This was only the outer edge of the disaster. She could scarcely imagine what horrors awaited at its very center.

She raised her head and gazed at the two intertwining figures battling high above. The devastation below had largely been caused by the aftermath of those two Saint Realm experts clashing. Their every exchange carried the power to shatter heaven and earth, and tonight was the clearest demonstration of that terrifying truth.

‘Look at what you’re supposed to be protecting…’ Lauren stared at the old man who was unmistakably human and spoke those words silently within her heart.

“Waahhh!”

Lauren suddenly heard the cry of an infant. “There’s a child.” Her eyes lit up. She gestured for her subordinates to proceed with caution.

Following the direction of the cries, she carefully pinpointed their source. At last, she confirmed that the child was inside the courtyard of a house that had partially collapsed. Just as she was about to step into the courtyard, however, the crying abruptly stopped.

Lauren’s expression changed instantly. She signaled for her subordinates to halt the search.

“There’s an enemy.” She advanced alone and carefully pushed the courtyard gate open. A blood-soaked hand suddenly reached out from behind the gate. Lauren had already been prepared. Her shortsword flashed as she slashed at the hand while shouting, “Enemy contact!”

The blade struck the hand, but instead of cutting flesh, it rang with the sharp clang of metal striking metal, sending a shower of dazzling sparks flying. Lauren’s expression froze. Planting one foot into the narrow gap of the gate against the cold figure behind it, she used the resistance to propel herself backward.

The courtyard gate slowly swung open, revealing the figure standing within.

“Ye family’s steward?” Lauren’s pupils narrowed the moment she recognized him. “So it was you?”

The man was grotesquely obese, his entire body covered in layers of fat. At first glance, his plump face looked remarkably kind and benevolent, but the narrow slits of his eyes glimmered with chilling malice.

He was the Ye family’s steward, whom Lauren had met not long ago.

“So it’s Deputy Chief Inspector Luo.” After recognizing Lauren, the steward chuckled. “Out wandering in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Nights are very dangerous, you know.”

His smile was warm enough to make anyone instinctively lower their guard. That was, if not for the fact that his entire body was drenched in blood.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you the same thing, Steward? Since the night is so dangerous, why aren’t you staying safely inside the Ye residence? What are you doing here?” As Lauren spoke to keep him distracted, she quietly edged backward without drawing attention to the movement.

The blood covering the steward was obviously not his own, and the man before her gave her an overwhelming sense of dread.

“As for me…” the steward chuckled. “Well, I got hungry in the middle of the night, so I came out looking for something to eat.”

“Something to eat?” Lauren’s face turned pale as she remembered the infant’s cries from moments ago.

The steward seemed oblivious to the change in her expression, still savoring the memory of his recent meal. “As expected, nothing satisfies like fresh meat for a midnight snack. Such a shame there wasn’t enough of it.”

His gaze suddenly settled on Lauren, slowly roaming across the fair skin exposed beneath her clothing. A strand of reddish saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth. “Deputy Chief Inspector Luo… you look quite delicious too.”

The instant the words left his mouth, the steward transformed into a pitch-black blur and lunged straight at Lauren. Despite his bloated frame, he moved with the agility of a wild beast. His body twisted unnaturally in midair, effortlessly evading the concealed arrows that shot out from the darkness.

He charged toward Lauren without the slightest hesitation, as though he could no longer restrain himself, a savage grin spreading across his face.¹