Lunch break ended. When it was time to start work in the afternoon, Bai Wanyang still hadn't returned.
Half an hour later, the sharp ring of an alarm echoed through the Special Operations Section; an emergency supernatural incident had occurred.
"Where is the location? What is the hazard level assessment?" Yue Shi looked at the assistant investigator who had come to report, his tone calm.
The young assistant investigator appeared to be a new recruit. He seemed nervous facing Yue Shi and spoke rapidly.
"The incident is happening at the restaurant right across from the Investigation Bureau. It's a plant-type supernatural creature with a C-rank hazard level and a risk of spreading. Furthermore, according to our archives, this creature has appeared once before in Amber City."
Across from the bureau? A plant-type?
Yue Shi raised an eyebrow slightly. These supernatural creatures were getting bold, daring to cause trouble right at the Investigation Bureau's doorstep.
Yue Shi had dealt with a plant-type creature once before. His unfortunate former neighbor, Cai Zetao, had been "blessed" by the Life Vine and was eventually sucked dry into a withered corpse.
"Specific characteristics of the creature?" Yue Shi asked as a matter of routine.
"It's a carnivorous vine. It sucks the victim's body tissues dry, and then strange human-faced flowers bloom from them," the assistant investigator answered truthfully.
Yue Shi nodded. These characteristics were identical to the supernatural vine that had killed Cai Zetao.
It was the Life Vine.
Bee Women, Parasitic Mushrooms, the Life Vine—these were all supernatural creatures that had escaped from the forbidden zone, the Mysterious Garden.
The Queen Bee and the Parasitic Mushrooms were already dead. Why was this Life Vine choosing this moment to make its presence known?
Was it a coincidence? Or was there some movement within the Mysterious Garden?
"What's the situation on-site?" Yue Shi asked.
The assistant investigator said, "Since noon, no one who entered that restaurant has come back out. Later, passersby heard strange sucking sounds coming from inside, which is how the anomaly was discovered. Based on preliminary observations from the perimeter, there is a massive number of vines inside the restaurant. The Investigation Bureau has already cordoned off the area."
Yue Shi nodded, not taking it too seriously. He had been able to easily deal with this vine creature before, and now that his strength had increased significantly, it would be even less of a problem.
He stood up to head out. As he walked toward the exit, he happened to see Mr. Wang loitering in the hallway again.
Yue Shi paused and suddenly spoke up. "Special Commissioner Wang."
Mr. Wang startled, instinctively taking half a step back as he looked at him warily. "What do you want?"
"Come with me to handle a supernatural incident," Yue Shi said in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Me?" Mr. Wang pointed at his own nose, his face full of disbelief.
"I am merely administrative staff. I don't need to participate in field operations."
"Oh?" A "kindly" smile spread across Yue Shi's face.
"These past few days, Mr. Wang has constantly criticized our slack discipline and low efficiency. This is a perfect opportunity. Why don't you provide some on-site guidance personally? It would allow me to witness the 'professional flair' and 'efficient work ethics' of a headquarters special commissioner."
"Since you can spout so many grand theories, you must be very good at practical work rather than just talking, right, Mr. Wang?"
Faced with this overwhelming praise combined with moral kidnapping, Mr. Wang was momentarily speechless, his face flushing red.
He wanted to argue, but he noticed many people passing by were looking over with expectant expressions. If he backed down now, the image he had built and his own reputation would become a laughingstock.
Mr. Wang had no choice but to brace himself and agree. He figured that as a headquarters special commissioner, no matter how arrogant Yue Shi was, he wouldn't dare let him come to harm in front of everyone. Instead, Yue Shi would likely do his best to protect him.
"Fine, I'll go and see how you people handle supernatural incidents." Mr. Wang feigned composure, straightening his back, while secretly adding another mark against Yue Shi in his mind.
Yue Shi's eyes crinkled with a smile as a nervous Mr. Wang followed behind him.
The two soon arrived outside the restaurant. Cordon lines had been set up, ordinary police officers were evacuating the surrounding crowd, and the Investigation Bureau's field personnel were staring intently at the restaurant's exits with enchanted flamethrowers in hand.
Clang—!
A loud crash suddenly came from the second floor of the restaurant. Immediately after, a heavy wooden dining table smashed through a window and plummeted from the sky.
Below, a field agent assisting with order didn't have time to react. He was struck directly by the table; his skull split open, and he clearly wasn't going to make it.
The crowd instantly erupted in screams, and the chaos intensified.
Other field personnel called for emergency medical aid while urgently expanding the perimeter.
Yue Shi didn't think too much of it, only feeling that the man was incredibly unlucky. A few days ago, there was a lucky fellow who survived the clash between the Clown and the Director unscathed; today, there was an unlucky soul killed by a falling table. Truly, the world was unpredictable.
He looked up at the second floor of the restaurant. Behind the shattered window, he could vaguely see the shadows of vines writhing like a nest of snakes.
Seeing Yue Shi's arrival, the personnel guarding the perimeter immediately opened a path.
"I... I'll just stay out here to guide you. Remote guidance will suffice." Seeing the man who had just been crushed and the flickering shadows of the vines, Mr. Wang's cowardice kicked in, and he tried to retreat.
"How could that work? You can only discover real problems at close range. I especially need your presence for on-site guidance right now." Yue Shi was not polite at all, grabbing Mr. Wang's arm and dragging him inside the cordon.
The others nearby looked at each other, wanting to say something, but ultimately chose to look away.
"Yue Shi! What the hell are you trying to do!" Mr. Wang panicked completely, struggling desperately with a mix of fear and rage.
"What happened the other day was my fault, and I already apologized to you! You're not still trying to settle a personal vendetta under the guise of public duty, are you?"
"Heh heh." Yue Shi let out a spine-chilling laugh.
"Normally, I retaliate on the spot. I specifically let you live for a few extra days. Didn't you feel my mercy and kindness?"
Mr. Wang felt as if he had been dropped into a pit of ice. He had originally thought Yue Shi was just trying to scare him or make him suffer a bit at most.
But hearing Yue Shi's tone now, the man actually wanted him dead?!
How deep was this grudge? Was it really worth it!
Even though Mr. Wang had already drafted a plan to retaliate immediately upon returning to headquarters—using his influence to indirectly destroy Yue Shi...
But... how could Yue Shi want to kill him?
A grassroots investigator from a remote city—who gave him the nerve!
No, Yue Shi really did have that kind of nerve! He had beaten him until his spleen ruptured back at the hospital. Mr. Wang had thought Yue Shi only dared to do that because he didn't know his true identity at the time.
Looking at it now, Yue Shi simply and purely wanted him dead!
"I am a special commissioner from headquarters! So many people outside saw me come in with you! If you kill me, you'll be finished too!" Mr. Wang roared at the top of his lungs.
"I know, I know," Yue Shi said nonchalantly.
"Special Commissioner Wang personally visited the scene of a supernatural incident to guide local investigators in containment work, only to unfortunately sacrifice himself heroically. Truly, the heavens weep and the earth mourns..."
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