"Can you see what I am seeing?" Lin Ziyu asked Li Muhang with a smile through the earpiece.
"Can you see my perspective?"
"There are micro-cameras built into the badges on your chests, so of course I can. I have to provide support for you, anyway—look up at the sky at the nine o'clock position."
Li Muhang looked in the direction indicated and spotted a micro-drone hovering in mid-air.
"All right, Ziyu, stop showing off. Give us the situation on 5-8."
"Understood, Captain."
Lin Ziyu sounded a bit reluctant, clearly wanting to say a little more. But the mission came first right now.
The micro-drone quietly slipped around to the other side of the building, and then Lin Ziyu said to the team, "The target is inside the room. Go ahead."
With the confirmation, Huo Tian raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" a hoarse voice called from inside.
"It's me. I'll definitely pay next week... Just stop coming after me."
"Zhou Zhiguo, open the door. We aren't here to collect protection money," Huo Tian said coldly.
"Then who are you?"
"Don't you recognize me?" Huo Tian sneered as he stared at Zhou Zhiguo.
"Y-You?!"
Zhou Zhiguo tried to shut the door, but Huo Tian kicked it open, sending Zhou Zhiguo crashing straight to the floor.
"Search."
With a wave of Huo Tian's hand, Yin Qi and Su Xue immediately began searching the apartment.
Zhou Zhiguo scrambled up from the floor, glaring at Huo Tian with fury. "It's you again! It's always you! Your son wasn't killed by me! Why won't you just leave me alone?"
Huo Tian slapped his Special Management Bureau badge right against Zhou Zhiguo's face. "I'm with the Special Management Bureau now. We're here on a case."
Hearing the words "Special Management Bureau," Zhou Zhiguo fell silent.
By this time, Li Muhang finally got a clear look at the man before him—a ragged, utterly exhausted middle-aged man.
This was Zhou Zhiguo.
And also the legendary monster, Jiuguo.
Chapter 26: An Anomaly That Didn't Quite Match Expectations
"Director Huo... I've told you this so many times. Your son really wasn't killed by me, and I have nothing to do with those missing girls cases either. You already broke one of my legs, why won't you just let me go?"
Pinned down by Huo Tian, Zhou Zhiguo sat in a living room chair and watched as the others tossed his home upside down, tears nearly welling in his eyes.
"I'm not any director anymore. I'm now the captain of the Seventh Squad of the Special Management Bureau. Do you understand what that means?" Huo Tian kept tapping Zhou Zhiguo's face with his badge.
Li Muhang could see how deep Huo Tian's hatred for Zhou Zhiguo ran, yet even so, the man was still suppressing his anger; otherwise, Zhou Zhiguo wouldn't even have been able to speak.
Zhou Zhiguo's home could honestly be described as destitute; the only valuable item in the entire place was an old CRT television.
"I, I understand, Director Huo, Captain Huo."
"As long as you understand. I thought you beasts didn't even know how to communicate with humans."
Huo Tian unceremoniously took a seat in the chair. At that moment, Su Xue and Yin Qi finished searching the rooms and returned to the living room, both shaking their heads at Huo Tian.
Huo Tian exchanged a glance with Su Xue.
Su Xue immediately stepped forward and produced a set of photographs—pictures of the missing persons.
"Have you seen any of these people?"
"These, these people are? Sorry, officers, I haven't seen them. Is something wrong?" Zhou Zhiguo glanced at the photos, seemingly unfazed.
"They're missing. Missing under very bizarre circumstances, not something a human could do." Su Xue emphasized her final sentence, as if specifically intending for Zhou Zhiguo to hear it.
"I'm sorry, officers, I, I haven't seen them. I, I really didn't do those things! Please investigate this thoroughly, officers!"
"What the hell are you howling for?!" Huo Tian struck Zhou Zhiguo across the face, making Li Muhang wonder if it was a bit too much.
Though startled by the blow, Zhou Zhiguo immediately dropped to his knees. "Captain Huo! I know your child died an unnatural death! But you really can't pin this on me! I'm innocent!"
Huo Tian crouched down and stared coldly at Zhou Zhiguo, who trembled under his gaze. Finally, Huo Tian let out a cold laugh and hauled Zhou Zhiguo up from the floor.
"Alright, we're handling official business here. As for the past, I don't want to bring it up again. If you really haven't broken the law, I won't give you any trouble."
"Thank you, Captain Huo! Thank you, sir!"
Huo Tian waved a hand. "What's the deal with the bunch of people downstairs?"
Hearing mention of the people downstairs, Zhou Zhiguo sighed. "A bunch of gang members hanging around the old neighborhood... I work myself to the bone driving a cab every day just to scrape together these pennies, and even that isn't enough to satisfy the gang members coming around for protection money. Officers, how can people be even greedier than monsters?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Zhiguo realized his mistake, hurriedly bowing and scraping in apology. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, officers. I, I didn't mean to say that. Please, please forgive me."
"It's fine, you're right. Some people are even worse than monsters. Don't worry, we'll file a report on your situation when we get back and see if we can get you some help. Zhou Zhiguo, you behave yourself too, and don't hurt anyone."
Huo Tian's demeanor had completely flipped, as if all his previous fury had been an act. With that, he stood up and led the others toward the exit.
"Ah, thank you, sir, thank you to all the officers from the Special Management Bureau. I'll definitely keep my nose clean and never cause trouble for the Bureau or humanity."
Throughout the entire process, Li Muhang had remained entirely silent. He was observing both Zhou Zhiguo and the way the Seventh Squad operated; you could say that every member of this team operated with incredible tacit coordination, performing their respective duties without needing any advance communication.
Leaving Zhou Zhiguo's apartment and heading back downstairs meant they inevitably had to face the crowd gathered outside.
"Well, boss, business finished already? You should've told me you were looking for that bastard Zhou Zhiguo; I'd have tossed him right down to you myself. He still owes me quite a bit of money."
Faced with the grinning man, Huo Tian didn't offer a pleasant expression. "Step aside."
The man didn't block them directly, but a group of his underlings swarmed around their car.
"What's the meaning of this?" Huo Tian turned around to look at the man. Standing at one meter ninety-five with a sturdy build, Huo Tian made this man look like a mere chick.
Yet the man showed no fear toward Huo Tian, likely emboldened by their numbers and the weapons they carried.
"My eyes must've failed me just now, didn't recognize you. Aren't you former Chief Huo from the Tianhai City Public Security Bureau? Oh my, look at my eyes. Well, well, got a promotion?"
"Yeah. I'll treat you to dinner some other day."
"Director Huo, a dozen of my brothers fell into your hands before, and you didn't show an ounce of mercy."
Huo Tian sneered as he watched the speaker. "And what do you want of it?"
"How about this? I'll play host today, let's clear the air. I don't know what business you have with that scumbag Zhou Zhiguo, but since you're here, stick around for a meal."
"No time today. Another day, I'll host and treat you all." Huo Tian smiled and tried to walk around the man, only to be shoved backward by a hard push to his chest. The man's expression darkened.
"What? Look down on us brothers? Giving you face and you don't want it, huh? Fine. Leave your two broads behind so we can properly entertain the two beauties from the provincial bureau. Consider it your apology for my brothers still rotting in prison."
The man finished with a leering laugh, and the surrounding crowd joined in. But before he could laugh for long, Huo Tian chuckled as well. He turned his head toward Li Muhang and let out a dry, brief laugh.
Before Li Muhang could react, Huo Tian grabbed the man by the throat and slammed him violently against the car window.
Because the Special Management Bureau's windows had been specially treated, the glass didn't shatter, but the man's face wasn't so lucky; blood mixed with saliva and several broken teeth slid straight down the pane.
Witnessing this scene, Li Muhang's mind echoed with what Huo Tian had told him earlier: when dealing with ordinary people, you must never draw excessive attention to yourself.
"You, you mother—"
The man tried to curse, but Huo Tian tightened his grip on his throat and smashed him into the glass once more.
*Bang.*
This final impact made the man's body convulse before he passed out cold.
"Shit! Brothers, get 'em—!"
"Get your mother, fall back."
Just as the crowd surged forward to attack, Li Muhang had already drawn his pistol from his waist, the muzzle pointing straight at a blond punk standing at the very front.
Li Muhang glared at the crowd with unconcealed disdain, his eyes carrying a fierce, ruthless edge.
Though there were many of them and only one handgun, nobody was willing to be the first to step up and throw their life away. They could only watch helplessly as the four of them got into the car.
It wasn't until the engine started that Li Muhang lowered his gun.
Then the car roared to life right where it sat, startling the hoodlums blocking the front into scrambling out of the way.
The vehicle sped away into the distance, leaving behind only the angry curses of the massive crowd.
Chapter 27: Waiting by the Stump for a Rabbit
Once the car had left the old neighborhood, Huo Tian burst into hearty laughter. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, he patted Li Muhang's shoulder with the other and said, "Hahaha! You've got guts, kid! I didn't misjudge you! Even though you didn't even take the safety off, dammit."
Li Muhang coughed from the heavy pats and repeatedly reminded him to keep his eyes on the road.
"How'd you even think of pulling a gun, kid?"
"Didn't you give me a look, Captain, telling me to make a move?"
"Huh? My look meant that once *I* made a move, you should start the car so we could make a quick getaway."
Li Muhang was left speechless; he had completely misinterpreted Huo Tian's intention.
Still, looking at the result, Li Muhang had clearly delivered a 120-percent performance.
Even Yin Qi offered a brief, quiet comment: "Not bad."
After that, the group shifted to discussing the case. Li Muhang had expected they would head straight back to the bureau, but Huo Tian took a wide detour and parked the car in a concealed spot near the entrance on the other side of the old street.
"Are we going back to hit them with a surprise counterattack?" Li Muhang asked.
"Without evidence, we caught nothing." Huo Tian pulled out a cigarette case and offered one to Li Muhang, but Li Muhang shook his head, saying he didn't smoke.
"All right, get out of the car. The ladies need to change."
"Huh? Oh, oh."
Li Muhang understood instantly, yet somehow didn't quite get why they needed to change clothes.
It was already 7:00 PM, and winter darkness always fell quickly.
Li Muhang and Huo Tian leaned against a wall not far from the car. Huo Tian lit a cigarette, blew out a contented ring of smoke, looked at Li Muhang, and once again offered his cigarette case.
"Want one?"
"Don't smoke."
"Come on, who are you putting on an act for? Wanting to leave a good impression in front of the girls, I get it. It's just the two of us here."
"Captain, really, I don't smoke."
Li Muhang didn't know whether to laugh or cry, only to be mocked by Huo Tian for lacking spine.
"I just cherish my life. Who says not smoking means you have no spine? You just said you didn't misjudge me."
"Just making small talk to boost your approval rating with the girls. So, which one do you have your eye on? Taozi or little Yin? Want this old brother to help you—"
Seeing Huo Tian getting more and more carried away, Li Muhang quickly cut him off and dragged the conversation back to the case.
"Do you think it's Zhou Zhiguo?" Li Muhang asked.
Huo Tian bounced the question right back at him. "What do you think?"
"I think... well, it's hard to say. The impression he gave me was just that of an honest, hard-working middle-aged man, but you can't judge a book by its cover. Yet there doesn't seem to be anything suspicious in his house either."
"Indeed."
Silence fell over them once more.
Huo Tian squatted against the wall, smoking one cigarette after another. Li Muhang noticed he seemed to be looking at something, and leaning in closer, saw it was a locket pendant.
The locket was flipped open, revealing a photograph inside.
"Handsome?" Huo Tian suddenly turned his head to look at Li Muhang.
"Huh?"
"This is my son. Handsome or not?" Huo Tian proudly displayed the photo inside the pendant to Li Muhang.
Li Muhang saw that the picture was of a young man in a police uniform, tall, straight-backed, and sharp-featured—the classic righteous hero archetype from stories.
"Handsome, and full of righteousness."
"Heh, of course, that's my boy." At that, Huo Tian took another deep drag of his cigarette. "If he'd been able to keep being a cop, he definitely would've had what it takes to be a chief one day."
Li Muhang knew that the youth in the photo would never be a police officer again; his life had stopped forever five years ago.
"Captain." Li Muhang crouched down beside Huo Tian. "Is this why you joined the Special Management Bureau?"
Huo Tian didn't answer right away, merely staring down at the pendant in his hand, gazing at the child in the photograph.
After a long while, he answered somewhat irrelevantly: "After the accident, his mother divorced me. That period was the most painful time of my life. I carried a gun and went to Zhou Zhiguo's place every single day, and I got warned many times. The last time, I couldn't hold back and blew his leg off with a shot."
Huo Tian let out a self-deprecating chuckle as he said this. "After wearing a police uniform for decades, I had it stripped away just like that."
"And then the Special Management Bureau came after you?"
Huo Tian nodded. "Director Lin came to find me herself. The very first thing she said to me was an apology, because they hadn't been able to find the real killer of my child. Back then I was still furious, so I threw her out."
Picturing Director Lin getting booted out the front door made Li Muhang want to chuckle, but given the current atmosphere, he held it in.
"Hahahaha, you have no idea what Director Lin's face looked like." Instead, Huo Tian ended up laughing.
"She came three times, and I chased her away three times. On the fourth time, she marched right up and kicked my front door down. A security door, mind you—that thick! With those skinny arms and legs of hers, she actually kicked my security door right off its hinges. Then guess what she said to me?"
"What?"
"Three visits to the thatched cottage should be enough, right? Shows enough sincerity, doesn't it?!"
"Hahahahaha." This time Li Muhang couldn't hold it back and laughed along with him.
"Then Director Lin dragged me straight to the Special Management Bureau headquarters, laid out the situation of the Bureau for me, and asked if I wanted to join. Actually, what she did was against the rules; since I hadn't expressed willingness to join yet, I shouldn't have been taken to headquarters."
"She seems to be bending the rules for my situation too."
"Director Lin is a good person. She's the one who gave me hope for a rebirth."
"She gave you a chance to avenge your son?"
Hearing Li Muhang's words, Huo Tian paused for a moment, then snapped the locket shut with a sharp click. He turned his head and blew a cloud of smoke right at Li Muhang.
"Perspective, broaden your perspective. Your view is too narrow. At first, I did join the Bureau with a mindset for revenge, but through five years of working here, I've come to understand just how vital the Special Management Bureau is to the survival of humanity."
"Captain, are you brainwashed?"
"Go on with you. A punk kid like you doesn't know a thing. Although I don't know where that demonic power of yours came from, I can guarantee you that if you went through standard training, you'd be the first one eliminated."
Li Muhang understood that if humans wanted to possess the strength to fight anomalies, they had to endure inhuman trials. Yet he seemed to have awakened Baal's Demon Power merely by being beaten half to death by Zhao Qiankun.
Put that way, it really did seem unfair to people like Huo Tian.
"Kid, you really won't consider joining the Special Management Bureau?"
"Aren't I interning under you right now?"
"No, I can tell. The current you has no intention of joining." Huo Tian stared deep into Li Muhang's eyes, and Li Muhang felt as though all his inner thoughts had been seen through.
Indeed, Li Muhang had no plans to join. Right now, he simply wanted to learn more about how the Special Management Bureau operated so he could navigate around them more easily in the future; he had no desire to become someone's leashed dog.
"Fair enough, fair enough." Huo Tian slowly stood up. "A kid like you shouldn't have to step foot into this one-way world."
Li Muhang stood up as well, but just as he was about to press for more answers, the sound of a car door closing drifted over from behind.
Turning around, Li Muhang saw that Su Xue had stripped off her black suit jacket and trousers, trading them for a set of action-friendly athletic wear with a guitar case strapped to her back. She wore a beanie and a face mask, and for a moment Li Muhang almost didn't recognize her.
Yin Qi was dressed in a similar fashion, though she kept quiet. She walked over to Huo Tian, lifted a finger to point at the watch on her wrist, and said, "19:35. I'm going in."
"Go." Huo Tian was still smoking; he simply gave a nod, and Yin Qi pulled up her mask and walked alone into the old street.
"Captain, little brother Muhang, I'll be heading off too." Su Xue waved at the two of them and headed into the old street as well.
"What are they doing?" Li Muhang watched the two figures vanish into the night.
"Doing their jobs."
Huo Tian's answer sounded like a response, yet somehow explained nothing at all.
Right at that moment, Li Muhang's phone rang.
"Answer it. You might not be able to take calls in a minute." Huo Tian flicked away his cigarette butt and lit a fresh one.
Li Muhang pulled out his phone and took a look, his brow immediately furrowing.
The caller ID clearly displayed the number of Gu Ruoxi's mother.
"Hello, Auntie."
"Xiaohan? Auntie wants to ask you, what on earth is going on with Xiaoxi?"
On the other end, Gu Ruoxi's mother sounded extremely anxious, as if she had already learned about Gu Ruoxi's disappearance.
"You already know?"
"The police called me, asking if we could get in touch with Xiaoxi. We've called her cell, reached out to her on WeChat, and called her school—we can't find her anywhere!"