Chapter 10: Crisis at the Security Bureau!
The Teleportation Array surged, swirling with a halo of rose-tinted light. In its wake, Bai Xuan and Serene materialized at the edge of the quest’s target zone.
A heavy, unnatural silence pressed upon the forest park. Night devoured all color, leaving only the rare, lonely call of a night bird beneath the obsidian sky.
“Is it always this eerie after dark?” Bai Xuan muttered, unable to resist a sardonic jab at their surroundings. He and Serene pressed onward, weaving between the trees toward their objective.
They didn’t have to search long. Suspended from a low branch ahead was their quarry—a golden Sunlight Slime, faintly luminescent, dangling like an oversized, glowing dumpling.
But as they drew closer, a far more disturbing detail revealed itself: inside the gelatinous mass, the blurred outlines of bones—animal and unmistakably human—drifted in the golden ooze.
“Wait, this slime’s Light attribute… Does that mean your Holy Light skills are useless here?” Bai Xuan asked, concern threading his voice as he glanced at Serene.
Serene nodded, her expression composed. She raised her palm, and a plume of violet flame blossomed in her hand.
Bai Xuan arched an eyebrow, only now recalling that Serene was not just a Paladin, but a Succubus as well.
“All yours, then.”
“Understood.”
The word had barely left her lips before Serene flung the violet fire at the Sunlight Slime.
In an instant, the slime was engulfed. Its massive form writhed and twisted in agony, crashing to the ground with a wet, ponderous thud.
It struggled for a moment, but the flames devoured it relentlessly—until all that remained was a heap of ash.
Done.
Wait—
As the last embers faded, something glimmered in the ashes where the slime had fallen.
Bai Xuan stepped forward and picked up a shard of deep red crystal. It radiated heat, its texture reminiscent of a gemstone, yet distinctly different from any ordinary ruby.
“What’s this?”
“Could be valuable. Let’s keep it for now.” Bai Xuan slipped the mysterious crystal into his pocket, then activated the Teleportation Array. Together, he and Serene returned home.
The moment they arrived, Bai Xuan submitted the quest.
[World Quest: Slime Showdown (Completed)]
[Mission Reward: Equipment—Slime Mask (Green). Your Agility attribute has increased slightly!]
[Slime Mask (Green): Conceals the wearer’s appearance and presence.]
[Refresh Ticket +1]
“Oh?” Bai Xuan’s eyes widened in surprise.
This time, the reward wasn’t a Character Setting, but a piece of equipment—one that could mask both his identity and his presence. Perfect. The last thing he needed was to be flagged by the Investigation Bureau just because someone recognized him.
He felt his Agility tick upward, reaching D rank. His reflexes sharpened; his body felt lighter.
“Not bad at all…” Bai Xuan grinned, about to close the Book of Worlds—when something new caught his eye on the Ninghang City map.
[World Quest: Security Bureau Defense]
[Quest Difficulty: F+]
[Location: Security Bureau, Division One, Ninghang City, Huaguo]
[Quest Description: A biological weapon—‘Tyrant’—is about to unleash a massacre upon the officers inside the Security Bureau!]
[Mission Note: Its weak point is the heart.]
[Mission Reward: ?]
“Division One of the Security Bureau? Isn’t that where Yu-jie works?!”
Bai Xuan’s heart lurched. He turned to Serene at once. “Emergency quest. Come with me—now!”
Meanwhile, inside the Security Bureau—
“Bai Yu, take a break, will you? You haven’t closed your eyes since dawn.” Liu Qian offered her a steaming cup of coffee, concern etched into her face.
“I’m fine.” Bai Yu shook her head gently, accepting the cup. Her gaze remained fixed on the interrogation room, where a man in a black leather jacket sat shackled.
An uneasy prickle crept through her chest. Something about this man felt… off.
“Liu Qian, where’s that girl in the qipao?”
“Her? I didn’t really notice. Maybe she left already?” Liu Qian replied uncertainly.
“Miss Hongyou was summoned by the higher-ups. She’s always in demand—some things only she can handle.” Huang Xin, idly twirling a poker card between his fingers, chimed in. “Why, you looking for her?”
“I just have a bad feeling about this guy,” Bai Yu said quietly. “It’s like… he wanted to get caught.”
“Wanted to get caught? You’re overthinking it!” Huang Xin laughed, brushing aside her worry. “Miss Hongyou and I had to work our asses off to bring him in. Trust me, he’s not here by choice.”
“Besides, whatever he’s planning, there’s nothing to worry about.” He flashed a confident grin, flicking his cards. “With me here, you’re all safe.”
“Exactly!” Liu Qian nodded in agreement. “It’s late, Bai Yu. Why don’t you go home and get some rest? We’ve got things covered.”
“Maybe… Maybe I’m just being paranoid.” Bai Yu managed a small nod and turned to leave.
That’s when it happened—a heavy, unnatural thud reverberated from the interrogation room.
“What was that?!”
Everyone’s attention snapped to the one-way glass.
Inside, the man in black was swelling at an impossible rate—growing, bulging, until he towered over two and a half meters tall.
His skin turned ashen; thick cords of muscle writhed beneath the surface, as if some monstrous force was clawing to break free.
“Quick—restrain him!”
The officers inside lunged to subdue the mutating man.
He barely moved, and the handcuffs snapped like twine. With a single, brutal motion, he flung the officers aside as if they weighed nothing.
Then he kicked—shattering the interrogation room’s reinforced glass.
“Shit!” Huang Xin barked, turning to Bai Yu and Liu Qian. “You two—call the Investigation Bureau for backup! I’ll hold him off!”
“Can you… can you really stop him?” Liu Qian’s voice trembled, doubt plain in her eyes.
“Don’t underestimate me, miss.” Huang Xin shot her a roguish grin. “I’m Huang Xin of the Ninghang City Investigation Bureau—some folks call me ‘Cardmaster Huang’!”
“Uh-huh…” Liu Qian frowned, unconvinced.
Huang Xin didn’t waste another word. He strode straight into the path of the rampaging giant.
“Hey! Big guy! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”
The mutant turned, gaze cold and empty. In the next instant, his massive fist came crashing down toward Huang Xin.
“Fast!”
Huang Xin moved in a blur, flicking a handful of poker cards in a single, practiced motion. They erupted in a blinding flash.
The giant instinctively shielded his eyes. By the time his vision cleared, several cards were stuck to his body.
Huang Xin had already retreated to a safer distance, grinning.
“Show your hand!”
Boom—!
A thunderous explosion swallowed the mutant in smoke and debris.
“Liu Qian, let him handle it. We need to call the Investigation Bureau—now!”
Bai Yu dragged the still-stunned Liu Qian away from the chaos.
They sprinted down the corridor to relative safety. Bai Yu immediately dialed the Investigation Bureau. “Hello? This is Bai Yu from the Ninghang City Security Bureau—we’ve got an emergency—”
As she spoke, Liu Qian’s head jerked toward the window at a strange sound outside.
She looked up—and her blood froze.
Out on the street, shadows were converging on the Security Bureau. Dozens of them, maybe more.
The sight rooted her in terror.
“B-Bai Yu…”
Liu Qian clung to Bai Yu’s sleeve, her voice trembling as she pointed outside.
“Look—just look out there—”
“What is it?”
“Zombies… they’re here—!”