After sending out the message, Yu Sheng glanced out the window.
The sky was just beginning to brighten. It was still early, and Bai Li Qing might take some time to respond.
Not one to sit idly, Yu Sheng, after sending the message, grabbed a small box originally used for cookies and carefully placed the Hunter’s Bullet inside. Then, he headed to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.
Foxy followed him eagerly, likely hoping for a bite to eat, while Irene seemed to tag along out of lingering curiosity.
“How did that Hunter know you could bring the bullet ‘outside’?” Irene asked, puzzled, as she trailed behind Yu Sheng. “They just shot you, confident you’d not only survive but also manage to extract the bullet? And then find someone to analyze it? Who even delivers a message like that?”
Yu Sheng was busy at the stove. As Irene spoke, his hands didn’t falter, though a faint frown of thought crossed his face.
What Irene raised was precisely what had been nagging him.
Whether the bullet truly carried a “message” was unclear, but one thing was certain: in the Black Forest, the Hunter hadn’t hesitated to pull the trigger. That shot, aimed directly at his heart, seemed more like an attempt to kill than anything else.
“The most likely explanation is… they didn’t know,” Yu Sheng eventually broke the silence.
“An entity wandering in the Black Forest wouldn’t know about my ‘resurrection’ ability,” Yu Sheng explained slowly. “Nor would they know that I enter the Black Forest directly from reality. So, when the Hunter pulled the trigger, they probably didn’t realize I could survive and bring the bullet into the real world.”
“Then… they were genuinely trying to kill you? But Little Red Riding Hood said Hunters don’t shoot without reason…”
“I can’t make sense of that either,” Yu Sheng admitted, shaking his head. “But one thing’s clear—next time I enter the Black Forest, I’ll take that bullet with me.”
He deftly sliced a plate of cucumber strips, then handed the remaining half of the cucumber to Foxy, who had been waiting impatiently. After a moment’s pause, he added, “If the Hunter ‘gave’ me this bullet, I need to carry it properly and see what changes it might bring.”
Irene gave a small “Oh,” just as a phone rang in Yu Sheng’s pocket.
“Bai Li Qing is calling,” Yu Sheng said, glancing at the screen before answering. “Awake so early? Saw the message I sent?”
Bai Li Qing didn’t waste time on pleasantries. She got straight to the point: “That’s a type of exorcism bullet used seventy years ago by deep divers and Special Affairs Bureau agents. It’s been obsolete for decades.”
Yu Sheng wiped his hands on a towel, instructed Foxy to keep an eye on the boiling noodles, and warned Irene not to climb onto the stove before stepping aside. “…I figured as much,” he said.
“Did the bullet come from the Black Forest?” Bai Li Qing’s voice came through the receiver. “Was it another ‘relic’ from the Hunter?”
Yu Sheng hesitated briefly, debating whether the bullet, fired directly at him, could be considered a “relic” or a “gift.” He quickly dismissed the strange thought and replied, “Sort of. The process of obtaining it was complicated, but yes, it’s the Hunter’s, something they actively used.”
“Then we can almost confirm it—the Hunter is from that twelve-person deep-diving team from seventy years ago,” Bai Li Qing said, her tone carrying a subtle gravity. After a brief pause, she asked, “Have you managed to establish any connection with them? Is this veteran… willing to help us?”
Yu Sheng fell silent for a moment before sighing. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t successfully communicate with the Hunter. Although I showed them the group photo, I’m not sure if they reacted to it.”
“Not a single word exchanged?”
“Didn’t get the chance,” Yu Sheng admitted.
Bai Li Qing paused before continuing, “…Then how did you acquire the Hunter’s bullet? Such an item is typically personal to a soldier.”
This time, Bai Li Qing’s silence lasted longer.
Clearly, she was processing the directness of Yu Sheng’s statement.
“Exactly as it sounds,” Yu Sheng added for clarification.
Finally grasping his meaning, Bai Li Qing’s voice grew hesitant. “…Are you okay?”
“Not dead,” Yu Sheng replied dryly. Since she didn’t know about his inability to die, he could only downplay it. “Just a scratch. Besides, I still think the Hunter can be communicated with; I just might’ve used the wrong approach this time.”
“You still want to try contacting the Hunter again?” Bai Li Qing sounded surprised. “That could be dangerous.”
“It is risky, but it’s worth another shot. I’ve already made some progress,” Yu Sheng said quickly, not giving her a chance to interrupt. “Little Red Riding Hood doesn’t have much time left. The orphanage’s children… their time is running out too. You understand what I mean.”
“…I do. The Special Affairs Bureau will fully support you. Reach out if you need anything,” Bai Li Qing promised.
After the call ended, Yu Sheng leaned against the counter, letting out a deep breath.
“Benefactor,” Foxy’s voice cut through his chaotic thoughts. “The noodles are ready. Should I rinse them with cold water?”
“Yes, rinse them,” Yu Sheng said, shaking off his worries. Looking at Foxy’s eager face, his agitation faded. A smile unknowingly appeared as he added, “Then it’s time to eat.”
Children lined up at the sink, taking turns to wash their hands and faces in an orderly fashion. Those already done sat at the table, waiting for their “guardians” to serve the food.
Little Red Riding Hood supervised the line at the sink, occasionally glancing back to ensure the dining table remained peaceful, her expression somewhat bored.
The Long-Haired Princess passed by, carrying a large pot of vegetable soup fresh from the kitchen. As she walked past, she glanced curiously at Little Red Riding Hood. “Hey, still upset with him?”
“Do I look upset?” Little Red Riding Hood retorted, puzzled.
“You do. Last time I owed you twenty bucks, you looked just ,” the Long-Haired Princess replied with a nod.
Little Red Riding Hood’s lips twitched, unsure how to respond.
“Come on, tell me what’s wrong,” the Long-Haired Princess pressed. “All I know is you got ‘kicked’ out of your dream last night, sat up in a panic, and started sulking. What happened?”
“…Nothing, really. I just realized I’m both terrified of and oddly looking forward to my birthday next month,” Little Red Riding Hood admitted after a few seconds of silence. She waved dismissively. “Enough chatting. If you don’t deliver the soup, the kids will start fussing.”
“Oh…” The Long-Haired Princess carried the soup away, while Little Red Riding Hood’s gaze followed her.
At the long table, the children chatted and laughed.
Several adults in Council uniforms stood by the kitchen door, watching with faintly complex smiles.
Xiao Xiao, now fully recovered, seemed to have found her confidence. Once shy and reserved, she was now animatedly recounting a bizarre dream to her new friends. Though unrelated to the Black Forest, her tale of an ordinary yet peculiar dream captivated the children, many of whom gathered around her.
Little Red Riding Hood turned her face towards the sunlight pouring through the window, narrowing her eyes slightly.
A notification lit up Bai Li Qing’s phone. It was a detailed report from Yu Sheng, recounting a daring expedition in the Black Forest, a perilous encounter with Wolf Granny, and the brief, puzzling interaction with the Hunter. The report also included Yu Sheng’s speculations and previously unreported intelligence about the Black Forest.
As she read, a pair of phantom eyes appeared silently on the floor-to-ceiling window behind her. A mechanical voice echoed in her mind, “Elegant writing?”
“No. I mean his writing is easier to follow than his speech,” Bai Li Qing sighed. “At least it doesn’t leave you scrambling to keep up.”
The phantom eyes blinked, then turned back to the phone’s text with her.
Moments later, Bai Li Qing made a call.
Song Cheng’s voice answered, “Director?”
“Prepare an additional deep-diving team at headquarters,” Bai Li Qing instructed calmly. “They don’t need to mobilize yet, but they must be ready at all times. Also, ready the large deep-diving pool at D2 Diving Port.”
“Yes,” Song Cheng replied immediately, though curiosity tinged his tone. “Director, has something happened?”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation