"After all, those who worship the Evil Gods aren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed."
"Once I finish this month’s last mission, I’m going home to marry Xiao Mei. You all promised to come for a drink at the wedding."
"Definitely, definitely."
Everyone was in high spirits. With so many people surrounding them, how could they lose?!
"Alright, that’s enough chit-chat."
A middle-aged man wearing a bearskin coat, a cigar in his mouth, stood tall at two meters.
As soon as he spoke, everyone went quiet, revealing his high standing.
"Although these cultists have shown their hand, it might be a trap they set deliberately."
"This mission involves seizing Forbidden Items, so everyone give it 120%!" Qin Shi said coldly.
As the deputy director of the City Defense Army, a seasoned Golden Beast Tamer—possessing profound wisdom, fearless power, and charisma admired by millions—he maintained the peace of Yaoguang City.
Of course, that was just him boasting, with a healthy dose of exaggeration. If he were truly that capable, the old director would have stepped down long ago.
"By the way, isn’t Qiuyun participating in the operation?"
As the reconnaissance team went ahead to search for suspicious targets, Qin Shi asked his adjutant.
"Director, you forgot," the adjutant replied, exasperated. "Knight Jiang’s Dragon Eagle was contaminated in battle. It clocked out early for treatment at the Beast Taming Hospital and won’t be participating in operations for a while."
"On leave again?" Qin Shi’s mouth twitched. "Hasn’t she either skipped check-ins or been late all month? Is she trying to be a goldbricker!?"
"I, as a director, don’t even dare to take leave! I’m setting an example for the City Defense Army, contributing to Yaoguang City’s construction. How dare a youngster like her act this way?!" Qin Shi was so furious his fists clenched.
Regarding Jiang Qiuyun’s slacking behavior, he expressed strong condemnation on one hand and immense jealousy on the other. He, a middle-aged man, longed to go fishing, get a massage at a club, or drink tea at a teahouse, yet he had no free time at all... Damn it!
The adjutant didn’t know how to comfort him and could only offer a helpless smile.
"Director, we found something."
Qin Shi’s ears perked up. Maintaining his air of authority, he said indifferently, "Speak. What clues do you have?"
The reconnaissance team immediately reported: "We suspect the cultists checked in today. If we follow this lead, there are sixteen rooms in total. Further investigation will take some more time."
Qin Shi lifted his head, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Then what are we waiting for? Cast a silence barrier and go check them room by room!"
A Firefly, quivering slightly, startled a girl resting her head on her arm.
"EEK?" Jiang Qiuyun blinked in confusion, her delicate fingers curiously touching this "Firefly."
"Commoner, where did you go?"
"If you kneel and beg, this young lady wouldn’t mind graciously sponsoring you a bit."
"Hey, where are you?"
A flash captured Jiang Qiuyun’s stunning face alongside a handsome, unconscious young man, transforming the image into a screenshot that was then uploaded.
"Oh?" Jiang Qiuyun was startled.
Yet the "Firefly" remained silent, rendered speechless.
She tilted her head, leaned over to Chu Yi, and poked his cheek with her finger. "Dad, the talking... bug..."
Another flash photo was uploaded.
The blonde loli took off her white socks, revealing a pair of lotus-petal-like Jade Feet—pure and beautiful, delicate and fair as fine jade.
Seeing that the young man hadn’t appeared on the surveillance feed, her amusement dwindled slightly.
Finally unable to bear it any longer, she used a vine tendril to pick up her Star Bracelet and dial through.
After a while, Lias stared at the intimate screenshots, falling into silence.
The Bloodthirsty Rose sensed a wave of unease and shrank back into a corner, terrified. It understood that this outwardly arrogant young lady was, in private, an absolute monster—fiercer than all her Pet Beasts combined.
So, he already has a girl he’s taking care of. Lias laughed, a trace of bitterness escaping her cherry-blossom pink lips. Maybe my playful attitude annoyed him. Well then, it’s time to end this.
A wisp of shadow engulfed her. The next moment, she was clad in a dark, gothic lolita dress that accentuated her snow-white skin. A pair of petite bat wings unfurled from her jade-like back, their dark red shadows tracing noble patterns.
Outside the window, countless bats swept past, spreading fear.
A humble figure stood behind her, bowing low. "Young Lady, what can I do for you?"
"Tell Father I’m coming back."
At this, the butler looked surprised. He was unable to contain his trembling, and his scarlet eyes brimmed with Frenzy. "As you command, Young Lady. You shall be crowned King."
"Open up, your delivery has arrived."
"Okay, coming," the tall, shadowy man replied casually. Then, expressionlessly, he looked at the Horned Man. "Did you order takeout?"
The Horned Man frowned, then realization dawned. He stuck out his tongue. "Ah, seems like we’ve been found out, huh~" As he said this, he even adopted a girlish expression.
The tall man fought the urge to stuff his fist in the Horned Man’s mouth. What’s with this cutesy act?
"Alright, there’s no use in arguing further." The Horned Man returned to normal. "The old method: you hold them off and create a big diversion, while I escape with the Flesh Egg."
"I could die," the tall man said coldly. "This time, let me take the Flesh Egg."
"No," the Horned Man refused, his expression turning cold. "I have the stealth skills of a Shadow Mouse, a Lightning Mink, and a Chameleon Giant Lizard; my survival rate is better than yours. Don’t forget, this is crucial for our Lord’s arrival! If it’s delayed, the backlash from the Golden Decree will hit us. Even a hundred lives wouldn’t be enough for either of us then."
Upon hearing this, the tall man fell silent. He snorted coldly and walked straight to the door.
The Horned Man was right; the Flesh Egg was crucial and couldn’t fall into Federation hands. But how did the Federation find them when their arrangements were so secure!?
"I’m counting on you."
The tall man let out a low roar as his entire body began a grotesque transformation. Various Pet Beast limbs—insect legs, tiger claws, fish gills—writhed constantly.
"Okay." The Horned Man also sprang into action. A golden halo flew out, enveloping the Flesh Egg.
"If they don’t come out, there’s definitely a problem."
"Don’t rush. He’s a student at Star Dragon Academy. With that connection, it shouldn’t be a major issue."
"Hey, look at the latest update! According to the Star Bracelet investigation, just today, the Pet Beast he was training underwent Mutated Evolution and jumped two ranks! That’s a six-level increase!"
"What incredible luck!"
"Man and Pet Beast working together to capture a hundred-odd Fireball Mice? Going this hard for a beginner mission? Does this kid have an extra liver or something?"
The investigators glanced at the database and were all dumbstruck by Chu Yi’s record.
"Stop gawking," the investigator team leader said, lowering his guard. "Since he’s a student and there are no major red flags, just question him and go through the formalities."
After all, students are full of passion and ideals, brimming with limitless hope. It’s highly unlikely they’d join an Evil God Sect.
Suddenly, everyone was stunned, swiftly turning around to see the tall man burst out from the opposite door.