Asano Ryo followed the receptionist through the open-plan office and arrived at the executive section of Heaven's Punishment. There was another front desk here—the executive quarters were separated from the standard staff workspace, requiring special access cards to enter.
The receptionist escorting her spoke up, "She's an intern dispatched from the island nation's Thousand Cranes Group, a Rank 2 Inspector. She's here to report for duty today."
"I know. Minister Winnie's assistant already notified us." The older, more sophisticated receptionist behind the desk picked up the landline, dialed the minister's assistant, and spoke with deference. "Assistant Emma, the new inspector has arrived."
After reporting, she hung up the phone, scrutinized Asano Ryo, and sighed in wonder. "Heavens, a Rank 2 Inspector! She looks underage. Talented girls like her are rare—no wonder Minister Winnie wants to see her in person."
The receptionist who had brought her shrugged. "Yeah. Her profile says seventeen, but to me she looks barely fifteen. Well, East Asians naturally look youthful. I really didn't expect the island nation to produce such outstanding talent."
The two receptionists chatted casually as if no one else were present, paying no heed to Asano Ryo's feelings.
*How rude. Baka...* Asano Ryo kept a taut, straight face the entire time, trying her best to look cool and mature.
Before long, a tall woman strode out from the depths of the executive area on high heels.
She appeared to be around forty, with black hair and brown eyes, deep-set eye sockets typical of Westerners, and faint freckles dusting her cheeks. Her features were not exceptionally beautiful, but they held an amiable warmth.
Swiping her employee badge to open the security barrier, she pushed the glass door open, waved to Asano Ryo, and smiled. "Come on in."
Asano Ryo bowed out of habit. "Yes, ma'am!"
This drew a quiet snicker from the two receptionists.
Emma shot them a cold glance, and the snickers vanished instantly.
Once Asano Ryo cleared security, Emma led her forward and said, "I'm Minister Winnie's assistant, Emma.
"Minister Winnie is your direct superior, but you cannot approach her directly. If anything comes up at work, you must report to me first, and I will relay it to her.
"Personal matters outside work are not within my responsibilities, but since you are still a minor, we always show consideration to young people. You may come to me for help if needed."
She spoke at an unhurried, measured pace, exuding the poised composure honed from years in the workplace. Her demeanor was neither overly warm nor distant—just right.
Asano Ryo followed Emma down the wide, winding corridor for a while, passing one office after another. Finally, they stopped outside the largest, most secluded river-view office at the very end.
*Knock, knock!*
Emma rapped on the door. "Minister, our new colleague is here to report for duty."
A voice came from inside, crisp, aloof, and laced with sternness: "Enter."
Emma pushed open the glass door and smiled at Asano Ryo, gesturing for her to go in.
*Winnie Berent, an eighth-rank Thunder Mage...* Asano Ryo took a deep breath, composed her expression, and stepped inside.
The first thing that greeted her eyes was a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the brisk waters of the Deson River, hailed as the economic lifeblood of New York.
To the right was a lounge area furnished with high-end sofas, a liquor cabinet, and a bar counter. Western oil paintings and Chinese ink-wash scrolls adorned the walls, complemented by decorative potted plants around the perimeter.
To the left sat an expansive executive desk. Behind it was a woman in an impeccably tailored business suit. She appeared to be in her thirties—the prime of a woman's maturity and allure.
Wavy chestnut hair fell over her shoulders. A prominent nose, deep-set eyes, and graceful contours defined her three-dimensional features. Her skin was fair, as if dusted with a sheer layer of frost. Long, straight brows paired with profound eyes, combined with the sharper facial angles typical of Westerners, gave her an icy, commanding elegance.
For a moment, Asano Ryo forgot her beauty. It felt like standing before her strict master, Ryuzaki Ichi. She held her breath instinctively, growing somewhat tense.
Winnie Berent glanced at Asano Ryo, pulled a folder from the stack on her left, opened it, and spoke as she skimmed: "The records say you were once a member of Yuanshi Tianzun's guild?"
Hearing the name Yuanshi Tianzun, a wave of sorrow welled up in Asano Ryo's chest, washing away her apprehension. She answered softly, "Yes."
Minister Winnie keenly sensed her grief and remarked calmly, "Did he ever tell you that he was the Demon Lord's successor?"
*What?!* Asano Ryo froze, dumbfounded.
Seeing her expression, Winnie already had her answer. She continued, "What was your standing in the guild?"
Asano Ryo did not answer immediately, taking a full minute to process the revelation before carefully wording her reply: "The members were on very good terms, without any strict hierarchy. I... I had the lowest level among them, but they never looked down on me."
Winnie gave an indifferent nod, her gaze penetrating. "In the world of Spirit Realm walkers, aside from lovers and parents, guild members are the closest kin. Before Yuanshi Tianzun returned to the Spirit Realm, did he leave behind any instructions or items?"
Pausing, she added, "Such as a portable speaker?"
Asano Ryo looked bewildered. "I'm sorry, I have no idea."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Winnie's eyes. She pressed, "I want you to provide a roster of the members in Yuanshi Tianzun's guild."
Asano Ryo almost refused on instinct, but caught herself just in time. She bowed. "Minister Winnie, I would like to consult them first."
Winnie gave a slight nod. "Get back to me soon. You may go."
***
"I want the audio of the Demon Lord and Winnie exchanging fluids."
Inside the bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing held the Cat King Speaker like a devout believer making a solemn vow.
The Cat King Speaker lay quietly in his palm, completely unresponsive.
Beside the bed, Commandery Princess Yinyao raised her little megaphone. "It says: equivalent exchange."
"I don't have any recordings of people banging."
"It wants music."
"How do you know what it's thinking?"
"No idea. Intuition!" Commandery Princess Yinyao remained expressionless, her crimson eyes gleaming with eerie brilliance. "Yuanshi Tianzun, I don't want to go back into the hat. Let me stay out and play."
Having been confined inside Little Red Riding Hood for days, the princess was now back in the open air. Learning that Zhang Yuanqing had arrived in an uncivilized barbarian land overseas, her ambition to tour the world burned fiercely.
"I can deploy you in a fight, but during daily life, absolutely not. The way you look would frighten people to death. Besides, I haven't figured out a proper backstory for you to make public appearances. We'll talk about it later," Zhang Yuanqing flatly refused.
Ignoring the sulking princess, he pulled out his phone and prepared to play some music for the equivalent exchange.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Immediately after, Annie's broken Chinese drifted in from the living room: "Hubby, the landlady is here!"
*The landlady? What is she doing here? We already had dinner yesterday, there's no need to keep thanking us...* Zhang Yuanqing snatched Little Red Riding Hood from the desk and tucked both Commandery Princess Yinyao and the Cat King Speaker inside.
He exited the bedroom into the living room and saw the landlady and Cao Qianxiu seated on the sofa, waiting.
Seeing him come out, the slender, pretty young woman gave a slight nod.
Zhang Yuanqing returned a smile and sat down across from mother and daughter. "What bad timing—we've already finished breakfast, or else I could have invited you to join us."
The landlady, whose cheekbones were slightly high, waved her hand and got straight to the point. "Xiao Zhang, I have a favor to ask. My daughter's grades aren't very good. I'd like to hire you to tutor her on weekends. Fifty federal dollars an hour, three hours a day."
Zhang Yuanqing readily agreed. "No problem. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make some extra cash, ma'am."
A smile appeared on the landlady's face. "I'll give you a high school test paper tonight to test your academic level. I hope you understand."
"Of course!" Zhang Yuanqing teased with a grin. "As long as you don't ask me to teach foreign languages, anything else is totally fine."
With the tutoring arrangement settled, the landlady led her daughter back home, thoroughly satisfied.
Zhang Yuanqing turned to Annie, who was wiping down plates, and said, "Come out with me. The trial mission assigned by the Hunter Guild is a bit odd. The client only gave an address and insisted on discussing the mission details face-to-face with the hunter.
"Annie, what do you make of it?"
Annie considered it. "The mission details might need to be kept confidential and cannot be advertised publicly, which is why an in-person meeting is required. Boss, you're a nobody right now, so there's no need to worry about being targeted."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "My thoughts exactly. Well then, let's get moving."
Once Annie finished changing, the two headed out together. By coincidence, they ran into Cao Qianxiu, who was carrying her backpack on her way to school.
The three entered the elevator. Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the girl's elegant profile and couldn't resist asking, "You're not a Fire Mage, so why are your grades so bad?"
Cao Qianxiu replied impassively, "First, I don't feel like studying. Second, I have no talent for studying."
For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing was at a total loss for words.
Human talents came in countless forms, whereas school curricula covered only a tiny fraction of them. Poor grades simply meant one's talent didn't lie in those specific subjects.
Academic performance was related to intelligence, but not inextricably so.
Zhang Yuanqing said, "I see. In that case, I know how to design your study plan."
Cao Qianxiu turned her head, fixing him with lacquer-bright eyes. "How do you plan to teach me?"
Zhang Yuanqing said, "I have a Scholar-class prop that can turn someone into a top student for a short period. I'll lend it to you during exams."
Cao Qianxiu's eyes lit up. "Scholar... I've heard of that class. They say every Scholar possesses transcendent intellect and profound erudition. They excel at concocting medicines and crafting weapons, surpassing even the world's top scientists. Very well, you're worth fifty an hour."
*Scholars aren't as high-and-mighty as you think. The ones I know spend their days tightening screws...* Zhang Yuanqing said, "I thought you would reject the idea with upright indignation."
Cao Qianxiu shook her head and declared solemnly, "No. Thunder Mages can have flexible bottom lines too."
Zhang Yuanqing laughed. "You certainly know how to work a bottom line."
Student and teacher exchanged knowing smiles. And so, a world where only the landlady got hurt came to be.
The smile on Cao Qianxiu's face broadened. "By the way, I still don't know your Spirit Realm ID."
"Master Tongtian!"
"Master Tongtian... That name sounds a bit familiar," Cao Qianxiu said. "Mine is Judge Cao."
Born and raised in the Free Federation, she had studied Chinese since childhood, yet remained rather unfamiliar with the folklore and culture of her ancestral land.
"Judge?" Zhang Yuanqing looked her up and down.
Cao Qianxiu said earnestly, "My childhood dream was to be like my dad and become a judge."
"Doesn't your dad run a restaurant?" Zhang Yuanqing blurted in shock.
Cao Qianxiu glanced at him. "My dad's dream was also to become a judge."
Zhang Yuanqing: "..."
***
At ten thirty in the morning, Zhang Yuanqing and Annie took a taxi to a well-known restaurant in Queens.
Guided by a server, the pair—disguised through illusionary arts—entered the private dining room booked by their client.
The room was modest in size but offered excellent privacy. Seated at a small round table was an older white gentleman with frosty gray temples, wearing an impeccably tailored suit, sporting a thick waist and a round face.
His gaze was calm and his bearing imposing. Judging by his attire and the wristwatch on his left hand, he was clearly a very successful man.
Behind him stood two bodyguards in black suits.
His eyes swept over the two newcomers. When he saw Annie, his gaze momentarily brightened, only to yield to disappointment.
Annie had disguised herself to look thoroughly plain with coarse skin.
The older white man asked in a deep voice, "Which of you is Master Tongtian?"
Zhang Yuanqing didn't answer. He simply pulled out a chair and sat down, an action that said everything.
The older white man nodded slightly, his pale gray eyes settling on Zhang Yuanqing. "The details of my mission are unfit for the public eye, which is why I could only invite you here in person. You may bill me for your travel expenses."
"Compared to a two-million-dollar deal, travel expenses are a negligible trifle," Zhang Yuanqing replied in halting English.
As long as the other party avoided long, convoluted speeches, simple communication was well within his grasp.
The older white man said in a somber tone, "I want to hire you to kill someone."
He pulled a photograph from his pocket and set it on the table.
Zhang Yuanqing focused his gaze. The man in the photograph had dark skin, thick lips, a shaved head, a lean face, and upper arms covered in tattoos, his eyes gleaming with savage ferocity.
"I need more information," he said, looking at the man.
The moment the client produced the photograph, Zhang Yuanqing sensed his emotions surge with raw, bone-deep hatred.
Chapter 656