The phone call lasted a full ten-odd minutes.
"I checked with the gangs in West City. They ran a quick check on their records, and things didn't happen the way Du Pont claimed," Song Fushan said.
"What really happened?" Ye Huan asked.
"Du Pont joined the Black Tide Cult five years ago," Song Fushan replied.
"And his wife and daughter?"
"They vanished a year ago. The underworld is terrified of these cultists and refuses to touch them with a ten-foot pole, so in all likelihood, he did something to them himself. Of course, once we arrest him, we'll get to the bottom of it."
Ye Huan withdrew his gaze and smiled. "Chief, can I call it a day?"
"Go ahead," Song Fushan chuckled.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a message surfaced in Ye Huan's mind:
*Confronted by the vortex, you chose to step back.*
*—Trusting those who are worthy of trust, discarding those who are suspicious—you have always possessed self-awareness in this regard.*
*Evaluation +1.*
There it was.
His first score of the day.
Ye Huan strolled out of the restaurant, humming a tune, and vanished around the street corner.
Song Fushan remained seated.
Zhao Na picked up her phone, quickly contacting Xia Li to recount everything from start to finish.
"Put Chief Song on the line. I want a word with him," Xia Li's voice came through.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Hello, Chief Xia," Song Fushan answered.
"Two minutes ago, we received a tip forwarded by the Imperial Intelligence Section claiming one of our investigators is colluding with an evil cult. The bureau director is currently looking into it."
"It wouldn't happen to be Xiao Ye, would it?" Song Fushan asked.
"He's the exact one reported, complete with surveillance video of his initiation ritual into the Black Tide Cult—filmed right at the restaurant you two are sitting in," Xia Li said.
"Tsk. One wrong step and it's over," Song Fushan remarked.
"In matters like this, take one false step and no one can save him," Xia Li said.
"What did the bureau director say?"
"I'm on my way to report to him now. Shall we split up our efforts?"
"Awaiting your instructions, Chief Xia."
"I have all the relevant evidence and file records here, plus the confiscated cultist assets. That'll clear everything up."
"Then what should I do?"
"Go arrest Du Pont and seize all his illicit income. Be quick about it."
"Understood. That's my bread and butter—I'll handle it flawlessly."
The call disconnected.
Xia Li pulled up the title deeds, certificates of bank deposit, and commercial storefront documents Zhao Na had just transmitted. After a brief calculation, she stood up and headed toward the bureau director's office.
Two guests were seated across from the bureau director.
"Xia Li, these two gentlemen are officers from the Seventh Intelligence Division. Since you're familiar with the situation, go ahead and speak," the bureau director said.
"Gentlemen," Xia Li offered a polite smile, "what is this regarding?"
"Concerning Ye Huan, we received a report that he is a member of the Black Tide Cult."
"Evidence?"
"This is on-site surveillance footage of his initiation. You may take a look."
Xia Li said, "How odd. He made contact with that individual with the prior approval and documentation of both Chief Song and myself, under our direct on-site surveillance. Only a few minutes have passed, and you've already come knocking."
Xia Li regarded the two men with a scrutinizing gaze, setting a file down on the bureau director's desk in the process.
The two men looked visibly unnatural.
"We have been monitoring Du Pont all along, so the moment we noticed an anomaly, we came straight to notify you," one of them said.
"Then we truly appreciate it, gentlemen. I can state with full accountability that Ye Huan is an undercover agent arranged by us. There is no longer any need to question this matter," Xia Li said.
"We also received intelligence that he is a ritual executor of the Black Tide Cult," the other added.
"Indeed he is," Xia Li replied.
"Just how did he join the Bureau of Investigation in the first place? We suspect—"
"I was the one who transferred him in," the bureau director suddenly interjected. Setting down the document Xia Li had just handed him, he leaned forward and fixed his gaze on the two men across the desk.
A heavy silence descended.
"Our apologies. This was an oversight on our part."
"We will take our leave at once, and upon our return, we shall conduct a thorough self-examination and review."
The two men stood up, bowed, and practically fled the room.
The office door shut.
"How is that kid really doing? Did he actually get into trouble?" the bureau director asked.
"No. Song Fushan and he set up a timely operation, severing a stream of cash flow for the Black Tide Cult and seizing a batch of real estate and title deeds. I'm currently processing the paperwork to forfeit them to the bureau," Xia Li said.
The furrow between the bureau director's brows smoothed out completely at once. He cast another glance at the confiscation inventory.
"Once the liquidation is complete, report the final numbers to me."
"Yes, Bureau Director."
The bureau director leaned back against his chair, grumbling, "As long as we've got money in our pockets, I really don't want to play nice with those bastards at the Imperial Bank."
"We shouldn't need to this quarter," Xia Li said.
"Really?"
"If things go smoothly on Song Fushan's end, we won't need to next quarter, either."
"Looks like I can treat myself to a drink or two at lunch today, then. That kid's not bad at undercover work. Can he keep at it?"
"My apologies, Bureau Director. He took Du Pont's goods, and now bureau personnel are moving in to seize the rest of Du Pont's assets. I'm afraid his undercover cover is already blown."
"...That was fast."
***
The safehouse.
If people of faith were to behold Luosha seated on the sofa here, they would humbly bow their heads and chant praises in the most reverent tones.
She sat with one leg tucked beneath her on the sofa and the other propped up, her figure appearing tall and slender.
Her long black hair fell loose, cascading over her well-curved chest. The emerald green of her eyes radiated a languid serenity as she casually rested an arm as translucent as white mutton-fat jade atop her knee.
Something seemed to descend from the void around her, yet upon closer inspection, there was nothing at all.
It was a portrait suffused with divinity.
—Any mortal who laid eyes upon it would instinctively feel at peace.
On the wall, the television was playing an emotional drama.
She stared at the screen, though in truth, not a single scene registered.
Lately, Luosha had felt her connection to the Ether growing increasingly close.
By summoning the Book of Flesh, she could rely on its power of "Overlook" to see and hear events transpiring elsewhere through solid obstacles.
Just like right now.
She was watching with keen interest as a young couple argued out on the street.
Before long, however, they walked away.
Once the distance grew too great, the sound became muffled.
Luosha felt a twinge of regret.
—Still, the police station was a busy place.
In a little while, she could listen in on the people coming in for mediation after filing reports, watching them make a scene or wail in agony over trivial nonsense.
That was rather entertaining, too.
Wait!
That was Ye Huan.
What was he doing here?
Where were her eggs? He had said the eggs were for her!
Luosha focused her full attention on Ye Huan.
Completely unaware of her scrutiny, Ye Huan crossed the street and stepped into the police station.
He felt an inexplicable chill.
A strange kind of cold.
It was just like when he had first arrived in this world and encountered that basement-level doctor at the hospital, leaving him chilled to the bone.
Ye Huan warily surveyed his surroundings.
He found nothing.
It was one thing for a hospital to feel eerie, but why was a police station just as creepy?
A woman in professional attire approached him.
"Hello, are you Investigator Ye?"
"Ah, hello. And you are?"
"Director Xia made the arrangements. I'm responsible for liaison affairs here at the police station. Regarding Luosha, I was just about to deliver a report to you."
So she was the police station's counterpart to Xia Li—an office director as well.
"All right. What is this about?" Ye Huan asked.
"Please follow me."
Luosha's gaze clung tightly to Ye Huan, watching as he followed the woman in the form-fitting black business suit into an office.
"Is there an issue with Luosha?" Ye Huan asked.
"The resettlement form for Bureau of Investigation assisting personnel has been submitted and approved. Four resettlement options were granted," the woman said.
"Oh, so that's what it is." Ye Huan breathed a sigh of relief. "What are the options?"
The woman recited briskly:
"First, award her a sum of money and let her remain in Lantie City, taking up a civilian clerical post in either the police station or the Bureau of Investigation.
"Second, send her deep into the inland metropolis and settle her into a middle-to-high-income position.
"Third, she appears to possess martial talent, so send her to undergo sect testing for an opportunity to join a martial sect.
"Fourth, continue serving as an informant, digging deep into the true secrets behind the Black Tide Cult to aid the bureau's investigations."
Having finished speaking, the woman looked at Ye Huan.
Luosha grew tense as well, eager to see what Ye Huan would choose.
"What did Xia Li say?" Ye Huan asked.
"Director Xia stated that as you are Luosha's sole handler, protocol dictates that the decision primarily relies on your opinion," the woman explained.
"Then why is there a fourth option? She's clearly already been driven into a corner," Ye Huan said.
"According to intelligence gathered from various channels, the Black Tide Cult is orchestrating something major that has the higher-ups on edge. There is an urgent need for someone to infiltrate the enemy's inner circle and uncover the root of it," the woman said.
"And so?" Ye Huan prompted.
"And so, if you guide her through a bit of risk and manage to unearth useful intelligence, you are guaranteed greater recognition—at the very least, a Third-Class Merit is assured," she said.
The woman leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice. "Lantie City appears peaceful on the surface, but all factions are watching closely, and tensions are high. Someone needs to step forward."
"Understood. Let me speak with Luosha first," Ye Huan said.
"You plan to consult her opinion?"
"Yes," Ye Huan said.
"There's really no need. You can make the call directly, and I will record it here. All procedural steps will follow, and everything can be finalized within a day or two," the woman advised.
"I should still ask her," Ye Huan said with a smile.
"Very well. Go see her first; I will wait here."
"Sorry for troubling you."
"Not at all."
Ye Huan stood and walked out of the office.
Luosha hurriedly withdrew her power and sat up straight on the sofa.
*Knock, knock, knock—*
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Luosha called.
The door swung open.
Ye Huan walked in and asked with a smile, "How was your day?"
"Not bad. How much longer do I have to stay here?" Luosha asked.
"In a hurry to leave? Your workplace has already processed the official secondment and transfer paperwork. No one will say a word," Ye Huan said.
"No, that's not it. It's great here—living like this is practically paradise."
Cradling a carton of milk she had just pulled from the refrigerator, Luosha sat cross-legged on the sofa, looking as if she longed to drink it yet couldn't bear to finish it.
Each time, she took only a tiny sip.
"As long as you're not bored. By the way, those two cartons of eggs—I took them to the orphanage," Ye Huan said.
Luosha froze.
*So that was it!*
"How did you know I wanted to take them to the orphanage?" she asked.
"Just a guess," Ye Huan grinned. "Two cartons of eggs wouldn't be enough anyway, so I bought fifty cartons altogether and delivered them, saying they were from you."
"Oh... oh, all right," Luosha answered softly, not lifting her head to meet his eyes.
Next—
"Next, let's talk about serious business," Ye Huan said.
"Go ahead," Luosha said.
"There are three options right now—"
Ye Huan reiterated the woman's words.
Luosha pretended it was her first time hearing them, listening attentively from beginning to end.
Three options.
Not four.
There was no option to continue serving as an informant.
He had erased it directly.
The corner of Luosha's mouth twitched slightly before settling back to normal. She grabbed a tissue from the table and dabbed at the corner of her eye.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Ye Huan asked.
"Didn't sleep well, just yawning—it's nothing, keep going."
Luosha calmly set the tissue down, her emerald eyes resting gently on Ye Huan's face, refusing to look away.
Chapter 51