The Youth Must Make His Debut Before the World

Among dense clusters of skyscrapers, a sleek sports car glided gracefully through the heavy street traffic. Leaning back against the rock-hard black faux-suede Alcantara seat and feeling the familiar yet different acceleration pinning him back, Bai Zhou looked dazed. This contraption called a "car" was probably quite expensive. He could tell just by the envious looks people kept throwing their way whenever they passed other vehicles. Who knew how many cartons of Four Delicacies Yi-noodles this thing could buy? Turning his head, Bai Zhou looked at the "stranger" beside him. A neat crew cut, oversized sunglasses, and a thick cigar... He looked no different from a vulgar, crass nouveau riche, but Bai Zhou knew full well that an enchanted pistol named the "Adjudicator-300" was tucked at his waist. At the slightest disagreement, he could whip it out and rapid-fire someone into a sieve—a dangerous element through and through. For all Bai Zhou knew, that silver briefcase marked with a cross was stashed right in the trunk behind them, ready to be whipped out at any moment so he could transform into an Iron Man right on the street, fly atop a lamppost, and passionately trade arm-cannon blasts with an enemy. The flashy white suit did little to conceal the heavily forged, muscular pecs underneath. Perhaps being vulgar and crass was just a disguise for this thug in a suit... *Hrrrck—* A low, viscous sound scraped up from deep inside his throat. Section Chief Liu turned his head, thrust out his chin, puckered his lips... *Ptooey.* A glob of thick phlegm flew with pinpoint accuracy toward the curb. Done in one smooth, practiced motion. Bai Zhou: "..." All right, so it wasn't a disguise. This man was simply the most ill-mannered person on the entire street. The familiar man had instantly returned. "You lucked out, kid." Section Chief Liu rested one arm on the butterfly door, the cigar dangling from his mouth, his speech muffled. "Normally, with how sensitive things have been lately and the whole base under military lockdown, there's no way we'd be allowed out willy-nilly. "But yesterday was just past the End of Heat. Every year around this time, the Black Box Maintenance Department gets its annual leave. "The Major was generous. Said the Blood Worship Cult wasn't enough to make the Bureau so uptight that we'd cancel our annual leave." "End of Heat..." Bai Zhou blinked. "The twenty-four solar terms carry extraordinary significance in the world of the occult. You'll understand down the road," Section Chief Liu explained briefly. "Every year once Beginning of Autumn passes, the things inside the Black Boxes quiet down, and the Reflected Ruin Realm calms down a great deal, becoming safe enough for people to explore. This hard-won tranquility lasts all the way until Beginning of Spring next year, reaching its peak eruption around the Awakening of Insects." Saying that, Section Chief Liu grinned broadly. "Though you get used to it. Who knows if any of us will even live to see next year! "—So enjoy life while you can, young man!" The twenty-four solar terms. Why did exploring the Reflected Ruin Realm sound like farming? Pest prevention, busy or idle according to the changing seasons... What was the mechanism behind that? While committing these concepts to memory, Bai Zhou gained a renewed appreciation for the dangers facing the Special Control Bureau. So the consistently high casualty quota every year was actually mostly used up in the first half of the year? Fortunately, he had arrived at the Special Control Bureau after Beginning of Autumn... Seen that way, Section Chief Liu's nouveau-riche attitude once he got outside suddenly made a lot of sense. "Look at their ignorant, happy faces... The only reason they know nothing of all this is because we're shouldering it all in the dark! "Risking our lives for the Federation, we finally get to visit the city—why shouldn't we enjoy ourselves? "...Besides, higher-ups are expensing everything anyway." —The above were Section Chief Liu's exact words from earlier. "Oh, right, where are the others?" Bai Zhou remembered their other traveling companions. He suddenly thought this car was actually kind of useless. It could only seat two people total. Wasn't it supposed to be the more people it could hold, the better? There was strength in numbers, and it was livelier that way. Section Chief Liu's answer was: "Why don't you look behind you?" So Bai Zhou looked back, his eyes widening in shock. What met his eyes was an entire luxury motorcade stretching out like a long dragon! There were jeeps beastly and exaggerated in size, sleek sports cars sharp as blades, and behind every steering wheel sat a man in sunglasses. Their expressions were grim and their postures ramrod-straight. Their movements were coordinated and uniform as though trained by professionals. Rather than merely driving, they looked more like top-tier... bodyguards executing a high-level escort mission? Arrogant, overbearing, completely brazen. —Yet they were government elites. They laid their lives on the line for the world, possessed unfathomably advanced weapons, and wielded otherworldly occult powers. If they weren't entitled to swagger, who was? Yet at this very moment, in the eyes of passersby— in the only convertible sports car leading this lavish fleet, the fair-skinned, youthful lad sitting in the passenger seat—so young he seemed totally out of place— was undoubtedly the young master of some prominent family being protected by these suited "bodyguards"... Bai Zhou didn't understand what all those gazes meant. He only knew that the looks from countless young women were practically drowning him. Some of those looks were so scorching hot it defied comprehension, as though they wanted to devour him alive. The open-top Maserati didn't even have a roof to shield him, and a flush of embarrassment rose to his cheeks— Bai Zhou felt a sudden urge to cover his face. Seeing this, Section Chief Liu chuckled. "Our branch might lack a lot of things, but money isn't one of them! "And the Major is way more generous than you think! "We finally made it out for once, so perk up! Don't embarrass our Special Control Bureau!" High risk meant high reward. Bai Zhou suddenly understood that phrase on a visceral level. "Temazcal sweat lodges, high-altitude spas, underwater saunas, champagne and French dining..." Waiting at a red light, Section Chief Liu unscrewed his faded thermos with a raspy squeak, took a sip of tea that had been steeped so many times it barely had any flavor left, and rattled off their upcoming itinerary like second nature. "I've got a credit card here. Don't worry about the limit. "—The only thing you need to worry about is figuring out how to spend it to make yourself happy!" Bai Zhou blinked his clear eyes. Why did that actually sound... very tempting? He was still utterly unfamiliar with this world, so why did it feel like he was already being corrupted? Suddenly, a spirited tune rang out from Section Chief Liu's person. *"Eyes wide as copper bells~ Shooting lightning-sharp wits...* *Ah-ah-ah, ah-ha-ha, Black Cat Detective~—Ah-ah-ah, ah-ha-ha, Black Cat Detective~"* Section Chief Liu pulled out a pane of glass. Bai Zhou started, because this glass was identical to the "forbidden item" that had served as an anchor to summon the Special Control Bureau and directly caused the destruction of Wancheng! Meanwhile, Section Chief Liu's face smoothed over, and he spoke into the "glass" with the gentlest voice he could muster: "Honey, what is it? "Mm-hm, I know you're working on a report back at the base. What happened? "—What? Our daughter is sick! Is it serious?" Section Chief Liu's expression changed, his voice pitching higher. "Got it, I'm heading over right now!" Putting down the "glass," Section Chief Liu hit a button on the console. Static crackled through the speakers, and Section Chief Liu spoke in a low voice: "Boys, change of plans. "Go ahead without me. I need to take a quick detour to the boarding school. "Got a call from there saying my daughter's sick." The static hissed again, followed by a chorus of voices chiming in: "No question about it, Boss. Our niece's business is our business." "Let's all go take a look together. If anything's wrong, we can lend a hand." "Chief, you said it yourself, what's there to hesitate about? Let's go, all of us!" ...Section Chief Liu couldn't sway the group's collective will. In the end, enveloped by the motorcade, the goose-yellow Maserati MC20 sped toward the boarding school like a flash of lightning. ... Hengtan Primary School. Renowned throughout Tinghai for its strict boarding management and stellar educational quality. "It's nothing serious, just a fever." The speaker was a young female teacher wearing glasses. She had delicate features, a petite build, and a round face with baby fat that radiated a warm, almost maternal teacherly glow. "I took her to the infirmary. Her fever just broke, and she's fallen asleep." Though she spoke calmly, beneath her composed exterior, she couldn't help trembling inside. After all, surrounding her was a pack of grim-faced, hulking brutes... and a fair-skinned youth wearing a gold chain, whose background was anyone's guess. "Thank you so very much!" Section Chief Liu bowed in gratitude, his tone earnest. "Thank you for taking care of her so well on regular days, too." "It's my job, really, don't mention it." Secretly breathing a sigh of relief, the round-faced teacher waved her hands repeatedly. "Student Liu is always very well-behaved. She hardly ever gives me any trouble." "Is that so..." Hearing the teacher praise his daughter, Section Chief Liu couldn't help breaking into a grin. Beside him, Bai Zhou looked around and asked out of curiosity: "Teacher, may I ask why there aren't any students having class at this hour?" It was clearly three in the afternoon, yet as they stood in the corridor of the teaching building, there wasn't a single student in any of the classrooms. "Because the school is hosting a 'Constabulary on Campus' event right now. Everyone went to the auditorium for the lecture," the teacher explained. Indeed. When she mentioned it, the others recalled seeing colorful banners and slogans strung up all across campus on their way in: "Catch fraud early—start with primary schoolers." "Love the Federation; study hard to build the Federation!" "Cooperating with Officer Uncle is the duty of every Federation citizen." And so forth. Meanwhile, the teacher was quietly observing Bai Zhou, who had asked the question. If for no other reason, among all these men, Bai Zhou was simply too conspicuous. That gold necklace was blindingly flashy. Flanked by a mob of burly men, he exuded an unpretentious, crushing aura of pure wealth. ...Didn't the rich nowadays strive for elegance? Why did this young master have such an unconventional taste? Had he gone full circle back to basics? As the teacher was muttering to herself inwardly, she noticed Bai Zhou seemed to sense something and looked toward her. Like a startled rabbit, the round-faced teacher jumped and hastily averted her gaze. Then, coughing twice, she pretended to glance at the tiny wristwatch on the inside of her wrist. "Judging by the time, everyone should be heading back soon." —Speak of the devil. Not long after she spoke, bustling noises drifted over from the distance. A swarm of enthusiastic schoolchildren approached from the end of the hall, crowding around several men in constabulary uniforms. Evidently, the lecture had been a smashing success. Every constabulary officer had temporarily replaced Kamen Rider and Ultraman as the person the kids most wanted to become and their greatest idol—tied for first place alongside scientists and astronauts. Leading the group was a middle-aged constabulary officer exuding an inexplicable aura of authority, holding a thermos that somehow lent him an imposing dignity without even looking angry. The rank insignia on his uniform clearly outclassed the other constables by a wide margin. Spotting a gang of burly men in black suits blocking the hallway ahead, his brow furrowed slightly. A second later, however, his footsteps slowed. He raised a hand to rub his eyes— Then, he gasped in disbelief: "...Brother Liu?" Ignoring the surprise of those around him, he hurried over with a delighted expression. "Do you still recognize me? It's Little Wang! "I never thought I'd run into you here!" Only then did people notice with shock that the way he held his thermos... bore an uncanny resemblance to Section Chief Liu. It was almost as if he were imitating him. "...Little Wang?" After a long pause, Section Chief Liu's face lit up with realization. "Oh, it's you! Last time..." He didn't say more, merely patting "Little Wang" on the shoulder. "Promoted, huh? Captain now?" "Compared to what you folks do, I'm practically nothing." Captain Wang pulled out a cigarette pack, intending to offer one. Yet when his gaze fell upon the exceedingly youthful Bai Zhou, he hesitated: "Are all of these your... colleagues?" Bai Zhou: "?" Why did this involve him? "Yeah," Section Chief Liu nodded beside him. "We just happened to be off for vacation." Captain Wang immediately sucked in a breath of cold air, looking at Bai Zhou with sheer disbelief. —Doing that kind of work in that kind of place. At such a young age?! Yet that disbelief quickly shifted into profound reverence. He looked upon Bai Zhou with newfound awe. "A hero emerges from youth! Young and promising—truly admirable, truly remarkable!" Saying so, he moved to personally offer Bai Zhou a cigarette. "No, no, no, I don't smoke..." Bai Zhou waved his hands frantically, at a total loss for words. He wanted to say he was really just a raw recruit, not any kind of hero. "Who is this...?" One of the specialists wore a puzzled expression. "He knows about us," Section Chief Liu said subtly, shooting a glance. "Last time, a constabulary cadre assisted me with an operation—this was the guy." "I see." The specialist nodded in sudden realization. The cryptic talk ended there. Bai Zhou silently noted that it was just as he had expected. It aligned with what he had guessed earlier. Specialists of the Special Control Bureau couldn't reveal their true identities to the outside world; they were an official organization hidden behind the scenes. The occult world, the Reflected Ruin Realm, and those Black Boxes... on Blue Star, all of these were "taboos" that ordinary people were forbidden from knowing. Only select figures from other official organizations—such as high-ranking constabulary officers—were privy to vague knowledge of their existence. Bai Zhou, however, was an anomaly. He had been born right inside the "taboo" from the very beginning, a "native of taboo." If anything, it was this "ordinary" world that felt alien and distant to him. —Though, in truth, he felt detached from everyone. Nor could he completely trust anyone. The Special Control Bureau had saved him, Section Chief Liu treated him well, and Crow went without saying. Yet he simply couldn't bring himself to put absolute trust in anyone; he held back reservations with everyone. Including Section Chief Liu, and even including Crow. Such as the dying words, the golden pass, and the *Dead Sea Secret Scrolls*. That was just the lingering trauma of Wancheng... The curious chatter of children reached his ears, snapping Bai Zhou back to reality. Only then did he realize that a crowd of primary schoolers had gathered around them at some point. Pair after pair of curious, clear eyes were examining them, their childish voices buzzing in hushed whispers: "Did you hear that? The great hero Captain Wang said *they're* the real heroes!" "Whoa... What are they? Secret agents? Special forces?" "Supermen, probably! Superheroes!" "That young big brother is so cool!" "..." Confidential, yet not entirely confidential. Was this the Special Control Bureau's way of doing things? As long as people didn't find out about the "occult and extraordinary," anything went? Bai Zhou turned his head helplessly, thinking: *Teacher, why aren't you managing your students? There are so many strange adults here—isn't that unsafe? Why haven't you taken them back to the classrooms yet!* Then his eyes met the round-faced teacher's gaze, which was studying him with equal parts awe and curiosity. —Evidently, her imagination was running wild as well. Bai Zhou: "..." He wanted to grumble, but didn't even know where to begin. A complicated mix of sheepishness and reflected glory welled up inside him. He hadn't actually done anything; Captain Wang's respect was purely because of his status. So this was the kind of standing Special Control Bureau personnel enjoyed on the outside? Those who didn't know them saw them as filthy rich and completely uninhibited. Those who did know them held them in reverent awe. No wonder the specialists in Tinghai City carried themselves with such swagger... —Not bad. It made Bai Zhou's desperate cheating to join the Special Control Bureau and become one of them well worth it. "I assume you're here for that matter as well?" Once the students returned to their classrooms and the teacher left, the corridor was clear of bystanders. Captain Wang stepped closer and lowered his voice: "I thought it was just a rumor, but I never expected it would alert even you. "You folks are the professionals in this area. If there's anything you need us to assist with, just say the word." —Professionals? Hearing that, Section Chief Liu's expression changed. "...A word in private?" ... Bai Zhou had no idea what they talked about. Because before their conversation, while the schoolkids were still lingering, Bai Zhou had slipped away to the restroom. The empty restroom was quiet. The patter of running water echoed as Bai Zhou washed his hands in front of the mirror. Just then, a pair of dark-brown women's leather boots appeared in the corner of his vision. Bai Zhou looked up. Golden light streamed through the window. In the pristine white room, Crow stood clad in her black trench coat, gripping her blade, her figure hazy in the sunbeams. Vaguely sensing something was off, Bai Zhou blinked. "The 'luck' ritual worked," Crow said softly. "A trip outside, and your career luck has indeed pointed toward an opportunity." "What... Wait, isn't this the men's restroom?" Bai Zhou finally realized what was wrong. "That is hardly the point!" Crow straightened her face and said sternly, "—I smell the stench of the Blood Worship Cult. "Right here in this school." "Blood..." Bai Zhou froze, a faint tingling numbness spreading across his scalp. That haunting name. That most familiar name. Yet this was his first contact with it outside of Wancheng. ...Come to think of it, aside from the Black Robes, he had never encountered a genuine Blood Worship Cultist. He only knew from the Special Control Bureau that they were heinous, utterly insane monsters! "Your chance has come, Bai Zhou," Crow said softly. "A chance for promotion. "None of your colleagues realize a Blood Worship Cultist is hiding behind the scenes. "They think some ordinary anomaly has cropped up in the school. "Yet by sheer coincidence, they disrupted that cultist's plans. "So, he decided to burn his bridges." As if describing a distant, illusory tale, Crow's voice was completely calm, but her words sent a chill down Bai Zhou's spine. "Right now, your colleagues are pinned down in the abandoned school building. "A crisis is imminent." Crow said: "Only you can step up." Bai Zhou shivered. "What do I need to do?" "Very simple," Crow said languidly. "Kill him! "Kill that Blood Worship Cultist, and the crisis will naturally resolve itself. "As for afterward..." Crow pointed at Bai Zhou's wrist. "Just pin it on that wristband. "I have a way." Crow seemed to have a meticulous plan prepared. Yet the core of that plan was— Bai Zhou had to hack to death a Blood Worship Cultist powerful enough to trap his entire group of colleagues in crisis! ...Me? He had wanted to ask that, but in the end, he chose silence. Everyone else could doubt you, but you couldn't doubt yourself. If he actually asked that out loud, nothing would change. It would waste Crow's teachings and squander all his hard work over these past days. Even that dead white fatty in the Ruin Realm would laugh at him. "...All right." In the end, that was Bai Zhou's reply. He looked at Crow, who stood holding her blade, her expression unreadable as ever. Then he looked down at his empty palms. Yet he knew these hands were no longer empty. He told himself he was no longer who he used to be. All that grueling training and study... wasn't it all for today? So when he raised his head again, there was a touch more serenity in Bai Zhou's eyes. "—Let's see just how formidable this legendary Blood Worship Cultist really is." A faint murmur echoed softly through the restroom. "And with any luck, I can collect a little interest from him for the past eighteen years!" At that moment, an absurd thought popped into Bai Zhou's head... If there was one thing a school never lacked, it was bench legs. "I look forward to your performance," Crow said. The "special training" was more than halfway through... Only she, the mentor who designed it, truly knew just how strong Bai Zhou was now. The blade honed for so long was finally about to be tested for the first time. The youth who had poured out his sweat was about to make his debut before the world. Everyone could hold their destiny in their own hands. —So long as they believed they could do it. ...