Chapter 81: Rising to the Challenge as an Idol

Because of Zhou Shu's professional skills—which had nothing to do with demon-slaying—two level-two “monsters” listed on the Demon Suppression Bureau’s kill list were easily identified. The one whose head was blown apart by “luck,” Fast-Mellen, was an international troublemaker who specialized in colluding with illegal organizations within the Great Qin, aiming to bring chaos to the country.

There were several other B-class mutants from the “Evolution Organization” scattered across the Great Qin, each responsible for a few provinces, and who knows how many vile deeds they’ve committed. Now that this one had been eliminated, it was undeniably a stroke of good fortune.

As for Bai Huayue of the “Ascension Society,” she had managed to escape yet again, which complicated matters. The word “again” was apt, for just over a month ago, the Demon Suppression Bureau in Dongyuan City had caught wind of her activities and sent Zhang Feiang, the city’s top demon slayer, to apprehend her. Though she suffered some injuries, she ultimately slipped away.

Zhang Feiang remarked that Bai Huayue was extraordinarily cautious; whenever she sensed no advantage, she would flee, and her nimble movements made her difficult to pin down. He was convinced that if she set her mind to escaping, she would trade anything—even injury—for the chance to get away.

Here, Zhang Feiang paused and glanced at Zhou Shu and Liu Feiyan, saying, “Bai Huayue’s escape route passed right beside Dongyuan First High School. According to the intel we gathered, she has a particular fondness for eating the organs of adolescents. She was in too much of a hurry, thanks to my pursuit, to indulge her appetite at the time.”

A cold shiver ran through Zhou Shu. He was lucky Bai Huayue hadn’t entered the school, else he might not have survived. This world was truly perilous!

Bai Huayue had to be found and eliminated quickly; letting her roam free in Dongyuan City posed an extreme risk. Zhou Shu had read internal Bureau files: typically, monster leads were tracked through the victims, searching for any clues in their surroundings and following those threads. Obvious clues would lead to swift discovery, but for subtler ones—such as an object tainted with scent—they’d need the assistance of “beast speakers” from other bureaus, who could have mutated beasts track the source by pheromone.

Zhang Feiang understood this, so he said, “Bai Huayue and Fast-Mellen appearing together can’t be coincidence. Fast-Mellen is dead now, so to figure out what’s happening, we need to find Bai Huayue.”

“We originally had the hair and blood Zhou Shu secured, which could help a beast speaker trace back to the Ascension Society and wipe them out. But after today’s events, all the bureaus’ beast speakers are busy searching for mutants in their own districts, and we likely can’t borrow anyone.”

Hearing this, Wang Kairen raised his hand and said, “Perhaps Zhou Shu has a solution.”

Everyone turned to Zhou Shu.

What in the world—do you have another trick up your sleeve?

Zhou Shu knew what Wang Kairen meant; the man had never given up on pushing him toward the “Hunter” path. But Zhou Shu himself wanted to see this menace dealt with.

He had seen Bai Huayue and even shot at her, failing to kill her—a certain recipe for enmity. Her abilities far outstripped his own, and she’d surely noticed him. Worse, she liked eating adolescent organs, and he was precisely at that age.

Enmity plus lurking danger—no wonder he felt anything but secure.

---

“I can try, but I’m not certain it will work; after all, I’m not a genuine beast speaker,” Zhou Shu said.

He then explained about his own tabby cat.

Wang Kairen supplemented the details: Huahua’s maximum body radiance reached 290, agility at least 270, and strength and endurance, though lower, also exceeded 100. Considering Huahua was a small tabby of around forty pounds, these attributes were enough to threaten even powerful level-two mutants. If it came to running, even level-three mutants might not catch her.

After hearing this, everyone had just one word for Zhou Shu: “Impressive!”

Once the headquarters staff departed, the bureau chief convened another hour-long meeting to discuss the HQ’s orders in detail. It was past two by the time they adjourned for a break.

This was only because Dongyuan City had performed well; otherwise, even cities not under attack wouldn’t be able to rest, let alone those that had been assaulted.

Cities under attack were under military control; the streets patrolled by army vehicles, assisting the local Demon Suppression Bureau in clearing out infiltrated mutants. Cities not suddenly attacked were still under curfew, but their patrols were conducted by police, and routine monster cases remained Bureau business.

Dongyuan City was in a unique situation: it suffered a sudden assault, but no mutants infiltrated the city, yet it remained under military control. If any ordinary mutants tried to stir up trouble now, they’d likely be pulverized by heavy weaponry.

The Demon Suppression Bureau existed to keep disturbances minimized, but now that things had escalated so much, further noise was no longer an issue. Still, this would not last; cities couldn’t remain under military control forever.

Thus, new tasks awaited the Bureau.

“Who would’ve thought we’d become idols someday?”

Zhou Shu, Lin Tianjing, and Ren Guang gathered in the canteen for a midnight snack—or rather, a very early breakfast.

It was past two in the morning, but after such an eventful day, sleep was impossible.

Hu Wenli, due to earlier events and his own disposition, chose not to share a table with Zhou Shu, returning to his dorm early—whether or not he managed to sleep, nobody knew.

Everyone had been busy since yesterday afternoon, with no time for meals. Even without the sudden monster assault, hunger would have kept them awake.

They were waiting for food when Ren Guang came out with his comment.

Hearing him, Zhou Shu and Lin Tianjing stared blankly, prompting Ren Guang to add, “What, am I wrong?”

“We stepped up in a crisis, shouldering responsibility to stabilize the public,” Lin Tianjing said, tapping the table.

---

“I think we’re basically idols,” Ren Guang muttered, then touched his face, preening, “Ah, the original order was to keep our identities secret, but now we’re going public.”

“If this gets out, with my looks, my figure, my aura—won’t the girls be flocking to me?”

“Oh dear, what will I do, so bothersome.”

Zhou Shu and Lin Tianjing glanced at Ren Guang’s sharp features and squinty eyes, then exchanged looks with the handsome man and beautiful woman across the table, wondering where Ren Guang found the courage for such claims.

Zhou Shu’s good looks were widely acknowledged, and once they became friends, Ren Guang occasionally called him “pretty boy.”

Ren Guang’s tone was always tinged with envy—Zhou Shu knew the meaning and didn’t mind.

Lin Tianjing, for her part, had dressed rather plainly on a previous mission and deliberately made herself up to look unattractive, but in her natural state, she easily qualified as a “beautiful girl.”

Both she and Ren Guang were from Dongyuan Second High; ordinarily a beauty and a regular student would have little interaction, but as “espers” and members of the Demon Suppression Bureau, they naturally became acquainted.

Once friends, Lin Tianjing discovered Ren Guang was the “joker” in their circle—wherever he went, things never got dull.

Ren Guang, in turn, realized Lin Tianjing wasn’t as aloof as she appeared, and her sarcasm was formidable.

Take now, for example.

“Ren Guang, the food’s about to come, don’t talk about gross things and spoil our appetites.”

Lin Tianjing spoke while covering her mouth as if nauseated.

“I wasn’t talking about anything gross—I was talking about myself…”

Halfway through his retort, Ren Guang caught on and glared at Lin Tianjing. “Hey, Lin Tianjing, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because I can’t beat you!”

Lin Tianjing shrugged, her meaning clear.

Ren Guang trembled with fury.

When will us weaklings finally rise up?

He shook so hard even the table rattled, until Lin Tianjing smacked him on the head and he settled down.

Well, maybe it’s not so bad for weaklings to just sit quietly.

PS: Thanks to “Katikot Suwasi Latson” for the reward~~