After enduring words that were both murderous and heart-wrenching, Dr. Lin Zhiyuan took several deep breaths. He stopped looking at Pardo and turned to the scarred man beside him, handing over a silver object that resembled a set of shackles.
"Put these on her!"
"Ye... Yes, Dr. Lin."
At the doctor's command, the man immediately took the shackles, walked behind Pardo, and locked her wrists together.
"Hmph. With these power-sealing shackles on, I want to see if you can keep up that arrogant act!" Lin Zhiyuan's fierce expression faded as he turned toward the Flame-Chaser. "You are the one who captured Cifera. Please provide your terminal ID. I will settle the three million Credits now."
"Fine."
The Flame-Chaser nodded and produced his terminal.
A moment later, the Flame-Chaser's account was heavier by three million Credits.
'Even though this organization seems incompetent, they sure are fast with the payments!'
Inside, Cipher was beaming with joy at the sight of the extra three million.
"Transaction complete. I am leaving."
Stowing the terminal, the Flame-Chaser spoke to Lin Zhiyuan, then turned and walked out the door, vanishing into the streets.
Entering an alley, the Flame-Chaser—disguised by Cipher—pulled out a dark gold crystalline badge crafted with specialized techniques. At its center was a silver-white letter "S."
This was the S-rank Mercenary Certification issued by the Mercenary Association to Firefly. Of course, the one in her hand now was merely a realistic simulation created through trickery.
In a blur of white mist, the Flame-Chaser reverted to Cipher's original form. She looked at the badge in her hand and murmured:
"I thought I might need this, but it seems the people in the Backcurrent Alliance do not care about a mercenary's rank at all. They only care about who completes the commission."
"Well... that works out. It saves me some trouble."
Just as she finished speaking, the cat ears atop Cipher's head twitched. she heard footsteps approaching. Soon, a heavy stench of cheap alcohol wafted through the air.
Cipher shifted her gaze from the badge to the mouth of the alley.
A man holding a liquor bottle appeared, looking thoroughly drunk. He squinted at Cipher.
"Hic... How... so late... can still see a girl... in a Pit Bottom alley?"
The man looked confused but continued speaking to Cipher:
"Hey... little girl... go home quickly. Pit Bottom... is not safe. If something happens... your parents will be sad..."
"?"
Hearing the drunkard's words, Cipher tilted her head, not quite understanding. She felt the script wasn't supposed to go this way.
Logically, shouldn't a drunkard seeing a girl in an alley get a surge of "liquid courage" and try to assault her? She had planned to have her clone vanish and give the man a heart attack. Instead, it seemed she had run into a decent person?
Forget it. I'll just explain and leave.
"I am an ability user. No need to worry."
After saying that, Cipher's figure turned transparent and vanished. In the blink of an eye, the man was the only one left in the alley.
"An ability user, huh..."
Seeing Cipher vanish, the man sighed and slumped against the wall, taking another long swig of his drink. He tossed the bottle aside and stared at the ground, muttering to himself:
"What does being an ability user change? My daughter was an ability user. I am an ability user. Why... I only left for a moment. Why... If she were still here, she would be about the same age as that girl."
After whispering for a while, the man stopped. He forced himself up and stumbled out of the alley.
★ ★ ★
Inside an underground interrogation room, Lin Zhiyuan sat across from Pardo, asking with an eerie calmness:
"Speak. Where did you hide the money you stole?"
"Aww, I spent it all ages ago~"
"If you do not give me a straight answer, rest assured, I will make you wish for death."
"Nyaa~ Why can't you understand me?" Pardo rested her chin on the table, looking impatient. "There isn't a single cent left! I am a famously honest cat, why would I lie to you?~"
"I knew it."
Instead of getting angry, Lin Zhiyuan looked as if his suspicions had been confirmed.
Seeing his confident expression, Pardo was momentarily bewildered. Wait, I didn't even use my divine power yet? Why does this guy believe me?
Lin Zhiyuan's next question provided the answer.
"Why would Genesis Biotech send someone with such perfect genetic modification to risk stealing a few million Credits? And then destroy all the data in a small experimental base?"
He leaned forward, his eyes boring into Pardo's, trying to exert psychological pressure.
"The money you stole was handed over to Genesis Biotech, wasn't it? What, is Genesis Biotech so broke now they have to resort to theft for a few million?"
'So he thinks I'm from Genesis Biotech again...'
Pardo was speechless. Back when she was in her Sister Cipher form, she was constantly mistaken for a Genesis Biotech gene-modded human. Now, in this form, it was happening again.
Wait...
Her claws unconsciously kneaded her palm.
Technically... he wasn't wrong? After all, Pardo's cat-girl identity was the result of modification!
"Answer me!"
Seeing Pardo dazing off under his glare, Lin Zhiyuan's temper flared. He slammed his fist onto the metal table, roaring at her.
"Nya! Big brother, don't get so angry!" The loud bang made Pardo's cat ears twitch violently. She hurriedly pulled back, creating some distance. "I don't know how rich your Genesis Biotech is, but a few million is definitely not enough!"
"Not enough? So you are saying you intend to steal more?"
Lin Zhiyuan frowned, but his expression soon smoothed into a mocking smile. "You are a prisoner now. Where do you think you can go to steal? Do you honestly think you can escape?"
"Do not say steal! It is called restocking, got it?" Hearing his words, Pardo stood up abruptly, her tail flicking with irritation. "I am an honest businesswoman. I never steal!"
Before her words even finished echoing, her wrists gave a nimble twist. The heavy shackles hit the table with a metallic "clack," looking as flimsy as paper toys.
She waved a hand at the stunned Lin Zhiyuan.
"First off, thanks for bringing me inside! Now, I am going restocking! Don't be so enthusiastic the next time we meet!"
With a sudden blur, Pardo vanished from the sealed interrogation room, leaving a bewildered Lin Zhiyuan staring blankly at the power-sealing shackles on the table.