On the helipad atop the L.G.D. Main Headquarters.
Wei Yenwu, possessing the features of the Ancients, was dressed in an orange-red Yan-style suit, over which he wore a long black leather greatcoat that resembled a cape. As the highest authority in Lungmen, there were few who required him to personally receive them; not even foreign emissaries would warrant Wei Yenwu's personal reception. But this time, he and his wife, Wen Yue, were waiting by the side of the helipad early. Behind them stood two L.G.D. Senior Superintendents, Ch'en Hui-chieh and Swire.
What Wei Yenwu had feared had finally happened.
As the master of Lungmen, he only wished for Lungmen to maintain its highly autonomous status. Yan, however, was different. Yan had long hoped for Lungmen to return to its fold, to become a true city-state of Yan, rather than one that presented itself as an independent city. Against any other person, Yan would have found a way. However, Lungmen's chief executive was Wei Yenwu, the blood brother of Yan's current True Dragon—a true member of the imperial family. His status was even more esteemed than many of the state dukes. On top of that, Wei Yenwu's political maneuvering was brilliant. He had turned Lungmen into one of the world's centers, and Lungmen Dollars into a common trade currency among the major nations. This alone showed how capable Wei Yenwu was. And one must remember, Yan had provided very little help during Lungmen's development.
Because of this, Yan couldn't play hardball with Lungmen. They could only rely on soft tactics, constantly looking for an opening.
Wei Yenwu was also taking this current incident very seriously. He had dispatched the entire L.G.D. and even gagged everyone to prevent information from leaking. He hadn't expected Yan to find out anyway, and even forcefully send three people over.
Tsk... This was not a good sign.
After a short while, a black shadow appeared in the distant sky. As the shadow approached, it revealed itself to be a low-altitude shuttle. The shuttle landed precisely on the rooftop helipad. The wind from its propellers buffeted Wei Yenwu's greatcoat, making it snap loudly. But the black leather coat seemed welded to his body; despite such a strong wind, it didn't even threaten to fall off.
Wei Yenwu maintained a faint, ambiguous smile on his face, looking partly like a world-weary playboy, partly like a leader who had the entire situation under control, planning his moves from within his tent.
The shuttle's cabin door opened. Two officials in red robes and one martial artist in practical combat gear emerged.
"Welcome to Lungmen, three emissaries. I am Lungmen's chief executive, Wei Yenwu."
Wei Yenwu's aura was powerful, as was his strength. Although these three came from Yan, they didn't dare show any arrogance.
The Forte strongman in the lead stepped forward and handed a written directive to Wei Yenwu.
"Greetings, Director Wei. We have come on the orders of the Grand Tutor. This was sudden, and we apologize for not giving advance notice. As per the Grand Tutor's verbal decree, Yan should not normally interfere in Lungmen's affairs, but this matter is urgent, and the crisis Lungmen faces is not trivial. We will not interfere in any of Lungmen's internal affairs. We will conduct our own investigation into matters related to this incident. We will, however, require Lungmen's assistance and full transparency with intelligence."
"No problem."
Wei Yenwu kept smiling.
"The three emissaries must be weary from their long journey. Why not join me for lunch? The banquet is already prepared."
The young Kylin woman with long golden hair standing next to the strongman refused with a cold voice.
"That won't be necessary. Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Wei. This matter is critical. Every minute wasted could increase the risk."
Wei Yenwu nodded.
"Is that so. Officer Ch'en."
"Sir!"
Officer Ch'en, standing behind him, immediately snapped to attention.
"You will be responsible for acting as a guide for our three emissaries. Remember, you must not neglect them."
"Yes, sir!"
After the brief pleasantries, Officer Ch'en led the three of them out of the L.G.D. Main Headquarters. Wei Yenwu, of course, wasn't going to *really* let them act on their own. Having his niece keep an eye on them was the best solution.
Swire was quite nervous in front of these officials from Yan, but Officer Ch'en remained composed, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Thank you all for your assistance."
Officer Ch'en briefly explained the situation, including how the L.G.D. was investigating a dark blue powder, how that powder had seemingly come to life and drilled into a technician's wound, and how that technician had then lost his mind and turned into a 'monster'.
However, just when they thought the 'monster' was confirmed dead and sent it to the medical examiner's department for an autopsy, the supposedly dead 'monster' suddenly reanimated, bit the medical examiner preparing the autopsy, and then burst out of the building, disappearing into the distance. Despite a full-scale search by the L.G.D., they still hadn't found a trace of the monster. And after being bitten, that medical examiner also began showing signs of mental breakdown.
Although he didn't grow octopus-like tentacles like the first monster, the medical examiner lost his sanity and became extremely aggressive. Moreover, his internal Originium levels skyrocketed. Originally a non-Infected, the Originium in his body began to grow out from under his skin like thorns. And besides these Originium spines, an eye had also grown on his chest, along with a flower that looked like it was made of fangs.
After hearing Officer Ch'en's description, Lin Qingyan, Taihe, and Zuo Le couldn't help but frown.
They had never encountered a situation like this, nor had they ever even heard of it.
In fact, when she was assigned this mission by the Grand Tutor, Lin Qingyan had been puzzled. For such an important matter, why not send a powerful Celestial Master, like her own Master or Senior Martial Uncle? Although she was also a Celestial Master, her strength... was only at a mortal level.
Sending her on a regular mission was more than enough, but a mission that required a personal order from the Grand Tutor was bound to be extremely important. Yet, they had only sent her, without even one powerful Celestial Master. It seemed a bit... lacking.
After hearing Officer Ch'en's description, Lin Qingyan, who had read countless scriptures and knew of ninety percent of the Yōkai in Yan's wilderness, fell silent. She had no clue. It wasn't just Lin Qingyan; Taihe had no idea either. As for Zuo Le, in his martial artist's gear, he understood even less. He knew that for this mission, Lin Qingyan and Taihe were the core, and he was just here to gain experience.
Just as Lin Qingyan was thinking, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Yo! Isn't this Qingyan? It's been a few months. Have you lost weight?"
Taihe: "???"
Zuo Le: "???"
Officer Ch'en: "???"
Taihe and Zuo Le knew Lin Qingyan's personality: upright, meticulous, and intolerant of jokes or banter. And... why was there someone in Lungmen calling Lin Qingyan 'Qingyan'? Wasn't that a form of address only her elders could use?
Officer Ch'en was equally baffled. Weren't these three emissaries from Yan? Why did someone in Lungmen know them? And... why did they sound so intimate?
Lin Qingyan froze. That voice... she was all too familiar with it.
At this moment, she finally understood why the Grand Tutor had only sent the three of them. Because the true expert wasn't them. They themselves were just here to observe and learn. The real expert was him.
Lin Qingyan turned her head, her expression still cold, but a faint smile seemed to be unconsciously gracing her icy features.
Behind Lin Qingyan stood Lucas Reeve, wearing his Doctor's coat. Next to him was the idler group of four: Nian, Skadi, Laurentina, and Surtr... and, of course, Magallan.
After receiving the Grand Tutor's message, Lucas Reeve had timed his arrival, rushing from Columbia to Lungmen and picking up his Doctor 'persona' on the way.
However, as soon as he landed in Lungmen, Lucas Reeve had bafflingly run into the one person he really didn't want to see right now.
Magallan.
When he met Magallan, she was haggling with a shop owner. Upon seeing Lucas Reeve, the cute little penguin's face lit up with a huge smile. It was probably the joy of meeting a friend in a foreign land. Although... Lucas Reeve didn't feel joyful at all.
Magallan. The idler group of four. Himself. About to carry out a mission.
With these four buffs stacked together... things were bound to get weird.
Lucas Reeve had known Lin Qingyan would be coming; the Grand Tutor's message had mentioned her by name.
"Ahem!"
Lin Qingyan cleared her throat, trying to cover her slight inner joy, feigning composure as she looked at Lucas Reeve with a calm gaze.
"It has been a while, Mr. Reeve."
Taihe, who knew Lin Qingyan's personality well, was stunned... She... acknowledged him.
*Ah... What was the relationship between this man and Lin Qingyan?*
"We meet again, Qingyan!" Nian waved at her.
"It really has been a while. The last time we met was in the pleasure house."
Everyone: "????"
A dark line appeared on Lucas Reeve's forehead.
"Don't say things that can be so easily misunderstood."
"*We* were at the pleasure house. Lin Qingyan was there to arrest people and happened to run into us."
"...."
*Doesn't that explanation sound even worse?!! You were at the pleasure house, and Lin Qingyan caught you during a vice raid??*
The youngest, Zuo Le, was screaming internally. As a young man from Yan, how could he not know what a pleasure house was? A place for reciting poetry and gathering of talents? That was fake. Going there for illicit deeds was the truth. Don't ask how he knew so clearly, just assume he'd been. After all, they were all young. Even if he didn't want to go, he'd inevitably be dragged along by friends.
"Officer Ch'en, this is the Grand Tutor's directive."
Lucas Reeve showed Officer Ch'en the electronic directive on his tablet. Times were progressing; even directives were digital now.
"The Grand Tutor has asked us to assist you in cracking this case. So, we hope you can tell us the details."
After confirming the directive was authentic, Officer Ch'en nodded and repeated what she had just told Lin Qingyan's group.
Lin Qingyan's group had been silent after hearing it, but Lucas Reeve's group immediately started discussing it.
"Octopus tentacles. That has the stench of Seaborn all over it."
Laurentina said, "But one thing is puzzling. What is that powder? I'm leaning toward it being some special product that contains Seaborn power."
"We'll know when we see it."
Upon their arrival, Lucas Reeve and his group instantly took on the air of experts. A case that ordinary people couldn't crack, they immediately had leads on.
*Seaborn?*
Officer Ch'en was confused. This was a term she had never heard before. It wasn't just Officer Ch'en; Lin Qingyan and Zuo Le hadn't heard of it either. They were both younger and not yet privy to this level of classified information. Taihe, being older and of higher rank than Lin Qingyan, naturally knew many secrets she didn't.
However, although Taihe had heard the name 'Seaborn', he had never seen one, so he didn't understand them either.
"I remember there were three bags of that powder. Let me see the other two."
Lucas Reeve said, as if Officer Ch'en was his subordinate.
Officer Ch'en frowned. "How did you know that?"
She was pretty sure she had never mentioned there were three bags.
Lucas Reeve paused, realizing he had misspoken. The only reason he knew there were three bags was because his 'little bear plushie' persona had heard it from Rope. Three bags in total, all handed over to the L.G.D.
*Too many alternate accounts. It's easy to get them mixed up.*
"I have my ways, naturally."
Lucas Reeve gave a vague excuse. Although Officer Ch'en was suspicious, she didn't press the issue. After all, these people were sent by Yan's Grand Tutor.
The group headed to the L.G.D. precinct in the Civilian District. After the incident, no one dared to study the remaining two bags. They were carefully sealed in a special secure vault, guarded by a large number of officers.
They entered without obstruction. Pushing open the vault door, they found it empty except for the two bags of dark blue powder, carefully preserved in a container in the center.
Originally, Lin Qingyan's group was supposed to be in the lead, but now the roles had reversed, with Lucas Reeve's group taking charge. Officer Ch'en and the Yan trio seemed like they were just here to learn, following obediently behind. And in truth, they *were* here to learn, because they genuinely didn't understand any of this.
Nian reached out her hand directly. The bulletproof glass container, upon contact with Nian's hand, instantly melted.
Lin Qingyan's group wasn't too surprised by this. After all, they knew she was a Divine Fragment. But Officer Ch'en and Swire's eyes widened slightly.
*What kind of ability is that?*
They knew very well how strong that specialized glass was. It had a melting point of over a thousand degrees and would only melt slowly. To melt it instantly required an extremely high temperature. Yet this girl had just poked it with her finger, and it... just melted??
Nian, completely unconcerned, took one of the bags out, weighed it in her hand, and then poked a hole in the bag. As Officer Ch'en watched with her heart in her throat, Nian rubbed the dust between her fingers to observe it.
Skadi stood nearby, arms crossed. "It has the smell of the Seaborn, but it's not strong. The smell is very, very faint."
Lucas Reeve also spoke. "Each particle contains a certain amount of energy, and it also has some Originium properties. Oh ho... a fusion of Originium energy and the power of the deep sea."
"However, the fusion is extremely crude. It's only fused on the surface. Internally, the fusion is a complete mess. The power of the deep sea and Originium energy, two repulsive forces, are still grating against and colliding with each other."
Lucas Reeve analyzed it clearly using his Energy Vision, a crimson, four-pointed diamond pattern appearing in his eyes.
Officer Ch'en and Swire were inwardly astounded. Officer Ch'en managed to keep her composure, but Swire's shock was written all over her face.
*Ah... Their Lungmen L.G.D. experts studied this for so long and found nothing, but these people could tell all its properties just by looking at it?*
*Are they that good??*
*Come on... This really makes the L.G.D. look like chumps.*
As for Lin Qingyan's group, they still had no clue. After hearing the detailed analysis from Lucas Reeve and the others, they were now certain: the Grand Tutor had indeed sent them here to learn, just like students, listening respectfully.
"Want to try some?" Lucas Reeve said to Nian.
Nian shot him a glare. "Are you trying to poison me?"
"Come on. What kind of virus can survive a few thousand degrees?"
"Tsk..."
Nian grabbed a handful of the powder and tossed it into her mouth.
Everyone else was completely dumbfounded that Nian would actually do that. They stared, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Officer Ch'en immediately went on guard, ready for her to mutate.
However, after a moment, Nian showed no change at all.
"Tastes mediocre. Kinda like the sea, salty. Lucas Reeve's analysis was the same as yours. These particles contain two forces, constantly colliding. After entering a human body, these forces will completely destroy the person's brain during their collision, driving them mad, just like a zombie. It grants them some power, but not much."
"If I'm not mistaken, this should be a semi-finished product."