"Oh, I figured it out," Lin Bei said smugly.
Zhou Cong quickly explained, "I just had a mutation in my eyes. It compressed my nerves and dropped my IQ. I'm really not a fool."
Lin Bei gave him a long look, then nodded with mock solemnity, as if he'd seen through everything.
Zhou Cong thought he understood and chuckled. "I brought you something delicious — snacks and drinks. Six Nuclear Bombs. I heard drinking them nourishes the brain."
"Oh? Then come in."
For the sake of the snacks, Lin Bei decided to play with him for a while.
Zhou Cong grinned, his fat face shining. "Hey, when you came, did Chen Daxigua check your body?"
"Chen Da Xigua?" Lin Bei thought about it and found it rather fitting. "Well, she checked it for me — and I checked it for her."
"Wow! You're amazing! Chen Daxigua's a D-class awakener, and you actually examined her body?"
Lin Bei shook his head decisively. "No, she's not D-class — she's F-class."
"Why?"
"I touched it," Lin Bei said firmly.
Though they were clearly not on the same wavelength, both were having a great time.
At the Superpower Bureau, inside the director's office, Chen Xuan stood straight before the desk, several team members behind him.
The middle-aged man in glasses across from them smiled faintly. "Captain Chen, you did well handling the mutant tiger today."
"It was nothing worth mentioning," Chen Xuan said modestly, though pride flickered across his face.
Behind him, his men silently grumbled: Wasn't he the one who panicked on the intercom?
Director Li adjusted his glasses, his tone sharpening. "Did you find the missing tour group?"
"Uh… not yet."
"What about the human-eating monster in your jurisdiction?"
"Neither," Chen Xuan admitted, shrinking slightly.
Director Li's expression darkened. "That creature's killed seven people. Panic's spreading. If you can't handle it, how will we answer to the public?"
"Don't worry, Director. We'll resolve it immediately."
"You'd better. Three days. If it's not done by then, I'll replace you."
"Yes, sir!"
The team's faces stayed blank. At this rate, we might actually need a new captain… though please, don't reassign Chen Yourong.
Outside the office, Chen Xuan sighed heavily. The black-haired monster haunting the park still hadn't been found. Covered in coarse fur, it dug out human hearts — seven so far — and then retreated to its lair. The park was sealed, but fear spread like wildfire.
"It's roughly as strong as that mutant tiger," he muttered. "If I face it alone, I'm done for."
"Captain, why not report it honestly and request support?" a team member asked.
Chen Xuan frowned. "I've done that twelve times this month already. If I ask again, where's my dignity?"
The men exchanged looks. What dignity? You lost that after the eighth request.
"Captain," another spoke up, "didn't Lin Bei take down the tiger easily? Why not ask him to handle this monster too?"
Chen Xuan's eyes lit up. Maybe Lin Bei wasn't awakened, but… could Pikachu be?
"Right. Come on, we'll find Lin Bei."
Four or five people rushed down the corridor.
Inside his room, Lin Bei finished another bottle of Six Nuclear Bomb, licked the milk from the corner of his mouth, and waved Zhou Cong away — afraid the man's stupidity might be contagious.
Boom, boom, boom.
"I told you not to play with idiots. Why are you here again?" he called toward the door.
Outside, Chen Xuan froze. "Hey! I'm Chen Xuan, not an idiot!"
"Oh? Then come in."
The group entered. Lin Bei's eyes widened when he saw their uniforms. "Are you going to grab an ear?"
"Ah?" Chen Xuan blinked. Grab an ear? Still, remembering he needed the boy's help, he nodded quickly. "Yes, that's right. We're going to catch an ear."
"Pfft!" his men choked back laughter. Their captain's patience truly had limits.
"Lin Bei, your Pikachu is very powerful," Chen Xuan began carefully. "Could you… lend it to me?"
Lin Bei hugged Pikachu tight, eyes narrowing. "No."
Chen Xuan's temples throbbed. "We just want to use it to protect the people. If we succeed, you'll be a great hero of Jiangdong City."
The word hero made Lin Bei pause, thoughtful. "Then imitate Pikachu's voice a few times and I'll lend it to you."
Chen Xuan stared, horrified. The captain of the Superpower Bureau, imitating Pikachu? With his team watching?
He exhaled, face twitching. "Everyone, out."
The door closed. Silence.
"Pika ~ Pika ~ Pikachu!"
He gritted his teeth and did it.
"What happens when people open their hearts? — They get better."
The line drifted through the quiet, absurd room — half joke, half truth — as if the air itself pitied the man's dignity.
"Hahahaha!" Lin Bei kicked his legs in delight. Then, still laughing, he sat up. "You've been fooled! Even if you learn the call, I won't lend it to you. I was just kidding!"
"Bloody hell!" Chen Xuan nearly exploded. A lifetime of wisdom, undone by an idiot.
"Fine! I'll go fight that monster myself!"
He clenched his fists and stormed toward the door.
"Wait!" Lin Bei called.
Chen Xuan turned back, exasperated. "What now?"
"I'll lend you Pikachu," Lin Bei said, eyes gleaming. "But only on one condition."
"What condition?"
Lin Bei's grin widened. "Let me lead the mission."