The next morning, the sunlight was already somewhat scorching.
Wuming and Serena took the subway, heading to the Other Race Bureau to find Uncle Pu.
Before setting out, Wuming specially helped Serena tidy up her eye-catching silver hair, tying it into a neat bun.
The person in the mirror had a bit less of the demon clan’s exotic feel and a bit more of the playful vibe of the girl next door, almost unrecognizable from her original self.
Wuming even gave her a hat to cover it up.
In the subway car, it was now the peak rush hour for work, with people coming and going, and the air felt a bit stuffy and hot.
“Hiss… This damn weather today, it’s way too hot, right?”
Wuming tugged at his collar, feeling a thin layer of sweat already seeping out on his back.
“Is it?”
Serena, however, was leisurely playing with her phone, looking completely at ease.
“I think the weather’s great, the sunshine feels really comfortable.”
“Ha?! You actually think this hot weather is comfortable?”
Wuming turned his head to look at her in disbelief.
“Because we blood clan have our own body temperature regulation method,” Serena blinked, her tone matter-of-fact.
“Our bodies automatically maintain the temperature at the most comfortable state.
“As long as it’s not an extreme environment like a volcano crater or a glacier, it’s basically no problem at all.”
“Tsk… I really envy you blood clan for this feature…”
Wuming muttered under his breath.
If I could auto-regulate temperature too, I wouldn’t need to turn on the AC in summer or the heater in winter—how much electricity bill could I save…
[Respected passengers, Xiushan Station has arrived. Please exit in an orderly manner.]
The cold electronic female voice sounded, and the train slowly came to a stop.
The two of them followed the flow of people out of the car and left the subway station.
Sunlight sprinkled on Wuming and Serena.
As soon as they exited the station, he saw the gates of the Other Race Bureau.
The Other Race Bureau…
It’s really been a long time since I’ve come here…
Wuming gazed at the familiar building in front of him, his thoughts drifting.
He would come here a few times every year to provide some psychological counseling for the staff here.
Uncle Pu hadn’t contacted him yet this year.
Uncle Pu is really generous when he pays…
Thinking of that generous remuneration enough to support his living expenses for three months, Wuming felt a bit itchy in his heart, wondering when he could come here again to earn a sum?
Just then, he felt someone grabbing the corner of his clothes.
Looking down, Serena was clutching his hem tightly, her little face tense, her eyes filled with unease.
“Will it… really be okay?”
She asked Wuming uneasily.
“Don’t worry,” Wuming comforted her with a smile. “We’ll go up now to find Uncle Pu. He’s very easy to talk to.”
“…”
Serena’s hand slowly loosened from his hem.
But what Wuming hadn’t anticipated was that in the next second, Serena actually took his hand!
That slightly cool little hand just like that held Wuming’s! Catching him completely off guard.
—!!
Wuming’s whole body stiffened!!!
Holding hands?!
In all his life, besides his own mom, he had never held another girl’s hand!
For her to be so proactive—
Just as Wuming’s mind went blank, Serena’s slightly tense voice sounded.
“Let’s go, Wuming.”
She even gently tugged his hand, leading him forward a step.
[Ha↑ Ha↓]
[Does this look familiar?]
[In Nanning, where black households are rampant, situations like this are playing out in every corner of every city right now.]
[You could be the next one robbed by a black household!]
[Unless you can prove to all black households that you possess the power and courage to strike against them!]
[Join… the Other Race Bureau!]
[Become an elite of the Other Race Bureau.]
[Experience all kinds of bizarre cases and all sorts of illegal demonfolk.]
[Eliminate demonfolk cases at their inception!]
[Become a detective.]
[Join us.]
[Nanning needs your protection!]
“…”
Wuming stared at the recruitment propaganda video looping on the wall in the Other Race Bureau lobby, watching it somewhat entranced.
This ad… has been hanging from last year until now without changing, the content extremely brainwashing, demonically looping, practically etched into his DNA.
Tsk, watching it makes me want to go home right away and log in to “defend Super Earth”…
He and Serena sat side by side in the waiting area of the lobby.
Wuming had already sent a message to Uncle Pu, and Uncle Pu told them to wait here a bit; he would come down personally to pick them up.
So Wuming waited patiently, his gaze inadvertently sweeping to Serena beside him.
He saw her huddled in the seat, her little head almost buried in her knees, her whole body exuding a strong aura of guilt.
Every time someone passed nearby, she was like a startled fawn, quickly lifting her eyelids to glance, then immediately shifting her gaze away in panic, her entire body tense like a fully drawn bow.
Just this set of fluid suspicious actions… anyone who didn’t know might think she was a fugitive who just pulled off a heist.
Wuming helplessly withdrew his gaze, turning instead to the elevator display screen not far away, waiting for that familiar figure to appear.
Actually, Wuming knew where Uncle Pu’s office was and could go find him himself, but since Uncle Pu said he’d come down, then they’d wait.
“Ding—”
The elevator doors slowly opened on the first floor. Amid the bustling crowd, one figure stood out particularly tall and striking.
“Uncle Pu!”
Wuming’s eyes lit up, and he immediately pulled Serena to stand up, greeting him with enthusiastic warmth.
“Oh, sorry to keep you waiting, little brother Wuming!”
As soon as they met, Uncle Pu extended his hand to shake Wuming’s, only letting go after a moment.
“I really have to thank you this time,” Uncle Pu released his hand, a gratified smile on his face as he patted Wuming’s shoulder.
“You helped us solve a big problem; the KPI is stable now!”
“It’s nothing, just something along the way.”
“And this one…”
His gaze shifted, landing on Serena, looking at her with a scrutinizing air.
“This should be… the trouble that dragged our little brother Wuming into the vortex, right?”
“—!”
Uncle Pu’s tone carried no discernible joy or anger, yet it made Serena’s heart feel as if it was being squeezed tight.
“Uncle Pu, she actually…”
Wuming quickly opened his mouth to explain, but Uncle Pu waved his hand, interrupting his explanation.
“There are too many people here, not a place to talk. Come, to my office.”
He lowered his voice, saying seriously.
“Old Ji is up there waiting for you too.”
Wuming nodded understandingly, gripping Serena’s hand beside him tightly, signaling her to follow.
The three of them walked together to the elevator, heading to Uncle Pu’s office on the upper floor.
As soon as the office door opened, a loud and enthusiastic voice greeted them.
“Oh! Little brother Wuming! Long time no see!”
Ji Bochang strode over with big steps, his face piled with smiles, extending his broad palm to grip Wuming’s hand tightly.
“Uncle Bochang.”
Wuming smiled as he responded to this elder.
After greeting them and having the two sit on the comfortable sofa, Ji Bochang familiarly started chatting about family matters.
“You kid, where’s your mother off enjoying her travels now?”
“Just landed in America,” Wuming took out his phone and shook it, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness.
“Look, she just woke up and messaged me complaining, saying the stuff over there is sickeningly sweet, almost made her teeth rot from the sweetness.”
“Hahaha—! Then it’s definitely better here!”
Uncle Pu on the side also asked with concern: “Then your mother… about when can she come back?”
Wuming thought for a moment. “If quick… probably about a month, I guess.”
He gave a rough estimate.
“A month, huh… not too early, not too late.”
Uncle Pu stroked his chin, his gaze shifting from Wuming to Serena.
“First, tell me about it. What’s the situation with you two? Why did you get involved in those troubles?”
Uncle Pu asked Serena seriously.
“…”
Serena sat upright on the sofa, her hands clenched tightly, looking extremely tense and unable to speak for a long time.
“Whatever you want to say, just tell Uncle Pu. Uncle Pu will understand your situation.”
Sitting beside her, Wuming saw her tense appearance and tried to help her relax. After all, everyone here was “one of us” and wouldn’t harm Serena.
“I’m right here beside you, so don’t worry.”
Wuming said to Serena gently.
“…”
Serena was moved by his words and gradually opened her mouth.
“I…”
Encouraged by Wuming, Serena poured out her experiences to them completely.
After hearing what Serena said, Uncle Pu and Uncle Ji both showed extremely serious expressions, knowing that this was big trouble now.
“An escaped experimental subject… drawing the pursuit of those black households commissioned by Scarlet Night.”
“This is no longer an ordinary public security case…”
Uncle Pu immediately concluded that this blood clan named Serena in front of him would probably turn the whole of Nanning upside down, not resting until the goal was achieved.
Uncle Pu took out a cigarette from his pocket, about to light it when—
“Old Pu, Wuming is still here.”
Ji Bochang reminded him.
“…Oh.”
Then Wuming watched as Uncle Pu put down the cigarette, took out the cigarette pack from his pocket again, and pulled out two more.
“Join me for one?”
“…”
“…”
Everyone looked at him speechlessly.
“Don’t look at me like that, I was just joking, hahaha—”
Old Pu awkwardly put away the cigarettes and looked at Uncle Ji beside him.
“What do you think, Old Ji?”
“Besides looking with my eyes, how else can I look?”
Ji Bochang sighed. This matter clearly exceeded their jurisdiction; they needed to let higher-ups handle it.
“If you want my suggestion, contact upward.”
“Then leave Miss Serena here for protection, waiting for the arrangements from above.”
“—!!!”
Hearing Ji Bochang’s words, Serena wanted to stand up excitedly, but Wuming held her hand and pressed her down.
“No, Uncle Ji.”
“I can’t leave her here.”
“Why?”
Uncle Ji expressed confusion. “She’ll be very safe with us, and for you, it’s a good choice too, isn’t it, Wuming?”
“…” Wuming fell silent.
What Uncle Ji said did make sense; Serena would be safe here, and Wuming could escape the danger—a win-win situation.
But the problem was with Serena.
“If I… stay here… will I be sent back…”
Wuming could feel Serena trembling.
“Hard to say. This belongs to a case in the demon realm; probably will coordinate with the demon realm side and hand you over…”
“No—! I won’t go back!!!”
Serena immediately showed an extremely agitated appearance, saying she absolutely wouldn’t go back! Back to the demon realm!
After all, that was their territory!
“…Thank you, Uncle Pu.”
Wuming suddenly said to Uncle Pu.
“—!!!” Serena jerked her head to look at Wuming, her face showing shock mixed with despair as she stared at him.
Wuming is… lying to me…?
Didn’t he say… he wouldn’t abandon me…
Serena suddenly felt a surge of betrayal welling up in her heart.