Chapter 46 – One cannot step into the same river twice.

Several police cars sped through the night with their lights flashing, red and blue beams sweeping across the buildings lining the streets.

Pedestrians paused out of curiosity.

Some pulled out their phones to take pictures, others whispered about another Strange Person being caught, and a few merely glanced over before continuing on their way.

The riot vehicle in the middle of the convoy was specially modified, with heavy armor, reinforced doors, and a sealed partition between the rear compartment and the driver’s cab.

Bai Li curled up on the bench in the back, her tail tucked between her legs, ears drooping like a cat shoved into a cage.

“Um…”

She lifted her head and gave an awkward smile to the Knight sitting across from her.

“Was all this really necessary?”

Lin Du leaned against the wall of the compartment, his goggles faintly gleaming under the lights, revealing no emotion.

“Let me think.”

He counted off on his fingers, one by one.

“Summoning a giant monster to destroy the city, breaking into the city museum to steal exhibits and injuring security, and participating in modifying Strange Persons to cause damage—those are the confirmed charges. Not to mention you were in possession of a restricted firearm and attacked me.”

Bai Li weakly made an X gesture in front of her.

“Um… modifying Xiao Yu wasn’t my doing…”

“Then tell me, who did it?”

Bai Li shrank her shoulders and looked away, refusing to answer.

‘Since I’m here, I might as well accept it. I can dodge for a while, but not forever.’

‘I got lucky escaping last time. Getting taken away now is just my bad luck.’

‘But I’m not fighting alone. I believe Madam will send someone to save me!’

‘She will!’

‘Don’t underestimate the bond between us Strange Persons!’

She stole a glance at the Knight sitting across from her, trying to change the subject.

“You… not taking off that armor? It must be heavy, right?”

“It’s made of a special alloy, lighter and stronger than titanium of the same volume.”

Lin Du’s tone was dismissive.

“And I need to keep an eye on you. Can’t let you slip away again.”

“Hey, that’s no fun.”

Bai Li rested her cuffed hands under her chin, putting on an air of boredom.

“So, interview time… What do you do when you’re not transformed?”

Lin Du didn’t answer.

He just stared at her silently, making her skin crawl.

“Um… What about Xiao Yu and the others?”

Bai Li scratched her cheek.

“They’re in another vehicle.”

Lin Du finally spoke.

“She’ll undergo a full examination later. Once we confirm she’s not a threat, she’ll be released.”

“That’s good…”

Bai Li let out a sigh of relief, relaxing for half a second, then suddenly crossed her legs tightly.

“Hey…”

Her voice dropped significantly.

“Can we… pull over?”

“What’s wrong?”

Lin Du asked, puzzled.

Bai Li’s face slowly reddened, from her cheeks all the way to her ears.

“I… I need to use the bathroom…”

Lin Du was silent for a moment, then spoke.

“…No. Wait until we reach the containment facility.”

“But…”

Bai Li squeezed her legs tighter, leaning forward slightly.

“I can’t hold it much longer…”

“Then hold it.”

Lin Du’s tone left no room for negotiation.

“This vehicle doesn’t stop until we reach the destination. That’s the rule.”

Bai Li bit her lip, her mind racing.

“Then… how about you give me a plastic bag, and I’ll go in here?”

“?”

Lin Du froze for a second, as if confirming whether he’d heard correctly.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“First, there’s no plastic bag in the vehicle. Second, although the rear compartment is separated from the driver’s cab, the ventilation system is shared. Third…”

He paused.

“Don’t you have any sense of male-female boundaries?”

Bai Li’s face turned even redder.

“That’s exactly why it’s harder for girls to hold it!”

The Knight didn’t respond, turning his head to look elsewhere.

“Really no room for negotiation?”

Bai Li blinked.

“No.”

“And…”

Bai Li’s voice dropped.

“This body of mine… it’s not that sturdy to begin with… What if something goes wrong from holding it too long…”

“Wait until the containment facility.”

Lin Du repeated the same line.

“Ugh—”

Bai Li leaned against the wall in despair, her legs twisted together, her tail tightly clamped.

Just then, the convoy’s speed suddenly slowed.

A hurried voice came through the radio from the vehicle ahead, mixed with the crackle of static.

-Obstacle detected on the road ahead… Repeat… Obstacle detected on the road ahead… All vehicles decelerate…

Lin Du seemed to realize something and abruptly lifted his head.

“Stay in the vehicle. Don’t move.”

Before the words were out, he had already opened the door.

A silver-gray figure jumped onto the roof, armor clinking against the metal.

“What’s happening?”

Bai Li leaned sideways, looking out through the window connecting the rear compartment to the driver’s cab.

A few hundred meters ahead, several motorcycles lay scattered in the middle of the road.

People in uniforms lay slumped on the roadside, motionless—unclear whether alive or dead.

And in the center of the road stood a purple figure.

On all fours, with bone spikes lining its spine, a tail whipping behind it like a steel whip.

Its eyes, burning with rage, glowed in the darkness, fixed on the police car at the front of the convoy.

It was Huang Mao, the Strange Person.

Bai Li was startled.

‘How is he here?’

‘No, it’s Martha. She let him out of the shadows.’

‘What perfect timing—reinforcements have arrived!’

“Strange Person ahead, you are surrounded! Surrender immediately!”

The officers from the front vehicle had already gotten out, drawing their guns, hiding behind the doors, and shouting at Huang Mao.

Huang Mao ignored them.

He lowered his head and kicked off with his hind legs.

BOOM—!

A motorcycle was flipped into the air, somersaulting several times before crashing into a streetlamp, scattering parts everywhere.

“Open fire!”

The officers opened fire.

Bullets struck Huang Mao’s body, blooming into flecks of blood.

But he seemed to feel no pain.

The wounds healed rapidly, pushing the bullets out of his body, as he kept charging forward.

-Retreat—retreat—change route—!

The voice on the radio shifted pitch.

The front vehicle began reversing.

The vehicles behind adjusted direction as well.

The entire convoy twisted awkwardly on the narrow street, like a startled snake.

The riot vehicle’s driver yanked the wheel hard, causing the body to tilt violently.

“Ouch!”

Bai Li slid off the bench, her shoulder hitting the wall of the compartment, making her wince in pain.

Lin Du stood on the roof, one hand gripping a handle, the other already gathering flames.

“She has to be delivered to the containment facility!”

Lu Lin shouted to the driver, then let go and charged toward the Huang Mao Strange Person.

The silver-gray and purple figures collided, flames and claws intertwining, sending shockwaves rippling through the night sky.

Bai Li pressed against the window, watching the two wrestling figures grow farther away.

‘This is my chance.’

She took a deep breath and lowered her voice.

“Martha? Are you there?”

No response.

“Sister Martha? Save me?”

Still no response.

Bai Li’s heart sank.

‘Strange. She sent Huang Mao to intercept the convoy, so why hasn’t Martha shown herself?’

‘Did Huang Mao just pass by? Or does Martha not plan to save me? Am I really going to be taken to the containment facility?’

‘No way!’

CLICK—

The door suddenly swung open from the outside.

A silver-gray figure stood outside the door, red goggles glowing in the darkness.

“How are you back?!”

Bai Li’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

“You think I’d fall for the same trick twice?”

Lin Du’s tone was urgent.

He reached out and grabbed Bai Li.

“Come with me!”