It always rains in Rain City.
Therefore, the city’s sewer system is highly developed, so complex that if you mistakenly enter it, you might even get lost inside, and its average pipe diameter is wide enough to drive a large truck through without issue.
The water churned, carrying a dark and thick gelatinous mass that slammed into the platform on the side.
Like a slime, it slowly crawled to a dry area.
Gurgle…
The black slime gradually twisted, soon forming a humanoid shape.
However, its size was quite small, about the height of an 8-year-old child; even Hui Jin was a bit taller.
And in its hand, it was clutching a small silver can, the size of a palm.
“Although there were some unexpected twists, I finally got my hands on it…”
Its voice became extremely shrill, like a chicken being strangled.
“Now… I just need to wait patiently. I’ve waited seven years; I can afford to wait longer.”
Little Chariot walked along the sewer, but stopped at a corner.
It stared into the darkness and said:
“You’re still the same, as damp and dirty as a sewer rat, [Daodiao Ren].”
“That description suits you perfectly right now, Mr. Zhan Che.” The shadow trembled, as if laughing.
Zhan Che stopped, and his body suddenly expanded rapidly like a balloon!
The flabby torso was filled with bulging lumpy muscles, mimetic veins intertwining into ferocious patterns on it.
In an instant, Zhan Che had expanded several times his original size!
“I don’t recall inviting you. What are you doing here!”
The corner lights cast Zhan Che’s shadow onto the wall, like a demon returning from hell.
It opened its gaping maw, revealing sharp fangs, and its roar rumbled through the empty sewer.
“You’re still the same, like a manic patient missing their brainstem, Mr. Zhan Che.”
Daodiao Ren’s voice sounded magnetic and elegant.
“I can’t help but wonder, how much of your original strength do you have now?”
“None of your business! Get out of my sight!”
Zhan Che raised his arm as thick as a tree trunk and slammed it against the wall, causing debris and dust to rain down.
“Oh my, how terrifying. No gentleman would want to be friends with you like that.”
The voice gradually grew louder, and a tall, thin figure stepped out from the shadows.
It wore a neat suit, a perfectly tied tie, and black gloves.
But its exposed limbs were brown wooden poles, and above the white collar was a head woven from straw.
It was a scarecrow.
Daodiao Ren took off his top hat and slowly bowed.
The button eyes and the slightly curved mouth sewn from leather formed a perfectly eerie smile.
“But I am a kind person… ah, no, a kind shadow, so I’ve decided to give you a hand.”
“Zhan Che, you should thank me.”
“Bullshit!”
Zhan Che spread his arms and lunged at Daodiao Ren, but within two seconds, his terrifying roar turned into a painful screech, like a fatally wounded beast raging helplessly.
Soon, the screech disappeared into the sound of trickling water.
“You… are not worthy of being in my collection. So, go do what you need to do.”
Daodiao Ren examined the silver can in his hand, then turned and walked into the shadows.
On the pale wall, Zhan Che’s shadow stood with arms extended horizontally, body straight, but its head hung limply to one side.
Before long, its body began to melt rapidly, turning into a dark gel that disappeared into the water.
“Find… the perfect genes.”
Its voice was slow and low, with no discernible inflection.
—
When Hui Jin said goodbye to Jiang Yiyun and Candy and returned to the private room, she saw Xia Che and Xiao Chi sitting together watching a livestream.
The female host’s gentle and clear voice came from the phone:
“This battle, Tanglangke won very beautifully! Perhaps he could become a B-rank hero soon… Wait, okay… Dear viewers, we now interrupt with an urgent news bulletin: A residential area in Palm Bay Area has had another murder case. This is already the fifth murder this month. All victims are found in a death state with arms extended horizontally and body upright, as if nailed to a cross. According to a senior detective from Rain City Police Department, these five cases are all the work of the same person…”
The sound of the sliding door made the two look up from their phones.
Seeing Hui Jin enter, Xia Che stood up and said:
“Let’s go.”
Hui Jin looked around and said:
“Where are Sakura Blizzard and Jie Geng?”
Xia Che replied, “I asked Sakura Blizzard to take Jie Geng home.”
The three left the BBQ restaurant and planned to walk to the nearby four-way intersection to hail a taxi.
Hui Jin walked ahead, turned her head, and asked, “Your cousin… her name is Xia Qing, right? How is she?”
“She herself is a healing-type magical girl. She recovered quickly; she’s fine.”
Xia Che and Xiao Chi walked side by side.
He looked at the petite girl ahead; the streetlamp cast a warm yellow glow on her gray hair.
Hui Jin’s hands were clasped behind her back, a bit like a disciplinary dean patrolling the hallway.
But with such a cute face making such a mature gesture, it only made one want to pinch her cheeks.
Hui Jin asked again, “When did she become a magical girl?”
Xia Che said, “Just recently, but a little earlier than Xiao Chi…”
He suddenly laughed.
“Now everyone around me is a magical girl.”
At that moment, Xiao Chi quickly ran to his side and bumped his shoulder.
Although she held back her strength, Xia Che still felt like he had been hit by a bull and nearly stumbled.
“Ouch! Xiao Chi, are you trying to kill me?”
Xia Che rubbed his sore shoulder and complained.
“Sorry, sorry! I really held back, but I didn’t expect you to be so fragile~”
The girl tapped her head, trying to play cute and get away with it.
“You’re a magical girl, you know…”
Xia Che rolled his eyes.
He saw that the girl had something else to say, so he said, “…Just say what you want, no need to beat around the bush. If I can do it, I’ll definitely agree.”
“Hehe, I really can’t hide anything from you. And saying such cool words… You don’t do this to other girls at school, do you?”
Xiao Chi leaned her small face in, with a mischievous smile.
Xia Che raised his hand.
“I swear, I really don’t.”
“That’s more like it, hmph~ It’s like this…”
The girl twisted her hands together, looking a bit shy.
“I’ve been recruiting a manager recently… Didn’t you want to work at the Special Task Force? How about trying to be my manager?”
She slightly tilted her face up, and in her bright red eyes, the light danced like a small fish swimming happily in circles.
Hui Jin heard these words, slowed down, and glanced at the two behind her out of the corner of her eye.
Xia Che was stunned for a moment.
A smile first appeared at the corner of his mouth, then he rubbed his nose and said awkwardly:
“Um… Xiao Chi, although I really want to be your manager, but… I’m already Miss Hui Jin’s manager, you know?”
“Huh? Already Senior Hui Jin’s manager? Then there’s no helping it…”
Xiao Chi nodded, shrank back, was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly exploded like a pressure cooker filled with steam:
“——Huh?!?!?”