Cooperation

Hearing the name "Blue Arc," Su Zimai froze for a moment.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Huh... that big blue Electric Mouse?"

As Ke Qirui walked toward the stairwell of the abandoned office building, she said, "Actually, Japan's Exorcist Association had long since discussed this with China's Esper Association. They said Blue Arc would also be sent to guard this auction."

She gave a soft laugh. "Blue Arc is a reliable teammate. If I hadn't heard that news, I wouldn't have overestimated myself and accepted this commission."

Su Zimai followed behind her. "But isn't that guy busy as hell? How does he have time to come to Japan?"

"It was the Esper Association's request. He couldn't possibly refuse."

Su Zimai rubbed her forehead and sighed. "I really don't like that big Electric Mouse poser. I can't take it, I seriously can't... Captain, do we really have to work with him? I'm afraid his greasy one-liners will choke me to death. Honestly, I don't even know why he's so popular in China. Whenever I see my classmates swooning over him, I can't help rolling my eyes."

"He's a national-level hero, at least. Why are you so prejudiced against him?"

With her head lowered, Su Zimai muttered, "Why doesn't the Japanese Underworld borrow people from the United Nations? Wouldn't it be better to just call Rainbow Wing over? Once the White Crow Troupe sees those Calamity Grade freaks from Rainbow Wing, they wouldn't dare make a move, no matter what."

Ke Qirui explained patiently, "First, the Japanese Underworld has a poor relationship with the United Nations, so they can't ask them for help. Second, an organization on Rainbow Wing's level would never be assigned to protect an auction. It'd be like using a Rocket Launcher to roast sweet potatoes."

"Fine... then Japan's already doing pretty well if it can borrow a big Electric Mouse."

"When we meet Blue Arc, you can't call him 'big Electric Mouse,' okay?"

"Hehe, I'm not stupid." Su Zimai was unconcerned.

As Ke Qirui headed toward the exit, she took a cigarette holder from her pocket, put it between her lips, and took a drag. "Come to think of it... I vaguely recognize that boy from earlier."

"Which one?"

"The one in the hoodie. I saw him at the Exorcist Association two years ago." Ke Qirui pondered. "I've forgotten his name, but I remember that his Heavenly Drive was very unusual... it was 'chess.' Later, he left the association because of something, and I never saw him again."

"He joined the White Crow Troupe too?" Su Zimai was startled.

"Maybe."

"A perfectly good young man going astray. Even getting a stable position in the association would be better than following those lunatics around to murder, set fires, and loot, right?" Su Zimai remarked with a sigh.

Ke Qirui shook her head. "Who knows what he's thinking? In any case... let's meet up with the others first. Be careful on the way. We don't know whether the troupe's people are still nearby."

"Yeah."

Ke Qirui put the cigarette holder back into her trench coat pocket, and the two of them walked out of the abandoned office building, chatting and laughing.

Elsewhere in Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan.

Ji Minghuan had ramen with the three members of the White Crow Troupe at a ramen shop, after which they went their separate ways. Before Ayase Origami left, she gave him a phone number and said that the other members would call him once they arrived in Tokyo.

After leaving the ramen shop, he found a hotel in Tokyo and checked in alone. He swiped his card and opened the door.

He placed the Room Card into the slot and switched on the lights.

After taking a few steps forward, he collapsed onto the bed. Ji Minghuan thought, I'll have to stay in this band of brigands for quite a while... The White Crow Troupe is infamous now. Maybe I can lure Rainbow Wing here. As long as I can get hold of Rainbow Wing's intelligence—even just one member's ability—I'll have the capital to trade with Gu Qiye in the long term.

Lying facedown on the pillow, he tapped the gear icon in the lower-right corner of his vision, brought up the System Panel, and selected the "Character Skill Tree System."

Branch One (Swarm): Recruit Soldiers (requires consuming "1" Skill Point to learn) → Unknown → Unknown...

Branch Two (Valor): Chess Piece Evolution (Condition: a total of "3" Skill Points must be spent in other branches before this skill can be learned) (requires consuming "1" Skill Point to learn) → Unknown → Unknown...

Branch Three (Soul): Demon Hunter (requires consuming "1" Skill Point to learn) → Unknown → Unknown...

"The second branch has prerequisites. I can't touch it yet, so I can only choose from the other two branches."

With that in mind, Ji Minghuan looked over the starting skills of the two branches.

Recruit Soldiers: Obtain two "Soldier Chess Pieces."

Demon Hunter: After your chess pieces participate in killing a demon, you have a chance to obtain a unique chess piece related to it. (This chess piece can only be "materialized" once, and after being destroyed, it will not be reborn like ordinary chess pieces.)

"Whichever way I look at it, the first one is more useful."

Ji Minghuan reached that conclusion without hesitation. Raising a finger, he pressed and held the skill name "Recruit Soldiers."

As he watched the text on the panel brighten from dark to light, blooming with black-and-white radiance, another panel appeared before him.

"1" Skill Point consumed. Successfully learned the Swarm branch skill—"Recruit Soldiers."

Permission to learn the next skill in the Swarm branch has been unlocked.

Ji Minghuan glanced at the newly unlocked skill in the Swarm system.

Soldier Training: Equip your soldiers with shields. During battle, they can activate the command—"Shield Stance."

He closed the Character Skill Tree panel and summoned Xia Pingzhou's Heavenly Drive. A black-and-white glow emerged from his body, gradually converging into a ring twisted from chessboard squares. Compared to before, two new Soldier Chess Pieces had appeared on the ring—this was the effect of the Recruit Soldiers skill he had just learned.

"Not bad. This king feels much safer."

Ji Minghuan yawned, withdrew his Heavenly Drive, and rolled over on the bed to face the ceiling.

He then opened the Task Panel.

Main Quest 1: Accompany the White Crow Troupe in the robbery operation at the "Tokyo Underground Auction" on July 21, and survive the operation. (Quest Reward: 3 Skill Points, 1 Attribute Point, 1 Split Point)

He thought, I only just noticed that this quest gives three Skill Points... It's my first time seeing so many points. Does that mean surviving the auction will be difficult?

Main Quest 2: Find the location of the evil Exorcist who killed "your family"—"Jack the Ripper." (Quest Reward: 1 Skill Point, 1 Attribute Point, 1 Split Point)

Jack the Ripper is a troupe member... As long as the whole troupe gathers later, I'll definitely be able to complete this quest.

Ji Minghuan silently looked toward the third main quest.

Main Quest 3: Search for clues regarding "your former teammate," the crazed Exorcist—"Red Light."

He searched through Xia Pingzhou's memories for the incident from two years ago. Back then, while their four-person team was carrying out a mission, Xia Pingzhou's Exorcist teammate, Red Light, had suddenly gone berserk. As though possessed by a savage killer, he smashed the other two teammates besides Xia Pingzhou into meat paste, spraying blood everywhere.

After that, Red Light disappeared for a long time. Then, he became a monster that specialized in hunting Exorcists.

After every successful crime, he left behind a "hexagram" symbol beside the corpse, along with a line of Latin beside it: Sodalitas Salvifica.

Translated into Chinese, it meant "Sodalitas Salvifica."

"'Sodalitas Salvifica'... It sounds like a pretty formidable organization," Ji Minghuan mumbled.

He sighed. "Anyway, there's nothing to do here for now. I'll just wait for the troupe's notice. This body can stay logged out in the hotel for the time being."

With his arms beneath his head, Ji Minghuan stared blankly at the ceiling for a while. He thought, Now that I have a second body as backup, it's time to use Black Cocoon to investigate the Welfare Home. Hopefully, I can get some clues about the laboratory from the director.

He then closed his eyes and shifted his consciousness into his first Game Character—Gu Wenyu.

Everything slowly quieted down. The hotel lights were dim and yellow, and the young man on the bed slept peacefully. A light rain fell outside, while Tokyo Tower shone with a warm white glow through the curtain of rain.

Requesting Moon Tickets!