I, Herrscher Slayer

Himeko shook her head. What was going on today? She had not drunk much, yet her mind was already tying itself in knots. She would first find out Shen Gonglin's name and where he lived. If he did not go back all night, his guardian would definitely worry.

Still possessing basic thinking ability, Himeko supported Shen Gonglin and headed toward the hotel. However, the alcohol-dulled Valkyrie failed to notice an inconspicuous black sedan slowly following behind them. Just as she was about to enter the hotel, the car suddenly accelerated and stopped in front of her. Then, a man and woman got out, blocked her path, and flashed their IDs before her eyes.

"Police. Come with us."

"...Huh?"

Himeko stared blankly at the two plainclothes officers. What was going on? Had she committed some crime?

"Boss, will staking out this place really do anything? It's late at night. Why don't we go back and rest? My intuition tells me nothing will happen today... Who even stakes out a place like this? What could we possibly catch here?"

At the bar entrance, the rookie officer yawned and looked helplessly at his focused superior in the driver's seat. He was beginning to regret why she was the superior he had ended up following. It was clearly outside working hours, yet she had dragged him into plainclothes and started staking out the bar entrance. He truly could not imagine what results they would get from waiting here.

"Idiot, that just shows how little you understand. This is exactly the best time to crack down on crime. Didn't you know that nighttime is the peak period for criminal activity? Especially outside bars. You've heard of picking up unconscious drunks, right? If we don't wait outside a bar, where else would we wait? My intuition tells me we'll definitely get something today. Just stay put."

The long-haired policewoman glared at her subordinate. He was a fresh graduate and an intern with no experience at all. The station had recently received many reports: women going alone to bars, drinking until unconscious, then being taken to hotels. The higher-ups took the matter very seriously, which was why they had assigned her to handle it. But why had they given her such a dimwitted subordinate? Could someone like him really be called a people's police officer? Wasn't being a police officer about fighting crime and protecting innocent citizens? The long-haired policewoman hated this sort of thing with a passion, so after thinking it over, she had decided to stake out this place. They would definitely get results today.

"Oh, fine. Then you keep watch, Boss. I'll chat with my girlfriend... Boss, why is it that every time I call my girlfriend at night, she's always running? She's always out of breath. She's really disciplined."

The young officer idly held his phone and listened to a voice message from his girlfriend. Meanwhile, the long-haired policewoman's gaze became sympathetic. This guy still did not know what was happening, did he? She had better not say anything yet. She only hoped he would realize it sooner rather than later.

"I think you should wear a hat. As for the color, you can ask one of your friends... Hey, look. Just as I said, something's wrong. Someone's coming out. This is definitely someone picking up an unconscious drunk!"

She casually responded and offered a bit of advice about her subordinate's life. But then movement came from the bar entrance, instantly pushing his problem from her mind. The long-haired policewoman stared intently at the two figures leaning against each other. One of them was limp and clearly unconscious. How pitiful. If not for her, that girl would definitely suffer at someone's hands tonight.

"Hey, there really is someone... But Boss, this probably isn't it, right? I've heard of picking up unconscious drunks, but I've never heard of a woman picking up a man. Could we have gotten it wrong? Maybe they're just friends and one of them accidentally got drunk?"

The young officer quickly put down his phone and looked ahead. Yet when he saw that strange pair, he could not help feeling doubtful. People picking up unconscious drunks were usually creepy middle-aged men and single women, right? But that gorgeous red-haired figure did not resemble a creepy middle-aged man in any way. And it was not some single woman who was drunk, but a man. They must have gotten this wrong.

"Huh? A man? How is that possible... Hey, it really is... So what if he's a man? Men can be picked up while unconscious too. You're young, so don't be so rigid-minded. In today's society, pretty boys need to watch out for their safety when they're alone outside!"

As she earnestly lectured her junior, the long-haired policewoman narrowed her eyes and observed carefully. Her intuition told her there was definitely something fishy going on.

Chapter 68

Men needed to watch out for their safety outside... The young officer was filled with respect. As expected of a senior officer. Her words really made sense. The more he thought about them, the more right they seemed. Modern society was no longer a place where one could feel safe simply because of one's gender. Men really did need to watch out for their own safety when alone outside. He needed to be careful too.

"...You're overthinking it. I meant pretty boys, like that blond boy over there. If it's you... don't worry. Public safety is still very good in this society. As long as it's not so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face, you'll be fine."

The long-haired policewoman immediately saw what her junior was thinking. After pondering for a while, she decided to tell him tactfully. She was talking about pretty boys, and that boy being supported over there perfectly fit the description. Even unconscious, she could tell just how beautiful he was. Brilliant blond hair, fair skin, and that delicate, pitiable expression with his eyes closed... He was definitely the kind of boy with a somewhat weak and submissive aura. That woman must have gotten him drunk and packed him up to take away!

"...Boss, I feel like I've been offended. Also, that doesn't prove he was picked up while unconscious. I don't think that lady looks like someone who would do that. Maybe they're friends."

The young officer froze for a long time, his voice tinged with resentment. Even if she judged people by their faces, she did not need to make it so obvious. He finally understood why his boss, despite being the police department beauty, had no boyfriend. The colleagues in the station simply did not meet her standards for choosing a partner. She might be into young boys... But that was a crime. How could she knowingly break the law?

"Impossible. Judging by my intuition, they shouldn't be friends. They probably never even met before. Then that woman saw the boy and took a liking to him, tricked him into the bar, got him to drink a few glasses until he passed out, and finally took him to a hotel to do this and that. When the boy woke up the next day, all he would see would be a complete mess. Tsk, tsk. That must be it."

The long-haired policewoman enthusiastically explained her detective-like reasoning to her subordinate. Yet as he stared at her, his expression gradually changed. The young officer looked at his boss with slight horror. Her reasoning was awfully clear. Could it be that this was the sort of thing she thought about all day when she had nothing to do? Her so-called intuition... was it the intuition of a fellow female pervert?

"No way. I still don't believe it... Boss, with that lady's looks and temperament, she probably wouldn't do something like that, right? The world is still pretty beautiful."

The young officer shook his head. He simply could not believe that someone as beautiful as Himeko would do such a thing. How could there be something so good in this world? If a beauty of that level were involved, he would not mind being picked up and taken home himself.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're still too naive. Let me tell you, you must never trust beautiful women in this world. The prettier a woman is, the better she is at deceiving people. If you don't believe me, let's make a bet on where they're going. I guarantee that boy will be taken into a hotel by that woman. Let's follow them and see."

"Boss, you're only less than a year older than me, right?"

"That's why I'm better than you."

The long-haired policewoman shook her head. This inexperienced youngster was too naive. Society was not as wonderful as he thought. If not for her seeing this, today would probably become the darkest day of that boy's life. Fortunately, she had noticed.

The policewoman started the car and carefully followed behind Himeko. Just as she expected, when she saw Himeko taking Shen Gonglin toward the hotel, she knew she had won the bet. Parking at the roadside, she opened the door and rushed over. This was justice descending from heaven!

"We're police. Come with us. I hope you cooperate. We've been watching you for more than a day or two."

Repeating herself, the long-haired policewoman stared sternly at Murata Himeko. From up close, she realized Himeko was even more beautiful than she had imagined. Though she was unwilling to admit it, she had to acknowledge that whether in looks or figure, she was no match for the woman before her. Tsk, prettier than her...

Then she was definitely the kind of bad person rotten to the core!

"Huh? Is there some mistake here, Officer? I only arrived in this city today, yet you say you've been watching me for days?"

Himeko was dumbfounded. If the police ID she had just seen were not real, she would have thought the woman in front of her was insane. Watching her for days? Had she watched too much television?

"...In short, you are suspected of committing a crime. Come with us."

She had misspoken without thinking, and Himeko had pointed out the flaw, leaving the long-haired policewoman awkward. She often heard her seniors say that line when she followed them, and she had thought it was cool. Now that she had a rookie under her, she wanted to sound as cool as her seniors, so she had blurted it out. She had not expected this problem... No, this was not the time to be embarrassed. There was something else she should be concerned about.

"Suspected of a crime? I didn't do anything. Don't make accusations. What crime did I commit?"

Himeko was even more confused after hearing the policewoman. How could crime possibly have anything to do with her? Himeko was a teacher. Even though she had many privileges as a Valkyrie, she had always obeyed the law.

"Um... You tell her. Tell her what crime she committed."

Matters of legal theory were better left to the junior. After all, this was also a chance for him to train. The policewoman patted her subordinate's shoulder, signaling him to take over. The newly graduated officer thought for a long time before uncertainly saying,

"Um, encouraging a minor to drink, attempted indecent assault of a minor... Would that work?"

The young officer looked tentatively toward his boss. That should be the charge. He hoped she would be satisfied. They were already at a hotel entrance, so whether he believed it or not no longer mattered. He had never expected such a beautiful lady to really do something like this. His girlfriend was still better.

"Yes, that's exactly it! I had my eyes on you from the moment you came out of the bar. Don't even think about arguing. Seeing how practiced you are, this definitely isn't your first time, is it? The net of heaven has wide meshes, but nothing escapes it. Today, I caught you!"

The long-haired policewoman spoke fiercely, and only then did Himeko understand why they had approached her. What was this? She had merely been briefly captivated by his looks... Pah, she had acted courageously and brought him back to her hotel so he could rest. How had that landed her in front of the police?

"No, this really is my first time... No, we're friends, Officer. Could you have made a mistake?"

Himeko explained helplessly. Did she really look that much like a bad person?

Chapter 69

This was the first time Himeko had ever encountered something like this. Seeing their police IDs had made her somewhat nervous, because what she was doing was not exactly something she could be proud of. If Himeko showed her military officer's ID, these small-city police officers would not be able to interfere with her at all. But unless absolutely necessary, she did not want to expose herself. Besides, it had not reached that point yet, right? As long as she explained herself properly, it should be fine.

"Friends... Right, Boss, I told you they were friends. Miss, quickly tell my boss and us what this kid's name is. This must be a misunderstanding."

The young officer hurriedly tried to smooth things over. He truly did not want to believe that a stunning beauty like Himeko would do this. If it were real, he would want to go get drunk in a bar himself. Being taken home by such a beauty would be like having smoke rise from his ancestors' graves. How could there be something so good in this world?

"Uh... His name is... Wang Tiezhu. Yes, his name is Wang Tiezhu."

She did not know his name. Himeko froze for a long time, then, seeing the increasingly strange looks in the officers' eyes, she could only make up a name at random. This was bad. She really did not know this guy's name. Before she could ask him, he had gotten drunk and passed out. Now, even Himeko felt that she looked increasingly suspicious.

No way, she did not even know the boy's name. Could it really be as the boss had guessed? The world was too crazy. He had only just graduated from the police academy, and he was already unable to keep up with the times?

The young officer stared at Himeko in shock. He did not believe the name she had just made up at all. Wang Tiezhu? Could she have made it up any more carelessly?

"...Do you really think we people's police officers are useless? That name has a completely different feel from him. No need to say anything else. Come with us."

How could a clever policewoman like her be fooled by such tricks from Himeko? Finding Himeko increasingly suspicious, she grabbed Himeko's wrist and pushed her into the car. They could discuss everything at the police station. Wang Tiezhu? She really had the nerve to come up with that name. Did she think everyone else was an idiot? It was not that there was anything wrong with the name Wang Tiezhu itself. It simply did not match Shen Gonglin at all.

"Hey, wait! I'm really not a bad person. I'm actually a soldier, and a major at that. Really. And I'm a teacher. How could I possibly do the kind of thing you just mentioned? Really, listen to me!"

Himeko was finally getting a little flustered. It looked like this policewoman truly intended to take her to the station. This was far too embarrassing. If the people at St. Freya Academy found out that the great Murata Himeko had been taken to the police station over something like this, they would laugh themselves to death. Why would this policewoman not listen to an explanation? Did she really look that much like a bad person?

"Hmph. Not only did you intend to assault a minor, now you're impersonating a public official and active-duty military officer. Let me tell you, you've made your situation even worse. We won't believe you. Whatever you have to say can wait until we reach the station!"

The policewoman gave a cold laugh. She felt more and more certain that Himeko was suspicious. At first, she had only thought she had caught a pervert. Now this pervert's crimes were getting bigger and bigger. Impersonating a military officer was no small matter. She would say no to this kind of evil force. As expected of herself, she had finally caught a big fish.

"No, I... Whatever. Once we get there, you'll have to release me yourself. Don't blame me for not warning you."

Himeko sighed helplessly and turned to look out the window. With her skills as a Valkyrie, how could these two young officers possibly be her match? She simply did not want to bully ordinary people. On the other hand, Himeko was a little curious about the expressions on their faces once they learned her identity. Himeko occasionally watched this kind of thing when she was bored, and she was quite familiar with this sort of plot. Pretending to be weak before revealing one's strength and humiliating the other party—that was how it went. That little fellow would surely be very surprised then.

Glancing at Shen Gonglin, who was sleeping soundly beside her, Himeko reached out and pinched his cheek. This was all his fault. If he had not gotten drunk and passed out, she would not have been misunderstood by these two young officers. Seriously, she was an A-rank Valkyrie, an active teacher at St. Freya Academy, and the captain of the Hyperion, yet she was being taken into a police station over something like this. It really was a novel experience.

"What are you doing?! You dare to harass him right in front of the police? Are perverts these days all as arrogant as you? Behave yourself and think carefully about how you'll explain your problem later. No touching him! Hey, you, drive faster."

When the long-haired policewoman saw Himeko's little movement, she immediately pulled the sleeping Shen Gonglin over. Himeko, Shen Gonglin, and she were all squeezed into the back seat now. This woman truly had no fear. She had already been caught, yet she still dared to touch the victim. As a people's police officer, she had a duty to protect the victim. The policewoman pulled Shen Gonglin over and carefully studied his sleeping face. There had been such a big commotion, yet he still had not woken up. What was going on?

"Hey, just how much did you make him drink? Why hasn't he woken up yet?"

She shook Shen Gonglin's shoulder, but no matter how she moved him, he simply would not wake up. How much had he drunk? This woman must have kept forcing alcohol on him. She did not even know his name, yet she had gotten him to drink so much. Anyone who said she did not have other intentions would be lying through their teeth.

"Would you believe me if I said he only had one drink... Hey, you won't let me touch him, but why are you touching him however you want? You're a people's police officer!"

Himeko glanced at the idiotic policewoman before turning her head away. No matter what she said now, the officer would surely think she was making excuses. Since that was the case, why bother saying anything? The innocent would remain innocent, the guilty would remain guilty, and justice lived in people's hearts... Himeko had indeed wanted to remain that calm, but when she saw the policewoman feeling Shen Gonglin up, she could no longer sit still. Was this a case of officials being allowed to set fires while commoners were forbidden from lighting lamps? The officer would not let her touch him, yet she was touching him herself!

"What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think I'm like someone like you? I'm only checking his identity. The kid is drunk like this, so that won't do. I'm looking to see whether he has anything that can prove who he is. Do you think everyone in society is like you? You're so beautiful, yet you do such awful things. What a waste of that face and figure."

The policewoman rolled her eyes at Himeko and continued searching through Shen Gonglin's belongings. Himeko's expression became strange. Why was it that she had been insulted, yet could not get angry? This policewoman might be an idiot, but she was quite honest. Himeko was indeed rather satisfied with her face and figure.

Notify the Parents

A phone rang. Kiana, asleep in the room, frowned and blindly groped around toward the sound. Her fair little hand searched for a long time before finally finding the source. She grabbed the phone beside the bed and drowsily pressed it to her ear. Her azure eyes opened with great difficulty into a narrow slit. What was going on? She had been sleeping so comfortably. Who was disturbing her?

"Hello..."

"Hello, are you the guest staying in room 702? This is the Canghai City Police Department. We have some matters we would like to confirm with you. Are there two people staying in the room?"

As soon as the call connected, Kiana, still groggy with sleep, heard those words from the other end. The police department? Was this some new kind of scam? This should have been a call transferred through the hotel. How could scammers call directly into the room?

"Mm... What is it? We're sleeping right now. Is something urgent?"

She decided to first listen to what the other side had to say. Kiana closed her eyes and tugged at the bath towel around her chest. She had fallen asleep without even changing clothes. Shen Gonglin had not taken advantage of her, had he? Such a beautiful woman was lying on the bed, but luckily he had passed out earlier.

"Huh? You're sleeping... Are there only two people staying in the room? No one else?"

The police officer on the other end was also surprised. The hotel keycard found on Shen Gonglin was their only lead, but after calling, the person on the other end seemed not to know anything about it. What exactly was going on?

"Mm, only the two of us. He's lying beside me right now... Hey, hey, where is he? Where did that huge person go? He was right here just now... Wait, you said you're from the police department, right? I want to report a case. I lost someone. I lost him. He was sleeping with me earlier."

Kiana reached out to pat Shen Gonglin, but no matter where she patted, she could not find him. Realizing something was wrong, Kiana hurriedly opened her eyes. Only she was lying on the empty bed. Shen Gonglin, whom she expected to see, was nowhere in sight. Kiana anxiously searched the room but could not find any sign of him. Where had that guy gone? She quickly clutched the phone and reported the case.

Was the police department here really so efficient? The moment she wanted to report a case, they had called her in advance. That work ethic deserved a thumbs-up.

Kiana was genuinely anxious. She had brought him out, so she had to take responsibility for him. How had she somehow lost him? He was unfamiliar with this place. Where could he have gone?

"Miss, please don't worry. We called because of this matter. Could you describe the person you lost... What does he look like?"

Perhaps stunned by Kiana's stupidity, the police officer on the other end did not react for quite some time. Had she thought the person was still sleeping in bed with her? This girl's voice sounded nice, but she really did seem foolish. It was better to clarify things first, or else they might make a joke of themselves.

"Mm... He's about this much shorter than me, around my chin. He has blond hair, purple eyes, very fair skin, and a beauty mark at the corner of his eye... Oh, I remember. He has two beauty marks on his whole body, including the one at the corner of his eye. He's a boy, but he's super pretty. His hands and feet are both tiny, and his legs are long and slender enough to admire for a whole year."

Kiana carefully described Shen Gonglin's appearance, but the police officer on the other end fell silent again. Looking at Shen Gonglin, who was sleeping soundly on the bench in the station, the only detail that matched Kiana's description was blond hair. Right, there was also the beauty mark at his eye. But what were all those other descriptions? Though they somehow sounded reasonable when she said them, why did he feel that notifying her about the boy might also be dangerous? If he had not seen wrong, that person should be a boy, right?

"Um, do you have any more specific details?"

He could basically confirm that the girl on the phone knew him, but... how should he put it? This officer simply could not stop worrying.

"More details... Then he's pretty. Extremely, incredibly pretty. If I have to compare him, he feels even prettier than Mei!"

Kiana thought hard, but the information she gave made the officer's mouth twitch. What the hell was she talking about? And who was Mei? Was this girl mentally sound? Fine, that barely counted as a characteristic. The person still sleeping here really was exceptionally pretty.

"Alright, please don't worry. He's at our police station right now. We found the hotel keycard on him, which is why we called. He's fine. He nearly got picked up by a woman after drinking, but we brought both the suspect and him to the station before they entered the hotel. He's still drunk and hasn't woken up. You can come over, make a statement, and take him away."

After explaining the situation to Kiana, the white-haired girl was so shocked that she nearly jumped off the bed. That guy had gone out drinking, and he had nearly been picked up by a pervert? The news struck Kiana's mind like a blow, and she immediately panicked. No way. He had been sleeping beside her just moments ago, yet this had happened now. This... Kiana covered her chest. Was this what heartache felt like?

"Okay, I'll come right away. Is he alright? Whoever dared to ruin someone belonging to me... Who exactly is that person? I'll never forgive her!"

Kiana gritted her teeth. Fierce flames burned in her azure eyes. It felt like she had painstakingly shelled a huge pile of sunflower seeds, only for an annoying classmate to snatch them up and stuff them into her mouth before Kiana could enjoy them. Shen Gonglin was someone she had brought out, and she had an undeniable responsibility for what had happened to him. She would definitely avenge him!

She hoped he stayed drunk. She absolutely would not let anyone else learn about something like this!

"Uh... You're misunderstanding. Our station had been staking out the bar entrance. We brought them in before he was taken into the hotel. He's only still asleep because he drank too much. Please rest assured, nothing had time to happen."

Hearing Kiana's worry, the officer quickly explained the situation. Once she heard him, Kiana's expression instantly brightened. They had been caught before entering the hotel?

Good, good. That meant nothing had happened at all. Her tightly clenched little fist loosened slightly. After asking everything clearly, Kiana immediately hung up. She untied her bath towel and put on her clothes. This was truly a blessing amid misfortune. It must have been because she usually did too many good deeds. Shen Gonglin, wait for her. She would bring him back right away!

This time, she definitely would not let him casually leave her side again!

Police Station Statement

"Shen Gonglin, where are you? Where... It should be this way!"

After pulling up her zipper, Kiana pushed open the window and looked at the city beneath the night sky. This girl might be a little foolish, but she did not have a poor sense of direction. When she had first arrived in this city, she had looked at its map. Her little grasshopper brain spun rapidly, and under the night sky, she found the direction of the police station. She had woken up to find the person beside her gone. Standing on the windowsill, the girl took a deep breath. Her azure pupils were filled with seriousness. Forget it. Even if it caused a commotion, it would be fine. Besides, it was nighttime, so there should not be a problem. She truly could not rest easy until she brought Shen Gonglin back!

She leaped down from the seventh floor like a falling leaf. What would appear suicidal to ordinary people was as commonplace as eating and drinking to Kiana. Not to mention St. Freya Academy's training, this young lady had been fighting Honkai long before entering that academy. Her current skills had been honed during those days. To reach Shen Gonglin as quickly as possible, she would not take a car.

Her body descended lightly. Kiana grabbed a protruding railing along the building, swung around it to disperse the force, and moved through the night with agile skill, almost becoming a streak of white lightning. As she darted and leaped, gravity seemed not to exist for her. In truth, her physical skills were likely stronger than even Mei's and Bronya's. After all, Kaslana family blood flowed through her veins, and every member of the Kaslana family was a born warrior!

"This should be the place."

Leaping down from a rooftop, Kiana looked at the police station ahead and jogged inside. Even now, she was grateful that someone had rescued Shen Gonglin. If that sort of thing had really happened, she did not know how she could face Mei and Bronya when they returned. Good, good. Everything had happened in time.

"Shen Gonglin, this young lady is here to pick you up!"

Charging into the police station, Kiana immediately saw Shen Gonglin sleeping on a bench. The officer at the desk was stunned. He could tell from her voice that this was the girl he had just called, but was she not far too fast? Less than ten minutes had passed since he hung up. Given the distance from that hotel, it should have taken at least thirty minutes to get here. How had she arrived so quickly? Had she been speeding?

Without bothering to greet anyone else, Kiana hurried to Shen Gonglin's side. The moment she reached him, she smelled a strong odor of alcohol. Kiana leaned close and sniffed at Shen Gonglin's mouth. Yes, it was definitely alcohol. Himeko often smelled like this too. Why had this guy run out while she was asleep? Was the room not enough for him to have fun in? This time, he had gotten lucky. What if he had not run into the police? He had no idea how worried he had made her!