Farce

A bounty hunter team, an ancient, tattered illustrated manual, ancestors who had slain monsters, a handsome blonde young man... Put all those elements together, and it was hard not to find them believable.

For instance, at that moment, after hearing them out, the Black Female Chief made the decision immediately. "Fine, I'll give you one chance. If you really can capture or kill this so-called monster—or the murderer—I won't hold you accountable for breaking into a crime scene."

"What about the bounty...?"

"Collect it from whoever posted it. It has nothing to do with the Messer Police Department."

Although they had placed a sliver of hope in this suddenly appeared hunter team, the police officers did not relax. They continued investigating and gathering evidence. Most of them still dutifully carried out their responsibilities. Origin Blue Star might have a strong air of mystery, but after a century of decline, most ordinary people remained far removed from the Transcendental World.

Meanwhile, the team that had received permission was extremely excited. They asked the officers for a piece of evidence from the scene: a test tube of pus, seemingly what remained after fat or internal organs had melted, thick and disgusting.

Then they commandeered an empty auditorium on campus, cleared away the clutter, and began setting traps.

This was where the value of a team became apparent.

The Sloppy Old Man seemed to be a firearms expert, tuning the group's guns. The muscular young man somehow produced an exaggeratedly large axe, while Skinny Bamboo Pole, who looked like a bookworm, turned out to be a secretive Potion Scholar. Once his bag was opened, it revealed a dazzling array of herbs.

Of the two girls, the one with the ample chest had not changed at all and still carried a shotgun. The other, the sweet Brown-Haired Girl, suddenly emerged from a corner gripping a slim, narrow Short Sword. Her casual swings revealed an impressive foundation in swordsmanship.

"Aren't you going to do something?"

In a corner of the auditorium, Stana walked over with a helpless expression.

The Police Chief felt thoroughly stifled. She had gone so far as to forge a Letter of Appointment to trick Tang Qi into coming. She had originally thought she could use this chance to solve the bloody case, pull Tang Qi aboard the Messer Police Department, and fulfill her own desire to enter the Mystic Realm.

Who could have expected such a sudden turn of events? A mysterious bounty hunter team had appeared out of nowhere, and they even looked quite confident.

Stana's feelings were complicated. She did not know whether she should hope for their success or failure.

Logically, Tang Qi should have been just as anxious as Stana. Yet he remained in the corner as though nothing had happened, reading a stack of documents with great interest.

Only after hearing Stana did he look up and glance at the hunter team setting traps throughout the auditorium.

Perhaps because they regarded the "monster" as nothing more than a beast, they made no effort to conceal their preparations.

The core of the setup was likely the medicine being mixed by Skinny Bamboo Pole, the pharmacist. According to the hunters, it was a special herb that could lure the monster over.

The others were adding various enhancements to their weapons, such as soaking them in holy water, engraving runes, or applying special ointments.

It looked very professional.

Unfortunately, neither the weapons nor anything else reflected any movement in Tang Qi's eyes.

"This is most likely their first supernatural hunt."

"Of course, it might also be their last."

Tang Qi silently gave his assessment, then lowered his head again to study the documents on the seven victims.

Compared to the other six, however, most of Tang Qi's attention was focused on the seventh.

"Rick Cassel, a renowned historian in the Federation and a Lifetime Honorary Professor at Messer University. He had taught at Mihuang State University for many years, but recently resigned due to poor health and returned to his hometown of Messer City to recuperate."

"As one of the more active historians, Professor Cassel often traveled around the world for expeditions and investigations. He also possessed profound knowledge of mysticism and potion-making. Before resigning, he had just concluded an investigation of a three-thousand-year-old temple on the Saha Continent."

"Rustle~"

Tang Qi moved quickly, flipping to the final page after only a few moments. It was a... Medical Diagnosis Report.

"Interesting!"

"What's interesting?"

Hearing Tang Qi mutter, Stana instinctively asked.

"Nothing. Chief Inspector Stana, do you believe in immortality?"

Tang Qi put away the documents and asked casually.

"No... I don't know."

Stana had been about to shake her head and say no, but she clearly remembered what had happened a few days ago. The fact that a legendary creature like the Siren had appeared before her had severely shaken her worldview, so all she could say was that she did not know.

Lost in confusion, the Police Chief did not notice Tang Qi studying her with great interest.

Tang Qi fully understood Stana's experience and state of mind. After all, on his first day descending upon Origin Blue Star, he had been tied to a cross as a demon suffering constant pain. The shock he had endured then was far greater than Stana's.

Time passed swiftly, and the atmosphere within Messer University became extraordinarily tense.

The proof of the previous seven days told everyone at the university that someone would definitely die today.

No one wanted that curse to fall upon them, especially with such a disgusting and horrifying death awaiting them.

Tang Qi had never left the auditorium, nor did he need to. His sharp senses allowed him to easily perceive the atmosphere throughout the university.

Tension, doubt, fear... Fear in particular spread among every student and teacher. If a few more people died, Tang Qi suspected the university would have to close down. After all, these people were not trapped animals. Once they reached their breaking point, they would run.

Perhaps they sensed this as well. To prevent an eighth victim from appearing, the bounty hunter team began their hunt almost as soon as night fell.

More precisely, it was a lure.

Inside the auditorium shrouded by Darkness Envelops, Ryan stood ramrod straight before a blazing fire pit. The burning materials within seemed to be a blend of herbs. There was no smoke at all; instead, they released an eerie, sweet fragrance.

Ryan held the tattered illustrated manual in one hand and a test tube in the other.

Following the manual, he began to murmur.

Great Mother of Shadows!

Incarnation of chaos and evil!

Queen of the Gloomy Realm!

Allow your most devout followers to offer you a sweet sacrifice!

As he murmured, Ryan flicked open the test tube with one finger and slowly poured out the pus inside.

"Sizzle~ Sizzle sizzle!"

As the strange sound rang out, a sweet fragrance ten times stronger than before instantly drifted from the auditorium. Carried by the night breeze, it gradually spread throughout the entire university.

The officers and others hiding in every corner of the auditorium began swallowing involuntarily.

This phenomenon gave the Black Female Chief a little more confidence, while some officers who had originally looked down on the hunter team began doubting themselves.

Unfortunately, that doubt quickly vanished.

The moment the luring ritual began, Ryan shouted, "Get ready!" Then came a wait that lasted two full hours.

During that time, the "pharmacist" added herbs to the fire pit several times.

Yet the "Demon Spider Banshee" they had expected never appeared.

When the first teacher to break down emerged from a corner and shouted, "I've had enough! I'm leaving this place!" the situation immediately spiraled out of control. The other teachers helping out, along with several guards, also decided to leave.

Leaving probably meant resigning.

The police officers emerged as well, but they were questioning the so-called bounty hunter team's professionalism. They thought the group was most likely made up of frauds or lunatics. In any case, they wanted to lock them up first.

The Black Female Chief's expression darkened. The faint thread of hope she had clung to was gone. What she needed to consider now was not claiming credit, but whether she could keep her position. After all, she had missed the best opportunity to request reinforcements from above.

The hunter team was also in some disarray. Their leader, Ryan, looked utterly baffled and kept muttering, "That's impossible. Grandpa's demon-hunting manual can't have failed. Remember the wraith we killed? That proved the manual works."

Stana could not bear the chaotic scene before her. The decisive Police Chief was about to step forward and take control.

At that moment, Tang Qi suddenly grabbed Stana, slipped several things into the Police Chief's hand, and leaned over to whisper a few words. Ignoring the strange expression on Stana's face, he walked straight toward the center of the auditorium.