Aftermath and Invitation

Zoteland Street, Blackthorn Security Company.

After several Nighthawks who had gone out returned, the commotion downstairs quickly subsided. Dunn Smith showed his identification, and the police officers at the scene immediately began dispersing the surrounding crowd. Upon learning that Security Company employees had merely forgotten soundproofing measures during training, the Northern District residents who had enthusiastically reported the incident gradually left, and the street regained its nighttime tranquility.

"So, the three of you killed Mrs. Sharon?" Dunn Smith slowly asked as he looked over the wrecked reception room.

Fry and the others, who had returned to Blackthorn Security Company with him, could hardly believe that this was the place they had left an hour ago.

The room was thick with the smell of gunpowder. Spent casings and shattered glass littered the carpet, leaving nowhere to step. Of the decorative mirror on the wall, only its bronze frame and remnants of mirror glass that looked as though they had been chewed by a dog remained. The once-smooth walls were riddled with bullet holes. Frost Spears embedded in the sofa and overturned tea table had yet to melt, and waves of chill swept in with the breeze from outside the window, making everyone feel as if they were in winter.

The once warm and familiar reception room now lay before them like ruins after a battle.

At the center of the ruins was a corpse lying on its back on the carpet, its upper body covered by a tablecloth. The perfect curves of its chest made it clear that it was a woman, inviting one to imagine the wonderful sight beneath the cloth.

Unfortunately, the dried blood that had seeped through the tablecloth quickly dispelled such thoughts from Xijia and the others. Only Dunn approached the corpse with a grim expression, crouched down, and lifted the tablecloth for a look.

"Yes. Thanks to Ms. Daly being here, her spirit vision successfully restrained Mrs. Sharon. Otherwise, we would never have had the chance." Leonard stood by the window as he spoke. The only intact sofa in the reception room had been given to Daly, and he was too embarrassed to compete with the exhausted Angel for the remaining chair, so he could only maintain his gentlemanly manner and rest against the wall.

"Ms. Daly has merely exhausted her spirituality and is resting. Other than that, the rest of us are practically uninjured." Seeing Dunn's gaze occasionally drift toward Daly lying on the sofa, Leonard thoughtfully explained.

"Huh? Mm... I was only thankful I hadn't brought Daly along. Otherwise, with only you two here, I'm afraid you would have had trouble fighting Mrs. Sharon... By the way, where's Cornley? He didn't run out from Chanis Gate to provide support, did he?"

Hearing the captain's stiff change of topic, Leonard winked at Angel, the meaning obvious: See? I told you so.

Under Dunn's oppressive gaze, he quickly wiped the playful expression from his face and answered solemnly, "Of course not. I imagine the gunshots carried down there, but everyone knows Chanis Gate is more important than anyone. He wouldn't come out to support us."

"Mm, good. Now report what exactly happened here. Xijia, go to the Police Station across the street and ask Inspector Victor to come over. Tell him there was a home-invasion murder here, and the intruder was shot dead after an attempted murder. You may imply that this involves many prominent figures in Tingen. Luo Yao, go to the armory and relieve Brett. Have him come out and clean up the reception room. Fry, take the Blood Vessel Thief back to Chanis Gate."

Having received their orders, the group left the reception room one after another.

Dunn stood beside the sofa where Daly was resting and listened as Leonard gave a detailed account of the battle. His gaze occasionally swept over Mrs. Sharon's corpse, the sleeping Daly, and Angel, who was seated nearby resting. His brow furrowed and relaxed by turns.

During this time, Brett and Fry, who had been sent to relieve them, returned to the reception hall together. After gasping in shock—"Goodness, what on earth happened here? Even a gang of robbers couldn't have caused this much destruction!"—Brett picked up a broom to clean up the shattered glass on the floor. Xijia also returned to the reception room accompanied by a middle-aged police officer.

The newcomer wore a standard police uniform with two stars on his shoulders. He was tall but thin, with a short black beard.

When Dunn saw him enter, he took the initiative to greet him. "Sorry, Victor. I have to trouble you again today."

"You say that as though there's ever been a time you haven't troubled me... My God, what happened here?" The inspector called Victor had barely stepped through the reception room door before making the same exclamation as Brett.

"It's like this. Late last night, we received a case transferred from the Police Station. Cole Granger, who lives on Narcissus Street, was suspected of being connected to more than ten cases of murder and instigated murder..."

Dunn explained the entire matter to Inspector Victor and even led him over to Mrs. Sharon's corpse to "broaden his horizons."

When he saw that only half of Mrs. Sharon's head remained beneath the tablecloth, Victor's feigned composure finally broke, and his face took on the expression of someone who had seen a ghost.

"It really is Mrs. Sharon, that Sharon Hoy... I saw her at the mayor's Charity Gala. Back then, she was the center of attention at the entire banquet. I never thought she was involved with an evil cult. Those old men will have nightmares when they find out."

"Then let's hope Mrs. Sharon, with only half a head left, won't disturb their dreams."

Dunn made the horrifying joke with an indifferent expression.

"Victor, you are the first person to know besides those directly involved. I think you understand what that means. Later, I'll have two team members accompany your people to Mrs. Sharon's home and search for evidence of her crimes. Leave anything involving extraordinary powers to them, and you may include everything else in your report."

As Inspector Victor listened to Dunn Smith, the pallor swiftly faded from his face. Perhaps only the achievements and authority now within reach could allow someone to overcome fear so quickly.

Angel watched coldly from the side. Inspector Victor clearly worked with the Nighthawks often and knew many things ordinary people should not know, but the fact that a socialite like Mrs. Sharon was a Beyonder of considerable Sequence was beyond even his imagination. Dunn had swiftly taken control of the situation through this and obtained the outcome he wanted.

Looks like you're better suited to be an Instigator...

After quickly discussing everything, Inspector Victor eagerly prepared to leave. He had to rush back to the Police Station and organize manpower. Before news of Mrs. Sharon's death spread, he wanted every possible piece of "evidence" in her home firmly in hand.

Xijia and Fry followed behind Victor. They would accompany the police back to Mrs. Sharon's residence and collect every item involving extraordinary powers, preventing the officers rummaging through the place from touching such objects and causing further casualties.

"This corpse... Mrs. Sharon's remains. How should they be handled?"

Back at the reception room entrance, Inspector Victor seemed to have only just remembered this matter. He stopped and turned around to ask.

"As usual, we will inspect it to ensure that mysterious powers pose no threat to ordinary people, then hand it over to the police." Dunn answered without looking back. He was half-crouched beside Mrs. Sharon, carefully examining the corpse.

"R-right, then I'll be going. I'm afraid tonight will be a busy one..."

At the mention of "mysterious powers," Victor's body stiffened. After saying goodbye, he swiftly left the Security Company, his retreating figure looking as though someone were chasing him.

Dunn ignored Inspector Victor's hurried departure and continued staring at Mrs. Sharon on the floor. His focused expression made Angel nearly think that Ms. Daly was the one lying there.

"Brett, stop cleaning for now. Make the captain and us some tea. We've been busy all night, and everyone's thirsty."

Seeing this, Leonard spoke to Brett, who was still cleaning the reception room.

Your excuse is far too clumsy...

Angel knew that something was about to happen that ordinary people could not witness, which was why Leonard had found an excuse to send Brett away. Still, that did not stop her from giving such poor acting a bad review.

After Brett left, Leonard also went to stand beside Mrs. Sharon's corpse. With his arms crossed, he lowered his head to observe it.

Although Angel did not go over, her gaze was also fixed on Mrs. Sharon as her curiosity gradually rose.

Under the three people's watchful eyes, specks of black light gradually emerged beside Mrs. Sharon's corpse. They floated through the air like dust, moving without wind.

The black "dust" gradually thickened and slowly obscured the corpse. Then, as if gathered by an invisible hand, it formed a spherical object the size of an eyeball.

No, it was an eyeball. Its milky-white sclera was covered in blood vessels, and its pupil, unshielded by eyelids, was opened wide. As it slowly rotated, its gaze swept across Angel, sending a chill through her entire body.

Fortunately, it was not some living evil thing. After rotating in the air a few times, the "eyeball" lost its buoyancy and fell directly onto Mrs. Sharon's graceful body. It slid to the floor and rolled a short distance over the carpet before Dunn, who had been waiting nearby, grabbed it through his gloves.

He pulled an exquisite Wooden Box from the inner pocket of his trench coat and carefully placed the "eyeball" inside. The instant he closed the box, the chill that had spread through Angel's body vanished.

It reminded her of the gelatinous mysterious object left in the Cole family's basement on the night she had first awakened in this world. Without a doubt, this was the Extraordinary Characteristic left behind after the Sequence 6 Mrs. Sharon died.

Unlike when Cole had "died," Mrs. Sharon had not expelled a gelatinous Extraordinary Characteristic without a complete form. Instead, it had taken the shape of an "eyeball" that seemed to possess life. Angel did not know which situation was normal, so she could only bury the question in her heart for the time being.

She was also playing the role of a newly advanced Beyonder, so she asked at the appropriate moment, "What is that? Some kind of creature?"

"It's a kind of extraordinary item left behind after a Beyonder dies... Well, if ordinary people accidentally touch it, they're very likely to go mad or even die on the spot. That's also the reason why I didn't let the police take her body away immediately."

After putting away the Wooden Box, Dunn seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. His body relaxed as he rose from beside Mrs. Sharon and turned to speak.

"I had Fry and the others accompany Victor to search Mrs. Sharon's home because I was also afraid that the police might touch extraordinary items while looking for evidence or other things that interested them, causing additional incidents."

"Over the course of a year, most mysterious incidents we deal with are triggered accidentally by ordinary people. Beyonders actively attacking, like tonight, are actually very rare. At least, we haven't encountered one this year."

Leonard added from the side.

Dunn rose from beside Mrs. Sharon's corpse and returned to the sofa in the middle of the reception room. Seeing that there was nowhere to sit, he simply remained standing and spoke to Angel with a serious expression.

"Mrs. Sharon is dead, but Cole Granger's whereabouts remain unknown. Tomorrow, I will contact the Holy Cathedral, Tingen City's Punishers and Heart of Machinery, and jointly issue a Wanted Notice. Now, let's discuss your choice going forward."

A choice?

Angel felt somewhat puzzled. She raised an eyebrow and waited for Dunn to continue.

"For survivors of extraordinary incidents like you, especially when the matter may involve the Witch Sect, we generally advise you to conceal your identity, cut off contact with family and friends, leave Tingen City under the Church's arrangements, and live in another city with a brand-new, safe, worry-free life.

"The Church's arrangements will include certain Anti-Divination and anti-tracking measures, but before Beyonders who possess all kinds of methods, such protection is not absolutely safe. There have been cases in the past where protected people were found and killed by evil cult avengers."

Angel licked her dry lips. This was exactly what worried her most.

Dunn seemed quite satisfied with her reaction. He smiled, slowed his speech, and continued, "The other choice is to join us and become a Nighthawk."

Hm?

Angel froze.

She had been in this world for less than a week. The succession of events had left her no time to consider long-term arrangements. Mrs. Sharon's "invitation," in particular, had once driven her to consider abandoning her identity and residence and fleeing elsewhere.

Although she had ultimately resolved to confront her head-on and achieved a decent outcome, Angel was still somewhat lost about what came next.

Her identity had been forged for forty pounds. Hagg of Wild Heart had sworn there would be no problem, but it might not withstand the Nighthawks' scrutiny. Once she joined the Nighthawks, she would inevitably face even stricter investigation. If her identity were exposed through the slightest mistake, the lighter consequence would be imprisonment; the heavier one, the same fate as Mrs. Sharon.

On the other hand, if she could become an Official Extraordinary, she would not only gain the protection of an official organization and make the Witch Sect behind Mrs. Sharon hesitate, but also learn much secret knowledge about the mysterious world that might help her return to her original world.

Besides, even if she refused to join the Nighthawks, would she truly avoid official scrutiny? After the Mrs. Sharon incident, she had undoubtedly entered the Church of the Night Goddess's records. Even if she moved to another city, endless surveillance and restrictions would await her. Perhaps they even hoped the Witch Sect would come looking for trouble with her, so they could follow the trail and continue their investigation.

As her thoughts turned, Angel's gaze drifted to Leonard, who was watching the excitement nearby. She recalled how he had deliberately or casually brought up "joining the Nighthawks" during their conversation that afternoon. It seemed this guy had received the news long ago.

Indeed, from anyone else's perspective, joining the Nighthawks was undoubtedly the best choice. She would have an official identity, legitimate income, and the protection of Beyonders. It was certainly better than living the rest of her life in hiding under an assumed name. Unfortunately, for her, running away might be the only answer.

Just as she was about to politely decline, the words of the mysterious visitor in the Confessional at Saint Selena Church after nightfall that day resurfaced in her mind.

"Those who face fear and bravely move forward shall be rewarded."

Had he or she foreseen the choice she was facing now?

After hesitating for a moment, Angel spoke beneath Dunn and Leonard's expectant gazes.

"Well...

"What are the salary and benefits like?"