Can't I Cultivate Myself?

"Fuck!"

Ryan kicked a thug flying and shouted, "Get these pieces of trash under control! Anyone who resists gets a bullet!"

The Augustus Empire was nowhere near as "civilized" as his previous life. Whoever had a gun was the boss. Imperial Law gave police officers considerable flexibility, so they were still quite intimidating to ordinary people.

Otherwise, why were you holding a gun?

For decoration?

If you dared cause trouble, he dared give you a bullet!

"Everyone else, with me!"

Leaving several people behind to deal with the Snake Mouth Gang, Ryan led the rest toward the overturned train. The dust quickly dispersed, and the group approached with their guns raised, only to be stopped by an invisible force.

There was clearly nothing there, yet it felt as if a wall stood before them, blocking Ryan and the others' path.

"Captain Ryan, this..."

Several police officers looked at one another.

"Don't panic. It's not a big problem. Hold position."

Ryan offered no explanation. In truth, he could not explain it either. He could only roughly understand it as some kind of barrier created by a supernatural being, used to separate reality from the Inner World.

There had to be supernatural beings fighting inside. They had guns, but going in would most likely still mean death.

After all, this high-end barrier was different from the situation at Black Ding Street No. 228. Ryan wisely chose to have his men stand guard outside.

At the same time, he had "Lin Qi" prepare for battle as well, though she was unlikely to be able to intervene in the current situation...

Not long afterward, the barrier suddenly vanished.

Several figures rushed out of the train carriage.

Ryan fired twice, but missed. Those people ran toward the train station exit without even looking back.

They were so fast that no one present had time to react. Before long, Jonathan came out as well, also from the carriage. He rubbed his butt with one hand, stubbed out the cigarette in his mouth with the other, tossed it to the ground, and cursed loudly.

"Fucking bastards!"

"Director!" Ryan looked at the carriage, then at the fleeing group. "What happened?"

"Forget it. The Princess isn't there."

"She isn't?"

This train had been reserved exclusively for Cassidy. It had only four carriages, and aside from the train head, the three behind it had all landed steadily on the ground.

Yet no one had emerged from inside. Jonathan waved his hand, signaling Ryan to withdraw the team and head back first.

Luring the tiger away from the mountain? Or secretly crossing at Chencang?

Ryan could not wait to leave, but before going, he had his men tie up all the Snake Mouth Gang thugs. Things had gotten this big; they needed some explanation for the public, right? Well, they could just call it a gang disturbance.

An hour later.

Ryan and Jonathan returned to the local Bureau of Investigation branch.

The latter received a call from the Mayor's Office.

"Her Highness the Princess changed the date." Jonathan hung up and shook his head. "She'll be coming to Berman City the day after tomorrow instead."

"She really played everyone." Ryan spread his hands. "Still, this let us clear out some mines in advance."

"Exactly. Her Highness the Princess made a ruthless move, but Hand of Darkness withdrew decisively. We didn't catch them."

"Were those people that formidable? Even you couldn't handle them, Director?"

"Being formidable is one thing. Being restricted is another." Jonathan said, "You'll understand later. Heretics are called Cultists not because they worship Outer Gods, but because of their style of conduct. Saving people is always harder than killing them. Starting a fight recklessly without confidence would have too great an impact."

The primary objective of this mission had been to ensure Cassidy's safety, so after confirming she was not in the carriage, Jonathan had no intention of fighting Hand of Darkness to the death.

After all, that had been the train station. If they truly fought without restraint, the casualties would be impossible to predict.

Ryan sighed. "Good people really do get held at gunpoint easily."

Jonathan paused, then laughed. "That actually makes some sense. Still, being a good person feels better than being a bad one. At least, that's what I think."

"Director, you truly understand righteousness."

"Stop kissing my ass. Go interrogate those Snake Mouth Gang people."

Jonathan had not expected a bunch of thugs to provide any useful clues, but the procedure still had to be followed.

And that was indeed the case. The Snake Mouth Gang boss knew nothing at all, looking exactly like an idiot who had been used as a pawn.

However, Ryan knew Adler was most likely behind this. But trying to bring him down now would put Ryan in danger too, so it was better this way.

That evening, just as Ryan was preparing to get off work, Jonathan suddenly doubled back.

"Come to my office."

The colleagues around him who were packing up to leave cast sympathetic looks at Ryan.

The Bureau of Investigation had been working overtime every day recently. They had finally been able to leave on time today, so naturally they were delighted.

"Vice Captain, we'll be heading out first~"

"Vice Captain is so busy every day, the Director's right-hand man indeed."

Watching his laughing subordinates prepare to leave, Ryan's lips curved into a villainous smile. "Jason, Katana, you lot go investigate the Mafia's recent activities. The day after tomorrow is when Her Highness the Princess comes to Berman City. We absolutely cannot have another incident like today."

"Wah! Vice Captain, no!"

"This can wait until tomorrow!"

"Go on. I'll count it as overtime pay."

"You're such a demon!"

Amid the chorus of wails, Ryan walked into the Director's office in satisfaction.

Jonathan was holding a report in his hand. It was the League of Fire's interrogation results for Sam.

"There's something I need you to investigate."

There were Blood Cult Members in Berman City. That was nothing suspicious. Those people were like cockroaches in the sewers, everywhere and impossible to eradicate.

But with everything now sensitive because of Cassidy's arrival, Sam's interrogation had revealed several locations suspected to be Blood Cult hideouts. Jonathan wanted Ryan to investigate them.

"Remember to go at noon. Morning and night are more likely to cause trouble," Jonathan reminded him.

There were fewer people in the mornings and evenings, making them dangerous. Going during the day with two subordinates and guns would basically be no problem.

"Alright."

Ryan glanced at the locations he needed to investigate and quickly understood. In the game, Hand of Darkness was the enemy out in the open, while the Blood Cult was Berman City's Main Storyline, because Mayor Bill stood behind them.

What was this if not the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it?

The wisdom of the ancestors was being displayed to the fullest in another world.

However, Bill would not make a move at this point, so the Blood Cult posed little threat.

And the people lurking in those places were really just minor lackeys.

Tomorrow, he only needed to bring some men over and be careful.

"Tonight is the fifth day." Ryan returned home and eagerly opened the game. Today was the final stage of "Lin Qi's" Class Transfer Mission, and he desperately wanted to know what Hidden Profession she would obtain.

Lin Qi, I'm Counting on You!

Elsewhere.

Inside a residence in Central City.

"Your Highness, someone really did make a move. It was those Cultists from Hand of Darkness."

Echo returned to the house and spoke to Cassidy inside.

Cassidy raised her head, tucked her falling golden hair behind her ear, and smiled faintly. "Magana's little pawns. She couldn't possibly think this would be enough to kill me, could she?"

"Thankfully, we had Mayor Bill's information." Echo felt somewhat relieved. "Otherwise, with what happened today, quite a few Commoners would probably have died at Berman City's train station."

She had been watching from afar when the train overturned. Cassidy had not been aboard, but the train had still arrived in Berman City according to schedule.

Just as expected, those assassins hiding in the shadows could no longer hold themselves back.

And this information had been given to Cassidy by Bill when they met at the church earlier.

"Uncle Bill..."

Cassidy pondered slightly, an unusual light flickering in her clear eyes.

"What is it, Your Highness?"

"Echo, keep an eye on Uncle Bill in secret these next two days. Record his schedule and everyone he meets."

"Huh?" Echo froze. "Your Highness means..."

"The human heart is difficult to predict."

During this meeting, she had felt that Bill's reaction was somewhat off.

"I hope I'm overthinking it." Cassidy spoke softly.

Even her so-called older brothers could send people to kill her, let alone a relationship maintained through her deceased mother.

Still, if her intuition truly proved correct, then their next actions in Berman City would become troublesome.

"What time is it?"

Cassidy raised her head. The wall clock was fixed at seven thirteen.

"Do you have something else to do, Your Highness?"

"At this hour, Miss Lin Qi should not be resting yet."

With that, Cassidy rose, put on her outfit, donned a hat, and left the house.

How could Ryan describe his current mood?

Looking at "Lin Qi" and Cassidy walking shoulder to shoulder down the street on the Game Interface, he wanted to curse.

He had returned home full of excitement and had barely logged into the game when Cassidy showed up at his door. Instead of staying home properly at night, she had come to invite him for a walk?

Girl, was something wrong with her, or was something wrong with him?

Although he wanted to refuse, Ryan chose to agree after thinking it over.

Then, two Great Beauties appeared on Central City's busiest Commercial Street.

"Could this girl have a problem with her sexual orientation?"

Watching Cassidy chat happily, Ryan could not help thinking.

He understood the Princess's desire to win over the Gate of Janus, but "Lin Qi" was merely a lowly priest. She could not influence the overall situation at all.

Cassidy: "Miss Lin Qi, why can people never be satisfied?"

On the screen, the Blonde Girl voiced her question.

Lin Qi: "Because desire drives us."

Cassidy: "Then is God free of desire?"

Lin Qi: "No."

Cassidy: "Why are you so certain? You aren't God."

Lin Qi: "Because God responds to believers."

"..."

"..."

Cassidy increasingly felt that "Lin Qi's" future achievements would never be limited to being a mere priest.

This temperament and insight alone surpassed even the great mentors at St. Marian Academy... She seemed to see the Gate of Janus's Saintess standing atop the high platform of a temple in the future, proclaiming the Holy Scripture to the world.

"Miss Lin Qi, can I trust you?"