Sharp Sword Bureau

"That was fast."

Ji Xinghuo looked up at the sky. It had been less than a minute since he called the police.

The figure was falling at an incredible speed. The Aerospace Fighter was over six hundred meters above the ground, yet he closed in on the street in five or six seconds like a meteor.

Ji Xinghuo felt a powerful downdraft, along with an oppressive presence as immense as a mountain!

Just before touching down, the figure abruptly slowed. In an instant, he went from heavy to light, drifting down like a falling leaf.

The newcomer stopped several meters from Ji Xinghuo. He was powerfully built and a little over 1.8 meters tall, his entire body enveloped in dazzling golden energy. Four halos were arranged in concentric rings behind his head. He gleamed all over, as if clad in a suit of armor forged from gold.

He took in the scene, then gave Ji Xinghuo another look.

"Did you call the police?"

The golden light around the man instantly receded, revealing his true appearance.

He looked young, seemingly only a few years older than Ji Xinghuo. He wore a fitted, casual training outfit. His features were fairly ordinary, but he carried a heroic air. A monocle was mounted over the left side of his face, its transparent square lens fixed before his left eye, capable of communication, internet access, and scanning.

But the most eye-catching thing was his head—shiny and bald, without a single hair!

"Yes."

Ji Xinghuo nodded, spreading his hands to show that he posed no threat.

Yet his gaze involuntarily swept over the man's bald head, halos, armor, bare hands, bald head... Every trait pointed to this man's Class Template—an Aura Fighter! This Class Template was exceptionally unique.

Its combat power was formidable, its abilities well-rounded, and its potential limitless. With only four, or even as few as three abilities, the template could take shape. It had no weaknesses in strength, defense, speed, or recovery, while its explosive power was downright terrifying. It was one of the Classes countless people dreamed of obtaining.

Of course, Aura Fighters also had some flaws.

For instance, hair loss!

The core ability of an Aura Fighter was Light Energy. This Super-Limit ability converted all Stellar Force into a unique form of energy: Light Energy.

Light Energy was immensely powerful and boundlessly destructive, but it came with one side effect.

It caused an Aura Fighter's pores to close, turning their body into a sealed circulatory system. Not only would their hair fall out, but every strand of body hair would as well.

The same was true for both men and women.

This trait was one of the best ways to identify an Aura Fighter, which was why people jokingly called them "baldies." However, most Aura Fighters hated that nickname.

Baldness was an eternal pain in their hearts, gradually becoming taboo.

At that moment, Ji Xinghuo noticed that not only did the man have no hair, but the two eyebrows on his face had been drawn on... He felt amused and nearly failed to keep from laughing.

Aura Fighters were powerful, and this one was a Super Esper, but this was just too miserable.

Was this the price of becoming stronger? Ji Xinghuo quickly looked away. Fortunately, the other man did not notice his subtle expression. He was examining the corpse on the ground, before his attention returned to Ji Xinghuo and settled on the compound bow in his hands. A hint of shock appeared in his eyes.

"You killed him?" the Aura Fighter asked.

"Yes."

Ji Xinghuo answered truthfully.

He had killed someone who was suspected to be a Class A Wanted Criminal in self-defense. It was legal and justified. There was nothing to hide, nor could he hide it.

Cameras were everywhere on the street. They had recorded it long ago.

There were also tens of thousands of satellites in the sky, constantly monitoring all of Chang'an from orbits at varying altitudes. Unless one was indoors or underground, images would be captured even at night.

"How is that possible!"

The Aura Fighter scrutinized Ji Xinghuo again, his face full of disbelief. "You're an Elementary Esper, and you haven't been an Aberrant for long, have you?"

Ji Xinghuo did not explain further. The surveillance footage would tell them everything anyway.

Five more people descended from the Aerospace Fighter.

There were three men and two women, ranging from twenty-five to fifty years old. Every one of them wore black light combat armor. On both shoulders was an insignia: four sharp swords in gray, white, red, and gold, their points facing upward in a fan-shaped arrangement. It was highly conspicuous.

The moment Ji Xinghuo saw that mark, his heart skipped a beat.

"Sharp Sword Bureau!"

These people were not from the Department of Public Security's Special Police Guard. They were swordsmen from the Sharp Sword Bureau.

Sharp Sword Bureau was merely its common name. Its official name was the National Security Intelligence Agency. Its primary duties involved counterespionage, intelligence investigations, and other national security affairs. Its director reported directly to the head of the Asian Commonwealth. Though it held the same rank as the Department of Public Security, its reputation far surpassed the latter's. It was a powerful institution renowned across the globe.

Why would a wanted criminal draw the Sharp Sword Bureau?

Ji Xinghuo looked at the five swordsmen and found that every one of them was a powerful Advanced Esper. Their Class Templates differed, yet they could coordinate with each other, surrounding both him and the corpse.

"Captain."

One of the swordsmen called out.

Just as the Aura Fighter was about to speak, more than a dozen maglev police cars arrived with blaring sirens. A large group of Aberrants in combat police uniforms poured out, carrying all manner of weapons and shields as they swiftly sealed off the scene and half the street.

These were the real Special Police Guard.

Their leader was a woman over 1.9 meters tall, with shoulder-length short hair and a dashing presence. A faint silver-gray sheen covered her skin. The insignia on her epaulets was a steel shield. As she strode over, she resembled a heavy statue advancing toward them.

An Iron Guard!

Ji Xinghuo thought, and a rare female Iron Guard at that.

"Min Chongwu, what's going on here?" The female Iron Guard clearly knew the Aura Fighter and called him by name right away.

"Song Fei." Min Chongwu shook his head. "We were both too late."

He pointed at the corpse on the ground.

"Dead?"

Song Fei inspected the corpse, then noticed Ji Xinghuo beside it. She quickly guessed what had happened, but her reaction was the same as Min Chongwu's. Her eyes widened as she said in a low voice, "You killed Ji Zongbang? Are you kidding me!"

Ji Xinghuo spread his hands. No one would believe anything he said in this situation.

"What's your name?" Song Fei asked.

"Ji Xinghuo."

As Song Fei questioned him, she motioned behind her, preparing to have an officer pull up Ji Xinghuo's identity and background. But upon hearing his name, her movement paused.

It was not just her. Everyone present showed a slight change in expression.

"Ji, as in season?" Song Fei's imposing manner faded considerably, and she even seemed somewhat cautious.

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

He knew why people reacted this way. It happened often.

Because his surname was Ji.

It was not a common surname, but it was deeply imprinted in the minds of everyone on Earth. Whenever it was mentioned, people thought of one man.

The founder of the Asia-Pacific Community, the head of state, the spiritual leader of all Asia-Pacific people and tens of billions across the world, the most powerful Mind Hacker in history, one of the greatest humans of the modern age—President Ji Daosheng!

Even sharing the President's surname without any real connection to him was enough to make people feel honored.

That showed just how high the President's prestige was in people's hearts!

"I got this surname randomly."

Ji Xinghuo offered the explanation himself. He had said those words more than a hundred times since childhood.

Public Children had a naming system that randomly generated several names. Their Foster Mother and Foster Father would choose the one with the best meaning during infancy.

Everyone immediately understood.

"You're so lucky." Min Chongwu muttered enviously. He was also a Public Child, so why had he not randomly gotten that surname?

Seeing Song Fei about to approach the corpse, he flashed forward and blocked her path. "Song Fei, the Sharp Sword Bureau is taking over Ji Zongbang's case."

Song Fei's face darkened. "My people received the report first. We investigated it and exposed him, and three of my people died for it."

"So what?" Min Chongwu refused to yield even a step. "Ji Zongbang was an enemy spy. This concerns national security, and it isn't the Department of Public Security's place to interfere." His tone softened. "Your fallen subordinates will naturally receive the compensation and honors they deserve."

Song Fei stared at Min Chongwu without a word. The situation fell into a deadlock.

Ji Xinghuo picked up on the key information in their exchange, and his heart immediately leaped with joy.

That wanted criminal was actually a spy!

If he had merely been a wanted criminal, then even though Ji Xinghuo had killed him in legitimate self-defense, there might still have been trouble. For example, the wanted criminal might have had unsolved cases connected to him, or he might have been an important witness in a larger case.

But if he had killed a spy, there would be no problem at all.

There were even additional benefits! An enemy spy was a major achievement. No wonder these two groups were fighting over him.

Ji Xinghuo watched the show from the side.

The Department of Public Security's Special Police Guard had a broad range of duties. It was a specially established armed force responsible for protecting citizens, counterterrorism, apprehending criminal Aberrants, and other tasks that ordinary police officers could not handle.

Because the Special Police Guard's emblem was a steel shield, they were commonly called Shield Guards.

One side was swordsmen, the other Shield Guards.

Their conflicting relationship was obvious just from their names.

One focused outward and the other inward, but there was still some overlap in their authority. Sometimes they fought side by side as comrades, and sometimes they were bitter rivals facing each other head-on.

"Ji Zongbang is tied to something much bigger. Your Department of Public Security can't handle it." Min Chongwu lowered his voice. "Even if you take the corpse, witnesses, and physical evidence now, you'll have to hand them over to the Sharp Sword Bureau in the end. Your precinct might even receive disciplinary action because of it."

Song Fei's gaze shifted, but she was still unwilling to let it go.

"I'll owe you one this time." Min Chongwu suddenly relented. "For the sake of our years of friendship."

Song Fei stared at him for several seconds before finally stepping back.

"Withdraw."

With a wave of her hand, she led most of the Special Police Guard back into their vehicles and left. Only a few remained behind to keep watch and continue sealing off the scene.

Min Chongwu relaxed and ordered, "Collect the physical evidence and data from the scene. Keep records. Take the body aboard."

Several swordsmen immediately sprang into action.

Min Chongwu turned his bald head toward Ji Xinghuo and suddenly said, "Mr. Ji, I know you picked something up. Hand it over."

He held out his hand.

Ji Xinghuo hesitated, but he still placed the Ability Seed in the other man's palm.

Ever since learning that this Ability Seed was Rotating Magnetic Field, Ji Xinghuo had been thinking about how to keep it.

Under normal circumstances, it was nearly impossible. The scene had certainly been recorded, and the moment he picked up the Ability Seed could not have been missed.

The Ability Seed had come from a wanted criminal's corpse, making it physical evidence. How could he possibly keep it for himself?

But things were different now that the wanted criminal was a spy!

"Rotating Magnetic Field!"

After taking the Ability Seed and studying it for several seconds, Min Chongwu finally recognized it. His eyes went wide, and he instinctively reached up to scratch his head, only to touch the smooth back of his scalp.

The nearby swordsmen all turned toward him when they heard his words.

Their eyes shone as they looked at the Ability Crystal. The Super-Limit ability Rotating Magnetic Field—the most powerful, rarest, and most valuable Super-Limit ability, perhaps without equal!

At that moment, Ji Xinghuo asked solemnly, "Sir, killing an enemy spy qualifies for the Spoils Principle too, right?"

The swordsmen around him all changed expression.

Min Chongwu was also taken aback, but he ultimately nodded. "Of course it does."

He understood what Ji Xinghuo meant. A gloating look suddenly appeared on his face as he laughed. "You've made a huge profit this time, but some people have suffered a huge loss. Mr. Ji, come back to the Bureau with me next. Be careful with your words and actions. That's all I'll say."