Monster

Nia City, Champagne Avenue, No. 233.

Two figures moved swiftly through the streets, cloaked by the cover of night.

"Galan Owes! A craftsman, our target for tonight!"

Rhode lowered his voice, quickly briefing Sulu on the mission: "Thirty-two years old, had a wife named Elisa who died of illness, no children... According to his neighbors, ever since his beloved wife passed away, this Mr. Owes has been acting very strangely. He often makes terrifying noises at night, talks to the air, and tinkers with all sorts of bizarre things in his home. He hasn't changed his ways despite numerous complaints..."

"The Church of the Goddess of Light has investigated and confirmed that this man is performing rituals to worship a demon, hoping to resurrect his wife!"

"In reality... that is basically impossible. Demons love to toy with the human heart, not make dreams come true!"

Sulu pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

He knew what Rhode meant.

A demon could be considered a powerful evil god, or something even more chaotic and malevolent than an evil god.

If one prays to Them and receives a response, it often leads to even more terrifying and tragic consequences.

For example... resurrecting a highly decomposed corpse, or having the wife's soul return as a vengeful spirit!

Or perhaps... temporarily opening a gate to an unknown plane, allowing countless monsters to swarm out!

"According to the Church's mission requirements, if it is confirmed that the target is a follower of the Abyss, eliminate them on the spot!" Rhode stopped in front of a two-story building and began loading his silver revolver.

This was the style of the Church of the Goddess of Light: simple, direct, and brutal.

"I mean..."

Staring at the brightly lit building, Sulu asked hesitantly: "Why? Why doesn't the Church of the Goddess of Light notify the police? Or handle it themselves?"

"The police? Do you think ordinary people can handle this situation? Oh! Perhaps they could, but how would you account for the resulting deaths, injuries, and pensions?"

Rhode chuckled in a low voice: "And the Church... its power needs to radiate across the entire Federation; they don't necessarily have the time and energy for this... Therefore, outsourcing the task to other Witch Hunters, like me, is a very appropriate approach! We Witch Hunters always have a way of dealing with demons, and we can keep accidents to a minimum!"

As he spoke, he handed over an identification card: "We'll knock on the door directly in a moment!"

"Federal Tax Bureau?" Sulu opened the black cowhide cover stamped with the federal emblem and was startled to see his own portrait photo.

"It's fake..."

Rhode nonchalantly pulled back the inside of his jacket, revealing a large collection of gold-embossed identification covers to Sulu.

"Forging documents is a serious crime in the Federation; you'll be sentenced if caught..." Sulu's face twitched.

"As long as you don't get caught, it's fine!"

Rhode smoothed his hair in front of a window with a carefree attitude, then walked with Sulu to the front of house No. 233 and knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock!

After a moment, footsteps sounded from behind the door.

The door cracked open, and a pair of eyes emerged from the gap: "Who are you looking for?"

The eyes were bloodshot, the sockets deeply sunken, and the speaker's hair was disheveled, looking like a bird's nest.

Judging by his appearance, I would believe it even if you told me he was forty or fifty years old.

Sulu stood behind Rhode, watching him produce the ID and intimidate Galan: "I'm from the Federal Tax Bureau. We have a matter that requires your assistance with an investigation."

"Taxes? I pay my taxes legally every month!"

Galan was somewhat surprised, but he opened the door nonetheless.

There is a saying in the Federation: "Nothing is certain except death and taxes." Every citizen in the Federation has to deal with the tax authorities.

And as the apex institution, the Federal Tax Bureau wields terrifying power—it even has its own army!

Some villains might be beyond the reach of the courts and the police, but if you cross the tax authorities, you are guaranteed to go down!

"Gentlemen, please!"

Under the intimidation of the Tax Bureau, the three of them entered the living room.

Sulu scanned the room: The environment is decent. It looks like he just finished dinner? Hmm?

His eyes narrowed as he saw three sets of tableware laid out on the dining table!

"Do you have guests?"

Rhode, having noticed the anomaly as well, asked vigilantly, his hand already reaching into his coat.

"No... no outsiders. Just my wife, and my lovely daughter!"

Galan carried a tray with two cups of coffee: "I told them to go upstairs first."

Sulu and Rhode exchanged a glance, feeling their scalps tingle.

Is this what it looks like to be corrupted by a demon?

Sulu watched as Galan, acting like an ordinary person, bragged to Rhode about his beautiful wife and lovely daughter, and a chill suddenly rose from his back.

In his previous life, this would definitely be classified as delusional schizophrenia, right?

"May I see your wife and daughter?"

Rhode suddenly interrupted Galan's narrative, speaking with crisp, clean directness.

"O-of course, that's no problem at all!"

Galan was taken aback, but only for a moment before he immediately agreed, leading Rhode and Sulu to the second floor.

If these were ordinary people, how could they possibly let two Federation agents who arrived in the dead of night see their wife and daughter? But Galan is already a madman; he cannot be measured by common sense!

Sulu tightened his grip on the long backpack behind him; the shotgun Rhode had given him was inside, fully loaded and with the safety engaged.

According to Rhode, the rounds he had loaded this time were "Demon-Breaking Bullets" with sufficient potency, which were exceptionally effective against the kin of demons.

"We're here... my daughter Liz's bedroom!"

Galan arrived at a door along the corridor and gently gripped the handle. "She's a bit shy!"

Clang!

The door pulled open to reveal a room decorated in pink, with a large baby cradle in the center. Gauze curtains hung down on all sides, making it impossible to see the appearance of the infant within.

Galan stepped forward, humming a sweet tune, and lifted a little one dressed in baby clothes from the cradle. "Look... isn't she adorable?"

With a soft plop, the baby bonnet fell to the floor, revealing the infant's true face!

It had an elongated face, a bald head with barely any hair, a pair of scarlet eyes that darted left and right, and bat-like ears that trembled slightly, as if it had detected an enemy.

Staring at Sulu and Rhode, it suddenly let out a shriek, revealing a mouth full of sharp fangs.

"A Lesser Demon!"

Rhode roared, drew his revolver, and fired rapidly.

Bang! Bang!

The Lesser Demon leaped from Galan's arms, climbing the wall with the agility of a monkey, leaving a circle of bullet holes in its wake.

Bang!

Suddenly, it let out a strange cry and bolted out the door from the side.

"Don't you run!"

Rhode bellowed and gave chase.

"You..."

Sulu watched his retreating back, helplessly retracting his hand.

After spending more than half a month together, he had already learned this Rhode's temperament; he was the type of guy who would charge headlong into any situation.

In his philosophy, when encountering the kin of demons, one simply charges in. Relying on his family legacy and the physical constitution of a [Witch Hunter], he could indeed brute-force his way through many situations.

And if he couldn't brute-force it, then he would die!