The Imp

Nia City, 233 Champagne Avenue.

Two figures darted through the streets under cover of night.

"Galan Owes! A craftsman, and our target this time!"

Rhode lowered his voice and quickly briefed Sulu on the mission. "Thirty-two years old, married to Elisa, who died of an illness. No children... According to his neighbors, Mr. Owes started acting strangely after his beloved wife passed away. He often made terrifying noises at night, talked to the air, and tinkered with all sorts of strange things at home. He's been reported many times, but still hasn't mended his ways..."

"The Church of the Goddess of Light investigated and confirmed that he was performing a ritual to worship a Demon, hoping to bring his wife back to life!"

"Actually... that's basically impossible. Demons prefer to toy with people's minds, not make their dreams come true!"

Sulu pressed his lips together and said nothing.

He knew what Rhode meant.

Demons could be thought of as powerful Evil Gods, or beings even more chaotic and evil than Evil Gods.

If you prayed to one and received a response, it usually led to consequences even more horrifying and tragic.

For example... a highly decomposed corpse might be brought back to life, or his wife's soul might return as an Evil Spirit!

Or perhaps... some door to an unknown realm might briefly open, and countless monsters would pour through!

"According to the Church's mission guidelines, if the target is confirmed to be a follower of an Abyssal Demon, eliminate him on the spot!" Rhode stopped in front of a two-story building and loaded his silver revolver.

That was the Church of the Goddess of Light's way of doing things: simple, direct, and brutal.

"I mean..."

Looking at the brightly lit building, Sulu hesitated before asking, "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 a situation like this? Oh! Maybe they could, but what about the casualties and compensation that would result?"

Rhode chuckled quietly. "As for the Church... its power has to reach across the entire Federation. It might not have the time or energy for this... So outsourcing the mission to other Witch Hunters, like me, is a good approach! We Witch Hunters know how to deal with Demons. We can keep any mishaps to a minimum!"

As he spoke, he handed over an identification card. "We'll just knock on the door."

"The Federal Tax Bureau?" Sulu opened the black leather folder, stamped with the Federation emblem, and saw his own photo. He jumped in surprise.

"It's fake..."

Rhode casually lifted the inside of his coat, showing Sulu a large number of gold-trimmed ID folders.

"Forging documents is a serious crime in the Federation. You could go to jail if you're caught..." Sulu's face twitched.

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

Rhode nonchalantly fixed his hair in the reflection of a window, then walked with Sulu to the house at number 233 and knocked.

Knock, knock!

After a few moments, they heard footsteps from behind the door.

The door opened a crack, and a pair of eyes appeared behind it. "Who are you looking for?"

The eyes were bloodshot and sunken. The speaker's hair was so disheveled it looked like a bird's nest.

Judging by his appearance, I would've believed it if someone told me he was in his forties or fifties.

Sulu stood behind Rhode and watched him produce the ID, threatening Galan. "I'm with the Federal Tax Bureau. We need you to help us with an investigation."

"Taxes? I pay them legally every month!"

Galan looked surprised, but still opened the door.

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

And as the top agency, the Federal Tax Bureau wielded terrifying power—even maintaining its own army!

There were criminals the courts or police stations couldn't deal with, but if they got on the tax authorities' bad side, they were as good as finished!

"Please, gentlemen!"

Taking advantage of the Tax Bureau's intimidating reputation, the three of them entered the living room.

Sulu looked around. The place looks decent. Seems like he just had dinner? Hm?

His eyes narrowed. There were three place settings on the dining table!

"Do you have company?"

Rhode had noticed the oddity too. He asked warily, one hand already inside his coat.

"No... No outsiders. Just my wife and my darling daughter!"

Galan carried a tray with two cups of coffee. "I sent them upstairs first."

Sulu and Rhode exchanged a glance, feeling the hair on their scalps prickle.

So this is what someone corrupted by a Demon looks like?

Galan seemed perfectly ordinary as he bragged to Rhode about his beautiful wife and adorable daughter. A chill suddenly rose from deep within Sulu.

Back in his old life, this would've been a textbook case of delusional psychosis, wouldn't it?

"Could I meet your wife and daughter?"

Rhode suddenly cut Galan off and asked bluntly.

"Y-yes, of course! No problem!"

Galan froze for a moment, but immediately agreed and led Rhode and Sulu upstairs.

If he were an ordinary person, would he really let two Federation agents who showed up in the middle of the night go meet his wife and daughter? But Galan's already insane. There's no point trying to apply common sense!

Sulu tightened the long backpack on his back. Rhode's shotgun was inside, loaded and with the safety on.

According to Rhode, he'd loaded it with a full supply of Demon-Breaking Bullets, which were especially effective against Demon Kin.

"Here... this is my daughter Liz's bedroom!"

Galan stopped beside a door in the hallway and gently gripped the handle. "She's a little shy!"

Clatter!

The door swung open. Inside, everything was decorated in pink, and a large cradle stood in the center. Sheer curtains hung all around it, obscuring the baby within.

Galan went forward, humming a sweet little tune as he picked up a tiny figure in baby clothes from the cradle. "Look... isn't she adorable?"

With a slap, the baby's cap fell to the floor, revealing the infant's true appearance!

It had a long, narrow face and a bald head with only a few strands of hair. Its blood-red eyes darted from side to side, and its batlike ears twitched faintly, as if it had sensed its enemies.

It looked at Sulu and Rhode, then suddenly let out a shriek, baring a mouthful of sharp fangs.

"Little Imp!"

Rhode shouted and drew his revolver, firing in rapid succession.

Bang! Bang!

The Little Imp leaped off Galan and scrambled up the wall like a monkey, leaving a ring of bullet holes behind it.

Bang!

Suddenly, it let out a strange cry and fled out the door to the side.

"Don't run!"

Rhode roared and took off after it.

"You..."

Sulu watched him go, then helplessly lowered his hand.

After spending the better part of half a month with Rhode, Sulu had learned what kind of person he was: the sort who charged headlong into trouble.

As far as Rhode was concerned, when you encountered Demon Kin, you charged in. With his family's training and the physical abilities of a Witch Hunter, that approach had gotten him through plenty of situations.

If he charged in and couldn't handle it, then he died!