A Brush with Death!

Inside Chen Ye's coffee shop.

Yang Yan and another police officer put away their umbrellas and walked into the shop.

"This damn weather—it keeps raining every day. The field team has really had it rough these past few days."

Yang Yan looked around the shop. There weren't many customers, only four.

One was wearing a raincoat and looked to be a college student. Beside him sat a girl in a long black dress.

They looked like a couple.

The other two, one was sitting in the corner, while the other was seated at the bar.

The one in the corner was...

Wang Haonan?

Yang Yan narrowed his eyes. As one of the suspects in the invisible murder case, Wang Haonan was a key subject of their investigation.

But during their previous investigations, Wang Haonan had always had solid alibis.

Even under questioning, he was completely watertight.

When Wang Haonan saw Yang Yan, he waved at him. "Officer, we meet again..."

"So, have you caught the culprit?"

Yang Yan shook his head. "Not yet, but we've found a breakthrough. By the way, Old Wang, I heard you quit your job?"

Wang Haonan chuckled foolishly. "Ah... I quit. I'm getting old, and my body's not what it used to be. I really can't keep doing it anymore. Repairing air conditioners is exhausting work."

Yang Yan nodded. "True. You're getting on in years. What are you planning to do next?"

"For now... I haven't thought about it. I was planning to retire and go back home, maybe do some fishing. That wouldn't be bad..." Wang Haonan said quietly.

The Fishman glanced at Wang Haonan. "At your age, you'd better stop fishing. Be careful not to get dragged into the water by a fish."

Wang Haonan smiled. "That depends on how big the fish is."

Yang Yan sniffed. "Now that you mention fish, I smell something fishy."

Wang Haonan picked up a plastic bag beside him. "You've got a sharp nose, Officer. I just bought some fish from the market."

"...Is that so?"

Yang Yan walked up to the bar and saw the bearded officer staring blankly at the suited man behind the counter.

"Hey... where's the owner?"

The suited man at the bar was grinding coffee beans. "The owner is resting."

"I'm the new employee. My skills aren't great, so please bear with me."

As he spoke, the Wall Breaker picked up the kettle and began making coffee for the two officers.

"I see... It's fine. I'll drink whatever you make, hahaha." The bearded officer laughed heartily.

Yang Yan said nothing. Instead, he looked at a woman sitting at the bar.

She had blonde hair and wore a pair of black rubber gloves. Her features were striking, and she carried herself with exceptional poise. She didn't look ordinary.

And she was... so beautiful...

Seeing Yang Yan studying her, Queen Bee picked up her coffee and smiled at him. "Sir, you've been staring at me this whole time. You're making me feel embarrassed~"

Yang Yan suddenly came to his senses.

"My apologies..."

Strange?

So strange...

Why had just one look at her nearly bewitched me?

The feeling was so subtle...

A moment later, two cups of coffee were set before Yang Yan and his companion.

"Mmm... smells good. Kid, you've got some skill!"

The Wall Breaker smiled elegantly. "You're too kind."

Yang Yan took a sip of his coffee. "It really is good..."

But what was this feeling of being watched?

The burning stares coming from behind him felt like a pack of beasts rubbing their claws together as they waited to feed.

Yang Yan tried to glance toward both sides behind him from the corner of his eye, but no one was looking at them.

The Fishman stood up. "I'm done. Shall we go?"

Raven Girl nodded, then left with the Fishman.

"Then I'll be leaving too. See you next time, Officer Yang." Wang Haonan picked up the plastic bag as he spoke and prepared to leave.

Yang Yan abruptly turned around. "Old Wang, can I see your fish?"

Wang Haonan frowned. "You... really want to see it? This fish isn't very pleasant to look at."

Yang Yan's gaze sharpened. "Please, let me see it."

"Ah... if you insist, I suppose I have no choice." Wang Haonan opened the plastic bag, revealing an ugly Deep One inside.

"Officer Yang, would you like to come to my place and try my cooking?"

Yang Yan looked away. "No. I was just curious what kind of fish you bought."

Wang Haonan smiled, then turned and left with the fish.

"See you again, Officer Yang."

The bearded officer turned around. "What's wrong, Yang Yan?"

Yang Yan furrowed his brow. "Do you know anywhere nearby that sells Black Forktooth Fish?"

"What fish?"

Yang Yan took out his phone and pulled up a picture. "Have you ever seen this kind of fish at the market?"

The bearded officer shook his head. "No. I've never seen it before."

"Right... because nowhere around here sells this kind of fish." Yang Yan's brow furrowed even deeper. "Because this fish is not only ugly, it's also especially disgusting."

"Normally, no one would buy it, and no vendor would sell it."

"Maybe he didn't know it tasted bad..."

"Couldn't he just search it online?"

"Uh... maybe he just likes that kind of thing?"

Yang Yan's mouth twitched. "Where's your police instinct?"

The bearded officer patted him on the shoulder. "Come on, you're too suspicious. Maybe it was a gift from a relative or friend?"

"Then that so-called relative or friend must really hate him." Yang Yan drained his coffee in one gulp.

"Let's go. Back to the station."

Outside.

Wang Haonan tossed the fish, plastic bag and all, to the Fishman.

"Do you really think this kind of fish is what Lord Aus needs?"

The Fishman shook his head. "Hard to say, but I spent two days fishing under the sea before I caught it. We have to at least give it a try."

"Also, that cop earlier—has he got his eye on you?"

Wang Haonan nodded. "Yeah. It's been a while."

"Want me to take care of him for you?"

"No need. If he dies, the police will only suspect me more."

"Then handle it yourself. I'm leaving first."

"Wang Laoshi..."

Inside the apartment above the coffee shop.

Chen Ye was watering the flowers in his room, completely unaware of what had just happened downstairs in his own home.

Nor would the two officers know that, through their own efforts, they had managed to infiltrate the criminals' nest.

"I didn't expect plants could absorb potion too. Though the absorption speed is a bit slow, if it can be successfully propagated..."

"This thing could prove incredibly useful."

In the potted plant Chen Ye was watering grew a strange plant.

It resembled a sunflower, but its center was filled with all kinds of eyeballs, while its leaves spread like vines.

A mosquito flew past, and the vines shot out, crushing the insect to death before curling back up.

"No need to worry about mosquitoes in summer anymore."

"Venus flytrap, plus version."

"Come to think of it, 004 said she'd prepared a gift for me and wanted me to visit tomorrow... Mm, what a hassle."

"Forget it. I'll go take a look anyway."

"The address is... South Weir?"

Number 003: Invisible Man (Third Party)