Doubts

"What's the first question: Is the Peacock Spider really dead?"

Lan Junjun smiled. "What makes you ask?"

At that moment, only Lan Junxian and Jiang Qian were in the Safe House. Lan Junxian had already accepted that Jiang Qian was part of the Peacock Spider Task Force.

Jiang Qian recalled what he had done. "When I first tried to ignite the gas, I wasn't expecting to kill her. I only wanted to keep her there somehow, or injure her enough to make her easier to capture. But she just died."

"Does it make sense for a Fourth State: Perfect Form License Holder to die in a gas explosion?"

Jiang Qian hadn't been a License Holder for long, and his understanding of the stages from First State to Seventh State was still rudimentary. But judging by how cautiously the task force had guarded against the Peacock Spider—and how much they'd paled at the very mention of her—the victory had come a little too easily.

He raised his head and looked at Lan Junxian.

"You said the remains they found needed to be reconstructed using genetic technology, then systematically compared. In other words, they were too badly damaged to identify by appearance. So how did you determine they belonged to the Peacock Spider?"

Lan Junxian merely nodded at the questions, showing no surprise.

He answered Jiang Qian's questions one by one. "It's true that someone at the Fourth State isn't easy to kill. But the Peacock Spider wasn't at her peak at the time."

"According to the information from Jintian City, the Peacock Spider had recently clashed with the Black Alliance. After that, she fought an official team. During that period, she lost at least two servants."

"Given the prolonged fighting and her injuries, it's possible the gas explosion was the last straw."

"The Black Alliance?" Jiang Qian had never heard that name before.

"A free organization made up of Mutants—a bunch of outlaws. They'll do anything that falls beneath a License Holder's standards." Lan Junxian patiently filled his prospective subordinate in. "There are a few similar free organizations in the country. The Black Alliance isn't the strongest, but it has a lot of members and the widest network. Like cockroaches, it's always hard to stamp them out completely."

"What did the Peacock Spider have against them?" Jiang Qian asked curiously.

"I don't know the specifics. Free organizations are bound to clash now and then. Probably just a case of 'black eating black.'"

Lan Junxian continued, "As for the remains, some of the Peacock Spider's distinctive Mutant traits were preserved. Xiao Jing used those traits to conclude that the Peacock Spider was dead. But as I said, the case can't be closed until the genetic reconstruction and systematic comparison are complete."

As he spoke, he slid the tablet over to Jiang Qian.

A photo of a charred, mangled corpse appeared before Jiang Qian's eyes.

Though the body was badly damaged and incomplete, enough of the face remained recognizable.

"This is... the villa's owner?" Jiang Qian had seen the woman's appearance during Spirit Vision, so he recognized the corpse.

"That's right. The Peacock Spider kept the appearance of the person she'd impersonated right up until her death. Whether she was too badly injured to change her face, or did it deliberately, remains to be confirmed," Lan Junxian said.

There were so many unanswered questions that Jiang Qian felt inexplicably heavy-hearted.

If the Peacock Spider was still alive, she probably wouldn't show herself again anytime soon. But that would also mean that sooner or later, I'd have to face that troublesome Demoness again...

Lan Junxian saw the worry on Jiang Qian's face and smiled. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Xiao Jing and I will stay in Jinping for a while, until the Peacock Spider case is settled."

That's a relief... Jiang Qian nodded thoughtfully.

"I take it you have something else to ask?"

If there was a first question, there was naturally a second.

Jiang Qian thought for a moment. "I want to know why the Peacock Spider came after me."

Until now, everyone's attention had been on the Spider Cocoon, and Jiang Qian hadn't had a chance to discuss these questions with Lan Junxian.

Now he finally had the chance to go over all his doubts with someone who mattered.

"The Peacock Spider chooses young men with excellent potential, tempts them, and extends an invitation, making them her sacrificial servants. Official License Holders, the various families, and newcomers to the Alliance are her prime targets. But not everyone wins her favor the way you did."

Lan Junxian suddenly sighed. He'd seen too many cases end in horrific deaths.

"That's strange. I come from a very ordinary background, but she went to such lengths to find me." Jiang Qian was puzzled. "Had she gotten tired of fine dining and decided to try something different for a change?"

"Maybe. The so-called Saintesses of the Sacred Mountain are indeed searching for one or more special people."

Seeing that Jiang Qian still looked confused, Lan Junxian quickly realized what was missing and added, "The Peacock Spider is known as a Saintess of the Sacred Mountain. Of course, no one has a reliable answer yet as to what the 'Sacred Mountain' actually is or where it's located."

"Another Saintess of the Sacred Mountain, one whose name is well known among the official forces, is just like the Peacock Spider: she has a keen interest in promising young official License Holders. She serves the Sacred Mountain, and she's also very close to another mysterious free organization."

"Unfortunately, that case isn't mine. For now, it's best if you don't ask too many questions."

Jiang Qian nodded. "Understood."

He quietly absorbed the information, rapidly mapping out the connections in his mind and gradually building his understanding of the world of License Holders.

"One last question. Is there any way for me to get all the detailed information on the Peacock Spider?"

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Qian's eyes.

His usual air of cautious reserve had vanished completely.

Lan Junxian immediately realized that even if the Peacock Spider never showed herself again, this young man would still prepare for anything and fight off any possible enemy who came after him.

This was exactly the opportunity Lan Junxian needed to recruit a capable subordinate.

"There is. For example, you could join the East Sea Special Security Action Department and come back to East Sea with me."

Now that he'd made the offer, Lan Junxian decided to go further.

"The Peacock Spider's instincts are sharp! You passed 'Whispers of the Inner Demon' and came through unscathed. That proves your talent is one in a million. And your life-and-death ordeal over the past three days has confirmed that your potential for growth is immeasurable."

"Come back to East Sea with me. There'll be no probation period, and I can make things easier for you with any case you want to investigate."

Even Lan Junxian was a little surprised he'd made a promise like that.

I got carried away...

But Jiang Qian's response was comparatively calm.

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me. I'm not planning to leave Jinping right now. I'll need some time to consider your offer."

A flicker of surprise crossed Lan Junxian's face, followed by confusion and tension, but his expression gradually settled.

He said he understood. "No problem. This would involve a change of region, home, and job, after all. There's no rush. Take your time."

As he spoke, Lan Junxian rose and left the room, giving Jiang Qian space to think and sort things out on his own.

He already had the support of his superiors and family in recruiting Jiang Qian, and he'd put in plenty of effort, both openly and behind the scenes.

Unless Beijing Headquarters insisted on keeping Jiang Qian, he had plenty of ways to bring this rare talent into the East Sea action department.

The more he thought about it, the more pleased he became.

Back in his temporary office, Lan Junxian poured himself a glass of fine liquor—a rare indulgence—and turned on the record player. He strolled leisurely to the sounds of Hong Kong-style music.

That conversation had been full of pleasant surprises, too.

Jiang Qian's astonishing potential aside, Lan Junxian was also impressed by his analytical and critical-thinking skills. The young man had a good attitude, and apart from attracting too many women, he was exactly what Lan Junxian considered a rare talent.

Of course, attracting women was common among truly outstanding young men. It could hardly be considered a flaw.

As he was mulling over his plans, Xiao Jing walked in without expression.

"Boss, Headquarters' Special Task Force has made progress on Jiang Qian's personnel assignment."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

Lan Junxian looked confident of victory.