University Entrance

Zhou Yaning and the others went to investigate, while Lu Chengchuan stood around nearby.

"Lu Chengchuan?"

While he waited, a young woman walked up beside him and looked at him in surprise.

The young woman stared at him for quite a while. When he turned his face toward her, she immediately said in astonishment, "It really is you! Long time no see, Lu Chengchuan. What are you doing here?"

"Uh, you are?"

The woman before him was slim and wore a sporty outfit that made her look sharp and capable. Her youthful, pretty face seemed familiar to Lu Chengchuan, but he could not remember who she was.

"Hey, it's only been a few years. You don't recognize an old classmate? I'm Chen Junmo, the girl who sat in front of you. I used to fan you when you slept during study hall. Otherwise, could you have slept that comfortably?

"How many ink pens of mine did you take in high school? How many times did you copy my homework? And now, just a few years later, you've forgotten me?"

Chen Junmo pursed her lips. She remembered him, yet he had forgotten her.

"Chen Junmo... it's you! Sorry, sorry, I didn't forget... This is your fault too. You've only gotten prettier and prettier. I couldn't recognize you at all."

Once she gave her name, Lu Chengchuan suddenly remembered.

The main reason was that she had changed too much. Back in high school, Chen Junmo had short hair, thick glasses, and a carefree personality. Lu Chengchuan had been so close to her that they had nearly been called in by the homeroom teacher.

"You still know how to sweet-talk people. I heard you've been sick these past few years. How are you? Have you gotten better?" After recognizing each other, Chen Junmo asked about his illness with concern.

She had heard from others that Lu Chengchuan had been hospitalized due to illness. Seeing how lively he looked now, she assumed he had recovered.

"More or less. You study here? As expected of the top student in our class."

Lu Chengchuan answered casually. Running into an old classmate he had once been close with made him rather happy.

"Ah, all I can do is bury myself in books. Are you still studying?"

"I've had worse luck. I don't even get to study." Lu Chengchuan shook his head. After being seriously ill for years, he had not had the chance to study at all, and he did not particularly want to now.

Thinking of the past few years, Lu Chengchuan asked, "Did you take the graduate entrance exam?"

He was twenty-three this year, and Chen Junmo was just over two months younger than him. She should have graduated by now, so had she taken the graduate entrance exam and continued her studies?

"My family wanted me to take it. I didn't know what else to do, so I gave it a try."

"That's good. Being able to study is a good thing." Lu Chengchuan sighed.

Chen Junmo seemed unwilling to dwell on that. She nudged Lu Chengchuan. "Enough about me. If you're not studying, where are you working? Don't forget this old classmate once you make it big."

"I just do whatever comes along." Lu Chengchuan laughed it off without saying what he did.

He could not talk about the Investigation Bureau, and there was not much to say about killing monsters. After thinking it over, he realized he had not done much since recovering, so he could only brush Chen Junmo off.

"Mr. Lu... it's time to go."

At that moment, Qian Xiaoling walked over. Seeing Lu Chengchuan chatting with a student, she had no choice but to interrupt them.

They were leaving. Lu Chengchuan wondered whether they had found any clues, then turned to bid Chen Junmo farewell. "Sorry, I have something to take care of. Let's talk again if we get the chance."

"Alright, Mr. Lu." Chen Junmo looked at the equally young woman, surprise flashing through her eyes. Then, smiling, she copied her and called him "Mr. Lu" as well.

After saying goodbye, Lu Chengchuan returned to the car with Qian Xiaoling. Once inside, he saw everyone wearing grave expressions and guessed that they had not found any clues.

"No clues?" After a moment of silence, sensing that the atmosphere was off, Lu Chengchuan took the initiative to ask.

"None. We'll wait for the Major Crimes Unit's intelligence. Drive ahead and circle along University Road."

Just as Lu Chengchuan had expected, there had not been any traces left at the scene. In truth, they had not needed to come. If there really had been clues, could the Major Crimes Unit's professionals have failed to find them?

The car drove forward and made two loops along University Road. Bored, Lu Chengchuan closed his eyes.

After two loops, Zhou Yaning's phone rang. She answered it, occasionally replying with an "Mm."

"Go to West District Avenue." Zhou Yaning quickly hung up and told Chen Long to drive to West District Avenue.

"Captain, did something happen?"

"Traces of the Black Tower Mercenaries have been found on West District Avenue. The Major Crimes Unit found a car whose model and details match the vehicle in the surveillance footage. We're going to take a look."

There was no way someone could be abducted in public without leaving any traces behind.

The Black Tower Mercenaries had forced the person into a car. Now the car had been found, though the person was still missing. At least they had a new lead.

The car sped all the way to West District Avenue. Once they arrived, they got out and found the location where the car had been discovered. The Major Crimes Unit was still investigating, and one of its members led them inside.

"We found several strands of hair. Someone from the Ability Bureau can track traces, and he's on his way here. Let's wait."

In the past, they would have checked surveillance footage, searched for witnesses, found the car's owner, and investigated everything they could. Now, there was one more option: finding an Esper.

Some Espers had no combat ability, but that did not mean their powers were useless.

The Esper they were waiting for possessed a special tracking ability. As long as he had a medium connected to the target, he could see that person's movements for a certain period of time.

There were several long hairs in the car, presumably left behind when someone had struggled. They were very likely Li Xin's hairs.

As long as they could find a lead, that was enough. Everyone waited there. Ten minutes later, another car came speeding over.

"They're here."

A Major Crimes Unit member spoke, and everyone looked over together. The car came to a stop, and several people got out.

"Is Team Leader Zhao here?"

The people stopped outside and asked whether the Major Crimes Unit's team leader was there.

"Yes, yes. We've been waiting for you. Come over quickly." The Major Crimes Unit's team leader immediately came out to greet them and had his subordinates bring them all inside.

"This is Huang Hui."

This was the person they had been waiting for. Team Leader Zhao did not waste words and had a subordinate bring over the hair.

"The hair is here. I need you to track this person's traces."

The situation was urgent, and no one had time for small talk. Huang Hui took the hair in his hand. Before activating his ability, he looked at Team Leader Zhao. "Team Leader Zhao, once I activate my ability, the hair will be destroyed. And I can't guarantee how far I'll be able to track them. Are you sure you want me to use it?"

Huang Hui made his disclaimer. Once his ability was activated, the hair would be destroyed by his power, and even he could not guarantee how far he could track the target. His ability depended rather heavily on luck.

"At a time like this, any clue is better than none. Get on with it."

Keeping the hair would not be of much use to them anyway. If they could use it to find clues, then they would use it.

Having received confirmation, Huang Hui said nothing more. He rubbed the hair into his palm, then closed his eyes and activated his ability.

As his ability activated, a wisp of white smoke drifted out from his palm. Huang Hui opened his eyes and blew a breath at the white smoke before him.

The white smoke was blown away. Less than a second later, the smoke flying forward suddenly veered to the left.