The Second Legend Appears! Human-I Like You!

Bai Xuan returned to his room and took off the Slime Mask.

He had a rough guess about Liu Qian's identity. She was probably an Investigator with the White Sea City Investigation Bureau, and not a low-ranking one.

She was at least an Intermediate Investigator, perhaps even an Advanced Investigator.

Or maybe...

"Forget it. At least I know she means no harm." Bai Xuan shook his head, set the matter aside, and turned his attention to the World Book.

[World Quest: Zombie Legion (Completed)]

[Quest Rewards: Character Trait—Invisibility (Blue); your Strength attribute has increased moderately!]

[Invisibility (Blue): Allows your body to become transparent, but does not conceal sound or scent.]

"Invisibility?"

Bai Xuan raised an eyebrow when he saw the trait.

That was a good ability!

[Add the "Invisibility" character trait to yourself?]

Yes.

[Character trait "Invisibility" added!]

Bai Xuan looked at his right hand. At a thought, the entire hand turned transparent.

"Not bad. Not bad at all!"

He nodded in satisfaction.

On top of that, his Strength rank had jumped straight from D to C.

The surge of strength left him feeling brimming with energy!

"Master."

Xilin, beside him, suddenly spoke up. "The eggshell looks like it's cracking."

"Oh?"

Bai Xuan turned toward the Dragon Egg on the table.

Several distinct cracks now ran across its magnificent, ruby-like shell.

"Is it finally time?"

Excitement surged through Bai Xuan. Was his second legend finally about to hatch?

But...

It wouldn't be a Young Dragon, would it?

After all, Marée Alaira's age was listed as unknown on her information panel.

While Bai Xuan's thoughts raced, the cracks in the Dragon Egg suddenly widened!

A fracture shot from the center toward both sides, splitting the entire egg cleanly in two.

Then—

Crack!

A sharp snap rang out!

The upper half of the shell was kicked off from within—

And struck Bai Xuan square in the forehead.

"Fuck!"

Bai Xuan cried out in pain. Rubbing his forehead, he looked at the broken shell.

Strangely, though, he saw no Young Dragon inside.

He frowned.

Empty?

"Where's the dragon? Where did my dragon go?"

Bai Xuan immediately looked around, frantically searching for his Ruby Dragon.

"Xilin, help me look."

"There's no way it was an empty egg!"

He kept searching as he spoke, but Xilin didn't answer. She just watched him quietly.

"?"

Confused, Bai Xuan asked, "Xilin? Why are you staring at me?"

Xilin said nothing. She merely pointed above his head.

"?"

Bai Xuan looked up in confusion and saw a pair of little snow-white feet hovering overhead.

"?"

He froze, then hurriedly stepped back. Only then did he get a good look at her—

She was a little half-dragon girl. Long, fiery-red hair spilled down her back, a crimson dragon tail trailed behind her, and a pair of wings spread from her shoulders. Two small dragon horns stood atop her head.

Whoa...

So this is my second legend?

The little girl's eyes remained closed, though. She hovered silently in midair, as if she had yet to wake.

"Still asleep?" Bai Xuan studied the dragon girl curiously.

She was petite, yet her chest held two full, snowy mounds that seemed wholly out of proportion to her frame!

Not quite as outrageous as Xilin's, but impressive all the same!

A busty little dragon girl? Bai Xuan marveled inwardly.

Interesting.

Her clothes, meanwhile, were formed from red dragon scales and shaped like armor!

Cool!

So damn cool!

If I could wear that armor...

Ahem!

As Bai Xuan's thoughts wandered, Marée Alaira slowly opened her crimson eyes.

The instant her gaze fell on Bai Xuan, an irrepressible smile of excitement spread across her face.

"Human! I finally get to see you!" she shouted.

Before the words had even left her mouth, she beat her wings and dove straight into Bai Xuan's arms.

She rubbed against his chest with all her might, crying out excitedly, "Human!"

"I like you, I like you, I like you!"

"Ah~ I love how you smell~"

"Ah~ This is wonderful~"

"Ah~"

Marée Alaira's fervent reaction left Bai Xuan a little overwhelmed.

Then again, if this was the effect of [Really Likes You], it made sense.

"All right, all right, Little Marie. Calm down first—"

Before Bai Xuan could finish, Marée Alaira tackled him onto the bed.

"Ah~"

"Human~"

"You smell delicious~"

Huh?

Wait a second.

Marée Alaira's last remark made Bai Xuan pause.

Something's off with this girl!

"You little rascal... You're not planning to eat me, are you?" he asked with a wry smile.

"No, no!" Marée Alaira shook her head hard. "Human! I like you more than anyone! How could I eat you?"

"If it weren't for you, I might have been trapped in that Dragon Egg forever!"

"You saved me!"

"I like you so much~"

As she spoke, she gently nuzzled her cheek against Bai Xuan's chest.

Trapped in the Dragon Egg forever? A question flashed through Bai Xuan's mind. Had Marée Alaira been sealed inside it before?

While Bai Xuan and Marée interacted, Xilin watched them without blinking, a complicated look in her eyes.

It wasn't jealousy. She had spent too much magical energy, and she was getting hungry.

White Sea City.

Liu Qian and Li Hongyou had returned to the White Sea City Investigation Bureau.

Li Hongyou narrowed her eyes at Liu Qian, utterly speechless.

She couldn't help asking, "If you were going to handle it yourself, why did you specifically send me to Ninghang City?"

Liu Qian leisurely took the lollipop from her mouth and smiled. "Little Red Pomelo, if I hadn't sent you, would they have dispatched a criminal on the level of Three of Diamonds?"

"Hmph."

Li Hongyou gave her a cold glance.

That wasn't what really upset her. She was angry that Liu Qian hadn't told her the truth from the start.

"Come on." Liu Qian smiled reassuringly. "Whatever else happened, we did get something out of this operation. I'll make sure you get the credit."

"I don't need your generosity. We're not on the same side." Li Hongyou's voice dripped with disdain. Then she asked, "And how much longer are you going to keep pretending to be your niece?"

"Hehe~" Liu Qian chuckled. "Don't you like me better when I look younger?"

"No matter what you look like," Li Hongyou replied flatly, "I'll hate you just the same."

"Hahaha~ All right, then~"

Liu Qian's lips curved upward as her form quietly shifted amid her laughter.

Her slender figure grew fuller, while her public security uniform transformed into an elegant dark-purple gown, with a pure-white blazer draped lightly over her shoulders.

Her long, straight brown hair gradually deepened to wine red, its curled ends swaying gently. Her delicate features became those of a bewitching beauty, and a captivating allure shimmered in her amber eyes.

"Mmm~"

Liu Mufei stretched in her own body and gave a satisfied chuckle. "Nothing beats my own body~ When my niece walks, she just doesn't have that same bounce."

"?"

Li Hongyou froze at her words.

Her eyes drifted involuntarily to Liu Mufei's chest, then narrowed dangerously.

"What's that supposed to mean?"