Ghoul Weapon-Venom Scorpion!

"The video got deleted again! Why do videos about Anomalies always get taken down? Bai Xuan, don't you think there's some conspiracy behind this?" Zhao Fan said indignantly.

"Didn't the Investigation Bureau already issue a statement?" Bai Xuan replied. "To protect Investigators, ordinary citizens aren't allowed to post footage of Anomalous Calamities. Only the authorities can release that kind of content."

"Really?"

"What else would it be?"

"Fair enough."

Before they knew it, noon had arrived.

After lunch, Bai Xuan went alone to the rooftop of the teaching building and began tinkering with his World Book.

"This Character Setting... I'll equip it now."

After a moment's thought, Bai Xuan equipped White Dove. He needed this setting more than Legend.

[Add the "White Dove" Character Setting to yourself?]

Yes.

[The "White Dove" Character Setting has been added!]

The notification had barely sounded when a faint white glimmer flashed through Bai Xuan's eyes.

The next second, he felt a distinct change in his senses. Everything was sharper, especially his sense of smell.

Then Bai Xuan turned his attention to the Ghoul Weapon.

Twelve hours had passed since he started crafting it. His Ghoul Weapon was complete.

In the image displayed by the World Book, the weapon resembled a long whip tipped with a dark purple spike that gleamed coldly.

[Venom Scorpion (Green): A weapon made from a Ghoul's Kagune. It can attach to its user and attack or defend according to their will. The tip of Venom Scorpion carries a special toxin that can temporarily immobilize the dead.]

"?"

"Immobilize the dead?"

Bai Xuan stared at the Ghoul Weapon's description, deep in thought.

Venom Scorpion's toxin was useless against the living... but worked on the dead?

More than its toxin, though, Bai Xuan cared about how to use it.

Could he attach it to his backside like Xu Yan had and control it at will?

Ahem!

Forget attaching it there. That's a little too weird, and I'm not as twisted as Xu Yan.

Still... he had to try it right away!

After making sure no one was around, Bai Xuan released Venom Scorpion from the World Book.

Venom Scorpion attached itself to the back of his shoulder. At a thought, it moved nimbly as he wished.

It felt as though he had grown a third arm.

But he had only just gained this power, and his control was still clumsy. One moment of carelessness, and...

"Hiss!"

Bai Xuan frowned and looked at the back of his hand. The spike had left a thin, bloody cut.

He shook his head and said with a smile, "Figures. I'll have to be careful while I'm getting used to it!"

He headed straight to the school infirmary to get the wound treated.

After having it bandaged, Bai Xuan returned to the classroom. He had barely sat down when Zhao Fan hurried over. "Bai Xuan, it's Friday. Want to go to karaoke after school? I've invited our third roommate and A-Meng."

"I'll pass. I never sing when I go anyway." Bai Xuan shook his head and turned him down flat.

"You're really not coming?" Zhao Fan refused to give up. Lowering his voice, he added enticingly, "Our third roommate even invited two girls from class. They've already agreed!"

"Next time."

"Come on! How are you going to find a girlfriend if you never socialize?"

"If it happens, it happens."

Meanwhile, at the Ninghang City Public Security Bureau...

Bai Yu was handling paperwork at her desk when Liu Qian suddenly rushed over. "This is bad, Bai Yu! Something big's happened!"

"What is it?" Bai Yu stopped what she was doing.

"Remember that string of disappearances in Ninghang City?" Liu Qian asked, catching her breath.

"Yes." Bai Yu nodded. "Didn't they say it might be connected to that woman from last night?"

"Old Zhao and the others looked into Xu Yan and found out she only arrived in Ninghang City a few days ago!" Liu Qian explained hurriedly.

"So it wasn't her?" Bai Yu's brows drew together as she thought it over.

"She might be involved, but someone else has to be behind the disappearances! And there's another problem—Xu Yan only targets young women. Afterward, she dumps whatever body parts she doesn't eat without trying to hide them," Liu Qian added. "But the earlier disappearances? They didn't leave a single clue!"

"..." Bai Yu fell silent.

In a world full of Anomalies, dozens of people vanishing into thin air was hardly impossible. Even hundreds could disappear without a trace.

Just then, an urgent shout came from the other end of the office. "They found them! Old Zhao and the others followed Xu Yan's movements over the past few days and found the missing people's bodies! They're in a private hospital in Gongshu District!"

"Team Two, Team Three, Team Four!"

"Head to the scene immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

After school, Bai Xuan hurried straight home.

He was about to look for Xilin when, before he could enter his room, he heard retching from Bai Yu's.

"?"

Puzzled, Bai Xuan went to her room.

He opened the door and saw her standing over the sink, dry-heaving. She looked pale.

He quickly handed her a tissue and asked, "Bai Yu, what happened?"

"I came across something disgusting on a mission today." Bai Yu took the tissue and wiped her mouth.

"How disgusting?" Bai Xuan asked without thinking.

"It was... a pile of bodies... No, could you stop asking? Are you trying to put me off dinner?" Bai Yu rolled her eyes at him. "Get out!"

"Right, my fault." Bai Xuan promptly shut up. He was about to close the door when he remembered something and turned back. "Oh, what do you want for dinner? I'll cook."

"Plain noodles are fine. I can't stomach anything else."

"Okay."

Once they were done talking, Bai Xuan returned to his room.

He opened the door and found Xilin sitting cross-legged on the floor, quietly reading a manga—To Love-Ru.

"?"

Bai Xuan raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Xilin to like that kind of manga.

By dinnertime, Bai Yu still clearly hadn't recovered. She had eaten only a few bites of her noodles and kept frowning and dry-heaving.

In the end, she tipped the remaining half bowl into Bai Xuan's. "Forget it. I really can't eat. Don't waste the food."

"..."

Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes. "What exactly happened? You didn't react like this even when you first joined the Public Security Bureau."

"This crossed a line for me," Bai Yu said. "I can't accept it."

"So?" Bai Xuan pressed.

"Illegal experiments," Bai Yu replied. "We found some of the missing people's bodies at a private hospital in Gongshu District. Someone was using them for illegal experiments."

"Illegal experiments?"

"That's enough. You're a student; don't ask about this stuff." Bai Yu tapped Bai Xuan on the forehead. "I'm going to sleep. I have a mission in the early morning."

"Oh, okay."

After dinner, Bai Xuan returned to his room.

He gave Xilin two bottles of milk, then opened the World Quest screen.

The quests on the map had changed slightly since yesterday.

One soon caught his eye:

[World Quest: Zombie Disaster]

[Difficulty: F]

[Location: Near Lanshan Hospital, Gongshu District, Ninghang City, Huaguo]

[Description: Dozens of Zombies are about to awaken. Eliminate them. (0/20)]

[Hint: Beware the Zombie Virus!]

[Reward: ?]

"Zombies? Is this connected to the case Bai Yu mentioned?"

Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes. After a moment's thought, he decided to get revenge for Bai Yu!