Trident Sword Headquarters.
Records Management Office.
The You Zui Hunting Team, having rushed back from the Aige Dragon Hunting Ground covered in dust, sat restlessly awaiting the results of the investigation.
"We've confirmed it. There were no agents codenamed 'Potato,' 'Watermelon,' or 'String Bean' at Trident Sword's London branch, nor among the contracted hunters... nor at headquarters."
Lewis, the head of the office, looked pityingly at the dejected young wizards before him and consoled them. "This wasn't your fault. From your description, they acted very professionally... I'd wager even the Bureau's veteran hunters could have stumbled in a situation like that."
"More than professionally... They even made us sign a Silent Contract!" Zheng Qing groaned softly, deeply grateful for the Cat Face Mask hanging over his face, which at least concealed some of their current embarrassment.
"But you were lucky."
Lewis waved a hand. His broad robes hung loosely over his gaunt arms, looking rather empty. "Those people used standard contracts and didn't tamper with any of the terms. Otherwise, there's a good chance you'd be mining for Mephistopheles in hell right now."
"I almost wish they had tampered with them." Xiao Xiao gritted his teeth as he answered. As the most cautious member of the hunting team, he had repeatedly checked the clauses and seals on those documents before signing them, yet had found nothing wrong.
Though no one blamed him, as the diviner of the You Zui Hunting Team, he felt he ought to bear the greatest responsibility for this mistake. It had made the usually calm diviner more short-tempered than anyone else.
"This wasn't your fault."
Lewis repeated himself, offering long-winded consolation. "Sometimes in this world, fakes look even more real than the real thing. You're young—how could you never make mistakes? Your first mission was bound