"Taking on a disciple"

The next day.

Ling An opened his eyes, waking up on the enormous bed in Tide Sis's home.

Through his bleary vision, he saw Tide Sis getting dressed beside the bed.

Ling An lazily rubbed his eyes.

Let him think. After meeting Yinlin last night, he had returned to Tide Sis's home and changed back into his Crownless True Form, as she always requested.

After very innocently fulfilling his duties as a body pillow...

The next time he opened his eyes, it was now.

But this scene...

Why did it feel so strangely wrong?

He felt like he had become the broken young man from those sob stories about "a gambling father, a gravely ill mother, and a little sister still in school."

With how practiced Tide Sis looked as she dressed, was she sure she wasn't his client?

All that was missing was her throwing Shell Credits in his face.

An image flashed through his mind of Tide Sis tossing him Shell Credits with a thoroughly satisfied expression.

And muttering something like, "Good job. I'll book you again next time."

Ling An reflexively looked around in a hurry.

Fortunately, no Patrollers suddenly burst in to give him the "FBI, open the door!" treatment.

"You're awake?" Tide Sis stood before him, looking ready to head out.

"Where are you going?" Ling An shook those bizarre thoughts out of his head and asked curiously.

Tide Sis explained calmly, "I've deciphered the Sundial, the last token the Magistrate left behind. She directed me to the Huanglan Library. Stay home and get some rest today."

Ling An stared at her.

What kind of line was that?

It sounded exactly like the husband and head of the household heading off to work.

Fine.

Was the overpowered protagonist ditching him to go advance the plot alone?

Then what was he supposed to do?

Ling An made a show of pulling up the covers. "In our line of work, the biggest taboo is falling in love with a client..."

"Sure. Then let's play a little longer."

Before Ling An could finish, Tide Sis flashed a wicked smile and began undressing.

Startled by her actions, Ling An hurriedly pushed her out the door.

Quit messing around.

Fine, I can't beat you at this. Happy now?

After seeing Tide Sis off, Ling An began thinking through the plot.

According to the story's progression, Tide Sis had now deciphered the time and location Jinhsi had left in the Sundial, and the two had already met in secret.

They had arranged to ambush Scar, the Fractsidus Overseer who was following Tide Sis, at the Huanglan Library.

With Jinzhou's Sentinel currently missing without a trace, capturing Scar, the Fractsidus Society Overseer stirring up trouble in Jinzhou, would bring the city a little closer to peace.

At that thought, Ling An's eyes lit up.

At a time like this, how could he, a Patroller of Jinzhou, not be there?

Scar was no pushover. One more fighter meant a better chance of winning.

Of course, aside from that, his main reason was that Scar was both Tide Sis's most die-hard fan and a Fractsidus Society Overseer.

He was always calling out "Rover, Rover" in that cloying way.

What if he led Tide Sis astray while Ling An wasn't around?

What if he talked Tide Sis into joining the Fractsidus with just a few words?

The chances were minuscule, but he absolutely couldn't dismiss the possibility.

Besides, Tide Sis looked so dazed and clueless, like she would be easy to fool.

As her rightful spouse... no, as Tide Sis's companion, he absolutely couldn't allow that to happen.

If Tide Sis really joined the Fractsidus, wouldn't that put her at odds with him, a Patroller of Jinzhou?

In short, after thinking it over, Ling An had convinced himself.

He changed back into his cat form and quietly followed Tide Sis.

The Huanglan Library.

As a database unique to Huanglong, it contained all the important information within its region. It was a secret place whose access permissions lay solely in the hands of the local Magistrate.

Ling An trailed far behind Tide Sis, following her through turn after turn. After an elevator ride, the doors of the Huanglan Library finally appeared before him.

Had Jinhsi not provided the location in advance, probably no one besides her and the Sentinel could have found the Huanglan Library so easily.

Tide Sis approached the entrance alone and disappeared through the doors.

Seeing the doors slowly closing, Ling An did not rush forward.

He hid in the shadows and waited.

Sure enough, a man's red-clad figure flashed through the entrance.

It was Scar.

He had indeed followed her inside.

At the last instant before the doors closed, Ling An moved, slipping nimbly inside.

The mantis stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it.

Scar probably had no idea Ling An was following him, too.

A grand interior greeted his eyes.

A platform stood over the water, surrounded on all four sides by closed doors.

The Huanglan Library held information on everything and occupied an immense space. This was merely its outer section.

The truly important material was all in its inner core.

Ling An saw Tide Sis standing on the platform, rubbing her chin in thought.

She muttered to herself, "Looks like I'll have to solve these mechanisms to open a passage to the inner core."

She soon got to work.

To Ling An's surprise, Tide Sis was neither the brute nor the lovable idiot he had imagined her to be.

She quickly found a solution, opening one door after another in search of clues.

As an overpowered protagonist, she excelled not only in combat but in intelligence as well.

Ling An couldn't help thinking that he had been underestimating her all along.

Tide Sis was strong. Ling An had always known that.

It was just that she had always shown him a different side of herself, one without the slightest aggression.

Now that he was truly watching from the sidelines, he understood more clearly just how much weight the words "overpowered protagonist" carried.

Unbeatable strength, exceptional intelligence.

Though she had lost her memories, the way she acted now was probably her true personality.

While Tide Sis solved the mechanisms, Ling An searched for Scar.

Unfortunately, Scar's ability to conceal himself was simply too good.

Aside from that first glimpse, Ling An hadn't caught sight of him again.

Suddenly, the click of a mechanism echoed through the chamber.

The passage directly ahead slowly opened.

In less than ten minutes, Tide Sis had solved the mechanisms.

The passage connected, revealing the long corridor leading to the inner core.

Tide Sis put on an excellent performance, acting from beginning to end as though she had no idea Scar was there.

She stepped into the corridor.

At the same time, messages arrived on the Terminal.

Magistrate Jinhsi: "This is Jinhsi. We're currently using the Terminal's local communication function, so there's no need to worry about Scar noticing anything."

Sanhua: "I'm here."

Tide Sis: "Understood."

Magistrate Jinhsi: "The operation to capture Scar officially begins now. Let's confirm the plan here. Rover, once we confirm that Scar has entered the Huanglan Library's inner core with you, I'll close the doors. Then we'll move in together."

Tide Sis: "Understood."

Magistrate Jinhsi: "Good. Finally, let's confirm in order by replying 'Acknowledged.' I'll start."

Magistrate Jinhsi: "Acknowledged."

Sanhua: "Acknowledged."

Tide Sis: "Acknowledged."

Ling An: "Apprenticed."

Magistrate Jinhsi: "?"

Sanhua: "..."

Tide Sis: "!!!"

"Ling An recalled a message."