"Can you tell me now?"
Once Sister Zhang, the housekeeper, had left as well, Gu Haiming turned back to Xia Xu.
"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Xia Xu. I'm a temporary consultant for the Special Department, responsible for assisting with the current Bat Beastmen incident in De City."
Xia Xu introduced himself with a smile, then added, "Oh, and incidentally, there was a Werewolf Incident in Star City a while ago. I handled that too."
"The Special Department? You're with the authorities?"
A distant, almost otherworldly look flickered through Gu Haiming's eyes. "The authorities have already discovered the existence of werewolves?"
"Of course. The authorities have now established the Special Events Processing Department, or Special Department for short, specifically to deal with crises involving beastmen and the like."
Xia Xu explained with a smile, then continued, "But I'm not actually with the authorities. I'm only helping as a temporary consultant, and I haven't come here on their behalf this time."
"Then, Mr. Xia, what do you want with a mentally ill old man like me?"
Gu Haiming's attitude still could not be called friendly, but his earlier, obvious hostility was gone.
The authorities' seal of approval certainly came in handy.
Anyone the authorities hired or worked with would at least have a relatively clean background. Combined with Xia Xu's handling of both the werewolf and Bat-Man incidents, that made him less likely to be one of Andra's lackeys.
"To invite you to join me, of course, Old Master Gu. You're hardly an ordinary old man."
Gu Haiming's reactions had left Xia Xu about eighty percent certain of his conjecture. He spoke with greater ease and confidence, a smile spreading across his face.
"Are you inviting me to a nursing home? Or a psychiatric hospital?"
Gu Haiming gave