"On the surface, the Paranormal Bureau is the official agency that handles supernatural incidents and maintains order. Besides the Paranormal Bureau, there's another official organization, the Demon Suppression Bureau. However, their functions differ."
"In reality, though, more powerful forces are involved in both the Paranormal Bureau and the Demon Suppression Bureau."
"Those forces are the Zhao Clan, Su Clan, Tuoba Clan, and Wang Clan, the four top clans of Capital City."
"Each clan has a history of at least a thousand years, with unfathomable reserves. Each has at least one or two Transcendent Stage Realm experts holding the fort, and some even have ancestors in the half-step divine domain hidden away."
Lin Jin's gaze shifted slightly.
The Transcendent Stage Realm corresponded to the Super Kage Level in the Hokage World.
The half-step divine domain corresponded to the entry level of the Six Paths tier.
This world's ceiling was somewhat higher than he had expected.
"There are quite a few lesser clans, too. The Li, Zhang, Lu, and Shen clans are somewhat weaker, but each still has experts at the peak of the Domain Realm or a Transcendent Level expert holding the fort," Su Qianxue continued. "These clans control vast amounts of resources for training awakened individuals, as well as inherited cultivation methods. Many of the Paranormal Bureau's experts actually come from these families."
"What about you?" Lin Jin asked. "You must be one of them, too, right?"
Su Qianxue froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.
"I'm from the Su Clan, one of Capital City's four top clans."
Lin Jin looked at her without speaking.
He had already vaguely sensed that Su Qianxue had a bearing unlike that of ordinary awakened individuals.
The composure and confidence that came from deep within her weren't something a modest family could cultivate.
"I'm a direct descendant of the Su Clan," Su Qianxue lowered her head, looking at the coffee before her, "but I'm also a bargaining chip for them."
A bargaining chip.
The phrase made Lin Jin frown slightly.
"The children of great clans might seem to enjoy boundless glory, but they can't control their own destinies either, especially the women." Su Qianxue's tone was calm, but her fingers around the coffee cup turned slightly white.
"My family arranged a marriage alliance for me to ensure the clan's continued prosperity. The other party is the eldest son of the Zhao Clan's main line. I hear he's an exceptional prodigy, too, and is suspected to be the Zhao Clan's Bloodline Inheritor."
"I refused. To escape my family's pressure, I volunteered for a transfer to this remote city, Jiangcheng, to make my own way. All I wanted was the strength to stand against them."
"The chances might be slim, but even if there's only a sliver of hope, I'm unwilling to yield to a fate arranged for me."
After finishing, she realized she had said too much and lowered her head in embarrassment.
"Doesn't it sound terribly melodramatic?"
"Sorry. I shouldn't have told you all this."
Looking at her, Lin Jin suddenly said, "Once you're strong enough, no one can dictate your thoughts."
Su Qianxue froze.
She raised her head and met Lin Jin's calm eyes.
There was no sympathy or pity in those eyes, only certainty.
As though he were stating something perfectly obvious.
For some reason, her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly looked away.
"Let's not talk about that." She cleared her throat and returned to business. "Besides the clans, there's another force you need to know about."
"Blood Momentum!"
Lin Jin's attention returned to the conversation.
"Blood Momentum, whose full name is the Blood Pact, is a mysterious organization made up of twelve Bloodline Inheritors."
Su Qianxue continued, "No one knows their true identities, and no one has seen their real faces."
"They act both righteously and wickedly. Sometimes they save civilians tormented by supernatural entities, and sometimes they slaughter entire nests of them. They also have cooperative ties with the Dark Moon Organization, but sometimes cooperate with the authorities as well. They simply never reveal their true identities."
"Their code names run from Blood One to Blood Twelve, ranked by strength. One is the strongest, and Twelve is the weakest."
"But even Twelve, the weakest, is said to possess Domain Realm strength."
Su Qianxue looked at Lin Jin.
"By now, you've probably come to the attention of some forces as well. Dark Moon thinks you're a Bloodline Inheritor, and Blood Momentum might take notice of you, too. As for the clans..."
She paused.
"If they learn of your existence, they'll either try to recruit you or possibly resort to other measures."
After listening, Lin Jin picked up his coffee and took a sip.
"Understood."
Just that one simple word.
Su Qianxue couldn't help asking, "Aren't you worried?"
"About what?"
"Having so many forces watching you."
Lin Jin set down his coffee cup and looked out the window.
"I'll deal with whatever comes."
"Just because I don't seek trouble doesn't mean I'm afraid of it!"
Su Qianxue froze for a moment.
He really is confident!
Still, it certainly suits his personality.
"In any case," she said earnestly, "if you need help, come to me anytime. The Paranormal Bureau might not measure up to those clans, but it's still an official agency. I can offer you some protection."
Lin Jin turned to her. "Can I take that to mean you're worried about me?"
Su Qianxue flushed slightly, but quickly returned to normal.
"Of course. You've helped our Paranormal Bureau so many times, after all. You're our partner. Besides..." She paused. "You're one of the few friends I have in Jiangcheng."
A friend.
Lin Jin looked at her, a faint ripple stirring in his gaze.
"All right." He nodded. "I'll come to you if I need anything."
Su Qianxue smiled.
They sat for a while longer, chatting about everyday matters at the Paranormal Bureau.
Su Qianxue told him that supernatural activity around Jiangcheng had been increasing lately, and they suspected it was connected to Dark Moon's activities.
Lin Jin said he could step in if needed, but the usual rule applied: extra pay!
Su Qianxue laughingly called him money-obsessed, yet for some reason, she felt reassured.
After leaving the café, Lin Jin walked back.
Dark Moon, the clans, Blood Momentum.
The undercurrents of this world were fiercer than he had imagined.
But he wasn't afraid.
In the Hokage World, he had lived through the Shinobi World War, faced Akatsuki, and ultimately fought a decisive battle against the God of Ōtsutsuki.
Which of those enemies hadn't been stronger than these so-called clans and organizations?
As for those who set their sights on him...
A trace of scarlet flashed through Lin Jin's eyes.
If one came, he would kill one.
If two came, he would kill them both.
Meanwhile, at the Su Clan in Capital City.
Deep within an old-fashioned courtyard residence, a middle-aged man sat in a grand armchair in the study, holding an intelligence report that had just arrived.
"Jiangcheng... Lin Jin."
He murmured the name, frowning slightly.
The report detailed all of Lin Jin's actions in Jiangcheng: instantly killing a C-rank Shadow Wraith in an alley, dispelling an illusion at the Paranormal Bureau's medical facility, instantly killing a B-rank Skin-Shedding Ghost outside a school, and, last night, two Source Energy Stage Dark Moon members coming to his door before dying mysteriously.
There was one final line: suspected Bloodline Inheritor. Strength unfathomable. Close attention recommended.
The middle-aged man set down the report and looked at the butler standing beside him.
"That girl Qianxue has been getting quite close to this man lately?"
The butler bowed. "Yes. The young lady has met with him several times and once invited him to dine alone with her. According to reports, the two seem to be on good terms."
The middle-aged man fell silent for a while.
"Understood." He waved a hand. "Keep watching. Don't alert them for now."
The butler withdrew.
The middle-aged man was left alone in the study.
He stood, walked to the window, and gazed at the old pagoda tree in the courtyard.
"A Bloodline Inheritor..." he murmured. "If this man can truly develop, perhaps..."
He didn't continue, but a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.
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