The Demon Suppression Bureau

Across Jiangcheng.

The Paranormal Bureau's awakened were still working through the night.

They cleared away the Weirds' remains, searched for trapped citizens, comforted the frightened crowds, and repaired damaged buildings.

Chen Feng led Team C through the alleys of the old district, using the Detector to check every spot where residual Weird energy might remain.

Fang Rou led Group B in setting up temporary shelters near the old hospital site, providing refuge for citizens who had lost their homes.

Zhou Yan had been assigned to the logistics team, responsible for moving supplies.

Though his back ached from exhaustion, he kept muttering things like "Little Lin is fucking awesome" and "My bro really is someone I can lean on," making Li Tong roll her eyes beside him.

Meanwhile, Su Qianxue led Group A on patrol around People's Square.

She looked up at the night sky from time to time, that figure replaying in her mind.

His backward glance before stepping into the rift.

Those words: "I never do anything I'm not confident about."

And that imposing, majestic figure a hundred meters tall that had flashed within the rift.

And...

The moment she had rushed forward and hugged him, as if possessed.

At the thought, Su Qianxue blushed again.

"Leader?" Chen Mo's voice came from beside her. "Why is your face so red? Are you hurt?"

"N-no!" Su Qianxue hurriedly turned her face away. "I'm probably just too tired. It's only sweat."

Chen Mo gave her a suspicious look but knew better than to press.

He merely muttered inwardly, Sweating until her whole face turns red? Our leader has a pretty unusual constitution...

Three in the morning.

Jiangcheng's streets finally fell quiet.

The Weird aura had completely dissipated, leaving only empty, silent streets.

The Paranormal Bureau's awakened returned one after another and began writing their mission reports.

And once again, Lin Jin's name was entered in an update to the Paranormal Bureau's files.

But not as a suspicious individual, nor as a person of particular interest.

Instead, as...

Jiangcheng's guardian.

Nine the next morning.

Sunlight streamed into the room through a gap in the curtains. Lying in bed, Lin Jin slowly opened his eyes.

He got up and was about to wash when he suddenly sensed three auras approaching.

Two were familiar.

Su Qianxue, at the peak of the Source Energy Stage.

Chen Zhenshan, in the middle of the Domain Realm.

And one unfamiliar aura.

It was also in the Domain Realm, but stronger than Chen Zhenshan's, faintly touching the threshold of the Domain Realm's peak.

A thoughtful look flickered in Lin Jin's eyes.

Soon, a knock sounded.

Knock, knock, knock.

Lin Jin walked over and opened the door.

Three people stood outside.

Chen Zhenshan stood on the left. He wore casual clothes today, but he still could not conceal the air of someone long accustomed to authority.

Su Qianxue stood on the right, having changed into a clean white shirt and jeans. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, and she looked much softer than she had last night.

Only a trace of exhaustion remained beneath her eyes; clearly, she had not slept all night.

The man standing in the middle looked a little over forty, with stern features and a sharp gaze. Dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit, he had an aura as steady as a mountain.

His gaze settled on Lin Jin, a trace of appraisal flashing in his eyes before quickly giving way to a smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Lin," Chen Zhenshan spoke first, his tone even more respectful than last night. "Please forgive us for calling unannounced."

Lin Jin nodded slightly and stepped aside. "Come in."

The three entered the room.

The room was small, containing only a bed, a table, and a chair. It was so spartan that it hardly looked like the home of a powerful fighter capable of instantly killing an S-Rank Weird.

The middle-aged man's gaze swept across the room. Surprise flickered in his eyes, but they quickly grew calm again.

"Mr. Lin, allow me to introduce him," Chen Zhenshan said first, looking at the middle-aged man beside him. "This is Wang Zhenshan, leader of the Demon Suppression Bureau's Central China Region Special Operations Group."

The Demon Suppression Bureau.

Something stirred in Lin Jin's mind.

Su Qianxue had mentioned before that the Demon Suppression Bureau was an official agency like the Paranormal Bureau, overseeing supernatural incidents nationwide, with a scope far beyond the Paranormal Bureau's.

He nodded in greeting.

Wang Zhenshan did not mind Lin Jin's coolness. Instead, a trace of appreciation flashed in his eyes.

"Mr. Lin, I've already heard about what happened last night," he began, his voice steady and forceful. "An S-Rank Weird Domain descended, and an S-Rank Weird appeared, yet you slew it single-handedly. That strength puts you firmly among the very best of the younger generation nationwide."

Lin Jin said nothing, merely watching him.

Wang Zhenshan continued, "We've come today for three main reasons."

"First, on behalf of the Demon Suppression Bureau, I thank you for stepping in to save Jiangcheng last night." He paused. "Our reinforcements had already set out last night, but they were still a step too late. If not for you, Jiangcheng would probably already be..."

He did not finish, but his meaning was clear.

"Second, we've come to deliver the compensation you deserve, Mr. Lin."

He stepped aside, making room for Su Qianxue behind him.

Su Qianxue stepped forward, holding a document envelope and an exquisite wooden box.

"Lin Jin, these are the thank-you gifts the Paranormal Bureau and Jiangcheng's authorities prepared for you." She opened the envelope and took out a document and a bank card. "This is the property deed for a villa in the Purple Garden Villa District on Jiangcheng's eastern outskirts. It's a detached house with its own courtyard and cultivation room, and it's already been transferred into your name."

She then opened the wooden box. Inside was a black bank card.

"This card has fifty million in it. There's no PIN, and you can withdraw the money anytime."

Fifty million.

Plus a villa.

As Lin Jin looked at those things, a flicker finally appeared in his eyes.

He remembered his years in the Hokage World.

He had lived in caves, slept on tree branches, and used enemy corpses as pillows on the battlefield.

Even now, he lived in nothing more than a cramped rented room.

Now, someone was giving him a villa.

And fifty million.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he accepted the gifts.

"Thank you. I'll accept them."

Beside him, Chen Zhenshan breathed a sigh of relief.

He had feared that a powerful fighter like Lin Jin might be too aloof to care for such worldly things.

Now it seemed that although his strength was terrifying, he was not difficult to deal with.

Watching Lin Jin accept the gifts, Su Qianxue could not help chuckling.

"I thought you'd say, 'No need.'"

Lin Jin glanced at her and said casually.

"I've fought wars my whole life. Can't I enjoy myself a little?"

Su Qianxue froze for a moment, not understanding what he meant, but her smile grew brighter.

Coming from his mouth, those words sounded incongruous no matter how she heard them.

Yet somehow, a little cute?

She hurriedly suppressed the thought.

Watching this, a trace of amusement flashed in Wang Zhenshan's eyes.

Then he spoke, revealing his true reason for coming.

"Mr. Lin, the third matter is a personal idea of mine."

He looked at Lin Jin, his tone sincere.

"With your strength, it would be such a waste to remain in a small city like Jiangcheng."

"Our Demon Suppression Bureau oversees supernatural incidents across the country. We deal with more than just Weirds: the reawakening of ancient beings, demons wreaking havoc, exploration of hidden realms, invasions from other worlds..."

"Every one of those is more dangerous than last night's S-Rank Weird Domain, and more thrilling."

"If you're willing to join the Demon Suppression Bureau, I can give you a Central China Region S-rank captain's position directly, with generous benefits and extremely high clearance. You'll be able to mobilize all the Demon Suppression Bureau's resources in the Central China Region."

He paused, his gaze burning as he looked at Lin Jin.

"With your strength, staying in Jiangcheng means dealing with a few A-Rank Weirds at most. Even the occasional S-rank encounter counts as a major incident."

"But if you join the Demon Suppression Bureau, you can see a wider world, face stronger enemies, and reach a higher realm."

"What do you say? Will you consider it?"