"All right, next I'll explain the rank classifications for Night Stars and mutants..."
"I know that."
"I know you know, but we still have to go through the procedure."
"..."
"First, the Night Stars. We're an official organization formed by the government, but because of our special nature, we don't live on military bases like other troops. Instead, we live among civilians like a civilian organization.
"Ordinary Night Stars are usually stationed in squads in a particular city, guarding the surrounding area against mutant invasions.
"But there's a serious problem: we're severely short-handed. An ordinary squad needs at least six people, and there are over a hundred cities in Great Xia.
"It's obviously unrealistic to station a Night Star squad in every city.
"Besides, the squads vary greatly in strength. Some are so strong they can even defeat Disaster-class mutants, while others are so weak their average level doesn't even reach High Rank.
"But mutants don't appear in cities with strong squads just because they themselves are powerful.
"That's why our Special Investigation Squad was created. Whenever we receive a case involving a suspected mutant, our duty is to go investigate immediately, no matter where it is in Great Xia.
"We report the mutant's strength and basic information to headquarters and let them dispatch a suitable squad. That's the whole of our job. In emergencies, we can also kill the mutant ourselves.
"But since we have no idea how strong a mutant is and don't even have any intelligence on it, the Special Investigation Squad has the highest death rate of any Night Star squad.
"We're the first ones to eat the crab. Although we light the road ahead for those who follow, we're also the ones most likely to step into the darkness."
Feng Xuan grew increasingly solemn. He picked up a cup of water beside him and took a hefty gulp.
"Talking that much in one breath wore me out."
"I knew I made the right choice! The Special Investigation Squad really is perfect for me!"
"Pfft-!" Feng Xuan sprayed out the mouthful of water he had just drunk, soaking Liu Xiaogang beside him.
Liu Xiaogang: ?!
"Cough, cough." Feng Xuan looked at Xing Lan and realized she was actually serious.
Wait, what?! Even if an ordinary person wasn't scared, they'd at least be shocked into silence for a while! Why was she getting excited again?
Feng Xuan sighed helplessly. It seemed he couldn't think of her as a normal person anymore, he thought to himself.
He then continued introducing the others to Xing Lan.
"Do you remember the person you nearly smothered to death? His name is Si Xiaobei. He's our squad's scout, responsible for locating enemies and surveying terrain.
"He's also a superpowered person. His ability is called Divine Detective. You can think of it as divine sense in cultivation. It has zero attack power, but it's very effective for scouting.
"That's why we usually take him along on missions. He's also very innocent and easy to get along with. Just don't accidentally hurt him again."
Xing Lan scratched her head awkwardly. "Uh... don't worry, it won't happen again."
"Next is the person Si Xiaobei's always clinging to."
"The one who brought me here, right?"
"Yes. His name is Nanming, and he's our vice captain. He's in charge of the squad when the captain isn't around.
"His ability..." Feng Xuan lowered his head and thought for a moment.
"Anyway, it's rather unusual. Just treat him like he doesn't have one."
"Hmm, what does that mean?" Xing Lan narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at Feng Xuan.
Her gaze made Feng Xuan uneasy. "Oh, don't ask so many questions. You'll find out for yourself when the time comes."
"Hehe, come on, tell me."
"No!"
"Tell me!"
"No..."
After pestering him for a while without success, Xing Lan had no choice but to give up.
"Ahem..." Liu Xiaogang, who had been sitting by the bed the whole time, suddenly cleared his throat twice. He looked at Xing Lan, then pointed toward the door.
Xing Lan looked toward the door and saw that Captain Sun Hai had appeared there at some point and was watching them.
"Captain!" Xing Lan immediately stood at attention and gave Sun Hai a proper military salute.
"No need for that. Come with me once you're ready." With that, he left. Not a trace of emotion showed on his face or in his voice the entire time.
"Uh, is he always like that?" Xing Lan looked at Feng Xuan and Liu Xiaogang.
The two nodded helplessly.
"The captain's always had that damned temper. He walks around with an ice-cold face all day, like someone owes him a million." Liu Xiaogang complained mercilessly, then glanced warily around. Only after confirming that the captain really had left did he relax.
"Liu Xiaogang's right. The captain really has been like that ever since he joined the Night Stars. I heard it has something to do with his childhood."
"Oh!" Shining stars immediately appeared in Xing Lan's eyes again.
"Did something tragic happen to him as a child?!"
"Yeah, you could say that."
"Wow! Hurry up and tell me!"
The corner of Feng Xuan's mouth twitched, but he slowly began.
"When the captain was little, his family was once attacked by a mutant..."
"And then his whole family died?!"
"Uh... no, his family was perfectly fine. It's just that the dog the captain had raised since he was little was killed."
"..."
Xing Lan sighed, a little disappointed.
"What the hell are you disappointed about?! That dog was with the captain throughout his entire childhood!
"Wait, do you really want the captain's family to be dead that badly?!" Liu Xiaogang, who was standing nearby, couldn't help speaking up.
Even Feng Xuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry at her reaction.
"Oh~ so then he joined the Night Stars."
"Yeah. The rest isn't much different from what an ordinary person would go through. All right, if you're ready, go find the captain first. He has a bad temper," Feng Xuan urged.
"Yeah, yeah, I know!" Xing Lan sat up listlessly on the bed, then slowly walked out the door.
Xing Lan sat in Sun Hai's car, glancing at him from time to time as he drove. She felt both excited and somewhat apprehensive.
The car went fast, and before long, it came to a stop.
Sun Hai got out of the car briskly, and Xing Lan followed. Looking at the apartment building in front of them, she was a little confused.
Sun Hai simply said, "Follow me," and strode inside.
Xing Lan slowly followed him.
They went down a corridor, took the elevator, and arrived on the seventh floor.
Without a word of unnecessary talk, Sun Hai led Xing Lan to the door of his home.
By this point, Xing Lan, following behind Sun Hai, also seemed to sense that something was wrong. A bad guess suddenly occurred to her, and her face turned red.
Sun Hai opened his door and went straight in. Less than five seconds later, he opened the door again, came out, and reached a hand toward Xing Lan.
Xing Lan watched Sun Hai's hand slowly approach, her face bright red as she shook her head repeatedly.
"Captain, this is moving way too fast! We've only known each other for less than half a day! Even if we became acquainted through a fight, we should at least talk a little more first. Even doujins don't move this fast..."
As Xing Lan watched, her face bright red, Sun Hai took her hand...
Then he placed Hela's hand in hers and stuffed a whole note into her hand.
"This has some things you need to know about her and some information. Read it yourself later." Then Sun Hai immediately retreated into the apartment. "Take good care of her," he said before promptly closing the door.
Xing Lan: (⁰▿⁰) Huh?
Hela: ⚆_⚆?