"Wearing a mask, blood-red eyes, attacks that can phase through the body, and a vortex that distorts space..."
After hearing Jane's description of the attacker, Zhao Anmen fell into deep thought.
From the physical description alone, the person Jane mentioned definitely didn't resemble the Uchiha, yet the abilities displayed were unmistakably Uchiha-like.
This left Zhao Anmen puzzled. Could it be that the person abandoned their previous image and specially adopted a new one for public appearances?
As for what the Uchiha might be thinking, Zhao Anmen couldn't begin to guess. But he knew clearly: once anything involved the Uchiha, the best choice was to drop the investigation.
Otherwise, if they angered that god of slaughter, the fate of the New Eridu Public Security Bureau might end up the same as the Red Fang Gang and Mountain Lion Gang.
Besides, their operation hadn't exactly failed. It's just that all the survivors had been killed, making it a bit tricky to explain to their superiors.
However, as long as the Mountain Lion Gang's activities vanished from the map, the higher-ups likely wouldn't say much.
"That's all for the description. Zhu Yuan, Qing Yi, you two take her to the hospital for treatment first. After that, bring her back to the bureau for a more detailed statement and analysis." After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Anmen gave the order.
At that moment, Shi—his hands and legs shackled—moved closer and deliberately lowered his voice, saying, "'Aka, don't tell me you actually know who that guy is? For you to give up the investigation so quickly… does it have something to do with you?'"
As a former Shadow, Shi understood Zhao Anmen's character very well and knew he wouldn't give such an order without a good reason.
To this, Zhao Anmen simply cast him a glance and responded calmly, "Murasaki and Ao are dead. They were killed by him. There were seven Shadows present at the time, and I was the one who risked everything to get the remaining five out. Otherwise, not a single one of them would've escaped."
Zhao Anmen, having personally witnessed Uchiha cut down the Dead End Butcher in a single stroke, held him in deep dread. Precisely because of that, he understood one truth clearly: someone like Uchiha is absolutely not someone you want as an enemy.
If unnecessary, it's better not to invite trouble.
"That strong? No wonder everyone in the organization turned into turtles hiding in their shells. I thought they were just scared of the Public Security Bureau." Hearing Zhao Anmen's description, Shi curled his lips into a smile, teasing.
Seems like a lot had really happened outside while he was locked up.
...
A few days after the Mountain Lion Gang was completely wiped out by Zhong Yan—
The operation by the Public Security Bureau could be considered a success. Although it didn't achieve the original objective, the Mountain Lion Gang would never again be able to orchestrate any large-scale actions.
That afternoon, Zhu Yuan and Qing Yi, having just gotten off duty, went to visit Jane who was still recovering in the hospital. Jane had already anticipated their visit and had prepared a sketch of Zhong Yan in advance.
"This is what that mysterious man looked like?" Qing Yi picked up the drawing and examined it for a while before arriving at a conclusion.
Jane's art skills were quite good.
"Is there any information on someone like this in the bureau's archives?" Zhu Yuan asked. The bureau's archives contained profiles on the majority of criminals and security officers in New Eridu.
Aside from classified documents, Qing Yi could access most of them through her personal database.
However, it was clear—she couldn't find anyone matching this description.
"Completely clueless. But the fact that he let Jane go after knowing she's with the Public Security Bureau shows he's not a bloodthirsty villain."
Qing Yi offered a simple analysis of Zhong Yan's character, then jokingly added, "As the saying goes, 'good is rewarded with good, evil with evil.' Doesn't that perfectly reflect what happened with Jane and the Mountain Lion Gang?"
Jane had been saved by that mysterious man just as she was about to be killed by the Mountain Lion Gang. On the other hand, the Mountain Lion Gang, who had committed countless crimes, was utterly slaughtered by the same man.
Calling it poetic justice didn't seem wrong at all.
However, Jane wasn't concerned with old sayings. All she wanted to know was who that man who saved her truly was.
From now on, she'd make it her goal to find out. Even if it took an enormous amount of time and energy, she would pursue it.
After all, everyone needs something to be obsessed with.
Meanwhile, completely unaware that he had become Jane's ultimate obsession, Zhong Yan had just returned home from school with a backpack on his shoulders. On the way, he'd picked up a scratch-off ticket from a newsstand.
Upon scratching it, he revealed the lowest-tier prize: three bones. While he could exchange it for a small reward, it wasn't even enough to make back the cost of the ticket.
Seeing this, Zhong Yan casually tossed it into a nearby bin. Inside, it was already filled to the brim with tickets showing three bones.
People always say luck won't be too bad, but compared to those folks who regularly scratch off three golden poops, it really was enough to make someone snap.
Fortunately, these petty losses didn't impact Zhong Yan's income. At most, they just messed with his mood.
As his fame continued to rise, his monthly manuscript fee had surged from one million Dennies to a staggering five million Dennies.
In just two months, a fivefold increase—and it hadn't even hit the ceiling yet.
If this trend continued, hitting ten million a month—or even a hundred million—wouldn't be a dream.
By then, buying a private island in the central city zone would be no big deal. Who'd want to keep diving into the Hollows every day? Wouldn't it be better to marry a few wives and enjoy life?
Just as Zhong Yan was fantasizing about his glorious future, his phone rang.
Of course, before enjoying the good life, he'd need to stack up enough Dennies—otherwise, it was all just a pipe dream.
With that thought, he picked up the phone and saw that Belle had messaged him.
[Belle: You there?]
[Zhong Yan: Yeah]
[Belle: Where?]
[Zhong Yan: At home]
After that bare-bones exchange, Belle finally revealed her true intention.
[Belle: My brother and I took a mission involving Hollow Zero]
[Belle: Actually, it's not really a mission. More like a long-term exploratory investigation surrounding Hollow Zero, under an official organization]
[Belle: Want to come? You are our personal agent, after all. You won't say no, right?]
[Belle: You... won't turn me down, will you?]
Belle's flood of messages left Zhong Yan momentarily frozen.
Hollow Zero. Phaethon. Official organization?
Are those three words even supposed to go together?