The girl in a suit and pencil skirt stood nervously at the door of Office 207, peering inside anxiously while repeatedly clenching her fingers.
” Phew… First day reporting for duty… So nervous… How should I introduce myself without seeming too forward…”
Senya Krejji had been recommended to the Tribunal as an outstanding police officer.
Her excellence showed in many ways. First, she was young enough—sixteen years old. Second, her performance was exceptional—she had led the investigation and cracking of multiple major criminal cases. Finally, her talent was outstanding—her formidable tolerance for beast medicine.
Acquiring a complete extraordinary ability was extremely difficult. For ordinary people wanting to step into the supernatural world, without sufficient luck, they could only take risks by consuming mutated biological tissues infused with supernatural power.
These mutated tissues were made into powders, ointments, injections, and so on, originally used to feed animals to promote mutation and create powerful cadavers, hence called “beast medicine.”
Humans who consumed beast medicine could gain minor supernatural enhancements, but the cost was unpredictable toxins—many died on the spot.
Reducing toxicity and purifying it was possible with current technology, but the cost was beyond what ordinary people could afford. Only through ancient methods—roasting, sun-drying, filtering, and processing—could the toxicity be slightly alleviated.
Senya had been lucky. After taking the medicine continuously for a year, she hadn’t died from organ failure or brain damage. Her worst episode was a week-long feverish coma, but she had pulled through.
The dream of rising above others had always motivated her. Though gifted, she had endured hardships and fought her way out from countless competitors to finally arrive at the sacred hall of her dreams—the Tribunal!
However, the scene before her was completely different from what she had imagined. There wasn’t the slightest tense atmosphere.
In the office, the potted bamboos and succulents were well-cared for. Two or three office drones hunched over their desks working… What kind of place was this exactly!
Just as she thought she had gone to the wrong office, a blue-haired loli walked up to her and tilted up an excessively pretty little face.
Ah, whose child was this? Too beautiful…
Senya bent down on one knee, supporting herself with her hand. As her body leaned forward, her heavy breasts pressed against the white suit, the fabric bulging taut, the buttons seeming ready to pop at any moment. Her round face broke into a smile as she asked gently:
“Little sister, do you need any help?”
The loli kept a straight face and said in a childish yet pleasant voice:
“One-Star Investigator Senya Krejji, listen up. I’m your superior, Inspector Ashley.”
Eh? Eh!
Senya’s expression froze in extreme shock, leaving her stunned like a wooden chicken.
It wasn’t until she saw the little loli call out the team by name and the entire Seventh Group obey the command as if it were the most natural thing that she suddenly realized this petite loli was truly a Tribunal cadre, a Three-Star Inspector!
An unprecedented wave of jealousy stuck in her throat, making it hard to breathe.
Hmph, probably some big shot’s daughter. The Seventh Group was just a toy gifted to her by her elders.
Senya thought resentfully, clenching her knuckles. She mused further: With my talent, if our positions were swapped, I absolutely wouldn’t lose to her!
However, she couldn’t show these emotions, or it would be a lapse in composure.
Senya smoothed her linen-colored hair with both hands, her mind calming as she ran her fingers through it.
The blue-haired loli looked utterly carefree, wearing loose elephant socks, arms crossed as she leaned against the doorframe, mumbling:
“Never thought that on the first day back at work, I’d run into a mission. And it’s a supernatural incident with a victim. Such a hassle… Hey, newbie, go buy me some breakfast. Three pepper-salt soda crackers, extra garlic, with honey mustard sauce, and a cup of boiled candied fruit—make sure it has raisins, raspberries, and apricots.”
Me?
A crack immediately appeared in Senya’s freshly stabilized mindset—a big shot’s daughter was indeed spoiled, treating the newbie like a servant. So infuriating!
Indignation made her body tense all over, but she held it back and complied, hurrying toward the door.
When she returned, she handed the steaming takeout bag to that detestable blue-haired loli.
The loli fished out a 20-pound coin from her wallet and shoved it at her.
“20 pounds?” Seeing the shiny gold color, Senya froze.
“It’s your tip,” the loli said casually.
A tip equivalent to a month’s wages!
Senya’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her resentment and grievances vanished in an instant, her heart surging with indescribable emotions.
Ashley narrowed her eyes, hiding the mischievous laughter in them. Hehe, I’d read your file, poor girl. 20 pounds leaves you breathless—wonder how you’d fare with 100?
A little obedience training while waiting for the Little Doctor. Quite amusing.
Not long after, Yinsu Helin arrived.
Time to head out.
They were bringing her along for the autopsy.
Logistics staff Everly and the still-recovering Claire stayed at the office. Amber, the Little Doctor, Roy, and Senya followed Ashley out of Whitehall.
The crime scene was in a satellite town of Fountain City, Card Court Town to the southeast.
Card Court was the most important water transport hub in the area, situated on the banks of the Bailuo River, which ran east-west.
Two hours later, the new Seventh Group left the station and walked along the riverbank into a town shrouded in damp mist.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of fish catches, especially the smells of river mussels and snails.
The streets bustled with people. Countless feet trampled the brick-paved road, squeezing stinking mud from the cracks like intermittent springs.
At a glance, the large ships moored along the shore towered higher than the town’s rooftops.
Cargo ships carried goods from upstream towns—spices, salted meat, salt, candles… Their waterlines sat deep.
Passenger steamers were three-story wooden behemoths. Travelers from afar dragged their suitcases across gangplanks extending to the shore. Porters and carriage drivers clogged the intersections, hawking their services.
Some special passenger ships had vibrant curtains half-drawn, embroidered with floral patterns—roses, tulips, Persian pear blossoms—clustering around ukiyo-e style seductive girls with tall coiffures adorned with flower hairpins, drunken eyes, moon-like faces, graceful figures, and alluring charm.
The special trade was illegal in Union City, but the law only applied within the city limits, so it was perfectly legal on the river.
This also proved from the side that Card Court wasn’t in the Isolated Lands—Union City had a police station here.
–
Riverside Road.
Inspector Chasel paced anxiously back and forth in front of Egret House.
When he spotted the Seventh Group approaching from down the street, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, his expression easing.
“Inspector Ashley, we’ve surveyed the scene. The kitchen and utensils are all props—no signs of use. Our investigation found no central kitchen supplying pre-made dishes either. Strangely, diners rave about ‘Egret House’ and willingly pay top dollar for the priciest set meals. If not for the death, I’d think it was some new money-laundering scheme…”
After hearing the inspector’s report, Ashley nodded slightly, crossed the caution tape, and went to examine the body.
From the smile frozen on the deceased’s face, it was clear he had experienced some kind of satisfaction before death—or hallucination, or brain-endorphins.
Shining a flashlight, the beam passed through the still-writhing mutated eyeball and tongue, revealing the inner skull wall. Clearly, the brain matter had turned to something like mochi.
Yinsu Helin knelt halfway on the ground, bird-beak mask on her head, taking samples for testing.
Ashley flipped through the interrogation records, murmuring to herself:
“The deceased was calling for a fourth serving, but no one booked a fourth. Looks like that’s the death line—they deliberately don’t let guests have a fourth. Clearly, the restaurant owner isn’t killing for murder’s sake, but to have guests consume something suspicious without raising alarms, as discreetly as possible. Just for money? A set meal is 5-10 pounds, but for extraordinaries, that’s chump change…”
Vice-captain Roy shifted his steps, observing the supernatural fluctuations in the room, and said somewhat awkwardly:
“…Captain, aside from these snail shells, no other supernatural traces.”
Ashley bent down and picked up a snail shell marked with chalk beside the body. Peering into the opening, she saw a black shadow deep inside. When she shook it gently, it swayed like flowing water. Suddenly, a pair of eyes emerged from the shadow!
