The Eighth Ring Police Station, located at the pinnacle of the Eighth Ring District, was in utter chaos. Officers were hauling in members of the Crocodile Gate or Fire Gate one after another, amidst a cacophony of shouting and cursing.

"Sis, I still can't reach my brother... I have to go back!"

In the detention room, Chen Xin's brows were tightly knitted.

"It's been two days since I last spoke to him! He shot Wu Jinlu's only son five times..."

"Don't rush,"

Chen Shaoyan leaned back in her chair, her petite figure making her look like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old, despite being twenty-five. Yet, her expression was unusually calm.

"Now that he's at the Giant Academy, as long as the Crocodile Gate isn't insane, they won't touch him."

"What if he's in danger..."

"Don't worry."

"Sis!" Chen Xin was getting anxious. "Who can guarantee that?"

"I can." A deep voice suddenly echoed.

Chen Xin turned sharply to see a burly middle-aged man with muscles and a half-mask, radiating a strong aura.

"Who are you...?" Chen Xin's expression changed.

"Master of the Fire Gate,"

Chen Shaoyan chewed her bubble gum without standing.

The newcomer was none other than Li Dongyun, the Fire Gate's enforcer.

"You must be Chen Xin. Shaoyan mentioned you," Li Dongyun said, patting Chen Xin's shoulder. "Senior police officer... it's quite an honor. A talent like you should be promoted by at least three levels... don't you think, Chief?"

The rotund Chief squeezed through the doorframe, nearly getting stuck.

"Three levels? That's too few; let's say five."

The Chief grinned.

"A senior officer promoted five levels would be a detective, sergeant, senior sergeant, inspector... ah, that makes you a senior inspector."

As he spoke, the Chief ripped the badge from Chen Xin's chest and replaced it with a gold-and-blue eagle medal.

In Great City, reaching inspector level meant you no longer wore a badge.

Chen Xin was completely stunned; he knew the inspector was his direct superior's superior— that dreaded woman was an inspector!

And now... he was one too??

He was at a loss but quickly regained his composure, stammering:

"Chief, Mr. Li..."

"No need to be nervous," Li Dongyun smiled. "Chen, you're Shaoyan's brother, which makes you my brother too. I've arranged for two elite protectors from the Fire Gate, so don't worry."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Elite protectors, as the name suggested, were typically the strongest in underground organizations, second only to the enforcers.

"T-thank you, Mr. Li!" Chen Xin swallowed hard.

Li Dongyun didn't linger and left the detention room with the Chief.

Before departing, the Chief seemed to remember something, turning back to Chen Xin:

"Oh, by the way, a new regulation was just issued—there's going to be a program for caring for the disabled... Our inspectors and senior inspectors must look after disabled individuals."

He paused, patting his belly:

"I've preassigned you a case: an eleven-year-old child with heterochromia and leg disabilities. You'll need to take that child home... Senior inspectors get a villa, so just complete the paperwork and move."

"Thank you, Chief, thank you!" Chen Xin nodded vigorously.

Once the two big shots left, he collapsed into a chair, bewildered:

"Big Sis, what just happened?"

Chen Shaoyan peeled the popped bubble gum off her face, looking down, her expression blank:

"The Giant Academy's status is higher than we imagined; just being an assistant instructor is already quite prestigious."

Chen Xin was initially silent, but then joy surged within him, feeling like this was all surreal, like a dream.

Chen Shaoyan, however, sighed softly, a hint of sorrow in her voice.

"The higher you stand, the stronger the wind blows."

"That can be deadly." She closed her eyes, whispering.

……

At this moment, in Building 47, Room 208.

"Old... Council?" Chen Xiang muttered, his hairs standing on end.

"Yes, the Old Council... looks like you've heard of it," Wei Qingqiu lounged lazily on the sofa.

"Chen Warrior, no matter how evil or terrifying you think the Old Council is, you can rest assured, we're the good guys."

Evil? Terrifying?

Chen Xiang's eyelids twitched.

Wei Qingqiu sat up straight, her brows slightly furrowed:

"Those rumors are just slander; the Old Council isn't an evil cult."

Chen Xiang took a step back.

Wei Qingqiu's frown deepened:

"Rest assured, people from the Old Council don't eat human brains or hearts, nor do they enjoy roasting babies alive; those rumors are false."

Chen Xiang retreated again, until he hit the wall and had no place left to go, forcing a dry smile:

"To be honest, I haven't heard those rumors..."

"Then what about you?"

"What you're saying is quite scary."

Wei Qingqiu was speechless, covering her head, and after a moment finally spoke:

"So, warrior, would you like to join the Old Council?"

Chen Xiang lowered his gaze, his mind racing. The Old Council...

He recalled that visualization and the token.

"Although I don't know what the Old Council is, it sounds impressive... What could a nobody like me have that caught their attention? They want to invite me?"

With that, Chen Xiang took a deep breath, quietly gathering his strength.

Wei Qingqiu pondered for a moment before replying:

"Black Flame, Abyssal Black Flame."

Chen Xiang was taken aback:

"You... saw it?"

"I'm not blind," Wei Qingqiu rolled her eyes elegantly. "You must be favored by the Lord of the Abyss, but that favor isn't necessarily a good thing."

"What do you mean?" Chen Xiang asked, his expression serious as he sought guidance.

Wei Qingqiu explained simply:

"Those favored by the Lord of the Abyss can wield the Black Flame and become His avatar on Earth. Every time you kill a being with the Black Flame, it will drain that being's essence and spirit as a sacrifice to the Lord of the Abyss..."

Pausing for a moment, she warned seriously:

"While you gain immense power from the Black Flame, it's not a blessing. The Black Flame belongs to the Lord of the Abyss, and in turn, you belong to Him. When He grows tired of you and reclaims the Black Flame, you will be the last sacrifice..."

"And remember, never expose the existence of the Black Flame lightly! Aside from the Abyssal Cult, other believers will see you as a demon... and you will die!"

"One more thing: although the Black Flame is from the realm of the extraordinary, you're still too weak. Even if you master it, you must act cautiously. A being at the third level of the Mystic Arts could easily kill you before you could burn them to death!"

Chen Xiang listened carefully, his brows tightly knitted, yet his mind was racing.

The Black Flame drains essence and spirit to offer to the Lord of the Abyss...

But the problem is, the essence and spirit taken by the Black Flame clearly belong to him!

He recalled that phrase he had heard, "Authority Completion," and suddenly had an absurd thought.

Could it be that he had taken the authority of the Black Flame from the Lord of the Abyss...?

No, it shouldn't be a complete takeover; it should only be a partial one!

Chen Xiang didn't understand who the Lord of the Abyss was, nor did he know what it meant to have taken partial authority from Him.

After contemplating for a long time, he raised his head to meet the gaze of the silver-haired girl:

"What benefits do I get from joining the Old Council?"