"Let's go, buddy, and bring back the last one that got away."

Zhang Zhibao donned the ring symbolizing his status as an investigator of the Secret Adjustment Bureau, then handed a directive to his partner:

"It's a civilian, suspected to be extraordinary, so be careful."

The other investigator looked at the directive, puzzled:

"This isn't an arrest order... It says to assist in the investigation?"

Zhang Zhibao chuckled:

"What's the difference?"

"True."

The two investigators boarded their hover car, submitted their flight plan to the air traffic authority, and after approval, headed towards the Eight Rings.

"Old, dirty sewers,"Zhang Zhibao remarked, fiddling with the positioning compass as they neared the Eight Rings.

...

At the Happy Orphanage.

"Silly Girl!"

Upon hearing the call, Silly Girl turned her head, her face lighting up with joy:

"Prime Minister Big Bro! Prime Minister Big Bro!"

She rushed forward but tripped over her shackles, landing face-first. Yet, she quickly got up, stretching her tiny hands forward, stumbling toward Chen Xiang.

He hurried to catch her, brushing off the dirt from her clothes and glancing at the ID badge reading ‘4537' on her chest. He softly asked:

"What are you doing here?"

Silly Girl sniffed:

"I was taken by bad people. They said Silly Girl is an orphan, but Silly Girl is not an orphan!"

Wei Qingqiu caught up and frowned at the shackles around Silly Girl's ankles:

"What's this...?"

Silly Girl tilted her head, gazing up at Wei Qingqiu, grinning foolishly:

"What a pretty big sister!"

"You little rascal."

Chen Xiang patted her head, then snapped the shackles apart, holding them up in front of her:

"What's going on with these?"

Silly Girl pouted unhappily:

"I wanted to find Prime Minister Big Bro, but they wouldn't let me, so they put this bad thing on me!"

Chen Xiang's expression darkened.

"Are you two here to adopt a child?"

A gentle voice called out. Chen Xiang looked up to see an elderly man with white hair walking out of the orphanage.

The old man smiled kindly, glancing at the broken shackles in Chen Xiang's hand, and said warmly:

"Our Happy Orphanage has suspended the adoption process. Please leave... 4537, come here to Grandpa."

Silly Girl's face fell, and she hid behind Chen Xiang, clutching his leg.

Chen Xiang stared at the old man:

"Who are you?"

"I'm the new director of Happy Orphanage. My last name is Wang, and I just started this morning."The old man extended his hand.

Chen Xiang didn't shake it, asking instead:

"Why is Silly Girl here? And what's up with these shackles?"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He raised the broken shackles.

Director Wang's smile remained:

"Sir, I may be new, but I've already reviewed all the children's records. As far as I know, 4537 has no relatives."

Pausing, he added slowly:

"If you still insist that you are 4537's relative, please provide proof of guardianship. Otherwise, I have reason to suspect you may be involved in human trafficking... I will call the police."

Chen Xiang fixed his gaze on the old man, enunciating each word:

"I'll ask you again, what's going on with these shackles?"

The smile vanished from Director Wang's face:

"4537 is very mischievous and likes to run outside, which is dangerous. This is a precautionary measure. You need not suspect us of child abuse; if we did, we wouldn't let 4537 play in the garden."

He paused, his gaze sharpening:

"Now, I ask you to state your identity again. I still have reason to suspect..."

"He should be here to pick me up."

A calm voice interrupted as the boy with golden and silver heterochromia in a wheelchair rolled forward, turning the wheels slowly.

"If I'm not mistaken."

Director Wang's expression shifted to one of realization:

"Oh, you must be Inspector Chen's brother! Inspector Chen informed us that his brother would come to pick up little Jerusalem."

As he spoke, the director moved behind the boy in the wheelchair, pushing him forward:

"I actually have a connection with this child. He was brought here just minutes after I started. He's quite charming, and I hope Mr. Chen will treat him well; he's a good kid."

Chen Xiang's expression softened a bit, and he nodded amicably at Jerusalem, who merely nodded back, his expression unchanged, as if he had seen it all before.

Then Chen Xiang calmly stated:

"I'm taking Silly Girl with me."

"No."

Director Wang firmly denied, his expression serious, speaking with conviction:

"I cannot determine Mr. Chen's intentions. Since the children have come to the orphanage, I must take responsibility for them. If you insist on taking 4537, please return in five days."

He paused, adding sternly:

"I need that time to consult with the neighbors and ensure that you have no issues. Please forgive my caution; I have to be responsible for the children."

Chen Xiang's expression gradually softened as he studied Director Wang for a while. Had he misjudged this man? Perhaps Director Wang was just a stubborn old man...

Just as he was about to nod in agreement, suddenly—

"This is getting interesting."

A tinkling voice broke in as Wei Qingqiu stepped forward, grinning as she read from her phone:

"The Happy Orphanage, established in 1515, is one of the properties of the underground power, the Crocodile Gate. In the last three years, we've taken in 447 orphans, 22 of whom have been adopted... what about the other 425?"

Crocodile Gate?

The implication hit Chen Xiang like a cold wave, and his expression turned icy, his eyes sharpening with danger.

Director Wang maintained his smile:

"The other 425 orphans are doing well here. We provide them with three meals a day, warm clothing for winter and summer. They are fine, but you..."

He paused, smiling as he added:

"Miss Wei's information is quite accurate."

Both Chen Xiang and Wei Qingqiu's expressions shifted.

"You know me?"Wei Qingqiu narrowed her eyes at Director Wang.

He merely smiled, evading the question:

"Miss Wei is quite the celebrity. I've heard that your brother has arrived in Great City, but it seems there are some complications. Instead of worrying about this small orphanage, perhaps you should focus on your brother..."

Wei Qingqiu's demeanor transformed, becoming fierce as she stepped forward, her delicate arm cutting through the air toward Director Wang's throat with lightning speed. Chen Xiang could barely follow her movement!

She missed.

Director Wang remained calm, smiling:

"There's no need for Miss Wei to be angry. Although I don't understand how the great..."

Before he could finish, Wei Qingqiu erupted again, this time unleashing a spray of golden powder that ignited and shimmered, accompanied by forbidden whispers and strange prayers. A faint ethereal glow surrounded her!

"Calm down,"Director Wang said gently.

As he spoke, the ethereal glow around Wei Qingqiu vanished.

All this transpired in mere breaths.

Chen Xiang's expression turned serious as he shielded Silly Girl and the boy in the wheelchair, Jerusalem, behind him, repeatedly rubbing the crackling tattoo on his wrist, troubled by questions.

What's the connection between Little Wei and Dong Hongguo?

And what's the situation with her brother in Great City?

Meanwhile, Wei Qingqiu wore a look of deep unease as she stared at Director Wang:

"You're a Silent One, a follower of the Lord of Night and Silence?"

"Not quite,"Director Wang replied, still smiling.

Wei Qingqiu's expression darkened further:

"A Saint?"

Director Wang chuckled:

"Perhaps."

The atmosphere plummeted to a freezing point.

The old man stood there, grinning, while Wei Qingqiu looked incredibly tense. Chen Xiang pondered the meaning of ‘Saint' while Silly Girl sniffled. As for Jerusalem...

He maintained an expression devoid of any change, as if he found it all mundane.

Just then, a hover car descended from the sky, breaking the icy tension. The latent extraordinary aura around both Wei Qingqiu and Director Wang seemed to dissipate.

"Chen Xiang, right?"

Zhang Zhibao stepped out of the hover car, holding up a directive:

"Investigator of the Secret Adjustment Bureau. This is a cooperative investigation order. Please come with us."

Chen Xiang nodded, handing Silly Girl over to Wei Qingqiu and whispering:

"Take Silly Girl and Jerusalem with you. Here's my brother's number."

Wei Qingqiu met Chen Xiang's gaze, her eyes flickering, seemingly cautioning him to keep his secrets safe. Then, pushing Jerusalem and leading Silly Girl, she strode toward the blue sports car.

This time, Director Wang did not intervene.

As Chen Xiang followed the two investigators to the hover car, he cast a final glance back at Director Wang, whose ever-present smile ignited a fire of anger within Chen Xiang.

The anger seethed and rolled, burning from his chest to his eyes, and for a moment, Director Wang felt as if he saw a dark flame...

Jerusalem, pushed away by Wei Qingqiu, suddenly turned his head, his expression finally shifting to one of surprise.

The hover car shot into the sky.