Chapter 80: You Dare Not |
Although Guan Shan had this thought, it was still work hours, so naturally, he couldn't leave early. Normally, he would report before going out for fieldwork, and since he was already working diligently, he couldn't just walk away in the middle of it.
After finishing work in the evening, Guan Shan first visited the pet shop to check on Ali.
Since the pet shop happened to have several male cats needing to breed, Ali was placed in an area with them to cultivate feelings.
Perhaps out of sheer emotion, Ali had become a crying cat, tears constantly welling up in its eyes.
Initially, Guan Shan was a bit worried and asked the pet shop owner if this was normal.
But the owner, with a world-weary tone, explained that female cats without experience tend to be anxious and resistant, but it was not a big problem. It would improve with time.
Guan Shan suddenly understood, but unfortunately, once Ali had kittens, it would have to be neutered.
It probably wouldn't experience many mating sessions.
"It's much better now. Look, it's eating well and doesn't seem as nervous or scared as before," the pet shop owner happily showed Guan Shan Ali's current state.
The tabby cat trembled, lifted its head, crossed its paws, and looked indifferent and numb.
"Can't say for sure," the owner replied. "We'll see if there are any signs, usually it takes a few tries. It's pretty quick."
Guan Shan nodded, played with the cat for a while, and seeing Ali in good spirits, he was satisfied and left for Qin Deguang's apartment.
Since it was already late, the pet shop soon closed as well.
"Snap, snap, snap."
The owner hummed a tune, checked the shop's facilities, turned off the lights, and went upstairs to rest.
In the darkness, the tabby cat opened its eyes and spoke in a human voice, "Little Transparent, are you alone? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"
The sharp voice was sinister, filled with a chilling murderous intent.
Lin Shuman squatted down, took out her phone, and displayed a photo of Guan Shan in front of Li Li, seriously saying, "You dare not."
Li Li: "..."
You dare to say I don't dare? You think I don't dare?!
... I really don't dare, damn it.
Li Li sadly acknowledged this fact and launched a final resistance against the world.
It silently turned its back on Guan Shan's photo.
Lin Shuman didn't expect that this notorious Esper would actually be so cowardly... she had been ready for it to lash out.
However, Lin Shuman wasn't really afraid of Li Li making a move.
Although she was a newly promoted C-level, her innate ability was highly superior, and as a special type, her mental strength was significantly stronger than others.
Li Li's best skill, "Soul Capture," was essentially useless against her.
Having rested for a while, Lin Shuman had actually resumed her duties a few days ago.
But her task was still related to Guan Shan.
She was to act as Guan Shan's exclusive customer service...
Yes, the number Xia Lei gave to Guan Shan was actually Lin Shuman's, and the logistics personnel following Guan Shan were also coordinated by Lin Shuman's third squad.
Now, she had a new task, not to monitor Guan Shan, but to monitor his cat.
God knows how the Special Security Group's logistics personnel reacted when they suddenly discovered that the cat Guan Shan had picked up looked exactly like "Drone Bee Ten."
Guan Shan sure knows how to kill a C7-level Esper on a trip and then keep a C5-level Esper as a pet and force it to breed?
Even Xia Lei, who had seen almost everything in the first half of his life, could only say that he had never seen such a scene...
A C5-level energy reaction is equivalent to Gao Ye's level.
A C7-level "Reaper's Scythe" was even more outrageous. Even Xia Lei had to be cautious when dealing with it, or else he would have been instantly killed.
And then Guan Shan encountered it, filled the entire house...
Guan Shan's personal achievements had surpassed Gao Ye within half a month, reaching an astonishing level.
These two were currently the only high-ranking members "Death Hive" could mobilize. By doing this, Guan Shan had essentially crippled them, leaving them with no means to strike.
Following the clues over the past few days, the Special Security Group found "Death Hive" experimental bases in several remote villages and captured "Drone Bee Seven."
Xia Lei captured them alive, obtaining substantial information about "Death Hive." The Special Security Group was now planning a joint operation to raid their base.
Lin Shuman thought silently, "Of course, none of this has anything to do with me. I'm just an unfeeling cat monitor now."
She found a place to sit, resting her chin on her hand, staring at the tabby cat.
Lin Shuman didn't find this task boring; rather, it was part of her life.
After a while, Li Li suddenly said, "If I'm not mistaken, you must have already come into contact with 'Drone Bee Seven.'"
It wagged its tail, "Don't you find it suspicious that they cooperated so readily?"
Lin Shuman remained silent.
Li Li might try to extract information, which was normal. They couldn't let the enemy's words reveal anything that might compromise their actions.
Although... it was indeed a point of suspicion, how did Li Li know?
Li Li continued, "I've been thinking repeatedly about how to erase this black history and concluded—there's no way."
"You know, the Special Security Group knows, and soon, my old friends from 'Death Hive' will know too."
"I can't forget all this in my life, unless... I kill everyone."
Lin Shuman asked warily, "So, you're deciding to kill everyone?"
Li Li muttered to itself, "I can't kill Guan Shan. I can't kill him... so I thought for a long time and finally came up with a solution."
It turned its head, grinning with a cold look, "Li Li's black history doesn't represent 'my' black history. Only 'Death Hive' knows who I really am."
"As long as no one knows my true identity, my black history doesn't exist."
It became extremely excited, "The only solution is to make 'Death Hive' disappear! So, I've decided to help you eliminate 'Death Hive.' How about that?"
Lin Shuman gaped, dumbfounded.
This logic seemed flawed, but also irrefutable?
---
Meanwhile, Guan Shan arrived at the apartment.
He skillfully pushed open the door, walked into the stairway, and felt for the light switch on the wall in the dark.
"Click."
Guan Shan was startled to find the light didn't come on.
He took out his phone, tried again, but still couldn't turn it on.
"No power?"
But the elevator indicator light was still on, the red glow particularly eerie in the dimness.
Guan Shan hesitated, swallowed, and decided to take the stairs... in this situation, taking the elevator was too creepy.
However, what he didn't know was that an hour earlier, three college students seeking excitement had entered the same abandoned apartment and made a different choice.