Chapter 46: Injured
Heracles took the internal layout map of the Bureau and gave Duan Ke a detailed explanation of the precautions.
“Except for the core members, their combat power is very average. However, the Technology Department is indeed troublesome; there are monitors everywhere… try to avoid the places marked on the map.”
Heracles lifted his chin toward the diagram. “Here. Once a monster invasion is detected, the central system will immediately lock down the database permissions. Even the Inquisitor won’t be able to open it. Hah… they can only do this kind of peeping from the gutter. Even if they understand my abilities well, they dare not confront me head-on.”
Heracles’ tone was as acerbic as ever, but actually quite objective.
The humans in the Bureau were ordinary people. Logically, they didn’t have the capital to fight top-tier monsters.
Even with advanced technology and strict supervision, in the face of absolute power, humans shouldn’t have the strength to fight back.
“Then how have they controlled monsters for so many years?”
Duan Ke took a sip of peach soda, biting the straw curiously. “I saw the Bureau’s special handcuffs last time; the technology is indeed impressive… but technology can only be an aid, right? Humans still have to apply it to us.”
If the technology wasn’t used in time and the monsters wiped them out, what use was good technology?
“Relying on numbers, brainwashing, and human modification.”
Heracles had once fought with military cadets. That memory was indeed unpleasant; their pain nerves and self-awareness had been almost artificially removed. Dealing with them was both disgusting and troublesome.
He looked at the innocent-faced Duan Ke and said casually, “Humans have too many methods… you don’t know these things? Oh right, you only came of age recently. You’re still a kid; you definitely wouldn’t know about the past.”
“It’s better not to know these things,” Heracles said. “Being happy is good. Anyway, you have someone raising you now; you don’t need to deal with the Bureau.”
“I’m very big…” Duan Ke bit the straw unhappily. “I’ve been an adult for a long time. You can’t treat me like a child.”
And I have a boyfriend now, hmph.
“Didn’t you just turn eighteen a year or two ago?” Heracles wondered. “I’m thousands of years old and I still feel like a kid. Where are you big?”
…That seemed very reasonable. Duan Ke silently accepted this statement and didn’t refute it.
“By the way, Brother He Le… cough, Heracles, I have something to ask you.”
Duan Ke leaned toward Heracles, his voice small. “Do you know under what circumstances a monster would lose their memory? I suspect I’m missing a segment of memory… but I really can’t recall it.”
Heracles glanced at him. “Under what circumstances… many circumstances. Losing all magic, drinking too much alcohol… could cause a blackout. Anyway, I’ve experienced them all.”
“Being attacked by a top-tier mental-type monster like you would also cause memory loss,” Heracles said lazily. “Which one do you think it is?”
Duan Ke scrunched up his small face, conflicted.
Alcohol was unlikely. Except for that glass Xu Jue gave him last time, he hadn’t seen alcohol in his life, and he didn’t dare drink secretly when he wanted to.
Loss of magic… probably not either. That would be devastating for a monster, but his body was quite healthy.
After all, he could hold Qin Huai for so long and eat so much.
Duan Ke told Heracles his conjecture, looking torn.
Heracles pondered, “Hmm… then it should be an attack by a monster of the same type. Maybe it’s the one we want to catch?”
“After all, he wants your magic.” Heracles rubbed his chin. “Absorbing memory is also a way to gain magic.”
Although it made sense, Duan Ke still found it strange.
If it was for magic, why only wipe his memory regarding Qin Huai? He could have swallowed the entire memory.
And there were clearly more efficient ways, like sucking blood. Why use such a troublesome method as stealing memory?
Duan Ke’s head was swelling from thinking. His mind was already blank from doing homework, and now it hurt even more.
He thought, I still have to catch that annoying guy to get my memory back and figure out how I abandoned my boyfriend.
Duan Ke was a very responsible succubus. He wanted to confess to Qin Huai after recovering his memory and make it up to his boyfriend.
Seeing Duan Ke had no more questions, Heracles stood up to leave.
He dusted off his hands, wrapped the coat used to hide his scales tighter, and awkwardly adjusted his eyepatch.
“Think it over yourself. If you want to try, sneak in these few days. If something really happens… don’t be afraid. Call me and I’ll fish you out. The Bureau doesn’t dare really do anything to me.”
Heracles’ guarantee gave Duan Ke a bit of confidence. He was really quite tempted.
After all, he knew too little about that hateful guy. He couldn’t even find the other party actively, while the other party could be observing him from the dark at any time.
But… although the Inquisitor was on leave recently, who knew if he would suddenly return?
That person was simply too formidable to ignore.
Heracles came to the East to hunt down the Inquisitor, but despite the dragon spending so much effort and even mapping out the Bureau’s internal structure, he still hadn’t decoded the man’s true identity.
This showed that the Inquisitor’s mind was extremely meticulous, and his monster-catching skills were quite strong.
Duan Ke thought, If I go in rashly, what if he notices and catches me?
If I get caught on the spot, I feel I will definitely die in the Bureau, executed by the Inquisitor personally.
Duan Ke suddenly felt sad. He didn’t want to die at all.
Having finally survived all these years, he still had so many places he wanted to visit and play. How could he perish just like that?
And what about the boyfriend he just got? Qin Huai would definitely be extremely sad. He had already abandoned him once; he couldn’t be so irresponsible again.
Duan Ke was torn in a hundred ways, unsure whether to go or not. Finally, he decided to stop thinking about it, sighed, and threw the paper into his pocket.
Better go home and find my boyfriend for comfort first. I’ll deal with the homework later; staying up late should finish it.
Duan Ke closed his laptop. The disappearance of the Word document interface instantly improved his mood; the air felt fresher.
He hummed a song and opened his phone, only to find Qin Huai hadn’t replied yet. The chat interface remained stuck on the crying kitten sticker he sent.
Duan Ke looked at it, his brows furrowing slightly, a nameless stifling feeling rising in his heart.
He wasn’t unhappy, but rather felt strange and uneasy.
It had been so long since he sent it. Even if Qin Huai was busy with work just now, he should have replied by now. He wouldn’t bear to leave his messages unread for so long.
…Nothing happened, right? Maybe today is exceptionally busy?
Duan Ke bit his lower lip unconsciously; the numbing sensation briefly distracted him.
He was still very uneasy and scrolled down the chat history. He discovered that the small animal videos he sent to Little Black Ball and the shop recommendations he sent to Xu Jue hadn’t received replies either.
“…”
A fear similar to stepping into empty air surged up belatedly.
Duan Ke’s hands were shaking uncontrollably. He tried calling Xu Jue. The first time, no one answered. The second time, the ringtone nearly ended before the other side picked up.
“Lord Duan Ke… we are fine here now.”
Xu Jue’s voice sounded steady but very weak, obviously having just experienced a fierce battle.
“We were attacked by several monster clones. Not strong; we’ve already cleared them… but we had some magic drained. No one died. You don’t need to worry.”
“That thing is very likely our kin… his attack method is very similar to yours.”
Xu Jue looked down at the dripping wound on his arm and the compatriots groaning in pain on the ground around him. His expression was a gloomy darkness completely inconsistent with his gentle voice, almost gnashing his teeth.
“Rest assured, I will find out who it is for you as soon as possible.”
“Okay… thank you for your hard work. I’ll rush over soon.”
Duan Ke’s face was pale, his heart beating as if it would jump out. He tried desperately to stabilize his emotions. After confirming his compatriots were safe, he rushed toward his rental apartment like crazy.
Duan Ke used the fastest speed of his life, arriving in just a few minutes.
He didn’t even dare waste time taking out his keys, climbing through the window proficiently. But upon seeing Qin Huai, he couldn’t help letting out a scream.
Even though his face remained calm and restrained, the plummeting air pressure around Qin Huai revealed that his emotions were actually completely out of control.
It almost reached the point where it couldn’t be concealed. The terrifying low pressure filled the chaotic, cramped space, making one’s breath catch.
Duan Ke stood at the bathroom door, looking at the horrifying pool of blood, his face turning white, almost unable to stand steady.
The mirror was covered in cracks, with blood seeping into them. Clearly, someone had punched it with a force meant to cause mutual destruction.
The washbasin was full of red water. Several shards of broken glass were embedded in Qin Huai’s right hand.
They were stuck deep, yet the person involved seemed unaware, staring tightly at the empty mirror. There was no breakdown or rage, only a boundless oppression that made one want to flee.
If Duan Ke and Qin Huai hadn’t confirmed their relationship, seeing Qin Huai like this suddenly, he might have been scared, dragging out a very similar silhouette from distant memories.
But right now, he couldn’t think about anything else. It hurt his heart too much. Stuck so deep—one careless move could damage something vital, and Qin Huai’s hand would be ruined.
Duan Ke walked up and pulled Qin Huai away from the pool of blood, his voice trembling with pain.
“Brother, what happened to you, your hand…”
Qin Huai finally snapped out of it. Looking at the unharmed Duan Ke, he breathed an imperceptible sigh of relief, quickly detaching from his previous emotions.
He removed his hand from Duan Ke’s palm, took a step back, his voice very hoarse. “Don’t touch. The glass is sharp; careful it doesn’t prick you.”
“What are you saying! You’re like this!”
Duan Ke was nearly driven to death by his reaction. “Come here quickly! I’ll treat you… ngh.”
Qin Huai turned his head and kissed him.
Duan Ke’s high-strung emotions were kissed away a little. The angry expression on his small face stalled.
But he quickly reacted, his face dark. “Brother, don’t interrupt me! Were you attacked by something just now… ngh.”
Qin Huai kissed Duan Ke again.
He lowered his eyes to look at his fuming boyfriend. Seeing Duan Ke’s face was still ugly, he stopped thinking about his hand; his mind was full of how to soothe his boyfriend.
Qin Huai stepped forward, holding the back of Duan Ke’s head with his uninjured hand. Face calm, he lowered his head, licking and kissing the seam of Duan Ke’s lips deeply and shallowly, comforting him silently.
Duan Ke felt like a game character with a rage bar, and Qin Huai was a strategy player.
Every time Qin Huai kissed him, his rage value dropped a bit—a passive setting completely beyond his subjective control.
Duan Ke didn’t know why Qin Huai’s kissing skills were so good when they hadn’t been together for long.
He was kissed senseless all at once, unable to think about anything again, only knowing how to whimper and respond to his boyfriend.
Qin Huai maintained the rhythm throughout, observing Duan Ke with lowered eyes.
Only when Duan Ke’s emotions stabilized and his breathing was no longer rapid did Qin Huai slowly let him go.
Qin Huai rubbed the back of Duan Ke’s head. Seeing Duan Ke’s completely red face, he laughed low.
“Good, don’t be scared anymore.” Qin Huai patted Duan Ke’s back, coaxing him. “It’s dirty here. Let’s go to the bedroom to talk.”
〓 Author’s Note 〓 In the future, he will indeed often be “executed” [censored] by the Inquisitor at the Bureau, mhm mhm mhm. And indeed, a gun will be used [Pity].
Translator’s Note:
- “Gun” in the author’s note is a euphemism.
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