Chapter 9: Living Opposite
“So, any observations?”
After emerging from the underground, Qin Huai returned to the Bureau to report the mission details to Lin Jiangli.
Lin Jiangli sat with his legs crossed, his Bureau uniform worn sloppily, leaning crookedly in his office chair. “Did you get evidence of him using charm magic on humans?”
Both top-tier generals who had fought their way out of the Demon Hunting Military Academy, Lin Jiangli and Qin Huai had taken over as the Bureau’s second-in-command at a young age.
Unfortunately, Lin Jiangli suffered irreversible severe injuries to his legs during a closed high-level demon hunting training session. Consequently, he could no longer go to the front lines and had to retreat to logistics, responsible for the Bureau’s technical support and data analysis.
Cases large and small had to pass through his hands for analysis and archiving. Therefore, even someone of Qin Huai’s rank had to pinch his nose and report to him after completing important missions.
Qin Huai lowered his eyes to glance at the monitor on his wrist, then quickly looked away, unusually distracted.
“None for now. I need more time for further observation.”
Lin Jiangli understood. If even Qin Huai couldn’t solve it in a short time, it seemed the Progenitor Succubus’s disguise was indeed seamless and unfathomable.
Lin Jiangli thought for a moment and said, “Then do you need logistics to arrange a fake identity for you to get close to him?”
As if afraid Qin Huai would refuse immediately, he didn’t pause for a second and continued, “I know what your next sentence is going to be: ‘No need,’ right? But brother, this target is truly no small matter. You know succubi are different from other monsters; they are too good at disguising themselves. And with psychic attacks, even you might…”
“I need it.”
Lin Jiangli was abruptly interrupted and almost bit his tongue. He froze for a moment, leaned in, and asked in disbelief, “What did you say??”
Qin Huai lifted his eyelids, shifting his gaze from the wrist monitor to look at Lin Jiangli for two seconds as if looking at a fool.
“I said, I need it.” He emphasized the word “need.”
Lin Jiangli: “…”
Bro, what does this mean?
Before, when you went single-handedly to kill the Abyss Behemoth and nearly broke an arm and a leg, logistics asked if you needed resources, and you said no.
Why are you saying yes now without even hesitating?? Where is that unyielding stubbornness of yours?? Or have you already been seduced by the Progenitor Succubus??
Although it was extremely bizarre, completing the mission was the priority. It was best if Qin Huai was willing to cooperate. Lin Jiangli forcibly suppressed the urge to roast him and didn’t dwell on it with Qin Huai.
“…Alright then. What kind of fake identity do you want?”
Lin Jiangli opened the central database beside him, and a floating blue electronic screen slowly unfolded. “Duan Ke is a student at A University. It’s easy to create a fake identity to infiltrate the school around him. Senior student, teaching assistant, teacher—all work. You choose.”
Qin Huai listened to these options, fell silent for a few seconds, and asked, “The place he lives now—who is the tenant opposite him? Can you check?”
“Huh?” Lin Jiangli frowned, turning to ask, “Checking is certainly possible, but directly questioning civilians isn’t compliant with regulations, is it? Did you find something suspicious about his neighbor?”
“No.”
Qin Huai closed the main database screen, silently rejecting the identities Lin Jiangli proposed. He said indifferently, “Getting close in school is very inconvenient and might alarm other students.”
“I want to live opposite him. Have logistics communicate and arrange it as soon as possible.”
Hearing these sentences, Lin Jiangli’s expression became increasingly strange.
The logic seems sound… but why does it feel weird somewhere?
Lin Jiangli looked at Qin Huai suspiciously a few times.
Back when he and Qin Huai lived in the same dorm at the military academy, their rough-and-tumble roommates would always use each other’s things without fussing over details, pushing and shoving even when unhappy.
But Qin Huai was a genuine anomaly. He never allowed roommates to share his things and cleaned up after himself every day.
The military academy relaxed regulations in their third year, allowing students to rent their own places around the school. Qin Huai moved out without a word back then, clearly unwilling to live with others.
Why is he now willing to actively propose living opposite someone for a mission?
Lin Jiangli thought for a moment, his heart skipping a beat as a certain conjecture surfaced.
A mind-control type monster, and at the Progenitor level… it’s hard not to think of the two seniors who sacrificed themselves in that great war over a decade ago.
If that’s the case, Qin Huai wanting to actively approach the Progenitor Succubus for revenge… isn’t actually that bizarre.
Although knowing this was a minefield for Qin Huai, Lin Jiangli hesitated for a long time before asking, “Is he… related to your parents?”
Before Qin Huai could answer, Lin Jiangli rattled on, “If that’s really the case, you don’t need to continue being responsible for this mission. It was my lack of foresight. You won’t have to bear the loss for abandoning the mission; I’ll report to the higher-ups to switch personnel…”
As soon as these words fell, Lin Jiangli’s nerve endings suddenly felt a burst of inexplicable stinging pain.
The instinct of a killer made him look up abruptly, meeting Qin Huai’s cold, gloomy eyes.
“…” Lin Jiangli felt a chill down his back. “What?”
But it was only for an instant. Qin Huai quickly returned to his usual frigid demeanor, saying expressionlessly, “No switching.”
“Just do as I say. I will deal with him.”
“…Fine. I’ll contact people to handle it now. It’ll be arranged in about two days. Wait for it.”
The two had nothing more to say. They sat at their respective workstations, the office filled only with the sound of Lin Jiangli typing.
On the surface, he maintained his casual, slouchy appearance, but inside, he was unsettled.
His relationship with Qin Huai might seem average to others, but Lin Jiangli knew that there were very few people Qin Huai talked to at all. Their relationship was already considered quite good in Qin Huai’s eyes.
Since leaving the military academy, Lin Jiangli had never seen Qin Huai expose such naked, undisguised, beast-like killing intent.
Even if it was just for an instant, it was enough to make one feel they had brushed past the Grim Reaper.
Was the sudden aggression because I mentioned the topic of his parents?
Actually, that explanation makes sense. After all, that incident is Qin Huai’s eternal sore spot. My reckless mention of it was indeed offensive, so it’s only natural he got angry.
But… Lin Jiangli felt something was still not quite right, though he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Beside him, Qin Huai lowered his eyes to look at the tracker on his wrist.
Lin Jiangli had previously transferred Duan Ke’s monitoring permissions to him. Now, Qin Huai could monitor Duan Ke’s location, magic status, and even mood, temperature, and heart rate anytime, anywhere.
And right now, the small red dot representing Duan Ke’s location was weaving back and forth in a food street near A University.
Duan Ke’s hormone secretion status displayed on the screen indicated that he was in a very good mood.
He was engaging in deep emotional exchange.
Of course, if not for the mission, who Duan Ke exchanged feelings with had nothing to do with him.
But Duan Ke was a highly deceptive succubus who fed on human vitality. If left to contact other humans at snack stalls, it was very likely the person talking to him would have their vitality drained, causing social harm.
So, it was only natural and reasonable for him to be unhappy seeing this and want to control Duan Ke.
Having explained it clearly to himself, Qin Huai turned off the monitor on his wrist.
Although no extra emotion showed on his face—very calm—if Lin Jiangli had looked over at this moment, he would have noticed Qin Huai’s movements were a bit heavy.
Qin Huai opened WeChat and looked at the chat pinned at the top with the remark “Dangerous Mission Target.”
The last message remained Duan Ke’s greeting. It had been several hours since they parted, and his mission target hadn’t shown him any special indication, even though he had been at his mercy in his arms last night.
Beside him, Lin Jiangli inexplicably felt the air pressure around him dropping lower and lower. Years of instinct made him want to draw his gun or flee the scene. He turned his head speechlessly to look at Qin Huai.
“Bro, what’s wrong with you today? Like you’re possessed! Are you really okay? How about going to medical for a checkup? I really suspect you’ve fallen for that succubus’s trick!”
Qin Huai stood up, his voice cold and rational.
“No. You’re overthinking it.”
Lin Jiangli: “…Fine, fine, fine, you haven’t.”
“Mn.”
Only then was Qin Huai satisfied. His expression softened slightly as he lifted his legs to walk out, saying as he went, “Plans have changed. My mission target is likely already looking for humans to strike. Handle the rental matter before tonight.”
Lin Jiangli immediately stopped thinking about what was wrong with this guy, only feeling furious. Do you frontline guys treat logistics like cattle?!
He wanted to curse Qin Huai, but saw that Qin Huai had already left the office, heading who knows where, leaving Lin Jiangli only a tall, upright back view.
[Author’s Note] A top-tier succubus eating shredded squid at a roadside stall turned someone into a pouting fish.
Current Mr. Tough Mouth: Just a mission [Clown]. If not for the mission, who Duan Ke exchanges feelings with has nothing to do with me. I’m really not upset; I’m just stating facts.
Future Mr. Tough Mouth: So what if I like my wife? My wife is fragrant and soft; so what if I C him? Wife, feed me again today. Wife, when will you give me a title? [Pity]
[Rest assured, everyone, this is a slice-of-life fluff piece. No misunderstandings or angst. once the Gong gets it, he’ll smoothly start seducing his wife.]
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