Night fell, and the city lights came alive.
"You backstabbing lizard-dragon! I pulled an all-nighter on patrol for you, and you—[Lungmen profanity]—stabbed me in the back!"
Swire had only just woken up to learn that the four Penguin Logistics troublemakers she'd finally caught had been released by Ch'en Hui-chieh. She immediately stormed to the hospital to demand an explanation.
"Miss Swire, please keep your voice down," Ch'en replied coolly. "As far as I know, this hospital doesn't belong to your family."
Since she knew she was in the wrong, even Ch'en's counterattack lacked its usual bite.
"How many times do I have to say it?" Swire lowered her voice, grinding out each word. "My surname isn't the 'Shi' that means poem. Now give me an explanation!"
"There's nothing complicated about it," Ch'en said. "The gang threw the first punch. Those four from Penguin Logistics were acting in self-defense."
"Don't think I don't know," Swire pressed. "A white-haired pretty boy from Penguin Logistics stayed in your office for a long time, and then he walked out with your signature and went straight to release them. You and him… there isn't something going on, is there?"
Ch'en's body stiffened. Already short on confidence, she suddenly looked even more guilty—but she forced her face back into composure.
"Don't talk nonsense. I only met him yesterday."
Swire didn't buy it. "You met yesterday and he can already stroll into your office and have a long chat today?"
"He was helping me locate a criminal group that went to ground."
"And he can do that sitting in your office?"
"He actually did!" Ch'en's voice rose several notches. "What do you think I'm doing at the hospital? I'm accompanying the illegally detained victims for their examinations—and waiting on the autopsy report."
Hearing the case had been cracked, Swire's anger finally eased.
She'd defied her family's opposition and even risked her inheritance to join the Lungmen Guard Department as an officer for one reason only: to punish evil and protect the city.
"Fine," Swire said at last. "Released is released. If trading those four for a breakthrough is what it took, I can accept it."
"There was no trade," Ch'en corrected. "After I signed to release them, Su Yi found the hideout out of pure goodwill—on the side."
With that, Ch'en stood, dumped the burden into Swire's lap, and moved to leave.
"Hey—wait, what's that supposed to mean? Don't go!" Swire grabbed for her. "I haven't even asked about the autopsy! While I was asleep, what the hell happened?!"
Swire had far too many unanswered questions.
But Ch'en was already hurrying away—because she needed to find Su Yi.
This case wasn't over.
Back at the Heyé Warehouse, both the Vulpo leader and Feilin had made faint popping sounds from inside their bodies almost at the same time. Combined with Feilin's dying, half-mumbled words…
With Ch'en's years of investigative experience, the inference was straightforward:
Someone behind the scenes had almost certainly planted miniature explosives inside both men.
If they were captured, Feilin would trigger the device—silencing them permanently.
Once the two people who knew the core secrets were dead, the rest were small fry. No matter how hard the LGD interrogated them, nothing meaningful would come out.
"One stone, two birds," Ch'en thought grimly. "A beautiful method."
She understood exactly how dangerous this opponent was. If the LGD tried to bring them to justice alone, it would be brutally difficult.
Even if they succeeded, she couldn't imagine how many families would be shattered along the way.
So she needed outside help.
And yet…
"Then why…" Ch'en pressed a hand lightly to her chest, "…is my heart so strangely exhilarated?"
…
Texas stepped out of the bathroom, steam curling around her. Her skin was pale with a warm flush, and her long black hair—still wet—hung loosely down her back.
"Hm?"
The moment she reached the living room, the gray wolf noticed Exusiai sitting alone on the sofa, staring daggers at her.
More precisely—staring at her hair.
"Texas," Exusiai suddenly demanded, "why do you keep your hair long?"
It was an absurdly random question.
"I've never really thought about it," Texas answered flatly. "In Siracusa, most people keep their hair long. A lot of men let it grow to their shoulders too. Maybe it's because Lupos are naturally thick-haired."
"But don't you think long hair is a pain?!" Exusiai's emotions spiked. "I've had long hair before. I know!"
"What's gotten into you?" Texas asked, faintly wary. "Did something happen?"
"Su Yi said he likes long hair."
That… made things awkward.
Their boss Emperor was a penguin—no hair.
Ishar-mla was bald on top.
Croissant and Exusiai both had ear-length short hair.
Sora's hair was longer, but only around shoulder length.
Which meant that in all of Penguin Logistics, only Texas had genuinely long, beautiful hair that perfectly matched Su Yi's stated preference.
"Then pick someone who likes short hair," Texas said.
Unlike Croissant—the enthusiastic matchmaker—Texas had always opposed this "marriage" between Exusiai and Su Yi.
"But the one who likes short hair—I don't like him!" Exusiai snapped. "And it's too late to grow my hair out… Should I wear a wig? Or get hair transplants?"
"Aren't you the one who said long hair is inconvenient and gets in the way?" Texas replied.
Texas remembered clearly: when Exusiai first arrived in Lungmen, she'd had a lovely head of long hair, tied in a side ponytail.
After joining Penguin Logistics—drag racing, firefights, constant chaos—she'd decided long hair was too troublesome and chopped it off in one clean cut.
Everyone had thought it was a shame.
"I don't have a choice," Exusiai said softly. "If he won't walk toward me… then I'll walk toward him."
Her orange eyes shimmered with something Texas couldn't fully understand.
"That's what liking someone is like. It changes what you want in a partner… and it changes you."
"Don't get it," Texas said, as cool as ever. "But I suggest you watch a little longer. Maybe he just said it casually."
"Good point!" Exusiai agreed instantly.
Texas finally relaxed—
Right up until Exusiai added, "But I'm still growing my hair out!"
At that moment, the front door opened.
"Takeout's here," Su Yi announced, holding four bags. "That courier got the address wrong and delivered it somewhere else first."
He called for Croissant and Sora to come eat.
"Seriously, we owe Su Yi today," someone said as the five gathered around the table. "If it weren't for him, we'd probably be spending the night in LGD custody."
"These croissants are pretty good—try them."
"This pizza is just so-so."
"Sora's dieting. Can you keep your food commentary down?"
Right as the five of them settled into a cozy dinner, a knock came at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"I'll get it," Exusiai said, already reaching for her Guardian gun—assuming it was some gang coming to cause trouble.
But when she checked the electronic door camera, she froze.
Standing outside was none other than Inspector Ch'en Hui-chieh.
Exusiai opened the door cautiously. "Officer Ch'en… it's late. Don't tell me you're here to haul us back in."
"You're the ones I released," Ch'en replied. "Why would I arrest you again?"
Her gaze shifted past Exusiai.
"I'm here to see Su Yi. Is he in?"
Exusiai stared at the stunning dragon woman in front of her.
Somewhere deep inside, her "rival alarm" went off with a sharp ping.
"You're looking for Su Yi," Exusiai said evenly. "Is this official business… or personal?"
Ch'en unconsciously pressed her lips together before answering.
"Both."
-------
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