Jiang Yan sized up the Monster in front of him; its hands hadn't changed shape, only darkened and sprouted fine hair.
The rest of its body was the same—like a fusion of Fly and human.
"I feel power flooding me; everything around seems slower." Xie Gongming studied his form, Four Arms swaying.
No weakness, no trembling—gone entirely.
"Ahh!" While he relished his new body, a scream rang out nearby.
Xie Gongming turned to see Fat Auntie staring in horror.
She'd hurried over after hearing shouts, only to witness this nightmare.
A Bodyguard grinned and stalked toward her. "Since you've seen us, you can't live."
"Wait—don't hurt her!" Xie Gongming barked.
She'd looked after him during his drinking days; he wouldn't let kindness end in death.
The Bodyguard glanced at Jiang Yan, who smiled faintly. "Since Supervisor Xie commands, she lives."
He looked to Lei Xiangchen, who nodded; the Third Eye sent an invisible pulse into Fat Auntie's mind.
She shrieked and collapsed.
"What happened?" Xie Gongming rushed to her—still breathing, barely.
Thudding footsteps approached.
Lei Xiangchen stepped up, gentle smile in place. "Relax, Supervisor Xie—she's only lost today's memory and gets a month of headaches. Better than death."
"Thanks." Xie Gongming's face eased.
"Let's go." Jiang Yan headed out; a single ordinary life traded for Xie's goodwill toward the Monster Association was worthwhile. Meanwhile, far east, in Anna Country's second-largest city…
Yang Ruicai, two Bodyguards in tow, arrived at a pointed-roof Western villa in the East District.
Ding-dong. He pressed the bell; after a moment the door opened to reveal a green-haired, shirtless, tattoo-covered Caucasian youth. "What?"
Yang Ruicai glanced at him, recalling the file, and smiled politely. "We're here for your father, Beaton Rijieffu. Is he home? We'd like him to join our Research Institute."
The punk scanned them, irritation plain. "Foreign faces, huh? Scram. My old man works for the famous Darth Group—beat it."
Bang—the door slammed, leaving Yang Ruicai dusted.
Bewildered, he turned to his guards. "Intel said he just retired from Anna National Grad School. How'd they poach him so fast?"
"Dig into this Darth Group—find out who they are."
"Yes, sir." One guard pulled out his phone and began searching.
They found a nearby café and sat.
Unnoticed, a loitering thug across the street watched them, eyes gleaming.
While they gathered intel…
Outside the café, two white sedans screeched to a halt.
Doors slammed; seven hulking, blue-jacketed, tattooed brutes stepped out.
The leader—1.9 m of muscle and scowl—sneered. "Someone thinks they can poach from Darth Group? Let's remind them who owns this city."
At his signal the seven stormed in, roaring, "Dare to poach from Darth? Break their legs!"
Yang Ruicai's black-clad guards sprang up, grinning. "Ordinary punks picking a fight with us?"
"Ahh!"
They charged; one punch caved the lead Caucasian's chest, dropping him screaming.
Bang-bang-bang—before the rest could react, each guard landed a single blow, felling all seven.
"Ahh—my hand!" A Caucasian shrieked, bone jutting from a snapped wrist.
Their leader lay still, chest caved, face eerily calm.
"Ahhh!" Two waitresses bolted out the back, dialing the Enforcers.
Yang Ruicai knelt beside a thug with a broken arm. "Who are you? Why attack us?"
Curiosity filled him; his guards were Monsters, still far beyond ordinary humans even in human form.
The man only screamed, ignoring him.
Yang Ruicai shrugged. "He's yours—I'm no good at interrogation."
The guards cracked cruel smiles. "Understood."
Yang Ruicai stepped outside to wait.
"Ahh—ahh!" Screams echoed; moments later the guards emerged.
"Assistant Yang, they're gang dogs under Darth Group. Heard we were recruiting and came to teach us a lesson."
Beep—the searching guard's phone chimed. He glanced up. "Got Darth Group's file, sir."
"Let's hear it."
"Darth Group: a mega-crime syndicate spanning Anna, Lanluo, and Mubutan. High officials in all three nations are members; Awakened Ones back them…"
"Above our paygrade," Yang Ruicai sighed.
The targeted expert, Beaton Rijieffu, was a top geneticist—surpassing even his mentor, Dong Guangjie.
He messaged Jiang Yan the details; talent of this tier needed approval.
Seconds later Jiang Yan replied.
Jiang Yan: I'll send people to drag him back. If he won't cooperate—dispose of him on site.