Night Owl looked at Lin Deqing’s expression and knew things were about to go south.
At the same time, his gaze toward Lu Liang turned hostile.
You’re a respectable Cleaner, working in the Dark Realm, so how can you abandon your identity and stoop to colluding with the Police Department?
Have you forgotten your position? Fawning over Lin Deqing like this—aren’t you afraid that if this gets out, your peers will mock you?
Ugh! Disgusting!
“Officer Lin, he’s a Cleaner, and everything he does is illegal.”
In his impatience, Night Owl disregarded his own identity and warned Lin Deqing:
“This scoundrel is trying to bribe you!”
Lin Deqing cursed silently—aren’t you a Cleaner too? Why act so holier-than-thou here?
But there was some truth to Night Owl’s words.
Besides, with witnesses present, if this scene got out and was reported to the higher-ups, Lin Deqing’s career would be in serious jeopardy.
Perhaps the best course was to arrest all three of them.
After all, the “Bug Monster” had become evidence.
Though official paperwork wouldn’t look as impressive as personally gathering Monster information from the sewers, it was still an achievement.
As Lin Deqing weighed the pros and cons, Lu Liang suddenly kicked the package toward Lin Deqing’s feet:
“Oh? Officer, is this your lost item?”
Lin Deqing reacted instantly, immediately understanding Lu Liang’s intention.
Thinking to himself, “This guy really knows how to handle things,” he smiled warmly and picked up the bag filled with Bug Monsters:
“Yes, this is mine. Oh, how did it end up here? Sorry to bother you, young brother.”
Lu Liang nodded:
“Then you should be more careful. There are many bad guys here. What if someone else snatched it from you?”
Lin Deqing kept smiling:
“You make a good point. So what brings you two here?”
“Oh, we’re a couple. We accidentally fell into the well during our date.”
Lu Liang told the lie without batting an eye. He took Bai Wanqing’s hand directly. She was startled but only blushed and whispered softly:
“Can you loosen your grip a bit?”
Neither of them paid her any mind.
Lin Deqing cursed inwardly, thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding,” but he didn’t expose Lu Liang.
He knew Lu Liang was helping him out, giving him a way to save face.
Eager to gain credit, Lin Deqing was happy to play along, locking his eyes on Lu Liang, who wore a mask:
“I see, haha, young lovers can get into all sorts of trouble. Need me to escort you back to the surface?”
“No, no,” Lu Liang waved his hands repeatedly.
“I figure the officer still has work to do, so we won’t trouble you. We’ll get out ourselves later.”
“All right, then be careful on your way. The Magical Girls will be starting their shift soon. They’re not as easy to reason with as I am.”
That sentence was both a reminder and a warning. Lu Liang didn’t want to linger here any longer. He nodded politely and was about to leave.
“Wait! Officer Lin! What are you doing?”
At this moment, Night Owl, who had witnessed everything, lost his composure. These two factions were usually at odds—how could they be talking together now?
“He’s a Cleaner! You’re police! You can’t let him go!”
In his impatience, Night Owl ignored tact and threatened directly:
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to Police Headquarters for this?”
The atmosphere suddenly tensed. Everyone fell silent, and Lin Deqing fixed Night Owl with a strange look.
Lu Liang smiled slyly:
“There are indeed many bad guys here. See? There’s one right here.”
“You’re right, young brother!” Lin Deqing caught on, nodding in agreement:
“Because of these bad guys, we officers have to diligently perform our duties.”
“Since the police work so hard, let me give you a hand, shall I?”
Lin Deqing’s smile grew as serene as Maitreya Buddha’s, uttering a single word:
“Good.”
They resumed their cryptic exchange. Night Owl understood each word separately but couldn’t quite piece together the meaning when strung together.
He vaguely sensed the situation was turning against him.
Suddenly, Lu Liang sprang up, pinning Night Owl against the wall. Lin Deqing pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and effortlessly cuffed Night Owl’s hands together.
The whole process was swift and seamless.
“You… you mother—where were you born!”
At this point, Night Owl fully understood that these two had made a dirty deal. Blood pressure rising, he couldn’t help but curse Lin Deqing fiercely. But Lin Deqing ignored the insults, instead turning to Lu Liang with a smile:
“Young brother, you have quite the skill.”
Lu Liang also smiled:
“Police officers are quick to act.”
“That last move—you’re practically a Three-Good Citizen. I should report this to the Metropolis and have you selected as a Three-Good Citizen Representative this year.”
“The police’s efficiency is like a bolt of lightning. When I have time, I’ll send you a Badge of Honor banner inscribed with ‘People’s Public Servant.’”
Their flattery was hollow, while inwardly both were thinking:
“Is this a threat? Despicable!”
Though Lin Deqing felt a trace of displeasure, he didn’t want to oppose Lu Liang.
The man was clever and quick, a smart guy who knew what to say and what to leave unsaid—unlike Night Owl, who couldn’t see the bigger picture.
Their little duet just now was a mutual holding of cards, making them “comrades in corruption.” Lin Deqing found Lu Liang more agreeable now:
“Then I guess fate will bring us together again?”
“We shall meet again.”
Lu Liang nodded. He truly didn’t want to linger here. The Magical Girls’ shift was about to start, and he didn’t want to encounter that madwoman again.
Besides, today wasn’t a total loss.
Although Lu Liang had handed over the Bug Monsters he caught to Lin Deqing, he still kept the five thousand yuan he took from Night Owl—a decent haul.
Lu Liang led Bai Wanqing and briskly headed off in the opposite direction.
He hadn’t taken more than ten steps when Lin Deqing’s voice called from behind:
“Wait, young brother!”
Lu Liang tensed but kept a blank expression as he turned his head. He truly feared Lin Deqing would change his mind.
“What’s the matter?”
“My name is Lin Deqing, but people usually call me Officer Lin.”
Lin Deqing sensed that Lu Liang was resourceful and shared a similar mindset, matching his own temper. He thought, “With this kind of temperament, he could do big things. If we get along now, there might be more opportunities for cooperation later.”
He pulled out his phone and asked Lu Liang:
“Young brother, what’s your contact? Let’s add each other. Maybe grab a drink sometime.”
Lu Liang breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn’t want to fight with the police:
“QQ okay?”
“That works.”
Lu Liang added Lin Deqing’s friend request on a seldom-used alternate account.
Lin Deqing seemed to understand that Cleaners preferred not to get too entangled with the police. He wasn’t upset about not getting a phone number. After exchanging QQs, Lin Deqing put his phone away and asked:
“By the way, I haven’t asked your name.”
“Wang Er.”
Lu Liang casually tossed out a fake name.
Then, under Lin Deqing’s gaze, he swaggered away.
Lin Deqing stood on the damp ground of the sewer, carrying the bag full of Bug Monsters. Night Owl was still cursing nonstop beside him.
The ease of this achievement left him momentarily stunned.
Just then, Lin Deqing’s phone rang. Glancing at the incoming call, his expression suddenly turned respectful and solemn as he answered:
“Hello, this is Officer Lin Deqing speaking.”
“I am Magical Girl Star-Splitter.”
The voice on the other end was tinged with madness, like a mentally unstable person trying hard to suppress their tone:
“I’ve checked the location data of all officers. Lin Deqing, you’re in the sewer, correct?”
All Magical Girls held a rank at least one level above regular police officers. The orders from Star-Splitter left no room for refusal by a junior officer like Lin Deqing.
“Yes.”
Lin Deqing replied obediently.
“Is there a Cleaner nearby?”
Lin Deqing glanced at Night Owl, cuffed and pressed aside, then looked at Lu Liang a short distance away, standing still with a cold glare, and gave a quiet affirmative.
Star-Splitter’s voice grew excited and agitated:
“Stop them! Before I arrive, not a single person can escape!”
The call ended. Lin Deqing drew his pistol from his waist, looking helpless as he pointed it at Lu Liang:
“Young brother Wang Er, sorry about this. Orders just came down. Looks like you’ll have to stay and cooperate with the investigation.”
Lu Liang took a deep breath, expression unreadable.
His blood began to boil, and his muscles slowly swelled.
A faint black mist appeared on his body, thickening steadily. In the sewer’s shadows, it was hard to notice.
This was the beginning of Lu Liang’s Monsterization.
He didn’t want to become an enemy of the police, but hearing the voice on the phone, he recognized that mad Magical Girl.
He fully understood why she had called.
To escape the sewer before Magical Girl Star-Splitter arrived, Lu Liang was willing to fight the police.
Just as he was about to transform—
A Bug Monster fluttered up into midair, making a face at Lin Deqing.
Bang!
The next moment, it blew itself up.
Then another, and another, and another—
A swarm of Bug Monsters began detonating.
They had been hiding in the pitch-dark corners, and only now did people realize just how many were lurking here.
The explosions ended, and the smoke cleared…
“Cough, cough, cough, cough…”
Lin Deqing waved away the dust in front of him:
“Why did they explode? Cough, cough… where is everyone?”
He stared blankly down the empty corridor.
While he was lost in thought—
Bang!
Another loud explosion shook the entire sewer.
A figure dropped behind Lin Deqing, exuding a terrifying, malevolent aura.
It was none other than the Magical Girl Star-Splitter, just off the phone moments ago.
She wielded a sharp machete, clad in tight armor, exuding a fierce and unyielding aura. Even her Demonic Armament was activated.
At this moment, she was unstoppable—kill anyone in her way.
“Where’s the Cleaner?”
Bloodshot eyes blazing, Star-Splitter demanded.
“We caught one. Two got away.”
Bang!
Before she finished speaking, Star-Splitter slammed into the concrete ceiling overhead with fierce impatience.
“That was brutal.”
Lin Deqing gawked at the hole Star-Splitter had smashed above, shaking his head:
“So what if they ran? Can anyone outrun a Magical Girl?”
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