Observing the layout of the Shadowless Abode from the doorway, I realized this so-called office was basically just a cozy little home.

"Come in and sit," Yeping said, settling onto the sofa.

"Oh." I sat on the opposite sofa, glanced at her, and immediately looked away when I caught her staring back. Eye contact was high-difficulty territory for a shut-in like me—too many cringeworthy memories.

"Let’s continue where we left off. I’ll explain what a ‘劣种’ is." She kicked off her high heels, tossed them aside, and crossed her legs.

Her little toe looked incredibly pink and delicate.

"Why are you staring at my feet?"

"Ah, I wasn’t!" *Crap. Why do I always get caught偷看?*

"Last time, I mentioned Haidu Mental Hospital was a hidden Mimic research facility. Five years ago, the strongest Mimics inside destroyed it. Those who escaped afterward are called ‘劣种.’ Most were originally homeless Outsiders, transformed into Mimics by human scientists. They carry beast genes, so they’re also called Beast Kin."

"Beast Kin… scorpions, spiders…" I recalled that woman, Wuxiaowu.

"Never call someone stronger than you a ‘劣种’—call them Beast Kin. Though I doubt anyone here is weaker than you." Yeping smirked mischievously.

"Every Beast Kin has a numbered tattoo somewhere on their body. Each number is their ranking code from the research facility—from the weakest #634 to the strongest #001. Higher rank means greater strength and research value." She continued explaining.

"A number? So the ‘Number Five’ you mentioned last time is Wuxiaowu?" I asked after a pause.

"Yes. Wuxiaowu is #5."

"Hold on—you said lower numbers mean stronger. So #5 must be incredibly powerful?"

"The Beast Kin who destroyed the facility were #1 through #5. They organized the breakout. The others were set free by them. You should know—once captured by the facility, escaping is harder than ascending to heaven. Nearly impossible."

"That’s insane?" I blurted, though I didn’t fully grasp it.

"Humans rank Mimics like this:

F-grade: One unstable mutation point—useless.

E-grade: One controllable mutation point—trash.

D-grade: Two or more mutation points.

B-grade: Ordinary Neo or average Beast Kin.

A-grade: Powerful Beast Kin or Neo.

S-grade: Beast Kin with formidable mutations, or Neo perfectly fused with Primordial bloodline; adult Primordials.

Special S-grade: Adult Primordials with mature family mutations.

SS-grade: Beast Kin with extremely rare, valuable mutations.

SSS-grade: Legendary—but documented—Primordials or Neos."

"Last time… you said I’m E-grade and you’re Special S. What grade is Wuxiaowu?"

"Weren’t you listening? Use your brain!" Yeping snapped.

"S-grade?"

"SS-grade. Beast Kin #1 through #5 are all SS-grade."

"Is SS-grade that strong?" It sounded impressive, but honestly—spider legs were just extra legs to me.

"SS-grade Beast Kin. Wuxiaowu. Codename: Emperor Scorpion. Nine mutation points total: eight Spider Spikes and one massive scorpion tail. She’s the most mutated one I’ve ever seen."

"More mutations mean stronger?"

"Not necessarily. But with only one like you? Pathetic." She pointed at my back, grinning.

"*Ugh!*" She was mocking me.

"Wuxiaowu is Dongchuan Guang’s strongest Beast Kin. #1 and #2 vanished after escaping. #3 died fighting at Haidu Mental Hospital. #4 disappeared holding off Outsiders during the breakout." Yeping kept explaining.

"Cool," I muttered. A magazine flew straight at my face.

"Interrupt me again, and you’ll regret it. Her Spider Spikes are two and a half meters long—nothing like your pathetic one-meter stubs—"

"Whoa! Say anything else, but don’t call mine short!" I yelped. A pile of magazines hit me.

"Wuxiaowu’s spikes pierce steel effortlessly. Three strikes per second. Twenty-plus stabs in an instant from eight directions. She can dismember a person in seconds, in any position she likes. But her deadliest skill is Mind Reading—"

"Mind Reading? I know—" I froze. "*Sorry!* Don’t— I was wrong!" I saw her grab a thick dictionary.

"Her Mind Reading is passive. She instantly sees your thoughts—faster than your brain can send commands to your body. She counters before you even strike. By the time you *think* of attacking, she already knows your move. *Hmph.*" She explained while gripping the dictionary, clearly annoyed.

"So her Mind Reading is unbeatable?" The more I heard, the wilder this world seemed.

"Not unbeatable. It’s passive, remember? She can only use it when intensely focused—it drains her. Only works on one target within five meters. And her scorpion tail… Her codename at the facility was Emperor Scorpion. But no one knows its hidden ability. No one’s ever seen her use it."

"I have. That tail stabbed me," I said bitterly.

"Too obvious. Anyone knows it’s more than that."

"You’re Special S-grade too. Who’d win between you two?"

"…" At my question, the domineering woman actually paused.

"Uh—you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to."

"With enough distance, I could rip out all her Spider Spikes. But if she closes in? I’d lose." She leaned back on the sofa, her voice barely a whisper.

"*Huh.*" Strange hearing that from her.

"*Tch.* Enough." She sat up straight, crossing her legs again. "That bastard vanished without a word, leaving a burden like you behind when I need him most."

"*Ugh.*" Here came the mockery again. "Actually… I’ve always wondered—what does your agency even *do*?"

"Hmm. Anything." She replied instantly.

"Huh? Sorry, didn’t catch that." I heard her clearly—I just couldn’t believe it.

"Anything. Ghost hunting. Helping police catch killers. Surveillance. Bodyguarding. Handling rule-breaking Mimics. Protecting Mimics targeted by Judges…"

"…" Too much info. My brain needed a minute.

"Hold on—the last parts are wild but make sense. But *ghost hunting*?!" I finally processed it.

"*Heh.* You’re an unnatural monster yourself. Don’t believe in ghosts?" She stood, walked to the fridge, and pulled out a red pouch.

Only when she sat back down did I see clearly.

A blood bag. She bit into it and sucked the blood like a juice box.

"HOLY—!" I yelped, falling off the sofa.

"Hmm? Don’t overreact. Didn’t I mention? We Nightingale Clan are a branch of vampires. *Hehe!*" Yeping laughed gleefully at my panic.

"…" I scrambled back onto the sofa.

"Enough distractions. Let’s discuss why I called you here."

"Isn’t it because I’m your kin?" I asked.

"Let me be clear: you’re *not* my kin. I saved you because you’re useful. Otherwise, I wouldn’t care if a Judge killed you."

"*Useful? Ha.*" Cold-hearted. I’d actually felt grateful when she saved me. What a waste.

"Xiaowu was one of us. Now she’s gone. I need you to replace her."

"Replace her for what?"

"Dongchuan Guang has five Primordial clans: two in the Central District, two in the East, one in the Southern District. They unite against outside Primordial clans—driving them out or eliminating them. But they also have a tradition: their top heirs gather to rank themselves."

"The five clans are Nightingale, Wristblade, Stiffyellow, Earthburial, and Domineering Eye. Ranked in reverse order—we Nightingales are last."

"Weakest?"

"Even #1 Domineering Eye wouldn’t dare provoke me. We’re last because…" She paused. "Our clan is too small."

"Too small?"