For the next few days, whenever I had no classes, Kyuubi and I searched the city for traces of the Bonesoul that had invaded the real world.

Sadly, after days of searching, Kyuubi and I found no leads—just aimless wandering through the streets.

"Kyuubi, are you *sure* this is connected to a Bonesoul?"

Frustrated by our empty-handed efforts, I began doubting whether a Bonesoul had truly invaded this world.

Or were these disappearances just coincidences?

"I can’t be certain. I’m only trying," Kyuubi replied, shaking its head at my question.

"Uncertain, huh?"

"What? If you want to quit, I won’t stop you. It’s your time. Go do whatever you like~"

Seeing me lower my head, Kyuubi probably thought I wanted to back out.

It spoke lightly, as if my leaving wouldn’t bother it at all.

After all, this was its problem to begin with.

"No, I was just thinking about something else," I quickly waved my hands, clarifying I wasn’t quitting—just distracted.

"Oh? What were you thinking about then?" Kyuubi turned its head, staring at me.

"I was wondering if these are just ordinary missing persons cases. Maybe the Bonesoul sighting was a fluke. I haven’t sensed any distortion points lately either. Perhaps you’re overthinking it, Kyuubi?"

After reviewing our fruitless search, I started believing this was likely a mundane criminal case.

Maybe it really had nothing to do with Bonesouls?

"You might be right. But I won’t stop investigating. Assisting you is my duty."

Kyuubi didn’t deny my theory—but refused to halt the search.

"I see..."

"What *is* this?"

Just as I considered suggesting we head back—it was getting late—

---

Late that night, inside a police station in Guanghai City.

"Section Chief Xia Yu, stop pulling all-nighters! It’s terrible for your health!"

A sweet, feminine voice cut through my thoughts as I sipped coffee, flipping through case files.

I looked up.

A woman in her mid-twenties stood there in a police uniform. Plain-faced, but her voice was pleasant—far nicer than most female officers here.

"But this case *must* be solved quickly. The longer it drags on, the slimmer the chances of finding those missing girls alive..."

I knew sleep deprivation was bad. But the thought of those girls—possibly already trafficked across borders—made calmness impossible.

Such frequent disappearances? This had to be human trafficking.

Ordinary missing persons cases wouldn’t see nearly twenty young women vanish in a week. The number kept rising.

"But Chief! If *you* collapse, who’ll lead us? You absolutely cannot fall!"

Seeing my stubborn focus, the young officer—Lin Huiyan—pleaded desperately. She refused to watch this giant fall.

"I’m fine, Huiyan. I won’t crumble that easily~" I smiled, shaking my head at her concern. I even flexed my arms to prove I was fit.

"You’ve been up for *nights*! No! You’re going home to sleep!" Lin Huiyan stood firm, arms crossed.

"I’m wide awake!"

But...

Those girls might still be trapped in darkness.

As head of the First Division, twenty disappearances had shaken my superiors to the core.

"By the way, Huiyan—what did you find on Yang Hailiu?"

My eyes landed on a photo: an elderly man in a teacher’s uniform, hair streaked white.

He taught at Guanghai Normal University of Technology. My brother’s homeroom teacher.

Why investigate him?

Every missing girl had some link to this teacher. I couldn’t ignore it.

"Her background’s spotless. Award-winning teacher. I doubt she’s the culprit." Lin Huiyan slid a file across my desk, confident in her conclusion.

"But if not her..."

I wanted to believe her report.

Yet accepting it would sever our only lead.

Those twenty girls shared just *one* connection: Yang Hailiu.

If she wasn’t responsible, why did every thread point to her?

"That’s why you *must* rest, Chief! A sleep-deprived brain freezes solid. Maybe tomorrow, after proper rest, you’ll crack it!" Lin Huiyan’s tone turned grave. She blamed my mental block on exhaustion.

"Rest isn’t an option. Not with this case stalled. I’ll find a breakthrough through the night."

I rubbed my temples—utterly clueless.

Ten days since the first disappearance. Almost two girls gone *daily*.

This pace felt like a direct challenge to the police.

"But—"

"No ‘buts’. Huiyan, go home. Tell the others to clock out too. They shouldn’t stay for my sake."

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog.

The bitter coffee spread across my tongue, jolting my brain awake.

I waved her off, adding, "Don’t forget the juniors outside. They’ve pulled too many all-nighters already. I’ll handle this alone."

"No way, Chief! If you won’t rest, none of us will!"

"Yeah! We won’t let you fight solo!"

"We’re the First Division—we stand together!"

As if on cue, my four junior officers barged in, faces set with determination.

Their bloodshot eyes mirrored my own exhaustion.

"You all..."

"Chief, it’s settled!"

"We rest together—or stay together!"

"No backing down!"

They puffed out their chests like martyrs.

"Alright, alright. You win. I’ll go home."

Seeing their dark circles, I relented. As their leader, I couldn’t risk them collapsing at their desks.

"Promise? We’re watching you leave first!"

"We know your tricks, Chief! You always sneak back to work after we leave!"

They’d seen through my plan. No escape route left.

Lin Huiyan stood nearby, hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. *She* must have orchestrated this.

"Fine, fine. You got me."

I sighed, packing my desk. Standing up slowly, I stretched slightly—my legs wobbled from sitting too long, a dull ache spreading through my lower back. After a moment, the numbness faded.

"Let’s go. I’ll treat you all to a late-night snack as thanks."

Once steady, I beckoned to my team. The First Division had only six members: me, Lin Huiyan, and four others—all men. Middle-aged veterans or young peers like me. Thankfully, none resented my youth as their chief.

"Long live the Chief!"

"You’re the best, Chief!"

"Smooth move, Chief—winning hearts with free food!"

"Hey! Watch your mouth, Xiao Chong! That sounds suspicious!"

Elbows jabbed playfully as cheers erupted.

"Well then—I won’t refuse either, Chief Xia Yu." Lin Huiyan’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Unanimous approval? Then let’s go~"

Smiling wryly at their sweet talk, I led the way out of the room.