"Old man, who the hell are you?"

Lin Jincheng glared at the white-bearded stranger with raw hostility, his voice dripping with contempt.

"I’m a Special Investigator here to handle this anomaly."

The newcomer showed no hesitation in revealing his identity, meeting Lin Jincheng’s challenge head-on.

"Special Investigator? Never heard of it!"

Lin Jincheng scoffed, tilting his head mockingly.

"You don’t need details. Just know this—you’ll be arrested by me today."

Unfazed by the ignorance, the man replied calmly, as if expecting nothing less.

"Old fart, did your age inflate your ego too? I’m invincible now!"

Feeling underestimated, Lin Jincheng shot him a vicious glare and bellowed his boasts.

*Special Investigator?*

I lowered my head, pondering quietly.

If his words held truth… did that mean a dedicated department handled Fallen World incidents?

But then—why did costs vary for each contract?

*"All who make pacts must pay the price of existence."*

A familiar, nostalgic voice cut through my doubts.

I turned.

Kyuubi stood beside me, ruby eyes gleaming.

"Sorry I broke our promise…"

Seeing Kyuubi again filled a hollow ache in my chest.

A tear welled up—his return felt like pure joy.

Yet my first words were an apology.

I’d failed our agreement.

"It’s not your fault. In your current state, you can’t wield even one percent of your masters’ power."

Kyuubi shook its head, understanding.

As if it had always known I’d fail alone.

"Really?"

"You’re managing five percent. That’s exceptional. Don’t blame yourself."

It soothed me gently while watching Lin Jincheng.

"Did you send him?"

I connected the middle-aged man’s arrival to Kyuubi’s foresight.

"No."

Kyuubi denied it firmly.

"Then who—"

"Let them tear each other apart. Don’t concern yourself."

Its words chilled me.

*Tear each other apart?*

I stared, stunned.

"Because the power they wield comes from…"

"From?"

"Bonesoul~"

Silence.

My worldview shattered again.

That stern, righteous investigator—his contract partner was Bonesoul?

Impossible.

"How do you know the white fox is Bonesoul?"

It looked like Kyuubi’s kin.

"Haven’t I told you Bonesouls choose their own?"

Kyuubi reminded me of its earlier warning.

"So her fangs—"

"Are too."

"Why would Bonesoul make them—"

"To find paths that break the world’s laws~"

"If they pact with Bonesoul… will they end like me?"

"Yes. But their existence is erased by the Principle—not claimed by Bonesoul~"

"And me?"

"You’re different. A savior, in a way~"

"Are you on Bonesoul’s side?"

"If I were, I wouldn’t waste words on you!"

"Fair point…"

I’d suspected Kyuubi. But allies wouldn’t reveal secrets—or protect innocents.

Every Bonesoul I’d seen craved only human flesh.

"Rest now. Leave this to him."

Kyuubi urged, seeing my exhaustion.

"Can we trust him?"

I watched the man’s arrogant stance.

Both served life-hungry monsters.

What did Bonesouls gain from infighting?

"Contracts tempt humans to hunt their own. Your friend proved that."

Kyuubi voiced my deepest fear.

I had no rebuttal.

Human hearts *were* fragile—unbreakable one moment, shattered the next.

"Bonesouls create chaos to weaken the Principle’s boundaries. That’s their goal."

It explained their methods.

"But why fight each other?"

If their aims aligned…

"Bonesouls need human trust to lure prey deeper. Your friend Shen Shiyu—and that man—are in danger."

I tried to stand, panic clawing my throat.

"You can’t sway them. Power corrupts—"

"I don’t believe it!"

I refused to accept the truth.

I’d tasted power too—knew its poison.

But for vengeance against my father’s killer… I’d signed my soul away.

"Uncle! Don’t trust that fox!"

I yelled at the man preparing to fight Lin Jincheng.

"Who are you to sow discord?"

He snapped back, malice sharp in his voice.

"Enough, Liu Kai. Synchronize."

The white fox tugged his attention away from me.

"My old partner knows me too well~"

"Skip the chatter!"

"I, Liu Kai!"

"I, Ryūgen!"

"We offer our souls! Oupari!" X2

Man and fox erupted into twin beams of light, merging in the blood-red sky.

"Wretched soul, corrupted by evil!"

"Fellow tormentor, seduced into cruelty…"

"By the name of judgment—we condemn you!"

A theatrical voice boomed from the fading glow.

"Prove it!"

Lin Jincheng sneered.

A crimson magic circle flared before his raised palm.

A searing beam lanced toward the light.

"With Ryūgen synchronized, I am the blade that cuts sin!"

The glow vanished.

A young man hovered where the light had been—raven hair, sharp eyes, black military-style coat, a western longsword in hand.

His presence radiated authority.

Liu Kai swung his blade.

The sword met the crimson beam head-on.