Chapter 4.2

"What about you? Also expensive?" (2)

On the way home, Shi An listened distractedly to the old butler's admonishment and nagging. He did not understand which part he did wrong. Do human beings now dislike money? They were clearly obsessed with it thousands of years ago! If I had my original body and strength, I wouldn't even need to buy and simply snatch him home!

Shi An returned to his room after he finished humouring the old butler. He closed the door, blocking out the lights in the corridor outside. Next, he took a deep breath and slowly retreated a few steps——DASH! CRASH!——he hit the bed and rolled around happily.

Instead of soft beddings, Shi An's bed was filled with shiny gold and silver wares, large and small, and ornaments broken off from furniture and walls. The pile of shiny "treasures" made crisp tinkling sounds when they knocked against each other.

Shi An contentedly closed his eyes and burrow deeper into the pile of shiny treasures. He had spent a long time collecting all these shiny treasures from this villa to scrape into a "bed" when he became the human "Shi An". It was a pity that his human body now was too delicate. He often woke up with red markings on his body since he was unable to continuously release his magic power to protect his body.

Shi An rolled around for a while in his pile of treasures before finally remembering his task. He sat up and took out a human-faced insect from his pocket.

Shi An poked at the insect's stomach. One of the insect's legs kicked up, but the insect still maintained its posture——determined to play possum.

A small dragon flame appeared on Shi An's fingertip.

"......!!!" The insect stopped pretending to be dead and jumped to its legs, screaming: "SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!"

Shi An put on a kind smile, lowered his head and moved closer to the insect. "Awake now?"

"......" AHHHHH! Don't come near me!!

*

The Monster Management Bureau was a tall and solemn grey building located at the centre of the uptown district.

As soon as Mu Heng stepped into the building, a researcher in a white coat rushed breathlessly towards him.

"Chief Mu......"

Mu Heng glanced at the researcher, his cool eyes reflecting the researcher's flustered expression, silently inquiring.

The researcher gasped for breath before saying: "Sir Zhuo instructed me to tell you to go to his office when you came back. Say...saying there was something important......."

Mu Heng nodded thoughtfully and turned to walk towards the research centre.

Zhuo Fu, the head of this research centre, was already waiting inside his research office. He usually studied monsters' weaknesses, and monitored the monster clan's movements and any unnatural fluctuation in magic power.

Right now, Zhuo fu's playful face was taut with tension, but his eyes were so bright that he appeared excited.

"The analysis results for the magic fluctuation detected some time ago have just come out." Zhuo Fu took a deep breath before continuing: "——it may be......it may be from a fantasy species."

That possibility surprised Mu Heng.

The fantasy species were once at the top of the food chain, ruling the entire continent. They were strong and terrifying, possessing lifespan and intelligence far surpassing the human species——however, they have disappeared for over ten thousand years.

Although there were rumours about the fantasy species' imminent emergence into this world from time to time. However, the rumours were merely rumours. No one had really seen any of those fantasy species which only existed in legends.

But Zhuo Fu was a loyal fan of the fantasy species. He suddenly moved closer and whispered furtively: "It could be a dragon."

Mu Heng lifted his eyes to stare at Zhuo Fu. The steel grey in his silver-blue eyes was more pronounced. A dark fire burned silently in those icy eyes, displaying unusual interest. "Hmm?"

"Don't look at me like that. I'm just joking......" Zhuo Fu shivered and raised his hands in surrender. "The data only showed that possibility. It could be nothing at all,let alone dragons, this type of ancient and mythical fantasy species. This was just to notify you."

"But even if there truly are dragons, it doesn't matter. After all, we have you." Zhuo Fu winked at Mu Heng.

——Mu Heng was the strongest mage of the human species and Monster Management Bureau's youngest chief. At the same time, he was the only remaining human from the noble dragon slayer bloodline.

Seeing Mu Heng's expression darken, Zhuo Fu coughed and changed the topic to lighten the mood. "By the way, I heard that......you went to handle the mission at uptown? How was it? Were there any casualties?"

Mu Heng stared at Zhuo Fu for a while. Finally, before Zhuo Fu started sweating, he mercifully replied, "No casualties."

"What about the monster's specimen?" Zhuo Fu reflexively inquired. "Have you sent it to the laboratory yet?"

Mu Heng narrowed his eyes. His pupils gleam with metallic steel blue. "It escaped."

That answer surprised Zhuo Fu. "There exists a monster that can escape from under your nose?"

Mu Heng did not bother replying. He glanced at Zhuo Fu.

Zhuo Fu cleared his throat and continued to ask: "Has the analysis report on the residual magic power come out yet?"

"Not yet." Mu Heng paused before continuing: "But my judgement is Abyss species."

Abyss species?! That shocked Zhuo Fu. However, Zhuo Fu did not doubt Mu Heng's judgement. To date, Mu Heng had never made a single mistake in magic detection.

"Recently, the Abyss species have been appearing all too frequently." Mu Heng narrowed his eyes and glanced at Zhuo Fu. "Put aside your imaginary fantasy species. The Abyss species' movements are more urgent."

"Fantasy species do exist," Zhuo Fu muttered under his breath. He reluctantly went to work on the research Mu Heng assigned to him.

"Wait." Mu Heng halted Zhuo Fu after he had taken just a few steps.

"What?" Zhuo Fu turned to look at Mu Heng puzzledly.

Mu Heng frowned slightly and, after a long pause, he asked: "That portable magic detection bracelet you designed.....are you sure it has no problems?"

Zhuo Fu scowled at Mu Heng, offended by that question. "What did you say? That's not possible! That bracelet is one of my life's works! There is absolutely no way it could have any problems!"

"Got it." Mu Heng nodded and turned to walk out of the office.

Zhuo Fu realised something was wrong and asked: "What's wrong? What did you encounter?"

Mu Heng did not answer. He walked straight out of the office. His silvery-white eyelashes cast shadows in his slightly lowered eyes, making him appear more aloof and unpredictable.

——It's nothing. Just that......it's the first time my instinct was wrong.

*

The tiny insect trembled in a corner while staring at the "human" in front of it in fear. He looks exactly like an ordinary human being with a head, torso and four limbs. He smells like a human too. But...... The insect shifted its gaze to the fire on Shi An's fingertip.

The red fire leapt and burnt silently in the darkness, radiating terrifying heat and heavy oppression that could burn everything just by staring at it.

With just one look at the fire, the insect could not help but tremble in terror. Even though the insect was certain its carapace could withstand most attacks from humans, the visceral fear inside the insect was clamouring for attention——I will be burnt to death! I definitely will be burnt to death!

And yet, this dangerous fire was currently controlled by an ordinary young human. The fire was like a docile ball of light on Shi An's fingertips when Shi An rolled and flattened it.

The human-faced insect curled up and fearfully asked: "What......What are you?"

Shi An blinked.

At this precise moment, the clouds parted and the silvery-white moonlight shone through the window, illuminating the room. The light passed over the young man's face and sank into his vertical crimson pupils, which were unusual and ruthless.

The young man lifted his hands. A layer of thick and sharp scales covered his fingertips, reflecting a cold and metallic lustre. Shi An smiled and replied: "Dragon."

"......" The insect stared dumbly at Shi An's crimson pupils and black scaly talons——then, it fainted again with its six legs pointing to the sky.