Chapter 124: Even with a Changed Face, What's There to Fear!

Although Bi Ze's news didn't seem urgent, Aomo still applied to leave work early.

Meipu Bourbon and Ailisuzhi's training plan still doesn't need modification; the former's self-discipline keeps him on track rain or shine even unsupervised, while the latter is supervised by classmate Chazuo, so there's likewise no need to worry.

After that brief exchange in the afternoon, Chazuo also seemed more enthusiastic and well-behaved, even trying to invite him while brewing coffee.

The overly similar invitation brought up unpleasant memories, but the coffee's familiar mellow aroma somewhat eased that displeasure, and Aomo could thus be sure that Chazuo was indeed related to the coffee shop at the school gate.

Of course, that's not the point.

Compared to the still-basic physical and strength training, what Aomo cared about even more was Ailisuzhi's research on 'spirit and dreams.'

Retracing the dream's source made it possible, without using Zhouri Ningjing's account, to return to that dream world with a fixed anchor—this research goal could thus be considered initially effective.

Although he couldn't precisely locate that blood source 3.2, he also stumbled upon many other 'dream rooms,' enough to prove the approach was correct, just needing further refinement.

Coincidentally, Zhouri Ningjing also had news that let him ease his pace; she bluntly said she was going to the Foreign Realm to fish out a few clumsy horse girls, prompting Aomo to mutter that she wasn't exactly cautious either.

Naturally he just kept those complaints to himself, not daring to put them in the message log.

The signature skill of the Awesome Spirit Body is to strike people along the network cable; generally it's best not to experience it.

However, hearing about fishing people, Aomo couldn't help but chuckle, wondering if this also counted as some kind of consensus.

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After all, he also needed to go fish someone out.

However, it wasn't the Foreign Realm, but the Surface.

As the West District Police Station, it's not far from Central Tressen; Aomo still remembered that last time he came here, he was fishing out a poor soul named Morisen.

Even now, the solemn atmosphere here remains unchanged, unaffected by the passage of years.

Although the Border Gate District (Surface) is famed for low crime rates, cases from the Foreign Realm often require the Surface's cooperation, so these officers' work hours are frequently spent frowning; only some odd civil cases can make them keep a straight face or even break into a smile.

For instance, when dealing with some unreasonable drunks, the primary handler's disdain often invites teasing from fellow officers.

At that time, Aomo was that drunk's relative.

Now, upon hearing he had to come to the police station, that drunk completely fled into the electronic world, and game prompts from the Steam software were enough to make Aomo find him and his game laughable.

It's been several years already.

Although the cyber officers' memories are certainly excellent, they aren't necessarily willing to retain storage for a single day's drunk, let alone that Aomo, upon entering the station, didn't see many familiar faces.

On the contrary, they all found Aomo familiar.

Until one officer called out his name, those gazes, from that moment on, showed differences as varied and uninteresting as a mobile game gacha pool.

Not intending to be an exhibit, Aomo blurted out before the arriving reception officer: 'I'm here to pick up someone; his name is Bi Ze, and he's been caught up in a murder case.'

"Oh, that kid can leave now, so you're his?" "Classmate, friend." Aomo said, showing his student ID still tucked in his wallet.

However, the officers here probably remember him more for his appearance in Heaven Gate City wearing a big leather suit.

Aomo sidestepped the topic, merely sighing unexpectedly: 'But I thought his looks would be called youthful.'

"Originally that was true, but he was drugged," a officer shrugged, "and for now he hasn't grown up yet."

"...? APTX4869?"

Thanks to the conveniently available nonexistent memory recall, Aomo could recite that full serial number and recall the Inspector Mumu of Heaven Gate City.

Whether as a mercenary or a trainer, Heaven Gate City is a place one will eventually have to visit several times, and if inclined, there's still a chance to look in on acquaintances.

"Did you hear that from the parties involved? Actually it's a Compound Potion; he was transformed into a criminal's appearance to confuse the senses."

Aomo frowned upon hearing that and asked: "How long does the effect last?"

The Compound Potion, a lower-grade concoction in Magical Pharmacy, can only be used for human transformation.

But because the transformation is thorough enough, and even increasing the dose can prolong the duration, it is subject to strict legal restrictions.

The most outrageous news about this potion was last year's Alchemy Club throwing a massive silver party, using entirely other people's appearances.

But just as hypnosis in some hands can only read the red‑letter books while others can stand atop the heavens, Bi Ze evidently ran into an upright person, making it hard to say whether it's good or bad.

"In another half hour, using the Spirit Display Instrument we can confirm when he was dosed with the potion and its purity," the officer said, pointing to a nearby door.

Following that gesture, Aomo saw the door opened by an officer, from which stepped out a clean‑cut youth shouting his name at him—indeed, from appearance to voice he felt quite off.

Aomo didn't immediately respond to the greeting, merely turning to the nearby officer and asking: "Walking around with this face, won't he be reported by street‑corner vigilantes?"

Presumably that criminal used this face to confuse their perception.

"You guessed right, though that criminal is now under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Realm's police bureau," the officer explained. "So there's no wanted poster here, and nobody pays much attention to that face."

"All right, then I'll take him away—thanks for your trouble," Aomo said in a businesslike manner, then looked at the fresh‑faced Bi Ze.

"I thought I'd first get your smug update… looks like your luck isn't great."

"I feel great—I even got to try this Compound Potion thing! You know?! I've only seen this in——" "Harry Potter; this formula has been modified, otherwise it wouldn't work as in the original world."

"Is that so? But it's no big deal," the youth said, a hint of excitement on his face as he walked out with him: "The main thing is, witnessing a murder case is just awesome!"

"Someone who truly witnessed a murder case being this excited makes me suspect you didn't actually see it firsthand, and were only noticed after the incident, then dosed with the potion."

"? They took the monitor away from me; they wouldn't let you look at the case files, would they?"

"I'm not a detective, and they haven't commissioned me," Aomo said calmly. "They probably just don't want to get involved too much; unlike the ideal scene you once described, this place is more realistic."

"No worries, no worries—useless cops are also part of the 2D realm!"

""

Such an answer is undoubtedly Bi Ze's.

But he still added: "The Counter-terrorism Mobile Unit and the Foreign Realm's Special Mobile Unit are also part of the police hierarchy; their case handling may not be ideal, but their achievements and merits are always abundant."

Thinking about how this guy's understanding of implied meaning is always peculiar, Aomo bluntly said: "You'll get hurt if you keep being so careful."

"Besides, what do you plan to do now?"

Others might find this hard to understand, but for someone just out of detention, he at least knows why he went in.

"Right here!" the person exclaimed excitedly, "After the club's master was killed, the club will instead strive harder to retain apprentices due to losing its mainstay; I'll first hang around here, see if I can learn something worthwhile!"

"Master… that should be the old mage, right…" Aomo couldn't be bothered to retort the title, so he skipped it and went on:

Very bold idea, but it might also end in failure. Moreover, perhaps the murderer will remember you, and the chance of him attacking you again at the old crime scene is not low. After all, your early report may have also disrupted his plan.

Whether it disrupted anything is unknown, but Aomo can at least take comfort that his precaution had an effect.

"So I should go talk to that club again, right? I get that," this person seemed to suddenly have an epiphany, and proudly added, "I might even get special attention from my senior brothers."

Bi Ze's enthusiasm wasn't interrupted at all; the boy's face was full of anticipation, passersby on the roadside looked awkward, while Aomo didn't care at all.

"Sure," he guided the other person's thoughts step by step like a teacher instructing students, patiently and persuasively, "Start from the victim and possibly the targeted topic; as the party involved, you have every reason to seek out the person in charge. Aim for those with the deepest seniority, but also note…" "Those with deep seniority may also have conflicts; I'll investigate first and then find you as my advisor."

Bi Ze had also tried before to guess Aomo's intentions, though he usually got it wrong, but this time he was actually right.

"Sure, I remember your club is famous for developing modern magic, emphasizing the Magic Staff system."

"I will attack in the form of the Thunder Light Battle Axe!" Bi Ze shouted.

Aomo remained silent, wondering whether it was the unfamiliar face that gave him this confidence, unafraid of strange looks.