Chapter 46: Chapter Fourteen: The Terrifying Intuition

After arriving in Xijie District, Su Xiao did not get out of the car immediately.

“Shinato Akira, do you know the specific intelligence about Xijie District?”

Although cannibals prey on each other in Xijie District, some civilians also live nearby.

“Of course. After I was assigned to District 14, I thoroughly researched the area’s intelligence.”

Shinato Akira rummaged inside the car for a moment and pulled out a file folder.

“District 14: Nakano Ward. This area is notorious for co-feeding; most cannibals hide among ordinary people. Various factions have branches here, making it a social hub for cannibals, with many cannibal informants…”

Su Xiao lit a cigarette and listened silently to Shinato Akira’s description.

He rolled down the window and exhaled a plume of blue smoke.

“Second Class White Night, please don’t smoke. Cigarettes contain over four thousand chemical substances, sixty of which are severely harmful to the body: nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, irritants…”

“And secondhand smoke damages my skin.”

The blue smoke curled as Su Xiao spoke:

“Can you find a bar called ‘helterskelte’? It should be nearby.”

Shinato Akira sighed helplessly.

“No problem.”

She pulled out a small computer and began checking the nearby map.

“Found it. Right…”

Before Shinato Akira could finish, Su Xiao suddenly sat upright, staring at a pedestrian on the street.

“Cannibal.”

Su Xiao’s piercing gaze startled Shinato Akira.

“What?”

Shinato Akira stared blankly at Su Xiao, unable to believe he could identify a cannibal merely by sight.

Su Xiao got out of the car and followed a middle-aged man at a slow pace.

The man looked exhausted—like a white-collar worker with failed career prospects, carrying a leather briefcase.

“Second Class White Night, wait for me.”

Shinato Akira grabbed her briefcase and hurried after Su Xiao.

“Tell me how you knew that man was a cannibal.”

“Intuition.”

The middle-aged man ahead turned into a narrow alley. Su Xiao quickened his pace.

“Int… intuition?”

Doubt flickered in Shinato Akira’s eyes as she watched Su Xiao’s back. She wondered—could this Second Class Investigator really be reliable?

In the dark, damp alley, the middle-aged man continued walking slowly.

“Stop.”

Su Xiao’s cold voice came from behind the man.

“Who are you?”

The man stared blankly at Su Xiao, his eyes darting around.

“Next time, don’t use a briefcase to carry human flesh—the blood will seep out.”

Su Xiao’s words made the man’s face turn pale, his eyes darting in panic.

“Mind your own business—you’re asking for death.”

The man’s expression twisted into savagery. His eyes turned red. He lunged toward Su Xiao.

The cannibal before him was weak—barely B-rank. Su Xiao didn’t even draw [Dragon-Slicing Flash].

The man took a few steps forward and swung a punch at Su Xiao’s head. His movement was stiff and slow.

Su Xiao had no interest in dodging such a feeble attack.

He snapped his left leg upward and kicked the man squarely in the abdomen. The man cried out, his body curling into a V-shape as he vomited a mouthful of acidic fluid.

The man’s posture now placed his head directly in front of Su Xiao.

Su Xiao wrapped his arm around the man’s neck and tightened it, crushing the throat with brutal force.

“L-let go… you…”

Just as Su Xiao choked the man, Shinato Akira rushed into the alley.

“Crack.”

A sharp snap of breaking bone echoed. The man’s body went limp. Su Xiao released his grip, and the corpse collapsed to the ground.

“Send someone to clean this up.”

Su Xiao walked past Shinato Akira, who stared in astonishment at the dead cannibal.

This made Shinato Akira wonder—could one really locate cannibals by intuition alone?

Su Xiao returned to the car. He didn’t know why, but when he’d casually glanced at the middle-aged man, he’d suddenly felt—without reason—that the man was a cannibal.

At that moment, the man’s briefcase hadn’t leaked any blood—it only began to seep afterward.

Su Xiao suspected this might be linked to his attribute upgrade.

Along with the upgrade, he’d felt profound changes in his body. His physique hadn’t changed, but every muscle had become noticeably tighter and stronger.

Before entering the Cycle Paradise, Su Xiao had practiced sword techniques for hours every day.

The unscientific training had damaged his right wrist; it ached whenever it rained or turned cold.

Now, his old injury was nearly healed—and would be completely gone soon.

Shinato Akira also returned to the car. This time, her gaze toward Su Xiao was unmistakably different.

“Second Class White Night, where are we going?”

“The helterskelte bar.”

The car started. Five minutes later, they arrived in front of the helterskelte bar.

“Wait for me in the car.”

Su Xiao stepped out, leaving Shinato Akira alone.

The helterskelte bar was opened by a female cannibal named Inori.

Su Xiao didn’t know its exact location, but he knew it was a small intelligence hub.

He wasn’t here to eliminate Inori—he came to gather information.

Inori was an SS-rank cannibal. Normally, Su Xiao wouldn’t let her live. But Inori had a more valuable purpose.

An informant who understood cannibals was worth far more than a single treasure chest. Through Inori, Su Xiao could acquire more treasure chests.

He entered the bar. It was daytime, so no customers were inside.

The bar had a retro style. The walls were unadorned, stained a dull yellow. There were no windows. Only a single lamp glowed above the bar, casting the entire space in dim light.

“Welcome.”

A languid female voice came from behind the bar. Su Xiao sat down at the counter.

“What would you like to drink?”

Inori stood behind the bar. Her long, orange-red hair stood out vividly in the dimness—the brightest color in the entire room.

Though she appeared calm, she was extremely alert. As an informant, she instantly recognized Su Xiao’s appearance.

Noticing Inori’s gaze, Su Xiao knew this would be easier than expected.

“Answer one question, and I won’t bother you.”

Inori stepped back a few paces, keeping a safe distance.

“Third Class Investigator, White Night—the monstrous human who fought Aito.”

The bar fell into silence. Neither spoke.

Inori’s intelligence-gathering ability surprised Su Xiao slightly. She knew about Kōsuke Izumi—that was expected. But she also knew he had joined the CCG.

“Ask your question.”

Inori sighed and chose to yield.

“Where is the co-feeding zone in District 14?”

“Right here—in Xijie District.”

Inori picked up a glass beside her. Half-filled with dark red liquid, it looked like wine—but it was human blood.

Cannibals’ taste buds differ from humans’. Eating human food causes them to perceive a strong metallic stench.

Even alcohol is undrinkable for them. Aside from water and coffee, cannibals cannot consume any human food normally.

“Give me the exact location in Xijie District. As specific as possible.”

Su Xiao was growing impatient.

“Don’t look so terrifying.”

“Fine, fine. After nine p.m. every night, the center of Xijie District is the worst co-feeding zone.”

Inori betrayed other cannibals without hesitation.

With the information secured, Su Xiao left the bar. He already had a plan to complete his mission quickly.

If things go smoothly, he’ll finish Main Quest (2) in less than a week.

“What does co-feeding really look like? I’m… looking forward to it.”