Chapter 53

After paying 800 Park Coins, Su Xiao gained a new skill in his skill bar.

The newly appeared skill was an eye icon, different from other skills—it was pale gray, likely due to its temporary nature.

Basic Detection (Temporary)

Skill Level: Lv.2.

Usage Condition: 10 Mana Points.

Skill Effect: Observe the data of any living being; the completeness of the acquired data depends on the power gap between the user and the target.

Tip: Each level increase adds 5% to data completeness.

Tip: This skill has a ten-minute cooldown.

……

Judging by its description, the temporary skill “Basic Detection” was decent, but he wasn’t sure what kind of data it would reveal.

“Mr. Byakuya~?”

Rinzo Suzuya stepped into the alley, staring at Su Xiao with confusion.

Seeing Rinzo Suzuya, Su Xiao raised an eyebrow and activated “Basic Detection.”

[10 Mana Points consumed. Basic Detection activated. Information obtained.]

Name: Rinzo Suzuya.

Class-3 Investigator.

Health: 100%

Mana: 50

Strength: 7

Agility: 10

Endurance: 6

Intelligence: 5

Charm: 4

Luck: 1

Skill 1, Masochism (Passive): Experiencing pain induces intense excitement and suppresses most pain perception.

Skill 2, Sadism (Passive): When displaying a Fengkuang side, instills fear in enemies, increasing damage by 8%.

……

All of Rinzo Suzuya’s information was displayed before Su Xiao; since the target was weaker, the data was comprehensive.

“Basic Detection” was a powerful ability, Kexi it was only temporary and would vanish after leaving the Ghoul World.

Su Xiao had already decided: upon returning to the Lunhui Park, he would secure either a device or skill capable of detecting power levels, no matter what.

“Mr. Byakuya~, where are we going?”

Rinzo Suzuya circled Su Xiao, as if unable to stand still for a moment.

Su Xiao stood still, thinking—the appearance of that hamster meant the enemy contract holder had begun acting.

This puzzled him; he felt his progress on the main quest was already fast—could the Ghoul faction’s contract holder be moving even faster?

That possibility was unlikely; if the Ghoul faction’s contract holders were truly that strong, the Lunhui Park’s balance mechanism wouldn’t have activated.

Su Xiao had initially ignored the hamster for this very reason—or perhaps the one surveilling him wasn’t even a Ghoul faction contract holder?

The Lunhui Park was filled with danger; one must not fixate on rigid assumptions.

The contract holder surveilling him had not appeared, and the source of surveillance had been located and eliminated.

Even so, he remained in the light while the enemy lurked in the shadows—he could not complete Main Quest (2) while hiding.

“Rinzo Suzuya, come with me. Back to the CCG branch.”

Su Xiao decided to return temporarily to the CCG branch; Rinzo Suzuya, unlike Shinohara Akira, had some combat potential.

If the enemy contract holder appeared, Rinzo Suzuya could at least buy time; if the enemy was weak, Rinzo Suzuya might even kill one or two contract holders.

The main quest could not be halted—he would not abandon his mission just because he was being surveilled; that would be the stupidest choice.

When danger arises, one must eliminate its source—not flee. This was Su Xiao’s modus operandi.

In the CCG branch lobby, two rows of investigators in suits stood before Su Xiao.

“That’s the gist. Meet again here at nine tonight.”

After saying this, Su Xiao walked toward the logistics department.

After Su Xiao left, the Ghoul investigators in the lobby began whispering among themselves.

They didn’t know the full plan—Su Xiao had only told them which routes to seal.

No one knew if there were Ghoul moles within the CCG branch; caution was best.

After arranging tonight’s plan, Su Xiao returned to his quarters on the upper floor of the CCG branch to rest.

He had a feeling today’s clearance operation at the auction house would encounter complications.

With several hours left before execution, he needed to rest while he could.

At nine p.m., the CCG branch was brightly lit; numerous CCG vehicles gathered at the entrance, fully armed members waiting in readiness.

Su Xiao stepped out of the branch; Shinohara Akira rushed forward.

“First-Class Byakuya, personnel are assembled and ready to deploy at any moment.”

Shinohara Akira looked tense—this was her first time participating in a large-scale Ghoul purge operation.

“Deploy.”

Su Xiao boarded the vehicle; doors slammed shut one after another, accompanied by the dull roar of engines as he led a team of nearly a hundred men into action.

With his rank as First-Class Investigator, Su Xiao could not have summoned so many personnel—it was a special authorization from Shinohara Kōki.

Shinohara granted it simply because Su Xiao was strong.

Moreover, purging the Ghouls in District 14 held considerable appeal for Shinohara Kōki.

The convoy arrived near the auction house twenty minutes later; CCG members swiftly disembarked, hid the vehicles, and gradually surrounded the auction house.

These men had experience purging Ghouls and moved silently through the dark night.

“Mr. Byakuya~?”

Su Xiao’s Bluetooth earpiece crackled with Rinzo Suzuya’s voice.

“Status?”

“Position secured. No anomalies yet. Should we storm in?”

Rinzo Suzuya’s eerie laugh echoed through the earpiece.

“Stay put.”

Su Xiao switched channels and contacted Shinohara Akira.

“Akira, report.”

“No anomalies. Our concealment is perfect.”

Su Xiao continued contacting others; all three exits of the auction house were under surveillance.

It was now 9:30 p.m.—over an hour remained before the auction began; it was not yet time to act.

“First-Class Byakuya, the mask you requested.”

A CCG member in black combat gear delivered a mask.

During large-scale operations, CCG personnel always wore this attire; the heavy combat suits reduced casualties.

Su Xiao took the mask, put it on, and walked toward the auction house.

The front entrance of the auction house was locked; only the back door was open.

Ghouls would never hold an auction openly—especially not in District 14.

Near the back entrance of the auction house, Su Xiao pulled out a small spray can and misted his clothing.

It was a scent-masking spray, rendering humans undetectable to Ghouls.

Most Ghouls had dog-like noses; if Su Xiao entered the auction house directly, he’d be discovered immediately.

His plan to purge the auction house was simple: enter alone, lock all three exits the moment the auction began, then unleash slaughter.

“Password.”

As Su Xiao approached the back door, a burly Ghoul blocked his path.

“Human blood.”

Upon hearing this strange password, the Ghoul giant stepped aside.

“Don’t cause trouble, or I’ll kill you.”

Su Xiao ignored the Ghoul’s threat—he was here today to kill Ghouls.

Entering the Ghoul auction, the scene differed drastically from the daytime; the auction house had transformed completely.

Before the auction began, loud music blared through the hall, and a strobe light had been hastily installed in a corner of the ceiling.

Dim lighting, blinding colored lights, and deafening music.

These Ghouls were brazen—didn’t they fear discovery? They were already partying before the auction even started.

Beneath the flashing multicolored lights and pounding music, some female Ghouls, overexcited, stripped off their tops and writhed bare-chested.

Madness, hysteria—that was the impression these Ghouls gave Su Xiao.

These Ghouls lived day-to-day, so they indulged in wild revelry.