Chapter 74: District 24

The next morning, in a park within the 20th District branch, beneath a shaded grove.

Su Xiao supported himself with one hand, maintaining an inverted stance.

“543, 544, 545…”

Su Xiao was performing one-handed handstand push-ups to strengthen his arms.

Sweat dripped down his cheeks, forming a small puddle on the ground beneath him.

Although the Paradise of Reincarnation could enhance attribute values, Su Xiao had never slackened his personal training.

When one feels gradual strength growing, most people become addicted to it.

Imagine feeling stronger every single day—how delightful that would be.

“White Night Senior, someone’s here to see you.”

A male investigator walked up to Su Xiao; he didn’t recognize the man.

Su Xiao pushed with his arm and stood upright.

“Who?”

“Special Class Arima!”

Upon uttering the title “Special Class Arima,” the investigator’s expression turned reverent.

“Special Class Arima? Understood. Where is he?”

After learning Arima’s location, Su Xiao picked up his coat and left the park.

He hadn’t expected the person waiting for him to be Arima Guijiang.

In the branch cafeteria, Su Xiao devoured the food before him.

Sitting across from Su Xiao was a handsome man with white hair and glasses.

He was Arima Guijiang, the strongest investigator of the CCG.

“So now you’re my superior?”

Su Xiao swallowed his last bite of breakfast and looked up at Arima Guijiang.

“Yes. You’ve been temporarily reassigned to Zero Team to conduct reconnaissance in the 24th District.”

Arima Guijiang spoke in a flat tone, his expression as blank as a statue’s.

Su Xiao paused to think.

He still had twelve days of free movement; though dangerous, the 24th District was a promising place.

To grow strong quickly, one must take risks—no effort, no reward—that was the iron law of the Paradise of Reincarnation.

“When do we leave?”

“Now.”

Su Xiao gave off an immediate impression of lethal intent, evident from his mere three points of charm.

Arima Guijiang was emotionless, so their communication was direct and minimal.

Arima Guijiang made no attempt to test Su Xiao’s strength; clearing the 14th District alone proved his capability.

Su Xiao followed Arima Guijiang out of the 20th District CCG branch and drove toward the 24th District.

The 24th District lay on Tokyo’s outskirts, a suburban zone.

More precisely, the 24th District was a wasteland aboveground; the true 24th District lay underground.

In the branch’s conference room, Maruhandai stood by the window, watching the departing vehicle and sighing.

“So he’s gone after all… If the Black Death God had joined this operation…”

Maruhandai’s demeanor was gloomy.

“Maru, don’t worry—I might have a solution.”

Shinohara Koki patted Maruhandai’s shoulder, staring at the departing car, lost in thought.

“A solution? Tell me.”

Maruhandai stared at Shinohara Koki in surprise.

Shinohara Koki smiled mysteriously, leaning close to Maruhandai’s ear and whispering.

“Yes, exactly like that—I didn’t think you could come up with something like this, Shinohara.”

Shinohara Koki’s face darkened, staring silently at Maruhandai.

In the 24th District, a CCG armored vehicle sat parked amid overgrown grass.

“This is it.”

Arima Guijiang stepped out first; Su Xiao followed.

Before Su Xiao appeared a circular opening over ten meters wide.

It was an entrance descending underground—pitch-black within, emitting faint wailing sounds like ghostly cries.

It was the wind’s voice, indicating vast underground space.

“Yuna, introduce White Night Senior to the 24th District.”

From the driver’s seat stepped a young woman resembling a student.

The woman, named Yuna, was about eighteen or nineteen, with long black hair, a white sailor uniform, barely developed breasts, and two Kyoukai cases slung over each hand.

Yuna glanced at Su Xiao, cleared her throat.

Clearly, another cold-hearted type.

“The 24th District—we call it the Underground Labyrinth. To date, we’ve never fully explored it.”

“Within the 24th District, there are vast quantities of flesh walls…”

Su Xiao was puzzled; he’d only heard rumors of the underground flesh walls, with no clear idea of their appearance, only fragmented intelligence.

“Yes, flesh walls—these are walls formed from Kaku capsules, similar in technique to Kyoukai manufacturing.”

“It’s precisely because of these flesh walls that exploration of the 24th District has become vastly more difficult…”

Yuna began detailing the 24th District’s conditions.

In total, the current exploration team consisted of three: Arima Guijiang, Su Xiao, and Yuna.

As for the other members of Zero Team, they had all been recalled to headquarters due to Su Xiao’s arrival.

Headquarters’ official statement: “Scatter combat strength across all districts—the current situation is unstable.”

Though Yuna appeared frail, she was a Special Class Investigator candidate.

“That’s all the data on the 24th District. We’re just passing through now—I’ve given you a general overview. We’ll begin operations this afternoon.”

All three stood silently. Su Xiao wondered—were they just going to stand here until afternoon?

Finally, Yuna spoke first.

“You two—are you really just going to stand here?”

Arima Guijiang said nothing; he simply got back into the vehicle.

Su Xiao turned to Yuna; Yuna stared back at him. They locked eyes.

“R-e-t-u-r-n—t-o—t-e-m-p-o-r-a-r-y—b-r-a-n-c-h~.”

Yuna enunciated each word slowly, her tone oddly peculiar.

Through brief contact, Su Xiao realized his initial judgment of Yuna was wrong.

This female investigator wasn’t aloof—she was neurotic, moody, unpredictable.

Five minutes later, the three arrived at the temporary branch—a three-story villa.

This was the temporary rest area for 24th District investigators; there were very few investigators here, now only Su Xiao and the two others.

Entering the branch, Su Xiao saw several busy staff members.

Aside from these staff, no other investigators were present, making the temporary branch feel eerily empty.

“Don’t bother looking—except for new recruits on training, we’re the only three investigators here.”

Yuna suddenly shifted from her cold demeanor to warmth.

“What time exactly do we head into the 24th District?”

Su Xiao surveyed the surroundings; the layout was simple—only Logistics and Intelligence Investigation were key departments.

Logistics likely supplied supplies; Intelligence Investigation recorded 24th District data.

“We depart at one p.m. The dining area is inside—that’s your quarters.”

As she spoke, Yuna’s pale face suddenly leaned close to Su Xiao’s, her delicate nose twitching.

“I smell blood. I like the scent on you.”

Su Xiao’s lip twitched—this woman was a perfect replica of Ryūji Kusakabe, even more neurotic than him.

Ignoring the neurotic girl, Su Xiao walked toward the Logistics window—he’d received a prompt from the Paradise of Reincarnation.

【Prompt: You have entered a special area—Temporary Branch of the 24th District.】

【Prompt: The Temporary Branch of the 24th District is a hidden area. At the Logistics window, you may exchange CCG contribution points for items.】

Su Xiao was curious—what could he exchange for at Logistics?

“White Night Senior, welcome to Logistics. Our items are excellent value—but never free.”

Behind the counter sat a thin, elderly man wearing small round sunglasses, grinning slyly at Su Xiao.

Su Xiao was bewildered—was this really a CCG branch Logistics office? It felt more like a shop.

As the thin old man spoke, a list of items appeared before Su Xiao.

The moment he saw the first item on the list, flames seemed to ignite in his eyes.

That brilliant blue glow—he had never seen anything like it before.

At that moment, Su Xiao felt immense gratitude for having come to the 24th District—profound, overwhelming gratitude.