Chapter 892

Seven men and women stood near Su Xiao, loosely forming a half-encirclement; all were psychics, the weakest at LV. 3, the rest LV. 4.

Moreover, as these seven approached, the symbols on their foreheads representing emotions began to flicker.

In Su Xiao's perception, these seven were like puppets, threads linking to various points on their bodies—seven distinct colors of threads—and above their heads, a large-headed infant's skull appeared, with seven eyes, each half-open.

Seeing this, the pale red aura around Su Xiao surged, and a monstrous beast's head materialized above him, its eyes blood-red, mouth filled with sharp fangs, the beast grinning as crimson mist drifted from its jaws.

"This is bad—it seems we've angered Mr. Hunter."

No sooner had Zui Zui Qiyu spoken than Su Xiao received a prompt from the Cycle Paradise.

【WARNING: Abnormal violator has entered Hunter's one-kilometer range. Pursuit function activated.】

Upon receiving this, Su Xiao frowned—Zui Zui Qiyu's true body had arrived nearby. For most contractors, one kilometer was not far, let alone for a violator.

Zui Zui Qiyu's earlier words might have been a delaying tactic, waiting for his true body to arrive and join these seven controlled psychics in surrounding Su Xiao.

A crow circled above the research facility, its eyes marked with an alchemical array; through this array, Su Xiao could share the alchemical raven's vision.

From the aerial vantage point, Su Xiao saw a figure in a black hooded cloak leaping between tall buildings.

The figure suddenly stopped, looked up at the crow in the sky, revealing a face that was still handsome—but covered in cracks like shattered porcelain.

The figure halted about five hundred meters from the research institute, standing atop a high-rise, refusing to advance further.

Seeing this, Su Xiao was puzzled—he had just fought a life-or-death battle with One-Way Street, sustaining serious injuries; his right arm, gripping the blade, was numb, and his left arm had been wounded by One-Way Street's reflection ability. If he were in Zui Zui Qiyu's place, he would strike now.

Yet Zui Zui Qiyu did not act—he maintained a safe distance from Su Xiao.

Inside the institute, Su Xiao's gaze swept over the seven psychics; he was buying time, and now he had to hold off Zui Zui Qiyu.

Noisy footsteps echoed from the corridor behind—a man and a dog burst out: Sniper Eren Yegeer and Wang Wang.

Wang Wang carried in its mouth an ancient grimoire, its cover made of some animal hide; the book was not thick, about one finger's width—yes, this was the End Spirit Codex.

Su Xiao held off Zui Zui Qiyu in front, while Wang Wang and Eren Yegeer seized the opportunity to retrieve the End Spirit Codex—they succeeded clearly, though Eren Yegeer had been shot multiple times; the two-meter-tall giant staggered as he moved.

Wang Wang handed the End Spirit Codex to Su Xiao; a prompt appeared, but before Su Xiao could check it, Eren Yegeer behind him collapsed with a thud.

Blood spread across the alloy floor; the massive man, strong as a brown bear, lay still—his heart pierced by a bullet; he had held on this long solely through sheer willpower.

"Your daughter is settled. By now, she's been sent out of Academy City for a long time—likely already taken by Tina Gregory."

Upon hearing Su Xiao's words, Eren Yegeer's pupils began to dilate; heart pierced, massive blood loss, multiple internal organ ruptures, pulmonary shock, severe cerebral hypoxia—even a third-rank healer present could not save him. He should have collapsed long ago; he had simply waited for Su Xiao to say this.

"Mission… completed…"

Eren Yegeer lost all vital signs, forever lying cold in the research institute. Meanwhile, at an airport in a small European nation, a female soldier held a six-year-seven-month-old girl—the child's face pale and pure, like a porcelain doll.

She was Eren Yegeer's daughter. He joined the Hound Unit because his daughter suffered a rare illness—her entire skeleton as fragile as porcelain; fractures were routine.

Faced with a condition "modern science" could not cure, Eren Yegeer turned to Academy City. It proved true: Academy City's scientific level, decades ahead of the outside world, could indeed treat this illness.

Yet entering Academy City was easy; leaving was hard. Both father and daughter were "trapped" within it—without permission, they would spend their lives here. Eren Yegeer's job was killing; his daughter, upon reaching a certain age, would be developed into a psychic and become an "experimental animal."

Eren Yegeer traded his life for his daughter's freedom. He had killed the elderly, children, women on the battlefield—and today, he died in combat.

Eren Yegeer had always known that invading this institute with Su Xiao might kill him; even if he survived, he could not leave. But this was precisely what he desired—if his daughter was safe, it didn't matter. In return, before Su Xiao and Aresta fully broke ties, the Head of the Shadow Unit used his permission to send Eren Yegeer's daughter out of Academy City.

Su Xiao always kept his word to allies; Eren Yegeer's daughter was swiftly transported to a peaceful small nation in Europe.

Wang Wang looked down at Eren Yegeer's corpse, its eyes tinged with sorrow—but it knew a new, stronger enemy had arrived.

Eren Yegeer's body lay face-down on the ground; though his death was messy, he was smiling. On his back was a black backpack, one meter long and half a meter thick, its contents unknown—this was Su Xiao's "insurance." Eren Yegeer had carried it always, even when shot, ensuring the barrel-shaped pack remained intact.

Su Xiao glanced at the Cycle Paradise's prompt and exhaled in relief.

【Hunter has obtained the End Spirit Codex. End Spirit Codex has been recovered.】

【Trial Mission: End Spirit Codex (Completed). Proceed to complete this mission? Upon completion, the Hunter will return to Cycle Paradise.】

【Tip: Must exit combat state to return to Cycle Paradise.】

…

Su Xiao had no main quest upon entering the Toaru world; thus, after completing his promotion mission, he could return to Cycle Paradise.

Yet the Hunter mission remained incomplete. Leaving now would have severe consequences—though no penalty would strike immediately, the aftermath of his last unfinished Hunter mission was still fresh: he'd been forcibly sent to a war world as a Judge. The Judge's role was damnably terrible—he couldn't directly interfere in war; if his own contractors failed, he might be unjustly killed.

"Mr. Hunter, are you preparing to leave?"

The arrogance controlled by Zui Zui Qiyu spoke—apparently Zui Zui Qiyu's intelligence was limited; he didn't know the consequences of Su Xiao's unfinished Hunter mission.

"If you strike a deal with me, you'll never regret it. Aside from direct combat power, I'm confident in my intelligence-gathering abilities."

Zui Zui Qiyu wasn't boasting. From his demonstrated intelligence-gathering skills, over 95% of Qingbao merchants at his level knew less than he did—this likely stemmed from his unique ability.

"Let me explain my situation—I'm different from other violators. I was forcibly violated. To be precise, I didn't break Cycle Paradise's rules; some idiot unilaterally seized control of my consciousness and body, utterly disregarding the Paradise—it's… an idiot!"

The arrogance controlled by Zui Zui Qiyu gritted its teeth.