Chapter 36

Don't lie there, this hair was still specially made for you!

Chi Jinan didn't even change his breathing rate upon hearing that, as if he were asleep.

He even had the leisure to adjust the angle of his neck, letting the back of his head sink more comfortably into the soft leather, appearing completely shielded from external stimuli.

Hey! Did you hear that?

Qi Junyi raised his voice: "Don't play dead with me! The hair! The stylist tortured himself for ages to get it right!"

Facing his toothless threat, Chi Jinan couldn't even be bothered to twitch an eyelid.

Instead, he seemed to be deliberately provoking, lightly rubbing the back of his head against the sofa's backrest.

He deliberately let a few strands of the originally immaculately combed-back hair fall loose across his forehead and the edge of his mask, adding a touch of unrestrained, dangerous charm.

Qi Junyi felt his temples throbbing, barely restraining the urge to yank this guy off the sofa.

Knowing Chi Jinan's nature, he understood that for this guy who is impervious to persuasion and uninterested in anything, extra words are just a waste of time.

He took a deep breath and walked to the sofa, his tall figure almost completely enveloping Chi Jinan.

Qi Junyi bent down, his voice turning solemn, beginning the final confirmation before the operation.

"Let's confirm the mission once more: we have obtained the invitation to the Undercurrent auction, and our primary objective is to ensure the safety of auction item number 15, that is, the 'Old World Undead.'"

Qi Junyi looked at Chi Jinan, who had his eyes tightly shut, but Qi Junyi knew he was listening, and he emphasized the point once more.

"Remember, our mission is to 'protect the Undead'; superiors demand we bring the person back whole, missing no limbs."

"If everything goes smoothly, the auction proceeds normally, and no one jumps in to cause trouble, the Church's specially allocated funds will be enough for us to win the bid normally."

"If any accident occurs mid-auction, we must immediately, at the first moment of chaos, deploy all necessary force with maximum efficiency to eliminate all threats and forcibly remove the target from the scene—understood?"

Chi Jinan, who had been feigning sleep, upon hearing those words, for some unknown reason felt something stir; his hand, hanging at his side, twitched slightly at the fingertips.

Qi Junyi, sharp-eyed, saw his reaction, and an invisible black line drooped from his forehead.

"Reel in your excitement, Jin!"

He growled irritably, his voice laced with suppressed fury.

"Anyway, we're just giving money to the Undercurrent; the best case is we act like suckers, hold up a paddle, swipe the card, and escort the target out with dignity."

"Do you know what image our Heresy Tribunal presents to other forces? Once we're exposed, they'll only unite immediately to gang up on us."

He jabbed a finger hard at the 3D map on the tactical board, pointing to the spot deep in Poor District No. 10, marked in scarlet—the entrance to the Undercurrent auction house.

"Look closely! That's the Undercurrent's long-time lair; if conflict erupts there, we'll be fighting alone!"

"You don't want to be specially summoned by His/Her Majesty after the mission ends for a talk, do you? Keep your claws and fangs sheathed."

Chi Jinan quietly listened to Qi Junyi's long-winded speech, let out an indistinct hum, and a second later slipped back into his half-asleep, half-awake state.

Perhaps the Pope even wishes Qi Junyi would spend more money.

Looking at Chi Jinan's nonchalant demeanor, Qi Junyi felt his vigilance tighten even further.

He knew his 'partner' too well; beneath the calm facade lay suppressed madness.

This beast, bound by the Tribunal's rules and chains, has long honed its claws and fangs; it only needs a sufficient plausible 'accident' to break free and revel in a feast of slaughter and destruction.

Tonight's Undercurrent auction house is destined to be anything but peaceful.

And Qi Junyi can only pray that those potential troublemakers stay a bit rational, giving no excuse for Chi Jinan, this 'destroyer,' to erupt.

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Before heading to the Undercurrent auction, Bai Mu Yun brought Ying Duo to the familiar narrow alley in District 7.

They stopped in front of the Dream Illusion Bar, whose door still bore a 'Suspended Operations' sign.

It was already evening; the horizon retained a last glow of dusky yellow, intertwining with the gradually brightening neon lights.

Bai Mu Yun pushed the door open first.

The bar's interior was darker than last time, only a few small lamps emitting light; the air still smelled of disinfectant, obviously having just been thoroughly cleaned.

The bartender was absent, perhaps deliberately sent away.

Bai Mu Yun went straight to the private room, manipulated a few mechanisms, and opened the passage to the basement.

This time, the basement seemed to have acquired quite a few more things.

Rows of metal racks held various firearms, neatly categorized.

Although its scale can't compare to a regular arsenal, in terms of quality and variety it's already enough to equip an armed squad.

"What's the upper limit of your 'space' capacity?"

Bai Mu Yun asked directly, needing to know Ying Duo's aberrant arts details to arrange the later plan.

"We need some firepower to deal with any possible situation, but we can't carry obvious weapons during infiltration."

Ying Duo didn't answer directly, after all a player's backpack slots can be expanded anytime with materials.

He glanced up and down at the weapons before him, making a rough estimate.

"It can hold them."

Bai Mu Yun stared at him for two seconds without saying more; although he was technically Ying Duo's superior, he didn't feel the need to interrogate his aberrant arts in detail.

He changed the question.

"When you use your aberrant arts and produce an eyesore light effect, can't you think of a way to conceal it, or at least tone it down a bit?"

"No."

Ying Duo answered crisply; it's the effect color he chose when creating his character, and once set, it cannot be changed.

Bai Mu Yun suspected Ying Duo was deliberately stringing him along, but had no evidence.

Ying Duo's status at Mitra Academy is still useful, but his aberrant arts are simply too conspicuous.

"In that case, unless absolutely necessary, don't use your aberrant arts at the auction venue or its surroundings."

He ordered, then pointed at the nearby weapon racks: "Now, use your 'space' to stash as many of these weapons as possible."