Chapter 93: Do You Like Cold‑Brew Tea? (Revision)

Min Tianyou looked at Ying Duo's green hair that emitted its own light, and stayed silent for a full five seconds.

He inhaled deeply, raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples, and felt nothing but utter absurdity in his heart.

Using the high‑risk Mutation ore… to dye hair?!

He had just imagined countless possibilities: a Dome assassin retrieving the evidence? Or a mad scientist using it for experiments? Perhaps even an internal smuggling‑chain black‑on‑black…

But the one thing he never considered was that the answer could be so plain and unadorned! So straightforward!

Even though Min Tianyou considered himself well‑versed, seeing the scene before him made the corner of his mouth twitch involuntarily.

He strained to keep his expression in check, slowly turned his head toward Su Jingchuan, and offered a suggestion in as sincere yet feeble a tone as possible.

"Teacher Su, given the danger of the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone… my personal recommendation is to have this student shave his hair."

He pointed at Ying Duo's head and said, "The Mutation energy emitted by this ore is low, but if the Mutation Source stays in close contact with the scalp for a long time, no one can guarantee it won't have some adverse effect on his brain."

The most crucial point is that the Mutation affects the head.

If it were another body part, a Mutation‑removal surgery could be considered, but with the Mutation in the brain, could he even have his brain cut out?

Su Jingchuan heard him, his face also showing the same headache expression as Min Tianyou, and could only shake his head heavily.

"This method won't work."

What? You can't even cut a student's hair?

Under Min Tianyou's puzzled gaze, Su Jingchuan skipped over some unpleasant details and explained directly.

"According to our analysis, the Mutation energy has already caused irreversible damage to his hair and skin."

"Even if we shave off his current hair, the new growth will still be this Ying Guang Lu color; the effect of the Mutation is already irreversible."

Min Tianyou: "......"

Irreversible… Ying Guang Lu......

He lifted his head, silently glanced at Ying Duo's hair, then looked back at the helpless Su Jingchuan, cast a look at the barber Aqiang whose face was ashen, and finally returned his gaze to the dazzling Ying Guang Lu.

So, he not only found the missing contraband but also inadvertently discovered an indelible Mutation Source?

In this scene, who didn't stay silent?

And while the silence persisted, Ying Duo, who had been sitting calmly, stared with his hollow golden eyes directly at the newly appeared "NPC" Min Tianyou.

Why do all these NPCs have such strong opinions about his hair?

At the slightest provocation, they want to shave his head bald.

Or perhaps the player's charisma has made these NPCs so jealous they look twisted?

Ying Duo's gaze was overly focused and unabashed, even carrying a slightly inhuman scrutinizing feel, which inexplicably made Min Tianyou feel a chill at the back of his neck.

He instinctively averted the strange stare from Ying Duo and whispered to Su Jingchuan.

"Teacher Su, how severe is the impact on his brain...?"

Su Jingchuan sighed and could only continue to recover.

"Communication is not a major issue; he can understand our meaning and respond selectively, but his perception of the world has some deviations."

Min Tianyou nodded in understanding, yet still wanted to personally test how great Ying Duo's "deviation" could be.

Adjusting his mood, Min Tianyou's expression regained a gentle, harmless smile; he even stepped a bit closer to Ying Duo, extending his hand to attempt friendly communication.

"Hello, I'm Min Tianyou, currently an intern investigator at the Supervision Bureau; may I ask how you wish to be addressed?"

Ying Duo's gaze moved slowly from Min Tianyou's face to his outstretched hand.

He reached out and gently shook Min Tianyou's hand, then stared off into space, looking at the NPC information panel that suddenly appeared before him.

【Name: Min Tianyou (Lv. 19)】

【Title: Truth‑Seeking Detective】

【Age: 16】

【Race: Human】

【Faction: Supervision Bureau】

【Affection: 15 (Pity)】

【Mutation Value: 13】

【Current Status: Healthy】

【Preferences: Detective novels,....... (Locked)】

Ying Duo gave no answer to Min Tianyou's proposal, merely fell into prolonged silence, quietly watching Min Tianyou as if intending to dissect him for careful study.

The atmosphere instantly grew more awkward and stagnant.

Min Tianyou still held out his hand, his smile now a bit stiff; subconsciously he glanced at Su Jingchuan watching the scene, his eyes filled with a silent question.

So this is what you called... "communication not a problem"?

Just as Min Tianyou contemplated withdrawing his hand, Yang Yixie finally chose to give up.

It's nothing; although he knows Min Tianyou's name, the character min (third tone) is indeed seldom used, and he just spent ages on the nine‑key input method without finding it.

Maybe he simply missed it?

Sigh, never mind, it doesn't matter.

Finally, Yang Yixie chose a campus‑style address to break the silence.

"Hello, classmate Xiao Ming."

Min Tianyou: "......."

?

Little—Xiao Ming classmate?!

Before Min Tianyou could react to the sudden random naming, Ying Duo immediately tossed out an even more absurd question.

"Classmate Xiao Ming, do you like drinking cold‑brew tea?"

Min Tianyou: "......"

???

Su Jingchuan: "......"

Aqiang: "Although I'm terrified, I can't help but feel a bit like laughing—what's that about......"

Min Tianyou withdrew his hand expressionlessly, as if the person who just tried to communicate amicably with Ying Duo wasn't him.

He merely forced a grin that didn't reach his eyes, offering Ying Duo a perfunctory fake smile.

"Thanks for your concern, but I prefer coffee."

He decisively gave up communicating with Ying Duo, finally understanding why Su Jingchuan always looks like he's about to speak but holds back.

"Teacher Su, I understand your point now."

As for why Ying Duo suddenly cared about whether he drinks cold brew tea—a cosmic mystery—Min Tianyou chose to ignore it outright.

Yet Ying Duo persisted, its hollow golden eyes scanning Min Tianyou up and down, especially the obvious bluish‑black under his eyes.

"Excessive caffeine intake in minors can cause insomnia and also affect bone development."

Min Tianyou: "......"

He was silent for two seconds, almost grinding his molars before squeezing out a sentence through his teeth.

"At least I can still tell what's drinkable and what shouldn't be smeared on my head."

That's probably the most sarcastic reply he can manage while still being polite.

But after saying that, a deeper sense of helplessness surged in Min Tianyou's mind; he rubbed his temples, which began to throb.

Taking the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone back for study is now impossible; the thing has turned into dye stuck on someone else's head.

Take the person back?

Bring this green‑haired "Classmate Xiao Ming," who keeps asking whether he drinks coffee, back?

Just imagining bringing this lively treasure back to the Supervision Bureau, facing the occasional curious glances from colleagues, makes Min Tianyou feel suffocated.

Only when he recalls that they dared to let Chi Jin An become one of them does he feel reverence toward the Heresy Tribunal's members.

After all, not everyone is willing to have a bomb by their side that can't distinguish friend from foe and could explode at any moment.