[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-10":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2269656,4431,"Chapter 10: Special Task Force","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-10",10,"\u003Cp>“Dream Training Mode?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing that looked incomprehensibly impressive piqued Li En’s interest—he was desperately craving power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the dream restriction was noted, he’d have to wait until nightfall to try it, given his Soul Card was still active and couldn’t be wasted so carelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time is limited—let’s get to work. Besides the case files, I have a list of items here; if you can get me even part of them, I’ll gain some combat strength.” Though demanding conditions from his boss right after taking office was excessive, it didn’t seem like the time for politeness now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll try.” Looking at the list of magical and witchcraft items, Talia could only promise to do her best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After tidying up slightly, Li En simply dropped the trivialities and followed Talia straight to the police station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Li En received the case file he wanted on the Tail-Cutting case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In exchange, he’d likely accepted the role of temporary consultant hired by the station, along with the title of “Special Task Force Deputy Leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Li En’s bureaucratic instincts kicked in—he sensed something off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Special Task Force is a good thing—pulling in specialists to handle specialized tasks, breaking free from old institutional constraints, often achieving high efficiency, but—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the good side. As a former veteran official from his past life as a transmigrator, Li En recalled two more realistic possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or the original institution is so rotten it can’t function anymore. Or there are tangled interests—original personnel can’t be trusted, and leaks happen anytime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most common case is deploying police from other provinces to investigate local crimes—this happens frequently but rarely gets reported, because whenever it does, it’s a slap in the face to the local police force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t even the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Or from the very beginning, this project has no meaning or can’t be carried out—pull a few inexperienced members into a token task force just to go through the motions. When time runs out and no success is achieved, the responsible task force takes the blame and gets disbanded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Experts are brought in for breakthroughs, backbone staff to do the actual work, newcomers… besides running errands, they’re just there to go through the motions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En didn’t want to judge this world’s major criminal task force using Earth’s local corruption—that’d be empiricist folly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the situation’s development made him realize that nothing new exists under the sun, and he himself was too young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of the above—and is there a local twist?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d underestimated how murky the water here was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If your goal is this case, fully diving into the police station’s mire might not be a good thing…” Her golden eyes dimmed slightly; Talia sounded defeated as she began to reveal the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Although the Special Task Force is understaffed and entirely new recruits, they shouldn’t leak information. By the way, don’t tell any other officers—any of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desperate reality: both possibilities were true—the local police force was neither reliable nor trustworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling the dock district police station “mire and mud” was probably an compliment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a place is rotten through and through, other places may not be fully decayed—but law enforcement institutions almost always have serious problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hustlers, corrupt cops, gang spies, cultists, noble servants—all the expected types are here, and even the unexpected occasionally pop up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere, veteran officers are more trustworthy; here, the more senior they are, the less you can trust them—especially when nobles are involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my task force I built. I won’t say much else, but everyone here is trustworthy. My daily duties are too busy—I can only ask you to help.” The more she spoke, the more resigned Talia sounded—this was a mess beyond redemption, yet she had to make him shoulder it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En merely glanced at the current progress and the task force members—he knew the police station couldn’t be relied upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Special Task Force had only five members total; the leader, Talia, was juggling daily station duties and had virtually no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only ones who could actually work were himself and two new recruits—one with half a year’s experience, the other one year—both pure greenhorns—and one name on the roster who was permanently absent, apparently a ghost employee collecting pay without working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the higher-ups, driven mad by Talia’s nagging, had just dumped these new recruits and invisible figures on her to keep her occupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps, from the very beginning, the local police leadership never expected this case to be solved—or worse, they didn’t want it solved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her own daily duties were extremely heavy; she could be temporarily pulled out as a fighter, but daily involvement was out of the question—and the other two members…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mrow, again, I’m Shana-na.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little cat with upright ears was cute; Li En had seen her once at the inn, and she still seemed capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flowered bow on her yellow tail, a sweet face, and a smile that reminded Li En of his hometown’s tricolor cat—he wanted to pinch her ears and rub her tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, actually interacting with her—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Big Brother, how did you suddenly become our consultant? So impressive! Can you tell me? Are you the Chief’s relative?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, it’s because of cooperation—this case involves me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I call you Brother Li En? You don’t mind, right? You can call me Xiao Lisha or Shana, but not Nana—that’s only for Sister Liya and Mom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Li En could finish speaking, the little chatterbox was already going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, isn’t regression really painful and does it cause fever? Why can Brother Li En walk around? Aren’t you uncomfortable? Or are you just pretending to be fine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I”—this was hard to answer; how was he supposed to know what regression felt like?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li En is a desert lizardfolk, right? Are all lizardfolk there black-haired? Here, lizardfolk and serpentfolk mostly have blue or silver hair. I heard it’s super dry there—hair must be unbearable. But here, when the sky turns cloudy, the dryness is unbearable too. I really want to visit the desert, but I don’t have travel funds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En fell silent—not just because he couldn’t answer, but because he realized her words had nothing to do with his responses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She just wanted to talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I touch your butt? Uh, not because I’m a cat pervert—I just want to see if your regressed tail really retracted. Oh, can I touch your scales? Can I have a fallen scale as a talisman?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En fell silent and turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, Mr. Minotaur, tell me your story.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En ignored the chatty cat and turned directly to the other member (Shana-na: Why are you ignoring me? You told me about desert scenery—my fur color must be better than the desert cats there…).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked reliable—tall, broad, dark, muscular, with tribal carvings on his horns and sharp, stern features like a door god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I-I-I-I-I-I…” After ten seconds, only two words—was he done with his self-introduction yet? Should he clock out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En covered his face, watching the minotaur’s flushed, stuttering face—he was numb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One stutterer and one chatterbox—you might as well form a duo and debut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on the bright side, at least he now had people to use, some case funding, and an office space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Black Pig Inn in the dock district, right next to the shabby inn where Li En had previously stayed—Talia seemed to think the task force operating inside the police station, constantly watched, was inappropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, Li En didn’t really care—he’d never had high expectations for the local police to begin with, and he’d already gotten most of what he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The crimes have lasted nine months; confirmed victims number 49, with missing and unknown cases likely exceeding a hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After becoming one of them, Li En received his intelligence and material support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so long, if this case could’ve been solved, it would’ve been solved long ago—Talia must’ve already given up, which is why she handed primary control to this outsider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most valuable content in the file was information Li En could never have accessed before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The crime frequency is abnormal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tail-loss disappearances started at once every few weeks, but recently have surged to seven or eight per week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the corpses’ condition is changing too—originally called the Tail-Cutting case because the bodies simply lost their tails, with no obvious physical changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the corpses found are dried out like bones, their life force completely drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A novice of evil power is becoming proficient—he’s growing stronger. This might be the only good news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This also suggests the perpetrator isn’t as strong as previously assumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you were that powerful, why target the dock district? Why prey on the weakest ethnic group?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Su Er’s extensive experience with cults, life-force victims are always chosen for their strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Major evildoers either sacrifice over vast areas, triggering city-wide crises, or target special figures like princesses or kings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the dock district of Huicheng is the city’s “sewer”—or rather, its trash heap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civilians in other districts have mostly undergone racial evolution; here, most are fragile, unevolved primitives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he’s a professional, he’s likely above second-rank but not fourth-rank—possibly a rogue, a dark magic user, or a fallen priest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crime locations were marked on the map—all remote areas of the dock district, mostly slums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En flipped to the key intelligence in the file—the very lead he’d accidentally obtained earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Diego Labol, third child of Baron Labol the ‘Weaver Spider,’ known for debauchery and ignorance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These basic details were skipped—he was visibly a scumbag—but some content was crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As a noble second-generation born into wealth, he had ample resources and crossed his second advancement early, yet his actual combat experience is weak, his professional rank low, and no demonic power was detected on his corpse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was confirmed personally by the local church priest—likely accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li En had indeed detected heavy “karma” on him—this couldn’t be achieved by mere debauchery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was interesting—he must be a pure intermediary, a courier, using his habit of frequenting the dock district to transport fresh goods to the noble quarter—who could command a powerful baron’s son to do this? Who needs near-infinite “Fruits of Life”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En sighed, clenched his fingers into a fist, and as if he saw darkness so thick it obscured all sight, as if he felt the four walls pressing down on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the enemy was the upper echelons of this nation—or even the kingdom itself—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head; it probably wasn’t that extreme, otherwise they wouldn’t make it so messy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were the state or top figures acting, they could systematize the harvesting—they wouldn’t turn it into a criminal case, nor use the trashiest dock district as a breeding ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s probably a small group—two or three high nobles leading it? And they’re likely desperate, nearing the end of their lifespans. If demonic power is involved, it might not even be a catfolk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Su Er’s rich experience with demons, such forced lifespan extension that twists normal evolution always brings endless consequences—chosen only as a last resort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this intelligence, Li En could now plan strategically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pack up—let’s go out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he finished organizing, Li En took his two little sidekicks and headed straight out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He perfectly embodied the spirit of this makeshift Special Task Force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These coins are enough.” He immediately withdrew a sum from his newly acquired case budget and spent it all the same day under the guise of investigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please accept our condolences.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small house, some crying or numb children, and a mother utterly lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center of the room sat a pencil drawing of Wil—likely the work of some skilled child—with a few small toys and cheap candies placed beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is his end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More—normal funeral rites, and all that—this family cannot provide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small house was suffocating; the two young people stayed only briefly before they couldn’t bear it anymore, so Li En told them to wait outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing his numb mother, Li En said nothing about avenging her—it was already a settled fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? There’s an exit already? Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He merely gave her compensation and invited her to work for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three-story house was sizable and indeed needed help with cleaning and care; the salary offered wasn’t high, but it was enough to live on—and more than she had now—while also removing her from this chaotic dock district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the potential damage to his reputation from housing the former female worker in his own residence, since Li En had already plunged into the mire, he no longer cared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the woman hesitantly said she planned to rely on her eldest child, who seemed to have stabilized his life—at least enough to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t trust Li En? No, she merely feared everyone who might harm her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En tried to persuade her, but seeing her timid yet resolute stance, he stopped pressing, merely adding a bit more of his own money to the compensation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving, it was patrol duty and team integration—get to know the local situation, recognize the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the task force, it was already afternoon, and someone was waiting at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, patrol go smoothly? I brought dinner and tea—take a break.” The woman waiting at the door with a bag was Team Leader Talia S Daer , just finished her work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her sudden arrival was a visit, a gesture of care, and a response to Li En’s earlier request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the boss arrive, the little cat, worn down by the funeral’s gloom, perked up immediately; the accompanying minotaur giant also hurried to greet the superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened the door, glanced at the small room, saw the unfolded case files and maps, and nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the female officer’s joyful expression—now that the task force had finally moved—Li En smiled too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, it wasn’t utterly hopeless; at least, it wasn’t a complete void of “white.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the young still had fire, the worst scenario was still far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were truly pitch-black—even the Kingdom’s own doing—Su Xing the Hero might have borne it alone; but Li En, merely “Little Su Xing,” must consider withdrawal. Record this grudge; seek revenge when capable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A high-ranking official, a cultist of a dark god, and a small group of middlemen were the most likely culprits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The case ended with that Diego.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Church State as Su Xing remembered it, the Knight Order would have stormed in and interrogated his servants and family—though the family were less so; cases involving a dark god always dragged in a long chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era of poor information flow, every action leaves traces; if you investigate each person he contacted, you’ll eventually find something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the police force instantly lost power when nobles were involved. In truth, had the police high-ups and Li En’s “fiancée” not intervened, this noble son’s death case would not have stalled here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, both sides have stepped back, pretending nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take it step by step—first, sever that black hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xing’s experience provided guidance; Li En’s gaze wandered across the dock district map. Severing the executor was the current key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The return patrol also served to confirm each crime scene and predict the next location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When a case grows too complex, catching the perpetrator in the act remains the most effective method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Oath Knight’s investigative style: no matter who the criminal’s backer was, executing them on the spot solved most follow-up problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem is, even if we find that bastard now, we might not be able to hold him. No—we’d definitely lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En looked toward Talia S Daer  with hopeful eyes; whether he could gain combat capability in the short term depended on her response—had she found the exact items he urgently requested?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Li En, armor and consumables are no problem, but those magical items you requested—though difficult—are not entirely out of reach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2685,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9880905b07d0d0ce058e3146a68c5d6b06b648e86257277915d92465a5f1111e","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-11","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-9",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]