Chapter 79
Chapter 79
After several officials died, the United Government headquarters immediately sent an investigator and detained the prime suspect, Qin Lan.
The investigation, however, produced disappointing results.
At the time of every death, Qin Lan had been fighting anomalies in the Fallen Zone, with recorded footage from the instances to prove it.
There was no sign of human interference at any accident scene, nor could anyone find residual traces of a curse.
Thus, even though everyone believed Qin Lan was responsible, no one could do anything to him.
“I’ve told you. I don’t know anything about this.”
Qin Lan sat casually in the interrogation room. “I think this is simply heaven punishing the wicked. Maybe even the heavens couldn’t stand watching them anymore… Don’t you agree?”
“You searched my communicator and checked my transaction records. I even showed you the Anomaly Hunter Bureau’s internal instance records…”
“Surely you don’t think I can fight anomalies in the Fallen Zone and kill people from thousands of kilometers away at the same time? You think far too highly of me.”
The investigator across from him stared like a drawn sword.
In the end, the man could only draw a deep breath and nod.
“Indeed, there is no evidence proving that you are connected to these accidents…”
“But Mr. Qin, I hope you understand one thing.”
The investigator spoke coldly. “Anyone who attempts to undermine the authority of the United Government will find only death waiting for them.”
“I hope you do nothing foolish.”
Qin Lan merely smiled. “Is that so?”
“How frightening.”
Only after the investigator left did Lu Xingshan push open the door and enter.
With a slight lift of his hand, several runes appeared from thin air and enveloped the entire room.
“You certainly made a bold move… You dared kill people that important. Everyone outside is terrified, and the Safe Zone is almost boiling over.”
Lu Xingshan’s tone was laden with meaning.
Qin Lan chuckled. “Director, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Enough.” Lu Xingshan curled his lip. “Why bother pretending with me?”
“I read the files on the Final Destination instance. These accidental killings are nearly identical to what happened inside it…”
Qin Lan continued to chuckle without admitting anything.
“I’m not here to punish you. I’m only warning you not to go too far.” Lu Xingshan tapped the table, his expression solemn. “The stability of the Safe Zone also depends heavily on those people.”
“If you truly cause chaos and force them into desperate retaliation, nothing good will come of it. Understand?”
Qin Lan scratched his head.
“I still don’t understand, Director… But I think the real killer must know where to stop.”
“Otherwise, far more people would have died by now.”
Lu Xingshan slapped him on the head in irritation. “Stop pretending!”
Qin Lan grimaced in pain.
“You really know how to play dumb. I can’t be bothered arguing with you… Here, this is the Purifying Breath you wanted.”
Lu Xingshan snorted, took out a small box, and placed it on the table.
“The instructions and required tools are inside. You’ll understand once you read them.”
Qin Lan smiled at the box.
“Thank you, Director!”
At last, he had exchanged for Purifying Breath, the precious medicine capable of curing most illnesses.
For the past month, Qin Lan had wandered throughout the Fallen Zone both to establish alibis and to collect Bureau points.
Aside from Purifying Breath, he had also wanted a storage bracelet.
Ever since borrowing one from Luo Yue, Qin Lan had coveted the item.
Now he finally owned one.
“Together, they cost more than a thousand Bureau points. Four whole 3-Star anomaly corpses. What a rip-off…”
Qin Lan sighed, though the cost did not hurt too badly.
Even after trading the anomaly corpses for Bureau points, he had still gained enormous amounts of stats from those 3-Star anomalies through his Talent and Backup Reaper class.
His curse energy had not increased, but his overall strength had improved tremendously.
Every one of Qin Lan’s stats had now surpassed 30. With brute force alone, he could truly match a mid-level 3-Star anomaly.
Combined with his various Death’s Curses and custom cursed weapon…
Qin Lan could now handle even peak 3-Star anomalies with ease!
“It’s time to see her…”
Qin Lan smiled faintly as he held the box.
“I hope her Twin Talents bring me a pleasant surprise.”
…
Qin Lan made a special trip to pick Tang Qingqing up from school and brought her to his home.
His home was simply the most convenient place to handle the matter.
School had too many eyes and ears. Qin Lan’s home also contained basic equipment supplied free of charge by the Anomaly Hunter Bureau, giving it excellent privacy.
It was best not to let others learn about Twin Talents too early.
“Well? Your grandmother should be awake now, right?”
Qin Lan asked casually, only for tears to immediately spill down Tang Qingqing’s face.
“Senior…”
Her voice was softer than Qin Lan had ever heard it. All the calm strength she had displayed when they first met was gone.
She resembled a small animal that had finally lowered its guard, shedding its heavy armor and exposing its softest, most vulnerable part.
Qin Lan panicked.
“Don’t do this!”
“Why are you crying? I didn’t even say anything!”
“Do you realize how easily someone could misunderstand and think I did something to you?”
He truly had no idea how to handle the situation.
After all, his experience dealing with women was effectively zero.
“Thank you so much… Senior Qin…” Tang Qingqing sobbed, her eyes red. “Grandma… She has never been so energetic before…”
“I used to… I used to…”
“I talked to her every day… thinking that maybe one day she would wake up… and call me Qingqing again…”
“That wish only came true because of you…”
Her grandmother clearly meant everything to her.
Tang Qingqing sniffed and finally managed to bring her emotions under control.
Her small, delicate nose was red from crying, and a sincere smile spread across her face.
“I followed your advice and removed the Talent bond with Grandma.”
“She’s healthier than she was before. She no longer needs me to share my life with her.”
Seeing Tang Qingqing stop crying, Qin Lan finally relaxed.
“All right, all right. Don’t burst into tears like that next time. It’s terrifying…”
“About that Talent of yours–”
Tang Qingqing suddenly looked embarrassed.
“Senior Qin, I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you everything about my Talent before…”
“At the time, I was afraid…”
She could not bring herself to finish. She felt ashamed of having doubted and guarded against Qin Lan.
Qin Lan did not care. Instead, anticipation filled his face.
“Really? That’s nothing important…”
“Can you tell me the details now? I think your Talent has enormous potential!”
Tang Qingqing nodded obediently. None of her former wariness remained in her eyes.
“The Talent What Joy in Life? does more than let me share vitality. It can also create a bond that shares all my stats with the target.”
“But I can choose only one target in my entire life. The bond cannot be altered or replaced.”
Tang Qingqing lowered her eyes, unable to meet Qin Lan’s gaze. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes.
Qin Lan completely missed the shift in her emotions and grew excited instead. “That’s incredible!”
“You can share stats? All of them? You’re an elite support!”
Tang Qingqing’s tone changed slightly, and her voice became much quieter.
“What Sorrow in Death? can turn the chosen target into a guardian spirit after they die. The guardian spirit keeps all the strength and abilities it possessed in life while granting me a portion of its stats…”
“At the moment, I can create up to three guardian spirits.”
Qin Lan’s eyes widened. He grew even more excited.
He had discovered a treasure!
“My God… Three guardian spirits that retain all their strength and abilities? That’s like gaining three powerful fighters…”
“And they also increase the summoner’s stats?”
“You were born to be a summoner–and one whose main body is incredibly strong too!”
The more Qin Lan considered it, the more excited he became.
Summoning Talents usually possessed a severe weakness: the summoner’s body was fragile.
Based on Tang Qingqing’s description, her Talent had no such flaw.
After a while, Qin Lan finally noticed that Tang Qingqing had fallen silent, her head lowered in shy unease.
“Uh… What’s wrong?”
“Is there something you want to say?”
Tang Qingqing bit her lip. Her moist eyes carried both nervous guilt and anticipation.
“Senior Qin…”
“I want to connect with you.”
What?
Qin Lan stared at her in confusion.
“I want to place my Talent’s bond on you,” Tang Qingqing continued. “You’ve helped me so much. I think this is the best way I can repay you…”
“Please let me support you forever!”
Qin Lan wiped the sweat from his brow and released a long breath.
“Oh! That kind of connection…”
“I thought you meant something else.”