July 14th, 9:30 AM Japan ti, inside Oda Takekage’s café.
Ji Minghuan sat on a couch in the corner, trying to stay calm as he took a sip of his latte. Steam rose from the cup, forming a warm mist that blurred his vision.
Morning light spilled into the café, casting mottled shadows on the floor.
It should’ve been a relaxing morning, but right now he felt a little on edge, his eyes darting between Li Qingping, Origami Ayase, and Oda Takekage.
When he switched to Gu Wenyu and bailed on Li Qingping via text, he’d actually felt uneasy—afraid that Big Brother Red Dragon might get furious from being stood up, and end up throwing down in a bloody cage match with the two brigade mbers inside, dragging Xia Pingzhou into the ss as collateral damage.
“Whatever. Let’s just allocate so points first.”
Ji Minghuan pushed aside his real-world worries and silently pulled up Unit Two’s Attributes Panel.
A stream of data entered his vision.
【Unit Na: Xia Pingzhou】
【Unit Attributes: Strength: D; Speed: B; Spirit: B 】
【Available Attribute Points: 1】
This attribute point ca from finishing off the nine Kui-level Espers he’d inherited from Bloodline. After delivering the final blows, his “Winter of the Hunt” system had progressed dramatically.
He tapped the plus sign next to “Speed Attribute.”
For the Xia Pingzhou unit, balanced developnt was the safest strategy—too little speed would result in a pawn that had brute strength but couldn’t even touch the enemy. Plus, speed improved the Player’s own reaction ti, helping with real-ti battlefield decisions.
【Your Unit Two “Player”’s Speed Attribute has changed: B → B
(Your pawn piece’s speed will also increase accordingly)】
Turns out the old “when in doubt, add a point” wisdom still held up—Ji Minghuan quickly received great news:
—Li Qingping and his Second Prince didn’t get into any conflict with the brigade mbers at the café.
The two paid their bill and left, vanishing into the sumr heat outside. Ji Minghuan glanced out the window—streets and alleys looked like shimring mirages, warping in the scorching air. Cicadas scread from the trees.
The AC above blew out cool air. He let out a small sigh of relief, like he’d just sent two walking disasters out of his living room.
Origami Ayase was sipping tea in small, asured sips.
This kimono-clad lady probably had no idea she’d just unknowingly run into the opposition for the auction—and even let them go without batting an eye.
A retro Showa-era song played in the café, Ishikawa Sayuri’s “Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki.” It fit Ji Minghuan’s ntal image of Oda Takekage as a gruff old man perfectly.
Since joining the White Crow Brigade, this was the first ti the Xia Pingzhou unit had experienced such peace and leisure. It was like suddenly getting a PE period in the middle of a crushing high school schedule—everyone sprawled across desks, sweating buckets while tiny handheld fans blew their hair skyward.
Origami Ayase sipped her tea and, without looking up, said, “Tastes good.”
“As long as you’re happy, my lady,” Oda Takekage replied.
Ji Minghuan thought for a second, then asked, “So… Uncle Ninja, since you joined the brigade with No. 3, do you take orders more from the Captain or from her?”
As he spoke, he raised his eyes from his steaming coffee to look at No. 4—Oda Takekage.
Origami Ayase cut in first: “Don’t call
by number. Call
Master.”
Ji Minghuan ignored her.
“I usually prioritize the Captain’s orders,” Oda Takekage said as he wiped down a cup with a towel. “But if the young lady’s life is in danger, I’ll ignore all orders and put her safety first.”
“No need,” Origami Ayase shot him a look. “That kind of situation won’t happen.”
“What kind of person is the Captain, anyway?” Ji Minghuan thought for a mont and asked again.
“You’ll know when you et him,” Origami Ayase said.
“A terrifying person—but also soone worthy of respect,” Oda Takekage said.
Well, anyone who can gather this many monsters in one place… Ji Minghuan sipped his coffee and thought.
“So bitter…” he murmured, tearing open a sugar packet and dumping a bunch into his cup.
Origami Ayase said, “Little kitty, no taste.”
“I already told you, I’m not your little kitty.” Ji Minghuan couldn’t be bothered to look at her.
Origami Ayase said, “Little kitty’s rebelling.”
Ji Minghuan kept his poker face and ignored the clueless kimono girl.
Resting his cheek on his hand, he played with his phone, thoughts wandering.
There didn’t seem to be a single “normal” person in the White Crow Brigade. But no matter which mber it was, they all shared a defining trait: a lack of basic moral compass and an ease with killing.
In that sense, Ji Minghuan actually fit in pretty well.
Because to him, this was just a ga—killing an NPC didn’t bring any guilt. It was like watching a 2D character vanish into a stream of data. Was he supposed to lick the screen in remorse?
With nothing better to do, Ji Minghuan looked up and asked the two of them:
“When are the remaining three mbers and the Captain arriving in Tokyo?”
“No idea. Those three aren’t here yet… I’ll let you know when they co,” Origami Ayase said. “As for the Captain, forget it—he’s always the last to show up.”
Ji Minghuan set down his coffee cup and looked down at the tiny whirlpool spinning inside.
He thought, Sounds promising… the best always cos last.
Other than what he’d heard from Bloodline about another potential Restricted-level Esper, nothing much had happened that day. Ti quietly slipped by until evening.
Above the café was an attic. Origami Ayase had Xia Pingzhou sleep up there with her, saying it was to better protect her little kitty; Oda Takekage found another place to stay.
Ji Minghuan laid out a futon on the floor and glanced at the bed in the attic.
Origami Ayase looked tired and was sleeping soundly on her side. She’d used sheets of paper to draw a dividing line between them—if he crossed it, she’d notice. Might even kill him.
Ji Minghuan flopped onto the futon and went still, shifting his consciousness to Black Cocoon.
Black Cocoon got up from his hotel bed, raised his left and right arms. Binding restraints extended from both hands, spreading toward the front and back walls.
The Binding Restraint Sensory seeped in like rainwater, letting him see inside the rooms of Gu Zhuo’an and Gu Qiye—both were empty. Not a soul in sight.
Knew none of you would behave… Ji Minghuan yawned and opened the Character Developnt System.
【Current progress: Training Mission 2 – Form friendly cooperation with 3 Espers (regardless of faction) (Reward: 1 Attribute Point)】
【Training Mission 2 completed. Reward received: 1 Attribute Point.】
【Training Mission 3 unlocked: Form cooperative relationships with a total of 10 Extraordinary Species (Progress: 3/10; current allies: Reality-altering Esper “Blue Arc,” Exorcist “Su Zimai,” Exorcist “Ke Qirui”)】
He opened the Attributes Panel and quickly assigned the newly earned point.
【Your Unit One “Black Cocoon”’s Speed Attribute has changed: B
→ B
(The movent speed of your Binding Restraints will also increase accordingly)】
A “ding” notification sounded from his phone. Ji Minghuan grabbed it from the bed and checked.
【Su Zimai: Co out to eat.】
【Su Zimai: Don’t you dare ditch .】
【Gu Wenyu: Where?】
【Su Zimai: A ran shop in Roppongi. I’ve sent you the location.】
Ji Minghuan tapped for details and checked the address.
He thought, Tonight is the perfect ti to clear Gu Wenyu’s na… I have to completely shatter Ke Qirui’s suspicion that I’m Black Cocoon or Blue Arc. That ans I need both personas to show up in Tokyo at the sa ti.
So he opened his browser bookmarks and pulled up a sketchy Esper site—these blacklisted sites often stread live Esper incidents, usually recorded by bystanders.
“Let’s see if there’s anything fun… if not, I’ll have to stir sothing up.”
Ji Minghuan muttered under his breath, scrolling through the livestream zone for Tokyo’s Minato Ward.
At that mont, the top headline on the front page was a high-traffic livestream with a striking title: “Japanese tropolitan Police are currently pursuing Esper criminal ‘Winged Man.’”
“You’ll do.”
Ji Minghuan grinned.
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