Bai Xue had described the formidable swordsman in the group chat before.
He was truly powerful, his swordsmanship exceptionally sharp. With just two swift slashes, he had cleaved a fearsome ghoul, a genuine warrior. When she first described him, many in the chat doubted her. It was only when she swore with conviction that many had witnessed it firsthand that the old timers in the group finally believed her.
However, after inquiries, no such person was found among the Special Investigators, and even fewer among the awakened individuals in the populace. Despite extensive searching, no one matched her description.
Bai Xue then requested help from "Teacher Fu, Who Doesn't Play Fair." True to his name, he was an elder who had trained in martial arts and had even taught her spear techniques for a while.
The elder was highly skilled in martial arts and was considered a powerhouse among Special Investigators. More importantly, he had a vast network of contacts. Bai Xue, having witnessed Hei Dao's exquisite, ten-level knife skills, believed Hei Dao must have had a master, and perhaps this elder could gather information on him.
Such a person couldn't possibly remain unknown.
"I asked based on your description," Teacher Fu, Who Doesn't Play Fair, appeared. "There's a young man with exquisite, ten-level knife skills. Hmm, he's a head chef at a hotel. There's also a young man who awakened a powerful ability, but he inherited from my lineage, known in the martial world as the Lime Warrior."
In short, there was no one.
Not completely fitting meant not fitting at all.
As for the organization mentioned by the man in black, not a single trace was found. The members of the retirement group didn't believe it either.
Such an organization in their Eastern Huang Nation, in their Bai Yun Province? Impossible!
Bai Xue, that girl, wasn't always the sharpest. Had she been tricked? Teacher Fu, Who Doesn't Play Fair, felt a pang of worry. He wanted to visit Bai Jiang City but was tied down. However, since Bai Xue was with people from the Bai Jiang Investigation Bureau, the problem was likely minimal.
She'd probably forget about it after a while.
...
After repeated inquiries yielded no results, Director Zhou also had people inquire with higher authorities, who also reported nothing. He wasn't sure if his clearance was still insufficient, or if the organization was too deeply hidden.
The thought that the mysterious organization didn't exist and that the formidable man in black had merely fabricated it crossed Director Zhou's mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
They couldn't find the formidable man in black, nor could they gather more information about this unknown organization, but... they had found some clues!
"Ten days ago, the knocking ghoul in Taiping Residential Area."
"Six days ago, the ghoul at Dongyang Wharf."
"Today, the ghoul in an old house in District dC."
"And the first ghoul at the construction site, the terrifying ghoul on Huangcao Street..."
So many incidents! They had discovered and eradicated as many as five ghouls! Excluding that terrifying snake-like ghoul, whose appearance caused significant commotion and allowed insiders to infer the emergence of a formidable ghoul.
The formidable man in black appeared on Huangcao Street and beheaded the snake-like ghoul; he was truly a mighty warrior, immensely powerful!
But Director Zhou was more concerned about the other locations. While those ghouls were far less powerful than the snake-like one, it wasn't a question of strength. The question was... how did the formidable man in black find these ghouls?
The construction site ghoul had only appeared for three days.
The traces of the other ghouls were even more hidden. Their Investigation Bureau was experienced, with countless personnel from various departments cooperating, allowing them to uncover the ghouls hidden within Bai Jiang City.
The formidable man in black, on what grounds?!
He even found them faster than they did!
It was precisely because of this that Director Zhou was convinced the formidable man in black was not alone, and that such an organization truly existed – mysterious, extraordinary, and possibly possessing tracking methods unknown to their Investigation Bureau.
"Regardless, since this organization maintains a low profile and silently eradicates ghouls, they are our allies."
Director Zhou was actually quite envious of the methods that allowed them to track ghouls faster than his bureau. He also hoped to bring this mysterious organization under their wing. He was wary of such an unstable force operating outside the established order. However, compared to some deranged or power-abusing awakened individuals, a mysterious and low-profile organization was not a significant issue.
At least, for now, it was beneficial to their Investigation Bureau, wasn't it?
After all, they couldn't find them. DAFENG FICTION NETWORK.
Even if they found them, it probably wouldn't be useful. Could they force someone to join them?
"In any case, we will proceed with the original plan: pay more attention during routine missions and invite them to the Investigation Bureau for tea if the opportunity arises."
"Perhaps this organization has very few members, which is why we haven't been able to gather information."
Another possibility was that this organization primarily operated abroad, and the combat personnel appearing in their Bai Yun Province and Bai Jiang City was only the black-clad swordsman.
The others might be support staff, making them difficult to find.
"Rest assured, I will spare no effort in searching for this organization!" Jiang Tingqiu declared.
He had been staking out locations for days. He hadn't encountered the black-clad大哥, but he had found many clues.
He believed that with his earnest dedication, finding them was only a matter of time!
It would happen!
After a brief exchange, Director Zhou transitioned to a more critical topic. "Ghouls have been appearing frequently in various places these days, and their impact is becoming increasingly severe. While we can still manage within our Eastern Huang Nation, some smaller countries have already fallen into despair."
"For example, Boruo Nation experienced an extremely serious disaster. A 'Gate of Hell' opened, and countless ghouls poured out in an instant. That city has now completely fallen, with immense casualties."
Upon hearing this, everyone present, including Bai Xue and the other investigators, gasped.
Gate of Hell!
Ghoul tide!
Could humanity withstand this? It felt as though the apocalypse could descend at any moment!
"However, there's no need for complete despair. As ghouls multiply, humanity is also progressing. Some time ago, the General Bureau of our Investigation Bureau made a breakthrough and developed a weapon capable of conducting and compressing life energy, amplifying lethality."
Director Zhou stated.
This dramatic swing from despair to hope almost left them breathless.
But the investigators were curious about the new type of weapon Director Zhou mentioned. When would they get to use it? Wait... they hadn't awakened yet; they couldn't guide life energy.
The investigators' expectations were dashed.
Director Zhou then had a long box brought forward. "This contains a new type of weapon. I had to pull many favors to secure priority allocation for our Bai Jiang branch."
When the box was opened, a snow-white spear lay inside, disassembled into two sections, resting quietly in the long wooden case.
Director Zhou looked at Bai Xue with an expression that seemed to be trying to lure her in. Actually, he thought, how could he be said to be luring her? Director Zhou's actions were merely an attempt to persuade Bai Xue to stay at the Bai Jiang branch long-term, as it had been lacking a Special Investigator.
With a Special Investigator present, their Bai Jiang branch would have fewer personnel shortages.
This was beneficial for both parties.
"Try it. Only you here can use this weapon."