Days passed quickly. Wen Wen didn't search for monsters elsewhere; he lounged at home. The containment facility was undergoing upgrades, and he lacked the motivation to hunt.
"Seriously, this Disaster Containment Facility is so inhumane. If you're going to upgrade, at least give me a progress bar. Without one, how am I supposed to know when it's done?"
Wen Wen grumbled as he carved the final rune onto a bamboo slip and attempted to infuse it with vampire power.
The bamboo slip remained still for a second or two, then began to spark erratically. Wen Wen scrambled to control it, and soon the entire slip turned black and charred.
"Failure..."
"Maybe it's not entirely a failure. After all... there was a reaction this time, wasn't there?" Wen Wen crushed the charred remnants and sniffed them. He found the smell rather pleasant.
Suddenly, Wen Wen's phone rang. It was Lin Zhe Yuan.
"Hello, Captain Lin. What is it this time? You're blowing up my phone."
At least four out of every ten calls Wen Wen received were from Lin Zhe Yuan. Another four were from others at the Hunter Association, and the remaining two were for Wen Wen's personal calls.
"There have been over a dozen disappearances on a highway connecting Furong River City to the capital, Sheng'an City. Investigations suggest it's a supernatural event. Can you handle it?"
"Hmm... I can."
Wen Wen pondered for a moment before agreeing. Not actively looking for trouble was one thing, but refusing an assignment when it came to him was another. Wen Wen was eager to test the power of his newly acquired weapon, so a trip would be beneficial.
Lin Zhe Yuan smiled and said, "Alright then, you three will depart this afternoon."
"We?" Wen Wen frowned. Having others along would complicate things.
"Yes, Lin Lu and Yan Xiu will accompany you. Since the L先生 incident, Furong River City has been relatively quiet. This mission can be considered a bit of a getaway for the three of you."
"But..." Wen Wen was about to concoct an excuse to decline.
"No 'buts'. You've already agreed." Lin Zhe Yuan hung up the phone, cutting off Wen Wen's protest.
He lit a cigarette and stood by the window, exhaling smoke.
Lin Zhe Yuan enjoyed standing in this spot, overlooking the city. His mission was to protect it, and only from this vantage point did he feel a sliver of satisfaction.
Whether the highway disappearances he mentioned were indeed influenced by supernatural forces was still unconfirmed.
The missing individuals were diverse: long-haul truck drivers, tourist couples, and even a police officer who had gone to investigate the situation. All of them vanished without a trace, dead or alive, with over a dozen people disappearing in less than a week.
Perhaps it was just ordinary highway robbers, or maybe it was a series of coincidences. Nevertheless, someone needed to be dispatched to investigate.
However, a case of this magnitude didn't require three people to handle. Lin Zhe Yuan had ulterior motives for sending them.
Yan Xiu, newly arrived at the Furong River Branch, was rather arrogant and looked down on everyone. Sending him on a mission with others was intended to temper his arrogance.
As for Wen Wen, his persistent refusal to join the Association meant that acting together would help foster his goodwill towards the organization. If his favor grew sufficiently, perhaps he would finally join.
As for Lin Lu, Lin Zhe Yuan dispatched her to prevent any potential mishaps. Despite her young age and seemingly scatterbrained demeanor, Lin Lu was already a seasoned demon hunter.
...Alright, truth be told, Lin Lu had been pestering him for days about wanting to go out and relax, and the incessant nagging had given Lin Zhe Yuan a headache, so he decided to send her along.
Regarding Uncle Gong's misfortune, Lin Zhe Yuan no longer doubted Wen Wen, or at least, not as much as before.
Time could validate many things. Lin Zhe Yuan had observed Wen Wen's performance over this period and could confirm that Wen Wen wasn't a major problem. Given this, he wanted to do his best to get Wen Wen to join the Association.
He actually thought highly of Wen Wen because Wen Wen possessed a certain quality that many excellent hunters shared.
That quality was an obsession with hunting monsters!
Whether it was for excitement, money, desire, or hatred, as long as there was an obsession with hunting monsters, they were the kind of talent the Hunter Association needed.
...
At noon, Wen Wen's door was knocked. Lin Lu and Yan Xiu, wearing a mask, stood at his doorstep.
"Let's get ready. The scenery on that road is great, maybe we can have some fun," Lin Lu said, wearing a sun hat and carrying a small backpack, its contents unknown. She wore a short-sleeved top with hot pants and white stockings.
A silk scarf was tied around her neck. Wen Wen, with his keen eyes, noticed a scar hidden beneath it. From the small portion of the mark visible, it appeared to be caused by something tentacle-like binding her neck.
It was likely an injury sustained during the previous Paradise incident.
Yan Xiu was dressed the same as when Wen Wen last saw him, wearing a white mask and exuding an arrogant aura. He spoke to Wen Wen in a deep voice, "Hurry up and get ready. Don't keep me waiting too long; my time is precious."
Wen Wen chuckled helplessly, picked up his prepared bag, locked the door, and descended the stairs with them.
Yan Xiu walked ahead, while Wen Wen and Lin Lu whispered behind him.
"Oh dear, is what's in your backpack... that thing!" Lin Lu exclaimed excitedly, covering her mouth.
Even as a superpowered individual, she was influenced by Wen Wen's魅惑 (charm) ability. Otherwise, given their relationship, Lin Lu wouldn't be chatting with Wen Wen so familiarly.
However, this influence was at most an enhancement of goodwill; it wouldn't lead to her throwing herself at him.
If some perverted man gained this ability, he would likely go mad with joy.
"Mm, you're right, it's that thing!" Wen Wen patted his bag twice in response.
"It's so big! It must be incredibly thrilling. Captain Lin never lets me touch such good stuff." Lin Lu's eyes sparkled, and she reached out to touch it, but Wen Wen blocked her.
Wen Wen hugged the RPG rocket launcher to his chest, gently caressing it. "I've fired it a few times. This thing is absolutely amazing!"
"Lin Zhe Yuan said that as a girl, I shouldn't play with such violent things. Can you lend it to me?" Lin Lu asked Wen Wen with anticipation.
Wen Wen immediately stuffed the rocket launcher back into his bag and said expressionlessly, "No, it's mine."
Lin Lu: "Miao miao miao?"
Refusing so decisively and unfeelingly! What a dense, straight man!
Yan Xiu stood downstairs, watching them emerge. His mask concealed his expression, but his eyes darted between them. Their conversation led him to vivid imaginings, and Wen Wen taking out an RPG rocket launcher further astonished him.
Were all members of the Hunter Association like this? Just as the Bishop had said, the Association's demon hunters were all vulgar people...
All three of them got into Wen Wen's black sedan and headed towards the road where the incident had occurred.
Wen Wen, naturally, was driving. After they exchanged pleasantries, Wen Wen learned that neither of them had driven to meet him!
Lin Lu claimed that as a girl, she didn't know how to drive, and Yan Xiu... he only knew how to slay demons and monsters, but not how to drive!
"I suspect you can drive, but I have no evidence."
Wen Wen said earnestly.