He Li really liked Xiao Lan, but not because it was worth over 2.4 million. After all, no one could refuse a dog that was good-looking, valuable, and could do chores.
The next morning, after confirming again that Xiao Lan ate neither dog food nor regular food, He Li headed towards the Spiritual Management Committee.
"What did you mean last night when you said your dog could do chores?" Tao Xue walked over and leaned on the sofa, asking He Li.
He Li's eyes lit up. "It's true. It can sweep, mop, wash clothes, and clean windows. I'm planning to buy a cookbook today to teach it how to cook."
Tao Xue was amused. "Why don't you say you have an elephant at home? And even if your dog could cook, would you dare to eat its food?"
"Uh..." He Li paused. Indeed, if Xiao Lan could cook, would he dare to eat it? That was a problem.
Just as He Li was contemplating whether to teach Xiao Lan to cook, Susan walked out of her office and called out to him from the doorway, "He Li, come here for a moment."
"Oh, okay." He Li responded and walked into Susan's office.
Susan got straight to the point. "There's a suspected Level 2 demon lurking in Jinshui City. The local branch requested support from the Northern Branch. The Northern Branch has issued a mission, and I'm the closest, so I have to go."
He Li's heart sank. So it was true. They wanted to lure away his "reliance." Heh... calculating a hundred steps ahead, when it came to playing mind games, he, He Li, was truly unmatched.
"Why tell me this specifically? What can I do?" He Li asked.
Susan looked up at He Li, then rolled her eyes and said impatiently, "What can I have you do? I'm asking you to behave yourself and not die while I'm gone."
"I'm not sure how long it will take, maybe a day, maybe two to three days, but definitely no more than three."
He Li nodded. "Alright, I understand. Jin Chuan and the Soul Devouring Blood Demon are both dead. A Level 2 demon, a Rank 7 esper, powerful enough to be dead. I don't think there's anyone stronger than them left in Binjiang."
Susan scrutinized He Li with a peculiar gaze. "I always feel like you really want me to leave, or rather, to get out of each other's sight."
He Li teased, "So, Captain Susan, you and I are people who are in each other's sight."
"Heh... Smooth talker." Susan shot He Li a sideways glance and waved him away.
After leaving Susan's office, He Li went directly to the rooftop and sat on the edge. Whenever He Li fell into deep thought, Xiao Yue would appear. Or when He Li was troubled, Li Qin would appear. He Li had already mastered the technique of主动召唤术 (proactive summoning), but the emotional changes in his heart were not something he could control. After all, who would try to recall sorrowful events when they were happy?
"Captain Susan is going to Jinshui City today. I heard there's a Level 2 demon lurking. Her return time is uncertain."
"So soon?" Xiao Yue sounded slightly surprised, then said with pride, "We are truly masterful planners. If this were ancient times, we'd be strategists and advisors."
"You seem very eager?" He Li asked.
"Aren't you eager too?" Xiao Yue stood beside He Li, looking at the beautiful scenery of Binjiang City.
He Li smiled. "Of course, I'm very eager."
"Let's see what qualifications those so-called hunters have to hunt me."
...
In a hotel suite, three men sat on a sofa. The most robust Caucasian man among them said, "That woman, Susan, leaves Binjiang today."
"Actually, I've always been curious about one thing. Susan should know that He Li is an Awakened, yet as a member of the Hunter Group, she's harboring or rather protecting an Awakened."
"Why do you think that is?"
The man to the left of the Caucasian man sneered, "Chamos, the Hunter Group has been established for thousands of years. Forget killing gods, they haven't even killed a divine envoy. What kind of hunters are they? Killing gods? More like serving gods."
Another man chimed in, "I completely agree with Zanka about serving gods. Who can resist a deity? Can you, Chamos? Or Zanka? Even I can't."
Chamos looked at the man and asked, "Meng, do you think that Awakened has the ability to resist us?"
Zanka, dark-skinned and powerfully built, also looked over, awaiting the man's answer.
The man pondered for a moment. "I'm not sure, as I've never met a true Awakened. But judging by his state when facing Jin Chuan and the Blood Demon, he had no ability to resist."
"As you all saw, his greatest reliance was Susan. Before that, the strongest demon he killed was a Level 4 demon, and it was a puppet corpse demon from the Soul Devouring Blood Demon."
Zanka nodded. "Hmm... I thought the same. That useless Jin Chuan did serve a purpose."
"Then let's make our move tomorrow night," Zanka said, pausing. "The Demon Seed Tree Demon I placed in Jinshui City should be able to hold Susan back for two days."
"How many demons do you actually have?" Meng Liu asked Zanka curiously.
Zanka shook his head. "Level 2 demons, only the Blood Demon and the Tree Demon. No more."
"Heh..." Meng Liu and Chamos exchanged glances and chuckled. "Zanka, are you being wary of us two?"
"Yes," Zanka admitted frankly. "Meng Liu, there's a saying in your country: 'Each harbors their own ghost.' Aren't we doing just that now?"
"After we capture the Awakened, we might turn on each other. We've all considered this, so there's no need to pretend."
Chamos picked up a glass of wine from the table, took a sip, wiped his mouth, and smiled. "Zanka, you're always so candid, but that's exactly why I appreciate you."
Zanka's sinister eyes, like a viper's, fixed on Chamos. "Chamos, you were the one who passed on the news about He Li being an Awakened to us. Are you saying you're not using us?"
Meng Liu leaned back into the sofa, his eyes dark. "Let's put aside our internal conflicts for now. Once the Awakened is completely off guard, let's take him away first."
Zanka glanced at Meng Liu, lowering his head slightly, remaining silent.
Chamos leaned back on the sofa with a playful look, gently swirling his wine bottle, his gaze constantly sweeping over Zanka and Meng Liu.
...
In the afternoon,
Susan was gone.
He Li sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching Susan's car gradually drive away.
"Choose a location?" He Li asked.
Xiao Yue looked at He Li questioningly.
He Li said, "Jinfang said that if He Jun used his abilities, everyone in this city would die. I don't want to give Captain Susan such a surprise when she returns."
Xiao Yue pursed his lips and smiled. "No need."
"We'll go find them ourselves."