Eerie Fulfillment

"We shouldn't be the ones going, but the upperclassmen teams all have other things to handle, so we have to step up for now."

A printed request for investigative assistance lay spread open, its bold black title hitting everyone's retina like a punch.

【Request for Investigative Assistance Regarding Recent Disappearances of Ability Users in Magic City】

Long Ao leaned in, his eyes lingering for a few seconds on the words "Magic City" and "Disappearances."

"Magic City?"

He muttered to himself.

"Disappearances again. Sounds like it could be interesting."

Su Yuehe's gaze swept over the document, then lifted, quietly glancing at Chen Guan across the table.

Chen Guan stopped eating.

Magic City.

The name hadn't appeared on Yue Teng's crude map, but it immediately brought back Yue Teng's words in the interrogation room.

"The black mist has chosen its master."

"No matter where he is, the remaining power will find him on its own."

"It will pull you toward places where the black mist exists."

So let him see—let him see if this so-called fate truly existed.

"We have to go."

Long Ao slammed the table, making his tray jump.

"Ability users disappearing might mean some random cult is at it again. Perfect chance to get some practice."

He looked at the others, waiting for a response.

"I'm in."

Su Yuehe's voice was firm, her gaze again drifting subtly toward Chen Guan.

She too wanted to see if Yue Teng's words were coming true.

An Changqing nodded, and then the three of them all looked at Chen Guan.

Chen Guan raised his eyes, meeting An Changqing's questioning gaze.

"Count me in."

Chen Guan's answer was short and straightforward. He had no reason to refuse.

"Good."

An Changqing let out an obvious sigh of relief—he had expected this outcome.

"Then the four of us will take on this assignment on behalf of Huawing."

He put the document back into its folder and tied it up again.

"It happened suddenly."

"We leave at seven tomorrow morning."

Long Ao was already impatient. "No problem."

Classes were way too boring for him anyway.

"But."

An Changqing's expression turned more serious.

"What is it?"

Long Ao pressed.

"We might not be the only investigation team."

An Changqing looked at the three of them, his voice deep.

"According to intelligence from the Association, the top local academy in Magic City will also send their student team to join this joint investigation."

...

The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten.

A maglev train heading to Magic City glided silently along the tracks, the scenery outside the window blurred into streaks of color.

There weren't many people in the carriage. The four of them—An Changqing, Long Ao, Su Yuehe, and Chen Guan—shared a row of seats.

"I told you I don't get motion sickness. This thing is like riding a rocket—arriving before I even feel it..."

Long Ao leaned back in his seat, hands behind his head, radiating boredom.

The teleportation formation at Huawing had been used so much that it broke down and still hadn't been fixed after days of repairs.

An Changqing was flipping through supplemental case files on his tablet without looking up. "It's about saving time. According to the latest brief from the Association, another person went missing yesterday."

As soon as he said this, the relaxed atmosphere in the carriage turned heavy.

Su Yuehe's eyes fell on the speeding city skyline outside the window as she said softly, "A B-rank assignment, but with a joint investigation... this time it might be more troublesome than we thought."

"Troublesome is fun."

Long Ao cracked his wrists, his joints letting out faint pops. "Let's see if the locals in Magic City have improved at all."

An Changqing finally looked up from his screen, rubbing his forehead. "Long Ao, keep it in check. We're here to assist with an investigation, not to pick a fight."

"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Student Council President."

Long Ao clicked his tongue and turned his head away.

Chen Guan remained silent the whole time.

He was leaning against the window, his gaze piercing through the glass, fixed on the gray sky outside.

Magic City.

Yin Chen's home was in Magic City. And that stone tablet... and Yue Teng's words.

The train arrived at Magic City Station.

The four didn't linger in the city center; they took a private car straight to Magic City Academy on the outskirts.

Unlike Huawing's ancient, grand style, Magic City Academy's buildings were thoroughly modern.

"Tch."

Long Ao sized up his surroundings and let out a contemptuous snort. "All flash, no substance."

An Changqing patted him on the shoulder. "Remember why we're here."

Guided by a student council officer, they crossed a wide plaza and entered an administrative building.

The meeting room was on the top floor.

The escorting student opened the door for them and made a welcoming gesture.

"Honored guests from Huawing, please come in. Our people are already waiting."

An Changqing stepped in first, followed closely by Long Ao. Su Yuehe and Chen Guan brought up the rear.

The meeting room was huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of Magic City's bustling skyline. A long conference table sat in the middle, and at the other end, two people were already seated.

One was a girl, tall and striking, with short fire-red hair. Next to her seat leaned a massive battle-axe that dwarfed her—its blade glinting coldly.

The other was a man, dressed in an elegant white suit, his silver hair meticulously combed, calmly holding a cup of coffee.

Hearing the door, they both looked up.

The red-haired girl's gaze skipped past An Changqing and Chen Guan, landing on Long Ao. Her previously expressionless face twisted slightly as her mouth curled down, and she spoke bluntly.

"You again."

Long Ao's eyebrows immediately furrowed. He was about to retort when Hong Yuan flash-stepped over to Su Yuehe's side, gesturing as she said, "You've lost weight again."

An Changqing pulled out a chair, sat down, and smiled at the two across from him.

"Hong Yuan, Yin Chen, it's been a while."

"Good to see you."

Yin Chen raised his coffee cup in greeting. His eyes briefly rested on An Changqing and Su Yuehe before settling on the last person to enter: Chen Guan.

In that instant, a genuine warmth filled his gaze.

"Boss Chen Guan, it's been a while since the Northern Frontier."

Chen Guan leaned his black coffin against the wall, pulled out the chair next to An Changqing, and sat down, nodding briefly to his two old acquaintances.

He wasn't surprised at all to see them here.

Yue Teng's words were eerily coming true.

Their presence was proof of that.

And Yin Chen's family—the stone tablet they had—would it have anything to do with this case?

Meanwhile, the other protagonist had no idea someone was thinking about his family. Yin Chen leaned slightly forward, hands crossed on the table, his smile unchanged, but his eyes locked onto Chen Guan.

"To be honest, I thought this joint investigation would be a hassle."

"But when I heard you were coming, I felt relieved."