CHAPTER 493: CHAPTER 293_2

He could tell that Anbei was not joking.

This guy really wanted to break free from his original life path and embrace the light.

Dean was curious about what kind of woman could make Anbei open his heart; after all, for people like them, unnecessary emotions and attachments are like weaknesses, requiring great courage and determination to expose.

But since Anbei didn’t bring it up on his own, Dean avoided asking to prevent any misunderstanding.

Upon hearing Dean’s words, Anbei suddenly sat up straight from his slouched position. "A hunting game? Don’t tell me it’s a battle royale organized by the Lucifer Organization!"

"What do you know?"

"I’ve heard some rumors," Anbei said gravely. "This is an event that the Lucifer Organization has been planning for a long time. Out of curiosity, I gathered some insider information under a disguised identity."

In the past, he had disguised himself as a peripheral member of the Lucifer Organization and provided Dean with some intelligence support. Therefore, the insider information Anbei shared had a certain degree of credibility.

Hearing this, Dean perked up. "Go on."

Anbei lifted his head, paused for a long while, and then looked seriously back at Dean. "Do you remember the Lucifer Organization absorbing all sorts of psychopathic criminals from everywhere before?"

"Those people will participate too?"

Dean’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The miniature model serial killer hadn’t been caught yet!

Anbei nodded. "Yes, I’m not exactly sure, but those people are likely to be positioned as hunters in the battle royale, or perhaps as characters similar to NPCs. I found out about this because the Lucifer Organization transferred a large number of armed field agents internally; I followed the trail and discovered this bit. In any case, I would advise against your participation. Such a grand operation has powerful forces behind it that might be more troublesome than you can imagine."

Dean fell into deep thought.

Anbei’s rough words held true.

As a complex criminal organization, the people inside Lucifer, although appearing deranged, rarely overstepped boundaries in their actions. They were much more meticulous than those organizations that engaged in terrorism. Moreover, such a large organization would have many vested interests and significant costs involved in creating a large-scale event. It wouldn’t be conducted whimsically like some crime games, nor would it be done overtly merely to stage some meaningless bloodshed and hunting.

After some thought, Dean looked at Anbei. "What do you think their aim is this time?"

Anbei shook his head. "The reason Lucifer remains secretive is mainly because it operates online, organizing crime games that are mostly small affairs involving only a few people. But this time, they’ve mobilized a large number of armed field agents. For them, this is actually quite a risky move. I can’t figure out their purpose, but my instincts tell me it’s dangerous to get involved. That’s also why I discarded my persona."

He lowered his head, touched the wedding ring on his finger, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Once a person has bonds, they have vulnerabilities. I used to fear nothing and have killed countless people without ever having nightmares. Oddly enough, ever since I quit, I’ve been having nightmares every night. Isn’t that funny?"

Dean remained silent for a while, then nodded. "I understand. Leave behind your shape-shifting techniques and the method to make the Human Skin Mask, and I won’t bother you again."

Anbei flipped his palm and tossed a USB drive onto the coffee table, grinning. "I’ve been waiting for you to say that. I had the ransom prepared a while ago."

Dean: "..."

He silently gave Anbei the middle finger.

Anbei stood up. "Alright, I need to head back."

At the doorway, he pulled open the door, paused, and looked back. "Dean, it’s been good knowing you. I still want to advise you that peace is a blessing. The waters of the Lucifer Organization are too deep; stay away from it, especially since you have family."

Dean fiddled with the USB drive Anbei had left behind. Without lifting his head, he said in a calm tone, "The problem is, I’ve received an invitation."

At that, Anbei’s eyebrows lifted. "Well then... best of luck to you, and let’s mourn for those unlucky ones who’ll be joining you."

CLANG.

The sensor light in the hallway lit up, concealing Anbei’s figure...

...

「There was still more than a month left until the hunting game.」

In the following days, Dean lived a very regular life. He devoted time to studying the bone-shrinking and face-changing techniques passed down in Anbei’s family, spending time with Niel, and crafting Human Skin Masks.

At first, Niel was quite happy. But as time passed, the fertile soil could no longer bear the plowing of the old ox. No one could endure spending at least two-thirds of every 24-hour day lying in bed to rest and recuperate.

Lust is a scraping bone knife.

Niel felt she must restrain herself!

「Early one morning.」

The young couple had finished their morning exercise.

Niel pulled Dean up from the bed with all seriousness and said with a stern face, "Dean, I think we need to have a serious talk."

Dean pinched one of the ’Western Region grapes’ he had personally nurtured. "Hmm?"

"Do you feel that something’s off with you?"

"Isn’t that what unemployed people are like?"

"But I know you don’t like it," Niel held Dean, murmuring, "You lack spirit every day, you don’t go out, nor do you attend family gatherings. I feel like you’re missing a bit of... vitality compared to before."

Truth be told, Niel had a point.

People really are gluttons for punishment.

When he first arrived in this world, all Dean had wanted was to mooch off the system, drift through life, and enjoy a peaceful existence.

Now, with his suspensions from the detective bureau and the FBI, he was truly idle.

He found himself feeling uncomfortable, able to pass the time only with dull and tedious exercises while waiting for his bone-shrinking and Disguise Skills to develop.

He glanced at Niel’s serious face, a smile showing in his eyes. "Niel, do you have a good suggestion?"

Niel imitated Dean, snapping her fingers. "Dean, have you forgotten? You still have an identity as a detective."

"You mean, a consultant for ’Smith Detective Agency’?"

Niel nodded wildly. "Exactly! ’Smith Detective Agency’ has many branches in the United States, especially for cases involving the wealthy. They get involved quite a bit. You could totally take on a few cases when you’re bored."

She used to not want Dean to be busy with anything else. But her body wasn’t cooperating. Even with rigorous training, she couldn’t handle the torment from Dean, that beast, and had to become the person she once hated the most.

Her suggestion did serve as a reminder to Dean.

The battle royale game was more than a month away. If he kept tormenting Niel like this, she wouldn’t be able to manage her medical company’s affairs.

Dean nodded. "Tomorrow I’ll contact them, but before that..."

Amidst Niel’s screams, the overburdened bed also started to sway in the ocean of life...

...

「The next day.」

Dean drove to an unremarkable apartment in Los Angeles.

He took a look at the rundown apartment, somewhat surprised that the Los Angeles office of ’Smith Detective Agency’ would be in such a place.

"I hope to encounter some interesting cases," Dean thought as he, following the address, walked into the ordinary old apartment.