"Dragon Department, Cheng Xing is quite inarticulate, please don't take his words to heart."

In a relatively low-profile business car, the mayor of Chengyang City casually spoke to Minister Long sitting opposite him.

However, Minister Long responded to his words with a sarcastic smile, "How could I dare to overthink? After you climbed up to this position, even a secretary under you can treat me like a beat cop, who knows what your own thoughts are as a mayor?"

"That's just joking around, of course, you'll always be our captain!" the mayor laughed heartily.

This layer of relationship was something neither Secretary Cheng nor Wu Liang had even considered.

Minister Long used to be the mayor's team captain!

Before learning about the crisis in Chengyang City from Sister She, Minister Long was also leading a team of Awakened in the Capital City, forming a Supernatural Handling Squad fighting on the frontlines.

And the current mayor of Chengyang City was the vice-captain of that squad back then!

Later, due to the impact caused by a particular Fierce Ghost, he could no longer participate in frontline operations and transitioned into a political career.

Just coincidentally, shortly after becoming the mayor of Chengyang City, Minister Long was transferred here.

This is also one of the reasons why Minister Long is reluctant to protect him—this mayor is actually an Awakened! Minister Long believes he has the ability to protect himself!

"Just be honest, why did you agree after initially declining Cheng Xing's invitation? This trip can't just be about catching up, right?"

The mayor wasn't a fool.

He even understood this former captain Minister Long very well, knowing that all positions and powers meant nothing in his eyes, and that he detested superficial formalities.

There must be other reasons for this visit today!

"Xiao Quansheng, just be careful when you're inspecting the reservoir, that's all." Minister Long calmly addressed the mayor by his full name.

Instantly making the other realize the seriousness of the matter.

"The reservoir... hiss, understood, then good luck to you, Captain, let's each perform our duties." The mayor nodded, indicating he wouldn't probe further.

After all, his current identity was no longer part of the Supernatural Handling Squad, and certain matters cease at discreet points, the mayor understood their confidentiality and importance.

"By the way, what's with Cheng Haoran's son being such a sissy? Aren't you, as his boss, going to do something about it?" Minister Long changed the subject.

"Sigh, he's been a bit spoiled lately." The mayor sensibly followed along.

Isn't the mayor aware of Secretary Cheng's work capability? Then why keep him around?

Of course, it's because of Cheng Xing's father—Cheng Haoran, who was also a member of Minister Long's Supernatural Handling Squad back then. He sacrificed himself during a mission to save the mayor.

......

"The reservoir is almost here, should we follow the mayor later or act independently?" He Zhan and Sun Zhoushan chatted in another car.

"Just follow Minister Long."

Wu Liang's voice suddenly sounded by their ears, but his figure couldn't be seen, startling He Zhan to the point where he nearly swerved the steering wheel to stop by the roadside.

Damn it, was this guy in my car all along?

Sitting on top of the car, Wu Liang was also gazing at the reservoir he had investigated two days ago.

The scenery was just as beautiful, but today there wasn't a single fisherman in sight along the shore, probably because they were stopped.

After all, with the mayor coming to inspect the reservoir, the staff here must have been notified in advance to make sure the surface looks good.

In a few minutes, the car stopped in front of the hydroelectric station.

The mayor went in to chat with the station head about work-related matters.

But it didn't take long for the conversation to be interrupted by a couple of coughs from Minister Long.

As former teammates, the mayor immediately understood and suggested a walk around the reservoir area.

The group gradually made their way to the shoreline, but while the station head was still talking incessantly about his achievements without any guard, everyone's vigilance was heightened.

The one with the most serious expression was Minister Long.

"The Shadow must have investigated in advance, no wonder he asked me to come, so this is it!"

Twisting his neck to relieve some discomfort, this was the first time Minister Long felt the Fierce Ghost inside him so restless since becoming a Symbiont four years ago, as if something utterly disgusting was hidden in the reservoir.

Even the Magic Cube in his hand slightly opened a few eyes to scan the environment around.

While chatting and laughing, they'd already walked quite a distance along the shore.

Minister Long also confirmed that the source suppressing the Fierce Ghost inside him seemed to be at the center of the reservoir.

"Hehe, so did you buy goggles?"

"Get lost!"

Wu Liang's cheeky voice appeared in Minister Long's ear, and he cursed under his breath.

It seems there's only one way to find the cause—go into the water.

Glancing at the mayor still strolling around the reservoir shore, Minister Long quietly said to He Zhan and Sun Zhoushan, "One of you stay on the shore with the gun, and one come with me into the water."

"Huh?"

Before He Zhan could react, he was already grabbed by Minister Long while the mayor wasn't paying attention, and jumped into the water, leaving Sun Zhoushan dumbfounded.

But what was strange was that when they entered the water, there was no sound at all, not even a ripple, as if they had melted into the water.

"Dragon Department... isn't this ability a bit too convenient?" He Zhan said with some amazement.

Yes, he was speaking!

After they jumped down, a sphere-like barrier, like an air wall, surrounded them, keeping the lake water out, making it feel like a glass tunnel in an aquarium.

"It's nothing, I just fixed the space around us, so the water can't enter."

Minister Long spoke lightly, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

Because he originally intended to divide a direct channel to the reservoir center, but the closer he got to the center, the more the space refused to obey him.

In the end, he had to proceed like a hamster ball, inching toward the reservoir center from below.

"Get your Palm Eye ready, secure anything unusual immediately."

There was a hint of surprise in He Zhan's eyes at Minister Long's words.

This was the first time he'd heard Minister Long needed someone's help during a mission?

"Okay!"

Slowly progressing with their position, they gradually neared the reservoir center, and He Zhan felt the pressure increasing.

An inexplicable sense of oppression surrounded him, even though he hadn't discovered anything unusual.

Bang—

Suddenly, an enormous shadow rapidly charged at them, so quickly that even Minister Long couldn't lock on to it, causing a loud bang when it struck the "hamster ball."

But because they were underwater, the sound couldn't travel to the shore, it only resonated inside the "hamster ball," so loud that He Zhan felt like he had tinnitus.

"Trying to run? Freeze it for me!"

This was different from when Wu Liang was hit. In the water, he could only swim without leverage, so he got knocked out of the water.

But Minister Long had locked the space around them, so unless the creature completely shattered his power, he and He Zhan wouldn't move an inch!

As He Zhan, his ears ringing, raised his hand aimed at the shadow and pressed hard, the Palm Eye opened instantly, fully suppressing whatever was in front.

Minister Long seized the opportunity to pull a diving flashlight from his pocket and shone it through the air barrier.

They both instantly saw the creature's appearance.

"No... it can't be! Does such a creature truly exist in this world! It's actually..."

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