As Su Ling sat comfortably in the cozy cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped her senses, complementing the sight of a tempting delectable pastries before her.

With a sense of anticipation, she reached for a delicate slice of cake, that piqued her curiosity. “I think this cake is sweeter than before.” 

Su Ling while mumbling took a sip of black coffee with curiosity. However, the moment the bitter liquid touched her lips, her enlightened face just a moment before was scrunched up in a disgust in a moment.

With great effort, she managed to force down a small sip before swiftly sticking out her tongue, frantically waving her hands in the air, she emoted a vivid expression of disgust, the wrinkles on her face reflecting her distaste vividly. “Yuck,” she exclaimed in a tone filled with both disappointment and distaste, the single word encapsulating her entire feelings towards the coffee in that moment.

Shen Yi, knowing Su Ling’s preferences to some extent, had warned her that the black coffee might be too bitter for her taste when she was ordering. But Su Ling with her adventurous spirit and desire to explore new flavors was determined to step out of her comfort zone and give it a chance.

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Su Ling had ventured out from her usual choices when dining out. 

She believed in trying new things to make the most of her dining experiences. Since she had come to eat out, if she still ordered the same food every time, it would be too uneconomical, right? 

Shen Yi, watching her from behind the bar, couldn’t help but smile at her persistence in exploring different flavors. 

She truly had a relentless curiosity when it came to discovering new tastes and textures, even if it meant bravely facing unpleasant surprises along the way, Shen Yi admired her for it.

Shen Yi heard from Su Ling, that she was suspended from Anti Magic Bureau. Fortunately, there was no more severe punishment. Although there was no detailed information, the Bureau should have sacrificed some interests for her.

Tina had morning classes today and only be back by afternoon.

Shen Yi took the initiative to go over to Su Ling and sat across her, and said with a smile. “You made it.”

Su Ling gently nodded her head, exuding a smile that she didn’t know whether it was joy or bitterness, and said, “Well, but I’ve also been suspended.”

“It’s a very light punishment……”

The corner of her mouth suddenly quirked slightly, changing the topic.

“You know what? My good friend, Demi, she really doesn’t seem to know anything and is still on good terms with me.”

Of course Shen Yi didn’t know who Demi was, but with his experience made him listen her out without interruptance.

“Maybe her father didn’t say anything about it.” 

Su Ling after a little thought nodded her head while adding, “Maybe her father was intimidated by me, after all, he’s from the Table World.”

“It could also be because, Earl Bute is dead, but I’m still around, so it’s more favorable for him to have Demi and I be friends.”

“Alas.”

She leaned back slightly and looked helpless, and continued with a sigh: “Perhaps it’s better to live in the slums and be a demon hunter… At least my enemies are basically villains and monsters, and no friends will jump out to stop me from killing anyone.”

Shen Yi nodded his head and said with a smile: “Indeed, then, why don’t you leave the Anti-Magic Bureau?” 

Su Ling, hearing this fell into a long silence, then looked up at him: “Of course it’s because the treatment is good.”

Just like that she listed out the pros: “Tuition is free, housing distribution is free, medical care is free, and the welfare of children is also the highest grade…. Money can’t buy these supranational treatment……”

She said that she didn’t think it was a big deal, after all, justice also needs to eat.

Investigators were after all a profession with an extremely high mortality rate, and with high pressure and with danger if they didn’t have super-national treatment that made it hard to refuse, could they expect every single one of them to generously protect everyone with love?

Shen Yi nodded slightly and smiled, indicating that he understood.

Of course, being familiar with Su Ling’s unwavering character, he understood that if a point arose where she had to leave Anti Magic Bureau, she would willingly sacrifice these privileges without a second thought.

Su Ling’s complexion straightened up and said seriously, “Thank you for lending me the Book of Ten Square Travelers …… I just don’t know, what do I need to do to repay it?”

Well, can I ask for anything?

Shen Yi’s mind popped up with this thought instantly, and then shook his head and threw out his wild thoughts.

“I do have a task for you, the request is simple.”

“Help me investigate the Dust of No Light and the Salian Family.”

Su Ling was slightly stunned, this family was not unfamiliar to her, and asked back: “The Salian family? Are you referring to the secret family behind Count Bute’s backing in the inner world?”

Shen Yi nodded in response before continued: “Yes, the patriarch of the Salian family is a member of the Dust of No Light.”

What?

The shocking news was like a bolt of lightning that struck Su Ling, causing her to stand frozen in disbelief, her mouth hanging open for what felt like an eternity before she finally managed to close it, the weight of the revelation settling heavily upon her. …… Most of the members of the Dust of Lightlessness were not known to the people even their identities were secrets in the Rival World, and only a very few people knew their identities.

But if you think about it carefully, since it is him, it is normal for him to know the true identities of the members of Dust of No Light.

Shen Yi continued, “Be careful of them, the people of this family will probably retaliate against you.”

Su Ling was silent for a while, and then said, “This reward alone should not be enough to repay you, right? After all, they are likely to target me, so even if they don’t let me go, I will investigate this family.”

Shen Yi didn’t say anything for a long time and smiled calmly. 

This sheep actually jump over and begging me to stroke its wool.

However he also knew Su Ling’s greatest value was investigator of the Anti Magic Bureau, with this identity she could access the official records. Now in suspension….  

“Consider it a favor you owed to me first.” He thought about it and made a reply, intending to wait until a critical time before letting Su Ling repay it.

“Good.”

Su Ling immediately nodded without any hesitation.

A favor.

It suddenly dawned on Su Ling that she was deeply indebted to Mr. Shen, realizing the multitude of favors she owed him stretched far beyond what a single act could capture. 

Whether in George’s matter or my own matter this time…

If it wasn’t for his support and help, none of the endings would have ended up like they are now, George would have definitely died, and she herself would probably have died as well, or even fallen into a worse end.

Owe a favor …… Su Ling didn’t say anything more, but already had an obvious realization.

As long as what Shen Yi asked for did not violate the principles, she would complete it no matter what…even if he might have been thinking of using her from the beginning.

Su Ling took another look at Shen Yi and did not see any hostility.

She suddenly began to understand how humans in various stories were gradually tempted by demons and evil gods.

Humans were creatures that could be easily driven by emotions and interests.

Just as she knew that Mr. Shen was not a human being and even knew that “he” was an associate of the God Beyond the World, probably cold and ruthless, manipulating things in secret, she would still be grateful to him and trust him because of her accumulated good feelings.

A fleeting thought crossed Su Ling’s mind that perhaps one day Shen Yi would suddenly appear and say to her, “It’s time to return the favor.” with that he orchestrating a grand scheme that would culminate in sacrificing her to the god and unleashing a catastrophic calamity upon the world.

This wild imagination made her jolt awake. With a mix of trepidation and resignation, Su Ling gazed at Shen Yi seated opposite her, “I hope that day never comes ……” an array of conflicting emotions reflected in her eyes, as she silently hoped that such a dire scenario would never unfold.

Shen Yi froze slightly, feeling not quite right.

What had this girl brainstormed into again?

　–

Noon.

Su Ling bid a farewell and left. 

Taking advantage of the suspension, she planned to take two days off from school to rest at home and relax as much as possible. 

So Su Ling straightly made her way to school, she made a direct appeal to the principal for leave, saying that she was under a lot of psychological pressure from hacking people every day.

The president of a top university was also from the upper class, so he naturally knew what’s going on in the other world…

Shen Yi sat calmly behind the bar, waiting for the guests. 

However, the guest didn’t arrived in physical form, instead it was a prayer form.

“Um?”

Suddenly blurry and distorted images appeared in front of him.

An image of prayers?

Just as Shen Yi was speculating, a voice came to his ears.

A male voice.

“The Great Primordial Fire.”

“I am your faithful follower.”

“Please reveal the way forward so that I don’t get lost anymore.”

In the image, a man was kneeling in a church. He had light blonde hair, blue pupils, dressed in priest clothes and a face full of determination.

He was no stranger to Shen Yi, it was Flo knelt in the center of the church and prayed devoutly to the statue in front of him.

Shen Yi froze for a long time, and said to himself, “Can the Orthodox Church can also call the wrong number?”

On the other side, Flo spoke in a very pious tone, “The Pseudo-God has been caught by investigators from the Anti-Magic Bureau.”

“His despicable plot should have been completely thwarted.”

“But I’m still not sure if I can be considered having fulfilled your will.”

Shen Yi mused for a moment. Pretending to be God’s at such a thing he was skilled at, but pretending to be Positive God was still his first time.

He calmly responded, “Well done.”

— — 

In the church.

Flo knelt in the center of the magnificent hall of the ancient church. With clasped hands and bowed head, he humbly directed his prayers towards the mighty creator of mankind, the only true God who held dominion over all creation, his faith unwavering in the presence of the great primordial fire that symbolized both divine power and eternal life. 

Flo fervently beseeched for a moment of intimate connection, a channel through which he could send his thoughts and receive divine guidance. The weight of his prayers pressed upon him, evoking a sense of deep reverence and hope, every word uttered with sincerity and devotion.

Yet even as a saint, he did not always receive a divine response.

The majority of the time, there is no response from the Primal Fire.

He looked solemn and knelt in the church for a long time.

On the altar in front of him was a stone idol in the shape of a flame.

Suddenly, a gentle warmth spread through his chest and into his very being, causing him to shift slightly with surprise as he noticed a subtle radiance emanating from the stone idol.

In an instant, ancient glyphs, illuminated by the sun’s rays, materialized on the ground before him, their cryptic message unfathomable to the ordinary folk but as a saint, he was so knowledgeable that he naturally understood it.

These ancient symbols, bearing the weight of ages past, conveyed a message of approval, “acceptable,” and “worthy of appreciation.

This was the response from the Great One!

The response of the primordial fire!

Flo’s expression was immediately filled with excitement, and his heart grew more and more devout.

Shen Yi thought for a moment and spoke again

“Be careful of Dust of Lightless.”

The light shining on the ground rearranged and combined, a new set of words changing into a new sentence.

Flo froze slightly and frowned.

Of course he knew what kind of organization the Lightless Dust was, and even knew a lot of information about it, after all, it was a very powerful and secretive organization, and it was impossible for the Coronation Church not to pay attention to it.

“Yes, I understand.”

Flor nodded, looking serious.

As a devout saint, he absolutely adheres to the oracle.

Then, Flo reported an important matter respectfully and full of piety.

“Great Primordial Fire, in order to gather intelligence, I went to a cafe in Beland, where I met a mysterious person.”

“The internal files of the Anti-Magic Bureau call it ‘the Chess Player’… He is extremely powerful and unfathomable.”

“This mysterious existence can emit the aura of the Lord of Ashes, and is most likely the Lord of Ashes’ divine envoys, high-level dependents, extremely dangerous and terrifying.”

“I wish to recruit more saints from the church, have them bring more holy tools, and think of a way that is safe and won’t destroy the city to purify this evil being for the sake of the great You!”