9?a.m., Disciplinary Office.

  "Take a seat."

  Officer Huang lounged in the dean's swivel chair, legs crossed, hands steepled on his stomach—king of a borrowed interrogation room.

  Skyler sat properly opposite him, silent.

  Huang smiled. "Relax, no one else is here. Just a few questions."

  "Sure…" Skyler thought, That's exactly why I'm nervous.

  "Your face—injured?"

  "Mosquito bite," Skyler lied, touching it casually.

  "Alright. Let's start." Huang opened a notebook. "Mr. Young, what was your relationship with the victim Vivian Li?"

  "We've known each other since kindergarten—pretty much childhood sweethearts."

  Writing, Huang asked, "Yesterday afternoon, were you with her the whole time?"

  "Yes. Movie, dinner, hung out at Dawon Mall until late—went home past midnight."

  "What time did you part ways?"

  "Around eleven, I think."

  "That late and you didn't walk her home?"

  "I walked partway. She insisted the rest was fine."

  "You can check CCTV; it'll confirm," Skyler offered.

  Huang's eyes flickered. "Truth is, that camera was conveniently broken."

  "What? How?" Skyler feigned shock.

  "Looks pre?meditated—no weapon, no witnesses."

  "No leads at all?"

  Huang leaned in. "You liked her, didn't you?"

  "I suppose."

  "Yesterday was our first date… never thought it'd be the last."

  Huang rose. "That's all for now. My condolences."

  Interview over, Skyler exhaled—false alarm.

  He headed back toward class.

  "Skyler!" someone shouted.

  Blond lip?pierced delinquent: Kevin Wang.

  "…Vivian's dead."

  "Damn—talk about bad luck."

  After clowning, Kevin finally noticed Skyler's pale face. "You're not messing with me?"

  "Why would I lie?"

  "Tsk." Kevin clicked his tongue—mood flipping. "Condolences, bro. Duo?queue some other night."

  "Thanks."

  7?p.m., Shanqing District Mortuary.

  Skyler and a dozen classmates accompanied the homeroom teacher to Vivian's farewell.

  He wanted a final goodbye—and wondered why she hadn't been cremated immediately.

  The hall was dim, solemn. Her portrait beamed; her body lay in a chilled glass coffin.

  Her parents, in black, bowed endlessly to mourners.

  Students offered incense, shook hands, circled the casket.

  Up close, makeup made her seem merely asleep.

  But the memory of last night's Beast sent ice up his spine.

  While the teacher spoke with the parents, Skyler, parched, slipped to the side kitchenette.

  He opened the door—Lynn was inside.

  "…Did the police ask you anything?" she whispered.

  "Nothing major."

  "Tell me everything."

  "…Why drop the act?"

  Lynn blinked. "Act?"

  Tension rose; Skyler mentioned the daytime scene. Lynn admitted a second persona, "Qing Ling."

  She shut the door and murmured: "To live among Beasts, self?deceit is survival."

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "…Give me a reason to trust you."

  A razor?thin blade kissed his throat. "If I wanted you dead, easier than Vivian."

  "Reason accepted…"

  Skyler recapped Huang's interview; Lynn mused, "You were smart—no slipups."

  He shrugged. "Just a cop."

  "You don't get it—only one in ten?thousand here is human."

  "One Beast per ten?thousand people?"

  "Reverse it."

  "What?!"

  "…You're the third real human I've met; first two are dead."

  Nausea surged; Skyler nearly gagged.

  Lynn stepped closer. "Having two of us in one school is a miracle."

  "Your family, friends—99.99% Beasts."

  Terror coiled like a snake; his hair stood on end.

  "…They only kill Awakened like us."

  "What are you two discussing?"

  The kitchenette door swung wider—Officer Huang stood there, smiling.

  "These ‘Beasts' you mentioned—care to elaborate?"

  Skyler jolted, nearly crushing his paper cup.

  Cold glitter in Lynn's eyes; she stepped between them. "Just a horror story we kids made up, Officer. Nothing serious."

  "A story? Sounds awfully real." Huang closed the door behind him, advancing.

  "Are you here to investigate or to read fiction?" Lynn's tone iced over.

  "Bit of both," Huang said softly. "Truth fascinates me."

  Silence thickened the air.

  Skyler sensed an unseen predator stalking closer, pressure mounting.

  【System Alert: Danger level rising. +1 Luck Point】

  The hexagram blinked at the edge of his vision; he forced calm.

  "Since it's fiction," Huang adjusted his cuff, "share the setting—what's an ‘Awakened'?"

  Lynn paused three seconds, then smiled politely. "Sorry—lost my inspiration."

  Huang's eyes narrowed, grin widening. "A pity."

  In a flash his hand shot toward Skyler's shoulder!

  "Watch out!" Lynn hissed, wrist flicking; the razor blade slid free.

  Steel and flesh missed by half an inch; Huang had anticipated it, retreating a step, smile intact.

  "Sprinter reflexes—impressive," he clapped as if applauding students.

  Skyler paled. "What do you want?"

  "Verification." Huang's gaze tunneled through them. "I've been hunting genuine humans."

  Boom—both hearts thundered.

  "You're… human?" Lynn's voice, for once, quavered.

  Huang nodded, then waggled a hand. "Half?and?half."

  He opened his left palm; skin peeled, gray?green scales emerged, then vanished.

  "Hybrid Beast?" Lynn whispered.

  "Call me a Mediator," Huang murmured. "I keep the ratios balanced—just enough humans in the city."

  Frost shot through Skyler's skull.

  "Which makes you two a delightful surprise." Huang's grin exposed a hint of fang. "Serial?199, Luck talent—and a dual?soul. Rare specimens."

  Blade flashed. "You'll touch him over my dead body," Lynn growled.

  "Exactly." Huang snapped his fingers; the air cracked like a whip.

  【System Warning: Combat inevitable. +1 Luck Point】

  Skyler inhaled; HUD showed Luck?=?5.

  Crushing the cup, he met Huang's eyes. "Then let's dance."