Chapter 63: Investigation and Settling In
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Inside a small office, the hum of computers and the scent of coffee hung in the air. Two tired agents, having just received some unexpected good news—actual paid leave—stepped out into the hallway wearing bright smiles. At the same time, Song Cheng sat stiffly at his desk, sighing heavily as he stared at his computer screen. His eyebrows were drawn tight with worry, and the glow of the monitor cast shadows across his face.
Just as he was about to lean back in his chair, a tiny icon began flashing in the corner of his screen. Before he could even move, a video window popped open. The suddenness made him sit up straighter, and his heart gave a small jump.
A young woman appeared on the screen. She wore a crisp white suit, and her hair, a pale gray, was tied neatly into a single ponytail that draped over one shoulder. Her eyes were also gray, so light that they almost looked colorless. She gazed calmly at Song Cheng, as if she could see right through him.
“Done with work?” she asked quietly.
It was Bai Li Qing, the Director—the boss at the top of the chain of command. Her words, simple as they were, felt like they carried a tremendous weight.
“Director!” Song Cheng straightened at once. He tried to look more alert, like a schoolboy caught dozing at his desk. “You haven’t finished work yet?”
“I’m working overtime today,” Bai Li Qing replied, her voice steady and without emotion, much like her faded eyes. “I just received the documents from the Archives Department. I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
“This is about that ‘Yu Sheng,’ correct?” Song Cheng guessed, frowning slightly. He paused before continuing, “I don’t think we can draw any real conclusions at the moment. We’ll need a formal encounter to figure out just what kind of… well, what kind of being he is. The trouble is deciding whether we treat him as a ‘person’ or view him as some kind of ‘entity.’”
“As a person,” Bai Li Qing answered without the slightest hesitation.
Song Cheng looked surprised, raising his eyebrows. “As a person?” he echoed.
“Yes,” said Bai Li Qing, her tone patient but calm. “Because he himself believes he’s human. That’s how he identifies. Whether he is or not doesn’t matter as much right now. The key is to ensure he continues to see himself in that light.”
“…You want to maintain his self-perception,” Song Cheng said slowly, beginning to understand. “You’re worried that if he stops thinking of himself as human, something terrible could happen?”
“We don’t yet know the full range of his abilities or what effect he could have on Borderland’s future,” she explained. “But having one more individual on the side of ‘humans’ means one fewer on the side of ‘non-humans.’ Friendly entities from Otherworld are rare—especially one who has ‘lived’ here as long as he has. Think of it as a stroke of luck.”
Song Cheng nodded. “Understood, Director. I’ll set up a meeting with ‘Yu Sheng.’ I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Good.” Bai Li Qing’s pale eyes narrowed thoughtfully, then she added, “About the newly reported ‘Dark Angel’—the council has been informed. We’ve confirmed it’s something entirely new.”
Song Cheng’s eyes widened. “No existing records?” he asked, leaning forward. His anxiety showed clearly on his face.
“None,” Bai Li Qing replied. “And not just our own. We checked with the Alglade Astrological Society and the Academy as well. None of their official records mention any giant, eye-like Dark Angel spanning the sky. The Bamosa Hermit Society hasn’t replied, but if the Academy has nothing, it’s unlikely they have information either. It’s possible some smaller groups have encountered it, but I doubt it.”
Song Cheng frowned deeper, his tension plain to see. “This is bad… A new ‘Angel’ with no data at all, and it vanished before we could learn anything. It was huge,” he muttered, thinking aloud. “It covered the entire sky over Night Valley. From the data we have, it seems like it’s been hiding in that part of the Otherworld for a long time.”
“Yes. High-level camouflage and deep infiltration,” Bai Li Qing explained evenly. “The early investigators who went into that valley believed the sky there had always been like that. That’s how Night Valley got its name. And now, if we judge by size alone, this new ‘Dark Angel’ could rank among the top three Angels we’ve ever known.”
Song Cheng’s gaze fell, and he grew quiet for a moment. Finally, he spoke, “According to reports from my two subordinates, that fox spirit, ‘Foxy,’ who was with Yu Sheng, was trapped in Night Valley for a long time. She might know something about this Dark Angel.”
“That’s a lead worth following. But be careful,” Bai Li Qing cautioned.
Song Cheng nodded. “Understood,” he said softly.
There was a tiny pause on the other end, as if Bai Li Qing were about to end the call. But Song Cheng cleared his throat and spoke again, “Director, one more thing…”
“Go on,” she encouraged, her voice unwavering.
“I’m thinking of taking a ride on the ‘Train,’” he said solemnly. “To see if I can find any clues about ‘Yu Sheng’ there.”
Bai Li Qing was silent for a second. Then, quietly, she replied, “Approved—but stay alert. Even those who seem friendly and rational can be dangerous.”
“I will,” said Song Cheng, inclining his head.
…
Meanwhile, far away, Yu Sheng was busy helping Foxy settle into her new room. It was evening, and lamplight shone softly on the plain wooden floors. He was just stretching a bedsheet across a worn mattress when he suddenly let out a burst of sneezes, one after another. The sound made Irene, the tiny doll who was balancing on the footboard of the bed like a circus performer, nearly topple over.
“Hey!” Irene cried, giving him a sharp glare once she steadied herself. “You scared me!”
“Sorry,” Yu Sheng said, rubbing his nose. He reached out and scooped Irene into his hand. With a casual toss, he plopped her down in the center of the bed. “If you’ve got time to scold me, how about being useful? Sit there so I can pull this sheet tight.”
Irene gave a little “hmph,” but she did as he said. She sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed, doing her best to look important while Yu Sheng straightened the sheet around her.
Not far away, Foxy hovered uncertainly by the door. She watched Yu Sheng arrange the bed for her—something she’d never imagined anyone would do. Nervously, she rubbed her hands together, and her bushy fox tail swished back and forth.
“B-Benefactor,” she said softly, her voice uncertain. “I can help too… I’ve seen how you do it, and I’m sure I can manage to tidy a room.”
“Then you can do it next time,” Yu Sheng answered, not looking up. “I’m almost done anyway.”
Foxy swallowed her unease and answered with a quiet “oh.” She took a hesitant step inside and looked around. The room, which had been jam-packed with boxes and junk, was now halfway decent. Yu Sheng had hauled all sorts of things down to the basement, swept the floor, and done some basic cleaning. It was still pretty bare—a simple bed, a small table, and a single wooden chair in the corner. They’d assembled a folding wardrobe from some iron pipes and canvas they found downstairs. It wasn’t much to look at, but it worked as a closet.
Foxy’s “possessions” were almost nonexistent. She had only her old, ragged dress from Night Valley. After washing it, she’d folded it neatly and placed it in the makeshift wardrobe. It was her very first belonging in what would now be her home.
Although the room was plain, Foxy’s heart felt light and warm. She had never had a comfortable bed before, and this one felt like a magical cloud compared to the scratchy hay she had slept on back in the valley. Here, there was a roof to keep out the wind, and the temperature was pleasant enough that she wouldn’t have to curl up with her tail just to stay warm. The electric lights were so bright and steady—so different from the dim flicker of foxfire or the eerie glow in that dreadful valley.
Most importantly, nothing here drew the attention of that terrible monster in the sky. Nothing. She could eat whenever she pleased, and nobody would hunt her. In fact, she had tucked away some extra snacks in her tail for emergencies. Just the thought brought a bright, happy smile to her face.
Yu Sheng finished smoothing out the sheet and turned around, catching sight of Foxy smiling dreamily on the floor. “Why are you sitting on the floor?” he asked, puzzled. “There’s a chair right there. And what’s with that grin?”
Foxy blinked and realized she’d been sitting on the floor. She stood up quickly and hurried over to the wooden chair. “I’m just… I’m happy,” she said softly, her cheeks warming.
“And so you should be,” said Yu Sheng, giving a quick nod, pleased with his handiwork. He glanced around the tidy space, feeling a bit of pride. He and Irene had worked for two hours to make this place livable.
But even as he admired their work, he knew it was still quite bare-bones. “Tomorrow, we’ll go shopping,” he announced. “We’ll get you another set of bed sheets and a couple of outfits. We can replace these curtains too—they’ve got holes in them. We’ll have to make do with that wardrobe for now, but later I’ll see if we can afford a better one. Maybe a bedside table and a lamp when we have more money.” He paused, then added matter-of-factly, “Things are a bit tight right now, but we’ll manage.”
Foxy’s eyes widened, and she quickly shook her hands, as if trying to wave away such kindness. “Oh, no, that’s really not necessary!” she protested, looking flustered. “It’s already so nice! I don’t need so much.”
But Yu Sheng brushed off her protest. “Don’t worry about it. A proper room needs proper things. After all, you’re supposed to be my number one bodyguard now. You should be comfortable.”
Irene, still sitting on the bed, glanced sideways at Yu Sheng. “All this planning is nice,” she said snidely, “but have you forgotten something important? How do you plan on having these new items delivered? Your so-called ‘Wutong Road address’ doesn’t actually exist. Good luck getting the delivery folks to find this place—and don’t forget about the new TV you wanted. No one’s going to deliver it, remember? Or do you plan to open one of your big ‘doors’ and drag all that furniture home by yourself?”
Yu Sheng’s excited plans seemed to vanish at Irene’s words. His expression fell, as if someone had let the air out of a balloon. He suddenly remembered what those two Special Affairs Bureau agents had said before leaving. Delivery to a place like this… well, that was going to be a real problem.
After all, in the human world’s official records, Wutong Road didn’t even have a proper number.