Chapter Forty: Prolongation

"By the way," Li Xueshu cleared her throat and looked at Lin Lei. "Even though quite a lot has happened since, your first investigation mission can be considered a success..."

"I have a template for the investigation report here. Fill it out according to the instructions, give a brief description of today's operation, attach some photographic evidence, and hand it over to Hodge. That will count as completing your assignment!"

"This mission involved quite a lot, so you probably have a fair number of investigation points," Lin Lei said, toying with the Source Energy Radar in his hand.

With the mission to investigate and destroy the ghoul nest completed, the Source Energy Radar had to be returned.

"Can I extend my use of the Source Energy Radar?" He licked his lips and looked at Li Xueshu. "There are still ghouls left alive in the uptown sewers, and I suspect there are more elsewhere. Gao Yue may also have set things up in other places..."

Li Xueshu raised an eyebrow at him. "I should remind you, even if there are other ghoul nests nearby, it's not necessarily your job to take action..."

To deal with ghouls, a fully armed team from the Operations Division, with support from Logistics, would be just as effective as sending in investigators.

"Besides, you've already completed your first investigation. For anything after this, I can't accompany you anymore—"

As a Level Three Investigator, Li Xueshu could guide Lin Lei for his first mission, but she couldn't always be at his side.

"It's fine, I can manage on my own," Lin Lei nodded.

In fact, he would have preferred it that way. Acting in a large group, he'd have to go to great lengths to secretly consume the ghouls, be mindful of many things, and waste a lot of his Gluttony energy.

Li Xueshu nodded and didn't waste any more words. "It isn't impossible to extend your use of the artifact, but you'll have to write an application report to Hodge, wait for approval, and then go to the Equipment Department to have the [Sealing] period extended."

"You should also be prepared—using the Bureau's artifacts for extra time will cost you quite a few investigation points!"

Even though the Source Energy Radar wasn't a high-level device, its effect was impressive and valuable. If you exceeded your borrowing period, the Bureau would penalize you; extensions naturally came with their own requirements.

Chen Fan immediately pulled out his phone and began drafting the application report.

The content was straightforward: although the ghoul nest had been destroyed, some ghouls had escaped and the issue hadn't been fully resolved, so he was applying for an extension.

He sent the application to Hodge, and within ten minutes, Lin Lei received his affirmative reply.

Hodge also followed up with a message: "You can extend the use for a maximum of two days. That's twenty investigation points per day, which will be deducted directly after your mission is settled."

"And within these two days, you'd better produce some results and submit a supplementary report..."

Lin Lei couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

There really were a lot of bureaucratic hoops at the Investigation Bureau.

...

Evening approached, and the sun was setting.

A car pulled up in front of an office building.

Lin Lei, now dressed in casual clothes, got out of the car. He had just come back from the Bureau, had extended the use of the Source Energy Radar, and had updated the [Sealing] period.

He glanced at the time—ten past five. There was still a while before Qi Fangyan finished work.

He was in no hurry. He went into a convenience store nearby, bought some instant food, and as he ate, opened his phone, brought up the map app, and marked several places in Biyang City where ghoul nests might be hidden.

It was rare for social monsters to appear in the city, and the only ones Lin Lei knew well were ghouls.

Most of the places he marked were cemeteries on the outskirts, or abandoned underground tunnels near residential neighborhoods.

The workload wasn't too heavy.

By the time Lin Lei had finished marking the locations, office workers were streaming out of the building across the street in waves.

He quickly finished off his bread, put away his phone, and left the convenience store.

Ten minutes later, he spotted Qi Fangyan coming out of the building.

Qi Fangyan seemed to have twisted her ankle—she was limping, and a young man in his twenties, dressed in a blue suit, was carefully supporting her.

"Fangyan, you're hurt like this. Let me take you home," the young man said.

Qi Fangyan looked disgruntled, her petite nose twitching. Just as she nodded in agreement, a distant voice called out, "Sister Yan!"

She turned to see Lin Lei jogging toward her.

Only then did she remember Lin Lei had said he would pick her up after work.

She shook her head at the man beside her. "Thank you, Manager Zhou, but my neighbor's younger brother is coming to get me..."

Manager Zhou narrowed his eyes and glanced toward the approaching Lin Lei.

Lin Lei strode up, took Qi Fangyan's arm, and with his body, gently edged the man aside. "Sis, are you alright?"

Qi Fangyan pressed her lips together, her eyes shimmering with tears, clearly aggrieved, but she still replied, "I'm fine."

Manager Zhou looked at Lin Lei and said, "Did you come by bus, young man? Why don't I drive you both home..."

Qi Fangyan looked at Lin Lei, waiting for his response.

Lin Lei shook his head. "I remember there's a clinic not far from here. I'll take my sister there first to have her ankle looked at."

Qi Fangyan nodded, "That's right, it's only a few hundred meters away. Driving would be inconvenient. We won't trouble you, Manager Zhou."

But Manager Zhou just shook his head with a smile.

"Nonsense, it's no trouble at all. I was the one who caused your injury. How about this—I'll help your brother escort you both to the clinic..."

"There's no need to trouble you, Manager Zhou," Lin Lei said, bending down. "Sis, let me carry you. It'll be faster and easier on your ankle."

Qi Fangyan hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around Lin Lei's neck.

"Don't complain that your sister's heavy."

Qi Fangyan was soft and light. For Lin Lei, with his current strength, carrying her was like lifting a doll.

Once on his back, she turned to Manager Zhou, "Thank you for your help today, Manager Zhou. See you on Monday."

It was Friday, and with the weekend off, "see you" naturally meant Monday.

Manager Zhou narrowed his eyes and nodded, "Then see you Monday. I hope your ankle heals by then."

With that, he finally turned and left.

Lin Lei watched him go, carrying Qi Fangyan away.

His senses were sharp, and he had noticed the faint hint of anger and darkness hidden in the man's eyes.

This Manager Zhou was not as gentlemanly as he appeared.

...

An hour later.

A taxi pulled up at the entrance of Lin Lei's old apartment complex.

Lin Lei carried Qi Fangyan, whose ankle had been treated and bandaged, into the complex.

When they reached the building, they faced a dilemma.

They both lived on the top floor—the sixth—but in this old complex, there was no elevator, only stairs.

"Leilei, you can put me down. I can go up slowly, step by step," Qi Fangyan said.

But Lin Lei shook his head, pretending not to hear, and carried her straight into the stairwell.

"Leilei! Leilei!" Qi Fangyan called a few times, but when he didn't respond, she felt both helpless and touched.

Her younger brother's shoulders, not particularly broad, suddenly seemed so steady. She lowered her head, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and let her body relax completely, trying to move as little as possible so as not to make it harder for him.

Yet at that moment, Lin Lei's steps faltered.

He felt the unmistakable softness pressed against his back, and his already unsettled emotions rippled ever so slightly once again...