The Unexpected Raid

Rosa stared, dumbfounded, at the scene unfolding before her.

In the blink of an eye, the formerly empty space was suddenly filled with a dense crowd of people.

Indeed, the area was so confined that many bodies overlapped, creating the horrifying sight of multiple heads sprouting from a single body, which made her question if she had stumbled onto the wrong set.

“…….”

“This is spatial technology.”

A suspicious figure in a black trench coat suddenly emerged from the crowd, solemnly raising a finger as they began to explain.

“Through this technology, far beyond its time, even a small patch of empty ground can accommodate this many people.”

“Who are you?”

The blonde girl retorted expressionlessly.

“Allow me to explain, please.”

Unable to stand it any longer, Yao Jing pushed his way out of the crowd, interrupting Xiu Lan’s nonsense and casually pushing her back into Robin’s arms.

A smile once again graced his stiff features.

“It’s been a while, Junior Rosa.”

“You’re… Senior Yao Jing!”

Rosa gazed at the man before her in surprise, and upon closer inspection, she could barely discern the shadow of the young man he once was.

However, had he aged a little too much?

How many years had it been, after all?

“…….So, all these people are connected to the vampire incident.”

“Truly, Senior, you live up to your reputation; while we were still running around like headless chickens, you’ve already struck directly at the dragon’s lair (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘zhí dǎo huáng lóng,’ meaning to go straight for the enemy’s stronghold or main objective).”

Rosa exclaimed in admiration.

She had initially believed tonight’s operation would be fruitless, but Yao Jing’s sudden appearance had truly presented them with a grand gift.

“With this accomplishment, perhaps I’ll soon see your name on the Black Blood Hunter list.”

“When that time comes, please take care of me, Senior.”

Faced with Rosa’s teasing, Yao Jing appeared a little flustered.

He paused, then asked in a nervous tone, “That… how has Sarah been lately?”

Having already anticipated Yao Jing’s question, Rosa began to meticulously detail Sarah’s whereabouts.

“Senior Sarah has always been very energetic; she recently went to participate in the [Crimson Sea] exchange competition and shows no signs of returning just yet.”

“Is… that so?”

He and Sarah had met in the laboratory of the extremist organization, [Evolvers].

Back then, foolishly falling into a trap, he was captured and tortured to death by members of the [Evolvers].

It was during that incident that he was granted the gaze of [Time], allowing him to return to the past and directly report the location of the [Evolvers]’ lair.

This also resulted in the complete erasure of the feelings that had blossomed between him and Sarah during their mutual reliance in the lab.

Although everyone at school believed they were a couple, Yao Jing alone knew the truth in his heart: he and Sarah always had a rift between them, because the Sarah he saw in his eyes would forever be the one who had weathered hardships with him in the laboratory.

Not…

Rosa watched her senior with a helpless expression; they clearly liked each other, yet neither was willing to take that crucial step.

Whether it was Yao Jing or Sarah, if only one of them had been a little more proactive, the situation would be vastly different now.

However, ultimately, it wasn’t her place to meddle in others’ feelings.

She’d be grateful just to manage Tina.

Speaking of which, where had Tina run off to, anyway?

“–Stop clinging to me, you brainless mutt.”

Familiar sounds of bickering drifted from afar.

“–Woof woof, you have a familiar scent, and only Mama Rosa calls me ‘little dog.’ Who are you, really?”

Tina’s confident voice instantly froze the smile on Rosa’s face.

Uncontrollable anger made her resolve to thoroughly teach that certain elf a lesson later.

Xiu Lan, her face etched with disdain, tried to push away the elf clinging to her, but without her Shadow Amplification, she was no match for a Black Blood’s strength.

After several fruitless attempts, she turned to the black-robed figure watching nearby and shouted, “Why are you just standing there watching? Aren’t you going to help me?”

“…….”

Robin wore a speechless expression.

‘If you can’t push them off, what makes you think I can pull them?’

However, sensing Xiu Lan’s hopeful gaze, she still went through the motions, giving Tina a half-hearted tug to indicate she had tried.

“–I’ve caught your scent, you little brat.”

Xiu Lan’s hand, poised to use her shadows to push the elf away, froze, but Tina wasn’t finished speaking.

A strange smile played on her lips as she leaned her head close to the girl’s ear, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, and enunciated each word slowly:

“–You wouldn’t want me to tell Mama Rosa about you being a naughty child here, would you, Liu…”

“…….”

When Rosa approached, she was surprised to see the two of them in a strange, arm-in-arm embrace.

The suspicious individual Yao Jing had brought along was even calling Tina ‘Big Sister Tina’ repeatedly, which forced her to retract her fist, put on a smile once more, and join the conversation.

****

Accompanied by the intermittent wail of sirens, the streets once teeming with bloodthirsty creatures and vampires gradually grew empty.

Tonight’s work was drawing to a close.

“It’s over, then?”

Xiu Lan yawned.

“I’m going home to catch up on sleep.”

“I feel like I haven’t had a proper night’s rest in several days; at this rate, I’ll soon become a nocturnal creature.”

“Wait, there’s one more thing.”

However, fate had other plans; Yao Jing interrupted Xiu Lan’s journey home.

“If possible, Rosa and Tina, please come help too.”

He was counting the people present, seemingly cross-referencing something.

“Let’s go apprehend The Doctor,” Yao Jing said.

“Huh?”

“Who?”

…….

………

The lights flickered softly, the music played gently, and various paintings adorned the pale yellow walls.

The spacious, tranquil bar always offered a sense of peace.

Having finished another glass of red wine, The Doctor reclined leisurely in his chair.

His indolent appearance made it difficult to equate him with the creator of the Bloodline.

“I never thought that Wu Liyun boy would actually side with the Hunters.”

“Whether it was voluntary or not, betrayal was still betrayal.”

“However, out of respect for his father, I can spare him this once.”

“Once tonight’s trial concludes, I’ll trouble you to go fetch him.”

This was the critical moment for the trial to commence, and allowing that betrayer to roam freely would inevitably cause trouble.

To be safe, it was best to lure him somewhere far away.

His thoughts churning, The Doctor continued, “The human heart is unfathomable, and the world unpredictable.”

“Even one’s own children might shed blood in a fit of rage, let alone a group bound together merely by shared interests.”

“Ah, tell me, then, will you betray me, Gang?”

“…….”

The bartender, wiping glasses behind the bar, paused his movements.

His voice was always so stiff:

“You bestowed upon me the meaning of existence.”

“I will never betray you.”

With no family, no descendants, he had instantly lost his purpose after leaving the military.

A lifetime dedicated to fighting Black Bloods seemed worthless in the face of what those heroes had accomplished, until even the reputation of the Hunters eventually overshadowed any trace of their existence.

The so-called cyborgs had finally become a mere footnote in history.

His life was only about battle, and only battle remained, so when The Doctor sought him out, he readily joined his plan, becoming a Bloodline member and serving as a tester for the [Gemstones].

Those were the happiest days since he left the military; his inexhaustible power even sparked the idea of challenging the once-unreachable heroes of the past.

The scenes of the past were vivid in his mind as Gang spoke again.

“If possible, please grant me another chance to challenge Titan.”

There were three Gemstones: one kept by The Doctor, one used to manage the trial world, and one that was originally given to Gang for his use.

Until that red-haired youth defeated him, not only taking away his right to guard the Gemstone but also seizing the title of the strongest Bloodline member.

“You are no match for him.”

“He was able to defeat the strong with the weak back then; I, too, can do so now,” Gang insisted stubbornly.

Truly, a man who spent his entire life in the military; his mind was as rigid as rebar.

The Doctor had a headache dealing with the cyborg’s request.

This wasn’t the first time he had made this request, and The Doctor was never stingy with rewards for his loyal subordinates.

But sending him to his death? No thank you.

Titan was no ordinary human… or rather, no ordinary [Bloodline] member.

His strength far surpassed the limits Gang could contend with.

Moreover, something like a Gemstone, which relies on imagination, could be utilized far better in his hands.

The masked man collected his thoughts and began to speak.

“I…”

“Knock, knock, knock.”

The sudden knocking interrupted his train of thought.

The Doctor looked towards the entrance, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

The entire bar was isolated in another dimension, and only invited guests and Bloodline members could reach this place.

Who could it be?

Titan, Irina, or… Wu Liyun?

Whoever it was, it would certainly be exciting.

“Gang, welcome our guest,”

He commanded, straightening his clothes.

“Understood.”

Gang stepped out from behind the bar, striding towards the door.

The heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet bar.

Alas, the newcomer had no such leisurely disposition.

“–Taking this long just to open a door?”

With a somewhat irritable tone, the bar’s heavy door was kicked open by a terrifying force.

A short figure in a black trench coat bellowed into the bar:

“–Regulatory Bureau! Open up! Water meter check!” (TL Note: A Chinese internet slang phrase, ‘chá shuǐ biǎo,’ often used humorously to imply an unexpected, unofficial inspection or raid, especially by authorities.)