The Corpse Herder’s Capture

This was, of course, to be expected.

After all, this was reality, not a game; any non-zero digit among the three indicated a significant problem for the individual.

“Let’s start the investigation at the black market, focusing on those who purchase Spirit-Exchange Grass.”

Armed with Minkton’s intelligence, Yodel easily located the black market and chose an inconspicuous spot to begin his stakeout.

Within the black market, the average combat scores of the crowd had noticeably improved, and soon Yodel spotted several individuals with 0/0/1 or 1/0/1 records.

There was even a masked figure whose stats reached 4/0/0, almost rivaling Lauren’s.

However, none of them were Yodel’s targets; he sought individuals with abnormal combat records who were also purchasing Spirit-Exchange Grass.

Four hours elapsed, yet Yodel remained without any progress.

Spirit-Exchange Grass appeared to be a common medicinal herb; he had been observing all afternoon, watching dozens of people come and go, purchasing it, yet the numbers above their heads all seemed perfectly normal.

Lamenting his poor luck, he resolved to wait another half-hour, intending to return home if he still found nothing.

Another ten minutes passed, and just as Yodel was losing all hope, a bizarre sight caught his peripheral vision.

Four individuals with 0/1/0, and one with 0/0/9—all five figures were completely shrouded in black robes, moving in unison toward a nearby herb stall.

With a gesture from the 0/0/9 figure, the four “people” dispersed into different groups to purchase Spirit-Exchange Grass from the stall.

Once all purchases were complete, they followed the 0/0/9 figure, departing the black market.

To outsiders, this group appeared utterly unremarkable, much like the dozens of other buyers before them; however, from the perspective of a certain Chosen One, the 0/1/0 numbers were exceptionally jarring.

Yodel felt “one head, two sizes too big” (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘yī ge tóu liǎng ge dà,’ meaning to have a headache or to be overwhelmed with a difficult situation), his mind reeling with confusion.

Were there other living people in this world who had died once besides him?

Were they also transmigrators?

No, Yodel swiftly dismissed that notion.

Those four could not possibly be transmigrators; the souls of this world were all under the purview of the God of Death, and without her assent, no one could be resurrected right under her watchful eye.

He was more inclined to believe that the four were not living individuals, but rather creatures akin to living corpses.

To confirm this hunch, Yodel stealthily trailed behind them, observing closely.

Indeed, the reality mirrored his suspicion: the movements of the four “people” were incredibly stiff, every action requiring a gestural command from the 0/0/9 figure.

Having traveled a considerable distance from the black market, the five figures showed no sign of stopping.

Yodel’s thoughts began to churn:

‘Should I simply follow them all the way to their lair, then rally some people to take them all out in one fell swoop?’

After a moment’s consideration, he dismissed the idea.

While the group was certainly suspicious, it was uncertain whether they belonged to the Immortality Society (TL Note: A clandestine organization seeking eternal life).

Should he make a mistake and “beat the grass to startle the snake” (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning to alert an enemy by premature action), making the Immortality Society wary, the difficulty of assassinating their leader would significantly increase.

‘Alternatively, should I act now, apprehending the leading Corpse Herder (TL Note: A person who controls corpses, often associated with black magic or necromancy) directly, and then interrogate him for information?’

While this approach also carried the risk of alerting the Immortality Society, it would be far less provocative than a direct raid on their stronghold.

He could gamble on the Immortality Society attributing the Corpse Herder’s capture to mere bad luck.

Despite their numerical advantage, the four living corpses were quite sluggish; as long as he could subdue the Corpse Herder, the situation wouldn’t be too problematic.

Such a rare opportunity was not one Yodel could afford to miss, and within a matter of seconds, he made his decision.

Melding into the flow of pedestrians, Yodel quickened his pace, advancing swiftly.

Once he had closed the distance, he abruptly spoke up: “Hello, sir, it’s dinner time.

Would you care for something to eat?”

Upon hearing the voice, the Corpse Herder, mistaking him for a street vendor, turned around, intending to see what was on offer.

“Eat my fist!”

As the Corpse Herder turned, his balance shifting, Yodel delivered a swift hook directly to his face.

Having eaten well and rested for nearly two weeks, his body was considerably stronger than when he first transmigrated.

Coupled with the element of surprise, the blow left the Corpse Herder utterly disoriented, allowing Yodel to seize the opportunity and tackle him to the ground.

He harbored no fear of any weapons the Corpse Herder might carry; even if he died, the God of Death would simply retrieve him.

With such impunity, the Corpse Herder was firmly pinned down, trapped beneath Yodel and beaten so severely he couldn’t even lift his head.

The pummeling continued for quite some time before anyone emerged to intervene.

“What are you doing? Get off him immediately!”

A person in a patrol officer’s uniform rushed over from a distance, their hand already resting on their gun holster.

‘Finally, they’ve arrived,’ Yodel grumbled inwardly. ‘Their speed is truly abysmal.’

Yodel’s initial thought when he initiated the attack was that if the fight attracted the police, the Corpse Herder would surely be unable to escape.

Yet, the inefficiency of the police response meant the Corpse Herder endured several more minutes of punches.

“Officer, I am a subordinate of Ms. Yelica, here on her orders to apprehend a fugitive.

Please assist me by contacting Ms. Yelica.”

“Yelica? Yelica Cooper? The Inquisitor who saved a mother and daughter last week?”

“Precisely.

I would appreciate it if you could contact her.

Additionally, if you’re able to lend a hand, please help me hold this man down.”

However, the patrol officer did not move, and Yodel quickly realized what he was wary of.

The four living corpses, having lost their directives, stood rooted to the spot like wooden stakes; the motionless black-robed figures presented a rather intimidating sight.

Though hesitant to approach, the patrol officer nevertheless summoned backup, and Yelica, along with additional police forces, arrived almost simultaneously.

“What is this?” Yelica wondered, observing a man who claimed to be a Chosen One straddling another man whose face was bruised and swollen.

She inwardly mused about how surprisingly down-to-earth the Chosen One’s fighting style appeared.

Yodel stood up, dragging the dazed and thoroughly beaten Corpse Herder before Yelica, and whispered to her:

“This individual is suspected of being connected to the Immortality Society, and those four motionless black-robed figures are likely living corpses.

Take them back to the church for interrogation.”

Having delivered his message, Yodel stepped back, reporting in a voice loud enough for everyone nearby to hear: “Madam Yelica, as per your orders, one cultist has been apprehended.

Please instruct us on the next course of action.”

“What did you just call me? *Cough, cough*… Uh… you’ve done very well.

I’ll handle things from here; you… um… return to the church for now.”

“Understood!” Yodel turned and departed without a backward glance, leaving the entire mess of the scene for Yelica to manage.

Nevertheless, Yelica had already gained experience in dealing with Yodel’s “zero-frame initiation” (TL Note: A gaming term referring to an action that starts instantly without any wind-up animation), and her methods for handling public incidents were more seasoned than before.

She swiftly dispatched both the police and the curious onlookers.

Since it was a cultist incident, the Royal Police’s jurisdiction took precedence over the church’s in terms of case priority, leaving them with no choice but to watch Yelica take all five individuals away.

By the time Yelica returned to the church, she found Yodel munching on bread and sipping sweet iced tea, having clearly been waiting for quite some time.

“You’re quite at ease, aren’t you, my dear ‘subordinate’?” Yelica remarked, her tone tinged with a hint of resentment.

“My sincerest apologies for the trouble, Madam Yelica~” Yodel replied, deliberately emphasizing the last two syllables, successfully eliciting a laugh from Yelica that she couldn’t suppress.

“It actually sounds pretty good now; call me that a few more times.”

Yodel, caught between laughter and exasperation, said: “Alright, alright, that’s enough of that.

Let’s get down to business.

Leave the four living corpses here at the church for study, and bring the Corpse Herder with you; accompany me to Minkton’s office.”

“Minkton Detective Agency? So you and those two detectives who came to see me last time really are working together!”

Yelica naturally assumed that both Yodel and Lauren were favored by the God of Death.

However, Yodel was unaware of this.

He believed Yelica’s “working together” referred to a partnership, so he nodded in agreement.

“So, as an Inquisitor, you must possess some interrogation skills, right?” he asked, looking at Yelica.

Yelica ran her hand along the steel shaft of her staff. “Are you referring to physical techniques or psychological ones?”

“Either one will do.”

Yodel knew, without even needing to ask, which type Yelica specialized in, and he silently offered a moment of pity for the Corpse Herder.