The Backlash of Painkillers

No one on site was a fool.

If Shen Yue was controlled by puppet magic, then the testimony she gave during her interrogation could very well be invalid.

In that case, Pan Rui, who was on duty with her, became the most likely suspect.

It was highly probable that he was the one who leaked the insurance policies filled out by the students, leading to the murder in the Xingfu apartment building and the attack on Su Ran.

The “Glitch” energy that appeared in both of these cases was identical to that of the mutated Earl from the Northern Border City.

Whether Pan Rui was the mastermind or a pawn controlled by the vampires, his connection to the “Glitch” energy alone was enough reason for Li Shanhai to arrange for him to be brought under control.

“Go to Pan Rui’s residence immediately. Confirm his situation, but do not alert him. Then, notify the specialists to handle it.”

After hearing Ma Kun, Li Shanhai immediately notified his colleagues remaining at the police station, telling them to go to the address Pan Rui had on file and find him.

For now, they could only wait for Li Shanhai’s people to find Pan Rui to understand what role he was playing.

After Li Shanhai finished arranging the manpower for Pan Rui’s residence, the group turned their attention back to the ruins they were currently in.

“There’s still one thing we haven’t figured out. How exactly did the enemy manage to set up a magic formation here?”

It was important to remember that they were in the underground ruins of Jiangbei City.

Almost everyone who entered this place was a superhuman.

And the researchers’ temporary residences were, for the most part, heavily protected.

To set up a magic formation here would be nearly impossible.

At that moment, Su Ran looked at Winnie, her eyes filled with inquiry.

Su Ran knew it was possible to use a vampire corpse to instantly erect a magic formation.

Could the enemy have used this method?

In response, Winnie slowly shook her head, negating Su Ran’s idea.

The surrounding area had been thoroughly searched inside and out by the researchers.

Besides Shen Yue, they had found absolutely nothing.

They hadn’t even found the remains of the humanoid withered trees Su Ran said she had frozen.

It was as if they had vanished without a trace along with the magic formation.

“Could it have been set up by the person controlling Shen Yue?”

Shen Yue was a superhuman.

After being controlled by puppet magic, she was the most likely person to have done this.

“Before the energy completely enveloped us, we didn’t sense the aura of a magic formation at all.”

As a firsthand witness to the event, Ma Kun also agreed with Su Ran’s statement.

“Why did she go to the trouble of setting up a magic formation for a sacrifice? Wouldn’t it have been better to have Shen Yue sneak it away quietly?”

From the current situation, the commotion caused by setting up a sacrificial magic formation was far greater than quietly stealing something.

Yet the enemy still did it.

So, for what purpose did the person controlling her use a magic formation to envelop this place?

Was it purely to sacrifice the mutated Earl’s corpse?

Li Shanhai couldn’t figure it out.

In his view, the benefits of doing something like this secretly would surely outweigh making a big scene.

“The enemy’s goal was likely to summon a monster like the mutated Earl.”

Just then, the researcher who had been assigned to tally the weight of the mutated Earl’s corpse also approached the group.

“According to our tally, the corpse’s weight is one and a half kilograms less than before, and the energy contained within it has decreased accordingly.”

“Reality is just as Su Ran said. The enemy’s sacrificial formation was aimed at the mutated Earl’s corpse.”

‘The enemy wanted to summon a monster similar to the mutated Earl here?’

Li Shanhai’s face changed.

Hearing Su Ran’s speculation, his calves began to tremble.

If a monster similar to the one in the Northern Border City were to appear without any warning, the casualties in Jiangbei City would be unimaginable.

“From what I saw inside the magic formation, that was their objective.”

Su Ran’s statement was quite certain.

This was not only based on the scene she witnessed inside the formation but was also related to her encounter in Laita City.

Since the mutated Earl was an affected Blood Knight, it was highly likely that the enemy wanted to summon a Blood Knight once again.

Su Ran then described the crack she had seen inside the magic formation to the few people present.

After hearing Su Ran’s words, Li Shanhai felt an even greater urgency to find Pan Rui.

Whether he was acting on his own or under someone’s orders, only by controlling him could they prevent a disaster.

Just as Su Ran finished speaking, her brow furrowed, and her entire body went limp like dough, slumping to the side.

Fortunately, Winnie was quick-eyed and swift-handed, wrapping an arm around her waist to support her, allowing Su Ran to remain standing.

Winnie was about to ask about Su Ran’s condition when she felt Su Ran grit her teeth.

Beads of sweat covered her fair forehead, dampening the fabric of her clothes.

“Xiao Ran, what’s wrong with you?”

Looking at Su Ran leaning against her, Winnie asked anxiously.

“To deal with the unexpected situation inside the magic formation, I took some painkiller potions. Now that the duration is over, the backlash has started.”

Su Ran gritted her teeth against the painful backlash in her calf and explained to the others.

She had hoped to hold out until the end, but her body seemed to have developed a resistance after taking the potion, and the duration was getting shorter and shorter.

But fortunately, she had basically said everything that needed to be said.

“No wonder… when I woke up, I was sitting in a wheelchair. So it was yours.”

Looking at Su Ran, Ma Kun scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.

He was about to get up but was stopped by Su Ran.

“Old Ma, you just sit. I’m still young; I can handle it.”

Even though she was sweating coldly from the pain, Su Ran still had Old Ma sit down comfortably, while she was helped by Winnie to a nearby chair.

Winnie took the opportunity to remove the small leather shoes from her feet and roll down her stockings halfway, revealing a section of her calf, as white as a lotus root, preparing to examine it.

A gentle stream of magic essence seeped into Su Ran’s calf from all directions, creating a tingling, numbing itch that replaced the pain of the backlash.

When Winnie withdrew her magic essence, she let out a sigh of relief.

“There are no new injuries on your leg, but the previously healed fracture line… after this much strenuous movement, you need to have it set in a cast and rest. Otherwise, there’s a risk of it not aligning properly. You don’t want to end up with one leg longer than the other, do you?”

Thinking of the serious consequences Winnie described, Su Ran shivered inexplicably.

She cherished her body very much.

“By the way, do you have any more of that painkiller potion?” This time, Winnie whispered in Su Ran’s ear.

“Eh? What’s wrong?”

Su Ran didn’t know what Winnie was up to.

“This kind of painkiller is very useful in critical moments. If you have any more, I can purchase them from you on behalf of the Blood Cat branch.”