Chapter 144

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Chapter 144: The Tragedy of Feather

The search operation had begun.

Bai Yan continued his daily routine, commuting to work as usual. He walked among the crowds, like fish drifting with the current, unaware of where the future would take him.

The fate of the world, whether it would survive or perish, seemed almost irrelevant to the largest group of people—ordinary citizens.

At times, he would access the “citywide surveillance” on his phone, hoping to find any trace of Mary.

The daily and weekly missions continued without disruption. Mu Ling, Maryse, Alan, Amy, and others were steadily mastering new powers and becoming stronger.

However, three days had passed and still, no sign of Mary appeared. There was no clue, no suspicious activity. Everything seemed calm, but Adelaide’s expression in the office hinted at something deeper, something hidden.

There seemed to be a sadness lurking behind her calm demeanor.

Bai Yan sat quietly in the office, watching Holly who had just returned to work. Holly’s mother had recovered, but Holly herself still seemed dazed, clearly burdened by the knowledge that her parents’ time was running out.

Holly remained silent, her head bowed in her seat.

At that moment, Miss Witch arrived beside her, smiling as she handed over a small strawberry cake.

“Ah, thank you, Miss Merete,” Holly said with a forced smile.

As Holly hesitated whether to accept the gesture, Merete smiled warmly, leaning her forehead against Holly’s.

“It will be okay, bunny. If you stay unhappy for too long, it causes me pain too.”

“Can you promise me to recover your spirits quickly?” Merete added gently.

Holly nodded, a soft giggle escaping her lips.

Bai Yan, sitting nearby, suddenly felt a strange illusion—was Merete Chambers truly treating Holly with kindness?

No, wait—no, it was all an act. He quickly shook his head, chastising himself.

Just then, Merete Chambers casually sat beside Bai Yan, her posture elegant with one leg crossed over the other under her black dress. She smiled, eyes narrowing as she lightly placed her hands in front of her.

“I’ve agreed to your demands. So, when will you reward me?” she teased, her tone light.

Bai Yan’s expression grew serious. “I am willing to sacrifice my appearance.”

Merete let out a small chuckle, unperturbed by his teasing. “That’s not possible,” she replied with a smile. “I have no need for children with you. That would hardly be a reward.”

Her smile shifted, becoming colder. “If your reward doesn’t satisfy me, I will report the matter.”

A moment of silence passed before Bai Yan said, “If you’re willing to assist me during this period and become my assistant… I promise your dream will come true within two months.”

Merete raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile spreading across her face. The Book of Concealment appeared beside them, gently flipping open.

A strange sensation filled the air—Bai Yan felt an indescribable chill, a looming sense of crisis.

The others in the office—Holly, the big guy, Adelaide, and even Black Vulture—froze, as if the very air around them had solidified.

Bai Yan remained unmoved, calm and composed. He felt no panic.

Then, a pale, almost bloodless hand gently touched his face, sending a cool sensation through him.

“What is my dream? Tell me,” Merete whispered softly.

Bai Yan met her gaze and replied slowly, “You want to become a member of Babel Tower, don’t you?”

“Are you ‘Profligate’?” she suddenly asked.

Bai Yan didn’t answer directly but instead said, “So, do you agree to the transaction between us?”

Merete stared at him for a long moment. Their bodies were close enough that they could smell each other’s scent.

“Okay, I agree,” she finally said, her gaze filled with mockery.

“So, how do you plan to use me?” she added. “Do you want to have children with me day and night? Satisfy your ugly desires on this innocent young girl?”

Bai Yan didn’t respond to her sarcasm. He simply smiled calmly. “Help me find someone first—Mary Scatino. Let me know as soon as you find her.”

Merete raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly.

“Understood. Hmm, so you like older women,” she said teasingly, before the Book of Concealment vanished.

As quickly as it had begun, everything returned to normal. Holly, Adelaide, and the others remained oblivious to the strange pause in time. None of them noticed anything unusual.

Before leaving, Merete smiled mischievously, “By the way, what name do you like for a dog? Hmm… ‘Snow Narai’, ‘Border Collie’, ‘Husky’—which one do you think is better?”

Bai Yan answered seriously, “I like black-and-white cats and dogs. They can be very cute… but they must be well-behaved. Troublemakers need discipline.”

Merete nodded. “I see. But there are some puppies and kittens you won’t be able to afford.”

After she left, Bai Yan shook his head lightly, a smile he couldn’t quite hide spreading across his lips.

He hadn’t really deceived her. He truly wanted her to become Babel Tower’s Core Operator. But the truth about this “dream” might not align with what she imagined. There were many things about Babel Tower she didn’t know—secrets hidden deep within.

He closed his eyes slowly. The determination of thousands of years meant that she would never give up easily.

People often believed their dreams were perfect. Cultists, for instance, thought that if the Outer God descended, all their problems would be solved, and they would find eternity and happiness.

But the truth was rarely that simple.

Most people, like moths drawn to a flame, tempted fate without ever truly understanding the consequences.

——

The fourth day arrived.

Bai Yan had received no investigation results. No useful clues had surfaced.

As the workday came to a close, Adelaide entered the office, her expression complex, as rain pattered heavily outside.

“Everyone, please come over here,” she said quietly.

“What’s wrong?” Holly asked, her concern evident.

“Attend the funeral,” Adelaide replied.

Bai Yan, Holly, and the big guy stood still, stunned by the unexpected announcement.

——

Public Cemetery.

Hundreds of Night Watchers, dressed in formal black suits, stood in solemn silence, mourning the deceased.

Director Mr. Trap, his white hair drenched in the rain, stood before the crowd. He seemed frail, vulnerable—his gaze vacant, as though lost in the vast emptiness of the world.

A tall man, over two meters in height and wearing sunglasses, stood beside the coffin. He began to speak in a voice filled with reverence for the deceased.

“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to hold this ceremony.”

“Feather, the protector of humans, elves, and all living things… Noah’s precious child in this world… the faithful subject of the Air Alliance kings…”

“Your loyalty, bravery, and integrity will forever be remembered by all.”

“We will carry your strength forward, guarding the last bit of light in this endless night.”

“Let us now mourn for Feather.”

Bai Yan stood silently, staring at the young man in the coffin.

Feather was dead.

He was the captain of Team 3 in the Demon Hunt Agency, a cold and meticulous young man with faint scars around his eyes. Bai Yan wasn’t close to him; they had only exchanged brief encounters in the cafeteria.

Yet, standing here, in the collective silence, Bai Yan felt a strange sadness.

Perhaps, one day, he would meet the same fate.

Would he be remembered as a hero or a sinner?

After the mourning, Adelaide approached her teammates, lighting a cigarette. She smoked in silence for a while before speaking.

“The body was found a few mornings ago. Feather was raised by Director Trap, with no other family. Director decided to bury him today.”

“Have you found the culprit? Do you know who did it?” Holly asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Adelaide hesitated before shaking her head. “No… The last person to see him was me. We parted after finishing our mission together. But less than an hour later, he…”

She trailed off, the weight of guilt clearly heavy on her.

Bai Yan interrupted gently, “This isn’t your fault. Sometimes, even good people fail to protect others. But that doesn’t make them at fault. What we need to focus on now is finding the real culprit.”

Adelaide met his gaze, a quiet light in her eyes, before responding.

“The culprit is most likely the Blood Clan,” she said slowly. “We were close to their territory when we separated, and when we found Feather’s body, all his blood had been drained.”

Bai Yan took a deep breath and analyzed the situation. “Feather was a level Awakening supernova. He could have easily killed a Blood Clan member. But there are only two people in the city who could have killed him.”

“One is Marquis Scarlet.”

Adelaide continued, “The other is the Queen of the Scarlet Moon.”