Chapter 67

Chapter 67

"But," Captain Youzhao Wotebake of Huan Banxiang said, "we don't intend to put you in any danger, Miss Bai Li."

Last night, after receiving the gift from Huan Banxiang at her home, Bai Li also met Youzhao, who came out to explain the situation.

Despite facing immense pressure, Lecai Xikadir still pursued Bai Li, which seemed very strange after analysis.

"Of course, one could say he continues to pursue you to maintain his image as a successful businessman and a womanizer, to avoid arousing suspicion from others. However, the womanizer part is not as crucial compared to being a successful businessman. Or, generally speaking, when people are overwhelmed with work, they naturally focus their energy on solving problems first before considering other matters.

"If someone insists on doing these other things, it's worth considering if they have ulterior motives."

Youzhao continued, "Pursuing you is one of those other things. Especially given that you show him no favor."

"Hmm," Bai Li's expression grew serious, and she asked, "What does he plan to do to me?"

"Killing or kidnapping you before fully exposing himself is possible," Youzhao said. "The fact that you see him every day after work indicates his urgency... It might be an order from his superiors."

Seeing Bai Li deep in thought, Youzhao continued, "Therefore, the Intelligence Department and we suggest setting up a sting operation."

Bai Li had never fished before.

When she was in elementary school, her class organized a fishing trip, but it was on a weekend, and her parents insisted she decline the invitation.

However, during the few weeks after she eloped and when her relationship with her husband was at its best, they took walks by the riverbank together, and she learned what fishing entailed.

"So, I'm the bait?" Bai Li asked.

"In a way, but we don't intend for you to actually interact with Lecai Xikadir. As an innocent citizen, ensuring your safety is our responsibility. But you will serve as the bait to draw him out. We need to use your image," Youzhao explained. "I apologize; we shouldn't be so hasty, but recent significant changes among the evil gods and cultists require us to obtain new intelligence quickly."

"There's a new evil god who has mastered the power of dreams!" Huan Banxiang explained to Bai Li. "This Dream Lord fought a divine battle against the Silver Moon Maiden in Spire City. The Silver Moon Maiden lost, but she hasn't given up, so the Aberrant Cult is dispatching personnel from various cities to Spire City—"

"Huan Banxiang," Youzhao interrupted helplessly, "information about the Dream God is currently confidential to the public..."

"Eh? But didn't you say in the meeting that Bai Li isn't an ordinary citizen anymore?"

"But she's still a citizen!!"

Youzhao raised her hand, and a blue light flashed, revealing a fine steel longsword in her grasp.

This sword dancer, belonging to the Contradictory Twins, didn't even draw the sword from its scabbard but started swinging it to beat a dog.

"Ouch, Captain, go easy!"

Huan Banxiang dodged, covering her head, while Youzhao, still angry but putting away her sword, forced a smile and apologized to Bai Li, "I'm truly sorry, Miss Bai Li... Could you please sign a confidentiality agreement later?"

Upon hearing this major news about the evil god, the former housewife remained calm. Her sudden smile was more genuine than Youzhao's polite one, and she eagerly asked, "The Silver Moon Maiden lost?"

Her tone suggested she found this news quite surprising, and she recalled the priest of her lord who occasionally entered her dreams. She already knew which god had won the divine battle and gained the power of dreams: Mirror Eye, her lord, undoubtedly a more powerful deity than the Silver Moon Maiden.

Unfortunately, she couldn't offer much assistance to her lord, but the Aberrant Cult could mobilize resources to support Spire City... Of course, Bai Li believed that Mirror Eye had countless followers acting in secret, and they wouldn't fall behind. Still, she wanted to do something personally for her lord.

Hmm, the Pomeranian woman began to think. She remembered Captain Youzhao's earlier reassurance that despite Lecai Xikadir's calm demeanor, he was likely preparing to flee. Then, when Huan Banxiang mentioned Spire City, could it be that Huan Banxiang heard others speculate that Lecai Xikadir would find an opportunity to leave Tieliu City and join other cultists in Spire City under a new identity?

Thus, the Inquisition's actions became urgent, aiming to capture these cultists planning to leave.

Bai Li also felt a sense of urgency; how could she let Lecai Xikadir reach Spire City and interfere with her lord?

Well, helping the Inquisition combat the Aberrant Cult would certainly count as contributing to her lord, right?

Youzhao noticed the small Pomeranian woman becoming more enthusiastic, looking up with black eyes and asking, "I'll sign the confidentiality agreement and won't tell anyone... So, Captain Youzhao, what exactly do you want me to do?"

She looked so obedient, far cuter than Huan Banxiang, despite both being canine people.

Since Huan Banxiang joined the team, Youzhao had to deal with managing this Hisike canine person daily, making Bai Li seem exceptionally well-behaved, even soothing Youzhao's weary heart.

But as a veteran inquisitor with over ten years of experience, Youzhao sensed something subtle.

Facing a dangerous cultist up close, most people wouldn't be so eager.

Though she appeared obedient, this former housewife and current theater actress might be crazier than Youzhao initially estimated.

Or perhaps she had already been driven mad, which led her to raise a knife against her cultist husband.

Such a person could easily be lured into worshipping the Silver Moon Maiden, as the insane are often marginalized by society, and the Silver Moon Maiden claims to protect the mad. However, she hated the Silver Moon Maiden so much... For a commoner, whether loving or hating a deity, the outcome is rarely favorable.

But Youzhao intended to exploit this madness, despite having prepared various measures to ensure Bai Li Pomeranian's safety.

The most important measure was—

"Do you plan to wear just these clothes and enter a high-end restaurant with the target?"

***

A figure suddenly appeared behind Bai Li, asking.

It was a young rat person with a delicate face and freckles, short brown hair, and a small cap. He was about Bai Li's height and wore a peculiar silver-white robe that reached his feet, with no visible seams or buttons.

Bai Li's old dress, worn shoes, and second-hand coat were indeed unsuitable for a high-end restaurant, but the rat person's attire was equally inappropriate... He shouldn't have suddenly appeared behind someone in a closed dressing room; it was too ghostly and could cause a heart attack.

Fortunately, Bai Li wasn't easily startled and calmly explained to the rat person:

"Is he worth buying an expensive new outfit for?"

The rat person nodded, having observed Bai Li's expression, and sighed:

"I see, so that's your attitude towards him. I understand."

After saying this, the rat person suddenly shrank a few centimeters, aligning with Bai Li's height.

The freckles on his face faded, his short brown hair quickly turned white and became somewhat uneven—just like Bai Li's hair after it was singed by fire—his chest swelled, and his hands and feet became more delicate.

Even the large, round ears that symbolized his ratling race began to shrink, and in just one breath, what stood out among the rough white hair were a pair of small dog ears, with a bald spot on the right ear.

Even the furry short tail behind Bai Li was there. In just a few seconds, the young ratling had transformed into someone identical to Bai Li.

Except for the clothes and shoes.

This is what a Shapeshifter does.

Although they are all practitioners of the Mother of Origin Blood, Shapeshifters are rare and unique compared to Blood Doctors and Blood Knights. However, the intelligence department of the Tieliu City Court happens to have one such individual.

Shapeshifters are said to be able to transform into beasts, not limited to those of their bloodline, but into various beasts of suitable size. However, they lack the robust physique of beastmen and cannot instantly heal from injuries.

The domains of the Mother of Origin Blood and the Maiden of the Silver Moon overlap significantly. Bai Li recalled the teachings of the priest: the overlapping domains of deities are the battlefields where believers must stand firm for their gods.

So, the half-literate mystic thought, the Mother of Origin Blood is both an enemy and a good deity to the Maiden of the Silver Moon.

The Shapeshifter didn't notice Bai Li's attitude becoming more intimate. He, or she—it didn't matter, as the Shapeshifter's true gender was unknown—observed Bai Li's clothing again, then grabbed her silver-white robe and shook it.

The silver-white robe shrank upwards, and in the blink of an eye, it matched Bai Li's attire perfectly.

Noticing Bai Li's wide-eyed curiosity, the Shapeshifter tugged at her skirt, spun around, and showed her, "It's a shape-shifting alchemical device. Don't be fooled by its appearance; you're wearing a dress with an outer coat, while mine is actually a fake two-piece."

The alchemical device even simulated a belt, but simulating a dagger was beyond its capabilities. Fortunately, the Shapeshifter was prepared and took out a matching dagger to wear.

However...

The Shapeshifter looked down at Bai Li's old leather shoes. Although she didn't say anything, Bai Li immediately understood her meaning and took off her shoes.

The Shapeshifter put them on, wiggled her ankles, and gave Bai Li a thumbs-up.

"Go home with peace of mind," she smiled at Bai Li, "I'll take care of that guy."

"...Okay." Bai Li couldn't help but smile.

Was this inappropriate? As a cultist, perhaps she shouldn't be so friendly with these judges?

But being with them felt so reassuring, even making her think about trying to remove the glass bead pendant.

Bai Li watched as "Bai Li" left, and after another ten minutes, she followed the plan, walked out of the changing room, and headed to the west door that had quietly opened again.

This time, Huan Banxiang was waiting at the west door. Seeing Bai Li come out barefoot, the confused Hisike dog-person wore a silly expression.

Huan Banxiang thought for a moment, couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation, and decided to focus on more practical matters.

She wagged her tail expectantly, "Bai Li, shall we go buy new shoes?"

If they could deal with Lecai Xikadir tonight, even though Bai Li had only a little money left after buying necessities for Xiao Yu, she was willing to buy a pair of shoes to celebrate.

With this in mind, she passed through the open steel door.

The distorted reflection of Bai Li in the steel door suddenly lifted its head and spoke to her.

"Go to the Day Care," the voice of the reflection, the voice of the master, said, "Xiao Yu has been taken away by a stranger."