Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Youzhao, who was tracking the tram that Bai Li and Lecai Xikadir were riding in, suddenly received a call from Huan Banxiang.

Her first reaction was to doubt whether she should have given such an expensive alchemical communicator to Huan Banxiang. When Huan Banxiang first started her patrol duties, she would report even the smallest matters over the phone. Although she had recently improved under Youzhao's repeated instructions, wouldn't the excitement of getting the alchemical communicator make her revert to her old habits?

Youzhao's head began to throb, but as the team leader, she had to take responsibility for her team members' mistakes. Despite the throbbing pain, she connected the communication from Huan Banxiang.

"Huan Banxiang? Aren't you supposed to be on duty protecting Ms. Bai Li... Xiao Yu is missing?!!!"

Walking quickly down the street alongside Youzhao, her partner, who had been keeping an eye on the tram ahead, stopped and looked at Youzhao. The female antelope person widened her eyes, pressing the communicator to her ear, and whispered, "How did she go missing? Ah? Did the Day Care say Ms. Bai Li picked up the child? But you and Ms. Bai Li haven't even gone to the Day Care yet?"

"That's right!" In the telephone booth of the Emme Theatre, Huan Banxiang paced anxiously, "I suggested to Bai Li that we buy a new pair of shoes today, and Bai Li said we might exceed the closing time of the Day Care, so we should call them first... The Day Care was surprised when they received the call, saying that Bai Li had already taken Xiao Yu away!"

But the real Bai Li was still at the Emme Theatre, while the imposter Bai Li was on the tram ahead.

What's going on? Is there now a third Bai Li Bomei in Tieliu City?

But the shapeshifter capable of transforming into Bai Li Bomei in Tieliu City should only be the one from their tribunal, right?

For a moment, Youzhao's mind went blank. It took her a few seconds to react, and she hissed, "...Necromancer?"

When it comes to professions that can perfectly impersonate another person, the most skilled are undoubtedly shapeshifters. Below them, some mechanical puppets made by engineers can also pass as humans.

The followers of the dark gods also have their own methods. If it comes to not revealing any flaws, the face-changing surgery performed by necromancers is the best.

Originally just a technique used by necromancers to disguise corpses, these evil practitioners soon discovered that operating on living people was also effective. Even if the person undergoing surgery died on the table, necromancers could gain an additional corpse.

Of course, such surgeries can be easily seen through by any low-level flesh doctor, but why would a flesh doctor work as a teacher at a Day Care?

"If it's a necromancer... if it's a necromancer..." Youzhao calmed down and began to think, "Whether they operated on a living person to make them impersonate Bai Li or used a controlled corpse to impersonate Bai Li—though the latter is unlikely, given the Day Care's proximity to the Church of the Mother of Blood—but even if it's a living person who has undergone surgery, there will still be traces of necromantic magic on them. A funeral director might be able to track them."

She finished her monologue and asked Huan Banxiang, "How is Ms. Bai Li doing?"

"Ah, Bai Li." In the telephone booth of the Emme Theatre, Huan Banxiang turned around.

Bai Li knelt in the corner of the telephone booth, her clasped hands pressed against her forehead, seemingly in prayer.

Clasping hands together in front of the chest or pressing them against the forehead is a universal praying posture, suitable for any deity. Huan Banxiang remembered the citizen records she had seen of Bai Li, which noted that Bai Li followed her parents in worshiping the Mother of Blood until she was eighteen, then switched to worshiping the Golden Hammer after marriage due to her husband's desire to make money. Although that scoundrel was now dead, Bai Li's prayers would likely still be directed to one of these two deities.

Huan Banxiang couldn't see the glass pendant hanging between Bai Li's clasped hands.

"I know you're anxious, but the more anxious you are, the more you need to use your brain. Giving an excuse to call the Day Care can explain the source of the information about 'Xiao Yu being taken away'," Lin advised her, "An explainable source of information can get more help from other judges."

"Yes," Bai Li thought, "but..."

"Xiao Yu is safe for now," the voice of the Mirror Eye said with certainty, a tone similar to what Youzhao and other judges used to increase their persuasiveness, "You know what kind of people the Aberrant Sect are, right? You understand your husband, and you've seen the cultists who came to kill you at the hospital. You know how they would torture someone; if they wanted to kill Xiao Yu, they would do it in front of you."

Unless it's impossible.

If it's impossible, they would ensure that Bai Li sees Xiao Yu's body.

Many case files floated up from Lin's memory, but ultimately, not killing Xiao Yu immediately was the most likely scenario, though it was just a possibility.

Moreover, Lin knew that the Aberrant Sect was prepared for the possibility of not seeing Bai Li, while Bai Li... looking at the frightened Bai Li in the mirror, he knew she needed a stronger assurance.

Lin closed his eyes and then opened them again.

He no longer used the habitual judge's tone with this family member but spoke with the voice of a god, saying, "But they cannot kill Xiao Yu.

"Human plots are transparent to me. No matter what they plan to do, I am watching."

***

"Bai Li," Huan Banxiang said, "Bai Li, she is praying..."

"Praying? Hmm, as long as she can stay calm, Huan Banxiang, take Ms. Bai Li to the Level 12 branch office immediately and don't leave," Youzhao said rapidly, "Although the person who took Xiao Yu used necromancer techniques to disguise themselves, the most likely suspect is still the Aberrant Sect. Xiao Yu isn't very valuable to the Aberrant Sect, but Bai Li, who killed their fellow believers, is much more valuable. Taking Xiao Yu is just a means to threaten Bai Li. Huan Banxiang, protect Ms. Bai Li well!"

"Understood!" Huan Banxiang replied immediately, "We will—"

A rough hand, worn from housework, placed itself on Huan Banxiang's shoulder.

Huan Banxiang was startled; as a professional, she hadn't noticed Bai Li's approach... It must have been because Captain Youzhao's long speech had completely captured her attention.

Quickly finding an excuse, Huan Banxiang pushed aside her doubts.

But her doubts didn't decrease; they increased.

Because Bai Li tiptoed and, speaking firmly into the alchemical communicator hanging from Huan Banxiang's ear, said, "Captain Youzhao... Is it possible that the Lecai Xikadir who invited me earlier wasn't the real Lecai Xikadir?"

Youzhao: "...Huh? Wait? Is this Ms. Bai Li speaking?"

Her voice, transmitted through the amber-made alchemical communicator, overlapped with the voice of the Mirror Eye.

"The Lecai Xikadir who met you today is fake," the Master told Bai Li, "Starting yesterday, the real Lecai Xikadir found an opportunity to swap identities with someone at a party. Although the chaos did indeed obscure the view, they actually managed to succeed, which shows a lapse in our surveillance team... The 'Lecai Xikadir' currently under surveillance by the tribunal is a necromancer assisting in the kidnapping of Xiao Yu. He is a member of the Resurrection Society, helping the Aberrant Sect and Lecai Xikadir to obtain the body of a shapeshifter."

Body.

Bai Li's hand, which was on Huan Banxiang's shoulder, suddenly tightened.

She wasn't afraid, she wasn't afraid, she just remembered the cute appearance of the rat boy jumping out behind her, and the "no problem" gesture made by the imposter "Bai Li" before leaving.

The shapeshifter also said to Bai Li, "Go home with peace of mind."

Bai Li's hand tightened further, and in the next second, Huan Banxiang removed it.

The much taller new judge bent down, so Bai Li didn't have to continue tiptoeing.

"Ms. Bai Li," Youzhao pressed, "Why do you feel this way?"

Huan Banxiang's action and Youzhao's words brought Bai Li back to reality.

She took a deep breath and said seriously, "Their eyes are different."

"Let's leave it at that," the Master continued to guide her, "You've already matched once; your intuition doesn't need an explanation."

Bai Li nodded and repeated into the alchemical communicator, "Their eyes are different!"

Youzhao: "..."

Youzhao really had a headache.

But she herself didn't realize that she had already believed Bai Li. Her headache was only because she didn't know how to explain this to her colleagues in the Fishing Operation team.

And she still couldn't quite understand.

"Why..." Youzhao murmured, "a fake Lecai Xikadir? But why create a fake one?"

***

Because the Aberrant Sect in Tieliu City had also noticed the more urgent actions of the Court.

Lin, who glanced at the fake Lecai, already knew their entire conspiracy.

Lin's timing wasn't ideal; he arrived a bit late, just as the fake Lecai and the shapeshifter were boarding the tram, almost out of the range illuminated by Bai Li, his believer.

Fortunately, they were just short of that, and fortunately, Lin could rewind time in an instant.

The Court wanted to catch all the Aberrant Sect members planning to leave Tieliu City, while the Aberrant Sect needed to ensure that their reinforcements sent to Spire City would reach their destination. Coincidentally, the ritualist of the Plague Seminar, Lecai Xikadir, was exposed to the Court's scrutiny, and he too needed to escape Tieliu City, so he helped devise this plan.

Create a big distraction to divert the Court's attention.

Who better to create such a distraction than Bai Li, who had repeatedly rejected him?

And the shapeshifter.

The Intelligence Division of the Tieliu City Court had a shapeshifter. Although no one knew their true appearance, both the Aberrant Sect and other cults like the Plague Seminar, the Resurrection Society, and the Shadow Blade... had been hit many times from within by this shapeshifter. They all knew there was a shapeshifter in the city.

The last time the shapeshifter caused a stir among the cultists was not long ago. Lecai Xikadir was certain that even if this shapeshifter was a workaholic, they should have some free time recently.

So, after exposing himself, he kept inviting Bai Li to dinner, creating an opportunity for the shapeshifter to act.

Although it was a gamble, it was a gamble worth taking.

Bai Li Bomei wouldn't accept his invitation.

Her inexplicable aversion to Lecai Xikadir and her close relationship with the Inquisitor had even led to the exposure of their monster base. How could she possibly accept his invitation?

So, if she did accept, it wouldn't be the real Bai Li but the shapeshifter trying to catch them.

Who would have thought that, instead, they would catch the shapeshifter?

This plan was indeed bold, exploiting the Court's urgency... Lin remembered this Lecai Xikadir who proposed the plan. If this guy really came to Spire City, he would give him something to remember.

It was a pity that Lin had illuminated too few mirrors, and even he lost track of the real Lecai.

If Lin were this Lecai, he would probably have already left Tieliu City and embarked on the smuggling route.

But would this clever Lecai Xikadir do that?

Lin felt there was another possibility worth betting on.

"The person who took Xiao Yu is the leader of the Aberrant Sect in Tieliu City, Inquisitor Fangying·Masima. Soon, he will appear by the riverbank, publicly using Xiao Yu to threaten you to come forward. However, the one currently acting as Bai Li is the shapeshifter.

"Whether you or the shapeshifter goes, he wins. The Court's attention is indeed diverted, and the escape route is prepared... So, Bai Li, what do you intend to do?"

Bai Li heard the Master's gentle inquiry.

"Going to the district branch for protection is the safest option and won't cause trouble for the Court. But, what do you truly want to do, what is your heart's desire?"

What she truly wanted to do...

Huan Banxiang, holding Bai Li's hand, saw Bai Li gradually calm down.

She called out to Bai Li cautiously, then felt Bai Li pull away from her hand.

The small Bomei dog person resolutely lifted her skirt, ran out barefoot, like a bullet from a gun.

Huan Banxiang instinctively chased after her.

They ran out of the Emme Theatre, and as Huan Banxiang's rationality gradually returned, she realized that she actually...

Couldn't catch up???

She couldn't shorten the distance between her and Bai Li???