Bounty Hunter Team, ancient tattered atlas, ancestors who had killed demons, handsome blond young man... These elements combined together inevitably give rise to the belief.
For instance, at this moment, the black female chief, after listening to the story, immediately made a decision: "Alright, I'll give you a chance. If you really can catch or kill the so-called demon or the murderer, I will not pursue your fault of trespassing the crime scene."
"That bounty..."
"Whoever issued the bounty, go to them to claim it, it has nothing to do with Messer Police Station."
Though a glimmer of hope was placed on this suddenly appeared Hunter Team, the police personnel still did not relax; they continued investigating and collecting evidence. Most officers still diligently performed their duty. The mystical atmosphere of Origin Blue Star might be dense, but centuries of dilution have kept most ordinary people far from the Extraordinary World.
The permitted team, however, was very excited. They obtained an item of evidence from the police officers: a tube of pus, seemingly the product of melted fat or internal organs, viscous and disgusting.
Then they took over the vacant auditorium within the school, cleared all the clutter, and began setting up traps.
At this time, the function of the team was evident.
The sloppy old man seemed to be a firearms expert, busy tuning guns for everyone. The strong young man procured an exaggerated axe from somewhere, and the skinny geeky stick-like guy turned out to be a mysterious pharmacist, his pack opened to reveal numerous herbs.
The two girls, the one with the plunging neckline didn't change much, still holding a shotgun, but the other sweet brunette girl suddenly emerged from a corner wielding a slender short sword, casually demonstrating decent swordsmanship.
"Aren't you going to do anything?"
In a corner of the auditorium, Chief Stanna came over helplessly.
The female chief felt very frustrated at this moment; she resorted to creating a fake appointment letter to deceive Tang Qi here. Originally, she thought this could close the homicide case and take the opportunity to pull Tang Qi into Messer Police Station, fulfilling her desire to enter the Mysterious Domain.
Unexpectedly, an unknown Bounty Hunter Team appeared, and they seemed very confident.
Stanna had mixed feelings, uncertain whether to hope for their success or failure.
Tang Qi, on the other hand, should have been as anxious as Stanna, yet he appeared unconcerned, sitting in a corner engrossed in a stack of documents.
Hearing Stanna's words, he looked up to observe the Hunter Team setting traps in the auditorium.
Perhaps treating the "demon" as just a beast, their setup involved no cover.
The main focus seemed to be the concoction being made by the skinny pharmacist, as the hunters mentioned it was a special herb that could attract the demon.
The rest of the team was busy enhancing their weapons with various effects, such as soaking in Holy Water, engraving Runes, or applying special ointment.
They seemed professional.
Unfortunately, whether weapons or other items, Tang Qi showed no reaction.
"This could very well be their first Transcendent hunt."
"Of course, it might also be their last."
Tang Qi silently offered his commentary, then bowed his head again to continue reading the documents, about seven victims.
However, compared to the others, Tang Qi's attention mostly rested on the seventh.
"Rick Cassel, a well-known historical scholar within the Federation, a lifetime honorary professor at Messer University, who had always taught at Secret Phoenix State University but suddenly resigned a while ago due to illness and returned to his hometown Messer City to recuperate."
"As an active historian, Professor Cassel often traveled and researched around the world, with profound expertise in Mysticism and pharmacology. Before resigning, he had just concluded an expedition to a 3000-year-old temple on Saha Continent."
"Wow~"
Tang Qi quickly reached the last page of the document, which included a... medical diagnosis.
"Interesting!"
"What's interesting?"
Hearing Tang Qi's murmur, Stanna instinctively responded.
"Nothing much, Chief Stanna, do you believe in eternal life?"
Tang Qi put away the documents, and uttered nonchalantly.
"I don't believe it~ I don't know."
Just as Chief Stanna was about to shake her head in disbelief, she was reminded of her encounter a few days ago. The appearance of the Sea Demon, a creature of legend, right before her eyes had already severely challenged her worldview, so all she could say was she didn't know.
In her confusion, Chief Stanna completely failed to notice Tang Qi watching her with an interested expression.
Tang Qi could fully understand Chief Stanna's experience and emotions. After all, on his first day after arriving on Origin Blue Star, he was tied to a Cross, constantly enduring the pain of being a Devil, an ordeal far more intense than what Stanna faced.
Time flew by swiftly, and the atmosphere inside Messer University became exceptionally tense.
The past seven days had convinced everyone in the university that someone would definitely die today.
Nobody wanted the curse to fall upon them, especially with such a vile and horrifying manner of death.
Tang Qi hadn't left the hall, nor did he need to; his keen senses easily discerned the current atmosphere in the university.
Tension, doubt, fear... especially fear, spreading among every student and teacher. If a few more people died, Tang Qi suspected the university might shut down, as these people were not trapped animals. Reaching the breaking point, they would flee.
It seemed others sensed this too, as the Bounty Hunter Team began their hunt almost at the onset of nightfall to prevent the eighth victim from appearing.
More accurately, it was a trapping operation.
In the hall, enveloped in darkness, and before a blazing fire pit, the blonde youth Ryan stood upright. The fire pit seemed to contain a combination of herbs, emitting a weirdly sweet fragrance without any smoke.
Ryan held the worn atlas in one hand and a test tube in the other.
He murmured to himself according to the atlas:
Great Mother of Shadows!
Embodiment of Chaos and Evil!
Empress of the Dark Domain!
Please allow your most devout Believer to offer you this sweet sacrifice!
...
In his murmur, Ryan flicked the test tube open and slowly poured out its pus-like contents.
"Hiss~ Hiss"
When the bizarre sound came, a scent ten times stronger than before instantly wafted out of the hall and, carried by the night wind, began to permeate the entire university.
In various corners of the hall, hidden police officers and others unconsciously began to swallow their saliva.
This anomaly brought a hint of confidence to the Chief's eyes, while some police officers who had initially looked down on the Hunter Team began to doubt themselves.
Unfortunately, this doubt vanished quickly.
The trapping ritual had just started when Ryan loudly shouted, "Get ready", followed by a waiting period that lasted for two hours.
In the meantime, the "pharmacist" added a few more herbs to the fire pit.
However, the expected Demon Spider Witch never appeared.
When the first instructor to break down walked out of a corner shouting, "I've had enough, I'm leaving," the scene immediately spiraled out of control. Other instructors and some guards assisting there decided to leave as well.
To leave meant, presumably, to resign.
Police officers came out too, but they questioned the so-called professionalism of the Bounty Hunter Team, suspecting them to be frauds or lunatics—best to lock them up first.
Chief Stanna's face darkened as her already slim hope was dashed; she now had to consider not just reporting her merits but whether she could even keep her position, having missed the best opportunity to request assistance from higher-ups.
The Hunter Team also became disorganized, with leader Ryan utterly speechless, continuously mumbling, "This can't be possible. Grandfather's Demon Hunting Atlas can't be ineffective; remember the Resentful Soul we killed? That proves the atlas works."
The chaotic scene before her compelled the efficient Chief Stanna to take action.
Just then, Tang Qi suddenly grabbed Stanna, slipping something into the Chief's hand and whispering a few words to her. Ignoring the strange look on Stanna's face, he walked straight towards the center of the hall.