Chapter Nineteen: Is This How You Test the Section Chief?

The new ability was called "Entangled Touch." The information received after exchanging it remained cryptic and baffling: "Conceptually entangle and assimilate the opponent."

Chen Zi’ang had long anticipated this. For example, with the previously exchanged "Bloated Touch," one could only understand its true nature through combat—it could infiltrate a target’s body and spawn more tentacles.

After acquiring an ability, one still needed to explore its practical applications in battle.

Upon leaving the temple, Chen Zi’ang noticed that the High Priestess Nico had somehow already taken her place in the town square’s center, silently standing with her staff.

“Blessed by the gods,” Nico gently tapped the staff on the ground, likely a form of greeting.

“Priestess Nico,” Chen Zi’ang carefully chose his words, “I wish to inquire about some intelligence.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you know about the ‘Living Dead’?”

“I do,” Nico replied, “That will cost 200 merit points.”

Chen Zi’ang was momentarily stunned. “Are they from our Shadow faction?”

“Exactly,” Nico said. “The Living Dead are a subordinate race who worship a certain deity within our Shadow faction. If you are hostile toward them, in principle, I shouldn’t offer you any assistance.”

“But considering you are a divine favored of the Lord of the Deep Sea, my people are willing to take this risk for you—and since revealing this intelligence may cause resentment from the Living Dead toward my people, the corresponding compensation is about 200 merit points.”

Chen Zi’ang nodded in understanding.

Two hundred merit points... I might as well ask Xia Qingyu—endure her sharp tongue a little longer.

Back in the real world, Chen Zi’ang resumed handling his official duties.

The section chief’s daily responsibilities were straightforward: managing all field agents, coordinating with civilian exorcism agencies, and cooperating with the intelligence division’s requests.

The current operational structure partly continued the reforms from the previous era. All supernatural incidents were consolidated by the system. The field office could assign cases to its agents or outsource them to third-party civilian organizations.

Some particularly unusual cases required preliminary analysis by the intelligence division before decisions were made.

Overall, the section chief position was relatively relaxed and comfortable.

If Chen Zi’ang didn’t want to go out on missions, he could delegate all cases to his subordinates or civilian agencies and spend his days writing reports, sipping tea, and scrolling through short videos in the office. But if he wished to take matters into his own hands, he could pick challenging cases to tackle personally.

His supervisor, Xia Qingyu, had simple demands: all supernatural cases must be resolved promptly. Whether he was late or left early, worked overtime or was absent, worked hard or slacked off—she didn’t care.

There were no daily reports, weekly summaries, or frequent meetings—none of the usual workplace formalities.

Despite the supervisor’s venomous tongue, this one rule of “not harassing subordinates” alone earned Chen Zi’ang’s full support for her candidacy as “Best Leader of Extreme North City.”

Currently, ghoul-related incidents were rare. Regular supernatural occurrences still happened about three to five times per week, well within manageable limits.

The greatest risk was Takano Seiko. Judging by her handling of Senkyo Media Company, she was no longer the lawyer she once was.

She had become a dark figure who, to atone for past mistakes, was willing to continue committing sins without turning back.

Chen Zi’ang sighed, wondering why the Koutengyuan star cluster had so many witches. Other star clusters might not see one in centuries, yet here, two appeared in less than half a year.

“Senior, do you have a moment?” Tsukimiya Suzuna entered without knocking, as usual.

Chen Zi’ang joked, “Suzuna, why don’t you give up your own office? You don’t use it anyway. Come share this one with me.”

“Sure!” Suzuna pretended not to notice the jest and smiled sweetly. “I’ll move over as soon as I finish work!”

Chen Zi’ang didn’t realize she intended to make it real, only asking, “You wanted to see me about something, right?”

“Remember those two deceased individuals we encountered at Starport?” Suzuna asked seriously. “The boss lady said they claimed to be negotiating business with someone.”

“The Starport Security Bureau checked their call records and found one suspicious phone number registered to ‘Watanabe Maho.’”

“Watanabe Maho is a Federation citizen who entered Koutengyuan a week ago, registered this number at Starport, and had communication records with the two deceased.”

“We also tracked her using helium balloon elevators and the Extreme North City interdistrict light rail. She left Starport three days ago and is currently active within the city.”

“Can we find her current address?” Chen Zi’ang asked immediately.

“Not yet,” Suzuna shook her head. “Based on the rail records, her last stop was probably the Peace District. I’ve informed the intelligence division. If this phone number makes or receives calls, we can roughly locate her via the Peace District gateway and then use the city’s intelligent CCTV system to pinpoint her exact location.”

“Excellent,” Chen Zi’ang said. “Arrange it accordingly.”

“Since that’s settled,” Suzuna sat at the side of his desk, smiling, “Section Chief, can you spare some time tonight to continue discussing our work plans over drinks at an izakaya?”

Her figure was slender, and wearing a fitted shirt, simply leaning sideways revealed the graceful curve of her silhouette.

No wonder so many leaders fell under their secretaries’ charms—who could resist such a pose?

“Uh...” Chen Zi’ang hesitated, feigning caution. “Just work talk, right?”

“Of course,” Suzuna smiled warmly. “Maintaining good relations with the deputy section chief should count as part of your job, right?”

“I suppose so,” Chen Zi’ang laughed.

“Then I’ll wait for you,” Suzuna placed some documents on his desk and left lightly.

At quitting time, Chen Zi’ang shut down his computer and stepped out to find Suzuna waiting at the door.

She had changed into a light green sleeveless dress, revealing her fair, slender arms.

Although Lu Xun once said otherwise, it wasn’t male imagination running wild—it was simply that a girl’s delicate arms were truly beautiful. Otherwise, why would sleeveless fashions be so popular?

“Why did you change clothes?” Chen Zi’ang asked in surprise.

“I keep a change of clothes in the office,” Suzuna replied. “Where shall we go drink?”

“Old Lu scouted around earlier. There’s a place specializing in pufferfish dishes reputed to be quite good,” Chen Zi’ang smiled. “Do you eat pufferfish, Suzuna?”

“I don’t have many preferences,” Suzuna smiled. “As long as we don’t run into that jerk, I’m fine going anywhere with you, senior~”

(End of chapter)