Chapter Thirty-Two: Trusting Suzuna

“What does it mean to be watched by a deity?” Chen Zi’ang asked.

“It’s hard to explain in words you’d understand,” Sui Feng Lixu replied, troubled. “If I have to put it simply, imagine it as a surveillance camera. The deity can see whatever happens around the camera, so we need to get rid of it as quickly as possible, do you understand?”

“If a deity really can look through this thing, then why didn’t we die on the spot?” Chen Zi’ang asked, puzzled.

“Because you can’t compare a deity to a mortal,” Sui Feng Lixu sighed. “A deity thinks in multiple threads, you know? Countless thoughts turning at every moment, and only one of them is attached to this thing. That’s why it doesn’t immediately come to crush us like ants.”

“However, the longer you keep it with you, the more likely it is that the deity will notice you. So it’s best to get rid of it as soon as possible… Where did you get this book?”

Chen Zi’ang thought for a moment, then told Sui Feng Lixu in detail about Anjing Naoya.

“Lingyi Town,” Sui Feng Lixu nodded. “I remember that place. Have you ever heard of the ‘Bone Repository’?”

“A long, long time ago—exact year I’d have to check, but it was before I joined the Security Bureau—there was a ritual of descent at the Lingyi Town mines.”

“Ritual of descent?” Chen Zi’ang asked nervously. “Did they manage to stop it in time?”

“No, they didn’t, and so Takamagahara was destroyed,” Sui Feng Lixu replied expressionlessly. “Does that sound likely to you?”

Chen Zi’ang: …………

Beside him, Tsukimiya Suzuna finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and turned away, covering her mouth as she laughed.

“The ritual of descent was not stopped by the Security Bureau at the time,” Sui Feng Lixu continued. “The ritual site was in an underground tunnel beneath a mine near Lingyi Town, called the ‘Sacred Bone Repository’ by its followers. When Security Bureau agents arrived at Lingyi Town, they were met with a massive earthquake.”

“The earthquake caused a severe cave-in in the underground tunnels, blocking access to the repository. But the ritual of descent was confirmed to have been interrupted, and not a single demon-worshipping follower made it out alive.”

“Well, that’s good,” Chen Zi’ang nodded. “But according to Anjing Naoya, he found the book in an abandoned underground mine.”

“So either the Security Bureau missed something back then, or due to later geological changes, the blocked mine in Lingyi Town became accessible again,” Sui Feng Lixu said solemnly after thinking for a moment. “In any case, the book must be returned.”

“Alright,” Chen Zi’ang sighed. “I suppose the Division can’t provide any support?”

“No,” Sui Feng Lixu sneered. “There’s a staff shortage right now, but what does that have to do with you? You’re suspended. Let Takahashi and Baba worry about it.”

Tsukimiya Suzuna, listening behind them, completely agreed, but she also knew her senior wasn’t that kind of person. In the end, he would surely choose to go alone and resolve the anomaly himself.

Sure enough, Chen Zi’ang hesitated, then said, “Then I’ll have to take the book back myself. Otherwise, if it really draws the attention of a deity, it could pose a threat to the Northern City.”

“I’ll go with you!” Tsukimiya Suzuna immediately raised her hand.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Chen Zi’ang refused without a second thought, his tone stern. “You’ve barely just started in this line of work, and you’re already thinking of getting involved in such a dangerous anomaly?”

“I could bring some seal artifacts with me,” Tsukimiya Suzuna said in a panic.

Chen Zi’ang almost stopped breathing. Did she know how much those seal artifacts, the ones with an acceptable price and side effects, cost on the black market?

Wait, she was the daughter of a high-ranking Ministry of Foreign Affairs official—maybe she really could afford them…

“I should go too,” Sui Feng Lixu said suddenly.

“That’s not a good idea, is it?” Chen Zi’ang was shocked. “What if the Division needs you while we’re gone?”

“What could be more important than returning a dangerous relic under the gaze of a deity to the abyss?” Sui Feng Lixu replied with a question of her own.

Chen Zi’ang was left speechless and only after a moment said, “But this trip could be extremely dangerous, and after all, you’re just an intelligence officer.”

“I can have Miss Tsukimiya protect me,” Sui Feng Lixu responded calmly. “Besides, if I’m not there in person, even if you get to the site, do you know how to handle the book?”

“You could just give instructions remotely like usual—radio, for example,” said Chen Zi’ang.

“Senior, we’ve been suspended. We can’t request radio equipment from the Division,” Tsukimiya Suzuna reminded him.

“Then we’ll use a cell phone,” Chen Zi’ang made one last attempt. “I could bring a selfie stick or clip the phone to my collar and keep a video call going the whole time.”

“But Senior, Lingyi Town is 1,200 kilometers away,” Tsukimiya Suzuna pointed out. “Once we’re underground, if the signal is bad and we can’t communicate, what then?”

Chen Zi’ang fell silent.

“I’ll go pack,” Sui Feng Lixu said, turning to head back to her office.

“Senior,” Tsukimiya Suzuna said gently, “I know you want to shoulder all the responsibility and risk yourself, but sometimes having more partners at your side really does mean more protection. Besides, I may be a rookie, but I passed the entrance exams, didn’t I? Why can’t you trust me a little more?”

Chen Zi’ang looked at her, speechless.

Yes, the entrance exam for the Sixth Countermeasures Division wasn’t something just anyone could pass.

Tsukimiya Suzuna’s place in the Division at least proved she had the ability to deal with anomalies.

But then, why did I instinctively resist the idea of having her risk this with me?

Because…

Chen Zi’ang suddenly realized.

Every time he entered the subconscious layer, the vision he saw of Tsukimiya Suzuna was always her kneeling on the ground, weeping helplessly in misery.

Because of that, his first impression of her was not of a capable and reliable partner, but simply a beautiful girl who needed protection.

But clearly, Tsukimiya Suzuna was not a delicate girl completely incapable of defending herself. Back in Sky Silver Plaza, the way she had used her marksmanship to subdue the ghouls with uncanny skill had been proof enough of her abilities.

“Alright,” Chen Zi’ang finally relented, cautioning her, “During the operation, you must listen to my instructions at all times.”

“Understood!” Tsukimiya Suzuna gave a playful salute.

Not long after, Sui Feng Lixu emerged with a suitcase in hand.

“Sister Lixu, what did you bring?” Tsukimiya Suzuna went over to ask.

“Some equipment, and cold-weather clothing,” Sui Feng Lixu replied.

“Eh, do we really need cold-weather gear?” Tsukimiya Suzuna asked in surprise.

“In the wild without any heat source, temperatures can drop below minus twenty degrees,” Chen Zi’ang reminded her. “And since Lingyi Town has been abandoned, we’ll need to take a bus to the nearest township, then find our way to Lingyi Town. We’ll definitely be exposed to the elements along the way.”

“Then let’s go shopping for winter clothes!” Tsukimiya Suzuna suggested brightly.

“Now that you mention it, my winter gear is years old. I really ought to get a new set,” Sui Feng Lixu mused.

Chen Zi’ang: ?

Wait, if you need winter clothes, just buy them. Why does it have to be a shopping trip?