Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 108

In an undisclosed location of the Empire, three men stood guard over a cage that imprisoned a beast. Known as the Trio of Death, they were the loyal hounds of the Special Task Force Commander.

Before them, trapped within the cage, was Lia, whom the Commander had extracted from the training grounds. Oddly enough, Lia remained unharmed, untouched by violence. Yet, something was amiss.

She stood still, her head tilted back towards the ceiling, eyes rolled back, showing nothing but their whites.

“Hssss.”

The Trio of Death licked their lips at the sight of Lia. Her supernatural abilities had gone haywire after repeated assassination attempts. A powerful gravitational field emanated from the cage, making it nearly impossible to approach her.

Despite numerous attempts over several days to neutralize the woman named Lia, all had ended in failure.

“This is proving to be quite the challenge,” one muttered.

“The Commander doesn’t seem to expect much… but it’s become a matter of pride now.”

“I’ll take care of it this time.”

The youngest of the Trio, the Third Fiend, strode confidently towards the cage, sword in hand. Braving the crushing gravity that poured from Lia’s cage, he entered with a sinister laugh and raised his blade.

“Keeheehee, just wait a bit longer, my lady. I’ll carve you up real nice.”

With mana coursing through his sword, the Third Fiend swung violently at Lia.

Boom!

But the sword halted in mid-air, as if blocked by an invisible wall, thwarted by the gravitational field Lia had conjured.

“Grrr.”

Frustrated, the Third Fiend filled his arms with strength, determined to shatter the gravitational barrier. The sword trembled violently, emitting a noise akin to scraping metal.

After a tense moment glaring at Lia, the Third Fiend’s eyes rolled back in fury.

“Damn it! Why won’t it break! Why!”

He began to swing his sword wildly, as if possessed, at the unseen force protecting Lia.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sounds of his efforts echoed relentlessly.

Yet, Lia showed no reaction, standing motionless.

“You’d be dead by my hand if not for this damned power,” the Third Fiend spat out.

With a twisted face, he exited the cage, locking it behind him and throwing his sword to the ground in disgust.

“Damn it all!”

“Hehehe, look how pathetic you’ve become.”

“Shut it! The moment her power weakens, she’s mine!”

Suddenly, the Trio of Death fell silent and turned their heads towards a corner of the ceiling, sensing a faint presence.

As beings on the verge of the fourth rank, they could detect it.

The eldest, the First Fiend, asked towards the source of the presence, “…Who’s there?”

“It’s me.”

A figure emerged from the shadows, revealing himself.

The First Fiend frowned, “Shadow Wraith? What brings you here…”

The right hand of the Commander, the Shadow Wraith, was supposed to be recruiting nobles to bury the fanged Chief Instructor. His sudden appearance was unexpected.

“Didn’t the Commander have tasks for you?”

“I’ve completed them.”

The arrival of the Shadow Wraith contorted the faces of the Trio of Death. His presence in their domain implied a lack of trust in their abilities.

Sensing their displeasure, the Shadow Wraith spoke indifferently, “The headquarters is in chaos due to the Chief Instructor’s intrusion. The Commander placed me here just in case. Don’t make such faces; it’s not what you think.”

Relieved by his explanation, the Trio relaxed.

“Well, if that’s the case…”

“Has the Chief Instructor finally lost his mind? Attacking the headquarters…”

“There’s no one left at headquarters to stop him, so in a way, he’s exploited a weakness.”

It was then…

Ding-ding-ding-ding! Ding-ding-ding-ding!

An emergency bell, installed to their right, began to ring frantically, signaling an intrusion nearby.

“Who could it be? The Special Task Force members should be monitoring the entire city.”

“Shall I go and check?”

The First Fiend shook his head at the Third Fiend’s suggestion.

“We stay put. Our duty isn’t to patrol the city’s borders but to ensure that no one takes the girl.”

At that moment, a tiny voice escaped from Lia, who had been rampaging in a loss of sanity.

“…Young master?”

The voice was so faint that neither the Trio of Death nor the Shadow Wraith noticed.

* * *

At That Moment

Yan and the Inspector General, Diana, arrived at a location just outside the Imperial Capital. The area, known as Harlem Street, was infamous within the empire, teeming with vagrants and criminals.

The cacophony of curses and screams was already audible from every corner.

As Yan and Diana entered the city center, pickpockets and robbers began to salivate at their sight. But it wasn’t just the petty thieves who were drawn to them; the gaze of those suspected to be members of the Special Task Force also lingered on them.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such impure stares,” Diana remarked.

“That’s why I suggested bringing a few inspectors with us,” Yan replied.

“I would heed the Executioner’s advice, but issuing an official order from the Inspection Bureau feels too burdensome.”

“Then you should have at least worn your uniform. If you had the insignia of the Inspection Bureau, we wouldn’t attract such stares.”

Before coming here, Diana had changed out of her Inspection Bureau uniform, which she had worn for years, into ordinary clothes. Wearing the uniform of the Inspector General meant an official investigation or inspection.

However, since they couldn’t be certain if Yan’s tip was true or false, it was difficult to act officially.

“We should at least wait until we find something that could serve as evidence before mobilizing other inspectors.”

“Let’s head into the alleyway for now.”

Yan glanced over the vagrants and robbers before slipping into a nearby alley.

Diana, following him into the alley, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. Yan had already employed his stealth technique.

“Considering you learned this at the training center, it’s quite impressive. Did you learn it from the Chief Instructor?”

Diana frowned as she looked at Yan, whose presence had become nearly imperceptible despite being right beside her.

Even with her keen senses, if she could barely notice him, the vagrants outside wouldn’t stand a chance.

“It’s a secret,” Yan said with a smirk, shrugging his shoulders.

It was a sophisticated stealth technique he had mastered in his past life, but there was no need to divulge that.

Diana pouted and turned her head away at Yan’s response.

“Regardless, the stench here is still foul.”

She grimaced at the sight of rats scurrying around incessantly. Even the rural estates were cleaner than this.

“It’s a city that’s not managed at all,” Diana commented, her sensitive nose wrinkling as she walked.

As they continued, Yan’s eyes suddenly sparkled.

Thud!

He kicked off the ground and grabbed the neck of one of the vagrants.

“Got one.”

The vagrant, suddenly seized by the neck, flailed about as he looked at Yan.

“Wh-what are you!”

“What do you mean? You’re the one who’s been watching us.”

“Wha… what are you talking about…”

As the vagrant continued to resist, Yan frowned and jabbed his fingers around the man’s neck.

The vagrant’s mouth, which had been about to raise an alarm, suddenly froze.

Diana, who had been watching from a distance, widened her eyes and walked over.

“Is he a member of the Special Task Force?”

The energy he emitted seemed no different from that of an ordinary person.

Diana squinted at the vagrant.

“I can’t tell at all…”

Yan chuckled at Diana’s attempt to find a reason to believe the man was a Special Task Force member.

No matter how hard she looked, she wouldn’t find it.

It had to be found with something beyond sight.

“The Special Task Force has a unique aura,” Yan explained.

“Aura? You can see that?”

“Yes, which is why it might be difficult for the Inspector General to discern.”

“How do you know about it, Executioner?”

“Don’t you know whose disciple I am?”

“Ah…”

Diana nodded in understanding at Yan’s words.

In truth, he had never learned such a method from the Chief Instructor.

It was merely the distinctive chilling sensation of the Special Task Force members he had recognized from his time as the Task Force Commander.

But convincing Diana with that fact was impossible, so a little lie was mixed in.

Unaware of the truth, Diana was impressed.

“The Chief Instructor must hold the Executioner in high regard.”

“It seems so.”

The conversation between Yan and Diana grated on the captured vagrant’s nerves.

‘What nonsense.’

If there were indeed a way to detect disguises through ‘aura’ as the so-called Executioner claimed, they would have prepared for it long ago.

It was a matter of great importance, potentially threatening the very existence of the Special Task Force, beyond just their conflict with the Chief Instructor.

‘Now that I’m caught, it’s not the time to think about that. The important thing is to prevent this guy from getting inside.’

The vagrant quickly reached into his pocket with his free hand.

The only thought in his mind was to report this incident as soon as possible.

Swoosh!

But Yan was quicker.

He swiftly plunged a knife into the heart of the vagrant, or rather, the disguised Special Task Force member.

The Task Force member’s body collapsed lifelessly.

Diana watched the sequence of events unfold with admiration.

For someone so young, Yan’s decisiveness was remarkably swift.

“Your insight is beyond ordinary, and you show no hesitation in killing. Truly befitting the top graduate of the Dragon Child Project.”

“It’s the basics.”

“Indeed, you didn’t earn the title of Executioner for nothing,” Diana said, her eyes shining.

“So, will you teach me that method now?”

“It’s a technique that requires special training. It would take at least a few years of practice for you, Diana.”

Diana frowned.

“So you’re saying you’ll catch all the Special Task Force members scattered throughout the city center by yourself?”

“I can’t do it alone.”

“Then?”

“You’ll have to act as bait, Inspector General. It will make it easier for me to move.”

Diana tilted her head at Yan’s suggestion.

“Wouldn’t it be faster to interrogate them one by one to find them?”

Yan shook his head.

“We can’t be that obvious.”

“Why not?”

Yan didn’t answer but instead searched the pockets of the Task Force member he had taken down.

Inside was a communication device.

Unlike the expensive two-way transceivers, it was a cheap supply model that could only send signals in one direction.

Diana nodded, understanding what Yan meant by not being able to interrogate openly.

The moment the disguised Task Force member knew they were here, the Task Force Commander would know as well.

“This is… more troublesome than I thought.”

There were many vagrants and criminals in Harlem Street.

And there were many ways for the Task Force members to disguise themselves.

If each of them had such a communication device… even a slight delay would mean the Task Force Commander would be informed.

In other words.

‘We have to detect and take them down before they can send a signal to us.’

No matter how much the Chief Instructor was causing a commotion at headquarters and drawing attention, it would be for naught if a signal was sent.

“There’s no need to worry too much. Just wander around the city center as usual.”

“That’s not particularly difficult…”

Could Yan really take down all the Task Force members before they used their communication devices?

Diana swallowed her words.

There was no need to jinx it.

“Please be careful not to get caught.”

Yan bowed his head and disappeared from the spot, employing his stealth technique.

Diana sighed deeply and stepped out of the alley like an ordinary person.