Superhumans of the Dome City

Miss Alice shook her head, "No, it's for predation, I guess. Capro probably wants to regain his strength by devouring your heart since the heart is the source of energy for you superpower users."

Predation, huh... to Mr. Gongsun, was I just a piece of bread in his eyes? Only after being hurt did he see me as a dueling opponent—hidden under that gentlemanly demeanor was a man as mad as his appearance.

"That so. Also, you mentioned something about an evil spellcaster..." Gongsun Ce mused thoughtfully, "I guess that is a special kind of Impermanence Law Enforcer? Is Mr. Capro not just a madman, but also an Impermanence Law Enforcer who has gone astray?"

Miss Alice fiddled with a short arrow between her fingers, somewhat surprised, "You're very familiar with our industry?"

What do you mean by your industry?

It's as if being an Impermanence Law Enforcer is a profession one gets certified for after graduating from a vocational school.

"I wouldn't say familiar; at best I have a slight understanding," Gongsun Ce quickly sorted through his thoughts, considering how much information he should show.

Alice Adar was a stranger with unclear background; showing off his knowledge to her without reservation was not a good idea. Moreover, he didn't understand the world of Impermanence Law Enforcers that much either—it would be better to appear as an outsider who had "dabbled" in it.

"Impermanence Skill is a technique that has emerged two thousand years ago, using mental power to influence reality. Giant dragons, being creatures that cannot be harmed by normal means, are vulnerable to the 'supernatural' power of Impermanence Skills, which is why it is also called Dragon Slaying Skill by the experts from the inner world."

Heroes from history and legends who shine through the dragon-slaying myths, like the founding emperor of the Yong Guang Empire, the Legendary Saint of the Ustus Federation, and "King Morton" of the Kingdom of Morton, are often the most powerful Impermanence Law Enforcers of their time; in the inner world, this is common knowledge to everyone.

Whereas in the outer world, these myths are regarded by ordinary people as synonymous with fictional stories.

"As far as I'm aware, Impermanence Skills can be divided into seven different types..." Gongsun Ce pretended to recall, "The proprietary term you use is 'Heart Aspect,' right? In order, they are Silence, Void, Spirit, Brahma's appearance, Desolate, Calamity, and Oddity. And then there are the five ascending 'Realms,' namely Spirit Illumination, Clarity, Divine Communication, Manifestation, and Creation Realm."

The "Sky-piercing Snake" used by Capro earlier is his Desolate Form at the Divine Communication Realm, which is the Desolate Impermanence Skill within the Divine Realm. Gongsun Ce vaguely remembered that the Desolate Form Skill focuses on Body Enhancement, and that little red snake was very likely a part of Capro's own body.

As for the technique used by Miss Alice Adar, the marvelous flower moving in the shadows, it seemed very much like the Brahma Form Skill that controls time and space. Given the small range of this technique, she must also be a Divine Communication Mage of solid combat strength.

"Oh well, at least you have some basic knowledge of the inner world—it saves me from having to explain everything." Miss Alice twirled the short arrow in her hand, like a student idly spinning a pen, "So, what else?"

"There's nothing else—that's all the information I have."

This amount of information should be sufficient to make him appear like someone who had some knowledge about the inner world without being deeply involved.

Gongsun Ce thought it was a good time to tell some half-truths and lies; he definitely couldn't excitedly tell a hunter he had just met, "Impermanence Law Enforcers? Oh, I'm quite familiar indeed, your direct superior the Seventh Knight is an old friend of mine, we used to play pranks on her for fun." If he did, Miss Alice would surely see him as a charlatan full of flowery talk and promptly abandon any intention to cooperate.

"Hmph~~"

Gongsun Ce was pleased with his performance, but Alice Adar didn't seem to be fooled. The female hunter carefully observed his face, a glint of wariness and sharpness flashing through her brown eyes.

"You're lying." Miss Alice reversed the arrow, pointing the tip at Gongsun's face, "Big sister can tell. Your knowledge of the inner world is definitely more than what you've described."

A bit of a challenge, this...

Contrary to her cavalier demeanor, Miss Alice had sharp instincts, which was befitting of an expert dispatched for tasks in the City of Skies.

"Please understand, I simply cannot lay all my cards on the table to a lady I've just met," Gongsun Ce replied with a polite smile, "So, are you interested in collaborating? Just to let you know, I am doing this purely out of a sense of duty; I don't take money nor owe favors, I just want to get things done so I can rest easy as soon as possible."

"Do you realize how suspicious you sound?"

"I'm just a well-meaning student with a heart for justice."

"No thanks," Alice finished her glass of water and stood up from the couch, "Seeing as you've been able to converse with me for this length of time, you're probably not influenced by that dragon madman. That means I've fulfilled my required duty. Forget about this matter, young man! Crises concerning the city's safety will be resolved by a collaboration of experts. The best help you can provide is to stay in your own home and avoid causing trouble."

The blue-haired female hunter put down her glass and turned to walk towards the door, truly prepared to leave. Just as Alice's hand touched the doorknob, Gongsun Ce, who was seated on the couch, spoke up unhurriedly:

"—Miss Alice Adar, you are pursuing two objectives simultaneously."

Judging by Alice's half-completed action, his words achieved the desired effect. Gongsun Ce summoned the memory of his encounter with Capro and began to share his conjecture.