Superhumans of the Dome City

Mo Yuankai pointed to the photographs that darkened one by one, leaving only two strangers: a long-haired man with droopy eyes in the bottom right corner and a middle-aged man with short hair in the center. Mo Yuankai crossed his hands, smiling, "Miss Alice, the men you are looking for are these two. My information should be correct, right?"

Alice was overjoyed, "Please tell me where they are now! No matter the cost, the Country will reimburse it!"

Using official funds certainly feels different from using one's own...

"Price isn't important. I invited you here personally because I wanted to see what the client looks like; it helps me decide." Mo Yuankai gestured to his friend, "Ah Ce, my friend just sent a new ink painting to the upstairs study. If you've got nothing else to do, please help me check its quality."

Gongsun Ce understood and stood up, "Alright, I'll help you out. Be careful, Miss Alice is quite sharp; don't embarrass yourself by lying."

"Don't worry, I always keep my word and never lie."

Mo Yuankai quietly waited for his friend to leave the first floor. He leaned back on the sofa, waved his hand, and suddenly, the ceiling silently cracked open. Four thick metal walls descended, seamlessly connecting and transforming the living room into an impregnable chamber.

"Mr. Mo's home decor is quite unique," Alice remarked unfazed.

"This is a new set of soundproof walls I recently acquired; they work exceptionally well. They're equipped with a field capable of blocking most eavesdropping and snooping. The college experts claim it can even counter superpower users and Impermanence Law Enforcers, though I take it with a grain of salt, merely for peace of mind."

Mo Yuankai spoke with a warmth uncharacteristic of a shrewd businessman, almost craftsman-like.

"Miss Aidal, do you know how many people want this information?"

"I imagine a lot."

"An enormous number. You can't imagine how many powers are inquiring; I haven't seen such a gathering in a long time. Now, you ask me for information without providing specific details; how am I to proceed?"

Alice pursed her lips tightly, "Your information will be worthless in half an hour or an hour—"

"I don't care," Mo Yuankai waved his hand generously, "You were introduced by Ah Ce; I never intended to take your money. What I want to know is, what is your true purpose?"

"I am a Hunter—"

The information dealer spoke slowly but revealed significant information within a few words, "Stop beating around the bush, Miss. You know what I mean. Information about summoning the giant dragon isn't something that can be traded lightly. Are you planning to capture these people and bring them back to the Country to gain favor with your superiors? Or do you have other plans?"

‌Alice immediately understood he knew more than she had expected, including the current situation and their goals.

‌Where did Gongsun Ce meet such a person? And how did these inner details come to be known? Despite his apparent college-age, not a trace of naivety could be sensed in his words. Alice couldn't help but marvel at the difficulty of dealing with superpower users; to the ordinary eye, they must seem like oddities.

‌Under normal circumstances, she would be delighted to explore and negotiate terms with such a person, but the control was now in his hands: Mo Yuankai could easily trade with someone else, while she needed to make quick decisions as the situation changed every moment. She had to race against time.

‌Alice placed the short arrow on the table, making a light sound. Her voice was colder than ever, as if she were an executioner about to perform her duty.

‌"I did not wish to speak of this in front of Gongsun Ce. I hope to eliminate them all before other experts arrive."

‌"I detest killing," Mo Yuankai played with his fingers.

‌"I, too, dislike killing, but I dislike Dragon Disasters even more. If the dragon fanatics' delusions prove true, whether their secrets are held by the official powers or known to lawless freemen, it will bring only harm to the world."

Alice looked directly at the young man, "My only goal is, as one of the first to understand the situation, to nip the possibility of a Dragon Disaster in the bud."

Mo Yuankai raised his voice, "You were one of the first to be informed?"

"Until this morning, I thought it was just an ordinary hunting mission until I caught Dongcheg Zhanger. That Strange Phase Mage, in his delirium, told me the giant dragon was coming soon; he was excited and scared."

Alice continued wearily, "I immediately transferred him to the local agency of the Country, hoping they would tell me it was just a delusion of a dragon worshipper. After a while, when I received no explanation, only bad news of his jailbreak and an urgent order to hunt all members—I realized then the issue had escalated."

It was the truth; she hadn't slept for two days and nights.

"I am a Hunter, not a Knight, and don't feel much responsibility for the interests of the Country. I just don't want to see another Dragon Disaster. Believe it or not." Alice stood from the wooden chair, "Please, give me an answer, Mr. Mo."

Finally, Mo Yuankai nodded.

"This way... I understand your point. I have no reason not to help you, but this matter is of great importance. I don't want to see dragons either, Miss Alice. Therefore, I will not only tell you the information, but I will also inform the pedestrians and agents as a safety measure."

This assertive tone sounded like he believed his information was more reliable than that of the official agencies. Are the information institutions of the capital just for show? How could the higher-ups be less informed than a student?

But Alice had no interest in delving into these details, as she had just heard not a single lie. After verifying the trustworthiness of the words, making a decision became straightforward. She extended her hand to Mo Yuankai, "I can understand; I just need one chance."

"Happy to collaborate."

The two downstairs shook hands, reaching an agreement.

At the same time, in the upstairs study, a scroll fell from the desk.

"...Ugh!"

The end of the scroll spread over the floor, showing nothing but pure white emptiness. This scroll, once held in Gongsun Ce's hand, now rolled on the floor because the young man with gray hair had no strength left to pick it up and slumped against the wall.

His hands dangled helplessly at his sides, his golden eyes devoid of spirit, and even his nearly omnipotent telekinesis could not be stirred...

As Gongsun Ce's heart had stopped beating this very moment.