Li Ang and Chai Cuiqiao walked along the streets on the outskirts of the city.

Armored vehicles emblazoned with the Special Affairs Bureau emblem sped past, and in the sky, numerous helicopters carried operatives, tugging containers towards the urban area.

Some Transcendents traveled by vehicle or rode summoned creatures,

passing by them,

everyone cast complex glances at Li Ang, but no one dared to stop and confront him.

The Special Affairs Bureau headquarters, at last.

Li Ang looked up at the towering building, casually ascending the steps.

The two stone lions in front of the building seemed to sense Li Ang's arrival from a distance,

they stood up in unison, lowered their bodies, and stared at Li Ang intently, with a rumbling growl brewing in their throats, yet ultimately, they did not leap off their stone pedestals.

Step, step, step.

Li Ang ascended the steps nonchalantly, pushed open the door, and entered the hall.

His arrival caused the Special Affairs Bureau staff executing repair and salvage plans in the bustling hall to freeze in place.

"Brother Li."

A voice with complex emotions emerged from beside him, as Ding Zhensi, wrapped in bandages, stepped out of the crowd and looked at Li Ang,

standing next to him was Bai Haozheng, his expression awkward.

Li Ang smiled casually, "You're all here."

"Yeah, I was informed right after returning that there was a script mission with unusual time flow conditions,"

Ding Zhensi showed a helpless smile, "Before, people in the bureau were unsure about the details, they even thought I had died in the mission, and almost held a funeral for me without a body."

"Ahem,"

Bai Haozheng coughed lightly, his expression growing more awkward, "Actually, it's my responsibility this time.

I revisited those old cases using the Special Affairs Bureau's new criminal investigation technology, and found... you.

However, after you revealed your identity, I constantly suggested to the higher-ups that I should be the one to communicate with you,

preferably to suppress the news, deal with it leniently, and keep the issue internal,

but..."

"I understand."

Li Ang nodded and said calmly: "I was made a typical example by the people above you."

Bai Haozheng licked his lips, sighed, and said: "This matter is quite complex; actually, before Zhongli Mieming and Wang Buliuxing appeared, and you revealed your Demigod aspect,

I could already feel a divide in opinions in the command hall, including within the decision-making layers.

Our Special Affairs Bureau can exterminate demons, vanquish evil, and resist Otherworldly foes,

but as the new wave of the era arrives, many people are still rather... confused.

Whether to restrict Transcendents; if restricting them, what should the extent be; how to ensure the rights of ordinary people and Transcendents; how to balance the responsibilities and powers of Transcendents;

while we've always sought to maintain stability, fairness, and justice, as you know,

the world viewed by ordinary people and Transcendents is ultimately different.

Position dictates perspective,

no matter how much we can say to understand each other, there will always be barriers..."

Usually calm and rational, Bai Haozheng now seemed a bit forlorn and bewildered; he sighed deeply, looked at Li Ang, and cautiously said: "Thanks for your restraint in this incident; I apologize on behalf of the others.

I hope you... don't hate us."

"... Let's talk about it later."

Li Ang waved his hand and asked, "Where's my friend?"

"In the family lounge area, I'll take you there."

Bai Haozheng guided Li Ang through the hallway, with Chaichai closely following behind, looking around and marveling at the architecture inside the Special Affairs Bureau; every few steps were an expression of wonder, like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

Along the way, Bureau staff hurried past with communication devices; from their snippets of conversation, Li Ang could hear that the reconstruction work was gradually unfolding.

The family lounge area was on the left side of the thirteenth floor of the Bureau headquarters building; Li Ang climbed the stairs and found this floor furnished with sofas, bookshelves, coffee machines, and other items, but there were hardly any people,

except for Wang Congshan's family sitting in the corner.

Sitting at the furthest corner, Wang Congshan was the first to notice Li Ang's arrival; she suddenly stood up from the chair, her water cup crashing to the floor.

Her parents, comforting her beside, and Wei Linglan also stood up, their expressions complex as they looked at Li Ang.

"Uh, you guys chat; I have other matters."

Bai Haozheng awkwardly rubbed his palms together and left the floor with the clueless Ding Zhensi.

Li Ang sighed, walked forward slowly, and exchanged a glance with Wang Fengnian, "We meet again, Officer Wang."

"..."

Wang Fengnian opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally sighed deeply, speaking softly: "Qi Lianxiang sought me before she died."

"I know."

Li Ang nodded, "I possess the ability to see some of her memories."

"You're smart; all the previous cases didn't use special powers, except for the last one."

Wang Fengnian's emotions were complex: "Why?"

"Perhaps, a kind of premonition."

Li Ang thought and said, "According to Locard's theory of material exchange, criminal behavior inevitably leaves traces.

There's no truly flawless crime in the world.

I sensed that one day I would be discovered; it was merely a matter of time."

Li Ang paused, "If Officer Wang, you had found me first, maybe I would have willingly accepted the penalty, a virtual incarceration of four months, ten months, or a few years."

"Confession?"

"More like, reconciliation with myself."

Li Ang smiled, "Actually, before becoming a player, I was always anxious; even though I worked hard to study and train, mastering knowledge and skills far superior to my peers, I still felt fear and awe.

Awe at the solemnity of the criminal investigation system, fear of my own insignificance.

Sometimes I wonder, if I had a normal life, what kind of character would I have?

Perhaps it would be similar to now, perhaps not.

Wearing a mask for too long, it always feels like my face is constantly covered, even forgetting what lies beneath the mask."

"..."

Wang Fengnian was silent for a moment, "... Before becoming a player, you gathered intel on those people; maybe you can give it to us, let us catch..."

He stopped mid-sentence, perhaps realizing the inappropriateness of his words.

During his career, he had seen many unreasonable situations;

If Li Ang had truly compromised and yielded, they wouldn't have reached this point.

"Dad,"

Wang Congshan stepped forward, "You, mom, and cousin could head back first; I have some things to discuss with Li Ang..."

"Hmm?"

Wang Fengnian turned his head, seeing his daughter's determined expression, glanced at his wife, and finally nodded silently.

With his parents leaving, the scene returned to tranquility.

"Phew..."

Li Ang exhaled slowly, looking at Wang Congshan with a complex expression, "Sorry for hiding it from you for so long..."

"We'll discuss these matters later,"

Wang Congshan waved her hand, looking over at Chai Cuiqiao munching on a donut in the corner and noticed their attention; she turned her head, "Who is she?"