The Creatures that We Are

Gray Bear strode up to grab Can’s phone from her.

“Ahhh give it back!” Can screamed like a startled squirrel, brandishing her teeth and nails to get back what was hers. “I’m about to win. The crystal on the other side is gonna blow up…”

Gray Bear pushed her down with a hand on her head. “I’m gonna blow you up first if you keep playing.”

“I’ve lost five matches in a row. I’ve got to win this one…”

“Captain’s here!” Gray Bear shouted.

“Huh? Really? Where?” Can looked around nervously like she had just come to her senses, her eyes meeting Gao Yang’s.

“Oh boy!” Can flung herself back into the sofa, tucking her chin inward so much that she got triple chin. “New captain…is pretty hot?!”

This girl is pretty likable when she isn’t lost in games, Gao Yang thought contently. Perhaps I should show her more favor going forward.

“Ahem.” Gao Yang cleared his throat. “I’m Seven Shadow, your captain from now on.”

The others greeted him one after another.

“Do you play Honor of Kings, Captain Seven Shadow? I play a mean Da Qiao!” Can took her phone back from Gray Bear and skipped her way to Gao Yang’s side. “Let’s add each other as friends.”

“Stop fooling around. This is work time!” Gray Bear grabbed Can and threw her back onto the sofa.

Gao Yang suppressed a laugh and maintained his poker face. “I have a mission for you tonight.”

“Really, Captain? I thought we would meet and have a meal together, then topping it off with a gaming session at an internet cafe!” Can cried out, sprawling on the sofa upside down.

“You’re driven.” Lithe Snake leaned against the door with his arms crossed. “Interesting.”

Xiran adjusted his glasses and pursed his lips. Gao Yang couldn’t tell if he was excited or worried.

Ronnie didn’t say anything either, his thick gothic makeup covering any emotion he might or might not be showing.

“A mission now?” Gray Bear was surprised. “Should we report to the higher-up first, Captain?”

“That won’t be necessary yet.” Gao Yang turned to Gray Bear. “Have you brought the dossiers for the serial murder?”

“I have.” Gray Bear turned to pick up the envelope on the sofa. “Here it is.”

Gao Yang sat down on another seat and laid the documents inside the envelope on the tea table. There were photos taken at the crime scenes of the previous victims, as well as the victims’ personal information.

The others curiously approached.

Can squatted by the tea table. Given her small stature, she was able to rest her chin on the table and popped her head up. “Whoa, that’s bloody! So violent!”

“It’s the sixth case for the serial murder,” Gray Bear said, troubled. “The commissioner has been after my hind.”

“Having two jobs at the same time is really difficult, Uncle Xiong,” Xiran said considerately.

“Playing house with wanderers,” Lithe Snake said snidely. “What a waste of time.”

Gray Bear huffed. “The world would be a chaotic mess if all awakeners discard the pretense we collectively uphold.”

“I agree. We know nothing about, monsters. It’s better, not to go against their, rules. Who knows what the price will, be.”

Ronnie finally broke his silence. Despite his edgy appearance, he had a strange way of splitting his sentences to a somewhat comedic effect.

“I think differently about that.” Xiran’s eyes lit up, and he adjusted his glasses again. “I believe there are many discrepancies in the world that we should continue to explore…” ṜＡNO͍𐌱Ês̈

“Enough! Stop already!” Gray Bear didn’t want to get them started. “You two won’t shut up once you start talking about the Mist World. I’ve gotten quite tired of it.”

Gao Yang was actually interested in the topic. He would talk to the two about it when the opportunity came up.

Now, though, they had business to attend to. If he hadn’t speculated wrong, he would be able to prove himself to his team and establish his authority tonight.

Eyeing the photos of specific parts of the dead bodies, Gao Yang focused on their eyes and fingers. After going through the six victims, he looked up and asked, “Have you noticed a commonality between them?”

“Well, I think…” Can bit her lower lip and said with feigned seriousness. “They all died terribly!”

“Just keep your mouth shut if you don’t have anything to contribute.” Gray Bear smacked her lightly on the head.

“What about the rest of you?” asked Gao Yang.

Xiran shook his head and admitted, “They differ in sex, age, and job. I don’t see anything in common.”

Ronnie nodded. “The culprit probably picked them at, random, in order to attract, attention, to promote their, cult.”

Lithe Snake didn’t even give a response. He played with his shortsword with his other hand in his pocket. He didn’t seem interested in anything outside the world of awakeners.

“No, there is a commonality.” Gao Yang smiled cryptically and rose to his feet. “Gray Bear. Put these back and let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“Getting the culprit.”

“We’re awakeners. Why are we bothering ourselves with monsters’ business?” Lithe Snake disapproved. What little goodwill he felt for Gao Yang had evaporated.

“You’ll be interested.” Gao Yang waved at them. “We’ll talk on the way.”

…

One o’clock in the morning, the six of them crammed into a car and headed to the White Apricot Alley.

Gray Bear drove with Lithe Snake riding shotgun. Gao Yang, Xiran, and Ronnie took the backseat, while the slim Can was sandwiched between Xiran and Gao Yang.

With her phone in her hand, the girl impassionedly gave Gao Yang a sales pitch, “Let’s play a match, Captain! It’s fine if you don’t know how! I’ll carry you! I play Da Qiao really well!”

“If you keep talking about personal matters, Can, I’m gonna throw you in the trunk.” Gray Bear’s threat was only half in jest.

“Fine.” Can gave up reluctantly.

“Captain,” Gray Bear said. “I’ve told Officer Liu to keep the crime scene under control with a team.”

“Alright.”

“Will you explain now, Captain?” Xiran was curious. “What do the victims have in common? How did you narrow down the suspects?”

Gao Yang didn’t keep up the mystery longer than necessary. “Change your perspective, and you’ll find the commonality easily. Have you considered that the culprit may be a monster?”

The car was silent for a moment. Then Can said with visible confusion, “Of course it’ll be a monster, Captain. What else can it be?”

Gray Bear was disappointed as well. Their captain had been all cryptic for so long, only to say something so obvious in the end. He was wondering how he should make his feelings known in a roundabout way when realization dawned on him, and he jumped.

“Ah! I get it now! The culprit is a monster!”

“Huh? Whaaat??” Can was completely lost. “Why are you speaking something obvious as well, Uncle Xiong?”

“Ha.” Lithe Snake had caught on as well, and his disinterested gaze lit up. “Interesting. Things are finally getting fun.”

Then Xiran and Ronnie exclaimed at the same time.

“I got it!”

“I got, it!”

“Gaaaah! Stop that! Would it kill you to speak plainly?” Can cried out, face flushed with frustration. “This is workplace bullying!”

“Can.”

Gao Yang explained with a smile, “I mean that the culprit may not have committed the murders as a person, but as a monster.”

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