The first person to enter the abandoned hospital was a woman.
She looked to be in her late twenties, wearing a black tactical uniform beneath a long dark coat.
A silver dragon insignia was stitched onto her shoulder, and a sword in a black sheath rested across her back.
Unlike the police.
Unlike the military.
She walked as if every shadow in the room could become an enemy.
Her sharp eyes swept across the ruined hall.
Broken walls.
Collapsed ceiling.
Cracked floor.
Bruno.
Who was currently lying upside down with a bamboo stick in his mouth.
“…”
The woman stared at the panda.
The panda stared back.
“…Bamboo?”
Bruno offered her a piece.
The woman blinked.
Then slowly looked away.
Behind her, several agents entered the building, spreading out with military precision.
Each carried strange devices instead of firearms.
Bronze compasses.
Crystal tablets.
Silver pendants that glowed faintly whenever they pointed toward Arjun.
The system immediately reacted.
NEW FACTION ANALYSIS
Heavenly Investigation Bureau
Threat Level:
Variable
Current Objective:
Investigate the Spiritual Disturbance
Host Status:
Under Observation
Arjun swallowed.
“Under observation?”
Please behave like a normal human.
“…I am a normal human.”
Statistically questionable.
Aisha coughed to hide a smile.
She hadn’t heard the system, of course.
But Arjun’s facial expressions were becoming increasingly entertaining.
The woman finally stepped forward.
“I’m Inspector Meera Sen.”
She produced a metallic badge engraved with the silver dragon emblem.
“Special Operations Division.”
Her eyes settled on Arjun.
“Were you inside this building when it collapsed?”
Arjun nodded immediately.
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
He froze.
Excellent question.
He couldn’t exactly answer:
“Well, an ancient demon bowed to me, a panda nearly declared war, and reality itself had an identity crisis.”
So he chose the safest answer.
“…The ceiling fell.”
Inspector Meera stared.
“…That’s your explanation?”
“Gravity.”
A long silence followed.
One of the agents quietly muttered,
“…He’s either hiding something or he’s incredibly stupid.”
Another agent whispered back,
“Maybe both.”
Arjun pretended not to hear.
The system, however, had no such restraint.
SOCIAL EVALUATION UPDATED
Bureau’s Current Opinion of Host:
Suspicious: 84%
Idiot: 15%
Completely Innocent: 1%
“…Only one percent?”
Congratulations.
“I don’t think that’s congratulations-worthy.”
Inspector Meera walked deeper into the room.
Her strange compass suddenly spun wildly.
The needle pointed directly at…
Varkhaz.
The demon general froze.
The compass emitted a loud beep.
BEEP!
Every Bureau agent instantly drew their weapons.
Silver talismans floated into the air.
Glowing chains materialized around their hands.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Inspector Meera narrowed her eyes.
“You.”
Varkhaz slowly raised both hands.
“I can explain.”
“Can you?”
“…Probably not.”
Bruno looked at Arjun.
“Should I eat them?”
Arjun almost choked.
“No!”
Inspector Meera glanced toward the panda.
“…Did that panda just make a noise?”
Bruno immediately rolled onto his back again.
“…Mmph.”
The system approved.
✔ PERFORMANCE REVIEW ✔
Heavenly Bear Emperor’s Acting Skill
Rating:
2/10
Comments:
Needs improvement.
Bruno looked offended.
“I practiced.”
Arjun rubbed his temples.
Inspector Meera slowly approached Varkhaz.
“State your name.”
“…Victor.”
The demon answered far too quickly.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Victor?”
“…Victor…
Khan.”
Arjun looked away.
That was the worst fake name he had ever heard.
Apparently, the Bureau agreed.
One of the agents sighed.
“Sir.”
Inspector Meera was not a sir.
“I don’t think he’s telling the truth.”
“…I know.”
She stopped in front of Varkhaz.
The silver talismans around her began glowing brighter.
“What exactly are you?”
The demon smiled awkwardly.
“A tourist?”
Nobody believed him.
Not even Bruno.
The panda slowly covered his own face with both paws.
The system displayed another message.
CRISIS LEVEL INCREASING
Cover Story Integrity:
12%
Estimated Time Until Complete Failure:
Three Minutes
Arjun inhaled deeply.
He needed a miracle.
Instead, Director Wang arrived.
The elderly zoo director hurried into the hospital, completely out of breath.
“What happened here?”
He stopped.
Looked around.
Then pointed at Bruno.
“…Why is the panda here?”
Bruno immediately stood and ran toward Director Wang.
With astonishing speed, he hid behind the old man despite being twice his size.
Director Wang blinked.
“…Bruno?”
The panda peeked around his shoulder.
Director Wang sighed.
“You ate through another fence, didn’t you?”
Bruno lowered his head guiltily.
“…Maybe.”
Director Wang pinched the bridge of his nose.
“This is the fourth time this month.”
Inspector Meera looked from Bruno…
…to Director Wang…
…then to the destroyed building.
Her expression became increasingly confused.
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“You’re telling me…”
She pointed toward the panda.
“…this animal escaped, wandered into an abandoned hospital…”
“…Yes.”
“…and caused all of this?”
Director Wang looked around.
Broken walls.
Collapsed roof.
Cracked pillars.
He nodded thoughtfully.
“…Honestly?”
“I wouldn’t even be surprised anymore.”
Arjun almost applauded.
The Bureau agents exchanged uncertain looks.
Inspector Meera looked at her spiritual compass.
The needle was no longer pointing toward Varkhaz.
It had begun spinning randomly.
The system quietly spoke.
✔ PASSIVE SKILL ACTIVATED ✔
Keeper’s Authority
Effect:
Reality subtly adjusts itself to protect the Host’s identity.
Arjun blinked.
“…You could do that?”
The Host never asked.
“I’ve been panicking for twelve chapters!”
Correct.
Inspector Meera slowly lowered her weapon.
“…Strange.”
She looked at the readings again.
“All spiritual fluctuations have disappeared.”
One of her agents frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
“It is.”
She looked once more at Arjun.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Something about him didn’t make sense.
The readings said one thing.
Reality said another.
Finally, she closed her notebook.
“We’ll continue investigating tomorrow.”
The Bureau agents reluctantly withdrew.
As the last SUV disappeared beyond the zoo gates, Arjun released the breath he’d been holding.
“We survived.”
The system immediately disagreed.
DAILY MAIN QUEST UPDATED
Tomorrow’s Mission:
Welcome a New Animal to Green Paradise Zoo.
Target:
Unknown
Reward:
Depends on the Animal’s True Identity.
Arjun frowned.
“A new animal?”
Bruno’s ears twitched.
Varkhaz slowly looked toward the zoo entrance.
Even Aisha felt an inexplicable chill.
Somewhere beyond the darkness…
Something was approaching.
Something that the zoo had never housed before.
And judging by the system’s unusually cheerful tone…
Tomorrow was going to be much worse.
To Be Continue….