Time seemed to stand still in an instant.

The entire exam hall was engulfed by darkness, the elderly vanishing without a trace. When the light returned, he found himself under gentle lamplight.

Bathed in warm yellow light, the ancient tomes on the shelves exuded the unique, musty scent of ages past.

Between the bookshelves stood two somewhat aged sofas. On the table between them sat a bucket of ice and bottles of liquor.

"Whiskey or champagne?"

The golden-haired man sitting behind the table raised his head and asked him.

"...Can I have a bit of both?"

Huai Shi thought for a while before slowly taking a seat opposite the man, placing the gun on the table, and finding a comfortable position. "I don't think I've ever had either."

"Then let's go with whiskey. I have a bottle of forty-year-aged Hakushu from Yingzhou Hell here. It's rare to find a guest worthy of tasting it."

The Professor snapped his fingers, and an aged bottle of liquor materialized on the table. "Care for some ice? If you haven't had this before, I recommend mizuwari. The aroma becomes much clearer that way."

"Sure."

Thus, the amber liquid was poured into the chilled glass, mingling with pure water. As the alcohol diluted, the subtle smoky aroma and the scent of flowers became even more distinct.

"Please enjoy," said the Professor with a smile. "You should like it."

Huai Shi wasn't afraid of being poisoned. Frankly, after Raven's training and his own countless experiments, he was now quite an expert in poisons himself. Aside from a potent concentration of negative Source Substance and vitality, there was no actual poison in the drink.

To an ordinary person, it might be a deadly poison, but for a Negative Energy Producer like him, it was no different from a mana potion.

A sip of the liquor went down his throat, instantly turning into a fierce fire that made Huai Shi's face flush slightly.

A rich floral fragrance wafted around his nostrils, momentarily intoxicating him. He quickly sobered, feeling his Mountain Ghost Stigma surge with vitality.

This rare nourishment significantly advanced Huai Shi's Stigma, dispelling all weakness and fatigue, and greatly invigorating his spirit.

"Good whiskey," Huai Shi praised.

"Consider it compensation for my brash actions," the Professor said with a smile. "Truth be told, I'm not the fighting type. If you had come in swinging an Axe, I'd have had no choice but to flee pathetically… I'm thankful you were willing to sit down and talk."

"So, what's this all about?" Huai Shi looked around. "Who have I offended this time?"

"I have yet to introduce myself." The Professor picked up a business card and handed it over with both hands. When Huai Shi saw the words 'Human Exhibition Bureau,' he suddenly understood and looked up.

"Correct. I posted the bounty. To be honest... my collection still lacks a prized possession like a Legendary Investigator. I've been itching to obtain one."

The Professor gave a bashful smile. "However, after witnessing your performance, I changed my mind. The title 'Legendary Investigator'? Compared to your true value, it's utter crap."

"My true value?"

The Professor gestured for him to flip over the business card. He did, and saw another card, which left him stunned: "Hell's... Voice?"

"Yes! Yes! That's the one!" the Professor said excitedly. "It's a hot event in Hell, second to none compared to the Chef Demon Contest. Besides being a guest Professor at the Human Exhibition Bureau, I am also an examiner at the Hell Music Association and a member of the Hell's Voice contest committee.

"From the very moment I heard your performance, I thought that someone like you shouldn't fade into obscurity in a collection room but should shine on a grander stage! Your artistry deserves the rapt attention of every Owner of the Great Mob!

"How about it? Interested at all? How does signing a contract sound? I guarantee that within three years, your music will be all the rage across all of Hell!"

Hell's goddamn Voice!

Are you guys insane!

"Sorry, I'm not interested," Huai Shi said, expressionless, as he tossed the business card aside. "Now, let's talk about the bounty."

He tapped on the table, saying coldly, "After all, some things can't be mended with an apology, right?"

"That's too bad, then." The Professor, unperturbed by Huai Shi's chilly demeanor, remained immersed in the disappointment of rejection. With a helpless shrug, he replied, "And here I thought we could turn foes into friends. It's a pity; I have failed too, haven't I?"

"That kind of comic book plot doesn't belong in reality, does it?"

"Indeed," the Professor sighed. "To be frank, I also don't have the confidence to surely beat a Legendary Investigator, so I better leave first..."

He suddenly lifted his wrist, grabbed the handgun from the table, and aimed it at Huai Shi's face.

He pulled the trigger.

BANG!

There was now a hole in the ceiling.

The moment he grasped the gun, Huai Shi had already seized his wrist. Huai Shi lifted it and, with a sharp flick, the Drummer's explosive strength burst forth, radiating violently from the wrist.

In an instant, the bones in his arm snapped and dislocated. The hand grasping the gun was twisted beyond recognition.

The handgun slipped from his grasp and fell.

In Huai Shi's left hand, iron gleamed.

The Sacrificial Knife appeared, piercing through the shattered palm. It extended downward, sweeping past like a cleaver slicing through beef, turning all flesh and blood it touched into char and ashes under the brutal extraction.

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