Chapter 126: He Is a Demon

In Lower Kyoto District, in a house on Hakuchou Road, all five members of the Fourth Branch had gathered together.

Their temporary quarters weren’t large, but with fewer people, the space felt considerably roomier.

The television was broadcasting local emergency news, and the faces of the group were pale as iron, not a word escaping their lips.

Only Xue Tinghai seemed unfazed, sitting on the sofa with his head slightly bowed, smoking and occasionally taking a swig from the bottle on the table.

The striking woman hugged her shoulders, teeth clenched, and watching the broadcast showing surveillance footage and their personal information finally broke her restraint.

She snatched a chair from the floor and smashed the television, the screen flickering into chaos.

“It has to be those guys!”

Fang Shenyan’s blatant eavesdropping had already revealed their identities.

The police quickly identified all five members, clearly prompted by a tip-off. Using flight information, the authorities located them and issued a wanted notice.

The only possible culprit had to be the Seventh Branch.

The young man in the down jacket, named Tian Wen, had taken off his coat and now wore a wool sweater.

Without his Sin Artifact, he had lost all confidence and asked helplessly, “So, what do we do now?”

All eyes turned to Xue Tinghai, who remained silent and immovable as ever.

Xue Tinghai finished the can of beer in one gulp, crushed it in his hand, and stood up.

“The police only learned our appearances and information tonight. What difference does issuing a wanted notice make?

They’d never expect us to go out tonight, let alone immediately head to Takayama Seisho’s residence for information.

The Seventh Branch intends to use the police to restrain us, giving them first-hand intelligence.

That only proves they’re weak at the core. So what are you afraid of?!”

Outside, the wind and snow were far harsher than inside.

Walking through it, snowflakes cut like knives across Ji Li’s face, sharp and stinging.

Only three of them had gone out this time—Ji Li, Fang Shenyan, and Kondo Sei—while the other four remained behind.

If it weren’t for the special nature of this mission, bringing Kondo along would have been troublesome.

Fortunately, Kondo was a journalist, and though it was past two in the morning, she had already located Takayama Seisho’s residence.

“Ji, Takayama Seisho is thirty-two, unmarried, living alone in the Cube Tower on Shirotsuki Road.”

The taxi tore down the road, its wheels spinning snowflakes into fragments.

Fang Shenyan and Ji Li sat in the back, watching the dazzling city lights. Fang asked quietly, “Do you want to meet Xue Tinghai?”

Ji Li smoked silently, giving no reply.

Fang continued, “Xue Tinghai is no ordinary man. Using the police to restrain him would only backfire.

He’ll know we’ve moved against him. With his cunning, he’ll likely head to the Takayama residence tonight.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Ji Li’s lips—Fang was right.

Tonight’s plan, ostensibly to gather information on Takayama Seisho, was really about encountering the Fourth Branch.

And encountering them wasn’t the goal…

If they could kill one or two and seize their Sin Artifacts… that would be ideal.

This was why Ji Li had brought only Fang and Kondo. Fewer people meant a better chance to retreat intact if they failed.

If successful, Fang was already an ally, and Kondo’s compliant nature posed no issue.

The smarter someone was, the faster they might die.

Ji Li was certain Xue Tinghai would come tonight—and would underestimate the Seventh Branch.

That would be his opportunity.

Soon, the Cube Tower rose before the three, the only high-rise in the vicinity.

Ji Li didn’t understand why a residential building would be built so tall.

Fang Shenyan didn’t fully understand what Ji Li meant by “hunting”—how exactly they were supposed to kill.

Kondo Sei, bundled in scarf and gloves, stood at the bottom of the building, confused, stamping her feet and watching the two men with serious expressions, completely unsure of what was about to happen.

On Ji Li’s side, he lowered his brows in thought for a moment before leading the two upstairs.

The Cube Tower was older on the inside than it appeared, with small advertisements plastered inside the elevator.

Since this wasn’t the official mission time and they were in a hurry, Ji Li took the elevator directly to the eighteenth floor, where Takayama Seisho’s unit was located—Room 1813, positioned in the center of the floor.

Ji Li slowly approached the door and peered through the peephole. The room was certainly empty, and entering would be difficult.

But that wasn’t his target.

His gaze shifted to the neighboring rooms: 1812 and 1814.

He signaled Fang Shenyan, who now understood Ji Li’s intent and nodded.

The Fourth Branch would certainly come to the Cube Tower as well, so how could they gather intelligence in such a situation?

Takayama Seisho lived alone; now that he was dead, they could only target neighbors or colleagues.

At this hour, colleagues were unavailable—they would go to the neighbors for clues.

Ji Li’s advantage was arriving earlier.

This opened up many possibilities: asking useful questions first, silencing the neighbors, hiding in a room to ambush, and preparing an escape route.

Kondo Sei’s eyes widened in shock; she had no idea what these two men were planning tonight. Ji Li pulled her to the seventeenth floor.

“Ji… what exactly are we doing? Weren’t we supposed to gather information?”

Ji Li remained silent. Suddenly, a scream came from upstairs—but it vanished just as quickly, followed by a thud as a door slammed, as if a life had been snuffed out in an instant.

“Wh-what was that sound?!”

Kondo Sei’s legs went weak. She imagined a ghost or monster had appeared. If Ji Li hadn’t been holding her arm, she might have collapsed right there.

Ji Li led her to the seventeenth floor and located the corresponding rooms: 1712 and 1714.

He knocked lightly.

Soon, a disheveled middle-aged man stepped out, mumbling something in Japanese that Ji Li didn’t understand.

Through Kondo’s eyes, she saw Ji Li smiling cheerfully.

But then he handed the man a knife and shoved it directly into his mouth.

The sound of blood flowing, a gurgling throat, and Ji Li’s silent laughter…

“He… is a demon…”