"Damn it! I never thought these people would be desperate enough to pull something like this!"
Inside Ch'en's office, Hoshiguma crushed a water glass in one hand and snapped, "They didn't dare touch Penguin Logistics, and they didn't dare touch the Guard Department either—so they went straight after Bai Xiao instead..."
She flung the shattered glass to the floor.
"Isn't that just bullying an honest man?!"
Watching the shards scatter at his feet, Bai Xiao couldn't help twitching at the brow. Crushing a glass with her bare hand was one thing, but not even getting cut in the process...
So this was what a Terra superhuman looked like?
Meanwhile, Ch'en, seated behind her desk, looked much calmer. Rubbing at her brow, she said, "Things are already clear enough. Someone is targeting Bai Xiao. He said he hasn't offended anyone recently, which means the other party must be the ones smuggling the Originium."
Bai Xiao was telling the truth. Apart from this matter, the only people he'd crossed were the Char Siu Gang and the Brine Gang.
But could a bunch of snack-stall punks really pull off something like this?
Obviously not.
"I don't think it matters who they are right now," Hoshiguma said with absolute seriousness. "What matters is Bai Xiao's safety! He definitely can't go back to that rental place. This was an organized group, and when I checked the place this morning, it was spotless. Even the bodies had been cleaned up!"
Ch'en rose and began pacing the room. Hoshiguma was right. If this could happen once, it could happen again. If Bai Xiao went back, sooner or later something else would happen to him.
"Then let's do this. Find another place to stay immediately. I'll arrange Guard Department protection for you."
Bai Xiao had no objection to that. It sounded reasonable enough. It wasn't as though Ch'en herself could stay glued to his side and protect him personally, right?
But Hoshiguma immediately shot the idea down.
"No. Those people already have their eyes on Bai Xiao. What if something happens? The Guard Department can do patrols, sure, but what good is that?"
"Then what do you suggest?" Ch'en's tone sharpened. She clearly had a headache over the same problem.
Hoshiguma abruptly stood up.
"Let Bai Xiao stay at my place. Problem solved."
"Huh? What are you talking about?!"
"What's the issue?" Hoshiguma explained seriously. "I'm a Guard Department inspector. They wouldn't dare make a move against me. If Bai Xiao stays at my place, he'll be safe!"
Then she turned to Bai Xiao.
"You don't mind, do you?"
Truthfully, Bai Xiao didn't really mind at all. As far as he was concerned, it didn't matter where he stayed, so long as it was safe.
"Sure."
"Good. Then I'll take you back with me first so you can find the place. It's easy to get to."
Just like that, the two of them had settled it on the spot.
Off to the side, Ch'en suddenly felt as though she had become an outsider to the conversation. The thought of those two living together made something sour and painful rise in her chest.
And yet Hoshiguma's logic was sound. She was an inspector. Going after her would be the same as openly provoking Lungmen itself. There probably wasn't anywhere safer than her home.
But what if they gradually fell for each other while living together?
Ch'en didn't want to see them living together.
And she wanted even less to see them falling for each other.
"Old Ch'en, we're heading out first."
"Oh... right..."
Ch'en forced a smile and clenched her fists so tightly it was as if someone were taking away something that belonged to her.
...
Wait.
Why am I upset?
Hoshiguma is an inspector, sure—
but aren't I an inspector too?
Watching Hoshiguma and Bai Xiao head toward the door, Ch'en suddenly let out a cold laugh. Taking a long stride forward, she stepped directly onto the shattered glass on the floor, producing a harsh crunching sound.
"Wait."
Hoshiguma stopped.
"I just thought it over, and I think Bai Xiao would be better off staying at my place." Ch'en smiled with complete confidence now, utterly different from the self-doubt she'd shown a moment ago. "Hoshiguma, if I remember correctly, you're still renting, aren't you? Bringing someone back to stay with you wouldn't be very convenient."
Hoshiguma wasn't about to back down.
"That's not a problem at all! I paid a full year's rent up front, and the landlord allows two people to stay there anyway!"
"...Is that so? But it's still just a one-bedroom apartment. If Bai Xiao moves in, it'll definitely be inconvenient."
"I can sleep in the living room!" Hoshiguma insisted.
"What good does sleeping in the living room do?" Ch'en sneered, folding her arms. "Why not just let Bai Xiao stay at my place instead? I live in a detached villa, and there are plenty of rooms. Convenience won't be an issue at all."
That finally left Hoshiguma momentarily speechless. A villa was obviously going to be better than a single-person apartment.
Ch'en pressed the advantage.
"And there's another, even more important issue. Even if Bai Xiao stays with you, you still have to report to the Guard Department during the day. Who's going to protect him then?"
"...Wouldn't the same problem apply to you?!"
"It would," Ch'en said coolly. "But my villa is in Lungmen's Golden Sands District. That's the safest part of the city. Security there is practically on par with City Hall itself. No criminal is getting in. Bai Xiao would have round-the-clock protection."
This time Hoshiguma truly ran out of arguments. Even so, she still looked unwilling to admit defeat. At that point, Bai Xiao gently stepped in.
"Hoshi-sir... I think Ch'en-sir is right. Her place really is the better option."
Of course Bai Xiao wanted to stay with Ch'en.
Her route was rated S, after all.
Hoshiguma lowered her head, looking somewhat aggrieved.
"Come with me."
She grabbed Bai Xiao's hand and dragged him out of the office.
Ch'en wasn't worried in the slightest. She even calmly poured herself a cup of coffee. She knew Hoshiguma too well. Hoshiguma's pride wasn't any less than her own. Even if she hated losing, she wouldn't forcefully drag Bai Xiao away.
Meanwhile, just outside the office door, Hoshiguma planted both hands against the wall and boxed Bai Xiao in between them—a full-on kabedon.
"Hoshi-sir, what exactly are you...?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to chase me? Then why are you moving into Old Ch'en's place instead?!"
Bai Xiao went blank.
When had he ever said he wanted to chase Hoshiguma...?
Don't tell me she meant that one random joke he'd made on the way to Penguin Logistics?
That had so obviously been a joke—how could she take it seriously?!
If nothing else, this proved one thing beyond doubt: Hoshiguma was incredibly pure. At the very least, when it came to romance, she was shockingly pure.
But things had already reached this point. Explaining himself was out of the question. All he could do was try to smooth her over for now and worry about the rest later.
"Hoshi-sir, I don't really have a choice here. The case comes first, and Ch'en-sir's place really is safer. Besides, I won't be staying there for long anyway."
Hoshiguma understood all of that, but it still didn't make her feel any better.
Sensing an opening, Bai Xiao pressed on.
"And if I stayed with you, you'd have to spend extra energy protecting me. Wouldn't that get in the way of your investigation too? Right?"
"Right?"
"Of course it's right. Otherwise why would I agree to stay at Ch'en-sir's place?" Bai Xiao smiled faintly and lowered his voice. "Actually, I'd rather live with you too. If the smuggling case can be wrapped up quickly, then we..."
Before he could finish, Hoshiguma spun around, marched straight back into the office, and loudly declared:
"Old Ch'en, I think you're right. Your place is definitely safer than mine. You two can settle the rest. I'm going to review the Penguin Logistics statements."
The moment she finished, she bolted out again, leaving Bai Xiao standing there staring after her in astonishment.
"Hoshi-sir really is decisive."
"She is," Ch'en said. "She's always been the impatient type."
Bai Xiao was still looking at the doorway.
Ch'en was looking at Bai Xiao, absently tracing circles around the handle of her coffee cup with her finger.
Moving into her house...
That would open up an awful lot of possibilities, wouldn't it?
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