"Ha… ha… hahaha—!"
The laughter ripped through the air like metal scraping against bone.There was pain in that voice, yes—But far stronger was the hatred boiling beneath it. Hatred so thick it felt alive.
"Liu Wei!" Lone Wolf howled, eyes bloodshot. "Heaven offered you a road and you turned away. Hell gave you no door, and you forced your way in. Since you're here… you're not leaving."
The cold declaration echoed across the ruined sky.
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes at the deranged man before him, sparks of understanding flashing within.
"Y–you?"Liu Wei froze where he stood, confusion flashing across his face.Someone hated him this much?
A heartbeat later, recognition struck.
His eyes widened. "Lone Wolf… You're alive?!"
"Thanks to you…" Lone Wolf sneered, voice dripping poison, "…not only am I alive, I'm thriving. Stronger. Faster. A Level-3 Esper now—something you never expected, did you?"
A violent chill spread through the air.The temperature plummeted.
Liu Wei's face twisted.The man beside him paled instantly, as if seeing a corpse climb out of its grave.
"You! You were dead! How are you still alive?!"
Terror choked his voice.
Lone Wolf smiled—a slow, cruel baring of teeth.
"Disappointed, aren't you? Too bad. Because watching your horror… that alone keeps me going. And the best part?"His voice deepened, becoming something dark and venomous."You're going to feel the same despair you once forced on me."
The words slithered into the air like a curse.Liu Wei and his companion felt the world freeze around them, icy dread slowly swallowing their lungs.
"Captain Liu… what is going on?"
Chen Fan finally understood something was wrong. Very wrong.A suspicion formed in his mind—sharp enough to make his face darken.
Lone Wolf's madness…His hatred…His transformation…
Could it be tied to Liu Wei?
Impossible, he told himself.Liu Wei was a Level-3 Esper. A three-star detective.Someone like that wouldn't—
But the unease in his heart only grew heavier.
"Chen Fan," Liu Wei said suddenly, voice sharp, "help me kill him! Lone Wolf has murdered countless of our people. You're only a one-star detective—you don't have clearance for high-level files. But take my word for it. He is a top-ranked criminal!"
His excitement was barely masked.
Chen Fan stared at him, a cold glint in his eyes.
"Whatever crimes he committed," Chen Fan replied calmly, "I will arrest him. Alive. His fate will be judged by the Alliance, not us. No one, including you, has the authority to execute him on the spot."
Liu Wei's expression twisted.
"Chen Fan," he growled, "are you defying my order?"
Chen Fan held his ground.
"We're both detectives. Why should I follow your orders?"His tone was calm, but beneath it… his muscles tensed.
He could sense the killing intent radiating off Liu Wei.
Liu Wei lowered his head slightly, speaking to the man beside him.
"Chen Fan knows too much. I'll take down Lone Wolf. You deal with him."He formed a subtle hand gesture.
The meaning was obvious.
Kill them both. Wipe everything clean.
The man nodded silently, murder flashing in his eyes.
Lone Wolf laughed again—a sound sharp enough to cut skin.
"A detective," he said mockingly. "Such a noble profession."He stared at Chen Fan, then at Liu Wei, scorn dripping from his gaze.
Even Chen Fan felt uncomfortable.Liu Wei's killing intent surged.
"Don't know how you escaped last time," Liu Wei snarled, "but today won't be the same."
He shot one final glance at Chen Fan.
"Since you won't cooperate, then stay out of my way. He's mine."
"I have no objection," Chen Fan replied lightly. "But I warn you—his crimes involve forces far larger than this. Headquarters instructed us to bring him back—alive."
He stepped back, but his senses were razor-sharp.He would intervene the moment Lone Wolf was in danger.
Because Lone Wolf… was the key to the truth.
And truth was what Chen Fan needed.
Lone Wolf's strength now surpassed normal Level-3 Espers.Even Liu Wei would not be able to handle him.
"Do it!" Liu Wei snapped.
He and his teammate vanished instantly.Their speed was ghost-like—so fast Chen Fan's heart skipped.
Especially Liu Wei.His body flickered like lightning itself—fast enough that even Chen Fan struggled to track him.
But Lone Wolf was faster.
Much faster.
Just as the word "Do" left Liu Wei's lips—Lone Wolf moved.
His body blurred—Then exploded forward.
A monstrous killing intent filled the air.
"Liu Wei!" Lone Wolf roared. "Today you pay… with your life!"
His face twisted with fury.In the next instant—
CRACK—!!
Chen Fan saw it clearly.
Liu Wei's back caved inward.
His body bent unnaturally, then shot backward as if hit by a truck.Blood exploded from his mouth as he was hurled through the air—eyes filled with shock.
"Impossible… how? How did your strength rise so fast!?"
He spat another mouthful of blood.
His teammate froze mid-charge, terror swallowing him whole.
Liu Wei crashed to the ground, sliding across the dirt for dozens of meters before finally stopping.
His face was blank with disbelief.
The pain told him it was real.The fear told him he was losing.
Lone Wolf stalked forward, voice trembling with rage.
"Stand up, Liu Wei. Aren't you proud? Come on. I'm right here. Kill me."He spread his arms."I'm not going anywhere!"
His madness filled the air.
Chen Fan exhaled slowly.Even he was shocked.
A Level-3 Esper like Liu Wei—Defeated in a single strike.
If he didn't step in soon…Lone Wolf would kill him.
Chen Fan clenched his fist.
"Looks like I'll have to take you down myself," he murmured. "Didn't think you would become this powerful in just two years."
His eyes hardened.
"It seems… I'll need to use special methods."