Chapter 16: Bureau of the Sharp Sword

“You arrived quickly.”

Ji Xinghuo looked up at the sky. He had called for help less than a minute ago.

The figure descended rapidly, from over six hundred meters in the air, approaching the ground in barely five or six seconds, like a meteor.

Ji Xinghuo felt a strong downward airflow and a mountainous pressure!

Just before touching the ground, the figure suddenly decelerated, shifting from heaviness to lightness, landing softly like a falling leaf.

The newcomer stood a few meters away from Ji Xinghuo, a burly figure, over one meter eighty tall, wrapped in a layer of dazzling golden energy, with four rings of light behind his head arranged in concentric circles, his whole being shimmering like he was clad in a suit of golden armor.

He surveyed the scene then looked towards Ji Xinghuo.

“Did you call for help?”

The man’s golden light retracted, revealing his face.

He appeared quite young, probably only a few years older than Ji Xinghuo, dressed in a snug, casually styled training outfit, his ordinary features carried a heroic air, a single-lensed glasses perched on the left side of his face, its square, transparent lens rigged with communication, internet, and scanning functionalities.

Most notably, his head was clean-shaven, not a hair in sight!

“It was me.”

Ji Xinghuo nodded, spreading his arms to show he was no threat.

However, his eyes involuntarily scanned the newcomer’s bald head, the rings of light, the combat suit, the bare hands, the bald head… all these characteristics displayed the man’s professional template—a Halo Fighter!

This job template was extremely unique.

Powerful, versatile, with immense potential, needing only three or four unique abilities to form—strength, defense, speed, recovery—no weaknesses, explosive power that was truly fearsome, one of the most coveted professions.

Naturally, Halo Fighters had some flaws.

Like baldness!

The core special ability of a Halo Fighter was “light energy,” a super-limit ability that converted all star power into a unique energy, namely light energy.

Light energy was immensely powerful, infinite in might, but came with a side effect.

It would cause the Halo Fighter’s hair follicles to close, forming a closed-loop system in the body, leading not just the hair on the head, but all body hair to fall off.

This applied to both men and women.

This feature was one of the best ways to identify a Halo Fighter, hence they were jokingly referred to as “baldies,” a term most Halo Fighters found annoying.

Baldness was their eternal pain, gradually becoming a taboo.

At that moment, Ji Xinghuo noticed not only was the man bald, but his eyebrows were also drawn on… he almost couldn’t maintain his expression and almost laughed out loud.

Halo Fighters were strong, this one was a super special person, but it was still quite sad.

Was this the price of becoming strong?

Ji Xinghuo quickly averted his eyes, luckily the other did not notice his subtle expressions. He was checking the body on the ground before returning his attention to Ji Xinghuo, noticing the composite bow in his hands, shock appearing in his eyes.

“Did you kill him?” the Halo Fighter asked.

“Yes.”

Ji Xinghuo answered truthfully.

He had fought back against a suspect in a grade-A wanted poster, it was all legal and above board, nothing to hide, impossible to hide.

There were cameras everywhere on the streets, already capturing the incident.

Even thousands of satellites monitored everything from the skies, continuously overseeing the entire province of Chang’an. Unless indoors or underground, even night time activities would be recorded.

“This can’t be possible!”

The Halo Fighter scrutinized Ji Xinghuo again, disbelief on his face, “You’re a junior special person and just became one not long ago, right?”

Ji Xinghuo did not explain further, surveillance would reveal all.

The airship dropped down five more people.

They were three men and two women, aged between twenty-five and fifty, each clad in black combat light armor, a symbol on each shoulder, four different colored sharp swords—gray, white, red, and gold—arranged in a fan shape, very conspicuous.

Seeing this symbol, Ji Xinghuo was startled.

“Bureau of the Sharp Sword!”

These people were not from the regular special guard force but swordsmen from the Bureau of the Sharp Sword.

The so-called Bureau of the Sharp Sword, officially the National Security Intelligence Bureau, principally handled anti-spy activities, intelligence investigations, and other national security matters. The director reported directly to the head of the Asia-Pacific Community, its status equivalent to the Public Security Department but with a far greater reputation, known globally as a formidable organization.

Why would a wanted criminal attract the Bureau of the Sharp Sword?

Ji Xinghuo looked at the five swordsmen, each a powerful senior special person, all with different professional templates yet capable of working together, encircling him and the body.

“Captain.”

One of the swordsmen called out.

The Halo Fighter was about to speak when dozens of maglev police cars screamed into the scene, a torrent of special police in combat gear spilling out, carrying various weapons and shields, quickly cordoning off the scene and half the street.

These individuals were the real special guards.

Leading them was a woman over one-meter-ninety tall, with chin-length short hair, a gallant presence, her skin glistening with a faint silver-gray sheen, a steel shield insignia on her shoulder patch, her approach like a heavy statue moving closer.

Iron Guard!

Ji Xinghuo thought, and she was a rare female Iron Guard.

“Min Chongwu, what’s the situation?” The female Iron Guard obviously knew the Halo Fighter, calling him by his name.

“Song Fei,” Min Chongwu shook his head, “We’re all too late.”

He gestured towards the body on the ground.

“Dead?”

Song Fei glanced at the body, then noticed Ji Xinghuo beside it, quickly guessing what had happened, but her reaction was the same as Min Chongwu’s, her eyes widening, she said sharply, “You killed Jizong Bang? You’re kidding!”

Ji Xinghuo shrugged; under these circumstances, nothing he said would be believed.

“What’s your name?” Song Fei asked.

“Ji Xinghuo.”

As Song Fei spoke, she gestured for a police officer to fetch Ji Xinghuo’s background. Hearing his name, her actions paused.

Not just her, everyone’s expressions shifted slightly.

“The ‘Ji’ as in ‘season’?” Song Fei’s demeanor became much more cautious, almost wary.

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

He knew why this reaction was familiar; it happened often.

Because he had the surname “Ji.”

This was a surname not commonly seen, but deeply imprinted in the minds of all Earth’s inhabitants. Mentioning this surname, everyone would think of one person.

The founder of the Asia-Pacific Community, the head of state, the spiritual leader of all Asia-Pacific people and indeed billions worldwide, the strongest mind hacker in history, one of the greatest humans of our times, “Head of State” Ji Daosheng!

Even just sharing the surname with the Head of State, though having no actual connection, felt like an honor.

This shows how highly esteemed the Head of State is in people’s hearts!

“I was randomly assigned this surname.”

Ji Xinghuo took the initiative to explain, having said this hundreds of times since his childhood.

Public children have a naming system that randomly generates a few names, from which the foster parents during infancy choose the one with the best meaning.

Everyone understood at once.

“You’re really lucky,” Min Chongwu muttered enviously. He too was a public child, but hadn’t been so fortunate in the name draw.

He saw Song Fei moving towards the body, his figure flashing to block her, “Song Fei, Jizong Bang’s case has been taken over by the Bureau of the Sharp Sword.”

Song Fei’s expression darkened, “My team received the report first, conducted the investigation that exposed him, and we lost three people in the process.”

“So what?” Min Chongwu stood his ground, “Jizong Bang was a spy from an enemy state, a matter of national security, not for the Public Security Department to interfere with.” His tone softened, “Your fallen team members will naturally receive the proper compensation and commendations.”

Song Fei stared at Min Chongwu, silent, the atmosphere growing tense.

Ji Xinghuo, hearing key information from their conversation, was suddenly overjoyed.

“This wanted criminal was actually a spy!”

If he had just killed a regular criminal, even in self-defense, there could still be complications, such as unresolved cases on the criminal or being a key witness in a larger case.

But killing a spy entailed no issues.

Plus, there were additional benefits!

A spy from an enemy state—that was a commendable deed; no wonder there was contention between the two groups.

Ji Xinghuo watched the drama unfold.

The duties of the special guard were broad, a special armed force established to ensure citizen safety, counterterrorism, capture criminal special persons, tasks too challenging for regular police.

Because the special guard’s emblem was a steel shield, they were commonly known as “Shield Guards.”

One was a swordsman; one was a shield guard.

The names gave away the inherent conflict between the two.

Although one focused on external affairs and the other on internal, their jurisdictions overlapped somewhat, sometimes they were side-by-side combatants and at other times, competitors.

“Jizong Bang is linked to major dealings, your Public Security Department can’t handle it,” Min Chongwu murmured, “Even if you take the body and evidence now, in the end, it will still have to be handed over to the Bureau of the Sharp Sword. Perhaps, your division might even face a reprimand for this.”

Song Fei’s expression changed, but she still was reluctant to accept.

“This time I owe you a favor,” Min Chongwu suddenly conceded, “Consider it for the sake of our many years of friendship.”

Song Fei stared at him for a few seconds then finally backed down.

“Withdraw.”

She waved her hand, leading most of the special guards back into their vehicles to leave, leaving only a few to continue monitoring and cordoning off the scene.

Min Chongwu relaxed, ordering, “Collect the physical evidence and data from the scene, keep records, take the body away.”

Several swordsmen quickly got to work.

Min Chongwu’s bald head turned towards Ji Xinghuo, suddenly saying, “Mr. Ji, I know you picked up something. Hand it over.”

He reached out his hand.

Ji Xinghuo hesitated but eventually handed over the special seed to him.

In fact, ever since he learned the seed was a “Rotating Magnetic Field,” Ji Xinghuo had been thinking about how to keep it.

Under normal circumstances, it was almost impossible; the scene was definitely captured on camera, the moment he picked up the seed could not have been missed.

The seed came from the body of a wanted criminal; it was one of the pieces of evidence, how could he keep it private?

But, the criminal being a spy made a difference!

“Rotating Magnetic Field!”

Min Chongwu, having received the seed, observed it for a few seconds before finally recognizing it. His eyes bulged, and he instinctively scratched his head, only to touch his smooth scalp.

Hearing his words, several swordsmen also turned their attention to the seed.

Eyes filled with admiration looked at the crystal seed, the super-limit ability “Rotating Magnetic Field,” perhaps one of the most powerful and rarest, incredibly valuable.

At this moment, Ji Xinghuo seriously asked, “Commander, does the ‘spoils of war’ principle apply to killing enemy spies too?”

The surrounding swordsmen’s expressions changed.

Min Chongwu was taken aback as well, ultimately nodding, “Of course it applies.”

He understood what Ji Xinghuo meant, his face suddenly showing a mischievous smile, saying, “You’ve made a big gain this time, but some people have made a great loss. Mr. Ji, follow me back to the bureau, be careful in what you say and do from now on, that’s all I’ll say.”