Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

Dima said, suddenly stopping a male officer who was on duty:

"You, come here."

The male officer was taken aback, then, trembling with fear, approached Dima, gave a cautious salute, and asked:

"Hello, may I ask—"

Smack!

Dima kicked the male officer's knee, eliciting a muffled groan as he instinctively lowered his body, clutching his knee.

"You fool, don't you know to use respectful language towards women?"

As Dima spoke, she punched him in the abdomen, then, without any politeness, grabbed the back of his neck and hauled him in front of Yavin:

"Hey, beast, this officer says that men and women alike are builders of the Republic, did you hear that?"

"I, I heard..."

"Haha—I'll ask you now, what do you think yourself?" Dima sneered, pinching his chin, and asked fiercely: "Do you also agree that you are a pillar of the Republic? Do you think that, as a man, you are equal to this refined and dignified lady here?"

"Not at all!"

The male officer quickly bowed and hurriedly defended:

"Absolutely not! Men of Frost Plated Country are merely lowly beasts; we would never dare to surpass women, let alone be named alongside them. I am just a humble civilian officer, how could I ever compare myself to the esteemed leaders of the Fourth Rule?"

He didn't care about his so-called dignity, despite being surrounded by colleagues watching, none dared to speak up for him. As a public servant, he even knelt down and begged, pleading with Dima to spare him.

"See, Miss?"

Dima pressed the officer's head, mocking:

"You think of these beasts as people, and they don't even appreciate it."

Yawen Heskixin didn't say anything; she just silently stared at the officer beneath Dima's foot, focusing on his humble and fearful posture for several seconds.

Then, she raised her head and turned to group leader Nimotin:

"Group leader, the autopsy report won't be out until tomorrow, and since we can't rule out the suspect Li Aozi's possible ascension to Transcendence, I suggest we initiate a search proactively."

"Agreed." Nimotin wasn't stupid; a crime involving a Transcendent, especially a male Transcendent, was a significant achievement.

The Fourth Rule, as an institution defending women's rights, was particularly concerned about crimes committed by male Transcendents.

After all, as beings akin to superhumans, Transcendents posed a potential threat to the government and the public.

Their combat power was too formidable, ordinary means couldn't detect them, and crucially, compared to mortals elected as Presidents and bureaucrats, these superhumans held absolute Attraction for voters.

Voters might not remember what a candidate's campaign promises were, but they would definitely remember a Transcendent who could spout fire, fly, and emit lightning from their fingertips.

If it could be proved that male Transcendents had a much higher crime rate than female Transcendents, the government would have a good reason to act against male Transcendents, and even expand the crackdown to strictly manage all Transcendents.

Such a good opportunity was right in front of her, and Nimotin had no reason to pass up such lucrative business.

"Dima, stop messing around, go and cooperate with the police in searching. Heskithin agent, you've just been working hard on the checks, take a break for a while."

"No. No need." Yavin shook her head and said: "Group leader, this is the border area, the suspect might also flee the city or even betray the country. Therefore, I believe we should seal the border checkpoints—"

"What a joke." Dima mocked: "Miss must have gone silly from all her reading. Escaping into the Outer World is practically a certain death situation, the suspect still has his family, is burdened with huge debts, and involved in murderous plots; obviously, he plans to return to his hometown."

"As long as there's a possibility, even if it's only one percent, it will definitely happen."

Yawen said calmly,

"Team leader, I wish to investigate smuggling and border checkpoints to prevent suspects from fleeing the motherland. Please approve my action."

"Hmm...you should think this through."

Nimotin, on the other hand, hesitated for a moment.

Investigating smuggling and border checkpoints was no easy task; things could go wrong, and it might require entry into the Outer World.

Regardless of his dislike for Yawen, she was still the daughter of the special service bureau's director. If something were to happen...

What if something did happen? Nimotin suddenly realized—this was Yawen's own suggestion.

Moreover, the dangers of the Outer World were evident to all. Even the traitorous Rose Army, acting as armed insurgents in the Outer World, could only scrape by in their hemispheric cities.

No one would foolishly plunge into the Outer World of their own accord. Instead, combining intelligence, Dima's guess seemed more plausible.

Let her investigate if she wants; she is unlikely to find anything significant, which, conversely, could protect her. Besides, the well-read lady, returning unsuccessful and finding her hypothesis wrong, would surely feel stifled and defeated.

Thinking of this, Nimotin cracked a smile, nodded, and said cheerfully,

"Agent Heskethin seems to have thought this through quite well, so I entrust you with this investigation."

"Tch, coward, boring."

Dima curled her lip, kicked the police officer away like a ball, and felt quite dissatisfied deep down:

"Whatever one thinks, the daughter of the special services, just another coward without capability or effectiveness."

The sun is the pillar of life; without sunlight, life struggles to survive.

Who would, out of their mind, run toward the Outer World?

-------------------------------------

"Welcome to the Outer World, dear infected sir."

A beautiful woman with cascading silver hair, dressed in a white coat and in a wheelchair, came up to Li Aozi with a gentle smile:

"Don't be afraid, we won't harm you."

"Who...are you?"

Li Aozi, injected with a heavy dose of sedatives and anesthetics causing complete muscular relaxation, hesitated for a moment and asked with a stiff, distorted expression:

"Am I, an infected?"

"To answer the first question, we are doctors, sir. Doctors from the Mingji Humanitarian Aid Organization."

The mature, gentle woman pushed up her round-framed glasses and explained,

"You may call me 'Professor'."

"Now, to answer the second question."

"Yes, you have been infected by a virus called Ersha, which spreads through brain tissue and the spinal column, progressing deeper into cellular structures, and, as the infection deepens, even altering chromosomes."

"Ersha infections vary in severity from Level One through Four."

"And you, are the only suspected case of a Level Five infection we have discovered thus far. Extremely rare indeed."