Fu Hua pulled out a worn cloth pouch from her pocket and handed it over.
Qingyi raised an eyebrow and clicked her tongue.
"Whoa, now that's a relic. Didn't think I'd see someone still using one of these to carry money."
"I'm still getting used to modern tech… apologies if it's a bit outdated."
Qingyi weighed the pouch in her hand and waved it off.
"No worries. Just caught me off guard. Honestly, with how fast things change these days, even I can't keep up sometimes."
Zhu Yuan scratched her head, clearly confused.
"Senior… you two have this weird vibe. Like old friends reuniting after years apart."
"Maybe. She's got a familiar energy. And she is easy to talk to."
Fu Hua nodded politely.
"I've settled what I came for. I won't take up more of your time. Officers—thank you. Until next time."
"Mm. May fate cross our paths again."
After bidding farewell she turned and walked away.
Qingyi narrowed her eyes, watching her go. Then she leaned toward Zhu Yuan.
"Well? Notice anything unusual?"
Zhu Yuan tapped her chin, thoughtful.
"Her gait is steady. Her aura… composed. Reminds me of Miyabi, but more contained."
"Exactly. Based on our scans, her Ether compatibility is off the charts. And—"
"Captain, mission dispatch just came in."
"Got it. Senior, let's move."
"Alright."
They turned their focus back to the task at hand.
The next morning
The sun hung high over the skyline.
While Fu Hua walked through the streets of New Eridu, tilting her head up.
"Beautiful weather today… maybe I should do something."
Without realizing, she wandered into a nearby park—popular with the elderly crowd for sunbathing, chatting, and chess.
Her arrival didn't go unnoticed.
Dressed like a high schooler, she looked out of place among the retirees.
But she paid no mind to their curious glances.
She found a quiet patch of ground and began warming up.
Then, she dropped into a horse stance and started her drills.
At first, no one paid attention.
But once her fists began slicing the air with sharp gusts, and her kicks landed with precision and force…
The park chatter faded.
"Whoa! That girl's got moves!"
"Listen to that wind shear—getting hit by that would hurt like hell."
"Kids these days don't train like that. Especially not girls."
Fu Hua heard them, but her focus didn't waver.
After all martial arts demanded full attention.
Lumina District
Not far away, chaos erupted.
A man in a graffiti-styled helmet sprinted down the street, clutching a stolen safe.
A long blade was strapped to his back.
Behind him, Qingyi wielded her staff, Zhu Yuan had her firearm ready, and several Security Bureau officers were in pursuit.
"Stop right there and submit to inspection! Or I'll shoot!"
"Shoot? Ha! You're bluffing. Look at all these civilians. No way you'd risk it."
"Captain Zhu Yuan, suspect's backup is waiting at the next intersection."
"Copy. Initiate containment. Keep the civilians safe."
"Understood."
Zhu Yuan relayed orders through her earpiece, eyes locked on the fleeing suspect.
"You're surrounded. Keep running, and things will get ugly. Stop now, and we'll go easier on you."
"Tch! Save it for the ghosts!"
He laughed and kept running.