The depths of the cosmos stretched endlessly, a silent ocean of stars.And cutting through that darkness was a streak of blazing blue—a bolt of light moving faster than anything mortal eyes could track.Look closer, and the illusion of light resolved into form: a sleek sapphire-blue spacecraft, its lines so elegant it looked sculpted rather than built.
In the twenty-fourth century, crossing the universe was no longer a dream—it was daily routine.Humanity had long since established colonies on the Moon, and even the outer reaches of space carried unmistakable traces of human civilization.
Among the countless starships traversing the void, this jewel-like vessel was but one of many.
Its deep-blue hull shimmered with a soft glow. On both sides, glowing red symbols spelled out a single word: Detective.In this age, the old concept of "police" had faded into history. The world had evolved, technology had soared, and a new profession had risen in its place—
Superpowered Detectives.
Being a detective in this era wasn't just a job. It was a badge of honor, a symbol of danger and authority.And it was definitely not something just anyone could do—because the first requirement was simple yet absolute:
You needed to possess superpowers.
Superpowers—abilities once confined to sci-fi fantasies—had become reality.Among every million people, a handful would awaken extraordinary abilities: lightning users, flame wielders, telekinetics, space manipulators, language-type mentalists… the variations were endless.
By now, superpowers had woven themselves into everyday life. But like all things, they came in levels—strength varied wildly.
Some flame users could ignite a blaze capable of razing a city.Others… could only muster a spark barely strong enough to light a cigarette.
Still, possessing any superpower at all meant privilege.In this new world, superpowered individuals enjoyed advantages in status, opportunity, and wealth that ordinary people could only dream of.
"System notification: We have reached Martian airspace. Requesting permission to initiate landing sequence."
The soft, feminine voice echoed inside the cabin—sweet in tone yet devoid of emotion, a machine's imitation of gentleness.
"Land directly," came the lazy reply.
A young man, no more than eighteen, lounged comfortably in the plush pilot's chair. One leg crossed over the other, a glass of wine in hand, he stared calmly at the holographic screen before him.
His long black hair fell over his shoulders in loose strands, giving him a languid, almost careless air.But deep within his dark eyes, a cold, cutting light flickered now and then—sharp enough to make anyone who saw it subconsciously avert their gaze.
On the screen floated a blue-tinted planet—Mars.After a century of human development, the once barren world had transformed into the second fully habitable planet of the galaxy.
"Affirmative."
The ship lurched as it pierced the atmosphere, vibrations rattling through the hull.Yet the young man's hand holding the wineglass didn't waver—not even slightly.
He downed the last drop, exhaled deeply, then stood. A hint of fatigue flashed across his otherwise stern features—but it was quickly drowned beneath something stronger.
Expectation.
His name was Chen Fan, and though only eighteen, he was already well-known across Mars.He had awakened his superpower at the age of eight, then trained for five grueling years under government sponsorship.Now, his ability had reached Level 3.
Level 1 powers could handle simple tasks.Level 2 could unleash destructive force.Level 3… could reduce a skyscraper to rubble in seconds.
But leveling from 1 to 3 required a staggering amount of Star Source Stones—tens of thousands of them.In this age, those stones were both currency and cultivation resource. One stone offered an hour of training for a superpowered user—but for ordinary people, it could buy enough supplies to last a long while.
The gap between the gifted and the ordinary was enormous—and only growing wider.
Of course, high-level buildings made of special alloy remained untouchable even to Level 5 powers… but that was another matter.
The ship trembled one last time before breaking through the clouds and descending toward Mars' surface.
A smile tugged at Chen Fan's lips.After a year roaming the far reaches of space, he was finally back—finally ready to collect the reward for his mission.
As a Superpowered Detective, his livelihood depended on completing assignments.This time, his target had been a dangerous fugitive named Wang Yong, a fellow Level 3 ability user who had caused chaos in Flame City.
Chen Fan had pursued him alone through the vast emptiness of space for ten brutal months before finally capturing him.
Because the target was a superpowered criminal, Chen Fan's reward would be several times greater than usual.And not just money—his detective agency would also earn a star-level promotion, unlocking higher-tier missions.
He could practically see the fortune already flowing into his pockets.
"Destination: Flame City, Sector 318. Full speed ahead."
The ship adjusted course, its thrusters erupting with blue fire before blasting across the Martian sky.Within minutes, it vanished beyond the horizon.
An hour later, it hovered above Flame City—a colossal metropolis covering nearly a third of the surrounding land.
After locking onto the coordinates Chen Fan had set, the thrusters cut off, and the ship began to descend—
Buzz.
The hatch opened with a hiss.
Chen Fan stepped out, one hand gripping a glowing metal chain.At the other end of the chain was a sickly-looking middle-aged man.
This was Wang Yong, the Level 3 superpowered fugitive he had spent nearly a year hunting.
"Heh… if you drag me out like this and word gets around, your life's gonna get real difficult."Wang Yong sneered despite the glowing restraints binding him, his voice dripping with threat.
Chen Fan smirked.
"You know, every criminal I drag to prison says the same thing right before we arrive. You're not the first. You definitely won't be the last."
Here on Mars—especially in Flame City—no one dared challenge the authority of the Detective Alliance.
And Chen Fan?He was one of its rising stars.