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I really appreciate it, but there's something off about y——OW! Hands off! Hey!

What was that drug? Are you licensed? Show me your papers, or else——

——Ah.

Heh, heh? The pain's actually gone...?

And what's that fruity smell....?

The new stuff is watermelon flavored. Congratulations on being the first to try it!

Why would you have watermelon flavored injections?

Honestly, the pain relief is just a placebo effect. Your bleeding has stopped, and you'll certainly have no trouble returning to the L.G.D. in one piece.

Once there, do remember to get formal medical treatment, as a simple debridement will not solve the problem, and there is no way to know what substance caused the wound.

........Did you just admit you're informal?

This is an emergency!

Let's get you up, Ah Sir. You're all right.

I really do feel all right...

Thank you very much, and I'll report this assistance to my superiors when the battle is over!

No, no, no, let's not go reporting things. Safe travels, Ah Sir. Take care!

...What a weirdo.

Whew! And that's my good deed for the day!

Experimental Epinephrine Reagent No. 3.... Effective..... No short-term adverse effects.... Continuous observation.... Smells of watermelon, origin unknown.... And that's that!

Origin unknown?

Tried it, it worked, it didn't kill anyone, that's what I call good medicine!

Good thing it worked, or we'd have to knock you out and hand you over to the L.G.D. to calm things down.

Those ghosts are making trouble all over the place. Is that why Mr. Lee had us out on the street all of a sudden?

I definitely don't want to give up the streets to them, but if it's g-g-g-ghosts.... What can you do? You can't punch or kick them.

But you just——

You can't fight a ghost with your fists! It can't be done! No way! I can't do it!

You were doing that literally two minutes ago...

Well, I've been short of work lately, so why not just leave them to make some patients?

Like a bicycle repairman who leaves nails out on the street.

Keep going down the path of wickedness and you'll get what's coming to you.

I'm not worried. I know far too many happy, healthy people who've earned a comeuppance. My turn is a long way off.

By the way, Hung, aren't you curious about the 'Nian'?

I just want everyone to be safe and sound.

You're! So! Dull! What about Waai Fu? Want to sneak into the containment zone and take a look?

I won't stop you, but I'll tell Mr. Lee all about it.

Don't you want to go toe to toe with a literal legend? Bam! Pow! Bang! Uppercut! I've heard the Nian is a tough, bloodthirsty demon. One you can actually see and touch!

Ah. And if you defeat the Nian, your old man, in pursuit of the ultimate truth of martial arts, would finally be willing to fight you. And then, at long last, father and daughter communicate with their fists, reconciling once and for all! What a beautiful story....

Hey, Waai Fu, I was just kidding, don't be like that.... Wait, Waai Fu, where are you going...? Oh, no! Hung! Stop her!

——Mom?

Mister.... Have you seen my mom?

Mister?

——Mmh, hot!

Huh?

Lady, where did that man go?

It's probably not a good idea to let a guy like that, silent and armed to the teeth, around kids, huh?

But Mom told me to find a policeman if I got lost...

You don't have to do everything your mom says.

But...

No buts, little one. We've got the battle of the century going on out here. You run along and play somewhere else.

Um, okay.... Thank you, lady!

What a good kid.

Hmmm...?

Isn't a sweet little show like that supposed to make you think, 'Oh, maybe she's not so bad,' and lower the dagger?

Is one woman supposed to be able to wear out the entire L.G.D.?

I'm not one to mince words, so let's get right to it. You're no ordinary warrior. What's your name?

Lava.

What's with people these days? That can't be your name. It's too weird.

It's my codename.

That's kind of a pain. What's the difference between a name and a codename anyway? Is it really so important to express your identity as an independent organism?

You're the one who asked!

Besides, there's no way you could understand us, 'Nian'.

Wow, you recognized me right away.

That's what they used to call me, but I don't think 'Nian' is cool enough. Can we change it? I want a badass codename like 'Lava.'

...You won't get away, the L.G.D. can track you.

I don't have to run. Come, Tinmen.

This is the weapon you took from the Lungmen central database.

What can you do with such weak illusions?

Oooh - you cut through the air with a dagger? I've never seen Arts like that before. Pretty badass!

Thanks for the compliment. Should I teach you?

Ho ho ho——not bad.

I didn't expect to see a massive moving metropolis. You people have some tricks up your sleeves.

And your Arts, well, I've never seen such a skillful and practical approach before.

It's a relief. I was afraid you wouldn't have made much progress.

You used the data in those records to create illusions of Reunion and the L.G.D.

Your power is not like Originium Arts, but you can't fool me. Now that I have you figured out, the monsters that have plagued Lungmen for centuries will be no more.

You're a smart cookie. Where'd you come up with this stuff?

I've been combing ancient records and modern papers in a quest to understand you.

Huh? So all the years I've been sleeping, you've been cramming trivia about me?

Pretty much.

I was born and bred to hunt your kind.

Wha? So you're like, a fan of mine?

...If wanting to kill you counts.

I never thought I'd meet someone like you.... before I forgot myself.

Oh, honey, I'm touched. I'm on the verge of tears here. It's like I'm a forgotten has-been meeting an old fan. How about it? Why don't we call a truce and go get a drink?

Since we're waiting for the Tinmen to overpower the... oh, what are they called again...? That's right! Since we're waiting for the Tinmen to beat down the L.G.D., we might as well find something to pass the time.

...According to the records, it's been decades since you last attacked Lungmen.

You have no idea what we're capable of now, and you're still so sure of yourself?

What are you capable of? You've got taller buildings, a bit more metal in your machines, and your hot pot tastes worse...

What should I be worrying about? What else can you show me?

You seem to be looking forward to it.

That I am.

You'll see. Let's call it... divination.

They're allowing divination these days? Time was, a commoner would be put to death for seeking knowledge of the heavens.

If divination's a crime, then I'm guilty as charged.

You....

I'm even more curious about you. You sure you don't want that drink?

Then make those things stop.

Is this like a 'surrender now and I'll let you live' thing?

I care more about the truth than fighting you.

The truth? What do you want to know? Seeing as we're so in tune with each other, I might consider telling you.

Your goal. And how to defeat all of you once and for all.