Twisted Dreams

Cao Yi said:

"Let’s not beat around the bush. What do you think about this matter?"

As he spoke, Cao Yi took out a document from the drawer.

The document contained two sets of images.

The scenes in the images were bloody and horrifying.

They depicted the gruesome ways humans were devoured.

There were also two monster-like creatures resembling the Demon Race.

The time and location were marked above.

Ye Fan quickly explained:

"This definitely wasn’t done by the Changbai Mountain Demon Race!"

Cao Yi made an "oh" sound:

"Anything else?"

"Huh?"

Ye Fan had prepared a lot of arguments to defend the Demon Race, but he didn’t expect Cao Yi to not follow the usual pattern.

Cao Yi frowned:

"You only have one thought?

It’s not the Changbai Mountain Demon Race, and then? Nothing else?"

Ye Fan was speechless for a long time and said:

"Nothing else."

Cao Yi said:

"Then tell me, why wasn’t it done by the Changbai Mountain Demon Race?"

Ye Fan picked up the photos and scrutinized them carefully, finally discovering the problem.

Ye Fan pointed to a photo of the pig-headed monster and said:

"Look, this monster has a pig’s head and a human’s body, quite like a transformed Demon Race member.

But look at its back neck, look closely."

Cao Yi followed Ye Fan’s instruction and carefully examined the pig monster’s back neck.

There were densely packed scales that reflected silver light under the moonlight.

Ye Fan said:

"The Demon Race are beasts that have transformed.

If it were a Pig Demon, it wouldn’t have scales.

If it were a creature like a Fish Demon or a Snake Demon, it couldn’t have a pig’s head.

Where in nature do you find an animal with both fish or snake characteristics and wild boar characteristics?

It couldn’t possibly be a hybrid of a snake and a wild boar, could it?"

Cao Yi frowned and asked:

"Is there no possibility of a combination of a Snake Demon and a Pig Demon?"

Ye Fan hesitated for a moment and said:

"It’s possible but not very likely.

It’s hard for the Demon Race to reproduce, especially between two different types of demons.

Spiritual Energy Revival hasn’t been around for long, so it shouldn’t create such a monster."

Cao Yi was silent for a while and then looked up at Ye Fan.

Ye Fan felt uneasy under Cao Yi’s gaze and smiled awkwardly:

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Cao Yi said appreciatively:

"Even though your educational level isn’t high, you’re truly an expert in Demon Race knowledge.

With you around, we can solve this anomaly with confidence."

Ye Fan raised an eyebrow:

"Are you praising me or mocking me?"

Cao Yi became serious:

"Ye Fan, I have an important task for you."

Ye Fan also became serious:

"Go ahead."

Cao Yi said:

"The issue of the Demon Race eating humans is causing an uproar online, creating massive public panic.

Behind this, Huaqi’s God Creation Group is guiding public opinion, having a very negative impact on the Security Administration."

Ye Fan realized why so many bloggers were stirring up this issue on quick TikTok videos; it turns out God Creation Group is behind it!

Ever since Cao Yi issued a wanted notice for Jin in Xia Country and disrupted God Creation Group’s business with elixirs, they have been seeking opportunities to retaliate against the Security Administration.

Now the opportunity has come, and God Creation Group has indeed seized it.

Cao Yi continued:

"Today is the 15th of August, so let’s name this operation as Operation 815.

I am the leader of Operation 815, and Ye Fan, you’ll be the deputy leader.

The Divine Dragon Team, Bird’s Nest Team, and Blue Whale Team will all be under your management.

You can use your deputy leader status to mobilize the local security bureau at will.

Ensure this anomaly is properly handled!"

Cao Yi’s brief words filled Ye Fan with excitement, and he replied loudly:

"Yes!"

Cao Yi’s tone relaxed, and he sighed:

"This anomaly spans a wide area, with these monsters appearing in the surrounding regions of the Northeast, and many people have died already.

This mission is very challenging. Ye Fan, we’re counting on you."

Ye Fan’s breathing quickened:

"Yes!"

Cao Yi patted Ye Fan’s shoulder:

"Start the mission tomorrow.

Of course, prioritize your safety.

You are a valuable asset to the Security Administration."

...

Nighttime, Administrator’s Dormitory.

The Senior Administrator’s dormitory is private.

It has a private bathroom, single bed, TV, and mini-fridge.

The room is small.

Due to limited funds, the Security Administration uses most of the land to build laboratories and training grounds; the dorms for administrators aren’t even as big as hotel rooms.

The dorms are underground, never seeing sunlight.

Luckily, they’re very clean, and in the absence of light, one can sleep more soundly.

Ye Fan lay on the bed, chatting with Fox Xiaosan on his phone:

"Are the Demon Race doing well?"

Fox Xiaosan sent a helpless emoji:

"You’ve only been gone a day, what could possibly happen?"

Ye Fan:

"Hehe, is my second brother behaving?"

Fox Xiaosan didn’t reply.

Ye Fan put down the phone and began strategizing.

The Security Administration’s Celestial Eye system had locked onto that pig monster and the human-faced bear.

As soon as these two monsters appear in the monitoring area, reports will be sent to Ye Fan.

"Since these two monsters are active in the Northeast, I should stay there.

If the surveillance detects the two monsters, I can immediately investigate."

Ye Fan scratched his head in frustration:

"But the Northeast is so vast, where do I find these guys?!"

Just then, his phone rang.

Ye Fan picked it up; it was a video from Fox Xiaosan.

Ye Fan answered the call and saw a blinking monkey face on the screen. Ye Fan smiled and said:

"Second brother, it’s you! Where’s Xiaosan?"

Heartless Little Monkey giggled:

"Xiaosan said standing behind makes the face look smaller."

Fox Xiaosan pushed Heartless Little Monkey away:

"But you’re blocking me completely!!!"

Ye Fan watched them fool around with a grin and said:

"The director gave me a task, to lead three teams of administrators to investigate the demon-eating-human incident."

Heartless Little Monkey quickly said:

"Then you need to work hard! Take out all those who are framing us!"

Fox Xiaosan shouted:

"But make sure you stay safe, you hear?

You’re not just a safety administrator, you’re also a prince of the Demon Race!"

Ye Fan felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, saying:

"I need Xiaosan’s advice on something.

Right now, I only know those two monsters are appearing in villages in the Northeast, but I don’t know where they’re hiding.

We don’t need to know their exact location, just a general area would help."

Fox Xiaosan shoved Heartless Little Monkey aside:

"Do you have any materials? Let me take a look."

Ye Fan picked up his phone, took photos of the documents Cao Yi gave him, and sent them to Fox Xiaosan.

Fox Xiaosan pondered for a moment and said:

"Go check Phoenix City."

Ye Fan was taken aback:

"What do you mean?"

Fox Xiaosan said:

"Look at where these two monsters appeared, it’s all places that produce sweet potatoes and apples.

There’s no cornfield at the crime scenes.

Get it now?"

Ye Fan blinked:

"You mean these monsters like sweet potatoes and apples? They don’t like corn?"

Fox Xiaosan rolled his eyes at Ye Fan:

"Fool! Sweet potatoes and apples like dry soil, corn prefers moist soil.

This means these monsters, for some reason, need to stay in dry places.

Or they inherently prefer dry land."

Ye Fan suddenly understood, as if this really made sense.

The Demon Race now grows their own crops, so he naturally knew which crops like water and which don’t.

Ye Fan quickly asked:

"Then how do you know their lair is in Phoenix City?"

Fox Xiaosan said:

"Look at their movement patterns. These two monsters look like they’re converging, don’t they?

The driest place between them is Phoenix City, where the apples are especially delicious."

Fox Xiaosan continued:

"Even if they don’t appear in Phoenix City, it’s their central point, so starting your investigation there might be better."

Ye Fan was in awe of Fox Xiaosan.

This little fox is truly clever.

He sighed and said:

"I really didn’t think of that detail, how did you discover it?"

Fox Xiaosan rolled his eyes at Ye Fan:

"Now you know why I’m the Prime Minister, right? And I can still rise further!"

Ye Fan gave a thumbs up:

"Impressive."