A Core Ship From The Start

After spending a leisurely holiday on the island, Duanmu Huai returned to his daily life.

Everything was normal, nothing happened, and even others lost their memories of that time, which was also normal. After all, after Duanmu Huai dealt with The Ancient Dominator, it no longer existed. Therefore, everyone was currently on a different timeline where The Ancient Dominator had never existed.

Even Alice Phil and Medea were the same.

I have to say, this time retrospection ability is really useful, but Duanmu Huai wouldn't always use it. Like before, when he dealt with that rabbit den, Duanmu Huai didn't use time retrospection. Ultimately, the ability to manipulate time depends on the situation, like in March City or an isolated island, where there were too many deaths to hide, so he could try to retrospect.

But as for those refined rabbits, Duanmu Huai said it's better to just wipe them out. It's not worth wasting energy on them at all. After all, they're just a bunch of wild rabbits, kill them if they're killed, leave them alive and they're a scourge. Frankly, Duanmu Huai didn't even see those people as victims. The villagers in the island village were considered victims, and the ordinary citizens of March City were also considered victims, but those rabbit spirits from the old district?

They brought it upon themselves, not worth any sympathy.

The Ancient Essence obtained from taking down Erhot, of course, was also enhanced by Duanmu Huai into the shadow, increasing the range of the shadow's influence from one hundred meters to one hundred and fifty meters again... alright, at least he could build a Titan now.

Though the consumption would be quite a lot.

It's just that now Duanmu Huai somewhat regretted not having retroscoped those wild rabbit spirits.

"... So, you're here to find me?"

Duanmu Huai held the phone with a puzzled expression, listening to the voice on the other end.

"Yes, Mr. Duanmu, the group leader had a high evaluation of your work during our last cooperation. Therefore, we hope you can help us investigate this matter as well."

The one calling Duanmu Huai was none other than Tezuka Renichi of the Hawk Moon Group — Duanmu Huai didn't expect him to call.

"I'm just a detective; I have no intention of getting involved in your boring affairs."

Duanmu Huai had no interest in Tezuka Renichi's invitation, wondering why this world was so keen on pulling him into the Yakuza. After all, he wasn't a gangster!

"Please, it's imperative..."

"No imperative, don't look for me for these boring things in the future."

Duanmu Huai directly hung up the phone, showing no face to Tezuka Renichi.

"Such a bother, I'm not involved in the underworld, why look for me?"

Duanmu Huai snorted softly, shaking his head. Tezuka Renichi had called him, hoping Duanmu Huai would assist in investigating an internal incident, about a junior in their allied group who accidentally killed someone while collecting debts and was going to be caught by the police. But the junior claimed he didn't do it, and there was another mastermind behind it, relating to an internal power struggle, so the Hawk Moon Group wanted to send someone to investigate.

Of course, they couldn't send their own people, so they looked for Duanmu Huai.

But Duanmu Huai would definitely... not go.

After all, he was a legitimate detective, why should he help the Yakuza?

Of course, an ordinary detective might not have the guts of Duanmu Huai, fearing to provoke the Yakuza, but Duanmu Huai wasn't afraid. He was The Ancient Dominator himself. Even if the Yakuza was impressive, would they dare provoke the ancient? If tired of living, just say it.

He'd rather go shoot some tracking photos or investigate affairs and such, at least it was more interesting.

For Duanmu Huai, these days were relatively peaceful, with the year-end approaching, and there weren't many commissions from the agency, and school was about to let out for winter break. The only thing giving Duanmu Huai a headache was Mianmu Zuoniao, pestering him every day to take him out to cut some interesting things. Though said, The Ancient Dominator wasn't like cabbages in the field, there weren't that many.

If Ancient Dominators could be encountered just by walking around, this world would've been doomed long ago.

Though there were quite a few now.

The happiest ones were Alice Phil and Medea. When Duanmu Huai was at the Tribunal, he was busy, even if not, there were many people wanting to interact with him. Although Medea and Alice Phil were not neglected, Duanmu Huai's time was limited, leading to occasionally less attention to them.

But now, in this world, the two could monopolize Duanmu Huai. As long as they didn't speak about it, nobody would know!

The premise being no one else came.

Because both Alice Phil and Medea were Heroic Spirits and from the same world, they were in the same faction. If another came... um, that would be troublesome.

Duanmu Huai naturally didn't know Alice Phil and Medea's thoughts, but he quite enjoyed it too, as after coming to this world, Duanmu Huai hadn't indulged himself. This was unlike the Demon World before, where although Naruse Mio also lived with Duanmu Huai, she was considered an outsider. And Shajuye was his real sister, so to maintain his image in his sister's heart, he couldn't possibly seek some poor and lonely girl to talk to like in the Demon World.

Therefore, the arrival of Alice Phil and Medea was a release for Duanmu Huai.

Actually, in terms of preference, as Duanmu Huai had said before, he liked girls with some curves, like Ann with a bit of baby fat, which was pretty nice. And someone like Alice Phil, with a perfect figure, was naturally Duanmu Huai's favorite.

Conversely, Duanmu Huai wasn't interested in lolis.

Psychologically, Duanmu Huai didn't have such a fetish. Not to mention, physically, Duanmu Huai was just incapable when it came to lolis.

Considering Duanmu Huai's physique — he was two meters and eighty centimeters tall!

Take Inaba Tsukuyo, for instance. She's a typical loli physique; even if Duanmu Huai wanted to use her, he couldn't. Because he could hold Inaba Tsukuyo in one hand as if he were holding a cup rather than a person!

This is heading in a bizarre direction, isn't it?

Though there are those who are into such peculiar interests, Duanmu Huai is clearly not one of them. So in terms of physique, a loli can't possibly accommodate his three-foot sword, therefore Duanmu Huai naturally has no interest in them.

In fact, Duanmu Huai doesn't mind having heart-to-heart talks with mature women, especially when he's executing commissions involving adultery investigations, with those lonely housewives at home...

Imagine, Duanmu Huai spreading out the photos in front of them and then flashing a villain-like grin.

"Heh heh heh... Ma'am, you wouldn't want your husband to know, would you...?"

You know what, it's pretty thrilling!

But unfortunately, while others might find joy in this, Duanmu Huai... even if he succeeded, it wouldn't have anything to do with the photos.

It's more about the face.

Ah, having a handsome face is indeed remarkable.

But being handsome comes with its price.

Duanmu Huai silently holding the camera, silently watching the adulterous scene in front of him, silently taking photos, silently wrapping up, and silently going home.

"You're back, brother... er, what's up with you?"

When Duanmu Huai returned to the office, Shajuye had already come home from school. Seeing Duanmu Huai's numb expression, Shajuye was quite surprised.

"Nothing much, took on a commission to investigate infidelity, went to take some pictures."

As Duanmu Huai spoke, he waved the camera in his hand. Since returning from that isolated island, Duanmu Huai had specifically bought a very professional shooting tool, planning to make good use of his photography occupation. He had made up his mind that, wherever he goes, he would first use the "photography" opportunity to scan and record the information of the place. After all, photographers are not easily suspected, and given Duanmu Huai's height, he could capture more information through his photos.

As for the Light of the Universe cult, it's been several months and there's been no word, not knowing if they're playing dead or plotting some new scheme. Unfortunately, neither Medea, Alice Phil, nor Yuko Shionji found anything unusual, so Duanmu Huai could only wait for them like a rabbit waiting for prey.

Honestly, although he could wait until the cult messes up to take down the summoned Ancient Dominator and then reset the world through retrospection, that's merely a final insurance plan. After all, resetting an entire world is much more troublesome than resetting a city or an isolated island. If possible, Duanmu Huai also hopes to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

"Another infidelity case?"

Hearing Duanmu Huai's answer, Shajuye frowned unhappily.

"Why do men become unfaithful once they get rich?"

"If you're going to say men become bad when they get rich, I can only tell you you're wrong. This time, the target is a rich woman, and a rather large one at that."

As Duanmu Huai spoke, he placed the camera on the table and sighed softly.

"She's keeping a college student, and he's the ace of the baseball team... do you want me to continue?"

"Uh... no, that's enough..."

Hearing Duanmu Huai's response, Shajuye broke out in a cold sweat, silently backing away.

Of course, the reason for Duanmu Huai's soulless stare wasn't just this. It was because... well, he found out that many times, women play around even more than men.

Like using steel wool balls... tsk tsk tsk, it's quite unbearable to watch.

However, when he thought about the baseball team's ace heartthrob, admired by countless underclassmen, also being a boy toy for a rich woman, Duanmu Huai felt a bit balanced inside.

Seems like being handsome isn't always a blessing because if you're unattractive, rich women wouldn't be interested in you.

"Sorry to intrude~~~~"

However, at that moment, the office door suddenly swung open. In came Mianmu Zuoniao with a cheerful smile, unabashedly stepping in—since then, Mianmu Zuoniao often visited the office, claiming it was to include her in fun activities that Duanmu Huai might have, despite the fact that Duanmu Huai had reverted the time, logically Mianmu Zuoniao shouldn't remember those "unhappened" events, but she seemed to have some impression when they talked.

Can't deny, sometimes that zero SAN value can be quite terrifying.

"Don't you have anything else to do?"

"Eh? But for Satori, it's more interesting to follow the teacher..."

Hearing Duanmu Huai's question, Mianmu Zuoniao maintained her cheerful demeanor, then suddenly extended her hand.

"Oh, right, teacher, Satori brought you a client. Maybe there's something interesting to chop?"

"Huh?"