I created the Bureau of Anomaly Control

Now that the story has begun, a competent writer should, in theory, only need to create the characters and then let them make their own decisions within the story, but allow me to ramble a bit more today.

Before meeting Mann and the Helmet Woman, Yan's life was already quite eventful. He was an orphan born in the slums, and his survival was purely a matter of luck, but luck couldn't conjure bread.

Therefore, at a young age, he had already committed numerous crimes, which was facilitated by the ease of accessing magic in the Rama Kingdom. He quickly realized his exceptional talent and put it to ill use.

Theft, robbery, fraud, and even murder.

These sins clung to him like a quagmire. Even now, having mastered spells far more potent than before and being able to work as a hired mage, he still couldn't shake off the shadows of the past.

This influence was both psychological—making it difficult for him to get used to any legitimate work and fostering an arrogant personality that looked down on everything—and a susceptibility to wealth.

Of course, he didn't care about the reward itself; what truly attracted him was the treasure promised for rescuing the princess.

Yes, that's the reason Yan is here—no other unnatural causes.

Good, these reasons are sufficient and won't raise any suspicions. No character will think there's anything wrong with Yan being here.

Yan himself won't either.

Good, let's get back to the story. Long, long ago, before the Rama Empire was established, before the first emperor, the Forger, ascended the throne, there was a dangerous forest hiding a mysterious hunter who could track dragons, and adventurers coveting the Rama royal family's wealth were hunting down this 'Tracker'.

I wonder what our present would be like if the princess had really taken the throne and the Forger had stepped down without becoming king, but none of that matters at this moment; the story has long since ended.

Just like the fates of the characters in the story, their endings were prepared long ago.

Five hours after the previous chapter...

Yan jumped up excitedly:

"I found it! I've figured out the principle behind their concealment. It's terrifyingly powerful! It's a kind of magic I've never seen before, using something close to the essence to block us."

"If I can figure it out, maybe I can come up with some powerful concealment spells..."

Mann and the Helmet Woman had no interest in the principles of magic.

Therefore, the man didn't pay attention to the boy's excitement:

"So, we can find them?"

Yan nodded vigorously:

"Yes, she's actually near us, just using a veil trick to block us. Now I've determined the principle of this spell and come up with a solution."

"Just follow me now."

After speaking, he didn't move immediately but jumped up, trying to grab a vine. However, even with all his effort, he was still a dozen centimeters away from the vine. Seeing this, the Helmet Woman drew her greatsword.

With terrifying speed, the unsharpened greatsword easily 'cut' the vine.

The boy took the vine, smeared it with complex runes using his blood, and then handed it to Mann and the Helmet Woman.

"Hold onto the vine, and don't fall behind."

Seeing the two reach out and grab it tightly, he turned around and stepped forward.

Then, he disappeared from Mann and the Helmet Woman's sight.

Following the force transmitted through the vine, they quickly followed. As Mann also stepped forward, the originally sunny forest instantly lost all its light.

They had arrived in the 'night'.

In the darkness, the boy looked ahead nervously:

"We should have broken through the veil. You must hold onto the vine, or you might be expelled at any time. If you encounter danger, prioritize protecting me and the vine."

Mann and the Helmet Woman nodded.

"Can you find the target?" the latter asked.

The boy frowned:

"She should be nearby..."

Whoosh!

A sharp, silver-white blade, like moonlight emerging from dark clouds, flew towards the vine connecting Mann and the boy with astonishing speed.

The corners of the boy's mouth curved into a sly arc.

Although he was doing as Mann and the Helmet Woman had instructed, he hadn't told them everything. Perhaps lying was in his nature, so he instinctively played a trick.

Cutting the vine wouldn't make them leave; he had said that to the target.

Good, now it was time to admire her shocked expression...

However, he didn't hear the sound of the vine being cut; instead, a heavy silence engulfed the world.

The boy turned his head back in confusion, his eyes widening instantly.

Mann, holding the vine, was calmly tilting his head slightly.

And in the air a dozen centimeters in front of him, a heroic young woman was floating, unable to move. Her whole body was frozen in mid-air like a statue, but her eyes still revealed some anger and hatred.

And the three of them noticed that she had many strange scales on her body. If they weren't mistaken...

"Dragonblood," the Helmet Woman nodded calmly. "No wonder she can track dragons; she has dragon blood flowing through her veins."

Mann looked at the young woman and said in a gentle voice:

"We mean no harm; we just want to invite you to help us find the dragon. In return, we will split the wealth from finding the dragon with you. If you're not satisfied with the reward, we can talk."

"Now, I will release you."

Hearing this, the boy suddenly realized something.

These guys' goal was to find the dragon just like him. No wonder they brought him along. But now it seemed like following them was the better choice.

The young woman also floated back to the ground gently, then relaxed her whole body.

Mann released her restraints.

In an instant, bright red flames burst from her mouth and eyes, and light red scales began to spread wildly across her body like mold. Then, the young woman transformed into a dangerous half-dragon.

At the moment of eye contact, Mann saw a hatred that wanted to drag the world down with her.

The young woman didn't attack Mann; instead, she resolutely lunged at the most vulnerable boy, and in the next instant, it would be enough to tear his head apart.

Seeing this scene, Mann, as a fledgling newcomer, suddenly panicked, unleashing all his strength to save the innocent boy from being slaughtered by the demon, and thus failed to restrain the terrifying magic within him.

With a crisp sound, the dragon girl's head was crushed into a pulp, and bright red blood gushed down like a waterfall. The lifeless body fell to the ground like a rag doll, and finally...

Mann personally killed his own sister...

"No, that's not right," a majestic voice commanded.

The golden hammer fell heavily, smashing the fragile reality to pieces.

"This is not what truly happened at this moment. Let me retell...

"The story that truly happened."