"Pregnant?!"

Gao Yang and Qing Ling spoke in tandem, both stunned.

Could beasts become pregnant?

Didn't beasts lack human reproductive organs?

Gao Yang started to get a headache; there were so many things he needed to figure out. And yet, he was still so weak, unsure of how much longer he could survive.

Without hesitation, Qing Ling asked, "Are you sure she's not lying to you?"

"Absolutely," Officer Huang affirmed. "I can't think of a reason why she would lie to me."

"Are you sure the child is yours?"

"Uh..."

Qing Ling's question was direct and to the point. Following a brief pause, Officer Huang stated, "I believe I'm not being cuckolded."

Qing Ling said nothing more.

Gao Yang paused for a time before asking, "Officer Huang, can I ask you a personal question?"

Officer Huang's grin became rather odd. "I understand what you want to ask. Even though my wife is a beast, we have a fantastic connection. We fell in love before I woke up, and we still have sex approximately once a week on average."

Gao Yang nodded, indicating for him to continue.

"My wife is quite shy. Every time we have sex, she insists on turning off the lights and likes to have some red wine..." Officer Huang paused. "Ahem, you two are still young, so I won’t go into the details. In short, since I have never been with a real human woman, I didn't find anything amiss when we were intimate."

Officer Huang sighed. "My wife has always wanted a child, and I naturally didn't use any contraception. I thought beasts couldn't have children."

"What do you plan to do next?" Gao Yang asked.

Officer Huang took out a cigarette, placed it in his mouth, then took it back out. "To be honest, when I first heard my wife was pregnant, my initial reaction wasn't shock, but joy."

"Joy?" Qing Ling frowned.

"Ah, the thrill of becoming a father. "I couldn't believe it myself." Officer Huang took out a lighter, determinedly lighted the cigarette, and took a dee drag. "I've decided to let the child be born, if it can be born safely."

"Are you crazy?" Qing Ling was perplexed. "She's a beast!"

"I know," Officer Huang said with a sour smile. "But she's also my wife, and she's carrying my child."

Gao Yang did not speak. Internally, he backed Officer Huang's decision. He had a faint suspicion that the birth of the "child" would unveil other truths about this world. Of course, it would put Officer Huang in considerably more danger, but the risk was worthwhile.

"Do as you please, just don't drag me into it," Qing Ling no longer objected.

"Don't worry, I won't," Officer Huang expressed thanks. He turned and leaned against the desk. "All right, next topic: I can't disclose you the order list since the task hasn't been done yet. However, I shall carry out the promised thanks. You can ask me two questions, but consider carefully before you do."

"How do you level up talents?" Qing Ling blurted out.

"Why do you think talents have levels?" Officer Huang's eyes flickered.

"Yeah." Gao Yang was also very curious since he was the only one with a system.

"At first, I wasn't sure either," Qing Ling lowered her head, looking at her palm.

"But my [Blade God] has had two upgrades. It differs from everyday workout, which gradually strengthens the body. It's as if a sudden burst of energy has entered my body, making me feel like I've been reborn. My [Blade God] has had two such instances."

"But your [Metal] hasn't?" Officer Huang continued to ask.

"Metal has only had one. Nothing else happened. When I initially mastered [Metal], I could only manage metals that weighed less than a kilogram. After the upgrade, I could handle up to 10 kg of metal. "Logically, I should be able to upgrade again." Qing Ling clasped her hands. "I don't know what the problem is."

"It's impressive you've deduced this much on your own." Officer Huang removed his cap and thought for a time. "In truth, every skill may be improved. Rumor has it that they can reach level 8.Your [Blade God] is only at level 3, and there's still a long way to go. My [Gun God] is also at level 3."

"So how do you upgrade?" Qing Ling's eyes lit up.

"Sorry, I can't answer that."

"Why not?"

"It's a rule."

"Who made the rule?"

Officer Huang smiled and stopped answering.

"My turn." Gao Yang raised his hand, eager to ask his question like a student in class.

"Go ahead."

"How can I meet them?"

Officer Huang was taken aback and chuckled. "You're quick on the uptake, kid."

"You're too kind," Gao Yang thought to himself. My abilities are so weak that if my intellect wasn't keen, I couldn't exist as a nobody. "Is there an organization above you, Officer Huang? "Are these rules established by that organization?"

Officer Huang nodded and groaned. "Actually, I am not a member of the group; I am more of an outsider. They usually contact me first, order me around, and regard me as a tool.  I don't even have the right to speak to them directly. But because I've been a good tool, the middlemen have occasionally provided me with useful information.

Officer Huang's smile disappeared, and he became serious. "But they forbid me from spreading it. If they find out, I'll be in serious trouble."

"Why don't you join the organization?" Gao Yang asked again. "Isn't your profession quite advantageous?"

Officer Huang laughed awkwardly. "Because I'm too weak."

"You're... too weak?"

Gao Yang felt a pain in his knees.

"I couldn't pass the organization's assessment. For now, I'm still in the probation period, and it's uncertain when I'll become a full member." Officer Huang looked out the window. "The organization is quite mysterious. Its existence and operations are very low-key. For survival, even awakened ones stronger than us are very cautious."

"I understand."

"However," Officer Huang turned back, "now with you two joining, I feel I can try to apply again. That is, if you both want to join the organization."

"Yes!" Gao Yang agreed immediately, looking at Qing Ling.

Qing Ling, with a cold expression, asked, "If we join the organization, will we learn how to upgrade our talents?"

This woman... can't she think of anything else besides getting stronger?

"Of course."

"When is the interview?" Qing Ling asked.

"Don't rush. In the next couple of days, I'll let you know. I have to go accompany my wife for an ultrasound now," Officer Huang glanced at his phone.

Gao Yang teased, "Aren't you supposed to be working? Is it okay to skip?"

"The joy of slacking off... you can't imagine." Officer Huang's smile vanished as he swiftly drew his gun and aimed at the door. "Who's there?!"

Qing Ling, closest to the door, spun around, conjuring a Tang sword, and instantly stabbed through the closed office door.

"Whoosh—"

Qing Ling pulled back her Tang sword and shook her head. "No one outside."

Gao Yang was stunned!

Seriously, you just stabbed like that? What if there was really a beast? What if you made a mistake and it was a person?

She's really one to kill a thousand rather than let one slip by.

Officer Huang slowly lowered his gun. "Seems like I'm just being paranoid, nerves are a bit frayed lately."

Putting his hat back on, Officer Huang said, "Alright, let's call it a day."

...

The rest of the day was uneventful for Gao Yang.

He occasionally checked his system in his mind to see the increase in luck points. There was no doubling, indicating that his environment was very safe and his identity as an awakened one was not exposed.

Then, he continued to idle.

After evening self-study, Gao Yang went home alone.

Late at night, the streets were eerily quiet. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still wet, with puddles of various sizes reflecting the neon lights, looking like entrances to another world.

"Plop." Gao Yang stepped into a puddle and stopped.

Something felt off.

A chill ran down his spine: someone was following him.