Chapter 30: The Twin Tentacles of Saris

“This is your reward for killing the ‘Jester’ and saving Agent Zero.”

Lin Xun’s pupils contracted sharply—his kill had been discovered!

“There’s no need to panic,” Li Xingyue said. “Zero is one of ours in the Intelligence Division, and the Jester was one of our enemies. Without you, Zero would’ve been lost.”

The incident where Lin Xun had materialized a Shell and accidentally killed someone had weighed heavily on him ever since. He had kept it buried, not realizing that the target turned out to be a hostile operative—and that his unintended actions had actually saved a fellow operative.

Li Xingyue asked for the full details. Seeing no point in hiding it anymore, Lin Xun laid out everything, beginning to end.

“You really gave me quite the surprise,” she said, brushing her long hair behind her ear. “I didn’t expect you to materialize a Paladin of Discipline Shell and kill an enemy Apostle so early into your starting chapter. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”

“How did you pull it off?” she asked.

Lin Xun chuckled and deflected, changing the topic. “So… our enemies are rogue Apostles who misuse the game’s power?”

Li Xingyue didn’t press further. She shook her head. “The Jester was just a low-tier member of a hostile group. Our true enemies are far more dangerous…”

Thanks to her explanation, Lin Xun gained a clearer understanding of the situation.

Only a portion of Apostles were registered and monitored. A much larger number operated in the shadows, free from official oversight.

When people first gained supernatural powers, many were overwhelmed by the rush—some couldn’t resist using their abilities to fulfill personal desires.

For most of those cases, the organization could “persuade” them to reform.

The real concern, however, were the organized, goal-driven Apostles.

One such group was called “New World.” The Jester Lin Xun had killed was part of that very group.

They weren’t just loose cannons—they had structure, discipline, and a unified purpose. That’s what made them truly dangerous.

What sort of purpose could compel Apostles to risk everything—challenging the Apostle Security Council head-on? Lin Xun wondered.

But Li Xingyue didn’t answer that question directly. Instead, she shifted topics.

“Let’s talk about your talent.”

“I’ve reported your soul talent to HQ. According to their analysis, ‘Thousand Faces, Ten Thousand Forms’ likely allows you to expand your Shell slots in-game—and possibly in the real world, too.”

“HQ went through all registered talents and concluded: it’s very likely that your ability lets you collect deceased Shells even in reality.”

“You probably haven’t noticed it yourself yet, right?”

Lin Xun furrowed his brows. He had seen the “possess” option in reality, but he never realized the Shells were being stored into his Shell slots.

The organization really is powerful—able to deduce real-world applications just by analyzing a soul talent…

“You’re an exceptional talent,” Li Xingyue said with a satisfied smile.

“I promised to get you the best resources—and here.” She stretched out her hand.

Something appeared in her palm—a glass box about the size of a glasses case. Inside squirmed two thick, fleshy pink tentacles, intertwined and writhing like freshly severed octopus limbs.

Lin Xun’s eyes widened.

[Twin Tentacles of Saris’s True Body (Epic Item): These tentacles retain the residual godhood of the twisted being Saris. Use to gain +1 Divine Power.]

“This item enhances your soul talent,” Li Xingyue said. “I went through great trouble to request this from HQ—it’s a special resource allocated just for you.”

Lin Xun’s heart pounded. This was just like the Blood Sun Gem he’d acquired earlier—an item that granted Divine Power!

Watching his stunned reaction, Li Xingyue gently placed the item into his hands and smiled. “In light of your outstanding performance, I’ve also tailored your upcoming mission accordingly.”

“This mission targets a mid-level member of New World. It’s a decapitation strike and will be carried out late tonight.”

“Until then, you’re to remain inside this building.”

“Go rest on the second floor. I’ll brief you when it’s time.”

Lin Xun nodded and left the office, returning to the second floor.

The open-plan desks were deserted, but he could hear laughter from a nearby hallway.

Following the sound, he found all his female coworkers gathered in the gym room.

What he saw made him pause in place.

Through the large glass window of the gym, An Yun and An Ying had apparently arrived at the office.

The twin beauties were helping Ye Xiaoqi and Lu Caiyi with yoga stretches—one pressing Xiaoqi’s legs, the other adjusting Caiyi’s hips.

All four women wore tight, cropped yoga outfits, posing in various intricate and slightly suggestive positions that left little to the imagination.

It was clear the twin sisters were coaching the other two through a rigorous yoga routine.

The twins spotted Lin Xun and waved.

“Lin Xun, want to join us for yoga?”

“Come help big sis stretch her legs~”

It took every ounce of willpower for Lin Xun to decline.

The reason was simple—he hadn’t built up a backlog of chapters for his NovelBin. If he didn’t write soon, he’d miss his update schedule…

He returned to his workstation, booted up the computer, and launched his author tool, fingers flying across the keyboard.

Time passed in a blur. Outside, the sky began to darken.

Just as he finished two hefty 2,000-word chapters and stretched, he realized—

Someone had snuck up behind him.

He turned around. Ye Xiaoqi was sitting right there in a chair she had quietly dragged over.

Pushing her glasses up, she was intently reading over his shoulder.

“Why’d you stop writing? Keep going—wasn’t the MC just about to seduce the girl?”

Xiaoqi nudged his shoulder.

Lin Xun’s lips twitched.

How shameful… my harem novel is being read by a coworker…

“Come on, keep going. And don’t gloss over the juicy parts with vague hints—give me the good stuff.”

Lin Xun slammed his laptop shut. “Xiaoqi, I write serious fiction. If I wrote what you’re asking for, I’d get banned tomorrow.”

“Boring.”

She pouted, but soon dragged him to the office canteen for a work dinner.

After dinner, she even bribed him with monthly vote tickets and recommendation votes—he couldn’t resist and opened his laptop again to continue writing.

But now… another girl had joined behind him—Lu Caiyi.

The girl in white hovered by his workstation, sneaking glances, her expression torn between curiosity and embarrassment.

Meanwhile, An Yun and An Ying were off in the lounge, scrolling their phones—probably waiting for their soul strength to recover before diving back into the infernal game.

Lin Xun stopped caring. If they were going to read, he’d just let them. As long as he wasn’t embarrassed, it was their problem.

Writing harem webfiction in front of two beautiful women?

Oddly thrilling.

His fingers blazed across the keyboard. Inspired, energized, unstoppable—he churned out another 4,000 words in a flash.

By 10 p.m., he had finished another two chapters.

His soul strength had also recovered.

Bidding farewell to his enraptured female colleagues, he found an empty rest room down the hallway.

He stepped inside, pulled out his phone, and launched the game.