She is a natural disaster.

Chapter 17 More Than Friendship

In the spacious and bright living room, Jolina kept complaining.

Anastasia didn't interrupt; she listened to their conversation to gauge their level of intimacy.

"Do you know I've been working all day? Do you know I just lay down in bed and you woke me up with one phone call!"

It was clear that Jolina was still upset and resentful about being woken up by a phone call in the middle of the night.

"I wasn't supposed to be on night duty last night, I could have gotten a good night's sleep, but you called and I had to run back to the police station to clean up your mess."

It was clear that Qiao Lina was also resentful about being forced to work overtime in the middle of the night.

Mike, who had been yawning, suddenly perked up. He was eager to know how the police department had reacted to last night's attack and who had emptied the nearby police force.

"What did the police say? Especially your superiors, what were their reactions? Was something amiss?"

An order that could free up police resources from several nearby blocks was beyond the detective's authority.

"What did the people at the police station say?" Jolina asked, a hint of anger in her voice. "Right now, you should be concerned about me, about what I told them!"

Anastasia, with her back to the two of them, raised an eyebrow. Jolina seemed to be complaining and blaming, but Anastasia felt as if she had overheard some incredible and explosive secret.

At that moment, Jolina stretched out four slender, white fingers and held them right under Mike's eyelids, almost sticking them up his nostrils.

"Four corpses! Four whole corpses! Mike, I'm asking you, are you trying to kill me with this mess you left behind? I'm just a lowly detective, not the chief detective!"

First came the shooting that claimed two lives, then the discovery of four mutilated corpses. The Upper East Side Police Station has been filled with complaints and resentment for the past week.

Jolina was under immense pressure after returning to the police station with four bodies; she had become a thorn in the side of the officers.

"Um—please allow me to make a small correction," Mike said with a forced smile, "It's not that I want to kill you, but that someone wants to kill me, and your Uptown Police Department is involved."

Ultimately, Mike Montague was the real victim. He was simply riding home in a carriage when he was attacked. Who could he turn to for justice?

"I know, of course I know. The priest already spoke to me beforehand, and Uncle Bill also told me," Jolena's tone softened. "Otherwise, do you think I'd clean up your mess?"

Anastasia, who was standing nearby, overheard the important point: both of them were acquainted with Father Lawrence, and Jolina even knew Mike's father.

"As for who redeployed the police force, leaving these blocks in a vacuum, I can't be sure yet. There are too many people giving orders," Jolina continued. "Give me two days, and I'll give you a definite answer."

"Thank you so much, Inspector Joyce," Mike said. He had only spent three days with Anastasia, but he had already learned not to speak properly.

It's really hard to learn good things, but it's easy to learn bad things.

Mike suddenly stood up and gave a clownish bow, which startled Jolina.

"To express my sincerest gratitude, I would like to invite the esteemed Inspector Joyce to breakfast. I wonder if I would have the honor of doing so, and if the Inspector would be so kind as to accept?"

It must be said that Mike is indeed born with good looks; even when he's being silly, he still exudes elegance.

The beautiful detective blushed once again. Anastasia, with her back to the two of them, seemed to smell a sour odor. Was it just her imagination?

"I can't eat," Jolina refused, her voice trembling with emotion. "The thought of four corpses lying in the police station gives me a headache that feels like it's going to explode. How can I possibly have the appetite to have breakfast with you?"

Mike wasn't embarrassed by the rejection; he and Jolene had known each other for many years, since they were children.

"Mike, you need to be careful lately," Jolina suddenly said earnestly. "The police will definitely report this, and then the Bureau of Investigation will take over—"

"Excuse me for interrupting a little," Mike said. "Is the Bureau of Investigation the official agency that deals with Beyonders? I remember Rupert mentioning it, but I don't remember clearly."

At this moment, Anastasia suddenly interjected, saying, "Yes, the Bureau of Anomalies is responsible for managing all anomalies that occur within Gloria, including the Transcendentals, though only in name."

The mental states of those who transcend are beautiful, but extremely unstable, making them very difficult to manage.

Mike nodded; he remembered Rupert mentioning the Bureau of Investigation. Mike glanced at Jolene, noticing his friend's very serious expression.

"Mike, the FBI will definitely take this case."

As Jolina spoke with concern, she paced back and forth in front of the sofa, her expression growing increasingly grave.

She continued, "The male corpse in the garbage dump had its head chopped off, the male corpse in the flower bed had bled dry, the remaining male corpse's head was smashed into a pulp, and even the pavement beneath it was cracked open."

Mike didn't need anyone to help him recall the tragic deaths of the three Beyonders. He not only knew the order in which they died, but he could also accurately name who killed them.

"I'm worried the Bureau of Investigation will target you," Jolina continued, "for example, by taking Rupert back for questioning, or taking this Miss Angel away."

As she spoke, Jolina looked at Anastasia, who had her back to her, and she was also full of curiosity about Anastasia.

"Wait a minute! Please allow me to ask a really silly question!"

Mike, still puzzled, asked, "The Beyonders attacked me; I'm the victim. Why is the Bureau targeting me? Why did they take Rupert and Angel away?"

There is a sequence of hearing the truth, and there is a specialization in the surgery industry.

When it comes to municipal economics, Anastasia and Jolina combined are no match.

In terms of the Bureau of Investigation and the Beyonders, Mike at this stage is like a piece of rotten wood that cannot be carved.

To be honest, Mike Montagu was in a rather unfortunate situation. Despite having so many Beyonders around him, he only had a very limited understanding of the Beyonder world.

Mike's neighbor who protects him is a Beyonder, the dead cloaked man is a Beyonder, Rupert the coachman is a Beyonder, and even his childhood sweetheart Jolene is a Beyonder. Mike himself is kept in the dark, which is really tragic.

"The reason for targeting you is simple: the Bureau of Investigation is not on your side," Anastasia said.

"Miss Angel is right, the Bureau of Investigation is not on your side. I'm just thankful they're not targeting you," Jolina added.

"What do you mean the Bureau of Investigation isn't on my side?" Mike said with a sour face. "I'm a citizen of Gloria. I was attacked by Superhumans. Shouldn't the Bureau of Investigation protect me?"

Mike Montagu wasn't stupid; he knew there must be a lot involved, but he still voiced his dissatisfaction.

"Who said the Bureau of Investigation didn't protect you?" Anastasia picked up the newspaper from the desk. "I'm the one the Bureau sent to protect you."

"Wait a minute!" Mike was bewildered. "Aren't you a private investigator from the Old Town? How did you get involved with the FBI?"

"Things are a bit complicated—" Anastasia flipped the newspaper in her hand to the last page.

Mike stared intently at Anastasia and said, "You'd better not keep things half-hearted like before, or I'll deduct your payment."

It's truly gratifying that the capitalist's son has finally learned how to exploit and oppress.

"That old codger is a veteran of the Investigation Bureau, but there are many voices against him within the bureau, and I'm on his side. Do you understand?"

"Do I look like an idiot?" Mike was pleased with Anastasia's bluntness, even though it wasn't exactly pleasant to hear.

Mike was satisfied, but Jolene was not. Anastasia's way of addressing Father Lawrence made the beautiful detective very uncomfortable.

Anastasia noticed this dissatisfaction and continued, "The Bureau of Investigation commissioned me to protect you, but actually they want to use this opportunity to get rid of me and weaken Father Lawrence's support. Do you understand?"

This time, the beautiful detective indeed put away her displeased gaze.

"I understand perfectly well." Mike suddenly laughed, a laugh born of anger. "The FBI only wants to get rid of you and weaken the priest's influence. As for my life or death, they don't care at all, right?"

"That's exactly what I mean," Anastasia said. "You just need to remember one thing: if I die, you won't survive either."

At this moment, Mike was very depressed, like a child who had lost his beloved toy.

The police department, which was supposed to protect citizens, participated in the attack on him, and the investigation bureau, which was supposed to manage the superhumans, did not care about his life or death. The world suddenly turned into a dark and completely unfamiliar place that he did not recognize.

Anastasia remained unmoved and made no attempt to offer any words of comfort. Mike was simply living too comfortably, which was why he ignored the darkness and injustice.

Jolena sat down next to Mike and softly comforted him, "You still have Uncle Bill, and the priest..." She paused, "You still have me."

At this moment, Anastasia really wanted to applaud and express her gratitude for their shared hardships, but it seemed like an inopportune time.

After observing for a while, Anastasia was certain that she hadn't misjudged the situation; there was something fishy going on between the two!

Mike hung his head in dejection. Many of his beliefs had been overturned and rewritten overnight, and he needed time to recover.

With a gentle voice, Jolina put away her earlier dissatisfaction and coquettishness. A woman's body is always soft, but it is a harbor that can shelter from the wind and rain, giving great comfort to the ships that dock there.

At this moment, the dejected Mike Montague is like a small boat that has weathered a stormy sea, while the gentle Jolene Joyce is a safe harbor that provides shelter.

Anastasia, on the other hand, is the villain who ruins this heartwarming scene.

"Miss Joyce, have you found any information about that girl? If not, I think I can offer my assistance."