Deviant: No Longer Human

The soldier could feel the shift, as if something about this man wasn't bound by the ordinary rules of this world.

His gaze shifted to Wang Xueying, who had been quiet throughout the exchange. She blinked in surprise, her face flushed with confusion as she realized what her brother had just done.

The soldier's eyes searched hers, trying to discern the truth behind the claim, all while gritting his teeth. 'Sir Renji?' The name held supreme weight, but he couldn't act recklessly, not in a situation this delicate.

Wang Xueying shot a glare at Wang Xiao.

'This idiot! Does he think throwing out names like Sir Renji will get us out of this?'

Yet, she could feel the tension in the air shift as the soldier struggled to decide his next move.

"You—" she started, but Wang Xiao cut her off with a raised hand.

"It's simple," Wang Xiao said smoothly, his voice calm but dripping with authority. "Let us pass. If you don't, then you can explain to your superiors why Sir Renji's guest was held up. We wouldn't want that now, would we?"

The soldier's expression hardened, but there was doubt in his eyes now, his posture rigid as if caught between conflicting orders.

He turned on his walkie-talkie, his voice stern but cautious. "Requesting confirmation—has anyone requested a researcher from the Center for Advanced Scientific Research Lab?"

The other side fell into an uneasy silence. There was no record of anyone being called by Sir Renji today. Yet, hearing Renji's name invoked so confidently made the response hesitant. The voice crackled back, cautious. "No official request from Renji... Confirm identities of the individuals."

The soldier's eyes shifted back to Wang Xiao and Wang Xueying, suspicion flickering. Before he could say anything, Wang Xiao stepped forward with a grin, as if already anticipating the question. "Tell them: Miss Marquez."

The soldier blinked, his brow furrowing.

The name didn't match the ID card he had just glanced at, which clearly said "Wang Xueying."

What is this guy playing at?

Wang Xueying's face flushed with embarrassment, rolling her eyes at her brother's brazen fabrication.

'Miss Marquez? Who's she?' She could only assume he was pulling names out of thin air again, like he often did during their childhood games.

'Isn't that the name of his ridiculous cotton ball?' She inwardly sighed, wondering if her brother was in trap of some foreign breed witch.

But before she could protest or correct the situation, something unexpected happened.

The soldier froze, his posture straightening with a sudden jolt. His face stiffened as if some hidden recognition clicked in his mind. Without another word, he turned sharply, saluting toward Wang Xueying with crisp precision. "Ma'am," he said, voice rigid with newfound respect.

Wang Xueying's heart skipped a beat, her mind scrambling to make sense of the sudden shift. "Uh…" She stammered, glancing at her brother in confusion.

'What just happened?' Unsure of what else to do, she awkwardly raised her hand and saluted back, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Wang Xiao, fighting the urge to laugh, felt his eye twitch as he watched the scene unfold. His sister, ever the innocent, had no idea how ridiculous she looked saluting like that.

Gently, he lowered her hand, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Easy there, General," he whispered, stifling his amusement. "Let's not overdo it."

Wang Xueying's eyes shot daggers at him, her frustration barely contained as her mind raced with questions. 'How on earth did that work?'

Wang Xiao, meanwhile, couldn't help but marvel at the strange situation he'd found himself in.

'Luna... haha...Who knew your name would actually work?' But now, with the soldier stiff as a board in front of them, it seemed the gamble had paid off.

What mattered now was keeping the illusion intact.

The soldier, still saluting, turned slightly, his voice more formal than before. "You're clear to proceed. We had no prior notification, but... it seems there was some oversight."

Wang Xiao's grin widened, his eyes flashing with barely restrained mischief. "Oversight, indeed," he muttered under his breath.

Wang Xueying, still reeling from the sudden change, felt her heart racing as they were waved through.

Her mind filled with questions, but all she could do was follow her brother's lead. 'What just happened? Who does he think I am?'

As they walked past the soldier, Wang Xiao leaned closer, his voice a soft whisper meant only for her. "See? No harm in a little curiosity."

She shot him a withering glare, but there was no denying it—somehow, against all logic, they had passed through unscathed.

As they passed through the checkpoint, Wang Xiao casually tossed a cigarette behind him, and it landed with precision in the soldier's hand. "Good work, Captain," he said with a smug grin.

The captain felt his soul leaving his body in embarrassment. 'Is this guy serious?' If he truly had connections to the big boss, why put him through this whole charade?

Wang Xiao's playful arrogance only made the situation worse, leaving the soldier standing there with a cigarette, feeling as if he was being toyed with.

Wang Xueying, meanwhile, was still in shock from the absurdity of it all. She shot a quick glance at her brother. "Since when do you carry cigarettes? Do you smoke now?"

Wang Xiao chuckled but didn't respond, striding forward with a confidence that made her even more nervous.

Her heart pounded as they moved down the eerily empty road, her steps hurried and tense. Soldiers stationed along the path gave them curious glances, their eyes filled with scrutiny.

Wang Xueying forced an awkward smile at them, trying her best not to look suspicious, though inside she felt as if they were walking straight into the lion's den.

Suddenly, she felt Wang Xiao's arm wrap confidently around her waist, pulling her closer as if they were strolling through a park.

She stiffened, feeling completely out of place. "What are you doing?!" she hissed under her breath, glancing up at him in disbelief.

This was no time for such theatrics.

He acted as if he hadn't just impersonated someone important—someone who could get them both arrested, or worse.

"Relax," Wang Xiao whispered with a grin, his voice carrying that infuriating calmness. "Act like you belong, and no one will question you."

'He definitely impersonated someone! It's so cool!' Wang Xueying's mind screamed, but she was too flustered to pull away, especially under the soldiers' watchful eyes.

As they reached closer to the entrance, more soldiers appeared, but instead of stopping them, they began to escort them inside. Wang Xueying's heart pounded even faster. 'How far are we going to act?'

It was then that something caught her eye—a line of armored vehicles parked nearby.

Her gaze landed on one in particular, and her breath hitched when she saw the number plate: AS1A00001

She didn't understand the meaning, but the way it was displayed felt important, like it carried a heavy weight of authority.

But Wang Xiao had seen that plate before. His lips curled into a knowing smile.

Asia's number one authority.

There was only one person who could possess such a vehicle—Renji Hayashi, the legendary guardian of Asia.

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

This wasn't just about curiosity anymore.

They were on the verge of meeting someone who stood at the very pinnacle of the continent's power.

Wang Xueying, oblivious to the significance of the plate, looked at her brother's growing smile with rising concern. 'What has he dragged us into this time?'