The Eldritch Files

The more Han Su pondered the reasoning behind it all, the more excited he grew. While many details still needed verification, he could already feel a faint sense of pleasant surprise.

He went to bed very late that night, but though he was woken early the next day, he was still in high spirits.

He changed into something resembling a combat suit. After breakfast, he was led to a spacious, empty room where he met the other trainees who would be taking the assessment with him.

’For my part, I was dragged into a mysterious incident and had no choice but to be recruited by the Disaster Management Bureau. But only now did I realize that many of these people actually applied formally before being called in for training.’

There were over twenty people in this batch—men and women of varying ages.

The oldest looked to be in their thirties, the youngest only seventeen or eighteen. Their dispositions varied as well—some seemed wild, some composed, some rational, and others just looked plain arrogant.

The staff member who led Han Su in turned and left without a word.

Curious, Han Su was trying to guess who these people were when a man with a buzz cut and flashy clothes spoke up with a laugh, ”So, are we the new recruits the Disaster Management Bureau plans on taking in this time?”

Most people in the room remained composed but wary, so no one immediately responded.

He chuckled. ”Don’t be so tense. We’re all going to be working together, maybe even watching each other’s backs. Since the training hasn’t started, how about we do some introductions?”

”I’ll start. My name is Xu Qingyi, eighteen years old. I just got back from my studies in the Western Seventh Region. I’m skilled in diving, rock climbing, wilderness trekking, and wingsuit flying. I also have a helicopter pilot’s license. As for driving... no need to mention that. I’ve been driving myself since kindergarten.”

...

Hearing this, the others just looked at each other. No one responded.

It was obvious he was joking—no one would believe he drove to kindergarten. Still, if he was really that skilled in everything else, he was truly a remarkable person.

Wilderness trekking was especially impressive. In an age where society was structured around super-megalopolises, traveling through the wilds was an extremely dangerous affair.

It was said that out there, one could encounter not only savage beasts and ”wilderness holdouts”—people who refused to enter the cities for a life of convenience—but also inexplicable phenomena like ”Iridescence” and ”The Lost.”

But since he had broken the ice, the atmosphere grew a little less somber.

Next to him, a man in gold-rimmed glasses looked up. ”Pastor Chen. I hold dual doctorates in ruin architecture and electronic communications. I am also self-taught in seven languages.”

The man after him was dark-skinned and powerfully built. When all eyes turned to him, he gave a slight nod. ”I’m Black Tiger. Proficient in firearms and hand-to-hand combat. I just finished my service with the North District forces.”

”I was awarded one Second-Class Merit and one collective First-Class Merit. I also carried out a mission in the North District wilds...”

”Apologies, my head’s not all there—took a bullet once. Just remembered, that mission is still classified!”

...

’So these are the ’social elites’ Zhang Chiguo mentioned?’

As the introductions continued one by one, Han Su was somewhat surprised.

If all the new recruits for the Disaster Management Bureau were of this caliber, the entry requirements were terrifyingly high. These people were the best of the best from their respective fields. And then there was him...

As he was lost in thought, he felt numerous gazes land on him. Han Su looked up, meeting their expectant eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

”I’m carrying more than a dozen lives.”

...

...

The room was suddenly plunged into a dead silence.

The ones who had just introduced themselves so proudly, and those who were about to speak, all fell silent. It felt like some kind of anomaly had slipped in among them, and a palpable discomfort filled the air.

Someone muttered under their breath, ”I thought they said the D7 super-criminals weren’t training with us?”

Amid the crowd, however, an exceptionally quiet girl in a black hoodie turned to glance at Han Su. Her hood was so large it only revealed a pale, thin face.

The rhythm of the self-introductions was shattered, and no one seemed able to continue.

Just then, the stainless steel door opened, and a man in a black combat suit entered. He tossed a file onto the table and said coolly:

”Self-introductions?”

”Do you think this is a college orientation? That you need to get acquainted first?”

”Get all friendly now so that later, when one of you needs to be an ’emergency cutoff,’ your buddy next to you will hesitate and cause a major catastrophe?”

...

His words stunned everyone. They immediately sat up straighter.

’Unfamiliar environment, brutal instructor... It was the same old routine. Everyone knew the drill.’

But as he met their gazes, the instructor remained silent. He didn’t speak for a long time, not until the atmosphere had grown rigid. Then, suddenly, he let out a scoff. ”What are you all waiting for?”

”For me to give you a speech? Tell you how the truth of the world is about to unfold before you? How you’re going to be the ones to save it, the ones who bear the heavy burdens?”

”Tell you that you’re destined to sacrifice yourselves for this world, but that your contributions will be remembered?”

...

Even Han Su was bewildered. ’Aren’t opening speeches supposed to go like that?’

The instructor sneered. ”We’re not that boring. I’m only going to tell you two things. First, our benefits are excellent. Second, our work is extremely dangerous.”

”I’m sure many of you knew this department existed before you joined.”

”And I’m sure even more of you applied because you’re chasing the so-called ’truth of the world.’”

”But let me tell you, getting into this department is difficult. Countless people would kill to get in.”

”But more importantly, once you’re in, it’s even harder to get out.”

”For the next few days, I’ll be in charge of your training.”

”But don’t worry. Our training is rigorous, but we won’t eliminate anyone based on their performance. We won’t even force you to participate.”

”I don’t care if you just want to slack off, sleep all day, or spend your time staring at the female recruits’ asses and jacking off. As long as you clean up after yourself, all you have to do is put in the time here, and then you’re free to go.”

”After all, even if you don’t have what it takes to become a proper Executioner, you can at least serve as adequate cannon fodder.”

...

At this point, his speech had already made many people in the room feel surprised and uncomfortable.

His gaze swept over the recruits’ faces, and the instructor let out another scoff. ”However... your performance during this time will be assessed by a team of professionals.”

”This assessment will determine which group you’re assigned to. And once you’re assigned, your fate is more or less sealed. In other words, your performance over the next few days will decide the rest of your life.”

...

The recruits exchanged glances. Just as someone was about to ask what the training actually entailed, staff members entered carrying boxes, which they distributed to everyone.

It was a book, dozens of pages thick, with a blank cover.

The instructor watched them coolly. ”This is your first lesson. It’s also your final assessment.”

”Inside,” he continued, ”are the rules that all Executioners of the Abnormal Disaster Assessment and Management Bureau must abide by while on a mission.”

”If you’re smart and have a good memory, you’ll memorize every word in it.”

”You have one week.”

”After one week, your training is over. The security classification on this manual is higher than your own personnel files. It cannot be leaked. It will be collected before you leave this facility.”

...

Down below, the recruits were shocked. ”There’s so much! How are we supposed to memorize all of this?”

”What if we can’t memorize it?”

The instructor just sneered at their earnest questions. ”If you can’t memorize it all, then just remembering one word will suffice:”

”Obey!”

...

Many of the recruits looked stunned, unsure if that one word, ”Obey,” was meant as a sarcastic jab or a genuine piece of advice.

Han Su, on the other hand, was suddenly reminded of the instructions he had given the other children when he tried to lead them out of the Dark Bunker. His thoughts sharpened. ’Interesting!’

With that thought, he opened the thick book of rules.

He found it had no cover, not even a foreword. There was only a single sentence written on the first page:

When faced with an anomaly, all investigators and Executioners must believe: This world is logical and abides by the principles of science.

Below that was the first rule:

Ensure all witnesses of and individuals exposed to an abnormal event believe that what they saw was merely a hallucination or delusion.

If they refuse to believe, ensure they disappear from this world.

Second:

Anyone who believes in the existence of Superreal Power and grotesque truths is a madman. A group of such madmen poses a terrible threat to this world. Ensure their timely disappearance.

Third:

All historical artifacts and related records (including books, hard drives, and data) from any period prior to the Reconstruction Era (including the Radiation Era, the Age of Chaos, and the Pre-Civilization Era) must be sealed and reported immediately. They may not be accessed without a direct order from a superior (Minister-level).