The Eldritch Files

’Just as I thought, I really can’t rely on anyone...’

Han Su thought about Red Windbreaker’s words. He also wondered, what would have happened if the Xu Family hadn’t helped this time?

Perhaps he could have still gotten his Investigator License through the arrangements of Red Windbreaker and their associates.

’But that would have meant falling into their trap. Sure, I could have put on an act and done my own thing behind their backs, but in this circle, who knows if their so-called ”conditions” come with some kind of invisible restraint the moment you agree?’

’And if I refused, couldn’t they have just as easily prevented me from getting this license?’

’This Disaster Management Bureau... the path forward is treacherous.’

’Every step is a pitfall. Zhang Chiguo’s initial worries about me joining the Disaster Management Bureau are already starting to come true.’

Back at his apartment building, the first thing Han Su did was pour a glass of water and place it beside him. He waited for a while, but there was no sign of anything unusual.

He thought about the anomaly he’d glimpsed at the Disaster Management Bureau and that domineering female voice, thinking to himself:

’Miss Ai really gave it a harsh lesson. The effects seem quite obvious. Does this mean I don’t have to worry about this monster’s prying eyes for a while?’

’However, it’s almost time for its transformation to complete. Perhaps the next time, I’ll have to face it directly.’

’Of course, there’s another very important matter: Miss Ai not only approved my report but also confirmed and nullified the Ghost Truck’s relevant files. That pile of wreckage has also been sealed away as irrefutable evidence.’

’So, does that mean I can try summoning the Ghost Truck at some point?’

’After all, the Ghost Truck’s appearance is accompanied by a thick fog. And even if someone did see it, the Ghost Truck already looks completely different from its original form...’

For now, he suppressed the urge to leave the city and try it out. He first cleared his head to think about a few other issues.

’Miss Ai reminded me that I have the authority to reopen the kidnapping case.’

’Red Windbreaker and the people behind her tried to impose conditions to restrict me even before I was promoted to Investigator.’

’Why do they all care so much?’

’They were able to determine the nature of this case back then. Now that it’s my turn, can’t I do the same?’

...

’Another issue is... ”That stolen Mechanical Fragment is in Dingxiang Mansion...”’

’Regardless of what role this Mechanical Fragment played in the kidnapping, I need to get my hands on it...’

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the glass of water. There was still no movement inside.

It seemed the prying would not happen again.

Han Su picked up his phone and dialed a number. ”Special Assistant Xu, things went relatively smoothly. The Ghost Truck shouldn’t bother Xu Ji anymore.”

”I know, Mr. Han. I must admit, your performance in resolving this bizarre incident was brilliant. I look forward to your future at the Disaster Management Bureau.”

”Let’s skip the pleasantries, Special Assistant Xu. Have you asked about the matter concerning Dingxiang Mansion for me?”

”...”

”Well...”

Hearing this, Special Assistant Xu paused for a moment. ”I made inquiries the very next day, but I must say, this matter is more difficult than I anticipated. The owner of Dingxiang Mansion is currently unwilling to issue any new invitations.”

Han Su was taken aback. ”Hm?”

In a way, he had grown accustomed to the Xu Family’s immense resourcefulness.

But now, they couldn’t even get him a single invitation?

”I suspect it’s because there’s a private gathering being held at Dingxiang Mansion tomorrow. The owner seems to place great importance on this event, so they don’t want to issue new invitations to outsiders at such a critical time. If you’re not in a hurry, Mr. Han, perhaps in about three days...”

Han Su cut him off. ”I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

”I’m curious, does the owner of Dingxiang Mansion not even give face to the Xu Family?”

Special Assistant Xu hesitated before saying, ”There are indeed many proud individuals in Qinggang City. While they maintain a good relationship with the Xu Family, they don’t necessarily have to follow our every command.”

”The Mysticism expert I invited last time and the owner of this Dingxiang Mansion are both of this type.”

”...”

The image of the old woman who shattered the crystal ball flashed through Han Su’s mind. He began to form an opinion about the owner of Dingxiang Mansion.

It seemed that outside the Disaster Management Bureau, those with Mysterious Power weren’t just the hostile Mysterious Organizations bent on bringing something into reality. There was also a more neutral faction.

’In other words, that old woman and the owner of Dingxiang Mansion both belong to the old school of mystic scholars?’

After a brief pause, he asked, ”So, what kind of private gathering are they holding?”

Special Assistant Xu let out a sigh of relief. If Han Su had insisted on using the Xu Family to obtain that entry, it would have put him in a very difficult position.

But since he was asking about something else, he answered without reservation. ”It’s a sponsorship party for a beauty Empress. Many influential people will be attending.”

Han Su frowned. ”A sponsorship party? What’s that?”

”A cash grab.”

Special Assistant Xu explained, ”Some people want to use money to boost their reputation, some have problems they need solved, and some are purely looking to network and make connections. Then there are those who just want to get a close-up look at the top contenders for the Empress title.”

”So, everyone gets together, puts on their finest clothes, says the sweetest things, and sees if there’s any benefit to be had.”

”...”

Han Su nodded. ”Understood.”

An idea flashed through his mind. ’Maybe I can just sneak in?’

As he was thinking, Special Assistant Xu spoke up again, hesitating. ”Mr. Han, if you really want to get into Dingxiang Mansion sooner, it’s not entirely impossible. It’s just that, this method...”

’You had a way and didn’t say so earlier?’

Han Su said, ”What is it?”

Special Assistant Xu seemed to be hemming and hawing. ”The Xu Family was also invited to this party. The Old Master never participates in these things, but the young master can go. Perhaps you could enter Dingxiang Mansion as the young master’s assistant. It’s just that...”

He finally got it out. ”It would be too disrespectful to you.”

”?”

Han Su was almost speechless. ”You rich people really overthink things...”

’I’m already considering illegally sneaking in, and he’s worried about my status?’

”Arrange it for me.”

He said it without a second thought. Just before hanging up, another question suddenly occurred to him.

The Mechanical Fragment had reports, news articles, photos, and even demonstration videos. It wasn’t a secret, so he should gather more information about it.

So he thought for a moment and said, ”By the way, Special Assistant Xu, I know people of your status have a broader perspective and know many things we don’t. Are you familiar with the Mechanical Fragment that was stolen from the Midtown Science and Technology Museum ten years ago?”

Special Assistant Xu was clearly taken aback. ”Mechanical Fragment?”

Han Su said, ”Yes, the Mechanical Fragment that was exhibited at the Midtown Science and Technology Museum ten years ago. It was suddenly stolen, and the theft even made the papers. It happened on the same day as the kidnapping case.”

”...”

Special Assistant Xu’s reply was hesitant. ”The case of the stolen Mechanical Fragment... Was there such a thing?”

A very strange feeling suddenly arose in Han Su. He said slowly, ”You can search for it yourself.”

”Alright.”

Special Assistant Xu agreed, still sounding confused. Following the CLACKING sound of a keyboard, his voice suddenly became startled.

”That’s right, the theft. I’ve seen this before. I... I can’t believe I forgot.”

The strange feeling in Han Su’s heart intensified. ”What do you mean?”

”I’ve researched that kidnapping case before, so naturally, I also researched all other potentially related cases.”

Special Assistant Xu spoke candidly, though his voice was laced with confusion. ”The Old Master had me investigate it. After all, Mr. Han, you’re connected to this incident and have suffered greatly because of it. And you’re the only true friend the young master has ever had, so of course, we would pay attention.”

”But... but it’s so strange. I investigated this Mechanical Fragment, and I even reported it to the Old Master. But just now when you mentioned it to me, I had completely forgotten about it...”

”...”

”Hm?”

Listening closely to Special Assistant Xu’s story, the strange feeling in Han Su’s heart turned into a sense of absurdity.

After hanging up, he mulled it over for a moment, then directly called Zhang Chiguo. ”Uncle Zhang, I have something to ask you.”

”Do you remember a Mechanical Fragment that was stolen from the Midtown Science and Technology Museum?”

”...”

Zhang Chiguo sounded busy. The moment he picked up the phone, Han Su could hear the tail end of a conversation with someone else: ”...Yes, even if we have to apply for Miss Ai to unlock another layer, we have to find the leaker.”

Then, his voice softened slightly. ”What Mechanical Fragment? Didn’t I tell you to rest? There’s no rush to do missions.”

Han Su cut off the middle-aged man’s rambling. ”A newly unearthed Mechanical Fragment that was stolen from the Midtown Science and Technology Museum. Uncle Zhang, have you heard of it?”

”...”

Han Su hadn’t sent him a link or anything, but Zhang Chiguo’s voice was full of doubt. ”Was there really such a thing?”

Beside him, Secretary Cui Qiao must have heard him, as she immediately searched for it online and handed a tablet to him. Zhang Chiguo’s voice suddenly became extremely strange. ”It’s this incident? Strange, I seem to...”

But he didn’t elaborate immediately. Instead, he said, ”Wait a moment.”

This was followed by the sound of hurried footsteps, then of him entering an office and rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

When Zhang Chiguo’s voice came through again, it was tinged with bewilderment. ”Xiaohan, what made you think to ask about this?”

”I’m diligently investigating everything related to the kidnapping case, so I naturally came across this report.”

Han Su had already confirmed something. He said slowly, ”Uncle Zhang, you didn’t pay attention to this incident?”

”I did.”

Zhang Chiguo replied grimly, then added, ”I even remember specifically studying and investigating this theft. Just now, I even found my notes on it in the very back of my drawer. They have my analysis from back then.”

”But...”

He paused before speaking again, slowly. ”Before you mentioned it to me, I had completely forgotten about it.”

”The notes are right here. I even marked it as ’requires further investigation, suspected connection to the kidnapping case.’ But the truth is... after all these years, I completely forgot to keep following up on this theft. I forgot to continue investigating it at all.”

”I’ve even reviewed these notes in the meantime, going over the case, but I never noticed the relevant section.”

”...”

Hearing this, Han Su’s suspicion was fully confirmed. He hung up the phone, unable to describe the astonishment in his heart.

’I get it now!’

Only now did he completely understand why Song Chushi had said that only a select few people would remember the Mechanical Fragment.

’This thing can actually make people completely forget about it?’

’Its existence, the reports of its theft—they’ve been right there online and in the newspapers all along.’

’People have seen it, people have investigated it, but then, in the blink of an eye, they completely forget it ever existed. They can’t remember the incident at all...’

This was too fucking weird.

’Following the Disaster Management Bureau’s custom of using Understanding to classify things by status, what status would you even give a Mechanical Fragment that is constantly affecting countless people in Qinggang City?’