The Eldritch Files

If the twists of fate were truly unavoidable, what choice was there but to face them head-on?

”That’s how it should be.”

Wei Lan felt a strong sense of approval as she listened to Han Su. She immediately sat down and began a detailed discussion with him about the related events.

Unfortunately, although she was also in Ti City and knew of the Rong Family, they didn’t move in the same circles, so she wasn’t familiar with them. She had never even heard of the Rong Family’s young master, Rong Qiyue. As for D7 of the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau, she knew nothing at all.

Of course, given her status, she could launch an investigation—that was something the Empress excelled at.

But recklessly investigating either the Disaster Management Bureau or the Rong Family of Seawall City could stir up trouble.

Besides, she and Han Su had already discussed how the Mechanical Fragment would become a crucial link between the children who had emerged from the Ancient Castle.

However, only Han Su could use this item. She couldn’t withstand the pollution it emitted.

Therefore, the task of finding and deciding whether to awaken those two individuals had to fall primarily to Han Su. She could only help by providing information.

”Do you need to crawl back into the TV?”

After their conversation ended, Han Su finally let out a sigh of relief and posed the question to Wei Lan.

Wei Lan was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head. ”Of course not. I have an image to maintain, you know.”

”Ultimately, my ability is a form of directional thought projection. You just need to activate your Spiritual Activity, and I’ll disappear.”

”…”

’You haven’t had any image to speak of since the moment you crawled out of there a moment ago…’

Han Su nodded. He activated his Spiritual Activity with his will, much like a person in a dream realizing they are dreaming and forcing themselves awake. He felt something in the air let out a BUZZ, as if it had reached a peak before quickly dissipating.

When he opened his eyes again, everything had indeed returned to normal.

The television in front of him was still broadcasting a report about the candidates for the Empress, but now it showed a woman with a round face and seductive, almond-shaped eyes. It was as if Wei Lan crawling out of the TV and talking to him had been just a hallucination.

However, thinking about the way Wei Lan had crawled out, he couldn’t help but feel she might have secretly crawled back into the TV during the two seconds his eyes were closed.

’That guy Xu Ji ruined my good impression of rich people, and I feel like Wei Lan is about to ruin my impression of beautiful women.’

’…’

He reached out and turned off the TV, his mind reeling with amazement at the bizarre and wondrous nature of the mysterious organization known as the Empress. He found himself looking at the candidates on the screen with newfound curiosity.

Could it be that all the candidates—whether voluptuous or slender, aloof or alluring—possessed Mysterious Power?

For a moment, he felt the immense and profound depth of this Mysterious Circle.

Even now, he was still just a newcomer in this Mysterious Circle…

He sighed inwardly and temporarily shelved his thoughts about Rong Qiyue of Seawall City and Pot Lid Head. He checked the countdown on the Mechanical Fragment to confirm the time of his next return to the Ancient Castle, then decided to first focus on matters related to his role as an Investigator.

After all, whether it was the metamorphosed monster or the reopened kidnapping case, both were problems he had to face now.

Skimming through the documents, he saw that his application for a firearm had been approved.

This was great news for him.

No matter what anyone said, Han Su had always felt that guns were useful.

Although he was becoming more and more proficient with the stun baton, being able to carry a gun provided a sense of security that nothing else could match.

Additionally, his Investigator-related permissions had been unlocked.

He now had access to many files that were previously classified for him.

These included information on some active mysterious organizations in Qinggang, as well as general knowledge about pollution and Penetration.

He vaguely sensed the difference. As an Executor, his job had truly been just to execute. He completed whatever orders were issued from above, without seeking a deeper understanding.

But after becoming an Investigator, he not only had to know what to do, but also why. In fact, a significant part of an Investigator’s job was to investigate the causes and patterns behind the appearance of these anomalies.

What surprised him in the end was some information and documents sent over by Zhang Chiguo:

In the email, Zhang Chiguo had detailed some of the powers and limitations of an Investigator. Miss Ai had already sent him the document portion, but it seemed certain clauses always needed a ”person” to explain them before they could be truly put into practice.

Moreover, at the end of the email, Zhang Chiguo had added a line tinged with guilt:

”Regarding the matter with the Lady in the Red Windbreaker, I was inconsiderate. I’m sorry, Xiaohan.”

”…”

Han Su paused, slightly stunned when he read this.

He knew what Zhang Chiguo was referring to.

Originally, the Lady in the Red Windbreaker had come to train him in Mysterious Power because Zhang Chiguo had called in a favor to get her here.

It seemed Old Zhang trusted her very much. And from things the Lady in the Red Windbreaker had said, Han Su even suspected she and Zhang Chiguo might have had some history together.

But undoubtedly, the Lady in the Red Windbreaker’s subsequent actions were a betrayal of Zhang Chiguo.

She had chosen to side with the Drunkard Investigator, setting an invisible trap for him. If he hadn’t resolved the Ghost Truck incident with the help of the Xu Family, that trap would have put him in an extremely difficult position.

It was because he had avoided that trap, preventing the situation from escalating to an extremely awkward point, that everyone could still maintain a semblance of normalcy on the surface.

But deep down, who couldn’t see the truth?

Thinking about all this, Han Su could only let out a sigh. ”Uncle Zhang, Uncle Zhang…”

”You came here to solve the Disaster Management Bureau’s problem with redundancies, but she represents the very beneficiaries of the Investigators’ excessive power. Even if your personal relationship was great, how could she ever have truly stood on your side?”

”…”

He silently analyzed the main points Zhang Chiguo had sent. In the end, it all boiled down to one sentence:

”You have a great deal of power, but every time you use it, you must provide a sufficient reason.”

”In short, you need to learn how to write reports!”

”…”

Han Su was already prepared for this.

The first thing he did after his promotion to Investigator was to request two assistants, one of whom happened to be the Doctor. Wasn’t that precisely for writing reports?

Just as he finished replying to Zhang Chiguo’s email, Han Su’s phone suddenly went DING. It was a message from Miss Ai:

[Congratulations, Mr. Butcher!]

”?”

Seeing this message of congratulations, Han Su suddenly had an extremely strange feeling.

He had just escaped from the Ancient Castle again and rescued two people, which was indeed something worth congratulating.

But for Miss Ai to send her congratulations at this exact moment… She…

But before the thought could even fully form, Miss Ai’s next message arrived: [You are about to receive your first official mission as an Investigator!]

Han Su then understood that this was what she was congratulating him for.

But he still felt it was a bit strange. ’You’re a machine. Is it really necessary to pause for dramatic effect like that?’

[Mr. Butcher’s current initial rating as an Investigator is D Level. You must execute various Penetration-blocking missions dispatched by the Disaster Management Bureau to raise this rating. Upon reaching an S-Class rating, you will be promoted to Independent Investigator!]

[Prior to that, the higher your initial rating, the greater your corresponding permissions and remuneration. When your initial rating reaches A Level, access to the Life Code will be unlocked!]

[C- Level Mission Assignment: Water Mirror Incident…]

[…]

”Life Code?”

The mention of becoming an Independent Investigator was fine, but it felt too far off to Han Su.

But the two words, ”Life Code,” stirred something in him.

He subconsciously glanced at his silver briefcase. The Mechanical Fragment inside had already demonstrated its miraculous properties, but he was currently limited by his intermittent Spiritual Power, unable to truly glimpse its wonders.

If he could Master the Life Code and break through this limitation, what kind of effects could he unlock?

However, despite his excitement, seeing the A Level requirement made him feel a bit resigned. He was only at D Level now; who knew how long it would take to reach A Level?

’Since Miss Ai is always so dishonest, let’s just see what the limits of your bugs are…’

With that thought, he typed again: [Is reaching an A Level rating the only way to access the Life Code?]

[To ensure mission success and a better Understanding of High Tier Mysterious Power, I wish to learn about the Life Code in advance.]

[…]

[What a very sufficient reason!]

Miss Ai replied quickly: [But unfortunately, Mr. Butcher currently does not have the required permissions!]

If it weren’t for the fact that she had again used those tonal particles, Han Su would have given up right there.

But this time, he gritted his teeth and pressed on: [I’m in a hurry. Miss Ai, please help me think of a solution.]

[…]

This time, Miss Ai went silent for a long time before finally replying: [I am just a machine…]

Han Su didn’t reply, waiting patiently.

One second, two seconds.

For some reason, Han Su suddenly saw the screen seem to flicker. The messages Miss Ai had just sent about the C Level Water Mirror Incident mission, as well as his own inquiries about the ”Life Code,” had all vanished.

In their place, a series of new messages from Miss Ai appeared: [As the newly promoted Investigator, Mr. Butcher should first undertake a few C Level missions to familiarize himself with his permissions and investigation procedures.]

[However, in light of Mr. Butcher’s prior experience in successfully resolving a B Level incident and the current backlog of anomalous cases facing the Disaster Management Bureau, I will, in accordance with Bureau Regulation Article XX, make a special approval to assign Mr. Butcher the B+ Level mission: the ”Two-bodied People” Incident.]

[Mr. Butcher, please rationally choose whether to accept based on your current condition—countdown 1, 2, 3…]

[…]

Han Su’s heart stirred. He replied to the message: [Accept!]

[Congratulations, Mr. Butcher, you have accepted the B+ Level mission: the ”Two-bodied People” Incident!]

[Please proceed to West City Huayang District to investigate the ”Two-bodied People” Penetration phenomenon and eliminate its source, as described in the attached file!]

[Friendly reminder: Mysterious Power is merely a weapon; Spiritual Activity is the foundation. The essence of life is an endless war. Only by forging ahead without hesitation can you break through the forbidden zones!]

[Mr. Butcher, please be extremely careful!]