The Eldritch Files

”So, it’s about time we used this opportunity to take a vote.”

Qinggang, Central City, Council Chamber.

Seeing that the matter had come to an end, the people in the council chamber silently gathered their things, preparing to leave.

But just then, a voice suddenly emanated from one of the three black screens mounted on the back wall. The voice, tinged with a gentle smile, said, ”Let’s discuss the future of the Disaster Management Bureau and the opinions regarding its continued existence.”

Most people in the room hadn’t expected this screen to speak.

Across the long conference table, the figure seated in the very center, however, spoke up with a smile after a moment of surprise. ”In that case, those with a seat will stay. Everyone else, return to your posts.”

”Now is not the time to be complacent. This sudden incident has had a great impact, and all departments must be prepared to properly handle the aftermath concerning the contaminated civilians.”

The vast office quickly grew solemn and quiet.

Only seven or eight people remained, sitting upright and formal around the long table. Once the door closed, it was as if the inside and outside had become two separate worlds.

The person in the center turned slightly and smiled at the screen that had spoken.

”Mr. Xu, I didn’t know you were listening in. You rarely get involved in matters of this kind.”

”Do you have any suggestions this time?”

”...”

From the screen, the middle-aged man chuckled. ”The Disaster Management Bureau handled this matter quite beautifully.”

”It was such a sudden event, and it involved the betrayal of personnel from within Qinggang. Anyone would have been thrown into a panic. But the fact that these frontline people were able to resolve it in such a short time has renewed my confidence in the proposal for the fourth defensive line.”

”However...”

He paused, then continued, ”Theoretically, this type of emergency incident should never have occurred.”

”The fact that it did means there are still loopholes in our defenses.”

”Hiding behind the second defensive line and enjoying a false sense of security is not a viable option. I believe our strategy needs some adjustments.”

”...”

The room was silent. Everyone, including the person seated in the center of the long table, listened to his words intently.

After a few seconds of pause, some people began to covertly exchange glances, trying to guess the true meaning behind his words.

Meanwhile, in the old study at the Xu Mansion, Xu Ji’s father finished speaking and turned off the communication device.

’That’s enough,’ he thought. ’The people in the council chamber are all intelligent.’

’Besides, my position isn’t suited for getting too deeply involved in these kinds of affairs.’

He glanced at the black screen showing the council chamber, then turned to look at Xu Ji. He saw his son wearing a pair of enormous sunglasses, arms crossed, leaning against the wall behind him with a serious expression, completely still.

Mr. Xu felt a bit helpless and coughed softly.

Xu Ji jolted awake, took off his sunglasses, and asked blankly, ”Is the meeting over?”

Father Xu sighed. ”It’s not over yet. They just started discussing the important matters.”

Xu Ji’s face fell. ”What kind of meeting lasts all night? Is Qinggang City about to be destroyed?”

Father Xu’s face darkened, but remembering this was his own son, he could only sigh. ”You’re always so undisciplined. How can you go on like this?”

Xu Ji said, ”Well, since you’re still young and strong, how about you consider having another one?”

Seeing his father’s face grow even darker, he added tentatively, ”If it’s too much trouble, I could adopt one for you?”

Father Xu couldn’t take it anymore. He raised his hand and pointed to the door. ”Get out!”

Xu Ji immediately brightened up and ran out as if he’d been granted amnesty.

But Father Xu suddenly thought of something else. ”However, you should start trying to learn about these kinds of things.”

”From now on, when I’m away on business, I’ll leave you the key to the study. You need to start learning to listen in on the Disaster Management Bureau’s meetings.”

Xu Ji was stunned by his words. ”The Disaster Management Bureau...”

”...Isn’t that the department with a lot of power? Why would we provoke them?”

The question made even Father Xu feel a bit helpless. After a long moment, he sighed. ”They say ignorance is bliss. Even I’m a little envious of you.”

”In our Xu Family, your grandfather was a prodigal son, and you seem to have great prospects as well. How did I end up stuck in the middle?”

”...”

Xu Ji sidled up to him again. ”Because you don’t have a great dad like I do...”

”Speaking of this Disaster Management Bureau, Special Assistant Xu said it’s very dangerous and that I should stay away from them...”

Father Xu nodded. ”He’s right. The Disaster Management Bureau is an experiment. The city has granted it immense power. As long as it exists, it is special. Normally, when you encounter someone from the Disaster Management Bureau, no matter who they are, you should give them a wide berth.”

Xu Ji said, ”Then what you’re doing is...”

Father Xu replied, ”The Disaster Management Bureau is a special entity that has been granted great power. But our family’s seat *is* power itself.”

Xu Ji: ”Huh?”

Father Xu was truly tired. ’I remember those education experts from years ago saying that children should be kept away from the truths of society before they’ve grown up, to ensure they grow up with sound minds and bodies.’

’Looking at him now, how did it turn out like I’ve raised a blockhead?’

He weakly waved his hand, shooing him away. ”Go get some more sleep. Remember to eat something before you do.”

Xu Ji left in a daze, while Father Xu glanced up. The people on the screen were still in discussion.

He picked up the telephone beside him, dialed a number directly, and spoke coolly, ”The Xu Family requests a meeting of the old-timers!”

...

...

At the temporary containment center outside Qinggang City, Zhang Chiguo entered the moment he confirmed the contamination had subsided. He was only able to relax after seeing that Han Su was unharmed.

But when he saw Bai Shi’s body, he found it somewhat unbelievable.

He knew how terrifying Bai Shi was, which made it even harder to understand how Han Su had dealt with this problem.

However, seeing the exhaustion on Han Su’s face, he didn’t say anything for the time being and led him out of the ruins.

Everyone present stared blankly at the two figures, one broad and one thin.

Behind them was a scene of chaos. The dark red in the night sky had vanished. The tip of the sun had appeared, and the morning mist began to spread across the land.

Meanwhile, Miss Ai, who had been ”opened” earlier, was now back inside her box, which was fastened with a key. All the armed personnel on site kept their guns aimed at the box, as if this were their real job, completely ignoring the contamination in the area.

Zhang Chiguo walked back and picked up the box again. It felt so heavy in his hands that he almost couldn’t lift it.

Facing the crowd, who were still dazed, he knew that the events of the night had exceeded everyone’s imagination.

But after a moment of silence, he spoke in a low voice, ”The A+ contamination, the Mother Divine Tree, has been dealt with. The traitors have also been eliminated.”

”But as for now...”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. ”When you left the city, you had fifty-two senior Executioners and twenty-three Investigators. Now, can one of you explain to me why, after I arrived, I only see the few of you?”

”Where is Drunkard, and the other Investigators?”

”...”

He spoke as he always did—staid and harsh, sticking to the facts, not intentionally trying to pressure anyone.

But the group of people who had just seen him in action couldn’t help but feel the pressure mount inside them.

Night Lamp and the others, who had been the focus of Zhang Chiguo’s gaze, glanced unnaturally toward Han Su.

At first, they had been angry with Han Su, and were even on the verge of questioning him themselves about where the others had gone.

But now, after what had happened, they felt an invisible weight pressing down on them, their tongues as heavy as lead.

They no longer dared to speak casually.

Only Green Hat, in the middle of the crowd, shrugged helplessly and said, ”Didn’t see!”

”I was busy sealing the black notebook all night. Didn’t see anything else!”

”However...”

His gaze swept nonchalantly over Han Su’s face, and then he said to Zhang Chiguo, ”When the temporary containment center was attacked by the Mechanical Ghosts, I saw Investigator Bai Yang and the Black Star Investigator among the flesh and blood that hadn’t been fully mechanized. There were a few other familiar faces too.”

”I suppose this Mechanical Ghost Legion couldn’t have just crawled out of the ground for no reason, right?”

”Also...”

He gently raised his hand, and his Spiritual Power levitated a mechanical arm that had fallen nearby, still covered in sticky flesh and blood.

He brought it close to his nose, sniffed it, and then held it out to Zhang Chiguo. ”You can smell the stench of the Black Lake on this flesh.”

”In the entire Disaster Management Bureau, you should know who can summon the Black Lake, right?”

”...”

Han Su was a little surprised, not knowing why Green Hat would say such a thing at this moment.

’Although, I was planning to say the same thing myself.’

But for no apparent reason, this slick character had actually helped him out. Even Night Lamp and Red Windbreaker didn’t look like they planned to interject.

A thought flickered in his mind. He glanced at the Doctor beside him, and the Doctor immediately understood. ’It’s my turn to work.’

He began composing the report in his head.

”Is that so?”

Zhang Chiguo’s gaze swept over everyone present, including Han Su, but every single person met him with silence.

No one intended to say anything else.

”So, the Disaster Management Bureau has just lost half of its Investigators?”

Zhang Chiguo stood quietly in place. After waiting a moment, he let out a soft sigh, lifted the box in his hand, and started walking toward the vehicles in front. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped. Without turning back, he spoke slowly, his voice weary.

”To be honest, I’ve never understood you people. Once you master a little Mysterious Power, do you all really stop seeing yourselves as human?”

”...”

The area fell silent. Listening to Zhang Chiguo’s words, everyone felt an invisible pressure welling up in their hearts.

”Uncle Zhang...”

Han Su suddenly spoke up.

Zhang Chiguo immediately turned to look at him, a hint of expectation seemingly in his eyes.

Han Su looked into Zhang Chiguo’s eyes and said, ”I found a document that can prove the existence of the Pale Giant experiment.”

”I’ve also confirmed the monster’s identity!”

”He was one of the children kidnapped by the monster of the Ancient Castle ten years ago. His name is Bai Shixing.”

”Secretary Number Two, Bai Senmang, is his father. His testimony confirms that Secretary Number Two had knowledge of the kidnapping.”

”...”

In Qinggang, there are many who are no longer human.

They were neither the first, nor would they be the last.

People like Zhang Chiguo, who clearly mastered immense power but still confined themselves within the rules and boundaries of being human, were the real anomalies.