The Eldritch Files

”Heir?”

”Abyssal Studio?”

Han Su’s words left everyone in the room stunned for a moment.

”Heir” was too broad a term, common among mysterious organizations, which made it difficult to pin down.

And as for Abyssal Studio, it was a name that neither Wei Lan nor Rong Qiyue seemed to have ever heard of...

Pot Lid Head, however, showed a thoughtful expression upon hearing the name Abyssal Studio, but he didn’t say anything.

”Yes.”

Han Su began to speak slowly. ”This person code-named Bai Shi theoretically experienced what would have happened to us after leaving the Ancient Castle.”

”He... was not a very lucky person!”

Han Su recounted what he had seen in Bai Shi’s memories in a tone that was as precise and clear as possible, then lowered his voice. ”It seems we were all sacrificial offerings, deliberately sent into the Ancient Castle, our fates never our own to control!”

”I... I really can’t predict what kind of opponent we’re truly up against.”

”...”

Listening to Han Su’s somewhat subdued voice, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Han Su used very few words to describe Bai Shi’s experience, but they could still feel the pain and despair within it.

”The most crucial thing is, Bai Shi’s situation made me think of a problem...”

Han Su’s gaze slowly swept over the other three people in the room. ”Theoretically, since I brought you out of the Ancient Castle, you’ve escaped its control on the surface and now have your own lives.”

”But what if I hadn’t brought you out of the Ancient Castle?”

”...”

Hearing this, they all looked at each other, not reacting right away. ’If we hadn’t been brought out, isn’t it obvious? Bai Shi’s fate would have been our own, wouldn’t it?’

”Bai Shi was sent there by his father.”

Han Su spoke slowly, getting to the point. ”In that case, could it be that other people were also sent there by their families?”

”Even...”

He paused, then said, ”You!”

He stopped there. The other three paused for a moment before the realization suddenly dawned on them.

Right now, the three of them were uninvolved in the kidnapping case. But in other timelines, they had all been chosen and taken away by the Ancient Castle. In those timelines, were their families completely unaware, or were they in on it, just like Bai Senmang?

If their families knew in those timelines, what about in this one?

It was a troubling thought, and the more they considered it, the more terrifying it became.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Wei Lan let out a soft sigh and said, ”My relationship with my family isn’t the best, but from what I understand, they don’t seem to have the ability to get involved in things at this level...”

Rong Qiyue also grew more frightened the more he thought about it. ”Should I try to sound out my grandfather?” he asked hesitantly.

”He knows a lot of things, but... it’s not very likely, right?”

”I’m his biological grandson...”

”...”

Only Pot Lid Head remained unfazed, his mind seemingly elsewhere. His current situation wasn’t much different from being sent to the Ancient Castle anyway.

”We still need to be careful. It’s something to keep in mind, but there’s no need to expose our identities unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Han Su nodded slowly. ”For now, we can tentatively confirm that the people kidnapped by the Ancient Castle’s monsters can be divided into two groups based on their circumstances.”

”One group consists of those whose families knew what was happening, or even deliberately allowed it, like Bai Shi. The other group consists of those whose families didn’t know, like the chairman of the Magic Box Group. They are the real victims.”

”I’m not sure which category your families fall into, but I hope it’s not the former.”

”But as long as the possibility exists, we need to be extra careful. We really don’t know how many enemies we still have to face.”

”...”

The young people in the room all nodded along. Thinking it over, it would indeed be devastating to find out they belonged to the former group.

But the more likely it was that they were in the former group, the more carefully they needed to proceed.

”There are also a few other issues we need to pay attention to.”

He paused, then said, ”There’s a lot we need to do.”

His train of thought was gradually becoming clearer. ”First is Bai Shi’s father, Bai Senmang. He must know part of the truth behind the kidnappings. I mentioned this in my report to the Disaster Management Bureau.”

”But investigating him through the Disaster Management Bureau won’t be easy, and I don’t fully trust that organization either. So, I need to get my hands on his file as soon as possible. If necessary, we can consider just kidnapping him and torturing the information out of him.”

As soon as he said this, both Wei Lan and Rong Qiyue’s expressions turned a little strange.

’That’s the number two secretary of Qinggang City we’re talking about...’

Pot Lid Head, on the other hand, had a hint of pleasant surprise in his eyes. It seemed this was the kind of work he was very interested in.

Han Su knew he had a natural affinity for this sort of thing, but unfortunately, he couldn’t say anything right now. The number two secretary was a major figure. Making a move on him rashly could bring about a catastrophe. Even if Pot Lid Head wasn’t afraid, Han Su couldn’t send him into a situation like that.

He continued, ”Second, since Bai Shi was abandoned by the Ancient Castle and fell into the real world, could there be other children who also arrived in reality long ago, and we just don’t know about them?”

”I’ve uncovered clues about the Abyssal Studio and the sale of some kind of secret weapons in this world. We need to find a way to get involved in these matters. Perhaps through this, we can find the other children who came from the Ancient Castle.”

”We don’t need to make enemies of these people, who may have already become Heirs or secret weapons, but we can use them to learn more about the Ancient Castle and its monsters.”

”And third...”

He paused. ”In my capacity as an Investigator, I have submitted a request to the Disaster Management Bureau to re-escalate the kidnapping case from ten years ago. I don’t know how the higher-ups will react yet, but by seeing who objects to this report, I’ll have a much clearer picture.”

”But we can’t place all our hopes on the Disaster Management Bureau.”

”We also need to find a way to investigate that Pale Giant report ourselves.”

”If traces of one monster can appear in reality, then perhaps the others can be found as well.”

”...”

After saying all this in one breath, he nodded to Rong Qiyue. ”Of course, I’ll need you to help me look at a few things.”

”It’s a small matter. We can talk about it after the meeting.”

”...”

Everyone nodded. Wei Lan, seeming to sense the heavy atmosphere, smiled. Her radiant expression dispelled much of the gloom. ”It sounds like a lot to do, and difficult, but having a direction makes things easier.”

”Tomorrow is our final competition. After I win the Empress title, I’ll have some time and more resources. I should be able to help out somewhat.”

Pot Lid Head Chen Ji also said, ”I can do anything.”

”I don’t have a problem with anything you’ve said, but...”

Beside them, Rong Qiyue found it all more and more absurd the longer he listened. The initial excitement he felt at being brought into this was gradually being worn away by the objectives Han Su had laid out.

His mind was filled with questions. He looked up at Han Su with difficulty, then his gaze swept over Wei Lan and Pot Lid Head beside him. ”For such a big, mysterious organization,” he asked cautiously, ”is it just... the few of us here?”

Han Su looked at him and nodded.

Although there was still Skinny, who hadn’t been awakened, for now, it was indeed just the four of them.

Rong Qiyue swallowed hard, holding on to a sliver of hope. ”So, what are everyone’s identities? I mean, your hidden identities?”

”Hidden identities?”

They all seemed a bit surprised by the question. Wei Lan spoke first. ”You can’t tell just by looking at me?”

Pot Lid Head also thought about it seriously and said, ”Currently in jail, but can take leave!”

The shackles on his ankles pretty much said it all, though Rong Qiyue hadn’t dared to ask him directly.

Han Su was also frank. ”Qinggang S-Class Investigator.”

”Oh my god...”

Rong Qiyue’s suspicions were confirmed, and he couldn’t hold it in any longer. ”So, our current team consists of a regular Investigator from the Disaster Management Bureau, a model who hasn’t even won her Empress title yet, and a...”

”...a guy who’s in jail?”

”And with just us, you’re planning to go up against all those high-and-mighty figures?”

”Just listen to what you were saying! Planning to go after the number two secretary, investigating the Abyssal Studio—which sounds super high-level from its name alone—and looking into what might be the most secret and dangerous arms dealing in the world...”

He grew more frantic as he spoke. ”I know you’re not from the Hidden School and don’t know much about the Mysterious Circle, but you saw those people in action when the Mother Divine Tree tried to corrupt Qinggang, right?”

”You can guess what level those people are on, can’t you?”

”...”

”...”

His words were met with a moment of silence from everyone in the room.

Wei Lan wanted to say something to lighten the mood, but she just opened her mouth and found herself at a loss for words.

Han Su, even more so, didn’t know how to begin. He had always felt that same sense of powerlessness when facing the Ancient Castle.

’I’ve gotten used to it, but I can’t convince others.’

It was at this moment that Pot Lid Head slowly looked up, seeming completely unconcerned. ”So what?”

”Aren’t they the ones who messed with us first?”

”...”

Rong Qiyue glanced at Pot Lid Head and grumbled internally, but he didn’t dare talk back.

Han Su also looked up at the group. ”Or perhaps, when facing a war with such overwhelming odds, winning or losing isn’t the most important thing to consider. Maybe what matters most is having the courage to face the war at all?”

This sentence caused the atmosphere to sink slightly.

Pot Lid Head looked thoughtful, in deep agreement. Wei Lan, however, was filled with solemn respect and clapped her hands lightly. ”Well said!”

Finally, all eyes turned to Rong Qiyue. He was the only one with a dejected look on his face, his expression clearly starting to show panic.

He scratched his head, covered his face, sighed, and shook his leg, finally resigning himself to despair. ”You’ve already started dishing out inspirational quotes. What else can I say?”