The Eldritch Files

It was only then that Han Su understood why the young Doctor from Seawall City had come to Qinggang.

’To be honest, I’m a complete layman when it comes to laboratories. I don’t know the first thing about them.’ But after hearing Rong Qiyue describe the laboratory’s secrecy and independence, he found himself somewhat interested.

’Maybe I’ll have plenty of uses for this lab in the future?’

’After all, the black briefcase is in my hands now. Maybe I’ll need to get a lot of things appraised going forward?’

’And setting aside the need for appraisals, if I really do end up kidnapping that Secretary No. 2, won’t I also need a place to hold him hostage?’

”The old gentleman from Dingxiang Mansion?”

Hearing Rong Qiyue’s words, Wei Lan grew curious and pensive.

Rong Qiyue grew excited and nodded eagerly. ”Yes! There are many members in Qinggang’s Hidden School, but that old monster is their leader. I heard he’s already a hundred and seventy years old. His seniority is terrifying.”

”By the way, the Queen’s Organization has always had extensive connections. Do you think you could help me get an in with him?”

”I’m not asking for a freebie. The relic that the Magic Box Group transported back was what I planned to give him to get my foot in the door. I even brought a letter my grandfather wrote to him, but... he won’t even see me.”

...

Wei Lan gave a wry smile. ”It’s not just you. The first thing I did when I got back to Qinggang was to pay him a visit. But my hands got itchy and I... lifted something from his Dingxiang Mansion. I haven’t been allowed back since.”

Rong Qiyue slapped his thigh. ”Agh!”

While they were sighing in frustration, Han Su slowly looked up. He said to Rong Qiyue, ”I can give it a try.”

Rong Qiyue was stunned. ”Huh?”

Han Su said, ”I can try to put in a word for you at Dingxiang Mansion and see if that helps you get what you want.”

Rong Qiyue was shocked. ”Why would he listen to you?”

Han Su didn’t answer. ’Of course the master of Dingxiang Mansion won’t listen to me.’

’But what about the Heir?’

The information from the White Corpse Blood flashed through his mind. It included a memory of a certain Bai Shi going to Dingxiang Mansion to awaken the Living Copper Puppet and prove his identity as the Heir.

’The Bai Shi failed, but what if it’s me?’

After a moment of consideration, he made his decision. He said to Rong Qiyue and Wei Lan, ”Give me all the information you have on Dingxiang Mansion. I’ll try to make contact. Don’t ask any unnecessary questions. Just wait for the results.”

Seeing how confident he looked, Rong Qiyue’s heart skipped a beat, and he gave Han Su another long, searching look.

’He still looks so ordinary at first glance, but every time he opens his mouth, he’s talking about the Emperor’s Text, or some mysterious item of a similar caliber, or making overtures to Dingxiang Mansion...’

’If this keeps up, maybe I should just kneel when I talk to him from now on.’

With the general plan settled, aside from the three main points everyone needed to watch out for, Rong Qiyue decided to use the time to wait for news from Dingxiang Mansion. He would also help Han Su decipher the Emperor’s Text after receiving it in private.

Pot Lid Head was mostly just along for the ride. It was clear he was very interested in the target, Bai Senmang, but Han Su couldn’t hand that assignment over to him just yet.

Han Su saved Wei Lan for last. ”You’ve probably noticed,” he said, ”that I rescued another child from the Ancient Castle this time. His name is Lu Neng, and he lives in Qinggang South City.”

”If you have time, could you help me look for him?”

”I’m already on it.”

Wei Lan smiled. ”After I realized the world had been reshaped again, I already compared the information from the current kidnapping cases with my own memories.”

”I knew he was the one who came out this time, so I did a little digging.”

”But you’d better brace yourself. I haven’t had time for a final confirmation, but this guy... he doesn’t seem to be a saint.”

...

Han Su was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. ”How so?”

Wei Lan smiled, her eyes curving into bright crescents. ”He was a zealot from a Mysterious Organization, the High Priest of the Bronze Mask, and at one point, he even became a live-in son-in-law in Sea People Town. He was obsessed with organizing all kinds of mysterious sacrificial rituals—a true expert in the worship of Mysterious Power.”

”A Mysterious Organization?”

Han Su was shocked. ”Damn. We already have one of us in prison, and now we’ve got one who’s a mystery-worshipper?”

’Those people from the Mysterious Organizations are hardly any better than convicts... They’re all lunatics...’

”Let me finish.”

Wei Lan smiled. ”Members of Mysterious Organizations are very pious when it comes to the objects of their worship, and he was a particularly pious one. But... maybe a little *too* pious...”

Han Su was taken aback. ”What do you mean?”

Wei Lan said, ”He was so pious that he took the object his organization worshipped and brought it home with him.”

Han Su’s expression froze in astonishment. ”?”

Wei Lan laughed. ”And he didn’t just stop at one. When he joined the Bronze Mask organization, he stole the Bronze Mask. When he went to Sea People Town, he stole the Merfolk Coffin they had worshipped for generations.”

”He was enthusiastic about organizing all sorts of mysterious sacrificial rituals, because it was only during those ceremonies that the faithful would bring out the genuine articles for worship, and then he would...”

...

This time, Han Su was truly dumbfounded. After a long moment, he said, ”That... sounds exactly like something he would do.”

”Are you sure he’s still alive?”

...

Wei Lan shook her head and smiled. ”He made too many enemies, it’s hard to be sure. But I’ll find him as soon as I can.”

Han Su could only nod. ’A guy like that,’ he thought, ’was either killed by his enemies long ago, or he’s holed up somewhere tighter than a rat in a wall.’

But judging from his experiences so far, the companions he brought out of the Ancient Castle—no matter how far apart—were always drawn to him like magnets after he returned to reality, eventually appearing by his side for some reason or another.

This led Han Su to suspect that just as a Mysterious Power had prevented him from escaping or changing anything inside the Ancient Castle...

’...could a similar Mysterious Power be at work in reality?’

He watched Wei Lan crawl into the television and disappear. As the penthouse apartment reverted to its original state, Han Su sat down and thought through a few details.

’Dingxiang Mansion...’

’The information from the White Corpse Blood answered some of my questions, but it also sparked a few theories I want to test. And Dingxiang Mansion is at the very top of that list.’

’Right now, I’m definitely weak. In terms of power, I’m basically the weak link of this small team.’

’But what if I can use this Heir identity to my advantage?’

’Just how much weight does Dingxiang Mansion carry in Qinggang?’

He waited a moment and received the files Wei Lan sent. It was all about Dingxiang Mansion.

”An old monster who’s lived for nearly two hundred years... The teacher, in name, to multiple professors of the Hidden School... A former member of the East Region Circuit Court...”

”One of the fabled owners of the seven red chairs in the Qinggang Council Hall?”

...

As a newcomer to the Mysterious World, Han Su had never even heard of some of these terms.

He had, however, heard of the seven red chairs in the Qinggang Council Hall. They symbolized one’s status in the Mysterious Circle.

Wei Lan must have guessed he might not know, as she had added a small note: the red chairs were not the highest-ranking seats in Qinggang.

The highest were black, and there were only three.

After carefully reviewing the information, Han Su made a decision.

Gazing out the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, he saw that night had fallen over the unnaturally bustling city. He lowered his voice and recited the Spell:

”Twenty-Seven Lives, all must be paid in blood!”

...

As he recited the pass-phrase, Han Su’s own spirit activated. Through the ”Copper’s Will,” he influenced the jar of copper-colored blood inside the black briefcase. The blood was now in a glass bottle, its lid intentionally loosened.

The briefcase stood upright under the coffee table. The copper-colored blood surged forth, seeping through the seams of the case. Trickling out, it defied gravity and flew out of the building.

It moved silently through the city’s shadows.

...

...

「Meanwhile, as Han Su and the others held their special meeting. Qinggang, Central City, Council Hall.」

Zhang Chiguo had carried out his mission, leaving Miss Ai in the high-security containment room. But when he walked out and saw the smile on the face of the man before him, he felt none of the usual relief that came after a completed assignment.

”I’ve done what I was supposed to do.”

He had no intention of leaving with his questions unanswered. He looked up at the man before him and said, ”But I have some questions. I’d like to ask the higher-ups.”

”My report on the Ancient Castle kidnapping case was rejected. It was dismissed as baseless nonsense. So can someone explain to me why, during this Mother Divine Tree crisis, a child connected to that very kidnapping case has appeared?”

...

It was the first time he had asked these questions in such an interrogative tone, and the atmosphere grew palpably tense.

Facing Zhang Chiguo’s questions, the man seemed prepared. He raised his hand slightly, and an assistant brought over a file.

He handed it to Zhang Chiguo. ”Here is a file we’ve just been authorized to disclose to you.”

”Everything we know regarding your questions is in here.”

”Additionally, besides having you seal Miss Ai, there is a special assignment, issued personally by Secretary No. 5. We hope you will accept it.”

...

Zhang Chiguo looked up slightly. ”What is it?”

”Qinggang was caught on the back foot this time. What appeared to be a series of coincidences and unforeseen changes was, in fact, all orchestrated and manipulated by someone. Although their plan couldn’t damage Qinggang’s foundations, it did cost us one of our trump cards.”

The man’s expression turned severe. ”But they didn’t get away without leaving a trace.”

”The Council Hall has now determined that Song Chushi is the one behind all of this. Moreover, he is certain to return to Qinggang soon, so...”

”Our plan is to assemble the Four Heavenly Kings from the original special operations team. When he returns to Qinggang, you will kill him.”