Chapter 161: Enhancing Activity
When the first rays of morning sunlight stread into the room, Han Su already felt that many things were different.
Wei Lan had already left. In this small apartnt building, only he remained.
He looked out the window. The city beneath the morning light beca clear and vivid.
Strangely, many mories in his mind also beca concrete and lively. It seed that his mory had improved significantly, and his understanding of things had shifted. He could easily focus on a single thing. Even his bodily responses were much quicker than before.
『Is this the power of ntal Activity?』
He was faintly surprised. Although his ntal activation had occurred long ago, this was the first ti he truly felt such ntal agility.
Was it that, because he had been dragging along such a bloated ntal volu, these subtle changes had previously gone unnoticed?
Letting out a low sigh, Han Su brewed a cup of tea and sat on the sofa, quietly experiencing the change.
The most obvious change was that his ntal bandwidth had shrunk.
Previously, he had been carrying a fragnted two-hundred-year ntal volu—vast, but bloated and hard to wield freely.
Now, however, his ntal bandwidth was just ten years. Much less than the average person, yet it seed this smaller scope allowed for focus. As a result, he could now handle this active ntal power with ease.
The activity was still only at 36%, which was expected.
His total ntal volu was divided into twenty-one segnts, each with a ntal Activity level of 36%.
However, whether it was infiltration, information embedding, or even spiritual invasion or attachnt, everything now felt natural and effortless.
So now, what needed consideration was how to further enhance his activity on this foundation, wasn’t it?
Han Su sat for a long while before picking up his phone and ssaging Miss Ai:
[Miss Ai, as an ordinary person, what is the most efficient and safe thod to enhance my ntal Activity?]
[Good morning, Mr. Butcher. The weather today is rather pleasant, isn’t it?]
Miss Ai replied instantly. Even the tone of her text felt relaxed and confident:
[Based on the Disaster Managent Bureau’s current experience, the safest way to enhance ntal Activity is through experiencing adventures and crises, maintaining curiosity about the world, going to bed early, waking up early, and eating regularly!]
[As for the most efficient thod—it would be to try accepting Contamination while keeping your will intact!]
Han Su pondered: [Contamination? Wouldn’t that make like the followers of mysterious organizations?]
Miss Ai: [The nature of the human spirit, whether an Investigator or a Mysterious Follower, is inherently the sa!]
[The only difference is that Mysterious Followers enhance their ntal Activity by actively accepting Contamination, while non-followers must sever the source of Contamination after exposure in order to ensure both improvent and the integrity of their will.]
[...]
Upon reading this, Han Su suddenly felt enlightened.
So, whether it was eating dried corpses, ditation, or consuming potions—
The truth was, there was only one truly efficient thod to enhance ntal Activity: to actively accept Contamination.
That was how Mysterious Organizations operated. As long as they remained constantly contaminated, they could continuously enhance their ntal Activity. This thod also applied to Investigators, but because they feared losing themselves, an extra step was required.
After accepting Contamination, they had to ensure they could sever it.
That was where the Disaster Managent Bureau fell short compared to Mysterious Organizations.
This was also the disadvantage shared by everyone except those Followers. Yet, it was sothing that could never be changed. It was the most straightforward and simplest path!
In fact, back when he resolved the Double-Bodies incident, his total ntal volu had increased by 5% in one go. That was 5% of his total volu! The reason? The painting had inflicted a level of Contamination unlike anything he had ever encountered.
Additionally, this incident also highlighted the importance of the third mysterious power he had brought back from the Ancient Castle—『Ghost Fla』. At that ti, the Ghost Fla had helped him sever the Contamination from the painting instantly!
However, because his ntal volu was so vast back then, even such a strong Contamination didn’t yield obvious improvent.
But now, post-Forbidden Operation?
A thought stirred in his heart, and he asked directly: [Miss Ai, are there any more missions like that Double-Bodies one?]
Miss Ai replied: [The Double-Bodies task has been confird to involve a remnant object from the Radiation Era cult organization "Round Table Altar." Such tasks are extrely rare on a global scale. I wouldn’t recomnd Mr. Butcher place hopes on encountering another one anyti soon!]
Han Su read this ssage and translated it himself: "You’re dreaming..."
Seems like it would be hard to find sothing like that painting, which had high-quality Contamination...
But looking at it differently—his previous self hadn’t undergone the Forbidden Operation, so only a high-quality painting could enhance his ntal Activity. Now that he had the operation, even simpler tasks might work?
After so thought, Han Su suddenly had a bold idea. Excitedly, he typed:
[Miss Ai, do you have more tasks with Contamination you could recomnd to ?]
[Not too low-level. I’m an Investigator now; tasks too low won’t help my rating.]
[Not too troubleso either. I’m on a tight schedule and can’t waste ti.]
[And not too difficult. My current abilities are limited; I can’t handle anything too hard...]
[...]
Wait—in his excitent, Han Su suddenly realized sothing was off. This was Miss Ai, not his mom.
Was he being too demanding?
Then he saw Miss Ai respond: [Yes, I do!]
Han Su: "?"
Right after, more ssages from Miss Ai followed:
[Due to the current drop in task efficiency among many Investigators, owing to personal issues or other factors, the Disaster Managent Bureau has nurous urgent tasks left unattended.]
[Having self-motivated Investigators like Mr. Butcher, who voluntarily accept tasks and contribute to the defense of reality, is a blessing for Qinggang. In this context, fulfilling so of Mr. Butcher’s requests is a fair and reasonable gesture.]
[I have selected the following suitable commissions for you. These are chaotic tis, a matter of life and death. I hope Mr. Butcher will put aside gain and loss and dedicate himself to Qinggang's defense of reality!]
[...]
"??"
This ti, Han Su was genuinely dumbfounded. Sothing felt... off?
His gaze dropped, and the task notification had already appeared:
▶ B-Level Task: Hidden cult activity suspected in Binbin District, North City. Signs of Devilfish proselytizing observed. Please promptly investigate their thods and intercept them. Apprehend or eliminate related mbers on sight!
『B-Level...』
He stared silently at the task Miss Ai sent, then contacted Doctor and Hei Hu:
"How’s your study of the encrypted spells from the new cult going?"
Doctor said, "Very helpful."
Han Su said, "Good. Then maybe you’re ready to work overti?"
"..."
"..."
Doctor was already adjusting his glasses thoughtfully. Hei Hu, on the other hand, was full of enthusiasm: "Yes!"
And so, Han Su grabbed his suitcase and headed straight to his first mission.
On the way, Han Su reviewed the files. Through Miss Ai’s intelligence gathering and analysis, it had already been confird—this was a case of proselytization by a mysterious organization.
So, Miss Ai was probably making a joke, right?
A B-Level mission, and involving a cult too—there was no way this would be simple...
He knew well by now: Cults and mysterious organizations were everywhere in the depths of Qinggang. Whether it was a beggar on the street or a well-mannered teacher by day, anyone could be a secret follower.
But re mbership wasn’t the issue. What the Disaster Managent Bureau feared most was the spread of Mysterious Contamination and the ergence of deeply faithful, power-wielding individuals.
Such people were usually extrely destructive. With Mysterious Powers at their command, taking them down with conventional force ca at a huge cost. Even for Investigators, it was a life-threatening gamble.
With that in mind, Han Su and the others arrived at the scene. By sealing the area, analyzing cult mbers, and screening outsiders, they quickly identified the ten most suspicious suspects.
Then, Doctor stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. With a rundown of their education, background, age, and personality traits, he finally focused his brilliant glasses on the source...
...The devilfish in the seafood market tank!
In the end, Han Su personally captured the fish trying to leap out of the tank and escape.
Even he found it absurd. But once he had the fish in hand, confirmation ca imdiately.
It was a low-level Contaminated creature, dwelling in the deep sea, tainted by so unknown horror. After being caught by fishing boats, it ended up in Qinggang’s seafood market, spreading Mysterious Contamination from there.
Its reach was limited. It could only affect stall owners when unobserved, using hidden spells to warp their minds.
Gradually, it twisted their will, instilling a reverence for the mysterious. The stall owners began offering three daily offerings of fresh worms as tribute to the devilfish...
...The last part was pure selfishness on the fish’s part!
...
Watching the Execution mbers haul the fish away in a specially sealed tank, Han Su stood there, dazed, unwilling to believe the mission had really ended just like that.
[Miss Ai, and this is worthy of being called a B-Level task? Catching a fish?]
[Mr. Butcher, please note that this devilfish Contamination incident has affected no fewer than thirty people, forming a cult of over a hundred. Its threat level and damage to the reality defense line fully qualify it as a B-Level task!]
[I didn’t an it that way. I just didn’t expect it would actually be...]
[I hope Mr. Butcher will refrain from questioning my professionalism and focus on the mission at hand!]
[The next task recomndation is as follows...]
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