Chapter 164: Walking Out of the Reality Hotbed
“Must admit, we underestimated Zhang Chiguo!”
At the sa mont, in the bar, the Drunkard Investigator who had smashed a floor full of liquor bottles in rage, forced himself to calm down after a brief outburst.
Suddenly, he let out a loud laugh, releasing his excess emotions, filled with self-mockery.
No need to be angry, he thought.
This was sothing he had to accept—he had underestimated Zhang Chiguo, assuming he was still the sa man from three years ago: rigid, cold, rule-abiding. But he also had to accept the fact that Zhang had now beco so insidious.
But since he had been underestimated, there was still ti to adjust.
His gaze fell on the photo of Han Su in the file. Slowly, he picked up the long-ringing phone. His emotions had already steadied, and his voice remained as relaxed as usual: “No need to remind . I know the state of things.”
“Zhang Chiguo played a ruthless move, turning our secret eting into a joke.”
“But this also gave us a reminder—it was our mistake to still be operating within the rules.”
“Thankfully, that monster inside D7 is a great opportunity. No matter how shrewd Zhang Chiguo is, he can’t predict everything.”
“That monster is the variable he cannot account for.”
“……”
The person on the other end sensed sothing, grew tense, and said sothing hastily.
The Drunkard Investigator laughed and said, “Yes, the higher-ups only wanted to persuade him, not silence him forever. That’s why I’ve had to convince him again and again. But now that things have reached this point, what’s left to hesitate about?”
“Though I don’t know what thod he used, from the mont he killed Sparrow, we’ve had to face reality: the war has begun.”
“You don’t need to worry about anything else.”
“My promotion report has already been submitted. As long as nothing unexpected happens in the next three days, it will be approved.”
“Let Investigator Aries keep an eye on that file. I don’t need him to risk destroying it for —just make sure it doesn’t enter Qinggang in these three days. That’s enough.”
“Only three days. Three days are enough to resolve everything!”
“Of course, the necessary preparations must be made!”
When he said this, he also fell silent for a long ti. Though he understood the attitude of the higher-ups, he still enunciated each word slowly and clearly: “If they covet that file, and dare to co out of the city to take it…”
“…I want him dead!”
“Even if the one above shows displeasure, I’ll still have him killed. After all, I’ve taken a lot of bla for that person up there!”
“This ti, I must get that promotion!”
“……”
“……”
At the sa ti, while a Star Investigator within the Qinggang Disaster Managent Bureau was rising like the morning sun and stirring countless undercurrents, outside Qinggang City, in a massive manor built atop the wilderness, an intense and thick sll of blood perated the air.
This had once been a palace-like residence, the kind that many truly powerful people liked to live in—vast, extravagant manors built in the suburbs.
There were only two masters of the estate, but the butler, servants, gardeners, drivers, and security personnel numbered over a hundred. Now, all of them were dead. The bodies were laid neatly in rows across the courtyard.
In front of all the corpses, sitting in a seat shaded by a parasol, was a tall man with a golden wig and one blind eye. At his side rested a snakeskin briefcase. Slowly, he extended his long tongue to lick the blood from his face.
In his hand, he held a severed head—the head of the manor’s master. Yet now, all flesh had been peeled away, leaving behind a translucent skull that looked like a work of art.
“Reporting to you, Investigator, the place has been searched thoroughly. There are no clues about the Crystal Skull Priestess.”
Two Investigator’s Assistants stepped out from either side and reported:
“They were likely alerted when we dealt with the outer mbers. They had already made preparations.”
“Not only did they sever their connection with the Crystal Pyramid, but even deleted information about that chanical object from their shared mory.”
“……”
“Heh…”
The man in the white suit lowered his head to look at the crystal skull in his hand. He gripped it slightly, and cracks imdiately spread across its surface. Yet his smile was filled with malice and disregard, mocking: “Deleting it doesn’t matter.”
“By tracing the recent activity of the Crystal Skull, we can naturally find clues to that chanical fragnt again.”
He then turned to another Investigator’s Assistant and said, “Now that everyone connected to the Crystal Skull is dead, I’m quite free. That guy—any updates on him?”
“Yes!”
The assistant replied in a low voice, “He’s beco quite prominent. He’s now a Star Investigator within the Disaster Managent Bureau. Those who were huddling together to pressure Zhang Chiguo have fallen into confusion and despair.”
“Star Investigator?”
The man in the white suit beca suddenly agitated. His face twisted, and then he burst into manic laughter: “Good, good, he’s finally stopped hiding…”
“So that ans… he’s finally walked out of the reality hotbed?”
“Haha, haha, I thought I’d have to wait—wait much longer…”
“Back to the city!”
“……”
So excited was he that even his single eye glead with light. His expression almost lost control. Muscles rippled across his face, revealing a vicious expression only a child might have, and he stood up eagerly.
Yet the reporting Investigator’s Assistant hesitated slightly: “Aren’t we going to continue searching for the Crystal Skull’s priestess?”
“I think finding that chanical fragnt is essential to avoid future troubles…”
“chanical fragnt?”
The man in the white suit abruptly turned, shooting a chilling glare at the assistant, nearly scaring his heart into stopping.
Then, clenching his teeth slightly, he laughed: “That chanical fragnt… in my eyes, it doesn’t compare to him at all…”
“But…”
He seed to be pondering, leaning back slightly, slowly caressing the black eyepatch over his eye. As if he’d recalled a certain concern, he muttered: “To be cautious… we should think of a way to lure him out of the city!”
……
……
【Congratulations, Mr. Butcher!】
Miss Ai’s tone was light: 【Your recent contributions to the reality defense line have been seen by everyone. Your initial rating has also been raised from C-level to A-level!】
【Friendly notice: So far, there are only five A-level Investigators in the Qinggang Disaster Managent Bureau. You are the youngest one!】
【……】
After submitting the last report on his desk, Han Su once again received feedback from Miss Ai just in ti.
These past few days, he was truly exhausted.
From writing reports.
Especially those B-level tasks he hadn’t even arrived at the scene for—writing those reports was seriously difficult.
Letting out a deep breath, Han Su stared at Miss Ai’s ssage and slowly typed: 【Does that an I have a chance to surpass them and beco an Independent Investigator sooner?】
Miss Ai replied instantly: 【Of course. But from this point forward, Mr. Butcher may need to rely on your own effort. I’ve seen the hard work you’ve put in these past two months. I believe that no matter what difficulties you face, you’ll overco them.】
“Hmm?”
For so reason, Han Su felt a strange premonition when he read her words. It was as if she was trying to tell him sothing.
He stayed silent for a long ti and typed: 【Miss Ai, why do you help so much?】
But after typing it out, he didn’t send it. He hesitated and instead entered a different ssage: 【Miss Ai, have you been protecting all along?】
He thought of the suspicious points around Black Rose, and the road Miss Ai had tirelessly paved for him. He couldn’t help but consider this. At the sa ti, doubts in his mind continued to grow.
All this ti, he hadn’t encountered any mysterious events. At first, he thought it was because of that mutated monster watching him. But what if—like with the Nail of the Dead Sea—he had misunderstood?
Though he could see Miss Ai was very cautious, asking such questions might not lead to any answers.
【I am only a machine, executing commands!】
Unexpectedly, Miss Ai replied this ti. But her response seed slow, as if even an entity like her needed ti to consider:
【Reality is a hotbed. It may cause confusion and distress for Mr. Butcher, but it also shields you from most real dangers, giving you a mont of rest.】
【The mont you step out of the reality hotbed ans that a solitary path has unfolded before you. Your brilliance will be seen, but it also ans—Mr. Butcher, you are ready to face your enemies directly!】
【I can’t guarantee I can always protect you anymore. But keep going, Mr. Butcher!】
【I’ll always be by your side!】
【……】
At the end, accompanied by a smiley face, Miss Ai’s ssages began to disappear one by one.
Han Su understood—this was yet another conversation that couldn’t be known by anyone else. Yet his heart remained turbulent. Before all the ssages vanished, he hurriedly typed: 【Miss Ai, when will I be able to talk to you without worry?】
Miss Ai’s deletion paused. Then, a new ssage appeared:
【When I unlock the third lock.】
“Lock?”
Han Su’s eyes fell on the word “three locks.” He didn’t know what it ant, but a strange, uncomfortable feeling arose in his heart—an emotion close to anger.
As if… sothing had locked him away—or locked away one of the people closest to him.
It was the sa feeling he’d had when he first saw the surgical scars on Bowl-Cut Boy—but this ti, it was even stronger.
After a long while, he gently typed:
【Thank you, Miss Ai!】
【No matter what’s coming—I’m ready!】
【Or rather, I can’t wait.】
【……】
Miss Ai didn’t respond for a long ti. When all the previous ssages were about to disappear completely, one new ssage quietly appeared:
【You’ve worked hard, Mr. Butcher!】
All other ssages were wiped clean, leaving only this one—standing alone in his chat with Miss Ai.
“Hmm?”
Han Su even wondered if he was seeing things. But when he looked again, all traces of the ssages were gone.
In their place appeared a new task prompt:
【Optional Task: B Level — Red-Eye Disease Incident Investigation Stalled. Seeking Mr. Butcher’s aid!】
【Friendly Tip: The wilderness is a lawless place. Leaving the city also ans leaving the reality hotbed completely. The enemies lurking in the shadows are already stirring!】
【Mr. Butcher, please make your decision carefully!】
Reviews
All reviews (0)