The Eldritch Files

’The Crystal Skull Organization??’

After Zhang Chiguo left, Han Su returned to his apartment and sat quietly for a long time. His mind was still reeling from the information he had painstakingly wheedled out of the man.

’So, Zhang Chiguo saw that woman while he was investigating an incident related to the mysterious Crystal Skull Organization?’

’That means she’s really been in Qinggang City this whole time. Maybe she’s not even that far away from me?’

A complex, uncontrollable frustration welled up inside him, making him want to grit his teeth. But the feeling soon subsided, replaced by a strange sense of amusement. ’So close, yet she hasn’t shown herself once in ten years. Things are certainly getting interesting.’

Now, only one question remained: When should he go looking for this mysterious organization?

Zhang Chiguo had insisted that he wait until he became an Investigator to look into these matters. And, of course, Han Su would listen.

But then again...

’I won’t *really* investigate... just poke around a little. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?’

His mood lightened. He drew the curtains, locked the door, and sat down at his desk, turning on his brand-new, second-hand computer.

He sent a message to the woman with the Black Rose avatar: ”I’m back.”

Black Rose: ”!!! You got ’kidnapped’ back there again? It’s only been eight days! Has the interval between them really shrunk that much?”

Han Su: ”...”

Han Su: ”No, it’s not that. I was away on a trip and just got back to Qinggang City.”

Black Rose: ”And what’s that got to do with me?”

Han Su: ”...I thought we were friends.”

Han Su: ”Fine!”

Black Rose replied: ”I just remembered, I actually have something to tell you. The Public Security Bureau just canceled their payment for your sessions. They also pulled all your files and won’t even let me keep a backup.”

Black Rose: ”They’re making me delete our chat logs, too.”

Black Rose: ”Heh, but I deleted them long before they asked. The last thing I want is our conversation from that day getting out.”

Han Su: ”...”

’Is it because I joined the Disaster Management Bureau? Did they encrypt my file?’

Han Su wondered, finding her tone a bit strange. ’What’s so scandalous about our chat history that it can’t see the light of day? Other than the part about me getting ’kidnapped’...’

’Wait a minute... That’s a potential problem.’

Before, Han Su wasn’t afraid to tell people about getting ’kidnapped.’ He was at his wit’s end, barely able to go on as it was.

It was only after meeting Zhang Chiguo and learning a few things that he started being deliberately secretive. Now, the thought even crossed his mind: should he just get rid of Black Rose to tie up loose ends?

He casually typed on his keyboard: ”None of that is important now. Do you remember when I was disfigured and blind in one eye?”

Black Rose: ”?”

Black Rose sent back a giant question mark: ”When were you ever disfigured? If you weren’t so handsome, I wouldn’t have had the patience to humor you.”

Black Rose: ”And about those chat logs, I wasn’t hitting on you, it was just a normal conversation. You’d better delete your copies completely, too!!”

’As I thought. She’s forgotten everything.’

Only then did Han Su realize what she was actually worried about.

In this timeline, he hadn’t been disfigured or lost an eye. He was still good-looking, and as a result, this Black Rose was much more enthusiastic toward him.

She would occasionally say that chatting online was boring and that he should come find her at her office.

She even mentioned she had a cat in her office that could do backflips...

He quickly shook his head to clear it of those thoughts. After a moment’s consideration, he brought up the topic he really cared about:

Han Su: ”Do you know if there are any organizations in or around the city that worship Mysterious Powers? Something to do with crystals and skulls?”

Black Rose: ”?”

Black Rose sounded extremely displeased: ”Hey, I’m a psychologist, and one who can barely get any clients at that. Do you think I’m some kind of know-it-all?”

A moment later, another message came through: ”There are lots of groups in Qinggang that worship Mysterious Powers. In certain social circles, believing in Mysticism is actually pretty trendy, you know?”

Black Rose: ”You’re not talking about the Crystal Skull Organization, are you?”

Black Rose: ”I think they’re a pretty well-known group in Mysticism enthusiast circles. They worship a crystal skull that was supposedly unearthed from some ruins.”

Black Rose: ”They believe this ancient artifact possesses some kind of Mysterious Power. I’m not sure what it’s supposed to do—give you renewed vigor, grant eternal life, or make you good at ramming sheep, whatever—but they were very popular. A lot of bigwigs were followers back in the day. But they’ve long since vanished from Qinggang City...”

Han Su: ”Why?”

Black Rose: ”Crackdown!”

Han Su: ”...And you said you didn’t know anything?”

Black Rose: ”It’s a hobby...”

Han Su: ”...”

Han Su: ”Since the Public Security Bureau isn’t paying for me anymore, can I still consult with you?”

Black Rose: ”Of course!”

Black Rose’s reply was swift. She added, ”As long as you’re paying for it yourself.”

Han Su: ”Deal!”

Han Su finalized the arrangement with her, unconcerned about the money. He didn’t have any right now, but worst-case scenario, he could always go to her place and watch her cat do backflips.

Although Black Rose seemed mediocre at her actual job and didn’t believe in the existence of any real Mysterious Power, Han Su was still willing to keep talking to her.

For one, while her professional skills were average, her commitment to professional confidentiality was rock-solid.

For instance, regarding Han Su’s counseling sessions, even when the Public Security Bureau inquired, she would only reveal the outcome, never the content of their conversations. Her lips were sealed tighter than a priest’s in a confessional.

Secondly, Han Su was finding it more and more strange. How could someone who didn’t even believe in Mysticism offer advice on the subject that was so... representative?

He had many more questions he wanted to ask—about the Ghost Truck, about Pseudo-humans, about the Encrypted Spell—but he had just joined the Disaster Management Bureau and didn’t yet understand its rules of operation. He decided to hold back for now.

After confirming that the woman could still serve as his unprofessional consultant, he closed the chat window.

So the mysterious organization really did exist. But the way Black Rose described it and the way Zhang Chiguo described it were two completely different things.

”In this world, just as there are institutions like our Disaster Management Bureau trying to stop the Penetration of certain things, there are also organizations that worship the mysterious and will stop at nothing to let those things in.”

”You’ll face danger in the Disaster Management Bureau, of course. But if you recklessly go seeking out those other organizations, the danger will be far greater.”

”So, until you have the ability to protect yourself, if you see them, you stay away.”

”...”

Han Su was very familiar with this feeling. Back in the Ancient Castle, he would never dare step into a hallway without first seeing clearly what lay within.

Now, determined to investigate this matter, Han Su looked out at Qinggang City’s vast Mysterious World and felt as though he were about to step into another one of those unknown corridors from the Ancient Castle.

Perhaps stepping into that corridor meant danger at every turn, but passing through it might lead to a door of hope.

PING!

Just as he was mulling over these problems, he suddenly heard a crisp notification sound.

It took him a moment to react before he understood. He hastily picked up his phone and saw that a message had come through on the Disaster Management Bureau app:

[E3 Level Mission: From 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM, proceed to the third streetlight from the right end of Spring Beauty Street. Precisely record the times this streetlight turns off and on, and submit the corresponding data!]

’My mission’s here?’

It took Han Su a moment to realize what was happening. He checked the time; it was already eleven at night.

He didn’t waste any time. He immediately got up, got dressed, and picked up the briefcase he had received from the Disaster Management Bureau.

He went downstairs, hailed a cab, and arrived at Spring Beauty Street in about half an hour. Many of the shops were still open, and there were food stalls along the road. He found a place to sit and observe from a distance.

It was just an ordinary streetlight with a black pole and a vintage-style lampshade.

It was currently lit, shining steadily, with insects swarming around the lampshade. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

It wasn’t time yet, so he wasn’t in any hurry. He just waited patiently.

About half an hour later, the air on the street grew colder. Pedestrians began to quicken their pace, and even the drunks seemed to sober up a little. As midnight approached, the shops all began to close.

Another ten minutes or so passed, and a team of Public Security Bureau officers came by on patrol. After they left, there were even fewer people on the street.

Han Su waited by the side of the road until 12:50 AM. When he looked around again, the entire street was deserted, as if the whole city had emptied out.

Only the streetlight remained, quietly casting its glow, a lonely sentinel watching over the empty world.

He picked up his briefcase, walked slowly to the edge of the street, and stood beneath a tall French plane tree, looking up.

All around, the wind grew colder, and not a soul was in sight.

There seemed to be a tension in the air.

But the streetlight remained perfectly normal until 1:27 AM, when it flickered slightly, as if from an unstable power supply. Han Su noted the time.

He went back to waiting patiently.

Over the course of the night, he recorded the streetlight flickering three times. It also went out completely twice—once for two minutes and twenty-three seconds, and once for three minutes and fifty-six seconds.

Other than that, nothing happened.

Han Su stayed there just like that until 5:00 AM. A thin fog had started to form on the street, and early risers walking by gave the strange man with the black briefcase standing under the streetlight odd looks.

When the time came, the streetlight went out without a sound. Han Su turned and vanished into the morning fog.

That night, nothing had happened.

Han Su didn’t feel disappointed. He simply submitted the data he had recorded.

As he sat down on the bus, the app chimed with a BEEP. Han Su saw the feedback: record submission successful, mission complete.

Miss Ai: ”Thank you, Mr. Butcher, for your contribution to the defense of reality. Your initial evaluation is rising. Please keep up the good work!”