The Eldritch Files

He hesitated, then typed a message: [If the mission is already complete, does that mean I can become an Investigator?]

Miss Ai replied: [I am merely a machine, responsible for issuing and reviewing missions. The agreement Mr. Butcher made with others from the Abnormal Disaster Assessment and Management Bureau is outside the scope of my authority! By my standards of judgment, Mr. Butcher should have been promoted to Investigator long ago.]

Han Su nodded slightly and changed his question: [So, what changes will there be after I’m promoted to Investigator?]

Miss Ai paused for a moment, then a large amount of text began to appear: [After an Executioner is promoted to Investigator, their initial evaluation from their time as an Executioner will be reset to zero, returning them to a D+ status. Their rating will then be improved through their performance in a series of investigations and executions.]

[Basic information related to Mysterious Penetration will be made available to Mr. Butcher. The mission-locking function and the authority to request Executioner deployment will be unlocked for Mr. Butcher. Access to the Encrypted Spells of the three major Sequences of Mysterious Power and core training will also be granted.]

[Upon promotion to Investigator, your data security level will be elevated, entering a phase where it is personally supervised by me. Within the scope of my abilities, I will protect Mr. Butcher!]

[...]

’So this is what Song Chushi meant when he said Miss Ai would protect me?’

Han Su’s heart stirred. He quickly replied: [What form does this protection take, specifically?]

Miss Ai didn’t reply as quickly this time. After a long moment, the message appeared: [You’ll find out when the time comes.]

’?’

’Is that something a machine is supposed to say?’

While he was puzzled, Miss Ai continued sending messages: [In addition, Mr. Butcher will receive a new Investigator briefcase.]

Han Su frowned. [What’s the briefcase for?]

Miss Ai sent him a rundown: [In the work of the Disaster Management Bureau, briefcases play a very important supporting role. They can also be used to distinguish between different functional levels.]

[Junior Executioners typically use the most common grade of black briefcase, which only has the most basic functions like being bulletproof and blocking Penetration. Executioner team leaders, senior Executioners, and Investigator Assistants typically use gray briefcases with similar functions.]

[Investigators, however, will possess the exclusive, high-grade, standard-issue silver briefcase from the Disaster Management Bureau, which has multiple functions including being bulletproof, fireproof, having a GPS locator, and a fingerprint lock.]

”Black, gray, silver...”

Han Su listened with growing interest. He smiled and said, ”What about the higher levels?”

Miss Ai responded: [At higher levels, there are also the special custom-made briefcases used by Independent Investigators. They can choose their favorite colors. Some senior Investigators can also specify the color of the briefcase they use.]

[However, once they reach the level of Independent Investigator and above, they often prefer to use old cases.]

”Old cases?”

Han Su was reminded of Song Chushi.

The one he always carried seemed to be a rather old briefcase, worn in many places.

Just as he was thinking about this, Miss Ai sent another message: [Additionally, Investigators have the authority to investigate suspicious incidents in Qinggang City and submit reports. Even for cases that have already been closed, they can be resubmitted and reopened for investigation if new evidence is found!]

[...]

”Hmm?”

If it had just been about the other powers and benefits, Han Su wouldn’t have felt much.

But when he saw the last sentence of Miss Ai’s reply, he suddenly sat up straight. ”Investigate information on suspicious incidents... and resubmit?”

’Miss Ai... is she hinting that even that kidnapping case, the one that’s already been closed, can be reopened for investigation?’

[Of course.]

As he was deep in thought, Miss Ai took the initiative to send him a message: [Investigating certain dangerous incidents involves facing immense risk and malice. I hope that before you do, Mr. Butcher, you will upgrade yourself first to ensure you have the ability to confront those risks, ’kay!]

’There it is again, using those particles...’

Whenever Miss Ai used those particles, Han Su would get an extremely strange feeling. He quickly asked: [Then, how do you think I should upgrade?]

Miss Ai: [I am just a machine, but I believe that before upgrading, you need to have a sufficient understanding of yourself. Some spaghetti code might be able to run, but I don’t think it can run for very long!]

”Spaghetti code?”

Han Su was so taken aback by this term that he narrowed his eyes, typing curiously: [What does that mean?]

Miss Ai answered: [Tier One of Mysterious Power is Activity, Penetration, and Transformation. Tier Two begins with the Understanding, Stealing, and Mastering of Authority. While you can certainly use various Encrypted Spells to raise your level in Tier One, this is merely superficial.]

[If you fail to understand the fundamental nature of the relationship between Mysterious Power and Spiritual Power, you will face immense setbacks upon entering Tier Two!]

[...]

’After sending these messages, the screen flickered, and she actually exited the chat on her own?’

Most importantly, Han Su saw that the last few messages she had sent were gradually fading before disappearing entirely.

’She even unsent the messages?’

The strange feeling in Han Su’s heart deepened.

Miss Ai’s words struck a chord with him. He thought about the moment he subdued the Ghost Truck, the copper-colored blood that had flowed from the back of his left hand, and his ability to summon the Ghost Truck.

He was certain in his heart that the key to everything lay in the phrase he had blurted out.

That phrase, the one that had followed him from the Ancient Castle into reality, was what made the copper-colored blood seep from the back of his left hand.

That blood had covered the core of the Ghost Truck, which was how he had managed to control it.

Why did that phrase have such a mysterious effect?

Han Su had only undergone about ten days of training in Mysterious Power; his foundation was not yet solid.