The Eldritch Files

”I already know.”

Han Su had just submitted his report, taking a moment to reassess his own place in the Mysterious Circle, when a knock sounded at the door. Zhang Chiguo walked in, his expression grim. Cui Qiao followed, and the atmosphere around them felt heavy.

”Someone conducted a malicious Penetration against you. It also affected the Nail of the Dead Sea in your possession and nearly caused the mission to fail.”

”I’ve already confirmed this with Miss Ai.”

”Because it happened outside the city, her monitoring capabilities are limited. She couldn’t pinpoint the source, but a matter like this is extremely serious.”

”...”

Looking at Zhang Chiguo’s livid face, Han Su smiled. ”How serious are we talking?”

Zhang Chiguo said coldly, ”Serious enough that even if the perpetrator were an Independent Investigator, they would be brought down for something like this!”

”Before you joined the Disaster Management Bureau, I told you that you would be targeted by certain people, even framed.”

His expression grew even darker. He lowered his voice. ”I just didn’t expect them to be so desperate—or so brazen.”

”I imagine this has something to do with your outstanding performance at the Disaster Management Bureau and your rapid promotion.”

”But that’s what worries me more. I was anxious when they hadn’t made a move against you, because an unseen enemy is hard to guard against. But this time, the moment they acted, they completely disregarded the Disaster Management Bureau’s rules.”

”Attacking someone while they’re on a mission—that crosses the line. The Disaster Management Bureau is a mess, I admit, but interfering with another’s mission is the biggest taboo!”

”They crossed the line on their first try. Does that mean next time they’ll just go straight for the kill?”

”You’re about to be promoted to Investigator, and you’ll certainly be much safer in the city. But what about in the future? Are you never going to leave the city again?”

”That’s why I will get to the bottom of this.”

”...”

Looking at Zhang Chiguo’s determined face, Han Su suddenly felt a flicker of worry.

Whether he should leave the city was another matter entirely. In fact, a part of him was looking forward to it, just so he could try summoning the Ghost Truck.

But at that moment, he remembered the warning Song Chushi had given him.

If this Penetration came from that monster, it was an entity that even Song Chushi was wary of.

Would Zhang Chiguo be in danger if he confronted it?

With this in mind, Han Su said, ”Uncle Zhang, what if you investigate and find out it’s someone even you can’t afford to offend?”

”...”

Faced with this question, Zhang Chiguo was taken aback for a moment. He shook his head slightly. ”I’m just a minor figure. There are many people I can’t afford to offend. But what does that have to do with me doing my job?”

It was Han Su’s turn to be taken aback. He opened his mouth to speak but then hesitated.

Zhang Chiguo waved a hand dismissively. ”I’ve actually already started the investigation. I have a suspect in mind. Don’t ask.”

”Of course, this suspect has certainly surprised me.”

”To be honest, I never thought they’d have any connection to you. The true core of the Disaster Management Bureau consists of Executors, Investigators, Independent Investigators, and related departments, plus those Legendary Investigators who already have one foot out the door.”

”But there are others who have Mastered Mysterious Power: the monsters imprisoned by the Bureau, or things bound by special contracts.”

”The subject I now suspect falls into that last category—something under a special contract.”

”It’s currently under a special status. Originally, this status was supposed to be lifted within two days, but it seems there was some kind of accident that extended it.”

”But I will submit an application as soon as possible to detain and question it the moment its special status is lifted.”

”Another thing to note is...”

Zhang Chiguo paused for a moment before saying to Han Su, ”If it was indeed spying on you, then the person who protected you from its gaze is no simple character.”

”Most of these Mysterious Organizations do indeed remain neutral, and the Disaster Management Bureau even tacitly allows some of them to exist. But you still need to be careful. Their beliefs, their ideologies... they can affect people, twist what’s inside them.”

”...”

Han Su understood. Zhang Chiguo also knew about the person who had helped him during the mission.

As he mulled it over, the image of a figure in a cat-faced mask flashed through his mind, but he was still puzzled:

’The one who helped me... that has to be Miss Wei Lan, right?’

’It seems she’s also a figure in the Mysterious Circle. And a powerful one at that!’

’That shivering shadow from back then, the one held captive on the fifth floor... after escaping that kidnapping, did she never leave the Mysterious Circle?’

’...’

These thoughts raced through his mind, but Han Su kept them to himself. He just looked at Zhang Chiguo, smiled, and said:

”Uncle Zhang, the Disaster Management Bureau really does need to be cleaned up. But you need to be careful.”

Zhang Chiguo’s expression flickered. Just as he was about to speak, Han Su smiled again. ”I really don’t want to deal with this kind of thing, but I’m too busy. I have my own things to do and don’t want to waste effort fighting with them. So I’ll have to rely on you.”

”But more than that, I don’t want anything to happen to you. I’m afraid I won’t have time to help you.”

Zhang Chiguo had wanted to take this opportunity to talk to Han Su about surviving in the Disaster Management Bureau, to discuss the risks Han Su had taken during the Ghost Truck incident. But then he saw the look in Han Su’s eyes, and the words died in his throat.

So tired.

Zhang Chiguo didn’t know why he was seeing such a weary expression on the face of a young man like Han Su.

But it made him abandon his intention to question him further. He sighed softly, patted Han Su’s shoulder, and said, ”The Investigator License will be in your hands soon. Your clearance and confidentiality Level will both be increased.”

”Besides, you may not have the time, but I do.”

”And I’m not insistent on dealing with that monster just for you. This is my job.”

Han Su was taken aback but just nodded. He picked up his briefcase and started to leave, but Zhang Chiguo suddenly called out to him again. ”Xiaohan, make sure you get some rest. You’ve already dealt with the Ghost Truck.”

”That other matter...”

”We still have time.”

”Don’t run yourself into the ground.”

”...”

Han Su stopped, slightly surprised. He glanced back at Zhang Chiguo and nodded. ”Got it, Uncle Zhang.”

But inwardly he sighed: ’The machine is still ticking. How can I possibly rest?’

He walked straight out with his briefcase, only to hear someone call his name once again at the base entrance.

”Han Su.”

Han Su frowned and turned to see an unexpected person: the Lady in the Red Windbreaker.

She was still wearing her signature red windbreaker, with exquisite makeup and a pair of somewhat exaggerated high heels.

He forced a slight smile. ”Teacher Li, is there something I can help you with?”

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker’s codename at the Disaster Management Bureau was Red Windbreaker, but her surname was Li. Miss Crow was her niece, but her surname was Dong—Han Su had no idea how that family tree worked.

He had already made things clear to Miss Crow, so he was prepared for her aunt to come looking for him. He didn’t need to be friendly, but she had trained him, after all. A polite form of address was still in order.

”Perhaps I should congratulate you on solving the Ghost Truck case and obtaining your Investigator License in what must be record time?”

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker walked over slowly, a faint smile on her face. ”But then again, I thought you would ask me for help. I was even prepared to give it.”

”Didn’t you say I shouldn’t call you unless I was ready to accept your conditions?”

Han Su returned a polite smile. ”I’m not in the habit of agreeing to conditions in advance, so I didn’t make the call.”

”We really don’t mean you any harm.”

Sensing the distance in Han Su’s attitude, the Lady in the Red Windbreaker’s expression suddenly turned grave. ”Regarding the Ghost Truck matter, we were originally planning to help you with all our resources.”

”We even created a suitable plan and selected the right people for you before you even asked.”

”In the end...”

She paused, looking directly into Han Su’s eyes. ”From the very beginning, we intended to give you this Investigator License as a gift.”

Hearing this, Han Su’s expression flickered slightly. He looked up at her. ”And then?”

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker said slowly, ”And then, after you became an Investigator, we would have introduced you to someone.”

”He would have guided you, helped you get familiar with the circle of Investigators, taught you how to survive in it, and even trained you personally...”

”Of course, the prerequisite was that you agree to that one condition.”

”...”

Han Su asked, ”What condition?”

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker began slowly, ”After your promotion to Investigator, you are to focus on improving yourself and completing the Disaster Management Bureau’s missions...”

”But you are not to bring up certain matters that have already been settled!”

When Han Su heard this, his heart skipped a beat. He looked up at her, his gaze cold and his tone hardening.

”Why?”

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker sighed and shook her head gently. ”Some things are very complicated. It’s not something that can be explained in a sentence or two. I have to admit, it was my mistake to force you to agree to this condition before you even faced the Ghost Truck.”

”But now that you have your Investigator License, you’ve only just crossed the threshold. There is still so much you need to learn, and what we can promise you...”

She seemed to be weighing her words, trying to come up with some tempting offer, but Han Su suddenly cut her off. ”Can you stop with the nonsense?”

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker froze, her expression turning indignant. ”What did you say?”

”I said, can you stop with the nonsense?”

Han Su looked her directly in the eye. ”Teacher Li, you’re a busy person, and so am I.”

”I’m grateful you took the time to train me in using Mysterious Power, but that doesn’t mean I have the patience to stand here and play childish games with you.”

”I don’t know who this person you’re talking about is, and I don’t know what he’s planning. But if he wants to see me, tell him to come find me himself!”

”If he wants to give me conditions, let him come and tell me the reason for them to my face.”

”Don’t waste everyone’s time, and don’t force your niece—who’s already halfway to losing her mind—to carry out surveillance missions she’s completely unsuited for!”

He took a step back and said with grave sincerity, ”Goodbye!”

With that, he turned and strode toward the base entrance, leaving the Lady in the Red Windbreaker standing there, her face flushing red and pale in turn, a terrible expression on it.