The Eldritch Files

”Two-bodied People?”

Han Su frowned slightly as he looked at the mission’s name.

Miss Ai had gone to such lengths to give him this mission. ’Is there something special about it?’

’Could it be related to the Life Code, the very thing that interests me most right now?’

Just looking at the mission details offered no clues. It seemed Miss Ai was afraid of him, disappearing the moment she assigned the mission.

With no other choice, he began to look through the materials that came with the mission himself.

The detection of this Penetration incident originated from a report by the Public Security Bureau. Within a short span of two months, the Bureau had received four separate reports, all claiming that a relative or friend had become a different person on the inside.

They still had their original appearance and voice, but the people filing the reports were all certain that the person before them was no longer the person they knew.

The most significant of these was a woman in her thirties. In a recorded statement filmed at the Public Security Bureau, she swore emphatically:

”My husband... my husband isn’t himself anymore.”

”He’s a monster, a monster wearing my husband’s skin!”

”I’m sure of it. Of course I’m sure.”

”Before this, my husband hadn’t touched me in two years. Don’t look at me like that. I know I’m good-looking and have a decent figure, but my husband couldn’t even be bothered to touch me. He’d rather lock himself in the bathroom to... take care of himself than give me a second glance.”

”But a week ago, he changed. The way he looks at me... it’s like a wolf. At night, he’d creep over to my side. No, sometimes he couldn’t even wait for the night. He’d just... want it.”

”At first, I just thought he was cheating. That he felt guilty and was trying to overcompensate with me.”

”But then I realized that wasn’t it. He was genuinely interested in me, exceptionally so. He wanted it every night, sometimes even before nightfall, like he was tireless. And that’s when I knew. He wasn’t him anymore.”

”Young man, you’ll understand when you get married.”

”I know him, and I know men. He must have become someone else...”

”A person... a person can’t lie about their own instincts!”

”...”

The other reports were similar, though none were as visceral or certain as this woman’s.

Initially, the Public Security Bureau dismissed these reports as troublemaking lunatics or cases of hysteria from the mentally ill.

After all, as the first line of contact with the public, they had seen too many similar incidents. They’d even encountered cases far more bizarre and seemingly supernatural than this.

But as the number of related reports grew, they eventually came to Miss Ai’s attention.

So, she dispatched an Executioner to make contact with the suspects. With the first two, the Executioner noticed nothing unusual; the suspected individuals showed no flaws in their speech or behavior.

It was only upon encountering the third suspect that the Executioner suddenly vanished.

Miss Ai issued an alert following the Executioner’s disappearance and ultimately handed the mission to Han Su.

”Mission codename: ’Two-bodied People.’ Suspected that an unknown life form has entered the bodies of these individuals, supplanted their will, gained control of their bodies, and is now operating within society. The objective is to identify the source and stop it?”

As Han Su reviewed the information, he forwarded the relevant files to the Doctor.

As for Black Tiger, it was simpler. Han Su just told him to get ready.

The Doctor’s reply came quickly. The first message was: ”Finally, something to do.”

The second was: ”An Investigator’s handling of an abnormal Penetration has several key steps:”

”First, qualification.”

”Second, investigation.”

”Third, source tracing.”

”...”

He was clearly the assistant, yet he was lecturing Han Su as if giving a science lesson, his replies coming in rapid succession:

”Qualification means providing evidence or theoretical analysis to determine if this phenomenon is related to a Penetration. This is the simplest step. By analyzing the data already on hand, we can directly qualify it and proceed to the investigation.”

”As for the second step, our job is to determine the cause of these abnormalities and their method of transmission, then formulate an appropriate plan to stop them.”

”This step isn’t difficult either. Based on the identities of the current suspects and the movement trackers provided by Miss Ai, we can plot a rough map. The epicenter is a small arts-and-crafts workshop in the Huayang District called the Sea Workshop.”

”I speculate the source of the abnormality is there.”

”Of course, I need to head over there first to perform a preliminary verification.”

”Once I’ve confirmed it, we can begin the Penetration and containment work on this abnormal life form simultaneously.”

The Doctor quickly laid out the plan: ”With that, we need to focus on the third step: solving the problem.”

”It’s obvious from the disappearance of the Executioner that while these Two-bodied People possess strong adaptability and camouflage, they are also highly likely to turn violent once discovered, and their threat level is not low.”

”Therefore, once I’ve completed the verification, we will need to immediately lock down the relevant locations and prepare for a forceful cleanup.”

”...”

After saying so much in one breath, he seemed to remember something and added: ”This is my preliminary investigation plan. Please approve it, Mr. Investigator.”

’So you do remember I’m the Investigator...’

Han Su grumbled internally, but he still read the plan carefully. The Doctor was impatient and arbitrary.

’How could he jump to so many conclusions on such a large and complex case?’

But after reading it over carefully, he replied, ”Alright, go ahead and verify it as you suggested.”

Damn, he was good!

Was it really possible for someone to read the files once and come up with so many precise and effective conclusions?

Some of the points were things he himself had to think about for a moment to understand.

For instance, the Sea Workshop he mentioned was the workplace of the earliest reported case among the suspected ’replaced’ individuals. Furthermore, the movement patterns and living areas of most other suspects were also close to this location.

Simply put, if you drew a circle connecting the locations of all the suspected Two-bodied People, the Sea Workshop would be at its center.

Han Su couldn’t help but mutter to himself. While still looking at the files, he picked up his briefcase.

Unexpectedly, the Doctor sent another message: ”Where are you now?”

Han Su replied, ”At home. It’ll take about thirty minutes to get there.”

The Doctor wrote back: ”That’s too slow. Black Tiger and I are at the base. I’m inclined to take him and verify it myself. We’re already on our way and will arrive fifteen minutes ahead of you. That’s enough time for us to finish the verification.”

”?”

Han Su was stunned. ’Who’s the Investigator here?’

’You’re doing all the work, so what am I supposed to do?’

Just as he was thinking this, the Doctor sent another message: ”I suggest you go ahead and request the containment protocol and the relevant cleanup crew. Only an Investigator has that authority. I can’t overstep.”

’What’s with the regretful tone?’

Han Su had a strange feeling about this, but could only reply, ”Be extremely careful. Don’t forget that you and Black Tiger are both new to this.”

The Doctor’s response: ”Thank you for your concern, Mr. Investigator, but I won’t make such a low-level mistake!”

”?”

Han Su wasn’t sure. ’Is he being sarcastic?’

’It’s just my imagination, right?’

He immediately went downstairs, grabbed his silver briefcase, and rushed to the scene. On the way, he received a reply from the Doctor:

”It’s confirmed. The source of the Penetration is at the Sea Workshop. The contamination is severe. You can now qualify the event and request containment and cleanup.”

”...”

Han Su was immediately on alert. ”Are you two okay?”

”We’re fine.”

The Doctor replied: ”I anticipated the potential dangers, which is why I brought Black Tiger. He has also completed his Tier One Mysterious Power training. From the currently available Zero Sequence Spells, he chose Spell number 02.”

”He is now a reliable combat asset.”

”...”

Number 02?

Han Su recalled it. That Spell was [My Limbs].

It was a Spell that used Spiritual Power to enhance the speed and impact of one’s limbs and improve control over weaponry. It was indeed a popular choice for Executioners looking to increase their personal destructive power.

Given Black Tiger’s already astonishing agility and combat skills, this Spell was a perfect fit for him.

But hearing that both of them had completed their Mysterious Power training made him curious. ”Then which one did you choose?”

The Doctor’s reply: ”Number 04, Wandering Spirit’s Return.”

Han Su was rather surprised. ”Why did you choose that Spell?”

The Doctor replied: ”I simply believe that when facing the unknown, information is the most important thing. Of the five Zero Sequence Encrypted Spells available to us, only Number 04, Wandering Spirit’s Return, is related to information, so I learned it first.”

”But it’s true that its applications are too narrow. I’m not entirely satisfied.”

”...”

Han Su let out a soft breath. He was finally realizing his role in this small team. ”When we meet, I can teach you another, more effective Spell. That goes for Black Tiger, too.”

The Doctor was taken aback. ”What?”

Han Su answered, ”Zero Sequence numbers 8, 9, and 10. In my opinion, they are all very suitable for you.”

’These two assistants have been very impressive...’

’It seems the best thing I can do right now is to give them a bit more of an edge when facing mysterious events, then.’

As he thought this, he submitted the mission qualification report and proposed solution to Miss Ai, requesting the intervention of Executioners and a cleanup squad.

Miss Ai’s reply was swift: [Mr. Butcher’s performance is a pleasant surprise. I didn’t think Mr. Butcher would have even reached the mission area by now.]

Han Su was speechless.

But immediately after, Miss Ai sent another message: [Application submitted. Given the scale and danger of this Two-bodied People Penetration event, I recommend dispatching the D7 team to join the cleanup operation.]

[Approval granted. Initiating dispatch procedures for the D7 cleanup team!]

[The D7 team is ready and will arrive on-site in forty minutes!]

[...]

[...]

The rapid succession of messages left Han Su struggling to keep up.

When he saw the words ”D7 team,” his heart skipped a beat.

The D7 team... ’Aren’t those the serious criminals?’