The Eldritch Files

Han Su had to admit, he was getting a little scared.

He used to think Miss Ai was a bit too secretive and not forthright enough, but now all he could think was:

’Is Miss Ai being a little too brazen now?’

’These are all B Level tasks...’

Previously, Zhang Chiguo had even given him a special lecture on the classification standards for each task Level, precisely because Han Su lacked a healthy respect for these anomalies.

C Level tasks were already considered a meat grinder for Executors. B Level tasks, on the other hand, were the kind that even Investigators had to risk their lives to complete. An anomaly was only classified as B Level if its inherent threat reached that tier, signifying a direct assault on the frontline of reality.

But now, how come they seemed to be dirt cheap?

He even had to pad the word count when writing the reports; otherwise, the few short lines simply didn’t do justice to the Level.

On the first day, he completed four cases.

On the second day, he broke a record, completing an incredible six cases in a single day.

By the third day, Han Su had cleared a huge backlog of incidents, bringing his total to seventeen cases.

He shattered the record of some prodigy—now an Independent Investigator—who had neutralized fourteen different anomalies in three days, becoming the new record holder for the Disaster Management Bureau’s three-year history. In just three short days, the name ’Investigator Butcher’ had come to overshadow everyone else in the Bureau.

And throughout this process, his Spiritual Activity was also rapidly increasing.

After three days, it had reached 69%.

The Divine Domain, which only a few days ago had seemed impossibly distant and mysterious, was now just a final step away.

This rate of progress was a bit unsettling for Han Su, who had spent his entire life just struggling to survive...

But Han Su’s surprise was nothing compared to the tidal wave crashing through the roiling undercurrents of the Disaster Management Bureau.

”This is fucking insane!”

”This is rigged! It’s definitely rigged!”

’He’s just a rookie, someone who’s been with the Disaster Management Bureau for less than two months! How did he manage to solve so many cases in such a short time, especially when all the other Investigators have been subtly refusing them?’

’Not only were there new incidents, but also many difficult backlogged cases. And they were all significant anomalous crises, yet he solved them all by himself?’

’All the attention and the entire spotlight are on one person. What kind of bullshit is that?’

’If one rookie can really solve this many problems, then what do they need all the other Investigators for?’

For some subtle psychological reason, the Investigators who had been so determined to pressure the Bureau now felt a sense of crisis. They couldn’t drag things out any longer. Or rather, they felt a subtle fear that they *dared* not drag things out any longer...

The unified front within the Disaster Management Bureau, formed after countless secret negotiations and backroom deals, felt like it was crumbling before it could even make a move...

...

...

Meanwhile, in Zhang Chiguo’s office, his face was grim as he accepted the report from Secretary Cui Qiao. It seemed as if his hair had grown a few shades whiter in just three days.

He already knew that those who opposed him planned to force him out by passively neglecting their duties. Naturally, he was prepared for a bleak situation, with all sorts of problems cropping up in Qinggang.

Then, as he opened the report, his eyes suddenly shot wide.

”Young Master Duo?”

Zhang Chiguo almost spat out the tea in his mouth.

He knew Investigators were secretly forming an alliance to oppose him and had been expecting a report with dismal numbers.

But looking at the data in the report Secretary Cui Qiao had actually handed him...

...’It seems... a little high?’

Meeting Old Zhang’s hesitant gaze, Secretary Cui Qiao said impassively:

”You’re not seeing things. I had the same reaction when I first saw it.”

”But the fact is, this is the data from the last few days. Not only did the numbers not drop, they’re actually a bit higher.”

”And the one responsible is that ’great-nephew’ of yours!”

”That’s right, don’t just stare. Everything written here is true. In just three short days, he single-handedly resolved seventeen cases... I haven’t had time to look into the details of how he did it, but there are indeed seventeen case reports, all signed by him!”

”Among them were eleven B Level tasks, four C Level, and one D Level. There was also one that he initially submitted as B Level, but later felt the case was far more significant, so he resubmitted a report requesting it be reclassified as A Level, with the corresponding compensation!”

”...”

After saying all that in one breath, she gave Zhang Chiguo a long, hard look. ”I have to congratulate you...”

”...on discovering a star Investigator...”

”...”

”How is that possible? He doesn’t have that kind of skill.”

Instead of feeling happy, Zhang Chiguo’s first reaction was a sudden worry. ’Did this kid really go all out, not holding anything back and risking his life to help me?’

As he began to flip carefully through the report, Secretary Cui Qiao added, ”Don’t bother looking. He didn’t exhibit any unusual behavior.”

”He was able to achieve this miraculous new record entirely through the use of stun batons, handguns, Executors, intelligence, special weapons requisitions, and his own daring yet meticulous nature.”

Zhang Chiguo said, ”How is that possible?”

Secretary Cui Qiao replied, ”In any case, that’s what the reports say.”

Hearing this, Zhang Chiguo actually calmed down. He slowly tapped his knuckles on the desk and said in a low voice, ”The reports may be watertight, but the story is still too outrageous.”

”So, you’ve seen it too?”

Secretary Cui Qiao lowered her voice. ”The truth is, the resolution of these cases relied on Miss Ai’s powerful insight and her abilities in information gathering and data analysis.”

”Only her powerful Computation Power could have accomplished this.”

”But we’ve applied to the higher-ups countless times. Even your transfer here was intended to find a reason to persuade them to remove one of the locks on Miss Ai, but they’ve always refused.”

”Theoretically, Miss Ai’s Computation Power should be at full capacity right now. And yet, she’s performing as if she has plenty to spare...”

”Could it be that, without our knowledge, the higher-ups have already...”

”...”

Zhang Chiguo knew what she was implying. He slowly shook his head. ”The higher-ups would never remove her locks.”

Secretary Cui Qiao’s expression grew grim. ”Then...”

Zhang Chiguo spoke in a low voice, his eyes revealing a profound depth. ”Then perhaps... Miss Ai was hiding a portion of her Computation Power all along?”

”But if that’s the case, why would she suddenly unleash that portion of her Computation Power now, so openly?”

”...”

Secretary Cui Qiao stared at Han Su’s signatures, one after another, on the reports. It brought to mind something she had long suspected but never delved into, as it fell outside the scope of her duties:

”Could it be... that she had been diverting a portion of her Computation Power to do something else, and only now has that portion been freed up to be used on these cases?”

”...”

Zhang Chiguo was silent for a long time. This was precisely what he feared most.

If Miss Ai always had surplus Computation Power, it would mean the higher-ups’ assessment of her has always been wrong. They’ve been underestimating her all this time.

It would be understandable for Miss Ai to hide that fact. But now, she’s revealing it so directly.

’What does this mean?’

’Does she simply not care if the higher-ups discover her anomaly?’

’Thinking deeper, the higher-ups know full well that the Disaster Management Bureau has become malformed and bloated from its overly rapid development, yet they refuse to remove Miss Ai’s locks. They do it to maintain absolute control over her.’

But now, Miss Ai has demonstrated that she inherently has a surplus of power equivalent to at least one lock.

’In that case, do the higher-ups even have a way to ’lock’ Miss Ai up again?’

But the most critical point was...

Zhang Chiguo’s expression was deep and grave. ’Miss Ai’s Computation Power is her most mysterious weapon. Why would she use it on Han Su?’

Meanwhile, Secretary Cui Qiao was debating whether to mention something. During a recent mission, an Executor codenamed ”Sparrow” had died accidentally.

The death of an Executor wasn’t a major event, even for one who seemed promising enough to earn an Investigator License.

’But she knew perfectly well that she herself had just accidentally revealed that this Executor, codename Sparrow, was the point of contact from the D7 incident. And just by coincidence, she had died quietly, with the death even being officially reported as a mission casualty.’

’Could it be that the Lady in the Red Windbreaker can no longer protect her own assistant during a C Level task?’

There were countless suspicious points, but she was almost afraid to connect the dots.

’If my suspicions are true, then Zhang the Head’s protégé isn’t the egg smashing against the stone after all...’

...

...

”Star Investigator. Heh, what a ’star Investigator’...”

In West City, the Drunkard Investigator had just bought a bar to use as his headquarters.

The reason was simple: after the incident with Sparrow’s death, the master of Dingxiang Mansion’s attitude had become unclear, and everyone else grew wary and no longer dared to go there.

Looking at the string of completed case reports, the Drunkard Investigator knew exactly what it meant. He slammed his hand on the table in a rage.

”So they’re dropping the act entirely?”

”...”

’Others might not understand. They’re just stunned by the young man who appeared at this critical moment, stole the show, and turned the Bureau’s tense, politically charged situation into a complete joke.’

’But I see it crystal clear: this is all Zhang Chiguo’s scheme!’

’That blockhead has finally gotten smart...’

’To think he’d use a method like this to turn the Investigators’ silent protest into a laughingstock.’

It was only now that he started to connect the dots: Zhang Chiguo’s transfer, his quick move to contact the sole survivor of that kidnapping case, bringing the survivor in, and then arranging for him to get an Investigator License in such a short time.

’Step by step, his moves were shrewd and ruthless, and every single one struck right at my vital weakness!’

’Whether it was the survivor’s special status or the brazen way they were now putting on this show without any regard for what others thought, it all projected a ”nothing to lose” recklessness...’

’And that even included the file that was dug up right at this specific moment—not earlier, not later...’

’Zhang Chiguo... he’s backing me into a corner!’