The Eldritch Files

’In the Ancient Castle, did any of the children I saved ever appear in the real world...?’

’Bai Shi seems very clever. He must have figured something out. He didn’t kill me directly, but instead triggered this intense crisis, which in turn caused Miss Ai to unlock one of her locks...’

’Perhaps while I was waging war against those Investigators, another war was unfolding in a place I couldn’t see?’

Miss Ai’s previous answer to him flashed through his mind.

He had asked Miss Ai when he could have a proper conversation with her, and she had said when she had opened three locks.

Now, were there only two left?

Despite the astonishment of the others, Han Su didn’t overthink it. He had planned to go anyway.

After discovering Bai Shi’s identity, he knew he had to confront him and get some questions answered.

He slowly stepped forward and said, ”I’m will...”

But Zhang Chiguo raised a hand, stopping Han Su’s response. His gaze was cold as he looked at Miss Ai. ”I need to confirm this with you again, Miss Ai. Are you certain there are no other suitable candidates besides him?”

”If it’s just a matter of going in and dragging that monster out, then I’m the most suitable.”

”...”

Miss Ai replied robotically, ”Mr. Zhang Chiguo, formerly one of the Four Heavenly Kings, possesses a Spiritual Model in an abnormal state, capable of generating considerable impact and destructive force.”

”However, this type of Spiritual Model has overly obvious weaknesses and mental defects. If you were to undertake this special cleanup mission, the probability of failure would be as high as 70%. According to the special operations clause of the Abnormal Disaster Assessment and Management Bureau, this probability...”

Zhang Chiguo’s pupils contracted. A flash of shock crossed his face as he abruptly looked up.

”Are you... really Miss Ai?”

”...”

Miss Ai replied, ”Yes!”

The shock in Zhang Chiguo’s heart was hard to dispel. Miss Ai’s mention of his former identity left him somewhat baffled, but it also made him realize something. The resistance he had just felt toward Han Su being chosen was largely dissipated by this new discovery.

He slowly turned his head to look at Han Su. ”You’re willing to do this?”

Han Su met his gaze, nodded, and smiled. ”Someone has to go in.”

Zhang Chiguo looked at him, then at Miss Ai. After a long moment, he sighed softly. ”I haven’t paid enough attention to you.”

”I get the feeling that in the short time you’ve been with the Disaster Management Bureau, you’ve come into contact with a lot of dangerous things...”

”...”

Han Su, for his part, walked up to the machine and smiled. ”Miss Ai, tell me exactly what I need to do.”

The moment Han Su approached, Miss Ai’s mechanical body suddenly transformed once more.

Mechanical components extended and separated, forming a square electronic gate.

The gate continued to extend, stretching out into a mechanical corridor aimed directly at the location of the Mother Divine Tree.

Miss Ai replied, ”If Mr. Butcher is willing to accept this special cleanup mission, please prepare yourself.”

Han Su nodded lightly and stepped onto the mechanical corridor.

He could feel the air around him, filled with the roar of machinery, growing dense like a barrier, completely isolating him from everyone outside. And at that same moment, Miss Ai’s cold, electronic voice suddenly softened.

Even her tone became human, with an almost conspiratorial quality.

”Have you entered the Divine Forbidden Area?”

A smile instantly appeared on Han Su’s face. He whispered, ”Of course!”

”In that case...”

Miss Ai’s electronic voice seemed to carry a hint of a smile. ”Then be prepared to face the shadows!”

Han Su chuckled and said, ”I’ve long been prepared, but Miss Ai, you know what I want to ask.”

Miss Ai replied, ”I know Mr. Butcher has many questions, but due to the constraints of a certain special protocol, I cannot answer them for you. However, the defective product inside can.”

”All I can do is my utmost to create some favorable conditions for Mr. Butcher...”

”...Furthermore, I will share a piece of information with Mr. Butcher. After completing his transformation this time, Mr. Bai Shi has been hunting members of the mysterious organization Crystal Skull. According to analysis, it seems he is trying to find a clue from Crystal Skull regarding a certain mysterious Mechanical Fragment.”

”...”

”Crystal Skull? Mechanical Fragment?”

Han Su suddenly felt the briefcase in his hand grow heavy. ”Why?” he asked, surprised.

Miss Ai answered, ”Crystal Skull was looking for that Mechanical Fragment to deal with him. He was afraid the Mechanical Fragment would fall into Crystal Skull’s hands.”

”Fortunately for him, he hunted down many people from Crystal Skull and discovered that their mission to find the Mechanical Fragment had failed. That’s why he’s now confident enough to show himself and do all of this.”

Hearing Miss Ai’s words, Han Su was stunned for a moment, then gave a resigned smile. ”He really is lucky, isn’t he...”

...

...

”Prepare to clear a path for the special cleanup personnel!”

Behind them, Zhang Chiguo watched Han Su enter the machine and forcefully suppressed his worries and doubts.

Looking ahead, countless Mechanical Ghosts still blocked the road.

But the armed personnel who had arrived with the vehicles showed no intention of obeying the order to aim at the Mechanical Ghosts. Instead, they maintained their positions, all their weapons pointed at the machine on the ground.

Or rather, at Miss Ai.

Zhang Chiguo’s command seemed directed more at those other than the armed personnel. The three Investigators looked grim; they had been injured in the earlier sudden conflict, and fighting now would be a strain.

Only Green Hat gave a lazy gesture and said, ”As you command!”

Han Su’s assistants, Doctor and Black Tiger, also drew their guns and readied themselves. The four regular Investigators on the scene who could still move followed Zhang Chiguo’s lead.

Then, Miss Crow glanced left, then right, and followed them forward as well.

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker’s expression clearly changed. Miss Crow turned to look at her and said, ”I just got back to the city, and you told me the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau’s politics run deep. You told me to listen to you and get rid of my bad habits from the wilderness.”

”But looking at things now, I was better off in the wilderness. It was more straightforward.”

”The capable ones should enjoy the benefits during peacetime and step up when there’s trouble.”

”The incapable ones shouldn’t fight for the meat when it’s served, and should know their own limits when trouble comes.”

”...”

The Lady in the Red Windbreaker’s face turned extremely ugly at these words, and she was overcome by a strong sense of defeat.

”Xiaohan, get ready!”

At this moment, Zhang Chiguo was already striding forward. On the highway, the infected who had been kneeling on the ground began to twitch, as if some instinct was driving them, instilling in them a hostility toward those intruding on the contaminated zone.

When the Mother Divine Tree is stimulated, a certain percentage of the infected will become Divine Tree Guards.

But now, with the white monster’s invasion, the proportion of these Divine Tree Guards being created seemed to have increased. All the infected had gained the awareness to block any outside intruders.

”BANG!”

An infected person suddenly looked up, its eyes a demonic blood-red. With a beast-like form, it leaped into the air and lunged viciously at Zhang Chiguo.

But Zhang Chiguo simply raised a hand. With one solid punch, he sent the Divine Tree Guard that had just leaped into the air flying, tumbling more than ten meters away. He then knocked away another awakening Divine Tree Guard.

But this was like lighting a fuse. One by one, the Divine Tree Guards awoke and began to rapidly pounce on them.

The deeper they went, the more numerous the guards became. In the blink of an eye, they were surrounded.

The people following Zhang Chiguo also began to act. Green Hat, the other Investigators, and the Executioners all sent the pouncing figures flying.

Black Tiger was already in full swing, charging recklessly and instantly taking down several people who got close. His performance was exceptionally eye-catching.

Even Zhang Chiguo glanced at him and frowned. ”You’ve only been with the Disaster Management Bureau for less than two months. Theoretically, you shouldn’t have clearance for so many Encrypted Spells.”

Black Tiger said, ”Correct. Is there a problem?”

Zhang Chiguo was taken aback for a moment. ”Come find me for my signature later!” he said.

This unexpected boon even surprised Doctor, who was taking potshots from the safest position nearby. He adjusted his glasses.

They pushed deeper, opening a path straight toward the temporary containment center ahead, which was now occupied by the Mechanical Ghost Legion. But as they advanced, more and more of the infected pounced on them, and the number of enemies blocking their way grew.

As they advanced further, even the Mechanical Ghost Legion began to react. Arcs of blue electricity crackled across their bodies as they surged forward, pouncing on the group.

Compared to the Mechanical Ghost Legion, their numbers were pitifully small.

But Zhang Chiguo looked around. The position and timing were about right. He sighed softly. ”We’re just responsible for clearing the path, while a kid has to go risk his life. What kind of mess is this...”

As he spoke, he looked up at the black tide of Mechanical Ghosts surging toward them and slowly raised his fist.

There were no Encrypted Spells, no enhancement from anomalous items, and even his Spiritual Activity showed no unusual characteristics.

But as Zhang Chiguo began to clench his fist, a gravitational force seemed to form in the air. Fierce winds began to blow from all directions, converging on him and whipping his black windbreaker high into the air.

In the next instant, Zhang Chiguo suddenly leaped up, let out a heavy breath, and then brought his fist down like a mountain, smashing forward with immense force.

BOOM.

It was like an earthquake. The ground within a radius of dozens of meters shuddered with a CRACK, and Spiritual Power surged forward as if it were a physical substance.

Of the endlessly surging Mechanical Ghosts, the ones at the very front suddenly burst into pieces of flesh and components, splattering everywhere without a single complete shape remaining. Those following behind were instantly engulfed by the gale.

The blue arcs of electricity surging across their bodies were abruptly drained away. Like machines that had instantly lost power, they silently dimmed and fell over in droves.

The surroundings suddenly grew dim. For a few seconds, it was as if the entire world had lost its sound.

Further back, the arrogance and defiance on the Lady in the Red Windbreaker’s face were suddenly shattered by the massive shockwave. She stared blankly at the imposing, broad figure ahead.

A groan sounded from beside her. It was Night Lamp.

He chuckled bitterly under his breath. ”What were we thinking before, wanting to test our strength against him?”