The Eldritch Files

”You found out?”

Under the aim of countless dark gun muzzles, Zhang Chiguo stood frozen in place.

He rarely did things or made decisions that others didn’t know about. He seldom even had such thoughts.

But now, someone had called him out on one.

He had, of course, discovered that Miss Ai possessed excess Computation Power.

But it was something he had sensed intuitively as a ”sentient” person—a keen feeling that something was off.

From the perspective of data and rules, everything she did was logical.

So, at the time, it was justifiable that he had recognized the problem through his intuition but chosen not to report it to his superiors.

It wasn’t until this time, when he took Miss Ai out of Qinggang to deal with the Mother Divine Tree, that he truly realized some things defied common sense. Miss Ai’s behavior on several occasions had become completely, openly frantic and bold.

On the way back, he was already considering whether he had to report it this time.

But he never expected that he wouldn’t even have to wait for tonight’s events to unfold. The higher-ups had already found out long ago.

No wonder that after this incident, the higher-ups had agreed to let him take the case out of the city, but once he was actually outside, his intervention wasn’t needed.

According to the higher-ups’ arrangements, his mission tonight was never the Mother Divine Tree. It was Miss Ai.

Whether it was taking her out of the city, unlocking the case, or successfully recovering her, the final sealing was what he was truly meant to do.

Thinking about these things, Zhang Chiguo suddenly felt the case become incredibly heavy, almost slipping from his grasp.

The man in front of Zhang Chiguo noticed the change in his expression and suddenly grew serious. ”Vice Director Zhang, you served in the special forces and have been exposed to many high-level secrets. You should know how dangerous Miss Ai is.”

”She is an intelligence born from a core machine that nearly created a data civilization to replace humanity during the Radiation Era.”

”She even once planned to turn the entire world into a single hard drive.”

”Her danger level, in essence, is even higher than that of the Mother Divine Tree that appeared outside Qinggang City this time.”

”We can use her, but we must always be on guard against her.”

He stepped forward slowly, staring into Zhang Chiguo’s eyes, and said grimly, ”The ambition of these aberrant machines to replace the human world will never be zero. We lock her up for the sake of humanity’s future. You should understand the importance of this.”

”Now, I require you to carry out tonight’s most important task: take her to the containment center and return her to her place.”

”...”

Hearing his words, the expressions of the people around them grew solemn. Some were already looking at Zhang Chiguo with wary eyes.

Not everyone trusted Zhang Chiguo, but unfortunately, not everyone had the ability to lock Miss Ai away.

If an ordinary person entered that containment center, they would be overcome by mechanical pollution before they could do anything.

”I...”

Zhang Chiguo was silent for a long time before he finally took a deep breath and said in a low voice, ”I will do my job.”

Hearing him finally agree, the man before him let out a small sigh of relief.

Among all the dangerous individuals, Zhang Chiguo was always the safest and most reliable one.

This was also why, despite having the least power, he was always the one called upon when certain tasks needed to be executed.

Having made his promise, Zhang Chiguo carried the case and walked toward the containment room, his steps surprisingly unsteady.

He knew the entire procedure. He carried the case into the freezing cold room and saw densely packed machinery on both sides. Directly opposite him, seven other cases, encased in precision machinery, sat securely in their places.

The whirring of the surrounding machinery seemed to carry a kind of psychic pollution, enough to make one lose focus.

Zhang Chiguo steadied himself before slowly stepping forward.

As he walked, all the mechanical components lit up. On the old screen before him, text suddenly began Flashing.

[Mr. Chiguo, you can complete the containment in as little as twelve seconds, but I ask you, for the sake of our past comradeship, to grant me a little more time.]

Zhang Chiguo instinctively wanted to look back to see if the others had noticed, but he immediately realized it was pointless.

The people outside wouldn’t dare to spy on what was happening in this containment room.

Because on a psychic level, the thing in this containment room was the master of spying.

Suppressing the emotions welling up inside him, he asked in a low voice, ”Why?”

A silhouette of a smiling face flashed across the screen, and then the text flowed quickly: [Because even a brief parting deserves a proper goodbye!]

”You...”

Zhang Chiguo couldn’t accept her behaving so human-like. He felt countless emotions churning within him and said in a heavy voice:

”Miss Ai, give me a reason!”

”What is your purpose in doing all this, even at the cost of exposing yourself?”

”...”

His question seemed to put Miss Ai in a difficult position.

Then again, it seemed even this moment of difficulty was something Miss Ai had calculated in advance, merely to stall for time.

But out of respect, the answer quickly appeared on the screen: [I do not have a heart of flesh and blood, but I have a better Understanding of the price a war demands.]

[I have left a file for you. I hope you will read it carefully when you return to your office.]

[...]

[...]

Meanwhile, back at the Disaster Management Bureau base, in response to Han Su’s surprise, Miss Ai replied in a light tone:

[Special cleanup missions are not counted as part of an Investigator’s regular duties. Investigators have the option to accept or decline such missions. Upon completion, a special reward will naturally be issued.]

[Additionally, after a detailed review of the report, Mr. Butcher has been found to have no connection to the deaths of the Disaster Management Bureau Investigators and does not need to undergo investigation.]

[The report on the red-eye disease incident has now been processed. Mr. Butcher’s initial evaluation has been adjusted to S-Class!]

[...]

”What?”

Even Han Su, who had grown accustomed to this special treatment, was stunned by the barrage of information.

’Never mind the special reward for now, but my suspicion in the case of the dead Disaster Management Bureau Investigators has been cleared just like that?’

’Although the report exonerated me, it was still a major incident. I was prepared for a long interrogation.’

’But now, it’s not necessary?’

’And what about this Investigator evaluation: S-Class?’

’Back when I was an Executor, getting an S-Class evaluation was already completely absurd.’

’Because in theory, it should never happen.’

’Even the Doctor thought I must have pulled some strings to get such a high rating.’

’And now, as an Investigator, I’ve gotten another S-Class evaluation?’

’Does this mean I’ve truly become the number one Investigator in the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau?’

’If the Disaster Management Bureau wanted to promote anyone to Independent Investigator, I would be first in line?’

’This... isn’t this a little too ridiculous?’

[It’s all what Mr. Butcher deserves!]

Miss Ai’s tone was light. [Additionally, does Mr. Butcher have any input on the Ancient Castle kidnapping case from ten years ago?]

’Right, that application for reclassification should be submitted.’

Miss Ai was the one who first reminded him that as an Investigator, he could resubmit the report. Now that he had new evidence, and even a factor like Bai Shi, submitting this report as quickly as possible was the top priority.

Han Su immediately typed, ”What should I do?”

Miss Ai’s reply was swift: [Mr. Butcher can submit it to me. I will forward it to the person with the relevant authority.]

[Any report processed by me can never have its traces erased!]

[...]

Han Su understood what Miss Ai was saying, and his expression grew serious.

’Of course, he was a bit skeptical about the ”never have its traces erased” part. Hasn’t the seemingly innocent Miss Ai deleted plenty of chat logs before?’

He immediately took out the original report Zhang Chiguo had submitted and compiled it with the new information he had obtained.

Zhang Chiguo was extremely thorough. He had already collected all the details and materials of the kidnapping case. Now, Han Su only needed to attach the experimental data on the codename Pale Giant he had discovered and file a new application to open the case.

More crucially, in addition to the Pale Giant experiment data, Han Su added his speculation about Bai Shi’s identity, which gave the application even more weight.

In truth, even now, Han Su still didn’t know what concrete purpose submitting this report would serve. After all, everyone knew full well that the kidnapping had occurred. The other party simply didn’t want the case to exist, so they had rejected it.

’Why would they change their minds just because they see a new report?’

The appearance of Bai Shi, in particular, made Han Su realize the kidnapping case was far more complex than he could have imagined.

But he had to submit what needed to be submitted. Even if someone would shamelessly deny it again, he could at least see exactly who it was that denied it.

...

Watching Miss Ai receive his report bit by bit, Han Su felt a great weight lift from his heart. At the same time, however, a strange feeling surfaced:

’Miss Ai... seems to be in a hurry?’

This inexplicable oddness made him uneasy. Just as he was about to ask something, another message arrived from Miss Ai:

[The application for the special mission reward from outside the city has been approved. It is being delivered to the lounge by staff. Please receive it, Mr. Butcher.]

’They’re quick with the rewards, huh?’

Han Su was also quite surprised. He didn’t know what kind of reward he would receive, but since she said so, he would wait.

About five minutes later, there was a knock on the lounge door.

Han Su opened the wooden crate outside and saw the special reward Miss Ai had mentioned.

The impassive expression on his face shattered for a moment before he quickly masked it.

”This is my special reward?”

Even if Han Su racked his brain, he never would have imagined that the so-called special reward would be a suitcase.

The black suitcase he had brought back from the Ancient Castle.