The Eldritch Files

”Red Sea Studio?”

Han Su knew that Independent Investigators came with a new set of resources.

An Investigator under the Disaster Management Bureau was usually assigned only two assistants, and much of their work had to be conducted with the Bureau’s support.

But an Independent Investigator had an entire studio to back them up. They could independently initiate research projects with the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau’s approval and even oversee the security of secret prisons housing higher-level abnormalities.

They could operate independently even without the Bureau’s support, intercepting and even containing unexpected abnormalities. That was the very definition of an Independent Investigator.

In this case, there was a clear difference between sending an Independent Investigator to make inquiries and having him mobilize his entire studio. The two were on completely different levels.

’Does this mean this multi-talented Independent Investigator will drop everything else he’s working on to focus solely on this case?’

’On the surface, it looks like the Disaster Management Bureau isn’t just taking this kidnapping case seriously—they’re going all out...’

With these thoughts in mind, Han Su looked up at Zhang Chiguo. ”Is there something wrong with this Red Sea Studio?”

Zhang Chiguo spoke slowly. ”Li Moxi is known as the ’calm madman.’ He’s cold, impersonal. All he cares about is the mission.”

”Back in the day, he had the highest mission completion rate, but also the highest casualty rate for the Executioners under his command.”

”Of course, that record is now a thing of the past.”

Zhang Chiguo paused, a strange note in his voice. ”You broke it.”

”Now, everyone in the Disaster Management Bureau knows you’re the star Investigator with the fastest mission completion and promotion rates. You’re also the only S-Class Investigator in the Bureau’s history.”

...

Han Su rubbed his face. These were all gifts from Miss Ai, and he was sure Zhang Chiguo had realized it too.

It felt strange talking about it with someone on his side.

After saying this, Zhang Chiguo paused and lowered his voice. ”Xiaohan, it’s just us here now, so I’ll be frank.”

”When I brought you into the Disaster Management Bureau, I wanted to create a relatively safe environment for you, to let you learn and adapt bit by bit, and then find an opportunity to investigate what happened back then.”

”But you chose a completely different path. You decided to push forward with this investigation at all costs.”

...

He paused, then let out a low sigh. ”As your elder, I feel like you’re walking on a knife’s edge, where one wrong move could lead to your utter ruin.”

”But as someone who also wants to solve that kidnapping case, I have to admit that you’ve pushed the investigation forward more in just two months... Compared to you, I should feel ashamed.”

”But I still have to warn you.”

He looked into Han Su’s eyes. ”The more you back those people into a corner, the more ruthless they’ll become. Before you force a monster from its cage, have you considered whether you can face its fangs and claws?”

Han Su sensed the complex emotions stirring within Zhang Chiguo and fell silent for a long moment before speaking softly. ”When it comes to being level-headed, Uncle Zhang, you’re one of the most dependable people I know.”

”You’re level-headed, powerful, and meticulous...”

”...But in this kidnapping case, those people have always found a way to make you back down, step by step, haven’t they?”

”You hold yourself to a human standard, but our opponents... they might not be human at all...”

...

He stopped there, but it served as an answer to the unasked questions Zhang Chiguo had about his actions at the temporary containment center.

He had no regrets about killing the Drunkard or the Investigators who stood in his way, but he knew that if Zhang Chiguo found out, he would be investigated. It went against everything Zhang Chiguo stood for.

Han Su wouldn’t spell it out and make trouble for himself, but he wanted to make his thinking clear.

”You’re right...”

Hearing Han Su’s words, Zhang Chiguo’s expression grew even more weary.

His gaze involuntarily drifted to the monitor in front of him. Han Su, sitting on the other side of the desk, couldn’t see that the screen displayed Zhang Chiguo’s email inbox.

There was an email from a sender with a Black Rose profile picture.

Zhang Chiguo could hardly describe the overwhelming sense of oppression and confusion he’d felt upon seeing that email.

It was enough to invalidate all his principles and beliefs. Before this conversation with Han Su, his mind had been consumed by a single line from it: ”You are not a qualified guide. You are just a lost old veteran.”

’Miss Ai, what did you hope to gain by leaving me this email?’

”Then keep doing what you’re doing!”

Zhang Chiguo stood up and extended his hand to Han Su. ”Xiaohan, I’ve done some self-reflection. I shouldn’t have treated you like a child.”

”But maybe I’m just getting old and long-winded. I still want to give you a word of caution:”

”I know you’ve already provoked a lot of dangerous people, but remember this: do not engage with them for the time being. I mean *any* of them... Qinggang is taking this seriously, which is why they sent Li Moxi. If he sets his sights on you, your situation will become very difficult.”

...

”I’ll remember that.”

Han Su could vaguely sense Zhang Chiguo’s unspoken uncertainty. He slowly extended his hand, and they shook.

He had the faint feeling that Zhang Chiguo wanted to tell him something more.

’Dangerous people...’

’The only dangerous person he and Zhang Chiguo had ever officially discussed was Song Chushi. For him to say this... Does it mean Song Chushi is returning to Qinggang?’

”Li Moxi is already waiting for you in the conference room. I’ll have Cui Qiao take you to see him in a moment.”

Zhang Chiguo let go of his hand and looked earnestly at Han Su’s face. ”Don’t worry or be afraid,” he said quietly. ”As long as you hold an Investigator License from the Disaster Management Bureau, you’re one of my people.”

Han Su nodded with a smile. ”I understand, Uncle Zhang.”

Secretary Cui Qiao was already waiting for Han Su at the door. She left the office with him, and as they walked, she glanced at his face with a hint of curiosity, then suddenly smiled. ”Qinggang’s only S-Class Investigator, the big star of the Disaster Management Bureau... That’s really something!”

Han Su sighed helplessly. ”Are you sure that title isn’t meant to be sarcastic?”

”It’s written in black and white in your file.”

Secretary Cui Qiao smiled. ”If that’s considered sarcasm, then what does that make the Investigators and Executors who’ve risked their lives just to raise their ratings?”

”But, there’s something only I can warn you about: when you’re dealing with those Independent Investigators, don’t get arrogant.”

Her expression grew a bit more serious. ”You’ve seen Zhang the Head in action before, haven’t you?”

Han Su gave a slight nod.

Although he had been inside the mechanical ring when Zhang Chiguo fought the Mechanical Ghost and hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he had felt the tremor from that one punch and a terrifying pressure that defied all Understanding.

’How could he describe it?’

Before Zhang Chiguo had taken action, the strongest people Han Su had ever encountered were probably the Drunkard and the other three Investigators.

Bai Shi didn’t count, due to his special circumstances.

But it was because of this realization that after seeing Zhang Chiguo in action, the three great Sequences of the Disaster Management Bureau and all the other Encrypted Spells suddenly seemed far less significant. In the end, it all came down to a single punch.

Secretary Cui Qiao chose her words carefully. ”Zhang the Head’s strength is undeniable. But if you had to describe him, among the original Four Heavenly Kings, he was... the most...”

Han Su asked in surprise, ”The weakest?”

”No.”

Secretary Cui Qiao firmly refuted his guess. ”The least dangerous. Because he’s so strict with himself, he lacks any real aggressive impulse.”

”The four of them emerging had nothing to do with the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau, or even the Hidden School. It was pure chance.”

She paused to think for a moment before continuing in a low voice, ”It was before the Disaster Management Bureau was even founded. Four years ago, I believe. There was a true S-Class threat. Unlike the recent Mother Divine Tree incident, that one truly threatened Qinggang’s very existence.”

”At the time, the entire special operations team Zhang the Head belonged to was dispatched to handle the crisis. In the end, only four of them survived.”

”Zhang Chiguo, Li Moxi, Zhao Fantian, and Wang Buddha.”

”After that, the four of them were known as Qinggang’s Four Heavenly Kings.”

”But they were only called that for a short while before the group disbanded. The Disaster Management Bureau was founded around that time, and three of them chose to join, quickly becoming Independent Investigators.”

”Zhang the Head didn’t. He was handled separately, participating in some secret research projects before eventually being transferred to the Bureau.”

”Regardless, the name of the Four Heavenly Kings became a legend in Qinggang. The longer you stay at the Disaster Management Bureau, the more you understand just how significant those four are. They were born from chance, and so, they possess a power that far exceeds Qinggang’s training system.”

”Of course, because their power is so different from ordinary people’s, they can’t directly train others in the Mysterious Power. The fact that he couldn’t personally teach you has always been one of Zhang the Head’s great regrets.”

...

Han Su nodded in silence. Only now did he finally understand why Zhang Chiguo had been so insistent on finding him a teacher from the Mysterious Domain.

Keeping the extraordinary nature of these four men in mind, he followed Secretary Cui Qiao to the open door of a conference room. From inside, he could faintly hear the sound of someone organizing documents.

After a light knock on the door, Han Su walked in. He saw a long table surrounded by all sorts of people.

All eyes snapped toward him. But unlike the looks of adoration and awe he usually received from people at the Disaster Management Bureau, these gazes were tinged with a clear sense of amusement.

A smiling voice rang out, ”So, this is the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau’s first-ever S-Class Investigator?”