The Eldritch Files

Star Investigator. The Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau’s sole S-Class. They were, indeed, impressive titles.

But from the mouths of certain people, delivered with a particular tone, they also carried a note of casual derision.

Han Su’s gaze swept across the faces in the conference room. Some were plump, some were thin; some were beautiful, some were rugged. But they all shared the same expression: an arrogance and conceit that wasn’t superficial, but etched deep into their very bones.

It was even accompanied by a hint of danger, an aura born from immense confidence and the cold indifference that comes from having taken many lives.

These were the people who worked with the Independent Investigator, so naturally, they were all hand-picked elites, the cream of the crop.

Between an Investigator and an Independent Investigator, there was a natural chasm.

Within the Disaster Management Bureau, many people admired and trusted the Independent Investigators so much that they would give up on getting a Bureau Investigator License to work alongside them. This didn’t mean their talents and abilities were inferior to the Bureau’s own Investigators.

On the contrary, to be chosen by one of these Independent Investigators was in itself a testament to outstanding ability.

”I am.”

Han Su’s gaze swept around the conference room one more time before he slowly asked, ”So, who is Li Moxi?”

A chill fell over the room.

The faces that had just been smiling moments ago instantly turned cold. Some gazes even shifted directly from playful amusement to displeasure.

Calling him by his full name, without even tacking on a ”Mister,” had clearly displeased many of them.

Even Secretary Cui Qiao, who had just escorted Han Su over, felt a faint flicker of concern.

But amidst this atmosphere, Han Su simply narrowed his eyes and waited.

Unexpectedly, there were no easily angered accusations in the conference room. Instead, many of the gazes turned amused once more.

Suddenly, a calm voice sounded from behind Han Su:

”I am!”

”...”

Han Su turned and saw a slender, Pale-skinned man carrying a dark red briefcase.

He had a head of curly hair and a somewhat refined appearance.

With a polite and gentle smile on his face, he extended a hand toward Han Su.

”Independent Investigator, codename Moses!”

”I’ve accepted a commission from the Qinggang Council Hall to return to Qinggang and investigate the monster kidnapping case from ten years ago.”

”I asked you here not because of your status as an Investigator, but because you are the sole survivor of that kidnapping.”

”I have taken possession of the report and supplementary materials you submitted and have already conducted a preliminary analysis.”

”However, to ensure a smooth investigation, I am preparing to re-collect and organize all relevant materials and key information.”

”That includes your testimony.”

”Any questions?”

”...”

His voice wasn’t loud or rushed, but his words came one after another, clear and methodical, leaving no room for interruption.

All the while, his hand remained extended, as if waiting for Han Su to take it.

Han Su listened patiently until he had finished, then suddenly asked, ”Can I trust you?”

Faced with this out-of-the-blue question, Li Moxi frowned. ”Theoretically, I don’t need to answer a question like that.”

”But you are the sole survivor and a witness to the kidnapping. Gaining your trust would be very beneficial to the investigation.”

”So, I promise!”

”...”

He paused for a moment, then answered solemnly, word by word, ”I will thoroughly investigate the events of the kidnapping, pursue all clues and suspicious individuals, until I have determined the truth of this case and the whereabouts of all the children.”

At this, a smile suddenly bloomed on his face. ”Is that acceptable?”

”...”

Faced with this guarantee, which was almost an oath, Han Su felt a little surprised.

He hadn’t held any expectations for this Independent Investigator sent from above. Rather than waiting for someone else to find the truth, he was using this as an opportunity to see how the higher-ups would react.

But he could find no fault in Li Moxi’s attitude.

After a slight pause, he raised his hand and shook Li Moxi’s. ”So, how can I cooperate?”

Li Moxi gripped Han Su’s hand, shook it once up and down, and then let go. He turned and walked into the conference room, saying, ”First, I need your full cooperation for the duration of my investigation.”

”Second, when I ask you something, I need you to tell me everything you know.”

”...”

Han Su frowned and had to interrupt, ”What about my regular investigation missions and my Mysterious Power training?”

Li Moxi had already sat down by this time. A subordinate from his studio naturally pulled out a chair for him and set up a laptop.

He looked up at Han Su, his brow furrowed slightly.

”You’re an S-Class Investigator now. Carrying out routine missions is meaningless.”

”As for your Mysterious Power training...”

”...”

He suddenly looked up at Han Su and said, ”You should have already discovered the Life Code, correct?”

Han Su nodded. ”Yes.”

”Then you have nothing left to train in the usual sense.”

Li Moxi said, ”After discovering the Life Code, what you need to do is deepen your Understanding of Mysterious Power and begin the safe process of Stealing. You don’t have the means to do that.”

”According to the intel I’ve gathered, the Hidden School in Qinggang has already blacklisted you. You have no opportunity to complete the Stealing.”

”...”

”Hm?”

Han Su hadn’t known about this, and he was slightly taken aback upon hearing it.

But just then, he heard Li Moxi say, ”However, my relationship with the Hidden School isn’t deep. I only care about the case in my hands. If you cooperate with me to my satisfaction, I can train you in Mysterious Power.”

”Ah?”

A low gasp was heard, and countless gazes turned toward Li Moxi.

It seemed that even the members of his own studio hadn’t expected Li Moxi to show such an attitude toward Han Su.

Personal training from an Independent Investigator... this was an opportunity countless people could only dream of!

And from Mr. Moses, of all people, a man obsessed with efficiency?

Han Su also never expected him to say such a thing. Secretary Cui Qiao’s words surfaced in his mind: ’Aren’t the Four Heavenly Kings all incapable of training others in Mysterious Power?’

He wasn’t sure if this Independent Investigator had some other motive. Faced with this gesture of goodwill, Han Su didn’t answer, but instead slowly asked:

”How... should I cooperate with you?”

Li Moxi turned to a studio member beside him and said, ”Take him next door now and conduct a detailed interrogation about the kidnapping incident. Have different people question him, and then bring all the transcripts to me.”

”Yes!”

It was unclear what Investigator Moses’s usual work style was, but at this moment, he certainly demonstrated an efficient, strict command.

Someone immediately stood up, acknowledged the order, and made a ”this way, please” gesture to Han Su.

Han Su had no reason to resist, so he obediently followed them to the adjacent conference room. He watched as a woman in a white blouse and dress slacks opened her laptop and began to question him with a serious expression:

”When did the kidnapping take place?”

”April 1st, 2714.”

”What time?”

”I don’t remember clearly. Around three in the afternoon.”

”What did you see?”

”Monsters. Things I couldn’t comprehend at the time... things that didn’t seem human...”

”...”

”...”

”He’s being quite docile. His attitude is pretty good.”

In another conference room, someone watching Han Su’s interrogation on a surveillance monitor seemed somewhat satisfied. ”I was worried at first,” they said to the others, ”that this star Investigator would be too arrogant to cooperate properly.”

The listener sneered. ”Mr. Moses came in person. No matter what kind of ’star Investigator’ he is, he ought to know the gap between himself and an Independent Investigator.”

Someone else chimed in, ”I wouldn’t be so sure. Young people have a natural arrogance, a disdain for everyone. A high-achiever like him probably scoffs at the whole world, to say nothing of other people.”

Another person chuckled. ”His S-Class evaluation isn’t his most impressive feat. I’m certain he’s connected to that group of sacrificed Investigators and Executioners in Qinggang. If we were to investigate, we’d definitely find clues. Should we look into it?”

As the group exchanged glances, Li Moxi continued to flip through the files in his hands, occasionally glancing at the surveillance feed.

His expression seemed somewhat satisfied.

Only when someone looked toward him did Li Moxi speak, his voice faint. ”I’m not interested in matters unrelated to the mission. Besides...”

He paused, then suddenly chuckled in a low voice. ”I admire what he did.”

”If they had sent me down to clean up the Disaster Management Bureau back then, that trash would have paid the price on my first day. Why wait for a rookie like him to make a move?”

His next words were stunning: ”For now, let’s just see how he performs.”

”If the conditions are right, I’ll consider letting him join Red Sea Studio.”

”...”

”...”

”Sir, I’ve confirmed that Independent Investigator Li Moxi has led his Red Sea Studio back to Qinggang and has begun investigating the kidnapping case from ten years ago.”

Meanwhile, in the old mansion of the Xu Family, Special Assistant Xu hurried into the study to report in a low voice to Xu Ji’s father.

The fountain pen Father Xu was writing with came to a stop. After a long moment, he slowly raised his head and sighed. ”To stabilize the situation, they’re finally willing to deploy even these four bombs?”

Special Assistant Xu hesitated. ”Should we leak some information, to have that person... be careful?”

”No need.”

Father Xu slowly shook his head. ”He excels at information Stealing. Do you really think he can’t see through Qinggang’s arrangements?”

”Then...”

”He will come back. For any scrap of information, he will come back.”

Father Xu slowly made his decision. ”Since they can no longer sit still, let’s continue pushing forward with what we need to do.”

”Heh...”

”These ambitious schemers stir up trouble, using innocent children to pay the world’s debts. Well, it’s time we let them see just what terrifying power the parents of those lost children possess once they know the truth...”