The Eldritch Files

He took items from the box one by one and said softly, ”You’ve been in contact with that woman, so you have a complete image of her in your mind. Using you as an anchor, we can forcibly summon Abyssal Studio to appear in Qinggang.”

”Failing that, it can at least create a direct channel.”

”The Qinggang Council is still supportive of her plan. It’s just that because of your son’s failure, the higher-ups have lost faith in her. We need to give her a hand.”

”And you are the most important sacrifice needed to complete this crucial step.”

”You... you...”

An expression of utter terror appeared on Bai Senmang’s face, and he suddenly shrieked, ”I signed the Pact of Silence! You can’t do this to me...”

”Anyone can be sacrificed to fight the Tide. Why not you?”

Li Moxi didn’t let him finish. He deftly picked up a mechanical part with a delicate steel needle from the box. Slowly, he extended a Pale palm and pressed it against Bai Senmang’s head. He didn’t seem to be using much force, yet it rendered Bai Senmang completely immobile.

It was as if he had lost control of every muscle in his head.

Meanwhile, Li Moxi held the steel needle and, bit by bit, pushed it toward the corner of Bai Senmang’s left eye.

Throughout the process, his hand was unnaturally steady, more so than even a precisely controlled machine.

When the steel needle had precisely pierced the skin and entered Bai Senmang’s frontal lobe, Li Moxi spoke calmly without turning his head.

”The preparations are complete. Go and bring him over.”

”...”

”...”

”Let’s go. Li Moxi has already begun the preparations.”

In the Qinggang City base, Zhang Chiguo listened silently to the voice in his earpiece, casting a worried glance at the oppressively dark sky outside.

He had already signed off on the assignment from Secretary No. 2. He knew that Song Chushi was a lawless, dangerous figure, and he had no choice but to carry out his mission: to apprehend or kill Song Chushi when he invaded Qinggang.

But the email Miss Ai had left behind still weighed on him.

For days, he had been heavy-hearted and distracted, but as time passed, the moment had finally arrived.

At that moment, a car appeared at the southwestern corner of Qinggang City, and another at the northeastern corner.

In the southwest, the man who stepped out of the car carried a golden briefcase. He was heavyset, with a shaved head, and wore a Zhongshan suit.

A constant smile graced his face, as if nothing in the world could ever bother him.

In the northeast, the man who emerged was barefoot, with messy hair and clothes like a beggar’s. His eyes were grim.

He carried a mended suitcase, observing the city he hadn’t returned to in so long with a look of extreme detachment.

Buddha and Fantian were already in position.

Once Zhang Chiguo reached the designated location, they could, with Li Moxi at the center, form an interdiction field covering all of Qinggang City.

Once this interdiction field was formed, anyone who stepped inside would be trapped with no escape, unless they could defeat the Four Heavenly Kings.

”Shouldn’t you wear body armor?”

Secretary Cui Qiao appeared at the doorway and said hesitantly, ”Even with the four of you working together, this mission might be too dangerous.”

Zhang Chiguo just gave a slow wave of his hand. ”If it really comes to a fight, what good is body armor?”

He picked up a case he had requisitioned from the Disaster Management Bureau and headed for the door, but stopped just before leaving. ”Where’s Xiaohan?”

”He’s with Investigator Moses.”

Secretary Cui Qiao answered immediately, ”He’s been placed at the D7 Experimental Base Center. Logically, that will become the safest place in all of Qinggang—assuming, of course, that you can make this a quick fight.”

Zhang Chiguo let out a low sigh and said no more. He picked up the case and walked out.

...

...

”I have no objection to the decision made by Secretary No. 5.”

In the Qinggang Council Hall, a secret meeting was underway. In attendance were the occupants of seven red chairs flanking a long table, and two of the three occupants of the black chairs at its head.

Mr. Xu, who had called the meeting, spoke calmly from the black chair on the left:

”However, the establishment of the Disaster Management Bureau and the Fourth Reality Defense Line must proceed as agreed.”

”As for Abyssal Studio, I don’t believe she has any chance of fulfilling her promise. The Divine Descent Plan from ten years ago failed. The arrival of the Tide is now a foregone conclusion. Their work is a failure.”

”...”

In response to his words, the other eight people at the table fell silent. After a long moment, a wrinkled old man in a red chair spoke in a low voice:

”Then what, in your opinion, Mr. Xu, should she do?”

The man in the black chair on the left said, ”Terminate the Pact of Silence. She must reveal to us all the secrets of the Seven Days of Divine Descent. And, she must hand over that hidden list of Heirs!”

”Wouldn’t that mean completely severing ties with Abyssal Studio?”

”But the time isn’t right...”

”The Xu Family has never interfered in Qinggang’s affairs. They aren’t even interested in posts at the Administrative Hall. Why this sudden aggression?”

The sheer weight of his words sparked a low murmur of discussion. Someone couldn’t help but speak up. ”Mr. Xu, the Pact of Silence only exists because Abyssal Studio guaranteed it could solve the Tide problem for good.”

”According to the pact, until they actually fail in their confrontation with the Tide, we are forbidden from interfering with any of Abyssal Studio’s actions.”