The Eldritch Files

Xu Ji had his driver take Han Su back to his apartment. He was very interested in what had happened that night, eager to ask questions, but Han Su was impatient and scolded him, "What's there to ask? Hurry up and go home. Forget all of this and get some sleep!"

'I've taken the Xu Family's money, after all!'

Xu Ji's face immediately filled with resentment. "You're so heartless! Just use me and toss me aside, is that it?"

Han Su was surprised. "Well, I'm done using you. What, am I supposed to put you on a pedestal?"

Xu Ji left, heartbroken. On his way, he transferred Han Su's assistant fee for the day. It was an exact amount, down to the last cent, meant as an insult!

Meanwhile, Han Su carried the makeup case upstairs. Before entering, he first carefully checked the various small traps he had set, confirming that there were no signs of anyone having entered. Still uneasy, he first used his right eye to scan the room's interior thoroughly.

He poured a glass of water and placed it beside him.

The water's surface quickly became still, without a ripple. It was perfectly calm. Only then did he relax slightly.

He placed the makeup case on his desk and, with a tremor of anticipation, slowly opened it.

He felt an impatient urge to understand this deeply significant Mechanical Fragment.

From the moment he first heard the familiar ticking sound in the demonstration video, he knew this Mechanical Fragment might be related to his own kidnapping. Now, after seeing Wei Lan's reaction to touching it, there was no longer any doubt.

With a sense of excitement, he looked into the case, only for his expression to sour.

He instantly understood why Wei Lan's makeup case was so mysterious. The personal items inside were indeed not something you'd want others to see.

Even he could only frown, carefully picking out the personal garments one by one with two fingers. He put them in a plastic bag to mail back to Wei Lan later.

Only then did he get a good look at it. The Mechanical Fragment was about the size of two fists, made entirely of some unknown, dark-hued metal. He could confirm, however, that it was not related to copper. Its surface was covered with intricate gears and strange runes.

The most conspicuous part was a component on the upper section of the Mechanical Fragment that resembled a timer or gauge.

Its design was very retro, like a simple mechanical watch.

Right now, the timer's hand pointed to the "7".

He observed it meticulously, memorizing every part of the Mechanical Fragment. Then, Han Su recalled that this thing seemed to have the ability to devour a person's Spiritual Power.

He pondered for a long time, then slowly focused his attention on his left hand and gradually pressed it against the Mechanical Fragment.

Just as he expected, the moment he made contact, the Spiritual Power in his left hand was immediately siphoned away by the Mechanical Fragment.

Where he touched it, his Spiritual Power seemed to uncontrollably undergo Penetration.

Although the consumption rate wasn't as fast as the Fishing Song, it was still much more draining than an ordinary Encrypted Spell.

"Hm?"

As he pondered this, Han Su's pupils suddenly shrank. He noticed that as his Spiritual Power seeped in, the hand on the Mechanical Fragment actually twitched, moving from "7" to the space between "7" and "8".

'The hand is moving. What's the reason for that?'

'...'

After thinking silently for a while, Han Su couldn't come to any effective conclusion. But then he remembered a video he had seen of researchers from the Midtown Science and Technology Museum demonstrating how to activate the Mechanical Fragment.

So, he decided to try it himself.

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK...

The activation method was very simple. He gently pulled a part of the Mechanical Fragment, and instantly, all the gears began to turn, one setting off the next in a strange, rotating cascade. The intricate, complex interlocking of the parts had a strange sort of beauty.

And at the same time, that familiar ticking sound began.

The sound was crisp, carrying a sense of urgency.

Han Su's body tensed up slightly. He really had a stress reaction to that sound.

But as he carefully observed the Mechanical Fragment's operation, he suddenly noticed the number on the dial was rapidly decreasing as the machine activated. It had already gone from "7" to "6," and then to "5."

An inexplicable shock went through him, and a primal, hair-raising feeling washed over him. He hurriedly shut off the Mechanical Fragment. The hand finally stopped between "6" and "5." Even though it was stationary, it still gave off a heart-pounding sensation.

'It can't be what I'm thinking, can it?'

Han Su thought silently, staring at the Mechanical Fragment for a long time before slowly locking the case again.

'Perhaps I'll know for sure if I take another look tomorrow morning.'

Although he couldn't yet figure out all the functions of this Mechanical Fragment, there was one thing he could be sure of now:

It could make the children he had rescued remember their kidnapping.

Wei Lan had confirmed this. So, could he also let Xu Ji touch it and see if he could remember?

The idea was tempting to Han Su, but he soon found himself frowning again.

The contaminating power of this Mechanical Fragment was too terrifying.

Someone as powerful as Wei Lan had barely been able to withstand it. Xu Ji, on the other hand, was a completely ordinary person; he would stand no chance.

Besides… he thought of the usually goofy Xu Ji and sighed to himself.

'That guy might be an idiot, completely unreliable, and spoiled with all the bad habits of the rich, but he is my brother, after all. I have to think about his safety...'

...

However, after briefly organizing his thoughts, Han Su could still draw a preliminary conclusion:

The Mechanical Fragment was definitely related to the kidnapping case.

It was something that even the old butler from the Ancient Castle went to steal personally. Getting his hands on it was a victory in itself.

But it was also at this moment that Han Su suddenly realized a critical problem:

'Where do I put this thing?'

'I don't have an imposing secret chamber like the master of Dingxiang Mansion. This apartment isn't even mine. Am I supposed to just shove it under the bed?'

'It would be better to keep it with me.'

'But carrying such a large case around is really inconvenient...'

Just as he was thinking about this, his phone suddenly let out a BEEP. Han Su paused for a moment, picked up his phone, and saw a message from Miss Ai:

[Dear Mr. Butcher, hello. Your exclusively customized Investigator briefcase and identification are ready. When would you like to come and pick them up?]

[...]

'The Disaster Management Bureau is pretty fast.'

He recalled how Miss Ai had once described the differences between the briefcases for various personnel at the Disaster Management Bureau. An idea sparked, and he typed a message: [For the special custom briefcase, can you add some hidden compartments to prevent scanning and supernatural scrying?]

Miss Ai replied instantly: [Of course.]

[The briefcase is an Investigator's personal safe. Oftentimes, our respected Investigators must traverse a vast world full of mystery and the unknown, facing ubiquitous spying and probing.]

[Ensuring that classified documents and precious investigation results are not leaked is a matter of utmost importance.]

[Therefore, similar hidden compartments and functional sections have long been part of the design.]

[Friendly reminder: Mr. Butcher, you can completely trust your briefcase. This type of equipment was designed from the outset to block all kinds of scrying and scanning, and that includes from me!]

[...]

Miss Ai's answer felt a bit strange to Han Su. He didn't reply right away, instead asking: [Why?]

Miss Ai replied: [Because even though I devote myself wholeheartedly to the defense of reality, I am not among those trusted by the higher-ups of Qinggang City, you know...]

'She's using those sentence-final particles again...'

The strange feeling in Han Su's heart intensified. He slowly replied: [Then have everything ready for me. I'll come get it first thing tomorrow morning!]

...

That night, Han Su didn't do much else and fell into a deep sleep. Although he had batteries to swap out, the combination of the infiltration and pouring his Spiritual Power into the Mechanical Fragment had left him with a profound sense of exhaustion.

It was just as Zhang Chiguo had said: when one's Spiritual Power was over-expended, a full night's sleep was extremely important.

When he woke up the next day, he first took the case out from under his bed and observed it carefully. He was shocked to see that after a night had passed, the hand had moved back half a mark.

He remembered clearly that last night, the hand had been between "6" and "5", but now, it was pointing precisely at "5".

This discovery made his heart stir, and he thought to himself, 'It can't be, can it?'

He pulled out his notebook and silently made some calculations. The strong suspicion in his mind was about to burst forth.

It had been five days since he last escaped from the Ancient Castle. Based on the fact that the intervals were shortening, he had inferred that his time remaining in the "present" was only about ten days this time. Wouldn't the next Flashing arrive in "five" days?

Realizing this, he couldn't help but feel a tremor in his soul.

'This thing... it shows the time until the Flashing arrives?'

'...'

He had suspected it last night, but this morning's confirmation still left him struggling to contain himself.

Immediately following that, another exciting conjecture came to mind:

'Spiritual Power can affect this Mechanical Fragment. Does that mean... I can delay the arrival of the Flashing?'

'...'

Nothing was more important than this. Han Su immediately adjusted his state, scanned the apartment carefully one more time, and after confirming there were no problems, he sat down next to the Mechanical Fragment.

He worked to adjust his Spiritual Activity, then slowly covered the Mechanical Fragment with his palm. As his Spiritual Power seeped in, the hand began to twitch.

It seemed to be trying to jump from "5" to a higher number.

But it was too faint...

The current amount was far from enough for the hand. It felt like a child trying to wield a sledgehammer—the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.

So, Han Su narrowed his eyes and suddenly recited the Fishing Song in his mind:

[The Gods have sent down a decree!]

[Spiritual Activation!]

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