The Eldritch Files

This thought was even more shocking to Han Su than the discovery that the Rong Family was investing in excavating ancient ruins.

But the idea was too outlandish to be certain. Besides, all criminals who entered D7 used only codenames. Their files weren't just confidential; some were destroyed outright.

They were completely erased from the social fabric. There was no way to investigate even if he wanted to.

After a long moment of thought, Han Su still had no way to verify his theory. He sat in contemplation, mulling it over. 'Whether Pot Lid Head is alive or not, the fact is I saved two children. And it's also a fact that the Rong Family's scion is in Seawall City.'

'Pot Lid Head might be hard to find, but what about the Rong Family's scion? Should I go look for him?'

'So, should I go look for them?'

'I didn't consider it before. Both Xu Ji and Wei Lan—at least, when I first met her—were ordinary people. They shouldn't be dragged into this world.'

But now, thinking about the Rong Family's child, his own theory about Pot Lid Head, and most importantly, his discovery of Wei Lan's true identity... He was beginning to realize something. Perhaps they hadn't truly escaped the kidnapping after all?

The image of the shattered crystal ball back at Haiyan Mansion surfaced in his mind.

'Is a twisted fate really that easy to escape?'

Just as he was pondering this question, his phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed Wei Lan's name.

Slightly taken aback, Han Su answered. Wei Lan's urgent voice came through the line. "Quick, turn on the TV."

Han Su frowned, turning on the television he hadn't touched in what felt like ages. Following Wei Lan's instructions, he switched to the specified channel.

The screen was showing the Empress pageant, the hottest topic in the city. It cycled through interviews and promotional clips of the most popular contestants. The channel Han Su had selected was currently featuring a video of contestant No. 017, Wei Lan, highlighting her powerful comeback.

As he watched with a frown, the television screen suddenly flickered.

The lights in the room also dimmed, and the next moment, the Wei Lan on the TV suddenly came to life.

She reached out, parting the image on the screen as if it were a curtain. Then, she stuck her head out and began to climb out of the television.

...Climbed right out!

Han Su was completely stunned. He watched as Wei Lan struggled, first forcing her head through the screen, then awkwardly hoisting her long legs over the edge and reaching out to pull herself through. He didn't even know if he should offer her a hand.

Once Wei Lan had fully emerged from the television and was standing before Han Su, she smoothed her hair and turned to him. "Never seen a celebrity crawl out of a TV before?"

Han Su really hadn't.

He pointed dumbly at the television. "You..."

"It's not real!"

Wei Lan said, "What you're seeing isn't really me, just a wisp of Spiritual Penetration. This is that safe method of communication I told you about. I came to your place last time to leave a locator... I'm in a huge hurry. I have to ask you something."

Han Su stood up as well. Looking at the vivid, lifelike projection of Wei Lan, he had a sudden urge to reach out and touch her, 'but that would be too rude, so forget it.'

He composed himself and asked, "What's the matter?"

Wei Lan's expression grew serious, her voice filled with excitement. "You... you just did something, didn't you?"

Han Su's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

Wei Lan took a few steps closer, her wide eyes filled with excitement. "I've been searching for information on the kidnapping case, trying to learn more. Suddenly, my head started spinning. When it stopped, I actually..."

Her voice trembled slightly. "I saw it! The news reports on the kidnapping... a moment ago, they said 25 missing children. Now it's 23!"

"Oh my god..."

She was at a loss for words to describe her shock, gesturing with her hand. "I immediately asked everyone around me—my assistant, the staff... everyone said I was mistaken. They all insisted it had been 23 missing children from the very beginning."

"This... it's just unbelievable. It's like the world was changed in a matter of seconds."

"How... how could there be a power capable of altering the memories of everyone on the planet?"

"No..."

But she immediately corrected herself. "No, it's not just affecting memory. Maybe reality itself changed. Some kind of power... reshaped the entire world in just a few seconds."

"This... it's just unbelievable."

As Han Su listened to her, his pupils contracted in shock.

'She remembers?'

'Wei Lan actually remembers what happened in the previous timeline? She can even perceive the changes I caused by saving those kids?'

'Is this because of the Mechanical Fragment's influence?'

'Finally, I'm not the only one who has to process these changes to the world?'

He'd never imagined the "contaminating" effect of the Mechanical Fragment could be this powerful.

'Judging from the properties of the Fishing Song, does this mean the Mechanical Fragment also possesses traits that transcend time and space?'

As he thought it through, he could see Wei Lan's excitement, but also the profound shock and bewilderment she felt at discovering the world had been reshaped.

He, in contrast, slowly calmed himself. Looking at Wei Lan, he smiled. "Are you scared?"

"No..."

Wei Lan shook her head firmly. "I just never imagined... that such a terrifying Mysterious Power could exist in this world."

"Have you always been facing this kind of thing alone?"

"..."

Han Su smiled and nodded. "I'm used to it."

'Yes,' he thought. 'I'm used to it.'

As the words left his lips, Han Su was surprised at his own numbness.

'Is the power of the Ancient Castle terrifying?'

'Perhaps, just as Wei Lan said, it's a power beyond her imagination.'

'A power that invisibly warps the entire world, yet no one ever notices.'

'But I was swept up in all this before I ever had a chance to understand just how terrifying it is.'

'I've escaped the Ancient Castle again and again. I've faced its changes again and again. I've even found better, more efficient ways to save the other children. I only know what I have to do. When would I have time to think about how terrifying it all is?'

'In the end, these monsters never gave me a chance to truly understand how terrifying they are...'

"You said... 'used to it'?"

The Wei Lan before him watched Han Su calmly utter those four words, an indescribable astonishment on her face.

Her body even trembled, as if the spiritual fluctuation was affecting her projection.

'Because of my identity and appearance, I've met plenty of high-status people. There's been no shortage of men who ignored the 'curse' of the Empress and did their best to display their masculine charm for me. And the ones who dared were always top performers in their fields.'

'But for Han Su to just drop those two words, 'used to'... what a fucking flex...'

'The most crucial part was, Wei Lan could see the utter calm on Han Su's face. He... he really seemed to be used to it.'

She finally understood why Han Su had said she couldn't help him with this.

'This invisible power that reshapes the world, this almost unimaginable terror... he's been fighting against it, again and again?'

In an instant, she had countless words she wanted to say, but in the end, she just smiled.

Her gaze fell, and her eyes trembled slightly. She saw the burn scar on Han Su's wrist. Stepping forward, she took his hand and gently rolled up his sleeve. She kept rolling it up to his elbow, but the scar stretched on, its end still not in sight.

"This..."

She clearly remembered: Han Su didn't have this scar before.

She said in a low voice, "Are you used to this too?"

Han Su pulled his arm back, a little unnaturally, and gave a slight smile. "Compared to some of my previous injuries, this one at least doesn't interfere with my daily life. And at least these marks can be hidden so no one has to see them."

Hearing this, Wei Lan sighed softly.

Before she'd 'climbed' out of the television, she'd had so many more questions she wanted to ask, so many things she was worried about.

'After all, Han Su is much weaker than me right now. I've already laid my foundation, unlocked my Life Code, and I'm preparing to formally receive the Empress identity and begin the phase of Stealing Authority.'

'Meanwhile, Han Su hasn't even touched the Life Code. He's still at the lowest 'imitation' level, a long way from Tier Two.'

But the terrifying power Han Su was facing filled her with an instinctual awe. She didn't dare ask too many questions, much less try to take the lead. If any crucial information leaked because of her, she wouldn't know how she could ever face those children.

'In that case, it's better to just put my faith in Han Su.'

Han Su nodded. He could feel Wei Lan's hand on his, though it lacked the tactile sensation of a real person. It was more like a tingling numbness, like an electromagnetic signal. "I actually have something I wanted to ask you, too," he said in a low voice.

"Before you came into contact with the Mechanical Fragment, before you remembered all of this... what did you feel? About me, I mean."

"..."

"Feel?"

Wei Lan looked a little confused. "I just felt like you were in a pretty rough spot, surrounded by enemies."

"That's it?"

Han Su couldn't quite believe it. "Is that all? Nothing else? Like a sense of closeness, or a strange familiarity...?"

"?"

Wei Lan gave him a strange look. "Are you asking if I had a thing for you?"

"No."

"If I'd really felt some inexplicable urge like that, an emotional fluctuation outside the normal range, it would have made me suspicious."

"But the fact is, I didn't. I met you at Haiyan Mansion because that's where I was staying after I arrived in Qinggang. My studio was set up there, too. I showed up where you were on your mission because Mr. Xu hired me with Ancient Gold Coins."

"And I was at Dingxiang Mansion because that banquet was specifically for the Empress pageant contestants."

She continued slowly, now adding her own theory. "If I had to say there was *something*, then maybe..."

She paused, then spoke a single word. "Fear!"

"In our current lives, it seems we escaped the kidnapping. We forgot it ever happened. But the fear from that time... that's always been there."

"And you... you saved me from the Ancient Castle. That feeling has always been there too..."

"So, you're asking about..."

"..."

Han Su could feel the oppressive weight in her voice when she mentioned the Ancient Castle, and he understood her fear. He gave a slight nod. "I'm going to save more of the children. I'll do everything I can. The more, the better."

"And then, I'll find them, and we will fight the Ancient Castle!"

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