The Eldritch Files

At the temporary containment center, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up.

Four figures leaped from the helicopter in the sky, showing no signs of slowing down, nor any intention of opening a parachute.

Their descent grew faster, as if they were about to crash directly into the ground and be smashed into a pulp.

But just as they were about to land, fierce gusts of wind suddenly swept through the air, catching their windbreakers and hair. The first to jump, the Drunkard Investigator, slowed slightly before landing gently. He bent his knees slightly, then straightened up and walked forward.

Behind him, the Lady in the Red Windbreaker, Mr. Night Lamp, and Mr. Green Hat also landed.

They looked calm, some even wearing slight smiles, as if they had just done something trivial.

Countless adoring gazes were cast their way from the crowd, along with suppressed cheers.

CLAP... CLAP...

The one clapping was Rong Qiyue from Seawall City. He looked impressed and said, "So these are the four Investigators of Qinggang?"

"Impressive, very impressive. This experience of jumping from a helicopter without a parachute... I’d like to try that myself someday."

"We had no choice. The situation was urgent!"

The Drunkard Investigator knew that the data had already been moved and that Han Su had gone after it, but he displayed extraordinary composure. Smiling, he extended a hand to Rong Qiyue and said, "Qinggang Investigator, codename Drunkard. I’ve heard much about the great Dr. Rong."

Rong Qiyue glanced at the outstretched hand without any intention of shaking it. The corner of his mouth twitched up as he said:

"I know you. Before you joined the Disaster Management Bureau, you were a student of the old master at Dingxiang Mansion."

"..."

The Drunkard Investigator withdrew his hand and said, "Not a very good student, I’m afraid. I only ever wanted to see how strong Mysterious Power could make me and had little interest in scholarly research. After I joined the Disaster Management Bureau, the old master more or less cast me out."

After speaking, his expression hardened, and he said in a low voice, "We’ve received a notice from the Disaster Management Bureau. The Red Eye Disease incident has been officially upgraded to an A-Level threat. It’s not just us; other available Investigators and special armed forces from Qinggang are also on their way."

"As of now, I’m officially taking over. Dr. Rong, you..."

"..."

"The contamination is severe."

Rong Qiyue’s smile vanished. He pointed at the black notebook and said in a low voice, "If you don’t want an S-Class threat to emerge, you must seal it immediately."

"I don’t know what’s happening on your end in Qinggang, but of the four of you, I’m afraid at least three will need to stay here."

"..."

Hearing this, the faces of everyone around them changed.

The Drunkard Investigator, however, appeared composed. He nodded slightly and said, "Since we’re here, we’re here to solve the problem. Why just three? The four of us will work together. Let’s deal with this crisis first."

"Eh?"

Rong Qiyue was rather surprised. He had intended to split them up, but who would have thought this Drunkard was so compliant?

But hearing his words, Investigator Bai Yang, standing beside him, couldn’t hold back. "That person just now already..." he said in a low voice.

The Drunkard Investigator said coolly, "I know what I’m doing!"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted, traveling far, across the crowds, to the temporary containment center three hundred meters away.

His focus landed on the silent, motionless prison transport vehicle, and on the few D7 prisoners who were connected to the infected yet were still perfectly fine. A flash of doubt crossed his eyes. ’Why hasn’t he made a move yet?’

But he didn’t say anything aloud. Instead, he let out a low sigh, looked at the black notebook waiting to be sealed, and said:

"We’ll seal this thing. As for that ’star’ Investigator who’s gone crazy, I’ll leave him to Mr. Bai Yang."

"Huh?"

Investigator Bai Yang was vehemently opposed.

Although he was on the Drunkard’s side, he wasn’t his subordinate. He had no intention of chasing someone down for him.

Besides, that ’star’ Investigator’s strength was nothing to scoff at...

The Drunkard saw through his thoughts, but he just smiled and said, "Don’t worry. This mission is serious, so a lot of people are coming."

"Hm?"

Investigator Bai Yang suddenly seemed to read something in the Drunkard’s expression. He discreetly took a step back, positioning himself right in a nearby shadow. By now, the sky was blood-red as night approached, and crisscrossing shadows stretched across the land.

And the things within the shadows began to stir.

With one foot in the shadow, he silently recited an Encrypted Spell and heard countless, intricate streams of information echoing from within the gloom.

He "saw" countless vehicles speeding across the land.

From every highway entrance, suburban observation post, and containment facility, they were taking over all the roads, converging on this location.

Waves of Spiritual Power with extremely high Activity crisscrossed the area, like an immense net being cast with Qinggang at its center.

When he opened his eyes, a look of sheer terror was on his face. "Just how many people are coming?"

The Drunkard Investigator spoke coolly, "Since this matter is of great importance, it must be handled with caution. All twenty-three available Investigators in Qinggang, along with their assistants and Senior Executors, have been deployed. They have also been given access to the data we have on hand."

"I imagine that at a time like this, if anyone dares to defy the rules of the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau..."

"...they won’t come to a good end!"

"..."

He said this coolly, his gaze falling on Investigator Bai Yang. With a slight nod, he asked, "Is Mr. Bai Yang reassured now?"

Investigator Bai Yang detected the subtle dissatisfaction in the Drunkard’s words.

Not daring to refuse again, he nodded firmly.

’Twenty-three Investigators, all mobilized just to catch one rookie?’

’What was there to even consider?’

But as he turned to leave, his mind was still racing uncontrollably. ’This time, are we really going to have a complete falling out with Zhang Chiguo?’

’No wonder Mr. Drunkard is acting so unconcerned. With more than twenty Investigators deployed, what’s a ’star’ Investigator but a weed destined to be crushed under the wheels...’

’...’

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, trying not to be noticed, a cold glint flashed across the Doctor’s glasses. He gently pushed them up with his middle finger and muttered to himself, "Things are really getting out of hand this time..."

Black Tiger asked nervously, "Glasses, is something bad about to happen?"

The Doctor said in a low voice, "I only know that this time, Qinggang might suddenly have a lot of vacant Investigator Licenses..."

...

...

On the highway, a vast white fog descended. It unfurled across the wilderness horizon and surged rapidly forward.

Inside the vehicle, the ones responsible for the escort were all Mr. Drunkard’s trusted subordinates.

Among them were his former assistant, Investigator Feidi, who had since obtained his own Investigator License; Investigator Feidi’s two assistants; and seven Senior Executors.

The younger assistants were nervous, glancing back at the road behind them from time to time.

Investigator Feidi sensed the young men’s unease and said coolly, "Don’t worry. Everything is going according to plan."

An assistant asked in a low voice, "Mr. Feidi, if someone really comes to steal the item, do we open fire?"

Investigator Feidi sneered, his reply simple: "Shoot to kill!"

"We are under orders to escort and transfer a relic. He’s coming to rob us. So what if we kill him?"

"He’s the one who’ll have to consider how to explain himself to the Disaster Management Bureau after trying to attack his colleagues!"

"You don’t need to worry either. No matter how famous he is, he’s just a rookie who joined the Disaster Management Bureau less than two months ago—even newer than you. With so many of us here, even an Independent Investigator would have to think twice, let alone him."

"You just need to remember this: do a good job, and Mr. Drunkard will owe you one."

"I got my Investigator License by being his assistant. If you perform well this time, when he gets promoted to Independent Investigator in the future, there’s a chance he might have you transferred over to work for him."

"Mr. Drunkard has a good reputation at the Disaster Management Bureau precisely because he’s willing to look out for rookies!"

"..."

His words filled everyone in the car with confidence, and the driver floored the accelerator.

Even though Investigator Feidi already knew Mr. Drunkard’s plan, he silently recited a Spell just to be safe. Instantly, electromagnetic signals inside the vehicle went haywire.

Now, even if someone in the car wanted to send a message, they couldn’t.

Miss Crow, who had been playing on her phone, snapped her head up. Her expression was grim, a clear look of displeasure on her face.

But amidst the silence, someone in the car suddenly shouted, "Trouble! Someone’s behind us... Something is catching up!"

"What?"

Investigator Feidi and the others were stunned. They quickly looked back and saw that the road behind them was gone.

They couldn’t see anything.

There was only a vast, eerie mass of fog, like a crashing tide, that filled the sky and land, rolling unstoppably along the highway toward them. The sheer impact of the scene made it look as if a giant monster was devouring the road.

"On guard!"

Someone shouted immediately, and the driver in front stomped on the gas even harder.

Beside them, someone even rolled down a window, drew their gun, and fired two shots into the approaching fog.

However, it didn’t affect the fog’s speed in the slightest, nor did it feel like the bullets had hit anything.

But in just the blink of an eye, the fog closed in faster. Suddenly, an earth-shattering horn blast resounded.

The sound was as if it was right beside them, making everyone’s eardrums go numb.

It also sounded like some indescribable beast roaring, gathering its strength, its colossal form faintly visible within the fog.

At that moment, a figure suddenly broke through the fog’s blockade, leaping high into the air. He seemed to step on the air itself, looking like a bird in flight as he urgently bounded toward their vehicle.

Without the slightest hesitation or mercy, while still in mid-air, he drew his pistol and ruthlessly pulled the trigger on the vehicle below.

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