From the end of the world

Chapter 150 Tracking the Humanitarian Department 2
Ma Zao immediately left the room and went to the front hall.

Although Zhu Shi and Lu Youxun were talking, most of their attention was on Ma Zao. Seeing each other suddenly seemed to have made a new discovery, they both stopped talking and moving at the same time. I followed without hesitation, and the other two followed closely behind. We came to the front hall.

Ma had been observing everywhere in the front hall, then came to the center, staring intently at the void in front of him, and then a look of sudden realization appeared on his face.

"What did you find?" I asked.

"It's a space transfer," she said.

I didn't react for a moment, but Lu Youxun understood it quickly: "...Ah, so that's how it is, it turns out that space transfer is used..."

"What's going on?" Zhu Shi asked.

"In fact, my agents have investigated when and how the Monster Maker moved all the equipment and devices inside the 'Clinic' away." He said, "There are surveillance cameras on the streets outside, and the magic investigation methods can also operate normally. No matter what kind of transportation he used to move the items, there would at least be relevant traces left. But we didn't find any such signs.

"And if he used space transfer to pack up all the items and take them away, then that makes perfect sense. Coincidentally, the black mist you mentioned in your report also has the power of large-scale space transfer."

While he was talking, Ma Zao once again took out a reading photo, showing a scene from the past.

I leaned over to take a look, and the photo showed scenes of past events in the lobby - the Monster Maker was standing in the middle of the lobby, surrounded by a mess of high-tech equipment and devices, and in front of him was a vortex of black mist.

The diameter of the black mist vortex was about two meters, and he was moving a large piece of equipment into it. Half of the equipment sank into one side of the vortex, but did not pass through the other side, as if it had entered some other unknown space.

"Portal?" I think this word best suits this vortex of black mist.

Then I realized that our investigation in the "clinic" was likely to reach a dead end.

Even Lu Youxun said with great regret: "This is really the worst possibility..."

The most efficient way to use Ma Zao's historical retracing skill in tracking prey is to directly track the prey's historical footprints. From a common sense perspective, no matter how cleverly and covertly the prey moves, its historical footprints are continuous in the material world. Ma Zao only needs to follow these traces and find the source. This can also be said to be a superpower version of "checking surveillance."

The destination where the monster maker transferred the high-tech equipment and facilities would undoubtedly be the secret base of the Humanitarian Department. Whether he used a vehicle or something else, we could find out through "surveillance". Even if he transferred the equipment and facilities by air vehicles, I could just enter the fire element form and hold Ma Zao and fly up, letting her track him while flying.

However, unlike means such as space transfer and portal, the historical traces of the prey are interrupted here.

We were unable to trace the Humanitarian Department directly.

"We have no choice but to investigate all the clues we can first." Zhu Shi suggested, "Besides the equipment and devices, this 'clinic' should have stored documents and other things. Those items are more valuable than the equipment and devices. Ma Zao, can you find the information of those documents and materials from the historical information?"

"There are no documents or data stored here, not even the physical examination data of the monsters." Ma Zao shook his head directly, "After the monster maker finished the physical examination of the monsters here, it seems that he memorized the data in his mind... It is also possible that he tested the monsters' physical data here while letting his clones in other places record it."

"In other words, this is just a place for physical examinations. Speaking of which, Shadow-Changer also mentioned that the Monster Maker only uses this 'clinic' on days when it is doing physical examinations on monsters, so of course it won't be used to store any information." Lu Youxun thought for a while and said, "Can you write down the process of the Monster Maker doing physical examinations on monsters? It would be best if you describe it in detail, as that might be a clue."

"No problem," Mazao responded, staring at the center of the front hall.

After a while, she said, "Besides, I should be able to continue tracking."

"Continue to track what?" Zhu Shi said subconsciously at first, and then immediately reacted, "-Wait, are you saying that you can investigate here the historical footprints of past objects after they passed through the portal?"

Ma Zao shook his head: "That's not the case. Even if it were me, I couldn't stand still and investigate the historical records of another space."

"So, what are you going to do?" I asked curiously.

"I am more than just able to investigate historical records," she said. "My blessing is 'return', the power to restore things to their past state."

While she was talking, she turned her head to look at me and her speech became slower. I don't know if I was being overly sentimental, but I felt that she might be intentionally showing off in front of me.

She seemed to be observing my expression carefully, and then continued: "In other words, as long as the phenomenon has happened here before, I can try to reproduce it with the power of my blessing." I quickly realized what she meant, and Zhu Shi and Lu Youxun also looked surprised.

She didn't look at the reactions of the latter two, and it seemed that there was only me in her eyes.

"You mean..." I asked tentatively, "You can open the portal that the monster maker once opened here?"

She nodded seriously: "Yes."

"Wait a moment." Zhu Shi interrupted, "Ma Zao, your power should be more burdensome when used on external objects. Now you even want to materialize the strange phenomena that appeared here in the past... Will this really not put a burden on your soul?"

“It’s going to be quite a load.”

Ma Zao didn't try to be brave and told the truth: "Even if it can be reproduced, it can only be reproduced safely for a very short time. On the other hand, as long as I don't try to exceed this period of time, the load will not be so great as to deepen my soul trauma. It's just that before the load accumulated on me subsides, I can't reproduce the portal again."

"If I understand correctly, the portal you can open is only a one-way one. Once used, you cannot go back. If the portal is the secret base of the Humanitarian Department, rushing through it would be like being alone in the enemy camp. At that time, not only can you not continue to track the Humanitarian Department, but you will also have problems protecting yourself."

While Lu Youxun listed the shortcomings of this approach, he showed some interest. I felt that he might want to go through it himself.

But he looked at me again, and then showed a regretful expression. Yes, he must have realized that the best solution for this approach is definitely not to send himself to the other side of the portal.

"Lu Chan, if you suggest letting Zhuang Cheng go through the portal next, I will beat you." Zhu Shi glanced at Lu Youxun, "Zhuang Cheng's power is indeed very strong. There is absolutely no one else in this city who can match him. But behind the portal is probably the hinterland of the Humanitarian Department. It doesn't mean that you can just go in casually as long as you are strong. Who knows what kind of monsters are waiting for invaders on the other side?"

"Zhu Shi, although we have different positions within Luoshan, you don't have to distrust me so much. The Humanitarian Department is one of the three major threats to Luoshan. How could I recommend my people to rush into the heartland of such a force?" Lu Youxun shook his head, "Zhuang Cheng doesn't need to go through the portal himself, he just needs to release his own flames to go through."

Yes, I could just let the "Firefly" go to the space opposite the portal first.

As long as I do this, I can then clearly observe what is on the other side, and even teleport myself directly to the other side; or in fact, it is also possible for me to go through it directly, and if anything unexpected happens, I can use the "fireflies" left here in advance to teleport myself back.

Of course, the second approach would definitely be dissuaded by Zhu Shi and Ma Zao. And if the other side is really the hinterland of the Humanitarian Department, there might be a barrier that can cut off the connection between me and the "fireflies". Overall, it is better to release the "fireflies" to test it out.

I repeatedly confirmed with Mazao whether recreating the portal would deepen her spiritual trauma, and she made a serious assurance to reassure me.

"Well, please," I said.

She nodded vigorously, and asked us to step back a little. She also took two steps back and stretched out her palm towards the center of the front hall.

At the same time, I also summoned a "firefly" and prepared to release it at any time.

She took a deep breath and then uttered two words.

"--return."

As soon as he finished speaking, in the center of the front hall, the black mist that could block supernatural powers was forcibly reappeared by Ma Zao's supernatural powers, and emerged from where there was nothing!
The black mist emerged and automatically formed a vortex. Compared with the vortex with a diameter of more than two meters in the photo, the black mist vortex reproduced by Ma Zao was only tens of centimeters. If humans wanted to pass through, they would probably have to drill through it like drilling a hole.

The moment he finished recreating the scene, Ma Zao suddenly showed an expression of exhaustion. This black mist vortex could not last long.

I didn't waste precious time. The "firefly" in my palm shot out quickly like a fleeting electric spark and sank into the black mist vortex.

Seeing this, Ma Zao closed the portal and breathed a sigh of relief. I paid close attention to her changes in condition. This time she showed no signs of staggering or falling. It seemed that her previous assurance was not a lie, and I was relieved.

Next, I turned my attention to the "fireflies" passing through the portal.

"Firefly" seems to have entered an unknown indoor space.

(End of this chapter)