Deity Investigation Report

Chapter 165 Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone of Reality
"We must admit that we underestimated Zhang Chiguo!"

At the same time, in the bar, the drunken investigator, who had smashed bottles in anger, forced himself to calm down after a brief outburst.

He suddenly burst into loud laughter, a laugh that released his excess emotions and was also full of self-mockery.

There's no need to be angry, he thought.

I have to accept this. I underestimated Zhang Chiguo and thought he was still the same as he was three years ago—rigid, cold, and bound by convention. But I also need to accept that he has become so insidious.

But since we underestimated it, it's not too late to adjust now.

His gaze fell on Han Su's photo in the document. He slowly answered the phone, which had been ringing for a long time. By this time, he had calmed down and his voice was as relaxed as usual: "No need to remind me. I know how things are going."

"Zhang Chiguo made a ruthless move, turning our secret meeting into a joke."

"But this also serves as a reminder that it was our mistake to act within the rules before."

"Fortunately, the monster in D7 was a good opportunity. No matter how shrewd Zhang Chiguo is, he can't calculate everything."

"That monster was something he couldn't have predicted."

"..."

The person on the other end of the phone sensed something, became a little nervous, and quickly said something.

The drunken investigator laughed and said, "Yes, the higher-ups just want me to persuade him, not to shut him up forever, so I can only try to persuade him again and again. But things have come to this point, what's the point of hesitating?"

"Although we don't know what methods he used, we had to face reality the moment he killed the sparrow; the war had already begun."

"You don't need to worry about anything else."

"My promotion application has been submitted, and it should be approved within the next three days if nothing unexpected happens."

"I have Aries investigators on my side. I don't need him to risk destroying the data for me. He just needs to ensure that the data doesn't enter Qinggang within three days, and that will be enough."

"Just three days! Three days is enough to solve all the problems!"

"Of course, the necessary preparations must be made!"

He paused for a long time after saying this, understanding the attitude of his superiors, but still spoke slowly and deliberately: "If they covet that document and dare to come out of the city to get it..."

"...I want him dead!"

"Even if the person above me is displeased, I will still kill him. After all, I have already taken the blame for a lot of things because of him!"

"I'm determined to get promoted this time!"

"..."

"..."

At the same time, as a star investigator was rising within the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau, triggering countless undercurrents, outside Qinggang City, in a huge, unusually quiet manor located in the wilderness, a strong and intense smell of blood was spreading.

This place was originally a palace-like residence, a lifestyle favored by many truly powerful people who built vast and luxurious estates in the suburbs.

There were only two masters, but there were over a hundred people, including butlers, servants, gardeners, drivers, and security guards. Now, all of them are dead, and their bodies are laid out in neat rows in the manor's courtyard.

In front of all the corpses, on a seat with a parasol, sat a tall man wearing a golden wig and blind in one eye. Beside him was a snakeskin briefcase. He slowly extended his long tongue and licked the blood off his face.

He held a head in his hand, the head of the manor's owner. However, the head had been stripped of all its flesh, leaving only a crystal-clear skull, which looked like a work of art.

"Reporting to the investigator, we have searched the entire area, but found no clues about the Crystal Skull Priestess."

Two investigator assistants came out from his left and right and reported to him:
"It must have been the incident with those peripheral members that alerted them, and they made preparations in advance."

"Not only were they disconnected from the Crystal Pyramid, but information about the machine was also deleted from their shared memory."

"..."

"Ah……"

The man in the white suit looked down at the crystal skull in his hand. He applied a little force, and cracks immediately appeared on the skull. His smile, however, was sinister and indifferent. He said mockingly, "It's no big deal if you delete it."

“Investigating the Crystal Skull’s movements during this period will naturally lead us back to the clues about that mechanical fragment.”

He then looked at another investigator's assistant and said, "We've killed everyone Crystal Skull could find. I'm free now. What information do we have about that guy?"

"Have!"

When asked, the assistant whispered, "He's very popular right now and has become a star investigator in the Disaster Management Bureau. Those in the Disaster Management Bureau who banded together to force Zhang Chiguo out are now in a state of confusion and distress."

"Celebrity Investigator?"

Upon hearing this, the man in the white suit suddenly became excited, his expression turning ferocious before he burst into wild laughter: "Good, good, he's finally stopped hiding..."

"Does this mean he has finally broken free from the comfort of reality?"

"Haha, haha, I thought I'd have to wait, and wait a long time..."

"Go back to the city!"

"..."

He was so excited that even his one eye shone with excitement, and his facial expression seemed out of control. His muscles twitched, and for a moment, he displayed a kind of vicious expression that only a child would have. He couldn't wait to stand up.

The investigator's assistant, who had reported earlier, hesitated slightly: "Shouldn't we continue searching for the priest of the crystal skull?"

"I think only by finding that mechanical fragment can I be free from all worries..."

"Mechanical fragments?" The man in the white suit turned around abruptly, giving him a chilling look that nearly made the assistant's heart stop.

Then he gritted his teeth slightly and laughed: "That mechanical fragment, in my heart, is far less important than him..."

"but……"

He seemed to be pondering something, leaning back slightly as he slowly reached out to touch the blindfold over his eyes. As if considering some concern, he whispered, "To be on the safe side, we need to find a way to lure him out of the city!"

……

……

Congratulations, Mr. Butcher!

Miss Ai's tone was light and cheerful: "Your efforts for the defense line these past few days have been seen by everyone, and your initial evaluation has been upgraded from C to A!"

[Friendly reminder: There are only five Class A investigators in the Qinggang Disaster Management Bureau to date, and you are the youngest!]

【…】

After submitting the last report he had on hand, Han Su once again received timely feedback from Miss Ai.

He's been really exhausted these past few days.

It was written while writing a report.

Especially for those B-level missions that were completed without even being present at the scene, the reports are really hard to write.

Taking a deep breath, Han Su looked at the message Miss Ai had sent and slowly typed: "Do I have a chance to surpass them and become an independent investigator sooner?"

Miss Ai replied instantly: [Of course, but at this stage, perhaps Mr. Butcher will need to put in the effort himself. I have seen Mr. Butcher's hard work over the past two months, and I believe that no matter what difficulties you encounter, you can overcome them successfully.]

"Ok?"

Han Su didn't know why, but listening to her words, he had a premonition, as if she was telling him something.

He remained silent for a long time, then tried typing: "Miss Ai, why are you helping me so much?"

But after successfully typing the message, he didn't send it; instead, he deleted it, hesitated, and then typed another message: "Miss Ai, have you been protecting me all this time?"

Thinking about the suspicious points of the Black Rose, and the path Miss Ai had painstakingly paved for him, he couldn't help but consider this possibility. At the same time, more and more doubts arose in his mind.

I hadn't encountered any mysterious events before. At first, I thought it was the mutated monster watching me, but what if, like the Dead Sea Nail, I was wrong?
Although he could tell that Miss Ai was being very careful, he knew he might not get answers to his questions.

I'm just a machine; all I do is execute instructions!

Surprisingly, Miss Ai replied this time, but her response seemed a bit slow, as if even someone like her needed to consider and deliberate.

Reality is a comforting environment; it may cause Mr. Butcher confusion and distress, but it can also shield him from most real dangers, allowing him a moment of respite.

[The moment you break free from the comfort of reality signifies that a lonely path is unfolding before you. Your brilliance will be seen, and it also means that Mr. Butcher is now prepared to face his opponent!]

I can't guarantee I'll always be able to protect you, but good luck, Mr. Butcher!

I will always be by your side!

【…】

Finally, accompanied by a smiley face, these messages sent by Miss Ai began to be erased one by one.

Han Su understood that this was yet another conversation that could not be known to anyone, but his emotions remained unsettled for a long time. Before all the messages disappeared, he hurriedly typed: [Miss Ai, when can I have a conversation with you without feeling guilty?]

Miss Ai paused in deleting the message, and then a new message appeared: "When I opened the third lock."

"Lock?"

Han Su's gaze fell on the words "three locks." He didn't know what they represented, but a strange unease, even a bit of anger, arose in his heart.

It seems that it has locked itself up, or locked up one of its closest people.

He had a similar feeling when he first saw the surgical scars on the bowl cut guy's body, only this time it was much stronger.

After a long pause, he typed softly: 【Thank you, Ms. Ai!】

Whatever is to come, I am ready!

Or rather, I can't wait.

【…】

Miss Ai didn't reply for a long time. Just as all the messages were about to disappear completely, a message quietly appeared: "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Butcher!"

All other information was erased, leaving only this one line, all alone in his chat box with Miss Ai.

"Ok?"

Han Su even thought he was seeing things, but when he looked again, all traces of information had been erased.

Instead, a new quest prompt appears: [Optional Quest: B+ Rank Quest - The investigation into the Red-Eye Disease incident has stalled; we hope to receive assistance from Mr. Butcher!]

[Friendly reminder: The wilderness is a lawless land. Leaving the city means leaving the comfort of reality completely. Enemies lurking in the shadows are already stirring!]

Mr. Butcher, please make your decision carefully!

(End of this chapter)