Deity Investigation Report

Chapter 257 Rebooting the Future
"coming!"

The ringing of the phone made Han Su suddenly look up, only to see that the small door to the cellar had been opened silently.

Duke Black Cat sat there haughtily, quietly waiting for him to go up.

Seeing the black cat also aroused Han Su's curiosity.

The conversation with Ms. Shen was too short this time, and there was no time to ask about many details, such as the Duke, his own father, and the legendary descendants of the Twelve Knights, who theoretically wielded the most powerful authority, yet exuded a strange aristocratic air.

However, all of this information is inside the crystal skull. All I need is a safe environment to read and understand these memories; there's no rush.

And the black briefcase...

Han Su pondered the feeling when the flash occurred, confirming that the black briefcase had flashed back with him, but it hadn't appeared directly in his hand. The first thing he needed to do now was to find the briefcase.

He let out a soft sigh and stood up, feeling an unusual sense of fatigue.

As he rose, he recited number 01, "I will plunge into the abyss," and transformed into a faint shadow.

He walked past the children gathered around the boastful little man with the parted hair, went straight out of the cellar, stepped over the hunchbacked man who had been knocked to the ground by the Duke, glanced at his black briefcase, felt a little relieved, and then picked up the phone.

On the other end of the phone, as usual, came an old and hoarse voice: "What night is it now?"

He asked the exact same questions as before, as if he too had entered a cycle with the castle, and this was the first time he had called in.

Han Su knew that asking him who he was would be meaningless, and when he tried to ask for other clues, the man was full of evasive answers.

So this time, she simply answered in a low voice, "Can you get me out of here?"

The other party paused slightly, as if they hadn't expected the ten-year-old child who answered the phone to ask such a straightforward question.

That's really not smart...

Shouldn't a shrewd kid be trying to get more information out of him?

When he answered, there was a hint of amusement in his voice: "Unless you do something for me, as I ask."

Han Su said, "You speak!"

The person on the other end of the phone paused for a moment.

Then he slowed his tone and began to speak gently: "I know you're scared right now, but you don't actually need to be afraid of those things..."

Han Su said, "I said I wanted to help you with something."

The person on the other end of the phone seemed a bit disjointed; after a pause, they forced a dry laugh:
"Hehe, you're in a hurry. I just want you to understand that although there are so many monsters inside the castle, I have a way to protect you."

"But I need you to take a risk today. Go to the tenth floor, find a book, hide it well, and I'll call you tomorrow..."

"..."

As usual, I described what the book looked like, told myself I only had fifteen minutes, and told myself to hide the book somewhere until he called again.

Han Su glanced at his suitcase, actually wanting to tell him that he already had the book in his hands.

But in order not to arouse suspicion, he patiently asked, "Is that all?"

The other person paused, then chuckled, "Hehe, that's all. Unfortunate little one, I wish you..."

"Dudu!"

Han Su hung up the phone and went to the entrance of the lobby. He carefully examined the black briefcase placed at the entrance. It was placed there quietly, so naturally, without attracting anyone's attention.

It's a very strange feeling.

I felt like a traveler who had arrived at the destination ahead of time, and my suitcase would soon be transported here.

He gently lifted the box, and after a quick weighing, he confirmed that everything inside was there, including the Emperor's Book, the mechanical fragments, the crystal skull he had obtained this time, and mechanical fragment number 2.

Even the jar containing the white corpse's blood, as well as the stun gun and dagger received from the disaster management bureau, were still there.

Now we only have one problem:
Where is it hidden?
Fifteen minutes later, the old butler will return to the castle, and Han Su is unsure whether he will notice the unusual suitcase.

In the past, especially recently, I often went out on the first night back at the castle, so I didn't need to worry about hiding anything. At worst, I would just take my suitcase upstairs and look for the key. But this time, it was different.

By using that key to open a door and escape, one will return to a predetermined life path, with only the details differing.

Returning to this life trajectory now is of little significance.

Because of the complete defeat, even if he returned, he would not have the ability to turn the tide.

So, what would happen if I didn't use a key to get out?

He had escaped several times without a key at different times, which brought about completely different changes in his life. At that time, he felt lost and helpless, which made him fearful.

But things are different now. Han Su needs a different life to restart Qinggang's future.

He knew in his heart that facing such a terrifying opponent as the descendant of knights, he had no chance at all if he confronted him head-on.

only……

With this question in mind, he looked at the black door in front of him.

The small body walked over and gently touched it. It could only feel that the black door was tall and heavy, with countless strange and complicated patterns on it. These patterns were both decorations and exquisitely crafted cipher locks, making it impossible to open.

Moreover, the loopholes that once helped him escape the castle have all been repaired by an unknown, mysterious force.

To escape without the key would be tantamount to facing that mysterious power with the body of a ten-year-old.

"Let's hide the suitcase first..."

With too many issues to consider, Han Su didn't have time to stand there in a daze at the gate and quickly perked up.

A soft tail kept rubbing against my thigh; it was the somewhat impatient Duke the Black Cat.

When Han Su looked down at it, he saw it slowly swishing its tail and walking towards a black wall.

"what?"

Han Su suddenly noticed that the Black Cat Duke was walking in a different direction than before.

Previously, whenever I wanted to find my keys, this cat would always lead me towards the kitchen.

But this time, it went in the wrong direction.

Following the direction the black cat had gone, Han Su activated some of his spiritual power and strengthened his eyes. Only then could he see clearly that where it had gone was an iron mesh door, and in the narrow space behind the door was a very old-fashioned elevator inside the castle.

"There's an elevator here?"

Han Su already knew this ancient castle inside and out, so he was quite certain that this was something new that had appeared.

This is something that, like the telephone, appeared silently in the castle and became a distinctive feature integrated into the castle itself.

So, this is the reward for rescuing Lu Neng last time?
Han Su mustered his courage and approached the elevator. The elevator looked extremely old, dilapidated, and covered in cobwebs.

The outer layer of iron mesh was tightly secured by precise locks.

But when Han Su arrived at the elevator, the latch seemed to sense his presence and unlocked silently.

Han Su pursed his lips slightly, picked up his suitcase, and walked into the elevator. The black cat followed him in.

The next moment, the elevator swayed slightly and instead of going up, it suddenly began to descend.

The eerie elevator, descending inexplicably, was certainly a somewhat frightening thing, but Han Su was already used to experiencing these things in the castle. He just silently counted the seconds, and when he counted to about ten, the elevator stopped.

Upon quietly opening the door, one finds a dilapidated room, pitch black all around.

Using his activated spiritual power, Han Su could clearly see the room's layout: simple, spacious, with an empty work desk, a set of dark red sofas, a chair, and a television set covered in dust.

The strangest thing is that there is a cat bed here, with two small bowls of cat food and water next to it. In another corner, there is even a litter box.

Han Su was somewhat surprised to see the Duke immediately run to the litter box and scratch it twice as if he was in a hurry to bury his precious cat.

The Duke used to live here?
This black cat...

He suddenly had a somewhat startling thought: he had returned to the castle countless times, but neither the old butler, nor the monsters inside the castle, nor even the mysterious old man who made the phone call knew about his repeated experiences.

But this black cat is different.

Judging from its unusual behavior this time, it should have gone to the kitchen, but instead led itself to the elevator.

Could it be that it actually knew it had come back more than once?

It always appears on time, so is it just because cats have small brains that they act on instinct and mislead themselves?
But after glancing subconsciously at Duke Black Cat's chubby head, he felt that its capacity might not be that small.

Fifteen minutes were almost up, and Han Su didn't linger. He just looked at the Black Cat Duke's round, dark eyes and muttered to himself, "This place should be safe, right?"

The Duke did not answer, but simply glanced at his litter box.

Han Su was relieved.

In a place like a castle, what could be safer than a place where cats are too lazy to even bury their own babies properly?
He didn't immediately choose to search the memories inside the crystal skull here.

First, the old butler is coming back soon. Second, this crystal skull contains endless hidden knowledge, and I need enough time and a safe environment to accept and sort it out; otherwise, it may cause the memories of the two of us to become entangled.

Furthermore, although the unusual space beneath this ancient castle is extremely mysterious and plays a very important role, it is worth exploring.

But for me right now, nothing is more important than trying to start a different life path.

He left his suitcase there, took the elevator upstairs again, chanted the No. 01 invisibility spell, and returned to the cellar.

Perhaps he wasn't liked by monsters, and he was too ordinary among these children, so no one noticed him coming and going. Soon, everything that was bound to happen happened. Two minutes later, the old butler returned, woke up the hunchback lying on the ground, and looked around suspiciously, but found nothing unusual, and of course, he didn't suspect the children in the cellar.

Therefore, he only took the little boy upstairs, and soon replaced him with another child.

Han Su knew that this was something that would inevitably happen every night.

The bronze monster on the fifth floor was dissatisfied with the children chosen by the old butler, and had to replace them every first night.

Han Su, along with the other children, spent an unforgettable night in the cellar. When they woke up the next day, everyone was unusually quiet.

This day was a night of utter silence.

After the fear of the first day, the children on the second day had no will to resist, especially those like Little Part-Head who would distract the other children by bragging.

Therefore, they spent most of their time in the cellar, too exhausted to even cry.

Han Su also carefully recalled what would happen the next day, but found that there was very little useful information.

The reason I nicknamed this night "The Night of Deathly Silence" was because nothing unusual happened that night.

Even the hot-tempered kid, after a fierce struggle all night yesterday, has been behaving himself today and hasn't made a sound for a full two hours.

Han Su didn't have a chance to go out and do anything all day.

For the entire morning and half the afternoon, the old butler sat comfortably in the hall. Occasionally, monsters would come down from upstairs, and he would answer their questions gently in an elegant yet eerie tone, using a language that Han Su could not understand.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, the old butler woke up the hunchback and went upstairs himself.

Time is up.

Han Su remembered what happened the next day. From the moment the old butler went upstairs, there would be faint cries of pain from several children, but they were very brief, followed by an unusual silence and stillness.

He listened patiently, and when he heard the scream from the second floor, it signaled that he had time to act.

However, the call hadn't come through yet. Han Su wanted to hear more from the mysterious voice before making another attempt.

"Ding-a-ling..."

Just then, the phone rang outside.

The sound was unusually jarring and desolate in the empty lobby.

Han Su couldn't help but feel a chill, worried that the ringing might attract the attention of something, and immediately got up and went up the stairs.

He planned to use the same trick again: first, knock on the door to lure the hunchbacked man over, then deal with him so he could go out and answer the phone.

Unexpectedly, the moment the idea formed, the small door was opened, and the hunchbacked man opened it. His ugly face was dazed and confused, and he looked like he hadn't woken up yet.

Han Su's heart stirred slightly. He went out, and seeing no one stop him, he went straight to answer the phone. He heard an old voice chuckle on the other end and say, "How was it? Was my magic trick working?"

'Did he hypnotize the hunchbacked gatekeeper by ringing the phone?'

Han Su was indeed somewhat surprised, and immediately said into the phone, "Now, can you get me out of here?"

"Hehe, no rush."

The man on the other end of the phone chuckled and said, "Those monsters up there are having a meeting, discussing whether their containers are suitable. Their goal is to turn you into monsters like them and inherit their mysterious kingdom."

'Heir?'

Han Su realized: These monsters were also once heirs?
Just as I was pondering this, the man on the other end of the phone said again, "You got that book and are still alive to answer the phone. That's good. It means that the monster's amnesia has flared up again. He can't even remember the book that he's been holding in his arms all this time."

"Hehe, they made these vessels that should have been retired long ago drag on for too long because of this divine descent, and they've developed a lot of problems."

"But this is your chance, little one. You want to run away, don't you?"

"I will teach you how to use this book. Once you've learned it, you'll be able to leave the castle on your own."

"..."

As he spoke, he slowly and carefully explained how to open the Book of the Emperor, how to read the text inside, and how to use it to sense the mysterious power in various parts of the ancient castle in order to try to grasp something...

His voice was so captivating, it seemed to be deeply imprinted in one's mind.

"This guy is using me!"

After listening to the beginning, Han Su suddenly realized what was going on.

Previously, in the future, I had already come into contact with the Book of Emperors and even begun to try some kind of training, which I understood in my heart.

This man did indeed teach me how to read, and even correctly use, the Emperor's Book.

But his method was actually an attempt to make himself a slave to the Emperor's Book.

Back in the future, when I was an adult, I was almost subdued by the Emperor's writings. It was only thanks to the theories pointed out by Li Moses that I was able to use the Emperor's writings while still resisting them. How much more so for me now?
"Go!"

The mysterious man on the other end of the phone probably didn't realize that a ten-year-old child like Han Su could have any other thoughts. After explaining everything clearly, his voice was still full of allure:

"Once you start reading this book, you will no longer be afraid. You will have a day to ponder and understand these words. Tomorrow will be a lively day, and you will have a chance to escape..."

"Of course, you'll only have a chance if you do as I say..."

"..."

"I remember."

Certain that this guy had no good intentions, Han Su made a decision the moment he hung up the phone.

leave!

According to what he said on the phone, the Emperor's Book can control certain parts of this castle.
At least the main gate?
He thought he needed this day to access the Emperor's Book, but little did he know that he had already completed the initial process of establishing contact with it long before.

I can do everything he said right now.

What are you waiting for?
Although he was also curious about what the man wanted him to do tomorrow, Han Su decided to try it next time he came back.

He didn't go back to the cellar, but went straight into the elevator, descended to the old room, picked up his suitcase, went upstairs, and then went straight to the front door.

He chanted the incantation softly, then stretched out his left hand and slowly pressed it against the heavy and mysterious door. He didn't even need to open the suitcase; he used his spiritual power to activate the books inside and evoke a resonance of spiritual energy.

In a daze, it seemed as if lines of text flowed from his palm and spread towards the heavily guarded door, awakening the patterns on it.

The next moment, the door opened a crack with a loud bang.

But perhaps because Han Su's spiritual strength was insufficient, or because his connection with the Emperor's Book was not close, only a tiny crack opened.

But for Han Su's current size, it was enough. He leaned to one side and walked out of the door.

Facing the somewhat harsh sunlight outside, Han Su even felt as if he had been transported to another world: although he had escaped the castle countless times, this was the only time he had ever walked out of the castle.

At this moment, Han Su felt that the resonance triggered by the Emperor's Book still existed. Looking up, he saw that everything around him was undergoing subtle changes.

The hole on the second floor of the castle, which had been nailed shut, had reopened, and even the rose bushes that had been sealed off had once again revealed the hole through which they had crawled.

"This is……"

Han Su was momentarily excited. The Emperor's Book had the power to restrain the mysterious force that was preventing him from escaping.

He suppressed his excitement and was about to rush towards the rose bushes, but just as he took a step forward, he suddenly heard a very anxious and somewhat weak voice behind him:
"Mmm, mmm mmm..."

"..."

"Ok?"

Han Su thought the commotion was too great, and that those monsters who were having a meeting upstairs had come down so quickly.

He turned his head in a panic, only to be genuinely surprised.

On the outer wall of the castle, on the third floor, a small figure was suspended by mechanical handcuffs. His whole body was wrapped up like a mummy, and a mechanical gag was even placed over his mouth to prevent him from swearing.

"you……"

Han Su really didn't expect to meet the grumpy kid here.

What's wrong with him?

Because he made too much noise all night yesterday, and the monsters were having a meeting and were afraid he wouldn't behave, they hung him up here.
In the past, the castle gates were always tightly shut the next day, and Han Su never came out. He had no idea that he would be hanging outside the castle at this time. When they were teamed up, he seemed to feel ashamed and never mentioned this incident.

Then now...

Han Su glanced at the rose bushes beside him, then at the grumpy kid hanging outside the third-floor window of the castle. He made his decision in half a second, silently chanted "Step onto the Abyss Ladder," and with a slight movement, climbed the wall to the grumpy kid's side.

Then, copper-colored blood seeped out of the box, turning into a thin blade that snapped the handcuffs on his hands with a "whoosh," and then fell to the ground.

However, the exertion of this mysterious power also triggered a series of strange and mysterious forces to crisscross within the ancient castle.

In an instant, countless eerie gazes turned out from the gloomy ancient castle.

"The monsters have been alerted..."

Han Su carried the black briefcase in one hand and hoisted the child, whose legs were still bound, onto his shoulder with the other. Without thinking, he used all his strength to rush into the hole in the rose bush.

On his shoulder, the grumpy kid's eyes widened, his body twisting excitedly as he shouted:

"Mmm, mmm... Ouch..."

(End of this chapter)