Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 100 In-depth Analysis and the Fragmented Star Chart
Nightmare Investigation Bureau Headquarters, District 7.

This is an area that does not exist on the publicly available map at headquarters.

To get here, you need to go through a much stricter and more complex security procedure than in other areas.

When Bai Yu, Lan Ce, and An Mu arrived at the entrance of the Seventh District in their private internal maglev train, a unique atmosphere filled with a chilling aura stood like an invisible wall, blocking their way.

Unlike other areas, this place lacks bright, futuristic lighting and any unnecessary decorations.

All that comes into view is a long, narrow corridor made of cold titanium alloy.

The walls, ceiling, and floor of the corridor are all matte silver-gray with no reflection, resembling a huge fortress built of metal. This extremely monotonous color brings immense psychological pressure and a sense of oppression.

The air was filled with a strong smell of ozone mixed with disinfectant.

"Please verify your identity."

A emotionless, synthesized electronic voice came from the heavy, round alloy door deep in the corridor.

Anmu stepped forward and pointed his pupils at the scanner on the door, which was flashing a red light.

"drop--"

"Identity confirmed: Team Leader, An Mu. Access Level: S. Access request approved."

Next up were Lan Ce and Bai Yu.

After undergoing triple verification through pupil membrane, voiceprint, and soul fluctuation, the heavy alloy door slowly slid open to both sides amidst a piercing sound of hydraulic rods starting, revealing the silver-gray space behind the door.

This is only the first hurdle.

During the rest of the journey, they passed through three more security gates with different verification methods.

They even passed through a sterile passage filled with highly concentrated purified gas. In this passage, any microorganisms, residual energy, or even pheromones left by alien organisms that might have adhered to them from the outside world would be completely eliminated.

When they finally arrived at their destination, at the door of the room with the sign "Deep Analysis Laboratory No. 3," even a battle-hardened man like An Mu couldn't help but feel a sense of oppression.

This place doesn't look like a place for scientific research; it's more like a prison for holding the world's most dangerous prisoners.

"Captain An, it's been a long time."

The laboratory door slid open silently.

A tall woman, dressed in a spotless white lab coat, wearing a pair of oddly designed goggles, and with her short hair neatly pinned up, appeared at the door.

Her face was devoid of any extra expression, and her voice was as cold and devoid of any warmth as the silver-gray space behind her.

She is the head of the Seventh District and Dr. Chai Yushuang, the top "Abyss Creation" analysis expert in the entire Nightmare Investigation Bureau.

"Dr. Chai." An Mu nodded to her as a greeting.

Chai Yushuang's gaze did not linger on him for long, but instead passed over him and landed on Bai Yu and Lan Ce behind him.

More precisely, it landed on the two sealed boxes made of special alloy that they were holding, which were used to store the "sexandrite" and the "clown card".

A glint of excitement and curiosity flashed in her eyes.

"Did you bring the things?" There was a hint of urgency in her voice.

“I brought them.” Lan Ce stepped forward and handed over the two sealed boxes he was holding.

Chai Yushuang took the box and, without even glancing at them again, turned and walked into the depths of the laboratory.

"follow me."

Her voice came after they had walked quite a distance.

The three exchanged a glance and immediately followed.

The interior of the laboratory is a huge circular space filled with a futuristic feel.

In the center of the space stood an exaggeratedly large spherical machine, composed of countless complex circuits, precision optical instruments, and energy pipes that shimmered with a ghostly blue light.

Around the machine floated more than a dozen enormous holographic screens. These screens were flashing a series of complex data and symbols that they couldn't understand at an extremely high speed.

Dozens of researchers dressed in white cleanroom suits were working methodically around the huge machine, creating a tense and efficient atmosphere.

"This is 'Hermes'." Chai Yushuang introduced the huge spherical machine to the three people who were looking at it, her voice carrying an undisguised pride. "It is the core equipment of our Seventh District, and the only quantum resonance instrument that mankind can currently manufacture that can perform preliminary analysis of 'conceptual' matter from higher dimensions. It is the latest technology that was developed after you returned from Luoshui Village."

She walked to the control panel of the huge machine and carefully placed the two sealed boxes into a groove made of transparent crystal.

"Alright, you can go to the observation room and wait now," she said without turning her head. "The following experiments require absolute silence."

An Mu and Lan Ce exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes.

Dr. Chai's personality remained as cold and unapproachable as ever.

However, just as they were about to turn and leave, Bai Yu suddenly spoke up.

Can I stay?

His words caused everyone present to pause slightly.

Chai Yushuang slowly turned around, her eyes, hidden behind her goggles, sharpened as she scrutinized the overly handsome investigator in front of her.

“Give me a reason,” she asked.

“That sextant resonated deeply with my soul.” Bai Yu’s voice was calm yet powerful. “During the analysis process, if any energy anomalies occur, my mental strength may be able to play a stabilizing role.”

Chai Yushuang remained silent for a moment.

She stared at Bai Yu silently for a few seconds, her sharp eyes seeming to see right through his soul.

After a long while, she slowly nodded.

"Interesting... Okay."

"However, I must remind you. When 'Hermes' performs deep analysis, the high-dimensional energy radiation it emits is harmful to any carbon-based life form. Bai Yu, even a special dreamer like you is not immune, so... try to avoid getting too close to it."

"I understand," Bai Yu replied simply.

An Mu wanted to say something more, but Bai Yu stopped him with a persistent look in her eyes.

In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and walk into the observation room made of special radiation-proof glass with Lance. "Ready to begin."

Chai Yushuang wasted no more time. She put on a pair of gloves made of a special material and then gave instructions to the communicator on the main control panel.

"Hermes activated. Energy output at 30 percent. Target: Sample 1, Traveler Sextant. Resolution mode: Shallow structure scan."

With her command, the huge spherical machine slowly started to operate amidst a low rumble!
Countless streams of dark blue energy, like living streams, flowed from the complex pipes and eventually converged into the transparent crystal recess containing the sextant.

"Om-!"

The moment it came into contact with the immense energy, the ancient sextant lit up without warning!

Golden runes, brimming with mystery and antiquity, flowed rapidly across its surface as if they were alive!

On the holographic screens all around, countless strings of dazzling data were refreshing like a waterfall!

“Basic structure analysis complete… Material composition… Unknown… Energy properties… Unknown… Trace amounts of residual concepts of ‘space’ and ‘time’ detected…” A researcher’s voice, tinged with excitement and disbelief, rang out in the quiet laboratory.

"Very good." Chai Yushuang's face also showed a satisfied expression.

"Increase power. Energy output 70%. Switch to deep resonance mode. Objective: Track the coordinates of its core energy source!"

"Yes!"

With her new command, the huge machine roared even louder!

An even larger stream of dark blue energy surged wildly into the sextant!

However, at that moment, something unexpected happened!

Upon encountering that even greater energy, the sextant not only failed to reveal any more information, but instead, like an overstimulated hedgehog, it unleashed a powerful force full of resistance and rejection!
“Buzz——!!!”

A visible golden energy shockwave spread outwards from the sextant in all directions!

"Warning! Warning! Energy overload! The core temperature of 'Hermes' is rising rapidly! It is about to exceed the safety threshold!"

"Quickly! Cut off the energy supply immediately!"

The entire laboratory descended into chaos, with piercing alarms mingling with the panicked shouts of the researchers.

"Damn it!" Chai Yushuang's face turned extremely ugly. "Its 'status' is too high! Hermes' power is simply not enough to forcibly analyze its core! We're like... like trying to observe the inside of a black hole with an ordinary microscope!"

Just as the massive machine was about to break down completely due to energy overload, Bai Yudong, who had been standing by the side, spoke up.

Without the slightest hesitation, he placed his hand directly on the transparent crystal groove that was radiating terrifying heat!

"Bai Yu! You've gone mad!" An Mu in the observation room roared in horror!
Bai Yu ignored it.

He opened up his sea of ​​soul, which had just regained a sliver of life, without reservation, and established a deep spiritual connection with the rampaging Sextant!
"Quiet."

His voice was gentle, yet it flowed into Sextant's "consciousness" like a clear spring.

"I'm not your enemy."

"I just...want to take you home."

Perhaps it was his will to "protect" and "return home" that resonated with the sextant in some strange way, and the sextant, which was originally running wild, miraculously calmed down.

Its dazzling golden light gradually softened.

Just before it completely subsided, a faint golden data stream, almost ignored by everyone, flashed from its core and was successfully captured by the collapsing Hermes!
"boom--!"

With a deafening roar, the massive machine, having completed its final mission, finally succumbed to its strain and went on strike. All the lights in the laboratory went out in an instant.

The entire laboratory fell into a deathly silence.

"Did it succeed?" Chai Yushuang's voice trembled slightly with disbelief.

"Success!" A researcher in charge of data analysis hurriedly turned on the backup power and shouted with joy at the relief of surviving a close call. "We captured an extremely faint 'coordinate' information at the last moment!"

He immediately projected that message onto the central holographic screen!
However, when everyone saw the so-called "coordinates" information, all the joy was instantly replaced by immense confusion and bewilderment.

Those were not any interstellar coordinates they knew.

It was a... a broken star map filled with the unknown and the bizarre.

On the star chart, all the constellations were ones they had never seen before.

The arrangement of those stars completely defies all the laws of astrophysics they currently understand.

It's like a visitor from another universe who left this world a cryptic message before its death.

"What...what is this?" Mo Fei had just come out of the observation room. He looked at the strange star map, scratched his head, and looked puzzled.

“I don’t know.” Chai Yushuang shook her head, a frustrated smile on her face. “The information we’ve gathered is far too incomplete. It’s like… like we’ve only found a tiny, insignificant piece of a huge puzzle. We simply don’t know where to begin.”

"Do not."

Bai Yu's voice suddenly rang out.

He no longer focused his attention on the star map, which was full of unknowns.

His gaze was fixed firmly on the lower right corner of the star map.

There, there was a tiny symbol that was almost ignored by everyone.

The symbol was made up of countless twisted lines, resembling both a closed eye and a constantly spinning vortex.

An overwhelming sense of déjà vu washed over him like a tidal wave!
"Bai language?"

An Mu looked at Bai Yu, who was staring intently at the pattern, and then looked at the pattern in the lower right corner, and was immediately stunned.

They had seen this pattern countless times, and it had brought them countless misfortunes and suffering.

Mo Fei's face also came closer, and the moment he saw the pattern, he couldn't help but shout out.

"Eye of the Vortex!"

(End of this chapter)