The streetlights on both sides of the road gradually thinned out until the entire path was illuminated only by the car’s headlights. The eerie and terrifying environment gave Shen Ge an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
However, half a year had passed since the Eerie Car incident. Shen Ge couldn’t quite remember if the eerie car driver back then even had a “face.” But this time, during their brief exchange when he got in, he had specifically observed the driver – a standard, pointy-faced, monkey-cheeked man from Sakura, around forty years old.
But after getting in the car, when he looked at the driver through the rearview mirror again, he noticed the man had no face. The entire person looked like a “mannequin.”
Fang Mingyue saw that the driver’s face was just a sheet of “skin,” with no eyes, nose, or mouth, as if a whole skin mask had been pulled over his head. It looked extremely horrifying.
“Investigator Shen, we’ve been pulled into an Eerie Space,” Fang Mingyue whispered.
Shen Ge asked, “Well done. But, didn’t the people Sakura sent to receive us tell them about our situation?”
“That’s right, I found that strange too. Logically, after we ditched Sakura’s reception team, they should have reported it immediately. But judging from Xiao Cheng’s reaction, he doesn’t seem to know about it. He thought we had already been taken to the base by Sakura’s reception team, just that we hadn’t joined up with them yet.” Fang Mingyue frowned slightly, clearly also puzzled about where the problem lay.
“You know that members of The Twelve Branches have the ability to devour a target’s head and then transform into their appearance, right?” Shen Ge asked.
Reminded by this, Fang Mingyue immediately realized what was wrong: “Investigator Shen, are you saying… there are spies from The Twelve Branches here in Sakura? Those soldiers sent to receive us might all be from The Twelve Branches?”
Fang Mingyue was about to say that Shen Ge had “foreseen” this, knowing in advance that the soldiers were problematic, which was why he deliberately avoided them. But then she heard Shen Ge say, “Not necessarily. It’s also possible that Xiao Cheng has been replaced.”
“Ah?” Fang Mingyue was stunned for a moment, then said, “That doesn’t seem likely, does it? I was on the same flight as Xiao Cheng, and we chatted a bit on the way. I didn’t notice anything wrong with him. Or do you mean he was targeted by The Twelve Branches after arriving in Sakura?”
Shen Ge glanced at Fang Mingyue’s pale neck. Noticing his gaze, she instinctively pulled her collar down a bit: “Investigator Shen, I definitely haven’t been replaced!”
“…” Shen Ge really wanted to say, you don’t need to pull your collar down that far, it’s revealing. Besides, if The Twelve Branches really wanted to replace a Special Response Division anti-eerie investigator, they certainly wouldn’t choose someone like you, a mere paramecium.
Although a paramecium’s combat ability was decent, it was practically useless for anything else. For Shen Ge, its only advantage was being “obedient.” If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have chosen to bring Fang Mingyue along to help cover his actions once they entered Takaguchi City.
Shen Ge said, “Currently, we are still in the exploration stage regarding The Twelve Branches’ ‘replacement’ ability. We need to figure out if this replacement ability is ‘permanent’ and ‘unlimited,’ or if it has obvious flaws. After all, if it truly has no defects, it’s possible that even the higher-ups in our Special Response Division have all been replaced. If there are flaws, then finding this ‘flaw’ is the key to identifying those who have been replaced.”
Shen Ge then told Fang Mingyue about the characteristics and situations of the several replaced personnel they had captured during The Twelve Branches’ attack on the Rong City Branch. In fact, Fang Mingyue had also read that report, and Elder Fang was the head of the action group in the main headquarters primarily responsible for investigating the “moles.”
After finishing, Shen Ge added a reminder: “However, even if it’s only a short-term ‘replacement,’ it’s still a big headache, especially during eerie disaster operations. This kind of short-term contact and cooperation essentially negates the flaws. So, after entering Takaguchi City, don’t trust anyone easily.”
“Understood.” Fang Mingyue nodded seriously.
…
…
In the early morning hours, Shen Ge and Fang Mingyue drove to the outskirts of the blockade line around Takaguchi City. Seeing the Sakura Self-Defense Forces stationed around, Shen Ge had Little Seven scan the area for eerie energy. They found a few Parasitized, lured them towards the blockade line to attract the Self-Defense Forces’ attention, then breached the cameras and scaled the wall.
Shen Ge’s goal in entering the blocked-off area undetected was to quietly “take away” the “Misfortune” trait.
With the System’s Devour ability in hand, if he could obtain “Misfortune” and use it against enemies, he’d have a new strategy for dealing with high-tier eeries in the future!
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[Host has appeared within the Domain of a Tier 8 Eerie. This area has a large number of newly spawned eeries influenced by the Tier 8 Eerie. Given the host’s current strength, there is absolutely no chance of being a match for these eeries! Please value your life and quickly flee the eerie-ridden Takaguchi City!]
Yosh!
That’s the familiar feeling!
It had been a long time since Shen Ge heard the System’s rapid-fire “Warning” prompts. The moment the sound started, red alert lights even flashed before his eyes again.
If he weren’t already Tier 3 and had disabled the “newbie baby” warning mode, he would have definitely been blinded by the red warnings again.
The city in the early morning was shrouded in thick fog. Shadowy figures could be vaguely seen moving aimlessly through the mist – they were the Parasitized.
However, receiving a warning about entering an “Eerie Domain” right after stepping into Takaguchi City showed just how terrifying the “Misfortune” causing this disaster was!
Shen Ge wasn’t surprised at all by the System’s assessment of “Misfortune” as Tier 8. Because according to the timeline in the [Logs], Takaguchi City experienced the exposure of eeries in 2027 due to the appearance of a Tier 8 eerie.
If it was Tier 8 three years later, then judging it as Tier 8 based on the System’s 4-year time difference was normal. What needed confirmation now was, what was the actual tier of “Misfortune”?
Eeries above Tier 6 can convert various forms of energy, including nuclear energy, into eerie energy. If “Misfortune” was already Tier 6 or above, then Shen Ge felt the best option was to hurry back to China and let the international anti-eerie organizations give it a few rounds of nuclear bombardment, avoiding Takaguchi City altogether and just sinking Sakura to be done with it.
Shen Ge had always believed that if an eerie reached Tier 6 or above, it was no longer something that could be easily dealt with by individuals alone!
In fact, after reading the contents of the [Logs] over this period, he had a conjecture –
If he hadn’t activated the System early and gained the ability to devour traits, then according to the timeline in the [Logs], “Soundless,” “Stillness,” “Formless,” “Nonexit” – all of these would have evolved into irreparable disasters!
This was also why the “future” in the [Logs] descended into apocalypse by 2027. His future self, even combining the entire Special Response Division’s strength, could do nothing against the Tier 7 “Formless,” making no progress for months while suffering heavy losses on their side.
After scanning the area with an Eerie Energy Detector, Fang Mingyue said, “Investigator Shen, according to the intelligence provided by Sakura, the center of this eerie disaster is in Toe River. It’s about 15 kilometers from here, passing by Takaguchi Tower. The severe disaster area starts from there.”
“Alright, let’s find a car first,” Shen Ge said.
The two avoided the wandering Parasitized on the road, moved through the streets, and tried to find a drivable car among the vehicles on the street.
The crowded roads and the deformed vehicles crashed into each other haphazardly indicated that the disaster here probably happened suddenly, similar to the one in Dajing.
Panic had led to a series of accidents, killing many citizens right in the car crashes. The windows were smashed open, and the bodies had been half-eaten by eeries and the Parasitized.
Moving further ahead, while crossing the road, Shen Ge received another urgent warning from the System.
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[The current road surface has been severely contaminated and will present unpredictable dangers. If detected by the Tier 8 Eerie, influenced by its Domain, the current area might transform into swampland, a lava zone, quicksand area, etc., due to the eerie’s trait. Please leave this area immediately!]
Shen Ge ignored it and crossed the road with Fang Mingyue.
[Congratulations, Host, for safely passing through the area severely contaminated by the Tier 8 Eerie. Your agility and courage are commendable. Reward: System Points x20.]
The long-lost awkward prompt, the long-lost reward for crossing the road.
Just as Shen Ge was nostalgically reminiscing about this thrilling “road crossing,” the ground suddenly shook violently. A loud “BOOM” echoed as the ground beneath them collapsed.
Fortunately, as seasoned anti-eerie investigators who often faced monsters with bizarre and varied abilities, both Shen Ge and Fang Mingyue had developed a habit of constant vigilance.
The moment the ground gave way, Shen Ge’s left hand shot towards the eaves above. A fleshy tentacle extended, its tip morphing into a gaping maw that bit onto the eaves. The battle armor served as a “grappling hook gun.” Simultaneously, his right hand reached for Fang Mingyue.
Fang Mingyue’s reaction was surprisingly similar to Shen Ge’s. One hand fired a grappling hook gun towards the eaves, while her other hand reached out for Shen Ge.
They grabbed each other at the same time, momentarily surprised, then swiftly swung up onto the roof. The collapse of the sinkhole didn’t stop, dragging the adjacent shops down with it.
Shen Ge and Fang Mingyue had to keep running forward across the rooftop. After running about twenty meters, the collapse finally ceased.
They walked to the edge of the collapsed slope where a shop’s wall had tilted and peered down. It seemed to be a subway tunnel below. As the first city in Asia to open a subway line, it was unlikely for Takaguchi to have such “shoddy construction.” Coupled with the fact that it happened right after the System’s warning, it was hard not to link it to the “Misfortune” trait.
Shen Ge looked up at the gloomy sky and said slowly, “This trait is quite interesting.”
“Ah? What?” Fang Mingyue was squatting at the edge of the collapse, observing the situation below while also scanning with the Eerie Energy Detector. She hadn’t quite caught what Shen Ge said.
Shen Ge said, “From now on, throw all your ‘common sense’ and ‘habits’ out the window. It’s best to stay alert at all times, because not only might pies fall from the sky, but flower pots too.”
Fang Mingyue was taken aback for a second, but then remembered the report on the Takaguchi City eerie disaster she had seen during the pre-mission briefing – those unbelievable “accidents.” She realized this was the work of eerie energy.
“Understood, I’ll remain vigilant at all times!” Fang Mingyue said seriously.
“Let’s…” Before Shen Ge could finish the word “go,” the System’s urgent prompt sounded in his mind again, and a red alert light flashed before his eyes.
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[Host has entered an area highly contaminated by the Tier 8 Eerie. Numerous low-tier eeries roam this area, searching for living beings to devour! Several high-tier eeries among them can detect the host’s presence through acute senses. The host is currently locked onto! Please value your life and flee immediately!]
As soon as the prompt ended, Shen Ge’s gaze swept the surroundings. The Parasitized were still wandering aimlessly on the streets, and there was no sign of any eeries.
“System, perform an area scan.” After reaching Tier 3, the System’s warning system had become much more precise. It obviously wouldn’t issue warnings without cause.
This series of warnings meant that an eerie, possibly outside their line of sight, had likely targeted them.
[Warning! Host has stepped into a multi-layered Eerie Space zone. Initiating scan of Eerie Spaces.]
[Scanning—]
[Current area is covered by the Domain of the ‘Tier 8 Eerie (Trait: Misfortune)’. Number of Eerie Space layers in the area: X (Unable to detect)]
[Initiating marking of eeries in the current area—]
As this prompt appeared, a “radar” map centered on Shen Ge and Fang Mingyue, with a one-kilometer radius, materialized before Shen Ge’s eyes.
However, this radar map was practically useless. It wasn’t that the markings were inaccurate, but the number of eeries and Parasitized was so immense that the entire map was dyed red.
“…” What’s the difference between this and not scanning at all?
Shen Ge felt like complaining, but then it struck him… Wait, that’s not right. There were only a few dozen eeries visible to the naked eye on the surrounding streets, far from the dense state on the map. So where were the monsters?
Underground!
Shen Ge suddenly thought of the collapsed area. Below was a subway station, and a buried subway train was vaguely visible in the sinkhole. This meant there were probably many Parasitized inside that subway.
“System, can you change the map to a 3D display showing the underground situation?” Shen Ge asked inwardly.
[Initiating rescan—]
As the System replied, the map gradually transformed, presenting the underground situation in a three-dimensional manner. It was just as Shen Ge suspected; there were thousands of Parasitized trapped underground alone.
[New Crisis Missions detected within the current Eerie Domain—]
[Crisis Mission 1: You are currently within the Eerie Domain created by the Tier 8 Eerie (Trait: Misfortune). Influenced by the Tier 8 Eerie, numerous low-tier eeries roam this area, making it extremely dangerous! Find and kill the Tier 8 Eerie ‘Trait: Misfortune’ in the shortest time possible.]
[Time Limit: 15 days.]
[Reward: Trait Enhancement Points x3, System Points x5000, Random F-grade Supply Item x10, Random E-grade Supply Item x3, Random D-grade Supply Item x1.]
“Huh?”
What’s going on?
With such generous rewards, Shen Ge couldn’t help but suspect the System’s “motives.” Did it want to entice him into killing “Misfortune” within 15 days using rewards? Was it that eager for a taste?
[Crisis Mission 2: You are currently within the Eerie Domain created by the Tier 8 Eerie (Trait: Misfortune). Influenced by the Tier 8 Eerie, numerous high-tier eeries roam this area. Within 15 days, find and kill at least 1 Trait Eerie that is NOT ‘Trait: Misfortune’, and choose to devour it.]
[Time Limit: 15 days.]
[Reward: Trait Enhancement Points x1, System Points x1000, Random E-grade Supply Item x1.]
“Good grief!” Shen Ge didn’t expect a second mission to hunt a Trait Eerie following the richly rewarded Crisis Mission 1.
This mission indicated that there was more than one Trait Eerie in Takaguchi City. Simultaneously, the System seemed eager to devour “traits.”
This… why?
Did it detect the strength of “Misfortune,” truly believing Shen Ge stood no chance against it, so it issued this mission for him to level up first?
Fang Mingyue, seeing Shen Ge had been standing still “spacing out” since earlier, couldn’t help but ask, “Investigator Shen, is there a problem?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.” Shen Ge motioned for Fang Mingyue to follow him. Since the System was worried he wasn’t a match for “Misfortune,” he might as well find the other Trait Eerie first.
As for any potential Trait Eerie underground, Shen Ge had no intention of going down. The area was prone to collapse under “Misfortune’s” influence, and it was better to avoid such hazards if possible.
…
…
Meanwhile, at the Sakura Self-Defense Force base in Kikawa City, the anti-eerie investigators from various countries who had come to provide support had assembled. Surprisingly, their numbers exceeded a hundred.
Xiao Cheng, the temporary leader of the Great Celestial Empire support team, was young but belonged to the first batch of elite anti-eerie investigators in the Special Response Division.
He had cooperated with Deng Yuqi before and was also “appointed” by the Headquarters to serve as the deputy leader this time.
The reason why the deputy leader became the temporary team leader was simple: the actual team leader had gone “missing” right after getting off the plane.
A man around forty years old, also an elite investigator from the Yanzhou Branch and a colleague of Xiao Cheng, walked up to him and asked in a low voice, “Xiao Cheng, any news from Investigator Shen?”
This man, though having less seniority as an investigator than Xiao Cheng, had worked at the Yanzhou Branch for a few years longer. Xiao Cheng was transferred later. Since the man was well-liked at the Yanzhou Branch and everyone called him “Brother Li,” Xiao Cheng didn’t mind the informal address despite now being the team leader.
Xiao Cheng shook his head. “Not yet. Brother Li, you’ve cooperated with Investigator Shen before, right? What’s he really like?”
Brother Li sighed. “Ah, calling it cooperation… actually, during the Yuzhou incident, our Yanzhou Branch only provided some equipment. We didn’t send any investigators into the Eerie Space. I only met Investigator Shen briefly when he returned to the temporary headquarters after resolving the incident. Didn’t have much contact.”
“So the rumors within the Division are true? Investigator Shen really single-handedly resolved the Yuzhou high-tier eerie incident back then?” Xiao Cheng asked with some surprise.
Brother Li said, “Not necessarily. Elder He was also in the Eerie Space back then. According to the Headquarters, Elder He contributed significantly too.”
Xiao Cheng had originally been from the Headquarters before being transferred to support the Yanzhou Branch years ago. He had a deep impression of Elder He.
Although he had been skeptical about Shen Ge single-handedly resolving the Yuzhou high-tier eerie incident, the fact that Shen Ge was appointed team leader by the Headquarters this time was enough to prove his capability.
Xiao Cheng had wanted to use this opportunity to get to know Shen Ge, never expecting him to go “missing” right after landing. Fang Mingyue, who had also disappeared, did answer the communicator but hung up hastily before he could ask many questions. Something was clearly wrong!
Just as Xiao Cheng was considering whether to contact Fang Mingyue again, a short-haired female investigator, around forty-something years old and still attractive, walked up to him.
Her name was Luo Jing, an elite investigator sent from the Headquarters. She was one of only two female investigators in the support team.
She had another identity: Deng Yuqi’s close friend. She was one of the people Deng Yuqi had asked to come along to cover for Shen Ge’s actions.
“Team Leader Xiao, are you worried about Investigators Shen and Fang?” Luo Jing asked.
Xiao Cheng nodded. “Yes. Although we managed to fudge the headcount during the earlier roll call, we are here for support. If this gets found out and we’re labeled as ‘spies,’ it wouldn’t be good.”
Luo Jing smiled but didn’t answer Xiao Cheng’s question directly. Instead, she asked, “Team Leader Xiao, haven’t you realized yet that we currently have seven anti-eerie investigators on standby?”
Xiao Cheng was taken aback and instinctively looked towards the group of investigators chatting nearby. The official support number was seven.
But this “seven” included Shen Ge and Fang Mingyue.
“Don’t worry. It’s not just us who’ve played with the numbers. From what I know, the US declared five people, but look at the group gathered over there – it’s definitely more than five. Everyone understands this situation. It’s also why, when the disaster hit Dajing, the higher-ups ordered us to resolve it at all costs before foreign support arrived.” Luo Jing said.
“But…” Xiao Cheng still seemed somewhat conflicted.
At that moment, an elite anti-eerie investigator from Sakura approached them. He spoke fluent Chinese: “Esteemed guests from the Great Celestial Empire, thank you for your support! I am your Sakura liaison, an anti-eerie investigator. You can call me ‘Natsumi.’ I look forward to working with you!”