Investigation Report of the Gods

Chapter 48: The First Official Mission

“Crystal Skull Organization??”

After sending off Zhang Zhiguo, Han Su returned to the apartment and sat quietly for a long time, her mind still filled with that insistent piece of information.

So Zhang Zhiguo had seen that woman while investigating an incident related to the mysterious organization called the Crystal Skull?

In other words, she had indeed been in Qinggang City all along, perhaps not far from him?

A complex irritation and clenched-teeth feeling rose in his mind, but then suddenly eased: so close, yet not appearing for ten years—this was indeed interesting.

Now, there was only one question: when to go looking for this mysterious organization?

Zhang Zhiguo had strongly insisted that he must wait until becoming an Investigator before investigating these matters, and of course he had to listen.

But then again…

…if he didn’t really investigate, just scoped around a bit, what harm would that do?

He felt his mood lighten. Then he drew the curtains, locked the door, sat at his desk, and opened his brand-new secondhand computer.

He sent a message to the woman with the black rose avatar: 【I’m back.】

Black Rose replied: 【!!! You’ve been kidnapped back again? It’s only been eight days—your interval has shrunk to this?】

Han Su: 【…】

【No, it’s nothing to do with that. I went on a business trip, and I just returned to Qinggang City.】

Black Rose: 【What does that have to do with me?】

Han Su: 【…】

【I thought we were friends.】

【Fine then!】

Black Rose replied: 【I just remembered, I actually have something to tell you. The Public Security Bureau just cancelled your consultation fee, transferred all your files, and even wouldn’t let me keep backups.】

【And all our chat logs—they want me to delete them.】

【Heh, but before they asked, I’d already deleted them. I don’t want our chat records from that day to be leaked.】

【…】

Is it because I joined the Disaster Management Bureau and my files are encrypted?

Han Su thought to himself. Then he suddenly felt her tone was odd. What’s there to hide in our chat logs? Except for the fact that I got kidnapped back…

Hmm? That’s a problem.

He hadn’t been afraid to tell people about being kidnapped before—every time he got taken, he barely survived.

Only after meeting Zhang Zhiguo and learning some things did he begin deliberately keeping secrets.

Now thinking it through, he even considered whether he should silence Black Rose to keep her quiet?

He casually tapped the keyboard: 【None of that matters now. Do you remember that I was disfigured and went blind?】

【?】

Black Rose sent a huge question mark: 【When did you get disfigured? If your face weren’t handsome, why would I bother chatting with you?】

【And those chat logs—I wasn’t flirting with you, just chatting normally. You’d better delete them completely!!】

Sure enough, she’d forgotten it all.

At that moment Han Su realized what she cared about.

On this timeline, he had not been disfigured, nor lost vision in one eye; his looks were still decent. At least this Black Rose was much more enthusiastic with him.

She even occasionally said that online chatting was boring, and asked him to visit her in her office.

She said she had a cat in her office that could do backflips…

He quickly shook his head to cast those thoughts away, then paused before throwing out a topic he cared about:

【Do you know that in this city, or the surrounding area, there are groups that worship mysterious powers—something with crystal, something with skulls?】

【?】

Black Rose sounded very displeased: 【I’m a psychologist, and not even getting many clients—I’m not someone who understands everything, okay?】

After a moment, she sent another message: 【There are many groups in Qinggang that worship mysterious powers. In certain social circles, believing in mysterious powers is very fashionable, okay?】

【Are you talking about the Crystal Skull Organization?】

【It seems to be a fairly well-known group in the circle of mysterious enthusiasts, worshipping a crystal skull unearthed from some ruins.】

【They believe this ancient artifact possesses mysterious power—whether it's about invigorating people, granting physical immortality, or something weird like ramming into goats—anyway, it was very popular. At the time, many big figures were among their believers. But it has already vanished from Qinggang City...】

【Why?】

【A major crackdown!】

【…And you say you don't know anything?】

【Just a hobby…】

【…】

【Since the Public Security Bureau will no longer pay for me, can I still consult with you?】

【Of course!】

Black Rose answered very decisively, and added: 【You just have to pay yourself.】

【All right then!】

Han Su finalized the arrangement with her. He wasn’t worried about the money—though he didn’t have any right now, at worst he could just visit her place to watch the cat backflip.

This Black Rose, although only average in her actual profession and not believing in the existence of true mysterious powers, Han Su still found himself willing to talk with her.

First, while her professionalism was average, her confidentiality was strong.

For example, even if the Public Security Bureau asked, she would only reveal the results of the counseling Han Su received from her, never the content of their conversations.

She was tighter-lipped than the pastors in the Confession Room.

Another point was that Han Su increasingly felt: why did someone who didn’t believe in mysticism still offer such representative advice on it?

There were still many questions he wanted to ask—like the Ghost Freight Truck, the Impostors, the Encrypted Text spells—but since he had just joined the Disaster Management Bureau and didn’t yet understand the operational rules, he held back for now.

After confirming that this woman could still serve as an unofficial advisor, he closed the chat window.

This mysterious organization clearly existed. But from Black Rose’s account and Zhang Zhiguo’s, it painted two completely different pictures:

“There are institutions like our Disaster Management Bureau trying to prevent certain things from infiltrating. Then there are also organizations worshipping mysterious powers, who would stop at nothing to let those things infiltrate.”

“You’re in the Disaster Management Bureau now. Of course, there will be danger. But if you recklessly approach those organizations, it’ll be even more dangerous.”

“So, before you have the power to protect yourself, if you see them—avoid them.”

“……”

Han Su was very familiar with this feeling. Back in the old castle, if he hadn’t clearly seen what was down a corridor, he wouldn’t dare step into it.

Now, determined to uncover the truth of the matter, Han Su looked at the vast and mysterious world of Qinggang City and had a similar sensation—as if about to step into an unknown corridor inside the old castle.

Perhaps every step in that corridor would be full of danger. But beyond it, there might be a door representing hope.

“Di!”

Just as he was thinking about these things, a crisp notification sound rang.

It took him a moment to react, and then he quickly picked up his phone.

He saw that the Disaster Management Bureau’s app had sent him a message:

【E3-level Commission: 01:00 AM–05:00 AM. Proceed to the third streetlight from the right end of Chunhua Street. Precisely record the exact time the streetlight turns off and on, and submit the corresponding data!】

“My mission’s here?”

It took Han Su a moment to understand what was happening. He checked the time—it was already 11 PM.

Without delay, he got up, dressed, and carried the briefcase he received from the Disaster Management Bureau.

He went downstairs, hailed a cab, and arrived at Chunhua Street in about half an hour.

He saw that many shops were still open and some snack stalls were still running.

He picked a spot and sat down to observe from a distance.

It was just an ordinary streetlight—black metal pole with a retro-style lampshade.

It was steadily lit at the moment, with mosquitoes fluttering around the lampshade.

Nothing seemed unusual.

The time hadn’t come yet, so he didn’t rush. He waited patiently.

About half an hour later, the street temperature seemed to drop slightly. Pedestrians quickened their pace, drunkards looked a bit soberer, and by midnight the shops began to close.

Ten minutes later, a squad of Public Security Bureau agents came to patrol. Once they left, the street grew even more deserted.

Han Su waited by the roadside until 12:50 AM. Looking around, he saw the whole street had emptied out, as if the entire city had fallen silent.

Only that streetlight remained, quietly illuminating, standing watch over this vacant world.

He picked up the briefcase and slowly walked to the roadside, standing beneath a tall French sycamore, and looked up.

The wind had turned colder, and there were no more shadows around.

A tension seemed to fill the air.

But the streetlight remained completely normal—until 1:27 AM, when it flickered slightly, as if the power supply was unstable.

Han Su recorded the time.

And continued to wait patiently.

The whole night passed.

He recorded three flickers in total—two of which involved the light going out briefly.

One lasted two minutes and twenty-three seconds; the other, three minutes and fifty-six seconds.

Other than that, nothing happened.

Han Su remained there until 5:00 AM.

A light mist began to rise along the street.

Early risers walked by, glancing at this strange man standing under the streetlight with a black briefcase.

At the designated time, the streetlight went out silently. Han Su then turned and disappeared into the morning fog.

That night, nothing happened.

Han Su didn’t feel disappointed. He just submitted the recorded data.

As he sat down on the bus, the app made a “di” sound. Han Su saw a confirmation: data submission successful, mission complete.

【Miss Ai: Thank you, Butcher, for your contribution to the frontlines of reality. Your initial evaluation is rising—please keep it up!】