Investigation Report of the Gods

Chapter 51: Emergency Assembly

Now, the car was driving into a back alley of a bustling area in Qinggang City.

Looking out from the car window, outside was the back alley of a bar, filled with trash bins and baskets upon baskets of empty liquor bottles.

And amidst this pile of garbage, someone was holding down two figures.

The distance was too far to hear what they were saying, but it was clear that the two kneeling figures were pleading incessantly, while the people surrounding them showed no signs of mercy.

They violently pulled up their legs, then raised a metal baseball bat high.

When the bat came crashing down, the person’s leg was already bent into an inverted V shape, and the person convulsed and screamed in pain. Yet, the people beside them cheerfully pulled up the other leg.

Miserable screams echoed through the alley.

It was visible to the naked eye that those two people were completely crippled. Moreover, the ones doing it were very professional—whether it was the point of impact or the force used—it was clearly aimed at making recovery impossible.

Han Su already understood why Assistant Xu had brought him here, and he recognized the two people.

Back at the Public Security Bureau, there had been two men attracted by the bounty posted on the Black Table. They had attempted to detain him and even used private punishment on him.

Later, after he joined the Disaster Management Bureau, he never got a chance to see them again, yet now, by coincidence…

“Are Xu family members really this capable?”

He carefully watched the process of both their legs being methodically broken, then smiled and said to Assistant Xu, “They were still part of the Public Security Bureau.”

“Mr. Han, you’ve misunderstood.”

Assistant Xu smiled and said, “The Xu family never engages in illegal or disorderly conduct, let alone provoking people from the Public Security Bureau…”

“So, three days ago, they were already dismissed from the Public Security Bureau.”

“As for the current conflict, it’s merely because they got entangled with certain underground forces. A personal vendetta that we just happened to stumble upon.”

“……”

“Rich people really have good luck. Just going for a drive, and you happen to see your enemies getting their legs broken.”

Han Su smiled and asked, “So if I’m still not satisfied, will I coincidentally witness them being dumped into a river?”

Assistant Xu frowned slightly and replied, “That might be a bit difficult.”

Han Su: “Hm?”

Assistant Xu answered seriously, “Qinggang is a coastal city, so dumping them into the sea would be easier.”

“Still short on gas money?”

Han Su laughed, pulled the curtain over the car window, then handed the envelope containing the bank card back and said with a smile, “But this money, you should still take it back!”

Assistant Xu was stunned for a moment, then softened his tone and patiently explained, “Mr. Han, the Xu family doesn’t mean to act arrogantly or as if bestowing favors.”

“We’re giving you this money because we know you’ll need it. I’m aware your life has undergone some changes. Due to certain principles, we can’t speak of it directly, but based on what I know, people in that circle tend to need money more.”

He tried to speak clearly and directly, but also tactfully, so as not to hurt the sensitive heart of a young man.

Han Su then tucked it away again and said, “Then I’ll keep it.”

“Hmm?”

This time it was Assistant Xu’s turn to be surprised. Was this young man really so easily persuaded?

“The first refusal was for my dignity. The second acceptance is for the dignity of the Xu family.”

Seeing Assistant Xu in a daze, Han Su smiled and added, “Of course, it’s also to reassure you. I won’t meet with Xu Ji much in the future. If he dares to come looking for me, I’ll send him back your way.”

“Being cautious is a good thing.”

Assistant Xu also recovered, nodded with a smile, and continued, “Additionally, aside from these two, regarding the bounty on the Black Table—if Mr. Han deems it necessary—the Xu family could attempt to assist as well.”

“It’s just that the Xu family cannot erase that bounty directly, but we could try to warn some of those private detectives and bounty hunters in Qinggang’s underground.”

“Of course, it seems Mr. Han has already taught a few of them a lesson…”

“……”

Han Su didn’t know if the ‘lesson’ he referred to was that Cui Qiao had already, through some hidden logic, sent many of the people monitoring him into the hospital.

He thought Assistant Xu was referring to those arms he had broken in the library earlier, so he shook his head and said:

“That won’t be necessary. If the source can’t be found, it won’t be very effective.”

"If the Xu family truly wishes to help me one more time..."

He thought for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "There’s a girl named 'Meilan'. I don’t know her surname. She should be someone from Qinggang."

"Other than that, I only know she’s about seventeen to twenty years old. She had long hair since childhood, and her family background seemed decent. On the left side of her forehead, there appears to be a faint scar..."

After doing his best to recall all that, he could only shake his head and say: "…The information seems a bit lacking, but that’s all I have."

"I wonder… does the Xu family have the means to help me find her?"

"……"

Assistant Xu quietly recalled the details Han Su mentioned, then gave a slight nod and said, "I’ll give it a try."

Han Su said, "Notify me if there’s any news."

They spoke no further.

Assistant Xu had the driver take Han Su back to the apartment building.

After exchanging polite farewells, Han Su turned and went upstairs.

Although this personal secretary of Xu Ji’s father had come with money, seemingly to buy off the debt of saving Xu Ji’s life, Han Su didn’t dislike him.

In this world, there were two types of rich people—those who were pleasant to interact with,

and those who weren’t.

As for the girl he had once rescued, now he could only try to rely on the power of the Xu family to search for her. But with just a single name and no surname, the chances of finding her—he dared not have much hope.

The only thing that felt certain was that bank card.

Though he had to refuse out of principle, since they offered it with sincerity, how could he not accept?

After all, it was money earned from selling out a brother, legitimate income, and even a renewable resource.

Meanwhile, Assistant Xu, after watching Han Su go upstairs, sent a report of tonight’s events to Mr. Xu’s email, then made a call to the property management company.

Then he sat in the car, quietly thinking:

"Meilan… Meilan…"

"It couldn’t possibly be her, could it?"

"Those two shouldn’t have any connection…"

"……"

"……"

The next day, Han Su could only pretend as though none of it had happened and continued carrying out tasks as usual.

Meanwhile, Black Rose had sent a message saying that in another circle, the story of two former Public Security Bureau agents getting their legs broken and being dumped in a bar’s back alley had spread, sparking quite a bit of discussion.

Those who had been eyeing the bounty suddenly became much more restrained.

They didn’t care whether the person they were after was innocent, or whether they deserved to be involved—only whether that person was easy to mess with.

That once troublesome bounty had seemingly vanished overnight.

But how long would this effect last? Han Su didn’t know. As long as that bounty remained, there would always be some greedy people who would get ideas.

However, his file’s security classification had been upgraded. It wouldn’t be easy for them to track him now. If someone truly insisted on investigating even upgraded confidential information, Han Su actually hoped they would get into some trouble.

Another three days passed. Han Su set aside all his concerns. Since no tasks came from the Disaster Management Bureau, and he didn’t go to school either, he stayed in the apartment, locked the door, pulled the curtains, placed a cup of tea in front of him, and sat quietly.

On the wall opposite hung a round clock. He stared at the moving hands. It was nearly 4 p.m.

This was the fourteenth day.

According to the previous cycle, the Flickering descended every fourteen days. It had been interrupted once, but since hearing the Encrypted Text in the Disaster Management Bureau, the time had come again.

The interval would only shorten, never lengthen. So in theory, before 4 p.m. today, the Flickering would descend before him.

He reviewed in his mind once again the events that would follow his abduction. Then he stared at the clock, waiting for the hands to become unstable, for everything around to start twisting and blurring.

Tick-tock, tick-tock—

Time crept closer to four o’clock, minute by minute.

If the accident during the Encrypted Text session at the Disaster Management Bureau didn’t count, then his earlier abduction during an afternoon class on campus also happened around four. So this time, it too would happen before four o’clock.

As he watched the minutes pass, he seemed to notice the clock’s hands twitch slightly.

Everything around him trembled lightly, like a crumpled piece of paper.

"Is it coming?"

He straightened up slightly, ready to face it, but the result was surprisingly quiet.

As if lacking power, only the faintest signs appeared. Even the strange sound of mechanical gears turning in his ears faded before it could be clearly heard.

"…It didn’t happen?"

Han Su froze in place, staring at the round clock on the wall across from him. The time had passed four, and everything remained as it was.

He was certain there had been changes—signs had appeared—but a full descent of the Flickering never occurred.

Why?

The Flickering vanished halfway—ran out of power?

For the moment, unable to make sense of it, he sat in a daze on the couch, thinking. Just then, his phone beeped.

Looking down, he saw a notification sent from the program:

[D2-class Task: Emergency Assembly]

[All personnel receiving this message must immediately proceed to the base to receive firearms and head to the intersection of Pinghu Road to assist the Investigator codenamed Mr. Strange Bird in patrolling.]

[…]