Chapter 147 : This Is Serious
Chapter 147: This Is Serious
Outside the storage room, rapid footsteps could already be heard, as if many people were rushing over. Yet, no one came in. It was as though the crowd outside couldn’t find the door in.
Han Su swept his gaze and noticed a small crystal skull placed beside Jackal’s corpse in the corner. It emitted a translucent glow, appearing lifelike.
Han Su had seen something similar before—a crystal skull.
This seemed to be of the same type, only a miniature version, about the size of a walnut. It had clearly been modified, set into a special metallic base.
“This is what D7 used to lock down the area?”
Han Su vaguely understood. The D7 members all had “dog collars” around their necks to prevent them from biting people. If they wanted to kill him, the first thing they’d do would be to sever that collar. This object was likely what they used to isolate the interior from the outside world.
And because of this object, the people outside, though already here, still couldn’t locate the storage room?
After a brief thought, Han Su picked up the object, then looked at Bowl‑Cut Boy. Bowl‑Cut Boy understood, raised his hand slightly, and clasped Han Su’s. Both activated their spiritual power simultaneously, channeling it into each other’s palms.
After the spiritual information exchange was complete, Han Su gripped the crystal pendant tightly, and the two simultaneously stepped back.
The actors were in position.
“The door’s here…”
A shout rang out from outside, followed by a loud bang—the door was kicked open.
The squad captain led a team of armed security, along with the Doctor and Hei Hu, charging inside. At a glance, they saw the traces of battle in the storage room, Han Su’s bloodied thigh, and the D7 executioner who had a deep slash on his body.
The two now stood three or four meters apart, clearly having fought to a draw.
One’s eyes were full of hatred, the other calm and expressionless—obviously a confrontation where both parties were trying to kill each other!
This scene scared them all so much their guts trembled, and countless guns were pointed at Bowl‑Cut Boy.
Hei Hu immediately rushed to Han Su’s side, scolding, “See? Didn’t I say so? I told you I should’ve gone in with you!”
The Doctor noticed the wounds on both Han Su and the D7, showing a flash of surprise, but soon caught sight of the nearby corpses of other D7s, and Han Su’s already bandaged thigh.
After a brief moment of thought, he suddenly understood and silently began considering how to revise the investigation report.
Amid the chaos, Han Su looked at the guns pointed at Bowl‑Cut Boy and barked, “Spare his life!”
“…I need to find out who ordered him!”
He was honestly worried someone might get trigger-happy and shoot Bowl‑Cut Boy.
But as it turned out, the squad captain didn’t need the reminder—he understood Bowl‑Cut Boy’s value. With a furious face, he ordered his men, and Bowl‑Cut Boy was immediately pinned to the ground. Even the electronic collar on his neck reconnected to the signal after a reboot.
Throughout the process, he merely stared coldly at Han Su—no struggling, no cursing.
Yet the squad captain, seeing that expression, felt a wave of pity and sorrow for Han Su: “It’s over… This guy’s finished. He’s been targeted by a freak…”
At that moment, perhaps only the captain’s emotion was genuine.
If execution members had problems, it would drag down the squad captain’s evaluation too…
Just like that, the past half year of tasks was basically wasted.
Han Su gritted his teeth and stood, the movement tugging at his thigh, making him grimace slightly. He then muttered, “The Disaster Management Bureau is really getting out of hand…”
“But thankfully, my task is already completed!”
“……”
He cast a cold glance at Bowl‑Cut Boy, then picked up the briefcase and walked toward the oil painting.
Now that more people were around, the painting appeared completely normal.
Its lingering mental activity had been badly damaged but still lingered—though now it seemed to have hidden itself.
Han Su didn’t care. He jabbed it twice with his electric baton to keep it quiet, saving Sequence 06 for later.
Then, he opened his briefcase, laying the painting flat inside. It fit perfectly. Of course, the suitcase was custom-made with adjustable space.
Whether a bit larger or smaller, it could accommodate it smoothly.
“Contaminant recovered. Time to return to the Bureau and write a report!”
After storing the painting in the suitcase, Han Su stood up straight and shot a cold glance at the squad captain.
“Of course, I also need to ask the Bureau—who, during the mission, tried to assassinate this investigator!”
The squad captain’s face turned pitch-black and he nodded in agreement. When dragging Bowl‑Cut Boy away, his grip was significantly rougher.
But Bowl‑Cut Boy just stared intently at Han Su, the corner of his mouth curling slightly. The people beside him felt a chill down their spines just looking at that expression.
Only Han Su knew—this guy was genuinely giving him a friendly smile…
……
……
The group immediately drove back to the Disaster Management Bureau. For the first time, Han Su wasn’t thinking about how to write the report on the way back, but was instead simmering in rage, keeping his expression fierce.
Of course, another reason was that the Doctor had already written the report.
Han Su just needed to polish it, sign it, and submit it to Miss Ai.
What he needed to do now—was be mad!
“The investigator was attacked by D7?”
As Han Su expected, when the news was brought back to the Bureau, the staff who understood the implications immediately looked terrified: “This is serious…”
Anyone with eyes could see—given how tightly D7 members were leashed—attacking an investigator should be almost impossible.
But if it did happen, it was a massive scandal…
The Bureau would likely be investigated inside out again.
Suddenly, everyone began whispering. Some tried to escort Han Su to the medical room, but he coldly waved them off: “It’s just a scratch, no need for that.”
“What I want to know now—is who had the guts to target me during a mission?”
“……”
Yet surprisingly, this time, when Secretary Cui Qiao came to ask about the incident, she didn’t show any anger.
It seemed she already knew what had happened, and merely checked Han Su’s condition.
Seeing he was only lightly wounded, she relaxed. She didn’t even ask for details, just patted his hand. “Take care and recover well.”
“……”
Han Su’s anger had been deliberately staged to escalate the matter.
But seeing that Cui Qiao wasn’t playing along, he immediately caught on and lowered his voice: “Did something happen to Uncle Zhang?”
“Not yet.”
Cui Qiao replied calmly, “Don’t ask for now. Finish your mission report first.”
Han Su watched her leave, hesitated, but ultimately held his tongue.
He stayed in the rest area, first handed the painting over to the execution members at the base for storage, then edited the report the Doctor had sent him. After signing it, he submitted it to Miss Ai and waited patiently.
Soon, Miss Ai’s reply came:
【Thank you, Mr. Butcher, for your contribution to the frontline of reality. B-Level contaminant “Round Table Altar” has been recovered. B+ Level mission ‘Double‑Bodies’ completed!】
【Your initial rating has been upgraded—now C‑Level!】
【Please continue to work hard, Mr. Butcher!】
【……】
“We know each other this well, and she’s still talking like that?”
Han Su frowned slightly and used his phone to reply: 【Thank you!】
Miss Ai replied: 【You’re welcome, Mr. Butcher. It’s my job!】
“It’s my job…”
Looking at her reply, Han Su’s suspicions peaked.
The infected were dealt with, infiltration severed, the source sealed and submitted. The Doctor’s report clearly detailed the small workshop’s smuggling of relics. The task was handled perfectly.
In the process, he’d tested his new ability, clarified his strengths and weaknesses, and even suffered contamination from the painting…
Everything about this mission had been—uncannily convenient.
And all this… was just her job?
He thought quietly, then typed a probing message:
【Miss Ai, do you have any comments about the attack I suffered during this mission?】
Miss Ai replied: 【I sympathize with Mr. Butcher’s experience, but I do not have the authority to investigate such incidents. I believe the appropriate personnel will provide a satisfactory answer.】
“She’s saying this isn’t within her purview?”
Han Su thought, then took out the small crystal skull, photographed it with his phone, and uploaded it to the system:
【I found this at the scene. It seems related to the attack. Do I need to hand it over?】
Miss Ai replied immediately:
【Scan indicates this is a mystically-imbued extraordinary object capable of forming a small boundary to block surveillance. According to regulations, it should be submitted as evidence.】
【However, based on current case analysis, with or without this item, the attack case is valid, and the suspect has already been identified.】
【……】
“This is a hint that I can keep it myself… showing that Miss Ai sides with me over the Bureau…”
“Then…”
Han Su asked the most important question:
【The contamination I saw in the painting—could it be related to the Life Code…】
This time, Miss Ai’s response came startlingly fast—so fast that even before Han Su had hit send, her message popped up:
【Shhh…】
【……】
【……】
And at the same time, in a hidden underground facility in Qinggang…
After Bowl‑Cut Boy was escorted back, a full-body mandatory check was immediately conducted. All data was transmitted across terminals.
Learning he had been injured, many looked on in horror: “How dare they? Who dared hurt him?”
Even more shocking was a particular piece of data—someone, upon seeing it, broke into a cold sweat:
“Quick—raise the alert level! Raise the alert level!!”
“He… is excited!!”