Chapter 165 : Star Investigator
Chapter 165: Star Investigator
"Return it? How?"
Han Su was a little surprised when he saw this mission.
Over the past few days, he had already resolved quite a few high-difficulty missions, and his mental activity had undergone a tremendous breakthrough.
69%—one could say it had already reached the threshold of the Forbidden Zones of the Gods, the very limit that mortals could touch.
A bit higher, and perhaps he could push the needle, delay the flicker.
He could also fully utilize the fragmented memories of the Pre‑Civilization Era stored in his mind, completely immerse himself, and catch a glimpse of the Life Code.
Han Su wasn’t exactly impatient to take that step, but he had already noticed that at this stage, the improvement of his mental activity was getting slower and slower. Ordinary contamination and pressure could no longer cause any changes in his spiritual power.
This seemed to be some sort of law—the earlier progress in mental activity was very easy, but the later stages increased in difficulty geometrically.
Beyond 70%, it was said to be the Forbidden Zones of the Gods, and every step became more arduous, with even a tiny bit of improvement being as hard as ascending to the heavens.
Precisely because of that, for him, taking on those ordinary missions no longer held any real meaning.
At this point, the time displayed on the mechanical fragment showed that there were less than two days left until the next flicker. He had planned to hole up at home, clear all distractions, and properly plan how to rescue people once he entered the Ancient Castle again.
He hadn't expected that Miss Ai would still recommend a mission to him.
Moreover, this mission seemed different from the ones he usually accepted—it even had optional elements?
After a brief contemplation, he decided to first check the mission briefing: 【This case of pink eye is related to the Magic Box Corporation. Due to slow progress by Mr. Aries, who previously accepted the mission, we specifically request the outstanding Mr. Butcher to assist in the investigation.】
"Magic Box Corporation?"
Manman’s father, Li Yiting—was this incident related to his company?
To Han Su, that man was a special figure.
Even though a lot of time had passed, Han Su still felt grateful for that bond.
Ten years ago, when he was kidnapped, he escaped the very same day. He was found by Zhang Chiguo, who led the search team, and was taken directly to the Public Security Bureau. After a series of investigations and questioning, he was placed into an orphanage and frequently visited, ensuring he survived.
Afterwards, he studied while living in the orphanage, got accepted into Qinggang University, and his life was barely stable.
That was a path he had experienced firsthand—a life template he was most familiar with.
But in another version, Han Su had only escaped on the third day after being kidnapped.
And at the time, he held a token in his hand—a foldable toy he had received from Li Manman.
By then, the Public Security Bureau's search and rescue teams had already withdrawn. Han Su, who had fled from the Ancient Castle, encountered the CEO of the Magic Box Corporation, Li Yiting, who was still unwilling to give up and continued searching.
He noticed that little toy and confirmed Han Su’s connection with Li Manman. He brought Han Su to the Public Security Bureau and continued to look out for him throughout various questioning processes.
The investigation yielded no results, and Li Manman was never found. But the man was principled—he never made things difficult for Han Su. As time dragged on, he eventually adopted him to give him an identity.
In that life path, Han Su lived peacefully—one of the rare, prosperous lives he had.
However, from the perspective of overlapping memories, that incident had taken place almost two hundred years ago.
Recalling it now was like how ordinary people remember their life before the age of two—they knew it happened but couldn't remember the details.
There were several other similar alternate life paths that completely overturned his experiences and let him live vastly different lives from his current one.
But all of them, like that one, had faded into obscurity due to how long ago they occurred.
Ever since he rescued Xu Ji, and that door began to appear, such alternate life paths had never returned.
Each time, he escaped the Ancient Castle through that door and returned to his current baseline timeline.
"Since it's his matter, I’ll go and see if there's something that interests me..."
Han Su made his decision. Although Miss Ai stated this task was optional, he didn’t believe she’d recommend a mission randomly.
He immediately called in Doctor and Hei Hu and headed together to the Magic Box Tower.
His two assistants had also changed significantly compared to when they first joined the Disaster Management Bureau, both brimming with confidence.
As Investigator’s Assistants, they technically still held the status of Execution Members, and their evaluations followed the same standards.
But by now, both had already reached the A+ level.
In other words, if new investigator licenses were to be issued soon, both of them would be qualified to compete with seasoned executioners.
As newcomers who had joined the Disaster Management Bureau less than two months ago, their growth could only be described as godlike.
They rode together to the Magic Box Corporation’s headquarters. From afar, they saw a lone building rising from a cutting-edge designed plaza. This was the company’s commercial building, once a landmark in Qinggang.
Ten years ago, the Magic Box Corporation had been a unique presence in Qinggang, the center of attention as a commercial rising star.
But ever since Li Manman’s disappearance, the company had declined quite a bit.
Its commercial footprint hadn’t shrunk drastically—only because the foundation laid ten years ago was too solid.
Han Su, along with Doctor and Hei Hu, entered the tower and headed straight to the front desk, saying, “I want to see Mr. Li Yiting.”
The receptionist immediately stood up and politely asked, “Do you have an appointment?”
Hearing this, Han Su frowned. Seeing this, Doctor stepped forward and showed his badge to the front desk: “We have questions for him. Tell him to come down immediately!”
The receptionist was startled and quickly made a phone call.
Han Su, Doctor, and Hei Hu didn’t bother waiting and walked directly toward the elevator. Han Su gave Doctor a strange look.
Doctor, unfazed, adjusted his glasses with his middle finger and said, “Efficient use of our status to improve work performance is part of our core curriculum. In this society, the power given to us by the Disaster Management Bureau is our greatest weapon—more effective than encrypted spells.”
“……”
Han Su had to admire how skillfully he made showing off sound so justified.
The elevator went straight to the 38th floor. When Han Su, Doctor, and Hei Hu exited the elevator, they were greeted by Li Yiting, still in a sharp suit, though gray was now visible at his temples.
When he saw Han Su, his brows lifted with a trace of joy: “Xiao Han? It really is you!”
“……”
“Mr. Li, I’ve come on official orders to investigate a case related to one of your company’s projects.”
Han Su smiled politely. “The pink eye outbreak in the western suburbs of Qinggang City—was that your report? What’s the situation exactly?”
Li Yiting was visibly delighted to see Han Su and immediately invited him inside.
But unexpectedly, a harsh voice rang out: “Kid, don’t you know the rules?”
“I’m already handling this investigation. What’s a newcomer like you doing interfering?”
“……”
The voice startled everyone present. Turning their heads, they saw someone leaning on a cane, face gloomy. The man was in his forties, thin, wearing a white suit.
Next to him stood a young man in his twenties carrying a briefcase—probably his assistant.
‘This is the Investigator Aries who accepted the case earlier?’
Han Su was thinking, when Li Yiting awkwardly explained: “Mr. Aries arrived three days ago. All related materials and my subordinates have been sealed and isolated at his order.”
“An elder from the Disaster Management Bureau?”
As the man in white scrutinized him, Han Su frowned slightly and pulled up the assignment from Miss Ai, saying: “Miss Ai thinks you’re too slow and sent me to help. Got a problem? Take it up with her. Now don’t delay my work.”
“Miss Ai?”
The investigator codenamed Aries showed a flash of anger:
“Investigating anomalies differs in difficulty. Each case requires different amounts of time. Judging my pace after just three days? What is she—a machine that solves problems by crunching numbers?”
“If that were true, the Phantom Truck incident wouldn’t have taken half the Disaster Management Bureau to subdue.”
“Besides, even if this case really needed backup, only the four of Red Light, Wine, and Song would qualify—not some rookie two months in like you. What can you even do?”
“……”
His tone was full of anger, and his assistant even sneered with disdain at the perfect moment.
Seniority-wise, even combined, the three of them likely had less experience than that assistant.
But Han Su, hearing all this, only frowned and suddenly asked: “What’s your rank?”
The Aries Investigator froze slightly: “You…”
“I’m an A‑Rank Investigator!”
Han Su, holding a silver briefcase, walked straight toward him, voice cold and firm: “And I broke the Disaster Management Bureau’s records in just two months—promotion speed and anomaly resolution alike!”
“You’re pulling rank on me?”
“The Disaster Management Bureau hasn’t even existed for that long. What seniority do you think you have?”
“If you can handle the case, go ahead. If not, get that leg of yours checked at the hospital!”
“……”
He kept walking as he spoke. When he reached Aries, he didn’t slow down, forcing the man to step aside.
Han Su walked straight into the office, then turned back to look at him:
“Oh, by the way—”
“The Phantom Truck incident you said half the Disaster Management Bureau couldn’t handle—
I’m the one who solved it!”