Ghost Compendium

"What are you... talking about?"

After listening, Minister Long was at a loss for words. He understood every word just fine, but put together, it was somewhat jaw-dropping.

What does it mean by the next global paranormal disaster?

"Yes, it's just as you think. That kind of devastating supernatural resurgence will soon occur once again, and this time it will be even more frightening than four years ago."

The old man finished speaking and leisurely walked back to his chair behind the desk and sat down.

Despite his white hair and frail appearance, when he sat down, he straightened his back, instantly exuding an aura of commanding presence.

At this moment, he was no longer the family of the Minister Long, but spoke in his capacity as an official leader:

"Zodiac Dragon, you have three days to complete the work handover in Chengyang City, and then report back to the Beijing Headquarters. Is that clear?"

Looking at the old man behind the desk, Minister Long had a complicated expression, slightly opened his mouth wanting to refute, but in the end, he just uttered in a low voice, "Understood, the task will be completed."

He was well aware that when the old man spoke in this manner, it was already an order for him.

As a member of the Zodiac Department, he could not defy the tasks given by the old man.

Then he heard the old man say to Wu Liang, "Symbiont reporter, next, you will accompany him to the 39th floor to find Zodiac Snake, have her make a prediction for the Celestial Pool Plan. She will also inform you about the next great disaster. After signing the confidentiality agreement, you are free to act. Go on."

Saying this, the old man gently tapped an inconspicuous button on the desk.

Immediately, the office door suddenly opened.

Then the receptionist from earlier smiled at Wu Liang and Minister Long, gesturing for them to leave.

Once outside, the door closed, and the last glimpse was of the old man bent over approving documents.

Wu Liang, thus muddled, was led back to the elevator with Minister Long.

As the elevator swiftly descended, the two exchanged a glance and saw the helplessness in each other's eyes.

However, Wu Liang spoke first: "Does your grandpa always have such a pressuring presence?"

This time, meeting the leader, the person saw through his mindset at first glance, the warning was implicit, yet it also showed support for his investigation at the Celestial Pool, allowing access to the archives of official documents.

Typical carrot-and-stick approach, which indeed made Wu Liang feel quite pressured.

Yet Minister Long just sighed, saying: "I don't know how he usually is; I've only met him a few times in the past few years."

Saying this, he pointed to the elevator door and continued:

"Did it feel slow when going up the elevator? That's because there's a scanner outside each elevator shaft, and various hidden places with security personnel. Even under his special status, what difference does it make that I'm his grandson?"

"Here, I'm just the Zodiac Dragon."

In just a few words, the bittersweet content was revealed; the special status of the old man and Minister Long meant that their interactions were scarce, and their familial bond would only grow fainter.

Loyalty and filial piety have always been hard to balance; the old man has committed all his energy to the protection of society and the public, naturally leaving little time for those around him.

Both sighing, they arrived at the 39th floor of the building.

This was also Wu Liang's first time here.

Before coming to the Capital City, Zodiac Rabbit had mentioned that Zodiac Snake's whereabouts were seldom known, meeting her was entirely up to luck.

Unexpectedly, he had the fortune to meet her today.

This floor resembled a technology museum, with rooms filled with all kinds of peculiar high-tech products, some rooms even filled with computer equipment like microcomputer labs.

"The 39th floor is part of the official information processing center, Snake usually hides here," Minister Long said as he walked.

He then went straight to the hallway's end, not bothering with the intense typing of the staff in other rooms.

Knock knock—knock—knock knock—knock!

Under Wu Liang's shocked gaze, Minister Long, at a corner where there was no room, knocked rhythmically on the wall six times.

The next second, a seam split open on the wall, and a hidden door appeared before them.

Following Minister Long inside, the hidden door closed automatically, and they found themselves in a small, fantastical room filled with crystal balls.

At the room's center sat a strange woman with a dazed look, wearing a wavy hairstyle but wrapped entirely in a black trench coat except for her eyes.

Seeing her, Minister Long casually waved in greeting, "Yo, good morning, the old man sent me down. So tell me, what's the situation with the next great disaster?"

Upon hearing his voice, the woman looked up and focused her gaze for a moment.

She then extended her hand from the trench coat, writing swiftly on a tablet, while pulling out two papers filled with writing.

Not long after, she pushed the tablet over.

On it was written—

"What's with the 'yo'? Haven't seen your sister in two years and forgotten how to greet? Hurry up and sign the confidentiality agreement!"

Wu Liang: "?"

Zodiac Snake and Zodiac Dragon are actually siblings! And their grandfather is the official big leader!

What's going on! Turns out your whole family aren't ordinary individuals!

Speaking of which, the odds of both siblings being possessed by Fierce Ghosts and becoming Symbionts must be incredibly low!?

Yet Minister Long didn't even look at the paper, quickly signed his name, and handed over the other agreement.

Wu Liang glanced at it; it was basically a confidentiality clause not to disclose any information about the next supernatural calamity, with no other stipulations.

So he signed it with ease.

However, the moment his name was written, Wu Liang felt as if something had entered his mind.

But before he could sense it clearly, the [Ghost Compendium] deep in his mind jumped up and devoured the extra presence with a snap.

Everything seemed as if nothing had happened.

Minister Long pointed to his head, saying: "The official confidentiality agreement is made with some kind of supernatural object plus a special Awakened's ability. It can detect if you have any behavior or language that leaks the confidential content. Don't worry."

"..."

Wu Liang didn't want to say that he didn't even see that thing before it disappeared.

Upon watching both sign the confidentiality agreement, Zodiac Snake took a crystal ball from the wall, placing it before them.

Before Wu Liang could react, an apocalyptic scene unfolded inside the crystal ball.

The images of supernatural resurgence happening worldwide flashed by like a PowerPoint presentation, the vast scope eerily similar to the supernatural calamity four years ago.

Next, Zodiac Snake wrote on the tablet: "This was Mother's last foresight two years ago before she passed, but it did not show a specific time. I narrowed down the timing within two years last month and expect to determine the exact time in a month."

Upon hearing this, a hint of amazement flickered in Wu Liang's eyes.

He hadn't expected that the officials foresaw this three years ago, and now it was almost time to pinpoint the exact date!

But before he could say anything, Zodiac Snake handed him another crystal ball.

This time, Wu Liang saw something familiar.

It was his own face, body, and limbs.

The only difference from now was that they were not together...