Investigation Report of the Gods

Chapter 91: Someone Behind The Scenes

Han Su listened quietly and signaled the Doctor to continue.

"To capture the Ghost Freight Truck, the first step is already extremely difficult. You could even say everything gets stuck at this step."

The Doctor looked seriously at Han Su and said, "Right now, the Disaster Management Bureau’s strategy for capturing the Ghost Freight Truck is to use bait. Of course, based on specific situational analysis, this is likely the only feasible method at the moment."

"But in reality, the Disaster Management Bureau has already organized personnel to attempt six ambushes over the past month. Yet, only the first one succeeded. All the others? Often it’s a whole group of people standing watch outside all night long, only to find not even a single screw."

"If it weren’t for the fact that it occasionally still shows up and runs someone over, the Disaster Management Bureau might’ve thought this Ghost Freight Truck had already left Qinggang City."

Han Su listened and frowned slightly. "Why is this happening?"

"Contactees."

The Doctor paused, then looked at him and said, "The Ghost Freight Truck’s appearances in reality are not fixed in location. Only Contactees can use the mysterious remnants on their bodies to lure it to a specific location. I analyzed the Disaster Management Bureau’s six failed attempts and found that their only successful attempt at luring the Ghost Freight Truck used two Execution Members who accidentally saw the Ghost Freight Truck during its original sealing."

"Because they saw the Ghost Freight Truck, they became Contactees. So, through their characteristics, they successfully lured it out."

"Unfortunately, something went wrong during the containment step, and the Ghost Freight Truck escaped again."

"Ever since then, no matter how it is lured, it hasn’t reappeared."

"This is also part of the Ghost Freight Truck’s traits."

The Doctor said, "This thing remembers both pain and fear. Maybe it’s been permeating reality for so long that it’s already contaminated by human nature."

Hearing the term "Contactee", Han Su’s heart stirred slightly, but he did not rush to comment.

The Doctor glanced at Han Su, pushed up his glasses, and continued, "The second step, containment—you can also think of it as encirclement."

"The containment strategy usually relies on specific patterns and combinations of Mysterious Symbols to take effect. It can prevent the Ghost Freight Truck from escaping reality or moving to another location. Viable containment formations include arrangements like triangle, six-point, nine-spike, twelve-point, and so on."

"The last time Qinggang City successfully lured out the Ghost Freight Truck, six senior Execution Members each took a position in a six-point formation and trapped it on the Mountain Road. Then, two Investigators took action and attempted to seal it. But in the end, when it frantically charged toward a specific position, the Execution Member stationed there got slightly nervous and opened a gap, letting the grotesque escape."

"After that, although the Disaster Management Bureau began upgrading its containment procedures, even assigning Investigators to the containment positions, it was too late. The Ghost Freight Truck no longer fell for the trick."

At this point, the Doctor paused and said, "This grotesque may not have a particularly high rank, but when a thirty-ton iron beast comes crashing at you at 300 kilometers per hour, even senior Investigators won’t dare take it head-on."

"And unfortunately, this grotesque possesses the trait of sensing fear in people’s hearts—whoever feels fear, it charges toward them."

"……"

"Although it behaves a bit cowardly, I can actually understand that colleague…"

Han Su gave a helpless smile and said, "No matter how tough someone is, they wouldn’t think of physically fighting a massive truck, right?"

"And then?"

"……"

"The third step is actually the simplest."

The Doctor propped up his glasses with his middle finger and poured two packets of sugar into his coffee. "As long as there’s no problem with the containment step, theoretically, the Ghost Freight Truck won’t be able to escape. At this point, there are two choices to deal with it—either use an Upper-Level Spell to seal it or apply to the Disaster Management Bureau for the special weapon, the Nail of the Dead Sea, to directly destroy its core. Problem solved."

Han Su was a bit surprised. "You call that simple?"

"The method is simple."

The Doctor said, "Just jab the nail in. As long as it’s accurate, it’s over in one shot."

"What if it’s not accurate?"

"Then you’ll definitely get run over. Also simple."

"……"

Han Su suddenly felt what he said made sense. Based on this explanation, the third step really was the simplest…

Then, the key was how to lure and contain it?

During their casual conversation, Miss Crow had already arrived. Her mode of transportation turned out to be a massive black motorcycle, with a domineering appearance and flashy paint job. Once it stopped at the entrance of the coffee shop, it instantly attracted countless gazes.

When she learned why Han Su and the others had gathered here, she was somewhat surprised. Han Su smiled and said, "Something this important—of course we had to call you."

"After all, we’re all friends."

"……"

When Miss Crow heard this, a hint of happiness actually appeared on her face, though she tried hard to keep it together as she sat down.

Seeing that Han Su had invited Miss Crow, the Doctor made no further comment and pushed the tablet toward her, saying, "This is our capture plan for the C+ Level grotesque—Ghost Freight Truck. The only personnel available at the moment are the few of us sitting here."

Miss Crow ruffled her short hair that had been blown into a mess by the wind. Her eyes swept over the plan on the tablet, and she hesitated:

"This plan of yours… the success rate seems a bit too low, doesn’t it?"

"……"

She was being polite. She didn’t say that with just these people, doing this mission was a joke.

Han Su laughed and said, "The situation is right in front of us. If we don’t act, there won’t even be a chance. Who has time to worry about the success rate?"

"Want to join?"

"……"

Miss Crow looked at Han Su, then nodded. "But this plan…"

"The plan is fine."

Han Su said, "Step one—I’ve got it covered."

"Hmm?"

The others looked at him with some confusion. They didn’t understand why Han Su was so confident in solving the key problem that had left the Disaster Management Bureau so vexed.

But Han Su had already understood everything when the Doctor finished explaining the plan.

The key to luring wasn’t just the status of being a "Contactee". The Disaster Management Bureau’s first successful attempt had also made use of this factor. But compared to those two who saw the Ghost Freight Truck—

He was a Deep-contact Individual with even greater influence…

A Deep-contact Individual who had come into close contact with the Ghost Freight Truck and even fought it.

Because of this, a thought crossed his mind: ‘The fact that I’m a Contactee is already on record in the Disaster Management Bureau’s files. So, was this task being handed to me… really a coincidence?’

‘If I make the move, I’ll have more control than anyone else…’

‘But wait…’

While thinking, Han Su quickly realized that there was someone else—someone whose chances of successfully luring the Ghost Freight Truck might be even higher than his.

Xu Ji!

Xu Ji was also a Deep-contact Individual and, moreover, posed no threat to the Ghost Freight Truck.

Taking a step back—if he alone wasn’t enough, and Xu Ji wasn’t enough either, then what about both of them together? According to what Special Assistant Xu had once told him, when two of the same type of Deep-contact Individuals met, how great would the temptation be to the Ghost Freight Truck?

Realizing this, a sense of wariness suddenly rose in his heart: this mission fit him a little too perfectly, like it had been tailor-made—could there be some trap hidden in it?

The Doctor, seeing the expression on Han Su’s face, relaxed and didn’t press further. He simply said, "Then for the second step of the plan, it’s time for the person leading this operation to show some sincerity."

Han Su was briefly stunned. "Hmm?"

"The second step—containment—is critical. We need stability. At minimum, we have to choose a six-point or nine-spike formation. That means we need at least six or nine people, and they must be powerful individuals who can confront the Ghost Freight Truck head-on."

"That’s the tricky part."

"And we all know you have some unusual connections in the Disaster Management Bureau."

The Doctor leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. "So, you should be able to use your network to find a few more capable people to help, right?"

As he said this, his eyes even sparkled a little.

He had long been convinced that the Butcher was someone with inside connections. Otherwise, who else could join the Disaster Management Bureau for less than a month and already have a shot at being promoted to Investigator?

Even they had benefitted. Because of the timely containment during the previous Crystal Plague incident, each of their evaluations had gone from the initial D+ to the current B-, drawing admiration from others.

Facing the Doctor’s gaze, Han Su felt a little guilty—but he didn’t show it. He simply nodded lightly.

Then, after thinking for a moment, he picked up his phone and tentatively sent a message to Secretary Cui Qiao:

【Interested in helping Execution Members deal with a certain grotesque?】

The good news was that Secretary Cui Qiao wasn’t asleep and replied quickly. The bad news—her reply was blunt:

【No!】

She even added another line:

【I don’t do fieldwork!】

"That’ll do."

Han Su put down the phone. When he looked up again, his expression carried a confident smile. "At this point, I’m at least 70% confident about this mission."

The Doctor was slightly excited, staring at Han Su’s face. "You’ve gained some support? You should tell us now, so we can also feel more confident. Besides, I need to know what support we’ll have in the mission to adjust the plan accordingly."

Han Su simply looked at him seriously and said, "Classified."

The Doctor understood and slowly nodded.

He had never been good at dealing with connections or relationships. In his eyes, those were a complex and mysterious kind of power. But he respected experts in that domain—he had, after all, suffered at their hands.

"Of course, let’s not talk about my background for now. He also wants to test me. So we still have to try to solve the problem ourselves."

Han Su turned to Miss Crow and said, "So, if it’s convenient, could you help ask the Lady in the Red Trench Coat? Maybe she has a way to find a few reliable people to help?"

Miss Crow nodded quickly. "I’ll ask my aunt."

"But what about the third step? That’s the crucial one, right?"

"……"

"The third step doesn’t need much consideration. Just apply for that special weapon."

Han Su said, "After all, this is the simplest step, isn’t it?"

The Doctor leaned back slightly in his seat, a knowing smile on his face. Miss Crow was still a bit puzzled, but facing the naturally confident expressions of the three people at the table, she could only accept the outcome of this meeting.

"This task really isn’t easy… but it’s not without hope either…"

After a simple discussion, the tasks were distributed. The Doctor helped refine the plan, picked the ambush location, and drafted a more detailed containment plan. Miss Crow would ask the Lady in the Red Trench Coat. Hei Hu went home to sleep.

As for Han Su, after leaving the café, he couldn’t help but start thinking:

"Miss Crow’s aunt must be watching me for some reason. But what exactly is her purpose?"

"To observe me—or take my life when the chance comes?"

"This Ghost Freight Truck looks like a headache for others, but it’s just too fitting for me… So convenient, it’s almost suspicious."

"But no matter what, since the opportunity has already landed in my hands, the things that should be taken—I’ll have to take them."

"……"

Although he didn’t know what the person who deliberately assigned him this mission was truly after, they probably didn’t know that his interest in the Ghost Freight Truck was far greater than they imagined.

Even if this Investigator license was just bait, he had to take the bait.

That was also why Han Su had decided to bring Miss Crow into the fold. Since she had been ordered to make contact with him and had been deliberately showing kindness, then he might as well see—just how far their goodwill would go.

Whether there was a trap, and what kind of trap it was, could also be inferred from their reactions.

The key, after all, was still in the first step—luring the Ghost Freight Truck.

Would his status as a Contactee be enough to draw the Ghost Freight Truck in?

Although, in principle, if he could get Xu Ji involved, the chances of success would increase significantly, but considering how much the Xu family valued their precious treasure—better to forget it.

But then again...

…if the capture plan really made no progress, should he bring a couple of apples to the Xu family’s door?