Investigation Report of the Gods

Chapter 7: The Principle of Mysterious Contact

This answer made Song Chu-shi pause slightly.

He could tell that Han Su was telling the truth, and even detected a kind of indescribable loneliness in Han Su’s voice.

After a long while, he removed his glasses and wiped off the fog, then said softly, "Thank you."

It was unclear whether he was thanking Han Su for his intention to save their family members, or for his cooperation.

Han Su didn’t respond, but only at this moment did he lower his head and start eating the bowl of wontons in front of him, which had already gone cold.

They didn’t talk about anything specific afterward.

Song Chu-shi merely kept asking Han Su again and again about the details of those monsters.

He was very serious, constantly revising his notes, as if he wanted to ask about every pattern, fabric, and eye color on the monsters one by one.

And Han Su did his best to satisfy him.

Thinking about his identity and what he just said about supernatural phenomena, Han Su actually didn’t mind giving him enough help to make the investigation go more smoothly.

Song Chu-shi also earnestly recorded everything Han Su said.

Only when Han Su’s narration came to an end did he slowly put down his pen.

While carefully checking the notes he had written down, he suddenly said thoughtfully, “Mr. Han, in this entire incident, have you noticed anything strange?”

“？”

Han Su thought, ‘In this kind of ghostly situation, what isn’t strange?’

“Identity!”

Song Chu-shi slowly looked up at Han Su and said, “When the kidnapping case first occurred, everyone was shocked by the so-called monsters, the so-called eerie ancient castle, and the so-called failed investigation.”

“A kidnapping case that the world refused to believe was blown up into a nationwide frenzy, making it easy for people to overlook another issue.”

“For example, why was it you?”

Han Su vaguely understood what Song Chu-shi was trying to say.

He quietly looked at him, signaling him to continue.

Song Chu-shi opened a new page and slowly wrote down several names: “The daughter of the CEO of Magic Box Corporation, the only heir of the Lin family in neighboring Manchester, the grandson of a senator in Qinggang City, a child prodigy in archaeology and cryptography, a young Go master, a gaming genius...”

“Among those kidnapped children, all the identities that were exposed, including my younger sister, could be considered either rich or noble, with extraordinarily prominent backgrounds. That’s also why this kidnapping case stirred such a storm in a short time.”

“As for those children whose identities weren’t revealed, the fact that they could go on a study tour with these others suggests that their backgrounds were definitely not ordinary either.”

“But...”

He slightly raised his head and looked at Han Su, asking, “Who are you?”

“I...”

Han Su sat quietly, pondering Song Chu-shi’s words.

“In a group of children either born into prestigious families or blessed with exceptional talents, why did someone like you appear...?”

Song Chu-shi slowly said, “With all due respect, Mr. Han, your family background isn’t good. According to the investigation results of the Public Security Bureau, you were raised by a single woman.”

“However, after this kidnapping case, that woman fled the city.”

“Even the Public Security Bureau couldn’t find her, nor did they discover any property registered under her name. So, they had no choice but to send you to the orphanage...”

“You weren’t originally an orphan, but even if you weren’t, your background and circumstances were vastly different from the other children. So why did you end up on that kidnapped bus?”

“...”

The question he posed was very precise.

It was also something Han Su had pondered countless times but could never find an answer to.

At the time, precisely because his identity was so out of place compared to everyone else, there had been many speculations.

Some believed he was part of the criminal organization, appearing on the bus to act as an inside agent for those kidnapping the children, providing intelligence and location data.

Others thought he hadn’t been kidnapped at all.

He had simply been found by so many people at once, and to show off, a child might have made up a story about being kidnapped by monsters to attract attention.

Unfortunately, he didn’t remember.

His memories before the kidnapping were limited.

He vaguely remembered living with a tall, thin woman with long hair.

She seemed to have a bad temper, and he was always getting beaten.

Yet every time she beat him, she would hold him afterward and cry bitterly.

Everything else was blurry.

Even his appearance on that bus was only a vague memory.

Before the incident, that woman had handled his school transfer.

After the incident, he was suddenly thrust into the center of citywide debate.

All he faced were the suspicions and interrogations of the surrounding adults.

But that woman had disappeared just like that.

The Public Security Bureau hadn’t found any trace of her and only guessed that she had fled the City out of fear of being implicated because Han Su had caused serious trouble.

Han Su remained expressionless for a long time before finally raising his head to look at Song Chu‑shi.

“So, do you have any theories?”

“There are many theories.”

Song Chu‑shi began to speak slowly, “She disappeared so cleanly after your incident, and not even those powerful and influential people could find any trace of her. That in itself is very strange.”

This topic wasn’t spoken too directly, but the implication was clear.

Han Su knew in his heart, even though that woman had left few traces in his life, he had imagined countless possibilities over the years.

Who exactly was she? His mother?

Then why did she suddenly disappear after his incident?

But there were too many directions to imagine.

An ordinary woman wouldn’t have such a great ability to vanish completely under the watchful eyes of so many Qinggang City elites.

It could mean she herself was very mysterious, with unknown secrets.

Or perhaps, after his incident, someone found her and got rid of her — and did it cleanly.

Either possibility stirred an inexplicable ripple in Han Su’s heart that had long ceased to feel any waves.

He said nothing, just picked up the plastic spoon and lowered his head to eat the bowl of little wontons that were almost cold.

“Let’s not talk about these unhappy things.”

After making his speculations, Song Chu‑shi and Han Su remained silent for a while.

Then Song Chu‑shi smiled and said, “I haven’t returned to Qinggang in a long time. This time, I just wanted to see you and learn more details.”

“Besides, I have a rather far‑fetched idea...”

After a pause, he suddenly said, “Mr. Han, do you want to prove you’re not lying?”

Han Su frowned slightly.

Song Chu‑shi continued asking, his tone carrying a hint of doubt but his eyes were sincere, “I want to ask, was this eye of yours also blinded by the monster in that ancient castle?”

Han Su’s expression darkened, and he looked up coldly at him.

“Otherwise what? I dug it out for fun?”

“Please don’t misunderstand, Mr. Han...”

Song Chu‑shi quickly smiled and explained, “I’ve come into contact with quite a lot of esoteric topics over the past few years, and it led me to some interesting questions.”

“I’ve been trying to investigate the truth of this case, but I keep hitting walls. All the related clues seem deliberately erased. Every time I feel close to finding something, the trail disappears.”

“And you’re in a similar situation. I’ve looked into you and I know you’ve been troubled by some victims’ families. Faced with repeated interrogations by the Public Security Bureau, you’ve tried to speak the truth, but no one has been willing to believe you.”

“It made me wonder — what if we were wrong?”

“What if trying to find answers using the logic of reality is the wrong approach?”

“What I mean is...”

He gently spread his hands.

“What if this obviously illogical kidnapping case can only be understood by using the logic of the mysterious side?”

Han Su was slightly stunned and shifted his body.

“Go on.”

Song Chu‑shi looked seriously at Han Su’s blinded eye and spoke in a low voice.

“I just heard a theory.”

“Mysterious powers don’t disappear. But they transfer through any kind of logical contact — and such contact is irreversible and continues to exist in reality.”

“For example, to mysterious entities, knowing about their existence is a kind of contact.”

“Thinking about them is another kind of contact.”

“Seeing them — that is already a very deep level of contact.”

“And you...”

He paused.

His voice carried a strong sense of mystery.

“You were personally blinded by those monsters. What kind of level of contact does that fall under?”

Han Su couldn’t help but freeze upon hearing this.

It was the first time someone had analyzed the issue from this angle.

“Mr. Han, if everything you said is true, if those monsters really exist and don’t belong in the reality we know...”

Then Song Chu‑shi leaned in slightly and said in a low voice, “Then we can reasonably suspect that the monster’s bizarre power may still linger in your eye.”

“And if we want to prove that — it’s actually very simple!”

As he spoke, he lifted the silver briefcase he carried with him and took out a recording pen.

“Consider this a peace offering from me to Mr. Han.”

“After all, these past few years, many victims’ families misunderstood the case and, out of concern for their loved ones, caused you trouble.”

“But in fact, we victims’ families should thank you for bringing back some clues.”

Han Su didn’t take it and simply looked at him.

Meeting Han Su’s scrutinizing gaze, Song Chu‑shi merely smiled softly and said, “These years, in pursuit of the truth behind that kidnapping case, I’ve traveled many places and come into contact with many strange things. Sometimes I’ve gone so deep I can’t even distinguish what’s real anymore.”

“The spell inside here — I got it from the fishermen at Cape Harbor.”

“They believe there are unknown ghosts and monsters at sea that can stir up storms, overturn their fishing boats, devour their catch, and even kill their friends and family...”

“So, before setting sail, they have the habit of reciting this ancient spell to pray for protection from mysterious forces.”

“It’s said this kind of spell can awaken hidden mysterious powers deep in someone’s spirit, or drive away certain shadows...”

“You — perhaps you can give it a try...”

“Maybe those monsters in the ancient castle really left behind some mysterious power in your eye?”