"The Investigation Bureau is so eager to start human experiments?" Wen Jingyan's tone revealed a hint of surprise.
Cheng Linzhou nodded. "Since only ghosts can fight ghosts, given the current situation, we need more Ghost Tamers. Our search for Ghost Tamers among the common people has been fruitless, so the Investigation Bureau has no choice but to create their Ghost Tamer."
After saying that, Cheng Linzhou led Wen Jingyan to the laboratory on the ninth basement level.
The laboratory on the ninth underground floor was designed in the shape of a Bagua (Eight Trigrams) array. Since the existence of Fierce Ghost has already appeared, it's normal to be a little superstitious.
Inside the laboratory, a volunteer lay on each of eight special platforms made of gold, their bodies connected to a dense network of wires.
A researcher wearing a gold protective suit stood in front of the central control console, his forehead already soaked with sweat.
Cheng Linzhou walked over quickly and asked softly, "How far along is the experiment?"
"Volunteer number six is in good condition and seems to be merging with the Fierce Ghost," the researcher said. "But the other seven... are not in a good position."
Wen Jingyan looked at the sixth experimental table, where a woman whose age was indiscernible stood. Her left eye had turned a cloudy gray, and the fingers of her right hand were twisted unnaturally, like the withered branches of an old tree.
She clutched a comb in her hand, already embedded in her flesh. The "Ghost Comb," numbered C-004. Anyone Ghost Comb would lose all their hair, skin, and flesh, until death.
The researcher stated, "We don't know exactly how Fierce Ghost and a human can merge to form Ghost Tamer, so we had to start with the simplest and most primitive method—having the participants come into direct contact with the Fierce Ghost."
Cheng Linzhou looked at Wen Jingyan: "How did you become Ghost Tamer? Could you share your experience as someone who's been there?"
Wen Jingyan his head. "I became Ghost Tamer by accident in a Supernatural event. I don't even know what happened at the time. It was probably a low-probability event purely based on luck."
Cheng Linzhou did not press further, regardless of whether Wen Jingyan's words were true or false.
This time, Wen Jingyan did not lie or hide anything. In the past, most of the world's Ghost Tamer were born naturally by chance during Supernatural events.
If we could mass-produce Ghost Tamers with a consistently high success rate, humanity would have already defeated the Fierce Ghost.
At that moment, a device suddenly started beeping rapidly.
The researcher glanced at the screen and exclaimed, "Oh no! Student number six's vital signs are rapidly declining!"
Suddenly, the woman on experiment table number 6 arched her back and let out a terrible scream. Large patches of her skin peeled off, revealing rotting, foul-smelling flesh beneath.
The researcher immediately pressed the red button, and Experiment Table No. 6 was instantly sealed by the golden shell.
Through the monitor screen, one could see the female test subject struggling violently inside, the Ghost Comb firmly embedded in her palm.
Five minutes later, the golden shell reopened. Subject Six had completely lost vital signs, but she was still moving.
She died; it was that Ghost Comb that was manipulating her body.
Seeing this, the researcher pressed another button, and a golden mechanical arm popped out from the experimental table, putting the sixth test subject and the Ghost Comb into Golden Container.
"Another failure." The researcher took off his glasses and rubbed his nose. "Of the 47 volunteers who participated in the experiment, 0 survived."
"The success rate is too low," Cheng Linzhou whispered.
"That's why I said..." Wen Jingyan stood beside him. "The Ghost Tamers weren't created; they were 'survivors.'"
The researcher handed Cheng Linzhou a report, "The experiment has completely failed. All the 'volunteers' who participated have died. If we want to continue the experiment, we need more 'volunteers'."
Cheng Linzhou flipped through the report, his expression displeased.
Wen Jingyan's eyes held a hint of inquiry. "Where did these test subjects come from?"
"They are 'volunteers'," Cheng Linzhou emphasized.
"Ha, they're doing that kind of thing and still want to put on a virtuous facade. I don't think they're doing it willingly," Wen Jingyan scoffed.
Cheng Linzhou's phone vibrated. He took it out, glanced at it, and said, "Alright, let's go to the meeting now. We can discuss the 'volunteer' issue."
After saying that, he turned and walked out.
Wen Jingyan followed closely behind, and couldn't help but recall Feng Qian's private complaints that Cheng Linzhou, the second director of the Investigation Bureau, was particularly fond of formalism, holding meetings for even the smallest matters.
In the conference room, a heated debate broke out among the senior officials of the Investigation Bureau.
The projection screen displayed a set of numbers, which were statistics on death row inmates in Jing City.
"They're all going to die anyway, so participating in experiments and sacrificing themselves for the country before they die is a way of making use of them," a high-ranking official said coldly.
"What if it succeeds?" another person retorted irritably. "Imagine if a murderer possessed Supernatural powers. Most criminals sentenced to death are not good people. Who would control him then?"
"They can tame people by putting them in golden cages..."
"Enough." Cheng Linzhou interrupted the argument, "Let's vote. Raise your hand if you agree to use death row inmates for human experimentation."
Only three people raised their hands, so the proposal was clearly not adopted.
After the meeting, Cheng Linzhou took Wen Jingyan to a hospital room.
A thin old man lay on the hospital bed, reviewing the information on Fierce Ghosts compiled by the Investigation Bureau.
Wen Jingyan confused as to why Cheng Linzhou had brought him here, when Cheng Linzhou asked, "Professor Wu, what's your decision?"
"I've studied the materials you provided," Professor Wu said, his voice hoarse but clear. "Supernatural phenomena do indeed overturn existing physical systems, but they are not without patterns. Humanity will certainly be able to use science to analyze the Supernatural in the future."
Cheng Linzhou handed him a document. "This is a list of optional Fierce Ghost to fuse with."
Professor Wu flipped through the pages and pointed to one. "I want this one, B-007, 'Ghost Phone'."
"The danger level is a bit high," Cheng Linzhou warned.
"That suits me perfectly." Professor Wu smiled. "Director Cheng, I have late-stage pancreatic cancer, and there's no cure. I have at most two months to live. Rather than die in a hospital bed, I'd rather take a gamble."
Upon hearing this, Wen Jingyan, who was standing to the side, showed a hint of shock on his face.
As he left the ward, Cheng Linzhou told him, "The forty-seven subjects who participated in the human experiments were indeed volunteers who volunteered to participate."
Wen Jingyan feigned shame. "It was my narrow-mindedness that led me astray."
Cheng Linzhou smiled but remained silent.
Professor Wu volunteered, and the Investigation Bureau immediately arranged an experiment for him.
That night, the experiment began. Unlike before, this time the entire laboratory was emptied, with only Cheng Linzhou, Wen Jingyan, and a few special agents armed with gold weapons present.
Professor Wu lay calmly on the experimental table, while the researcher leading the experiment took out a broken old-fashioned keypad phone from a sealed Golden Container.
Professor Wu took the phone himself, and a chilling aura crept up his arm and swept over his entire body.
At first, the phone did not respond at all. After about ten minutes, the screen suddenly lit up without any external stimulus.
A phone call came in, but the caller ID showed garbled characters.
Professor Wu calmly pressed the answer button and then held the phone to his ear.
"Dear user, hello. This is the 'Are You Dead??' customer service center. According to our analysis, your time of death is..."
As the stiff, eerie voice from the receiver faded, Professor Wu's body convulsed violently.
Then, everything suddenly became calm.
Professor Wu is dead.
Fortune did not smile upon him for his noble act of self-sacrifice; the experiment went from start to failure in less than half an hour.
A rare look of pity and heartache appeared on Cheng Linzhou's face. The researchers in the laboratory silently tidied up Professor Wu's body and put the cell phone back into the Golden Container.
"How can you be so indifferent? Did you already know that Professor Wu wouldn't succeed?" Cheng Linzhou turned to look at the expressionless Wen Jingyan and asked coldly.
Wen Jingyan shrugged. "All forty-seven previous experiments failed. What makes Professor Wu an exception? Fierce Ghosts don't understand human emotions; they won't show mercy because of your social status or noble character."
Cheng Linzhou took a deep breath to calm himself and asked, "The success rate of the artificial Ghost Tamer experiments is extremely low. Do you have any effective suggestions on this?"
Wen Jingyan pondered for a few seconds, then said, "Each Fierce Ghost has different characteristics, so it's difficult for me to say anything useful, but..."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "The probability of an elderly person like Professor Wu, who is in poor health, successfully becoming Ghost Tamer is infinitely close to zero."
Cheng Linzhou's brow twitched. "You mean...?"
Wen Jingyan: "Try not to select the elderly, weak, sick, or disabled as test subjects, because controlling Fierce Ghost is a double test of both body and will."
"It is best to choose young, healthy, strong, intelligent, and emotionally stable individuals to serve as test subjects."
Cheng Linzhou wanted to roll his eyes to express his speechlessness. "If a person can meet all the conditions you mentioned at the same time, their life is most likely to be positive and fulfilling. How could they possibly participate in such a life-threatening experiment?"
Wen Jingyan: "That's not a problem for me to consider. With the power of the Investigation Bureau, they can certainly find many suitable test subjects."
Cheng Linzhou's gaze immediately turned serious. "The Supernatural Investigation Bureau is a legitimate department; we wouldn't abuse our power to oppress people."
"Heh~" Wen Jingyan chuckled lightly, "I didn't ask you to use your power to oppress others; I was just reminding you to use your power responsibly."
This involves the application of power. The process does not require "coercion." If a person is placed in a completely free state, yet still chooses the path pre-set for them by those in power, then this is the correct way to use power.
Cheng Linzhou didn't say anything more.
The two left the laboratory.
Wen Jingyan is an advisor to the Supernatural Investigation Bureau and also shoulders many field missions. After all, he and Feng Qian are the only two Ghost Tamer in the entire Investigation Bureau, and Feng Qian's ability is more control-oriented. Many times, Wen Jingyan is needed to help control the Fierce Ghost.
Feng Qian is also in charge of the "Lucky Casino" operation. He has arranged for a number of people to enter the casino, but none of them have come out yet, and their situation is unknown.
The frequency of Supernatural events in China is increasing, and the situation abroad is equally worrying.
The Holy See usurped power in Italy, and fanaticism spread throughout Europe.
A war of the gods has taken place in the Americas, leaving behind Supernatural remnants everywhere.
Although the domestic Supernatural Investigation Bureau already knows that all paranormal events are Supernatural events, and that those so-called gods are ghosts or Ghost Tamer, the Investigation Bureau does not intend to disclose this information.
There might be all-knowing folk Ghost Tamer abroad; it just depends on their luck.
That day, the Supernatural Investigation Bureau received a report that an anomaly had occurred at the Starlight Cinema in Lan City. People who entered the cinema never came out again, and many audience members went missing as a result.
Since the "paranormal event" had already been made public, the local police in Lan City conducted a brief investigation of the Starlight Cinema and confirmed that it was highly likely not an ordinary case, and then reported the matter to higher authorities.
The Investigation Bureau immediately dispatched two investigators to Lan City to confirm whether the incident was Supernatural event.
These two investigators were ordinary people who had been hastily put to work after receiving intensive training from the Investigation Bureau. This was unavoidable, as Supernatural events were breaking out all over the country, and the Investigation Bureau was short-staffed. It had neither enough Ghost Tamer nor any Supernatural Items, so it had no choice but to send out bold and meticulous investigators on the job.
An autumn rain fell in Lan City, and the cold wind was biting.
Investigator Du Yan stood in front of the Starlight Cinema, holding a black umbrella. The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella was like some kind of Morse code.
He looked up at the old-fashioned cinema, its faded posters and mottled exterior walls making it look like a haunted place from a horror movie.
"Are we really going in?" Another investigator Su Yu, stepped forward from behind. "This place looks very dangerous."
Du Yan sighed helplessly, "We're already here, how can we not go? Besides, this isn't something you can just avoid if you don't want to. At least we already know that Supernatural can't affect gold. If we're really desperate, we'll just put ourselves in the gold bags to save our lives for now."
Su Yu nodded, her young face filled with tension and worry.
Du Yan understood this feeling. He felt the same way when he went on his first field mission not long ago. Unfortunately, his partner, Old Li, had been admitted to a mental hospital and was constantly spouting nonsense like "Potatoes are top-quality omegas" and "Tomatoes and eggs are a perfect couple."
In fact, Du Yan had suspected that Old Li was faking his madness to avoid the Investigation Bureau's field missions and also to swindle a sum of compensation.
Pushing open the cinema doors, a musty smell mixed with a cloyingly sweet stench hit him. Du Yan's gaze swept over the ticket counter, where a woman in uniform sat behind the glass—at least he thought she was a person—until he got closer and saw her stiff, wax-figure-like plastic face and glass-bead eyes.
"The automatic ticket machine still works," Su Yu whispered, pointing to a machine flashing blue light in the corner. The screen showed that it was playing a movie called "Eternal Audience," showing at ∞.