Disguise

The fried dough sticks that were about to be put into my mouth were soaked back into the soy milk.

Luo Di immediately raised his wristband, logged into the Investigation Bureau's internal website, retrieved all the missing persons suspected of being related to the case, and put their information on the same page to conduct a full investigation.

He had already looked at these materials no less than three times yesterday, and seemingly unrelated information was gradually being connected at this moment.

These materials made little mention of these people's modes of transportation, or rather, in the eyes of the investigators, these most common modes of transportation were not worth paying attention to, since the key issue was a non-existent nursing home.

Of all the missing persons records, only three explicitly stated that they regularly chose to travel by public transportation.

It now appears that about 80% of the missing persons come from lower-middle-class families; otherwise, it would be difficult to associate them with nursing homes.

These families likely do not own private cars and rarely choose expensive ride-hailing services. Since their homes, workplaces, and nursing homes are all quite far apart, they most likely rely on public transportation.

This has been Luo Di's mode of transportation since he was a child.

After all, this country, built with the combined human and material resources of the world, is very advanced in terms of urban planning, and its public transportation is highly efficient, convenient, and affordable.

The bus is the "common point".

Perhaps a crucial prerequisite for reaching that "non-existent nursing home" is "taking a bus."

However, one problem still exists.

They spent the whole day out yesterday, and on several occasions they took the bus to the nursing home, but they didn't encounter any problems.

But Luo Di still wanted to give it a try, focusing all his attention on "taking the bus to the nursing home" today. If it still didn't work, he would give up completely.

Now that the direction of the investigation has been clarified as different from yesterday's, the operation has begun.

Luo Di immediately sent a message to Yu Ze, who was staying at the Crystal Hotel, and the team quickly assembled.

Yu Ze was just like yesterday, looking very relaxed, not at all like someone who had come to investigate a case.

But as Luo Di recounted the "common ground" he had discovered that morning and the direction of today's investigation, something like ink seemed to flash in Yu Ze's eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses.

My overall attitude has become slightly more positive.

"Wait a moment, take this with you before you begin the investigation."

Yu Ze took out two yellow talismans folded into a triangle from his pocket.

"This is?"

"I made these Peace Talisman for you guys last night when I was bored at the hotel. Consider them temporary teammates, so consider them a welcome gift. I hope they'll keep you safe."

When Luo Di received the talisman, he didn't feel anything; it just felt like a folded piece of ordinary paper. However, the talisman itself was quite exquisite, clearly made with care by Yu Ze. After nodding his thanks, he accepted it.

Anna did the same, carefully keeping the Peace Talisman safe.

The team arrived at the bus stop, preparing to go to a nursing home five stops away.

To avoid being separated, the three sat together, trying to put the investigation out of their minds and only keeping the idea of going to the nursing home in mind.

Upon arrival at the station, nothing unusual occurred.

Anna said, "Luo Di, we took the bus like this yesterday too."

Even if taking the bus is indeed a common trait among the missing persons, we ourselves don't seem to have changed much... Perhaps the only change is that we no longer look up information on the bus.

Is this really going to work?

Luo Di persisted with his idea, after all, it was the only direction he could think of for the investigation, and he was prepared to take some risks this time.

"Let's try again, but this time we'll split up."

I will walk ahead alone. You should keep at least 500 meters away from me and not have any contact with me until you have taken the next bus.

These missing persons have one thing in common, Anna, as you know very well: they are all the same person.

The other party must be an extremely cautious Pseudo-Human, only catching one fish at a time, never more. This is perhaps one of the reasons for the Stagnant Event.

Anna was very worried about the suggestion, saying, "It's too dangerous to be alone! What if you really get involved with the nursing home and end up alone in their territory?"

The Investigation Bureau's arrangements required us to maintain the integrity of the team throughout the entire process and not to get separated from anyone, precisely because of this consideration.

If that's the case, I'd suggest switching to a different task.

Luo Di didn't argue with Anna, but instead turned his gaze to another person in the team. "It's okay. As long as this guy is here, even if I disappear in broad daylight, he will definitely sense my location."

Following Luo Di's gaze, Anna also turned her head to look behind her, at Yu Ze, who was reading a novel by the roadside and occasionally laughing.

The labels "Capital General Investigation Bureau" and "Special Operations Group" also popped into Anna's mind.

"Okay, we'll do it your way."

Anna approached Yu Ze, who was reading a novel, and briefly explained the situation. However, Yu Ze's eyes never left the text; he simply nodded perfunctorily.

When Luo Di had walked more than 500 meters away, the two of them slowly caught up.

Luo Di wandered alone through the city streets, clearing his mind as much as possible.

He arrived at a bus stop two blocks away, sat down on a metal bench near the edge, and waited quietly.

While waiting, he still felt something was wrong.

Although he had tried his best to clear his mind, put aside his identity as an investigator, and just think about applying for a job at the nursing home, he still felt that something was wrong.

The more I thought about it, the more irritable I became, and I even felt inexplicably hot.

Just then,

Wow!

The backpack behind him moved again, and the sensation of the hair could be felt through the gap between the backpack and the clothes.

Familiar yet cold strands of hair floated slightly on her back.

It was as if two people were sitting on this metal bench, with the other person quietly leaning against Luo Di's back.

The agitation within Luo Di was instantly dispelled. He seemed to remember something. Wasn't what he was doing just [disguise]? Of all the people he had met since childhood Wu Wen was the most skilled at disguise.

Wu Wen's disguise was far superior to the other Pseudo-Human, even on a completely different level, etching the title of "Class Monitor" into everyone's hearts. Even the person reading this (incorrect text).

Wasn't my disguise convincing enough?

I simply prioritized visiting the nursing home; the main focus was still on the investigation.

I had to immerse myself in the role like the class monitor and think about what those missing people were feeling when they took the bus for the last time.

In poor economic conditions or even poverty, in addition to their troublesome daily work, they also need to go to nursing homes to handle matters, or they are already doing tedious work in nursing homes.

Yes, even with the support of national welfare, the lives of the elderly are quite good, but the lives of ordinary people who have to go to nursing homes to face the elderly while burdened by the pressures of life may be different.

Is it a feeling of boredom?

The thought of going to a nursing home makes me feel dreadful, but I have no choice but to go...

Luo Di's mind gradually calmed down. He glanced at the crowd of people waiting for the bus and fixed his gaze on a middle-aged man whose expression was tinged with annoyance.

Try to incorporate the idea of a nursing home into your thinking, empathize with this person, and express the same feelings of aversion in your mind.

Why go to a nursing home?

"Why did I end up like this, only able to find work in a nursing home?"

"I really don't want to go there..."

The more I think about it, the more irritable I become.

As this feigned irritability gradually took over his mind, Luo Di's expression naturally changed, and his hands unconsciously began to rub his hair.

I don't know how much time has passed.

Sizzle!

The sound of brakes interrupted my thoughts.

A bus pulled up in front of him, its front door facing Luo Di.

Luo Di was already completely absorbed in the moment. The intense agitation caused by his disgust made him unconsciously board the bus, forgetting even to check which bus it was.

Due to the requirement of being more than 500 meters apart,

Anna and Yu Ze could only stand at the other end of the street.

Thanks to her height advantage and naturally superior vision, Anna could barely see Luo Di sitting at the bus stop, but she was frequently interrupted by passing pedestrians.

Yu Ze was reading a novel, unusually initiated a conversation. "Miss Anna, you'd better not keep staring at Luo Di. Those Pseudo-Human with extremely deep disguises and strange abilities are very shrewd."

Perhaps it was because of your observation that Luo Di was no longer in an 'independent state' and thus unable to be chosen by the other party.

"All right."

Anna looked away from the bus stop and scanned the situation across the street, but less than two minutes later, she looked back with concern.

Luo Di, who should have been sitting at the bus stop, was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is everyone? I clearly didn't see the bus go by."

Just as Anna was wondering,

Yu Ze had already closed the novel page. After calculating with the Minor Six Rens divination method, he exclaimed with delight, "I got it!"

I'm recommending a new book by a fan.