Assistance

The next day, the Fifth Hospital

The City Investigation Bureau has sent over the documents, designating Luo Di, the patient detained here, as an "assistant" to help them handle a rather unusual Anomaly Event.

Once completed, it will not only prove that Luo Di's strange behavior during his hospitalization was meaningful, but also that he was mentally stable and capable of contributing to the country.

certainly,

Even if the Investigation Bureau specifically requests his release, Luo Di still needs to undergo basic mental health testing before being discharged from the hospital.

[Psychological Detection Room]

Luo Di passed all his tests and his communication with his attending physician was completely normal.

Unlike two months ago when he was first admitted to the hospital with his unfocused eyes and strange, unannounced conversations, he seems to have truly made a full recovery.

Since that's the case,

The doctor also signed the report, and Luo Di was allowed to leave the hospital temporarily.

With his heavy backpack on his back, Luo Di took the elevator downstairs.

If we don't count the last time he was discharged while in a coma, this is the first time he has left the hospital since arriving in Pluto City.

Unexpectedly, they ran into the dean in the lobby as he was about to go upstairs.

Or perhaps the dean knew that Luo Di would be temporarily leaving the hospital today, and was waiting here in advance.

"Luo Di, be careful this time when you go to assist the Investigation Bureau."

Although our Pluto City is least affected by the corner, strange things still occasionally happen. If you feel mentally unstable, take your medication promptly or come back for consultation; don't try to tough it out.

"Yes, Dean."

The dean watched Luo Di walk away, looking at the backpack behind him, and recalled the strange things that happened in the office yesterday.

He actually wanted to use today's farewell as an excuse to check his backpack.

After watching Luo Di pass through the security checkpoint at the hospital entrance, he immediately went to the security guard next to him and asked to see the footage of his backpack passing through the machine.

Sure enough, it was just a paper ball inside, and even the smiling face and the dean's signature were clearly displayed in the high-definition screen.

"Although Luo Di is a Connector, he can't magically turn a paper ball into a human head. And even if he did, it's his own private matter. As long as we can confirm that he's mentally stable and can serve the country, that's fine."

"Oh dear, I'm almost at retirement age. It's time to go back and enjoy my old age, and stop being a burden on the hospital."

The dean rubbed his bald head, took the elevator back to his office on the third floor.

Just then, the cleaning staff came over and were cleaning the office. The dean politely went up to greet them and indicated that they should wipe away the bloodstains that Luo Di had left behind as much as possible.

"Dean, where should I put this?"

"What is that?"

"This is a ball of paper with some blessings written on it."

The cleaning lady, who was cleaning the area between the sofa and the bookshelf, found a paper ball.

Looking at the paper ball held in the cleaner's hands,

The old dean slumped into his seat.

The moment the dean thought back to the black hair and white skin he had seen, his heart rate immediately spiked.

But he soon calmed down, lit a cigarette he hadn't smoked in a long time, looked out the window, and had a relieved expression.

Pluto City Investigation Bureau

Unlike Jupiter City, which is circular with a helipad in the middle and has a very large land area, Jupiter City is circular.

This is just a dark gray high-rise building in a Brutalist style, with a helipad on the roof. Although it occupies a smaller area, the overall building is soaring into the clouds, huge and deep, giving visitors a tremendous visual pressure.

Although Pluto City, as a peripheral city, experiences fewer Anomaly Event, it seems that they also need to handle other matters, and the number of staff in the Investigation Bureau is no less than that in other urban areas.

Another point worth mentioning is...

Jupiter City is predominantly populated by people of Chinese descent, while Pluto City is predominantly populated by people of Italy descent, making up more than 70% of the total population.

Facial recognition

They obtained Luo Di's facial information in less than half a minute.

A black, curly-haired Italy man stepped forward to greet me. Although he was dressed maturely, he looked to be no more than 27 years old.

Hello~

He greeted her in broken Chinese, with his signature smile and a very firm handshake.

When shaking hands, Luo Di replied, "Just speak the language you're good at; I can understand it."

The person originally intended to switch to Italy, but ultimately chose the most commonly used language, Russian.

"Marco Rubio, trainee investigator."

Thank you very much Mr. Di, for coming to assist our authorities in handling a rather unusual Anomaly Event. I will be in charge of liaising with you during this period.

I will tell you the details of the incident later, and then I will instruct you to go to temporary accommodation.

Luo Di retorted, "Don't I, a mental patient, need to live here?"

"Now that you have passed the discharge test, you are no longer considered a patient during this period."

Most importantly, the matter requiring your assistance relates to the temporary accommodations arranged for you. Please have a seat.

"Don't we need to go to the archives or your office?"

Marco waved his finger. "No need. I've brought the relevant documents. We just need to talk in the lobby. Efficiency is the priority."

Furthermore, the Investigation Bureau prohibits non-insiders from going to other floors.

This is the event documentation. Feel free to ask me anything if you have any questions.

The two sat facing each other on either side of the sofa in the hall, separated by a marble table.

A thin file folder was pushed over.

Marco suddenly realized something and stood up and bowed. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't notice your physical condition. Please allow me to open the file for you."

"It's okay, I can manage with just one hand."

Luo Di opened the file bag with his nimble fingers, took out the documents inside, which were written in official Russian.

<Chinatown Male Disappearance Case>

Overview: From August 5, 2023 to the present, a total of four people have gone missing in Chinatown, including a Chinese tourist from out of town who was visiting Pluto City.

The corners of the Chinatown were thoroughly searched and no issues were found, ruling out the possibility that the disappearance was due to Physical Corner.

The missing persons are all young men aged between 18 and 22, and Huaxia Nation.

Investigators conducted a thorough search of the neighborhood but found no cause for the disappearances.

After a quick glance, Luo Di understood what the other party meant.

"You want me to 'disappear' too, is that it?"

"Yes, you perfectly fit the criteria of a victim. With your abilities, you could handle this matter 'from the inside out.' Of course, you have the right to refuse."

Luo Di suddenly leaned forward, staring intently at the investigator in front of him. "I can take it, but I have one condition."

Despite the pressure from Luo Di, Marco maintained his professional smile and said, "We authorities will do our best to satisfy you. Go ahead and say it."

"Since I'm handling this matter alone, if there's Pseudo-Human behind it, I'll take their ' Pituitary Gland,' and nothing else matters."

"Wait a moment, I need to ask my superiors."

Marco immediately sent a string of messages and quickly received a response.

"Yes! As long as you independently investigate and handle the incident and complete the Pituitary Gland Recovery, the corresponding [Pituitary Gland] can be given to you. Of course, this matter needs to be registered in your personal file."

"OK."

Luo Di then emptied four memory cards from the file folder, each labeled with the Chinese names of the four missing persons.

"What is this card for?"

"You can take a closer look at the compilation of footage taken by local surveillance cameras in the 24 hours before your disappearance."

Luo Di nodded. "I understand the basic situation. Give me the key to the place; I can go there myself. If I let you, the investigator, deliver it, it might alert them."

"Indeed, but please go to your residence as soon as possible, Luo Di, and try to avoid going to unimportant places."

"OK."

Just as Luo Di was about to get up and leave, the other person's hand gently fell, landing on the left shoulder where the arm was missing.

"A disabled body might cause you to be excluded from the [target of the event], since the four missing people are all physically healthy."

Director Wang mentioned this point when he contacted us before; it seems you are unwilling to be fitted with a mechanical prosthesis.

"Yes."

How about this?

Marco simply took a briefcase that he had prepared beforehand from next to the sofa, opened it, and pointed it at Luo Di.

Inside was a human arm, which at least on the surface appeared to be a real flesh and skin structure.

"This is a relatively inexpensive bionic arm, which does not have the combat characteristics of a mechanical prosthetic body and is only used for daily life."

This arm was commissioned by Director Wang and made to perfectly fit your body proportions, meeting your daily needs.

Once you get it installed, you'll look just like a normal person. Want to give it a try?

Although you may be averse to objects that are not your own body, it is still advisable to consider that a whole body is more in line with the standards of a victim.

At this point, Marco also leaned closer to look.

"I heard that you, Luo Di, really hate anything related to corners. I'm sure you've been itching for it during your two months in the hospital, right? You wouldn't miss such an opportunity."

There's one more thing; Director Wang specifically instructed me to personally deliver it to you.

The compartment containing the bionic arm was opened, and a familiar stench of decay immediately wafted out...