Interrogation

"Name."

"...Gu Shen."

"Age."

"Seventeen. My birthday is in one month and three days... I should remind you all that I'm still a minor. If you want to do anything, you'd better think it through... Some things carry legal responsibility!"

"Gender."

"???"

Under the spotlight, inside the interrogation room, there was one table and three people.

Wei Shu sat on the left, Nan Jin on the right. Across from them, Gu Shen was handcuffed to a chair with vine restraints, writhing like a catfish and repeatedly waggling his eyebrows at the woman on his right—only to be ignored every time.

"Residence."

"...North Ring Residence Building 13, 703, Qinghe District, Da Teng City, Eastern Continent... Brother, are you checking my household registration?"

After the routine questions regarding his personal information, Wei Shu nodded toward the camera in the upper-right corner.

The basic information checked out. The boy had not lied.

Mr. Shu, holding a cup of hot tea before the screen, smiled and snapped his fingers.

Snap—

Inside the interrogation room, the two vine handcuffs loosened in response and crumbled into rustling ashes.

Gu Shen let out a breath of relief and flexed his wrists, finally feeling comfortable again. He grinned at the camera and nodded in thanks... He could tell that old man was not a bad person. The cuffs had restrained him for half the day, but they had only bound him tightly without cutting into his skin.

The interrogation had officially begun, yet Wei Shu, the lead review officer, sat in his chair deep in thought... On the helicopter ride to the interrogation room, he had read the boy's file more than ten times. From his life trajectory since birth to major events, this was, in fact, an exceedingly ordinary teenager.

But at the very last moment of the Deep Sea connection, it had provided him with a segment of footage from the light rail train.

Under the effects of A-009's ability, the light sources throughout the entire carriage had been almost completely shattered, making the details difficult to see. But one thing was clear... This teenager named Gu Shen had remained absolutely calm during his conversation with A-009.

That was rare, but it was nothing extraordinary.

A-009 was a crazed "Out-of-Control." Her traits had yet to be fully uncovered... But clearly, staying calm before her was useless. Anyone else would most likely have become a... calm corpse.

Yet in the footage, this boy had actually made A-009 "calm down" as well!

Wei Shu slowly leaned forward, his fairly handsome face rendered grim and pallid beneath the lights.

During an interrogation, this was one way of applying pressure.

They had put shackles on the boy because his "danger level" had yet to be determined. A person capable of "taming" A-009 could not be taken too seriously.

Based on past experience, people with ordinary-looking files often possessed many unknown secrets. They were good at disguising themselves, refused to communicate, and would not cooperate even after entering an interrogation room. Wei Shu had thought this would be a tough nut to crack, and he had already prepared for a prolonged battle.

He spoke every word distinctly. "You have the right to remain silent, but every word you say will be entered into the record and may be used as evidence in court."

The boy wore a thoroughly bewildered expression. It was a decent disguise, but Wei Shu's sharp gaze caught him swallowing.

Mm, a sign of nervousness... Was it working?

Wei Shu said, "What happened on Light Rail No. 13 at 23:00 last night? We already have the footage. As long as you truthfully—"

"Officer."

Gu Shen interrupted him and scratched his head. "Sorry... I'm really thirsty. Could I get a sip of water?"

Wei Shu frowned.

"Officer, you're curious about what happened on the train, right?" After Gu Shen finished drinking, he cleared his throat and began gesturing wildly with lingering fear. "Let me tell you... That train was terrifying. I'm just a kid, you know? After I got on, I saw this eight-foot-tall brute—oh, no, a burly lady..."

Wei Shu stared blankly as Gu Shen gesticulated and vividly described what he had experienced after boarding.

It was completely different from what he had imagined.

This was not some taciturn, uncommunicative hard case at all. He was a social butterfly who had practically confessed everything without being asked.

There had been a slight problem with the footage from that light rail trip.

It seemed to have been eroded by A-009's power. The Deep Sea had only provided a small section of footage from just before the train exited the tunnel. Based on the boy's animated account, Wei Shu gradually pieced together the complete course of the real events.

Half an hour later, the world finally fell quiet.

Gu Shen slumped in his chair, took another large gulp of water, and asked expectantly, "Officer, how was my story just now?"

He had concealed the story of meeting that girl in the white dress, as well as the final Silver Ruler.

That concealment was both a test and a means of protecting himself.

The other side did not seem to have noticed anything wrong... That disappointed Gu Shen. It seemed the carriage surveillance had been destroyed.

"...You told it very well. Don't tell it again."

Nan Jin replied coldly.

She glanced at the blank file in Wei Shu's hands. It was now filled with dense handwriting. This interrogation had undoubtedly been fruitful, because all the questions they had anticipated had received reasonable answers.

During his first encounter with A-009, this teenager had discovered A-009's traits, dealt with her successfully, and survived... Though that explanation sounded utterly unbelievable.

But a living, breathing person stood right in front of her.

This boy named Gu Shen looked harmless, his face full of innocent sincerity. But Nan Jin knew very well that what had happened on the train could not have been achieved through mere luck... It required extraordinarily sharp powers of observation.

"Um..."

Gu Shen cautiously asked, "Officer, is the statement finished? Can I go home now?"

Nan Jin hesitated.

Wei Shu silently rubbed his fingers as he looked over the statement, unsure how to respond for a moment.

Creak—

Just then, the interrogation room door was slowly pushed open.

"Teacher." Nan Jin rose respectfully.

Wei Shu hurried over with the file. The old man leaning on a Dragon Head Cane stood at the door. He merely glanced at the documents, then smiled and waved, indicating that Wei Shu should keep them.

"Young man, come." He smiled and beckoned to Gu Shen. "I'll take you home."

Why did that sound so strange...

Gu Shen took two steps back and smiled awkwardly. "Sir, you must be very busy, right? Actually, I suddenly don't feel like going home anymore... Sleeping here would be fine too. There's heating and a beautiful woman—just bring me a blanket and I'll be set."

Fifteen minutes later.

A black business van slowly traveled down a suburban road.

It was truly very slow.

At this speed... they might not reach their destination until dawn.

Gu Shen sat in the passenger seat and let out a huge yawn.

"At my age, I have to drive safely. It wouldn't be good if something happened in the middle of the night..." The old man in the driver's seat smiled and turned his head. "Getting impatient, young man?"

Gu Shen gave a bitter smile. "I wouldn't dare..."

"Your courage isn't that small." Mr. Shu said lightly, "I saw the surveillance footage from that train car. By observing A-009's newspaper at close range, you deduced the 'answer' to the problem. Your observational skills are excellent, and your luck is decent too. If you had made physical contact back then, you'd already be a puddle of corpse water by now."

Mm... It seemed the footage of him taking the "ruler" had been lost.

Gu Shen tightened his collar and smiled awkwardly. "Just lucky. Just lucky."

The old man respectfully addressed as "Mr. Shu" had a face deeply lined with wrinkles, yet his eyes were crystal clear, without the slightest trace of cloudiness. By his side, one did not feel even a hint of pressure; instead, it was like being bathed in a spring breeze.

"Ordinary people who encounter a 'supernatural incident' wouldn't be as calm as you. And after surviving, they certainly wouldn't look so composed." Mr. Shu smiled. "We're alone now. Isn't there anything you want to ask?"

"...Of course there is." Gu Shen quietly sighed. "But some questions are better left unasked. I understand that much."

What a clever boy, the old man thought approvingly, nodding.

But some things did not need to be asked before they could be said.

"Before A-009 lost control, she was a member of the Ancient Text Society. This organization spans the Five Continents and researches forbidden sciences. She successfully mastered the supernatural power of 'corrosion and dissolution,' and successfully sent herself into the abyss." Mr. Shu rattled off a whole lot of information. "And then... she became what she is now. For certain research purposes, we didn't kill her outright. Instead, we kept her imprisoned and transferred her from place to place."

"You're quite lucky. You met her, and you survived. Now, people have begun to take an interest in you... This world will change very soon. How about finding yourself someone powerful to rely on... like me?"

Having said that, Mr. Shu smiled at the boy.

"...Huh? What did you just say? I didn't hear it."

Gu Shen's acting was terrible. Pretending to be bewildered, he pointed outside the car window. "A dog was barking just now. It was lame, too."

The car was moving so slowly that there really was a lame dog keeping pace alongside the road. It looked like they were racing, and at roughly the same speed.

Dark lines appeared on the old man's forehead.

He stepped on the gas.

The engine's roar shattered the Dark Night—

The powerful force pressed Gu Shen firmly into his seat. The old man driving wore a blank expression as he floored the accelerator. The somewhat bulky business van weaved and turned with surprising agility, tearing down the empty suburban road at night.

Ten minutes later.

"We're here."

The old man parked. Gu Shen threw open the door and rushed out, his face pale as ash, bracing himself against a wall as he dry-heaved... This Old Fellow was far too vindictive. The speed had briefly soared to 180!

While Gu Shen retched, the old man examined the weathered, dilapidated apartment building before him. His gaze narrowed as he teased, "You live here? You're that poor? Still not considering finding someone powerful to rely on?"

"Ptui."

Gu Shen glared angrily at the old man's finger-rubbing gesture. "Poverty cannot shake my resolve, nor can force make me submit. Don't think you can buy me off with money... I have principles."

"Oh... is that so?" Mr. Shu laughed heartily. "Admirable, admirable."

"O unyielding young man, this is my number." The old man slowly rolled up the window, passing out a slip of paper through the final gap. "Call anytime if you change your mind."

Gu Shen glanced at the slip and memorized the string of numbers.

The slip flashed. With a sizzle, it spontaneously combusted without flame, slowly turning to ash. The old man did not hesitate in the slightest. Leaving the fluttering paper ashes behind, he hit the accelerator and sped away.