"Three choices for abnormality contactees?"
Ten minutes ago, Han Su hadn't expected that just as he was about to leave the Public Security Bureau, events would suddenly take such a turn. Seeing Zhang Chiguo's face darken, he looked at him curiously.
"Yes."
Zhang Chiguo had called Han Su back. Seeing that there was no turning back now, he simply explained, "Hypnosis, memory clearing, and a third option:"
"Forced recruitment!"
"Anyone who has experienced or come into contact with an abnormal entity must face these three choices."
"Ghost Truck is a special case. Rumors about it had already leaked before this, so the secrecy requirements weren't that strict. And with the Xu Family's influence, I could have made an exception and let you leave."
"Unfortunately, the victims' families hate you even more than I expected."
"Song Chushi gave you that Spell, which means neither I nor the investigator who came on the Xu Family's behalf can do anything to help you now."
Looking at Zhang Chiguo's grave expression, Han Su felt a flicker of interest. "So what does that mean?"
Zhang Chiguo replied slowly, "It means that aside from undergoing abnormal hypnosis or being specially cleared or detained long-term by our enforcement department, you have only one choice left:"
He paused. "Join the Disaster Management Bureau."
Han Su remained composed, though his tone shifted. "The Disaster Management Bureau?"
"The Bureau of Abnormal Disaster Assessment."
Zhang Chiguo sighed softly, then took out another cigarette and held it beneath his nose, speaking in a low voice:
"We're responsible for assessing and containing the supernatural abnormalities and phenomena that shouldn't exist in this city."
"Usually, we select suitable recruits from the border forces, the Public Security Bureau, social elites, and specialists in various fields. But even they have to go through fierce competition before we might choose them."
"Abnormality contactees, on the other hand, are one of only two groups we recruit directly into the Bureau."
As if worried Han Su hadn't understood, he fell silent for a moment, then added, "Although we haven't completed the investigation yet, we've already formed a general idea. Young Master Zhang most likely had this very plan in mind—he wanted to join us."
"By making contact with Ghost Truck, he got on our radar. Then he used his background and status to avoid hypnosis or memory clearing, and finally become a member of the Disaster Management Bureau's enforcement department."
Han Su listened carefully, somewhat surprised. "Why?"
Young Master Zhang was already rich, and things had been going well for him in Azure Harbor. Why had he gone to such lengths to join this department?
Judging by what Han Su had overheard earlier, the so-called Disaster Management Bureau was directly overseen by Secretary Number 5?
"Because we have a lot of power."
Zhang Chiguo summed up the truth in one sentence, his expression darkening. "That's why so many people ignore the risks and see this path as a chance to climb higher!"
"That explains it..."
Han Su immediately thought of Young Master Zhang's conversation with Xu Ji just before he died, and the confidence he'd shown at the time.
Having cleared up his doubts, Han Su lowered his gaze for a moment. When he looked back at Zhang Chiguo, his voice was calmer. "If that's the case, why didn't anyone come looking for me after I went through something like this ten years ago?"
One Ghost Truck could determine the fate of those who encountered it. What about the mysterious Ancient Castle Kidnapping Case...
Zhang Chiguo sighed softly. At this point, there was no need to keep hiding the truth, so he explained plainly, "Classification. It means this incident never happened."
"The kidnapping happened, but the monster kidnapping didn't."
"So even at the level of the Disaster Management Bureau, it was just a frightened child talking nonsense."
"That's why you weren't cleared, nor were you subjected to another kind of forced hypnosis. Do you understand? Until now, you weren't registered with the Disaster Management Bureau as a 'contactee.'"
"..."
Han Su's heart skipped a beat. He still had something to say, but Zhang Chiguo slowly shook his head at him and said quietly, "Xiao Han, don't rush to say certain things out loud."
He continued, his tone stern. "I need you to understand that being forcibly recruited by the Disaster Management Bureau isn't a good thing."
"Plenty of ambitious people and thrill-seekers think joining us will help them get ahead in life. Most of them end up as a joke."
"In truth, this path has buried far more people like them."
Given his personality, he would never have agreed to let someone go through a private arrangement. When the investigator who'd come on the Xu Family's behalf asked him to help, she'd looked genuinely surprised that he was willing to let Han Su leave.
He hadn't expected that this one time he'd tried to be lenient, it would still be impossible.
Now he couldn't just let Han Su leave. That meant forced recruitment—but this was a major decision, one that would affect the rest of his life...
Why didn't the kid look worried at all?
Couldn't he show some normal reaction, the kind expected from someone of sound mind and body?
"Looks like whoever classified what happened to me has a lot of clout..."
Hearing Zhang Chiguo's warning for the second time, Han Su was strangely not angry. He showed none of the shock or panic Zhang Chiguo expected. Instead, he pondered for a moment, then looked up with a smile.
"Uncle Zhang, if I join you, I'll have to deal with abnormalities like Murder Truck from now on, right?"
"..."
Zhang Chiguo nodded with a cold expression. "A lifetime of service, fighting the tide."
Han Su nodded at once and smiled. "Then I'll join. What do I do now?"
"You adapt pretty quickly, don't you?"
Han Su's reaction made Zhang Chiguo uneasy. He even began to wonder whether he hadn't explained the stakes clearly enough, or whether the kid had really become a little strange.
He had countless things he wanted to say, but in the end, he only sighed and lowered his voice. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
"Take my advice. Once you're in, you'll come into contact with things most people never will. But don't keep bringing up that Kidnapping Case, and don't casually tell others about our conversation today."
"In return, I'll make you a promise."
"Once you've completed your training, I'll meet with you again under a different identity and talk to you properly about that Kidnapping Case!"
"..."
This time, Han Su finally saw resolve in Zhang Chiguo's face. His mood suddenly lifted, and he nodded. "Understood, Uncle Zhang."
"I hope you understand how serious this is!"
Han Su's relaxed, almost expectant expression left Zhang Chiguo feeling helpless again. He waved a hand. "For now..."
"Someone will arrange an examination to test your sensitivity and resistance to containment. If you pass, you'll undergo training with the Disaster Management Bureau's enforcement department and become an enforcement team member..."
"But if you don't pass..."
He paused, then said in a low voice, "The best outcome for you will be forced hypnosis!"
Several armed security personnel were already waiting at the door. Han Su obediently followed them out, but as Zhang Chiguo watched his carefree retreat, he looked weary.
He sat quietly for a while. Someone brought him a cup of tea. Zhang Chiguo took a sip, yelped at the heat, then frowned at the woman in black suit beside him.
She shrugged. "It's part of my job, but you know I'm not very good at this."
Zhang Chiguo didn't get angry. After a long while, he sighed helplessly. "So it's confirmed that the kid can't get out of this?"
The woman in black suit nodded. "If it were only the Fishing Horn of Haijiao Port, he could leave as long as you signed off. But after careful analysis, we confirmed that the Fishing Horn was only a disguise. This Spell has a much more dangerous nature."
As she spoke, she took an analysis report from her handbag. A "Classified" stamp was affixed to it. She said quietly:
"The words of the Fishing Horn are very simple. They mean: 'Divine Decree.'"
"It's an ordinary Spell. Many religious and folk organizations recite this kind of Spell during rituals and prayers."
"But what's misleading about the recording is that it contains a few extra syllables beyond that phrase. They're deeply buried and can only be heard through careful analysis."
"With those extra syllables added, the meaning of this ordinary Spell changes completely."
"..."
She paused, then continued slowly. "The two extra syllables are faint, but we've confirmed that they mean 'I' and 'am.'"
"So the Spell changes from the ordinary 'Divine Decree' to 'I am god, and I decree!'"
"..."
The room fell silent.
Zhang Chiguo frowned and took another sip of tea. After a long while, he asked quietly, "Has the Spell been activated?"
"No."
The woman in black suit shook her head. "I've tried it. Although the Spell is entirely in the form of secret words, there's no Mysterious Power directed by it. In other words, it's empty."
"So reciting it shouldn't have any effect."
"Still, given the Spell's high standing, it makes sense that it frightened away that sly, cowardly Ghost Truck."
"I also questioned that child from the Xu Family. His account confirms that when he recited the Spell, there was no infiltration of Mental Power. His current mental state supports my conclusion, too."
"..."
"That's good."
Zhang Chiguo breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they'd narrowly avoided disaster. He slowly got to his feet. "Write up the report to our superiors that way!"
"As for everything else, we can only hope the kid passes that examination without any trouble..."
Before you continue