The People Above

"Mother?"

Han Su was slightly surprised, both that Zhang Chiguo would continue investigating the Kidnapping Case despite the Disaster Management Bureau's unmistakable hint that someone "above" had decided its outcome, and by the lead he was pursuing.

Zhang Chiguo and Song Chushi had apparently arrived at the same idea.

"At the time, my thinking was simple. Since the case had been classified and deemed unrelated to the supernatural, and I wasn't allowed to investigate it..."

Zhang Chiguo said, "But I only wanted to help a child I knew find his mother. That was perfectly reasonable, wasn't it?"

Han Su could barely contain his excitement. "And then?"

He didn't think she was his mother. Those memories had grown faint, like film that had been washed clean, leaving only a handful of scattered images. Even in those images, he couldn't remember ever calling her Mom.

If she really was his mother, wouldn't a child remember that, no matter how much else he forgot?

Still, even though his feelings had faded almost completely, hearing Zhang Chiguo mention her stirred something in him, sending faint ripples through his heart.

"Your mother disappeared without a trace. That was exactly what made me suspicious."

Zhang Chiguo spoke slowly. "No matter who you are or what method you use, you can't just disappear from a city without a trace—not without leaving behind any relevant records or files."

"That was the first thing that made me suspicious. But she'd disappeared so completely that there was no way to investigate. Then the Disaster Management Bureau classified the case, and the only reason I had left to look into her was to help you find your mother. That was when I unexpectedly found a lead."

The word "lead" struck like a thunderclap. Han Su's head jerked up, and he stared at Zhang Chiguo in disbelief.

"Before the Kidnapping Case happened, she arranged for you to transfer schools."

Zhang Chiguo spoke slowly. "She transferred you to that private school, but we checked, and all the relevant records had disappeared."

"Even the records from your old school were gone, and you couldn't remember anything about it..."

"But just when I was about to give up, I unexpectedly found in the Disaster Management Bureau the transfer record I'd been searching for all along..."

"Using that transfer record, I found your old school. And finally, I managed to get a blurry group photo from a teacher who'd taught you. I saw this woman in it..."

"..."

"Then..."

Han Su shot to his feet. "Where is it?"

Zhang Chiguo gave him a long look, then took a document envelope from Secretary Cui's briefcase. Han Su recognized it at once: it was the case file from the Kidnapping Case ten years ago.

So Zhang Chiguo hadn't lied at the Public Security Bureau back then.

He really had kept the file all this time.

Zhang Chiguo took out an old photograph and handed it to Han Su. It seemed to have been taken during a school family event. There were many children and adults in it, but Han Su's gaze was drawn involuntarily to the face of a Tall, Thin Woman.

It was her.

The shadow in his memories came back to life. This was the Tall, Thin Woman. She had an air unlike anyone else's.

Beautiful, yet solitary.

He stared at the photo for a long time, trying to recover his memories of her, but nothing came. He was certain this was the woman who had cared for him before the Kidnapping Case, yet he couldn't recall any more moments he'd spent with her.

It was as if every memory of her had been brutally torn away.

Only when he spoke did he realize how hoarse his voice was. "Is this... the only photo?"

"Yes."

Zhang Chiguo slowly shook his head and said quietly, "Not long after that, the teacher who'd taught you passed away too. I went back to the school several times, but couldn't find any more leads. This photo was all that remained."

Han Su's tightly clenched heart began to sink again. He could only stare at the woman's face in the photo, unable to find anything to say.

"And this time, when I asked to speak with you..."

Zhang Chiguo gave Han Su a dozen seconds to look at the photo. Then, as if he'd finally made up his mind, he slowly continued, "The most important reason was to tell you something."

"She may still be in this city!"

"..."

"What?"

Seeing the photo had stirred something in Han Su, but those words sent a shiver over his scalp.

"You heard me."

Zhang Chiguo met his gaze and spoke slowly. "Three years ago, while handling an incident involving a Mysterious Organization, I saw her..."

Seeing Han Su's brows draw tight, he waved a hand and said quietly, "I only saw her from a distance. I immediately went after her, but she disappeared into the crowd."

"Honestly, it's hard to expect anyone to believe me. I've only ever seen her in that photo, and then I caught sight of her unexpectedly, when I wasn't prepared. No matter who I told, it probably wouldn't count as evidence..."

"But..."

He seemed to struggle with it for a moment, then spoke with absolute conviction. "I'm sure it was her."

"I swear on these eyes of mine, after decades in criminal investigation: that person was her."

"..."

"..."

After everything he'd been through—so many kidnappings and brushes with death—Han Su had never imagined one piece of information could shock him so much that he'd briefly lose the ability to think.

"I..."

Han Su's voice trembled. "I believe you. So where... where did you..."

"Don't get worked up yet."

Zhang Chiguo gave Han Su's shoulder a gentle pat. "I have information about this Mysterious Organization. But before I tell you this lead, I need to warn you."

"Some things, some organizations—knowing about them means putting yourself in danger."

"The mystery, strangeness, and danger surrounding this Kidnapping Case have reached a level I can't begin to understand. That's exactly why I didn't want you getting involved again."

"If I don't give you this lead, you won't know who they are. To you, these people might just be passersby on the street, businessmen who've come to town, some unlucky person whose car broke down, or a smiling stranger offering you a cigarette and asking for directions."

"But once you know they exist, and deliberately approach them, you might inexplicably end up a corpse before long..."

"..."

As he spoke, he took out a third cigarette and let out a soft sigh. "So I recommend waiting until you can protect yourself before investigating."

Han Su was anxious, but held himself back. "Uncle Zhang, I know you're looking out for me. But between monsters and a Mysterious Organization..."

"When will I ever be able to protect myself?"

"Become an investigator!"

Zhang Chiguo said firmly, "My advice is to become an investigator before you approach them in earnest."

"Once you become an investigator, you'll receive training in the Mysterious Power and gain the ability to protect yourself. The Disaster Management Bureau will also grant you certain authority. By then, you'll be much safer when you look into these things."

Han Su almost found it amusing. "Does becoming an investigator really help?"

"Uncle Zhang, you were an investigator yourself at first. From the sound of it, you were even a veteran of the Disaster Management Bureau. But back then, weren't you still being held down by them?"

He really didn't want to wait. He didn't want to wait even a single day.

"It helps!"

To Han Su's surprise, Zhang Chiguo answered with absolute certainty. "Whether it was the investigator who submitted the report or the big shot above who stamped it, the fact that they classified the case first and then suppressed it tells us something."

Han Su frowned. "What does it tell us?"

Zhang Chiguo said quietly, "It tells us their power is enormous, but not enough to erase every trace of what happened. They still have to follow the Disaster Management Bureau's rules."

"He forbade me from investigating and stopped the other investigators from looking into it because, under the rules, we can't use the Disaster Management Bureau's resources to investigate ordinary cases that have been classified as having no supernatural characteristics."

"We're members of the Disaster Management Bureau, so those rules can restrain us."

"But..."

He paused, then looked up at Han Su. "Who can stop a child from looking for his mother?"

Han Su was momentarily stunned by what he said.

After a long silence, he asked quietly, "What if they still try to stop me?"

Zhang Chiguo slowly lit his third cigarette and said, "Kid, still don't get it?"

"Being obstructed, even harassed or framed—that's inevitable. Once you joined the Disaster Management Bureau, there was no avoiding any of it."

"Hm?"

Han Su looked at Zhang Chiguo in surprise, not expecting him to say that.

He'd climbed his way up; he should have been protecting the institution's image.

"You're at the heart of the Kidnapping Case. If the people above don't even want to see the report I submitted, then they certainly don't want to see you either."

Zhang Chiguo sighed and spoke slowly. "Besides, the Disaster Management Bureau is a place where power is always a factor. In fact, power plays a huge role there."

"If I told you that a place where everyone is busy climbing up and pushing others down had no infighting or competition, would you believe me?"

"That's why I didn't want you joining the Disaster Management Bureau in the first place. It's also why I wanted you to wait until you became an investigator before following this lead."

"Of course, there's no turning back now. So I hope you're prepared."

He let out a slow stream of smoke, then looked at Han Su seriously. "Once you join the Disaster Management Bureau, people in the shadows will inevitably start watching you. You might even become the target of dangerous individuals without realizing it."

"Especially while you're still just an operative and haven't been granted investigative authority by the Disaster Management Bureau. Carelessly sticking your nose into these matters would be like handing someone a weapon to use against you."

"If they get the chance, making you die somewhere or locking you up forever under some pretext won't be difficult."

"..."

Hearing how serious the situation was, Han Su felt strangely invigorated.

Seeing how stern Zhang Chiguo looked, he couldn't help laughing. "I believe you, Uncle Zhang."

"But if that's the case, even if I do nothing, won't they still have a chance to lock me up forever or make me disappear?"

"It's not the same."

Zhang Chiguo shook his head. "Precisely because joining the Disaster Management Bureau is like walking straight into a trap, you have to learn to make proper use of every resource."

"The Disaster Management Bureau exists because there are rules. If certain things are done too openly, it could set off a paradox and create internal conflict—not just throughout the Bureau, but even with Miss Ai. That would undermine their own foundations."

"Don't forget..."

His expression turned grave, almost harsh, as he looked at Han Su. "The Disaster Management Bureau's greatest strength is power!"

"And power is inherently limited!"

"Like water that must flow within its banks. Once it spills over, it becomes a disaster."

"..."

Han Su still couldn't fully understand what Zhang Chiguo meant, but he tried his best to absorb it.

Seeing his thoughtful expression, Zhang Chiguo knew these ideas were difficult for someone his age to grasp. He smiled and said, "Of course, the more important thing is that I'll be keeping an eye on you."

Han Su was surprised. "You?"

"That's right."

Zhang Chiguo tapped the document envelope lightly with his finger and smiled. "Xiao Han, don't forget: this isn't just your case. It's mine too."

"I wasn't stringing you along at the Public Security Bureau. I've never given up on this case."

"Whether it was back at the Public Security Bureau or now at the Disaster Management Bureau, I've always believed that twenty-five children couldn't just disappear like that."

"..."

"Uncle Zhang..."

When Zhang Chiguo had first told him how dangerous the Disaster Management Bureau was, Han Su had still been able to smile calmly.

But now, seeing Zhang Chiguo's attitude, he suddenly felt his blood rush to his head. For a moment, his chest felt hollow. He wanted to say something, but everything seemed to catch in his throat.

"We're both men. Don't say anything sentimental."

Zhang Chiguo patted Han Su's shoulder. "I'm telling you all this so you understand that there's no need to rush, no need to push yourself so hard."

"You need to take every step carefully and think things through."

"For now, focus on what's in front of you and get through your time as an operative. Once you really become an investigator and can protect yourself, I'll tell you every lead I have about the Kidnapping Case, one by one. What do you think..."

"..."

Han Su said, "No."

"?"

Zhang Chiguo even began to doubt himself. Had he left something out just now?

"Uncle Zhang, I promise I won't recklessly investigate dangerous things before I can protect myself."

Han Su hurried to explain, "But the leads connected to this Kidnapping Case—especially the information about the organization you said might have something to do with... her—please tell me now!"

"It's not that I'm planning to go behind your back. It's just that, what if..."

He paused to gather his thoughts. "I don't mean to sound rude, but let's say—what if something suddenly happens to you, Uncle Zhang?"

Zhang Chiguo was stunned. "And you think that doesn't sound rude?"

Han Su said, "No one can predict what might happen. Anyway, I'll remember everything you've told me, but if we can both know these leads, it's better that we both know them."

"So, Uncle Zhang, please tell me!"

"..."

Looking into his earnest eyes, Zhang Chiguo let out a quiet sigh and gave in. "I can tell you, but you have to be very careful..."