Old Day Item and Old God of the Abyss

Of course, Yang Qizhou would not look down on this "Bureau of Occult Investigation" because of this.

The reason was obvious.

This was, after all, a government department responsible for all cases involving the [World of Weirdness]. It was mysterious, unfathomable, and deep, with a high probability of housing players strong enough to be considered freaks.

Even setting that aside, the fact that they could pinpoint a suspect who had merely searched for the words "World of Weirdness" online and was suspected of becoming a player within just half an hour was something a normal player could hardly contend with.

It was still best to keep a low profile.

"Everyone, quiet. The files have arrived..."

So he was the leader of the squad, Yang Qizhou thought thoughtfully. The man who had just spoken, the one with a faint scar on the right side of his face, was called "Chief Zhou" by everyone, and he appeared to hold quite a bit of authority.

At this moment, this "Chief Zhou" was holding the files and assigning tasks.

"The target is named 'Wang Chuang', unemployed, with a criminal record for robbery. He came into contact with the [World of Weirdness] game about half a month ago. His talent is unknown. Danger level: Low."

"The target recently acquired a suspected 'Old Day Item'. According to the psychological profiler's results, the method to eliminate its negative effects is likely related to blood sacrifice from living people. Victims 'Wang Chun', 'Li Haomin', and 'Zhao Yuyan' have all met with foul play."

"Law enforcement previously organized a force to arrest him, but even though the target has never left the Purple Flower Residential District and remains active in the vicinity, they have been unable to find him no matter what. They had no choice but to seek help from our 'Bureau of Occult Investigation'."

"The content of this mission: capture the target Wang Chuang. If he resists, you may kill him on the spot. Secure the 'Old Day Item'."

"Does everyone understand?"

So the government department was called the "Bureau of Occult Investigation," Yang Qizhou realized, but he soon frowned.

What exactly was this "Old Day Item"? Was it the name of a prop, a classification of objects, or something else entirely?

His time in contact with the [World of Weirdness] was still too short; there were many things he didn't understand, and he needed to explore that vast, expansive Ancient Earth, which was filled with mystery and distortion.

At this time, the members of the Bureau of Occult Investigation had also entered the residential district one after another.

Yang Qizhou sensed his surroundings; the save point for the "Doom-Bringing Raven" had not been overwritten. It was still set to before he entered the restricted zone, and he could withdraw from the current fate line at any time.

After a moment of thought, he secretly followed them in.

The moment Yang Qizhou stepped into the residential district, a strange thing happened. He was not far from the members of the Bureau of Occult Investigation—only about a hundred meters away—but these people suddenly vanished from his sight without leaving a trace, as if they had performed a magic trick.

Yang Qizhou narrowed his eyes.

"This residential district... has a problem."

It wasn't just Yang Qizhou who discovered the problem; the man with the faint scar known as "Chief Zhou" felt it even more deeply, as he had seen a member of the Bureau of Occult Investigation disappear right before his eyes.

"Where is Old Chen? How did he disappear?"

Prompted by Chief Zhou, the other squad members realized someone was missing, and their expressions turned grave.

"My 'Sixth Sense Frequency' didn't trigger a danger warning, and I didn't sense any abnormalities. How could Old Chen just vanish?"

"Could it be he didn't follow us in?"

"Impossible. He was right beside us when we entered the district. How could he disappear without a sound or trace?"

The night was pitch black and deep. The bright moonlight dimmed in a daze, dark clouds obscured the stars, and the night breeze was exceptionally cold, causing everyone to shiver as it brushed against their skin.

Quiet.

It was far too quiet.

In order to capture "Wang Chuang," this area had been under control for a long time. It was normal for there to be no residents, but on a midsummer night, there were no cicadas chirping and no dogs barking. The silence was as if the world had forgotten this place; it was truly bizarre.

"Playing god and acting like a ghost. I don't believe it."

The speaker was the only woman in the team. Her name was "Zhao Keke," and she was known in the Bureau of Occult Investigation for her short temper.

As she spoke, complex and profound patterns appeared in her right eye. A nearly transparent figure draped in flames manifested in the night, heat waves sweeping in all directions as if an ancient god wielding the authority of fire had cast its reflection, and divine might descended upon this world.

This was the initial talent she had obtained from her "Fate Blessing"... "Flame Envoy".

However, limited by Zhao Keke's low level, this projection still appeared quite weak; a single fire truck would be enough to extinguish it.

"Don't—"

Chief Zhou shouted hurriedly, trying to stop Zhao Keke's actions, but it was too late.

Zhao Keke, along with the Flame Envoy, vanished before everyone's eyes.

On the other side, Zhao Keke heard Chief Zhou's anxious voice and instinctively turned to look, only to find that her companions had disappeared without a trace. She was the only one left in the dark night.

"It must be that target 'Wang Chuang' playing tricks. Don't let me catch you, or I'll roast you for sure!"

Instead of being afraid, Zhao Keke was furious.

At this moment, a familiar voice came, and a figure appeared in the dark night. "Zhao Keke, why did you disappear just now? Where are Chief Zhou and the others?"

"Old Chen, I should be asking you that! How did you disappear in the blink of an eye? Chief Zhou and I were worried sick." Seeing that the person who arrived was Old Chen, Zhao Keke instinctively relaxed her vigilance and walked toward him.

The two soon converged.

But at that very moment, Zhao Keke felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. A dagger had pierced through her body. This left Zhao Keke both shocked and enraged; the Flame Envoy descended to protect her as she quickly retreated.

"You, you, you aren't Old Chen! Who are you?"

The previously surprised expression on the person opposite her vanished, replaced by a sinister grin. "Who am I? Hehehe, hahahahaha! You just said you wanted to roast me—have you forgotten so soon?"

"Wang Chuang."

Zhao Keke struck out in a rage, flames sweeping toward the figure wearing the appearance of "Old Chen."

The opponent, however, remained unhurried, stepping back slowly as his figure was gradually swallowed by the night, vanishing completely in moments. Zhao Keke collapsed to the ground, her injuries too severe to continue.

On the other side, After Zhao Keke disappeared, the remaining two members of the Bureau of Occult Investigation were not spared, vanishing one after another. Only Zhou Xu remained in the vicinity—or rather, the man with the faint scar whom the Bureau members called "Chief Zhou."

Heh, perhaps in the eyes of Zhao Keke and Old Chen, I am the one who has disappeared.

Zhou Xu's gaze was steady as he observed his surroundings.

Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows of a street corner, their voice filled with pleasant surprise. It was Zhao Keke. "Chief Zhou, Chief Zhou, I finally found you! Old Chen tried to kill me just now."

With that, she started to run toward him.

Facing his companion, Zhou Xu's expression turned cold. Without a moment's hesitation, he drew his gun and pulled the trigger in one fluid motion. With a loud "bang," the bullet pierced the center of "Zhao Keke's" forehead.

But a bizarre thing happened.

"Zhao Keke" did not die. Although blood flowed from the bullet hole in her forehead, she showed no signs of falling.

"Zhao Keke" tilted her head.

"Strange. My imitation should have been flawless. How did you discover me?"

Zhou Xu said in a deep voice, "It's simple. That girl has a fiery temper; she never lets a grudge sit overnight and settles it on the spot. If Old Chen really intended to kill her, the two of them would have fought to the death right there. Why would she come crying to me, her captain?"

"Zhao Keke," with the bullet hole in her forehead, twisted her head ninety degrees, looking both terrifying and grotesque. "I see. I was careless."

"Who are you?"

"I am Wang Chuang. Aren't you here to catch me? Please, keep trying. Hahahahahaha!"

The terrifying, grotesque, and arrogant laughter echoed through the night.

Zhou Xu took out a bracelet that emitted a hazy glow—a Mortal-grade item he had recently obtained in the World of Weirdness—and attacked the bleeding "Zhao Keke."

But the opponent had already vanished into the night, leaving only a horrifying voice echoing in the dark.

"All of you will die. Your blood, your bones, your souls, your pancreases—everything will become nourishment for the Old God of the Abyss."