Off to a Bad Start

Li Wei was not surprised that the old butler had done this. In fact, he had guessed as much when the old butler told him earlier that they had to follow procedure.

After all, no evidence could compare to having each department send a representative in person.

As for the representatives those departments had chosen...

Li Wei did not know what power backed Katie, but it was certainly someone at the very top. The fellow dressed like a playboy was probably the Noble Faction's representative. Henry represented the military, while Elizabeth belonged to a religious faction supported by the Empire. Even now, however, Li Wei did not know their positions or identities.

Judging by their appearances, everyone except Henry was about Li Wei's age. Logically, their positions within their respective factions should not have been particularly high, but... who could say for sure?

By the time they set off for the House of Death again, it was already noon.

Since there were more of them, they rode in a six-wheeled carriage drawn by four horses. Its interior was rather like an RV's, with luxurious furnishings. Incidentally, the playboy Anthony had arranged for this carriage. He was clearly very proud of it.

"Before we begin the mission, there are a few things I'd like to discuss with everyone."

Looking at the people seated around him, Li Wei decided it would be best to make things clear first.

"I assume you've all read the reports?"

Everyone nodded.

"May I ask what you think of them?"

"They're very entertaining stories."

Anthony raised his wineglass and swirled the fine wine inside.

"I'll use them as conversation topics with beautiful young ladies. Watching them scream and throw themselves into my arms should be quite entertaining."

"Utter nonsense."

Henry shook his head and snorted.

"There's no such thing as monsters or vampires in this world. It's all rubbish."

Sister Elizabeth lowered her hands from prayer and quietly looked at Li Wei.

"The Holy Lord Church's archives contain records of hundreds of similar incidents involving the exorcism of evil spirits and the destruction of monsters. However, investigations by priests and bishops dispatched by the Holy Lord Church found that almost all of them were scams to swindle money, or simply some form of trickery. No demonic incident or miracle has received the Church's official recognition..."

Well, exactly as expected.

Clearly, every department had sent someone from its opposition camp. That was perfectly normal, and Li Wei was not surprised. If they had sent supporters, what the hell would there be to observe? He could simply treat them to dinner and drinks and be done with it.

"Have any of you made other arrangements?"

"I sent two squads to cordon off the house."

Henry spoke with a soldier's blunt directness.

"One squad will come inside with us to conduct the search. You have no objections, I presume?"

"None at all."

As far as Li Wei was concerned, the more people there were, the less likely he was to die. He would have been delighted if Henry had brought more men.

Even if Henry wanted to take an entire infantry division inside, Li Wei would not have objected.

Although Li Wei had to approach danger to prolong his life, that did not mean he would willingly throw his life away. Before coming to this world, he had been gravely ill, able to do nothing but lie in a hospital bed and wait for death. That experience had left a deep enough impression on him. Now, at least, he could extend what little life he had left through the missions activated by this system. To Li Wei, that was naturally a worthwhile deal.

But willingly approaching danger did not mean willingly dying. Li Wei would not drag ordinary civilians into such dangerous situations, but soldiers and police officers-well, wasn't that their job?

I'm still an ordinary person. Being a detective isn't a profession that requires me to work myself to death, is it?

This hard-won second life was not something to squander on a death wish.

"I'd like to make something clear to everyone in advance."

Li Wei thought it best to explain things first.

"In truth, I'm not much different from any of you. Before this, if I hadn't experienced those two cases, I would have assumed these were urban legends or horror stories... In that sense, I'm just like you. I have no idea what is happening, how any of it happened, or why. All we have right now are a few theories and ideas."

Li Wei hid nothing. He did not know what the old butler had told the other departments, but when facing people who were about to share life-threatening danger with him, he felt it best to make things clear first.

"That's why Military Intelligence Section Seven was established. We don't know what this is, but the Empire is clearly facing an entirely new threat, something that has never appeared before. That's why we're here. So let me warn you now: if you encounter something that defies common sense, or something completely beyond your expectations... please be mentally prepared."

No one spoke. All three remained silent. As for what they were thinking, that was not Li Wei's concern.

A little while later, the carriage stopped in front of the House of Death.

It was now afternoon, when the sun was at its fiercest. Most of the nearby residents were resting indoors, and no one would pay attention to what happened here. Years of neglect had left dense trees and weeds growing all around the House of Death. Like enormous hands rising from the ground, they loomed over the road.

Li Wei even felt a trace of chill as he stepped down from the carriage-despite the scorching afternoon heat.

Even the horses pulling the carriage seemed to sense something unsettling. They kept pawing the ground and snorting, looking warily from side to side, as though some wild beast might spring from the dark bushes at any moment.

Then Li Wei saw a squad of fully armed soldiers standing nearby.

Wait. One squad?

Li Wei looked at Henry in confusion. Henry's face had already turned livid, and he strode over.

"What's going on, corporal? Where's the second squad?"

"I-I was just about to report to you, sir!"

The soldier leading them promptly saluted Henry.

"They've disappeared!"

"Disappeared?"

"Yes, sir. After we arrived, we kept watch around the perimeter as you ordered. Then Carter spotted a little girl who'd run into the house while we weren't looking, and he wanted to bring her out."

"And then?"

"Then they went inside to look for the girl... They still haven't come out."

No one spoke. Everyone looked up at the house before them. Its red brick walls were covered in thick ivy, and even the windows were completely obscured. The double doors stood firmly shut, as though refusing to let anyone approach.

"Ridiculous tricks!"

Henry snorted and strode forward. The others hurried after him. Seeing things taking a bad turn, Li Wei rushed ahead to stop him.

"Please wait, Mr. Henry."

"What is it now? Isn't this exactly what you wanted to see?"

"I'd much rather nothing had happened here, so we could go in safely and come out safely."

Li Wei meant every word. He was not afraid of monsters, but this was his first encounter with anything resembling curses or hauntings.

Now, apart from praying that his system's occult resistance +15% would work, he seemed to have no other options. If I'd known, maybe I should have found a peachwood sword or something. I wonder if those even exist in this world...

"If you don't mind, may I give your men a few instructions?"

"Go ahead."

Although Henry was furious, fortunately, he still seemed to understand their priorities. He stopped, and Li Wei turned toward the soldier leading the squad. The corporal's face was flushed, his breathing rapid. He looked frightened and tense-though whether Henry had scared him or those earlier strange events had done it was hard to say.

"I want you to wait until sunset. If we haven't come out by then, you can burn this house down."

Li Wei still had quite a bit of money saved. He could afford to compensate someone for a house.

Especially when weighed against his own life.

"Also, whatever you see, don't take it as real. Just treat it as an illusion. Like that little girl. Do you understand what I mean? Think about it carefully. In weather like this, what child would come running to such a remote, deserted place? Even the nearest residence is ten minutes away by carriage."

"You mean that little girl was actually..."

"It's too early to say. In any case, you're a soldier. Follow your orders. Understood?"

The corporal swallowed and looked at Henry. Henry looked displeased, but still gave a slight nod.

"All right. I'll do as you say."

"Good."

Li Wei patted his shoulder, then returned to Henry's side and made a gesture. Henry snorted, drew the gun at his waist, and strode forward. Li Wei, Katie, Anthony, and Elizabeth followed him.

They climbed the steps. Henry reached out, grabbed the door handle, and shoved the door open!

Clang!!

The door had not been locked at all. Henry's shove sent it swinging open, revealing the dim foyer and hallway inside.

"Doffer! Where are you? Get out here!"

Roaring, Henry walked into the house. Li Wei and Katie exchanged a glance.

"I don't want to go in, Mr. Detective."

Katie's feelings were understandable. The house should have had decent natural lighting, but the ivy covered almost every window. Despite it being afternoon, the interior was nearly as dark as night. The dazzling sunlight outside only made the heavy shadows within seem deeper.

"Neither do I. Shall we go back?"

Li Wei meant that sincerely. Unfortunately, he no longer had a choice.

Neither did Katie.

So after that brief exchange, the two followed Mr. Henry into the house. Anthony and Elizabeth came after them.

The dazzling sunlight outside shone on the ground, its reflected light barely illuminating a small patch of the foyer floor. Apart from that, there were only Henry's roars and the sound of their footsteps.

"Get out here! That's an order!"

Henry shouted, apparently trying to summon the soldiers who had entered earlier, but there was clearly no response.

Had the previous investigation team disappeared like this too?

"To be honest, I have a bad feeling."

Li Wei spoke quietly to Katie beside him.

"A bad feeling?"

"Yes. In my experience, at times like this..."

Before Li Wei could finish, the open front door suddenly slammed shut. With a thunderous bang, the entire hallway plunged into pitch darkness.

Darkness swallowed everything in an instant. Silence filled their surroundings. Li Wei could not hear a thing, as though none of the others had panicked at what had just happened.

Then the lights came on.

Li Wei turned to look. There was no one around him.

"See? That's what I meant."

Li Wei sighed quietly.

The thing he hated most had finally arrived.