Deity Investigation Report

Chapter 84 "Meilan" has been found
【do not know. 】

To Han Su's question, Black Rose's answer was unusually straightforward: "In fact, we don't know the purpose of many of the unearthed mechanical fragments."

These machines are said to be related to the radiation era, a time when humanity suffered many disasters and nearly perished several times. It is said that some pioneers stepped forward, leading humanity to fight against these catastrophes and ultimately successfully ushering in the reconstruction era.

However, due to the passage of time, much of the information has been lost, and the veracity of many things is unknown. But researchers believe that the organization likely possessed some technology, more advanced than what we have today.

For example, in our Eastern Region, the excavation of ancient sites has unearthed a considerable number of machines, reportedly so sophisticated that even many of our society's cutting-edge technologies cannot replicate them.

However, because much of this technology is extremely dangerous, it can only be researched by those with permission.

【…】

She typed a lot in one go, but her tone carried a hint of sarcasm: "Ha, but I think it's precisely because the Executive Yuan protects this technology so well that it's led to a lot of exaggerated discussions in society."

For example, these machines possess mysterious powers or something, which led to the emergence of the "Big Tractor Cult" within the mystical community...

【…】

What the hell is this "Big Tractor Teaching"?!

Han Su was speechless, unsure whether Black Rose was just making fun of it or if such a thing actually existed.

He had no intention of discussing the truth or falsehood of the mystery with Black Rose; he simply stared at the mechanical fragment and drifted into distant memories.

It's confirmed now. Back then, it was because I and those children were going to see this mechanical fragment exhibition that the school bus went missing halfway, and everyone on the bus ended up inside the castle.

Theoretically, neither he nor the children should have ever seen this piece of mechanical debris before.

However, the timing of its theft was too coincidental, and the process was too bizarre. Han Su stared at the press release sent by Black Rose and saw that it stated that the security personnel had absolutely no slip-ups, but everything that happened that night was inexplicable.

There are people monitoring the surveillance, people patrol regularly, and even all the electrical equipment is equipped with backup power. Other cutting-edge technologies, even laser alarms, have been deployed in advance in various places.

But even under these circumstances, the science museum was still robbed.

All the security personnel had fallen asleep without realizing it, and when they woke up, they only saw the empty base.

Checking the surveillance footage revealed that the footage was distorted throughout the corresponding time period, and no complete image could be seen at all.

Of course, the police department's subsequent investigation also failed to uncover any useful clues.

There were no footprints, fingerprints, images, or signs of burglary.

It was like a ghost that sneaked into the science museum and stole the mechanical fragment.

Many of the other exhibits on display at the science museum at the time were priceless, but this one, which had only been unearthed recently and whose specific use had not yet been determined, was the only one that was stolen.

According to the report, the security personnel involved tried to portray the incident as bizarre, but were severely criticized by the article's author, who believed that it was just the security company using ridiculous excuses to shirk responsibility.

Of course, the security company later went bankrupt due to the huge compensation payout, and it went bankrupt rather unwillingly...

After browsing through the reports, Han Su also looked up other reports about kidnapping cases from the same period, especially the related lists.

Although he had found the list and memorized it after returning this time, unfortunately, many people on the list did not have their identities stated; they were just mechanically listed by name.

He slowly browsed through all the materials and was about to exit when a video caught his attention.

That was a scene in the science museum where some staff members were testing the exhibited machine. During the explanation, although they hadn't yet figured out what the machine was made of, the researchers believed it had an extremely perfect structure and even a kind of eerie beauty.

With just a slight tug on one of the machine's parts, the entire machine suddenly started operating.

Countless exquisite gears, large and small, are interlocked. As one component rotates, all the gears rotate together. The mere act of running the gears is enough to captivate a person for a long time.

"Tick-tock tick-tock..."

The sound of tiny gears turning traveled through the speaker into Han Su's mind. Suddenly, his scalp tingled, and he abruptly stood up.

His gaze had become somewhat strange at this moment, staring intently at the screen on the computer.

This was the first time he had ever seen the machine in operation, but he was all too familiar with the sound of the gears turning.

It's so damn familiar.

Every time I was kidnapped and sent back in time, I would always hear this mechanical sound first.

At this moment, Han Su even felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know if others could hear the difference between the gears turning, but the sound he heard was deeply imprinted in his instinct of fear, and he could tell it at a glance.

The sound of the gears turning was eerily similar to the sound I heard when I was kidnapped.

'I……'

'My kidnapping is related to this machine?'

This discovery overwhelmed him with emotion, until he suddenly noticed out of the corner of his eye that the water glass in front of the computer was rippling with an eerie reflection, whether from his own large movements or something else.

He quickly sat back down, clearing his mind of anything, his eyes glazed over, glancing at the water glass only out of the corner of his eye. He only let out a sigh of relief when the water had calmed down again.

Looking at the machine again, a very strange thought suddenly occurred to him: "Theoretically, none of us were kidnapped before we even reached the science museum..."

"So, we've never seen this machine either..."

"...But what if we've actually already seen it, but all the children, including myself, have forgotten?"

"..."

He was startled by the idea, but could not stop the bizarre expansion of his thoughts.

He was determined in his heart that he had to find a way to get his hands on this mechanical fragment no matter what. But now that it had been stolen, where was it hidden?

Another important piece of information was what Song Chu told him: this mechanical fragment would, at different times, select a certain group of people who could remember it, and some might even be avoiding him. How do you understand this?

Isn't it easy to find information about this machine yourself now?
Han Su silently pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to process this information more rationally. He saw Black Rose's message: [Hey, are you still there?]

My cat recently learned to walk on a tightrope, would you like to come and see?

【…】

He shut down his computer, somewhat speechless, but could he please leave the cat alone...?

Just as Han Su was about to take a break, another message came in on his phone. He opened it and was surprised to find it was from the Doctor. The message was brief: "[The data collection and capture plan you asked me to do regarding the ghost truck is starting to have some ideas.]"

Interested in meeting up for a chat?

【…】

Han Su felt somewhat relieved as he looked at him. As expected, he was a genius who could find out about the existence of the Disaster Management Bureau on his own. Asking him for a favor was quite reliable.

But now, perhaps the flash will come tonight, and he can no longer discuss it with the other party. He just glances at the clock opposite him from time to time, watching the hour hand get closer and closer to twelve o'clock.

Just as he was about to pour himself a cup of tea, his phone unexpectedly rang.

Han Su, who had intended to ignore all messages for the time being, was slightly taken aback when he saw the name on the caller ID. He answered the phone and heard a polite but distant voice: "Mr. Han, do you remember the person you asked me to help you find last time?"

Han Su's somewhat lazy mood suddenly sharpened, and he sat up straight: "Assistant Xu, have you found Meilan?"

"I'm not sure if it's her."

Assistant Xu's voice sounded calm, but with a hint of doubt: "She does resemble the person you described, but her surname is Wei, her given name is Wei Lan, she grew up in Qinggang, moved to another city with her family ten years ago, and only recently returned."

"She is about the same age as you described, and she does have a scar on her forehead, but it is well covered up."

"Out of a sense of respect, I cannot ask her directly, but if necessary, I can arrange for you to meet."

"..."

"Let's meet..."

Han Su was already somewhat tempted and was about to agree, but suddenly swallowed his words and looked at the clock on the opposite wall.

If I'm not seeing things, the minute hand of the clock just jumped.

"Tick-tock tick-tock..."

"..."

The clear and precise sound of mechanical gears turning, like that of an old clock, rang in his ears again. Han Su glanced at it and confirmed that this time, he had not opened the link.

Is it coming?

Han Su kept staring at the clock until it ticked for the second time, finally confirming something. He let out a low breath and said into the phone, "I'll follow your arrangements, Mr. Xu."

If there's still a tomorrow!

After hanging up the phone, he quietly sat back on the sofa, his eyes fixed on the clock on the wall.

The surrounding temperature suddenly became incredibly cold, as if I were standing in front of a huge void.

A distant and profound feeling overwhelmed me. The cell phone, the secondhand computer, the walls, the curtains, the lights—everything in the apartment seemed to be pulled away by some invisible force, rapidly drifting away from me.

Han Su felt himself falling involuntarily towards a certain place.

All I could do was sigh, "I won't be able to see Meilan this time. Let me go see what Meilan brought me to the castle..."

"Thank goodness, thank goodness, at least I made adequate preparations before going back this time..."

(End of this chapter)