Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 64 An Invitation from the First Director

The sound was like an "echo" that transcended the boundaries of time and space, gently caressing the souls of everyone present. It did not need to be transmitted through a medium, nor did it require the vibration of eardrums; it acted directly on the strings of the soul, each syllable carrying the unique wisdom of the first Director Adam White, mixed with weariness and a deep expectation for his successor.

The moment the sound rang out, An Mu's body, which was on the verge of collapse from forcibly supporting the "Iron Wall Kingship," felt the pressure suddenly ease. After the enormous energy sphere "Cradle" completed its correct connection with Bai Yu, it proactively retracted all its outward defensive mechanisms and instead used its power to maintain internal stability.

An Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief, slowly dispelling the immensely draining "Iron Wall Royal Authority" domain. The instant the domain completely dissipated, he collapsed to his knees as if all his strength had been drained, gasping for breath. His pale face was devoid of color, like a weathered stone statue, but his sharp eyes remained fixed on the "cradle" before him, filled with vigilance.

"You... are the first director?" Lan Ce adjusted his glasses, suppressing his shock, and asked tentatively in a tone similar to that of someone facing a titan of academia.

"Yes and no." The aged voice slowly echoed in the room, tinged with self-mockery and helplessness. "I am now merely a remnant of the consciousness of the first Director, Adam White, remaining in this machine. A ghost imprisoned for decades in a 'cage' I created myself."

These words confirmed their worst suspicions, but also brought a glimmer of hope.

"You...you're still alive?" Lu Yueqi's voice was filled with disbelief. Although she hadn't been with the Investigation Bureau for very long, she had read about the first director, Adam White, in the Bureau's history.

“Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn’t. It depends on how you define ‘living.’” Adam White’s uncertain voice revealed a hint of weariness. “My body was reduced to ashes in that failed experiment. But… my consciousness, my memories, all my knowledge… they were all ‘backed up’ by this machine called ‘Cradle.’ I can say that I have become completely integrated with it. I am both its prisoner and its sole ‘administrator.’”

“Children, I know you may have many questions after hearing this. But now… we don’t have time.” Adam White’s voice suddenly turned serious. “That new child… his condition is terrible. The mark of the Tower has formed a deep symbiosis with his soul’s origin. I can feel the will of the Tower constantly trying to snatch him from my cradle. We must begin immediately…”

"Start what?" An Mu supported himself on the ground with both hands, struggled to stand up, and asked in a deep voice.

"Let's begin... the final step I failed to complete back then." Adam White's voice held a hint of determination. "We must restart the final protocol of 'Cradle'—'Concept Purification.' To sever the link between this child and 'The Tower,' right from the very root of the concept... completely!"

“However, this process requires a guide and a guardian.” Adam White’s voice entered Lu Yueqi’s mind directly. “Little girl, your spiritual energy is full of the qualities of 'empathy' and 'tranquility,' making you the best 'navigator' to guide his broken soul through this sea of ​​data. And you…”

His attention turned to Anmu and Lanze.

“You two must stay outside. Once the purification begins, the will of the Tower will inevitably launch its most frenzied and vicious counterattack, and the entire Garden of Eden may become its weapon. You must guard this door for us and absolutely not let the Tower interfere with the purification process.”

“I understand.” An Mu nodded heavily without the slightest hesitation.

"But... what am I supposed to do?" Lu Yueqi asked, somewhat flustered. "I just..."

“You just need to hold him tightly, just like you did in that sea of ​​souls, using your will and emotions as his anchor, so he doesn’t get completely lost in the process of purification.” Adam White’s voice carried a hint of encouragement. “Believe me, child. Many times, the purest emotion is far more powerful than the strongest force; it can make you do many things that you couldn’t. Now, close your eyes and open your mind. I will invite you into my study.”

Lu Yueqi took a deep breath, glanced at the highly respected senior in front of her, then at her trustworthy teammates, nodded, and finally slowly closed her eyes.

The next second, a gentle yet irresistible pull came toward her, gently drawing her consciousness out of her body.

When she "opened" her eyes again, she found herself no longer in that huge, technologically advanced underground dome.

She was in a huge library that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Rows of enormous bookshelves, constructed of light, stand like silent giants in this space, extending infinitely upwards and disappearing into the dazzling "galaxy" formed by flowing data streams.

This place is like a data world made up of points of light and stars; everything is so dazzling, yet so quiet.

On the cover of each of those "books" made of light, there is an ever-changing human face.

That represents...memory.

This is the core database of "Cradle". A "soul library" built by the first director and countless soul memories "backed up" by him.

"Isn't it spectacular?"

A gentle, aged voice came from beside her.

Lu Yueqi turned her head and saw an elderly man wearing a white research coat, with gray hair but vigorous spirit and a kind smile on his face, standing quietly beside her.

His figure was somewhat translucent, as if he might vanish into thin air at any moment.

He was Adam White, the first director.

"Here... are kept the 'soul backups' of all the A-level and above investigators who have sacrificed themselves since the establishment of the Bureau." Adam White looked at the huge bookshelves of light around him, a deep sense of nostalgia and sorrow seemingly showing in his eyes. "I once naively thought that as long as I could preserve their wisdom and experience, I could find a shortcut to victory for future generations. But now I realize that I have only built a more magnificent tomb for them."

“That child… Bai Yu, I have placed him in the core area of ​​this library.” He turned his head, his wise eyes gently gazing at Lu Yueqi. “He is undergoing deep repair in the ‘Cradle’ there. However, the ‘virus’ of the ‘Tower’ is also lurking there. It has transformed into the ‘nightmare’ deepest within that child’s heart. It will lie dormant there, waiting for him to emerge when he is most vulnerable, to completely corrupt and assimilate his will.”

“You mean… Yao?” Lu Yueqi immediately realized.

“Yes.” Adam White nodded. “Yao, she was the biggest reason the whole plan failed. She was supposed to become the first ‘bridge’ connecting humanity with higher dimensions, but instead she became the sharpest ‘dagger’ that the ‘Tower’ used to invade our world. Now, that dagger is pressed against that child’s heart.”

"Your mission is to go there. Use the 'bond' you hold as a key to unlock his tightly closed heart. Then, be his strongest support when he faces that 'nightmare' in his final showdown."

"Come with me, child."

As Adam White spoke, he turned and slowly walked into the depths of the labyrinth constructed from countless books of light.

Lu Yueqi dared not be negligent in the slightest and immediately followed closely behind.

They walked among rows and rows of enormous bookshelves. Lu Yueqi could clearly feel powerful spiritual energy emanating from the surrounding "books," brimming with a variety of emotions: loyalty, courage, regret, and resentment... the final echoes left behind by countless heroes who sacrificed themselves to protect this world.

Finally, they arrived at the very center of this enormous library. Here was a vast, circular atrium. The center of the atrium was not a solid entity, but a "lake" composed of liquid, star-like, shimmering streams of data.

In the very center of the "lake", the figure of a young man emitting a faint white light was quietly suspended there.

It is Bai language.

His core consciousness is undergoing the deepest repair in this "lake" composed of the purest soul energy.

However, beneath the seemingly calm surface of the lake, a dark and distorted darkness was clinging tightly to him.

In that darkness, the figure of a woman in a white nurse's uniform with a strange smile on her face appeared and disappeared.

“Go, child,” Adam White’s voice rang in her ears. “Now it’s your turn. Remember, you’re not going to fight, you’re going to awaken him.”

Lu Yueqi nodded heavily. She was no longer afraid; only one clear and firm thought remained in her mind—to bring him back.

She took a deep breath, leaped, and gently cast her consciousness into the "lake" composed of dazzling data streams.

……

Meanwhile, outside the "cradle".

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The entire massive underground dome began to shake violently!

Huge rocks rained down from the ceiling like a storm!
"It's here!" Anmu's roar exploded in everyone's ears.

At the entrance to the bone-white spiral staircase they had come from, a wave of flesh and blood, consisting of countless fleshy tentacles and enormous eyeballs, was now completely submerged!
After realizing that its "prey" was about to be taken away, the will of "Tower" finally launched its most ferocious attack!
It manipulated the "flesh and blood" of the entire villa into an endless army of creatures, seemingly intent on crushing everything here!
"Lanze! Immediately construct the highest level energy barrier around the 'Cradle'!" Anmu shouted as he frantically fired his assault rifle at the leading bio-hounds.

"No! Captain! 'Cradle' is undergoing 'Concept Purification,' and it's in its most unstable state right now! Any external energy shield will interfere with its operation!" Lanze's voice was filled with anxiety.

"What can we do then? We can't just use our bodies to block it, can we?!"

Just then, a roar filled with ferocious fighting spirit came from the direction of the stairwell.

"Then I'll use my own body to block it!"

It's Mo Fei!
His massive body leaped down the spiral staircase like a god descending to earth, crashing heavily in front of An Mu and Lan Ce! His already tattered combat uniform was now ablaze with a layer of crimson energy flames, like fresh blood!
"Captain! Lan Ce! You two go guard that egg! This place... I'll take care of it!"

He slammed the two massive high-frequency battle axes into the ground, clenched his fists, and assumed a standard fighting stance. He faced alone the surging army of flesh and blood that surged towards him like a tsunami.

"Come on! You bunch of hairless rotten meat!"

He let out a deafening roar, and in his crimson eyes burned a raging fire called "Guardianship".

"Want to touch my brothers? You'll have to step over my dead body first!"

……

In that "lake" composed of dazzling data streams.

The consciousness of Baiyu is in an unprecedented state of "tranquility".

He felt as if he had returned to the beginning of his life, without pain, without sorrow, without the suffocating responsibility and past burdens that weighed him down.

Just as he was about to completely succumb to this warm "nothingness".

A pair of hands.

A pair of hands, slightly cool yet exceptionally gentle, gently encircled him from behind.

Immediately afterwards, a familiar voice, like a lullaby that transcends endless time and space, slowly resounded in the deepest part of his soul.

"Baiyu..."

For the first time, a small ripple spread across the once-dead lake surface.

He slowly "opened" his eyes.

He saw the girl who was hugging him tightly, and he saw her face filled with worry and determination.

Below them, in the darkness formed by Yao's will, a pair of eyes filled with jealousy and malice suddenly opened!

"It's you again...you annoying...bug..."

In the deepest part of this sea of ​​consciousness, the final showdown between "protection" and "contamination" has inevitably erupted!

(End of this chapter)