Chapter 20: Startling News! (1)

After passing nearly ten rounds of various security checks, the group finally arrived in the basement of the Detective Division's main building. Indeed, all the principal members of the Detective Division operated underground, including Xiao Ke’ai’s father—Xiao Anguo.

Inside one of the rooms, Wu Zui at last met the director of the Detective Division, whom he had only seen on television before. Xiao Anguo’s appearance was that of a classic square-jawed face, thick eyebrows and large eyes. Though middle-aged, his physique remained robust, showing no signs of weight gain; he clearly exercised regularly.

Beside him stood a middle-aged woman in a white trench coat. Her long black hair was elegantly pinned up, and with her gentle gaze, it was apparent she had been raised in a strict, prestigious household.

Upon seeing her parents, Xiao Ke’ai immediately ran to her mother, launching into complaints about her unscrupulous father’s misdeeds. Xiao Anguo bore his daughter’s accusations with a helpless expression, enduring both his wife’s raised eyebrows and her piercing glare.

Only after Xiao Ke’ai finished venting did Xiao Anguo step over to a computer and address the group, “Come here. I have something to show you.”

Hu Wu and the others had already quietly slipped out when Xiao Ke’ai began her tirade. As for reporting the completion of their mission—since Xiao Ke’ai was already here, there was no need to say more.

Thus, when Xiao Anguo called everyone over, the room was left with only Xiao Ke’ai, her mother, and Wu Zui.

“Should I come too?” Wu Zui pointed at himself.

“Yes,” Xiao Anguo replied, giving Wu Zui a sharp look and letting out a gruff nasal sound.

A bit intimidating.

After layer upon layer of authorization, Xiao Anguo opened a folder containing only two videos. With a click of the mouse, the first video began to play: on screen, a man walked along a street, dim streetlights glowing behind him. Judging by the time, it was late at night, likely captured by city surveillance.

Soon, a “person” appeared behind the man, its outline unclear, slightly taller but much bulkier than him. The man seemed to hear something and turned back in confusion.

In that instant, a reddish-brown monster pounced, knocking him to the ground. Flickering across the screen, the creature appeared to have more than one mouth. From behind, it seemed to be composed of square blocks of flesh stitched together.

The monster possessed immense strength, pinning the man beneath it so he couldn’t move. The man’s exposed feet soon stopped twitching, and his remaining body was dragged beneath the creature.

A torrent of blood spilled from beneath the monster. It quickly devoured the man whole, then turned to face the camera.

One… two… five gaping, blood-soaked mouths formed the creature’s body, with no limbs or other facial features—just gaping jaws with rows of sharp, triangular teeth. At the top of its body, a pair of antennae matched its skin color.

All the monster’s mouths opened wide toward the camera, as if roaring. The sharp teeth still dripped with the man’s viscera and remains. After a moment, the creature leapt out of frame—a jump of more than ten meters.

Xiao Ke’ai had already covered her eyes when the monster turned, unable to bear the sight of organs dangling from its jaws. Her face was pale, clearly terrified. Her mother, though equally pale, remained composed.

The video ended with a report featuring a photograph: the five-mouthed monster, battered beyond recognition by various weapons, reduced to a heap of mangled flesh. Below the photo, a written report was attached.

Category: Aberration

Danger Level: One Star

Name: Five-Faced Devourer

Behavioral Analysis: Prefers to consume male humans; females are also prey but less attractive. Males with complete sets of teeth are most alluring to it.

Weakness Analysis: Highly resistant to conventional firearms; the higher the purity of gold in a weapon, the greater the damage inflicted. No theoretical vital points; all five mouths must be destroyed for it to die (tentative).

After watching the video, Wu Zui fell into deep thought.

One star suggests the possibility of two stars… three stars… even more terrifying monsters. And these things have been named and classified—Aberrations! Does that mean other types exist beyond Aberrations? Are there further categories?

“Ke’ai! If you want to survive, you need to watch the video! You chose to be a detective; if you can’t even face these images, how will you fight? Leave your mother’s arms, open your eyes!”

Xiao Anguo addressed his trembling daughter, who was hiding in her mother’s embrace.

“Okay…” Xiao Ke’ai’s voice quivered as she forced herself to look at the screen.

“The second video features another type of monster. Researchers named it—Specter! It may not be as visually frightening as an Aberration, but it’s even harder to defend against. So remember every detail—its behaviors and weaknesses!”

Though Xiao Anguo hated to see his daughter suffer, with chaos looming, his position meant he could not always be by her side. He needed her to grow quickly. Speaking, he clicked the second video.

“Yes!” Xiao Ke’ai answered, fixing her gaze on the screen.

As the video began, Xiao Anguo picked up a black object larger than the computer monitor. It resembled a cover, made of the same black material as the room they had entered.

The video played: a room appeared, likely a hotel. A man and a woman were engaged in activities unfit for children. Suddenly, a faint shadow materialized within the room. In the blink of an eye, the shadow lunged at the woman.

Surprisingly, she did not die instantly, but her expression grew increasingly bizarre. The corners of her mouth lifted high, forming a strange, rigid smile.

She then wrapped her arms around the man’s neck and, without warning, twisted it 180 degrees. Despite her frail appearance, she had summoned the strength to snap his neck instantly.

Afterward, she pressed herself against him, sucking forcefully at something. Soon, she climbed off the bed, gently caressing her face… ears… neck… and as expected, she twisted her own neck.

At that moment, a shadow emerged from her body. Wu Zui sensed, perhaps mistakenly, that it was more substantial than before. The screen began to shake violently.

Wu Zui’s heart suddenly pounded, and the sword-shaped birthmark on his chest glowed faintly red.

As the screen shook, Xiao Anguo swiftly placed the cover over the computer, and a matching container rose from the floor, encasing both the monitor and the tower.

From inside the container, faint banging noises could be heard, eventually subsiding. Soon, detectives rushed in to carry the container away for processing.

“After handling this, everyone who touched the container or watched the video must go to the Magnet Room and sit quietly for ten minutes!” Xiao Anguo instructed the incoming detectives and the three remaining in the room.

“Yes!” The detectives responded and quickly departed.

Once the others had left, Wu Zui turned to Xiao Anguo. “What was that just now?”

“It’s the shadow we saw in the video. I’ll recite the rest of the analysis report,” Xiao Anguo said, glancing at Wu Zui.

Category: Specter

Danger Level: Two Stars

Name: Possession Spirit

Behavioral Analysis: Can possess humans, maximizing their physical strength. Most often found in hotels, hospitals, schools, and cemeteries. No fixed targets.

Note 1: After each possession, the host always dies, and the spirit gains some substance to accelerate its growth.

Weakness Analysis: Immune to all conventional firearms; kinetic or thermal weapons have no effect. Only magnetic fields generated by magnets can harm it.

Note 2: The Possession Spirit can move through electronic devices. Any related video, once played, may attract it, so precautions are necessary!

“That’s all I wanted you to see. Since the start of the year, these monsters have begun appearing worldwide. They’ve already advanced from one-star to two-star levels, causing heavy losses among military and detective forces everywhere.

Whenever a strange astronomical event occurs, the monsters undergo a surge in growth. At present, only magnets and objects crafted from gold can effectively harm them,” Xiao Anguo said, his mood heavy.

The monsters’ abilities far exceeded those of ordinary criminals, leaving him powerless.

“Are you suggesting we hide?” Xiao Ke’ai’s mother asked, frowning.

“Of course not. Can you hide for a lifetime? A double-layered safety shelter made of gold and magnets can keep people safe—but what’s the difference between that and prison? This Blue Star belongs to humanity.

So… the leadership wants to take a gamble! There’s now a way for humans to harness magnetic energy, and with gold constructs, we can inflict real damage on Aberrations and Specters! But…”

Xiao Anguo hesitated.

“Is it that no human trials have been conducted? Or they have, but the success rate is uncertain? Or perhaps it’s successful, but no one knows how long this magnetic energy can be controlled?” Wu Zui analyzed, looking at Xiao Anguo.

“Yes. Presently, the success rate is above eighty percent. Detectives or soldiers who awaken magnetic abilities can use them, but the long-term side effects, or how to strengthen magnetic energy, remain unknown,” Xiao Anguo admitted, feeling uneasy under his wife’s fierce gaze.