Chapter 21: Startling News! (2)

“Much better than I imagined! Rather than being killed by some unknown ghost one day, I'd rather give it a try. A twenty percent mortality rate—surely my luck won't be that bad.” As Wu Zui spoke, he pulled out a mirror and examined the crown of his head in its reflection. At the tip of the three-foot plume of black smoke, three inches of golden light glimmered.

It hadn't turned deathly white; Wu Zui breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed these eyes were far more useful than he had originally thought!

“Master, why did you agree so quickly? Hmm… I want to go too!” Xiao Ke'ai was stunned, not expecting Wu Zui to decide so swiftly. She gritted her teeth and resolved to undergo magnetic awakening as well.

Wu Zui glanced at her head—above her twin ponytails, the smoke, white tinged with gold, remained steady as an old dog, unchanged. He said nothing more.

“You! You’re coming with me!”

Xiao Ke'ai's mother looked at Xiao Anguo, her eyes narrowing, brows arching, with a look that threatened trouble if he refused.

“Of course, delighted to oblige!” Xiao Anguo answered his wife with a smile. He was equally unafraid of the twenty percent mortality rate. With firearms proving ineffective, he had no choice but to seek other methods to protect his family; magnetic energy was indeed a promising option.

Wu Zui then looked at Xiao Anguo—his smoke, dark with gold, was equally unchanged. He glanced at Xiao Ke'ai's mother—the tri-colored plume of white, black, and gold remained as before. For now, everyone seemed safe.

“So what should we do now?” Wu Zui turned to Xiao Anguo, asking. Since he was sure they were all fine, it was best to complete the magnetic awakening quickly, lest delay bring unforeseen trouble.

“We’ll go together to the Magnetite Room. There are special devices there that will help us awaken magnetic energy,” Xiao Anguo said, leading the other three out of the room.

Leaving the room behind, the group arrived at a chamber constructed from black stone. The so-called Magnetite Room looked, from the outside, identical to the security gate Wu Zui had passed through upon arrival—except this one was much larger, with several people waiting at the entrance.

According to Xiao Anguo, there was always a chance that a possessing spirit would not leave the human body. Such cases could not be detected by ordinary inquiry or examination, since the spirit would retain all the possessed person’s memories.

However, in the Magnetite Room, the possessing spirits simply could not endure. In fact, electronics were destroyed by the powerful magnetic field here, to eliminate any chance of hiding spirits within them.

There were quite a few waiting at the door, all hoping to awaken magnetic energy. With increasingly strange celestial phenomena lately, today's ring-shaped rainbow over the South Sea had spurred many detectives to make up their minds. Better to risk it here than to be killed by ghosts!

An eighty percent success rate was already very high.

On the way in, many greeted Xiao Anguo, who responded to each, showing no airs of high authority.

Among those waiting at the entrance, Wu Zui spotted several whose crowns bore a deathly white plume of smoke. He guessed these people would encounter problems during awakening.

Wu Zui wasn't sure if he should speak up. If he did, and people discovered the secret of his eyes, who knew—he might end up dissected for research! In the end, he couldn't get past his own conscience. Though his nickname was “The Ruthless Detective,” he valued every life except those of the most heinous criminals.

“Minister! These few should not attempt magnetic awakening yet. I see their—brow is darkened. Better not let anything happen!” Wu Zui had no choice, disguising his warning in the tone of a fortune-teller as he spoke to Xiao Anguo. After all, he did have the nickname “Divine Calculator.”

“…Are you serious?” Xiao Anguo paused, then asked. Were it not for the appearance of ghosts, anyone telling him someone’s brow was dark and ill luck awaited would have been thrown into the station for a lesson in scientific worldview.

“Of course! Surely the Minister knows my nickname?” Wu Zui reminded him confidently.

“The Ruthless Divine Calculator… cough! Divine Calculator, is it! Hmm…” Xiao Anguo instinctively spoke Wu Zui’s hated nickname, then remembered the “Divine Calculator” part. Others solved cases with intelligence; Wu Zui relied on metaphysics… and a bit of wit.

But to spot a killer at first glance while shopping—Xiao Anguo could hardly comment.

Could it be that there truly existed those favored by fate, beloved by heaven and earth? Xiao Anguo found himself pondering, unable to ignore the possibility now that ghosts had appeared.

As Xiao Anguo hesitated, one of those Wu Zui had pointed out, whose turn was near, entered the Magnetite Room.

“Hope Old Zheng is lucky!”

“A twenty percent mortality rate is no small matter—two out of ten die!”

“Today’s not bad—only six deaths out of the fifty who awakened so far.”

…

As Old Zheng entered, his acquaintances at the entrance began discussing.

“Let’s wait and see. See what happens when he comes out,” Xiao Anguo, hearing the chatter, realized one of those Wu Zui had warned about had already entered. Now he could see whether Wu Zui was bluffing, or truly as mystical as people said!

Inside the Magnetite Room, blue arcs of electricity flashed, and an invisible magnetic force filled the chamber. Old Zheng, the detective inside, felt a splitting headache, his brow throbbing relentlessly.

The Magnetite Room could not be soundproofed; researchers claimed that would affect the magnetic energy within. Those outside heard only faint screams—not loud, as the enclosed magnetite stone provided some insulation.

After about ten minutes, the door opened and Old Zheng was pushed out by a researcher.

Judging by the rise and fall of his chest, he was alive—had Wu Zui been wrong? Yet those who knew Old Zheng looked dejected, as if that was not the case.

“Looks like you were right! Successful awakenings walk out on their own, faces radiant, eyes shining! Only failures are pushed out—their bodies unharmed, but they’re brain-dead!” Xiao Anguo’s gaze at Wu Zui was unusual, though he did not deny that Wu Zui could tell who would succeed.

Wu Zui quickly replied, “It’s just physiognomy—some people are unlucky, choke even on cold water, let alone something as major as magnetic awakening!”

Xiao Anguo continued to stare at Wu Zui, lost in thought, until Xiao Ke'ai’s mother poked him.

“Yes… that makes sense! Our tradition is ancient; it’s not impossible for fortune-reading to exist. You… you… you four, don’t go in. Go for a physical check-up.” Xiao Anguo recovered, addressing the four Wu Zui had pointed out.

Initially, everyone undergoing magnetic awakening had to undergo a physical exam. Later, researchers found that physical fitness made no difference—the mortality rates were the same across all types.

The detectives waiting to awaken magnetic energy looked uneasy. Wu Zui’s words had been heard by several nearby.

The Ruthless Divine Calculator was reasonably well-known among the detective system. Though his rapid case-solving was celebrated and somewhat exaggerated, most thought the nickname was a joke. Otherwise, if fortune-tellers could solve cases, what need was there for detectives?

Wu Zui had warned five people; one had gone in, leaving four. Among them, there were indeed some skeptics.

“Minister! I don’t believe in fortune-telling. If those so-called immortals existed, why haven’t they dealt with the ghosts?” A burly detective, as robust as a young ox, stepped out of the crowd, scoffing.

Xiao Anguo was helpless; he didn’t believe in that either. But Wu Zui had named five, and one had already failed. He couldn’t let the others risk it—an exam was harmless.

Seeing Xiao Anguo remain silent, the burly detective dared not bare his teeth at the head of the detective department. He looked at Wu Zui, standing quietly beside Xiao Anguo, and walked straight over.

“Ruthless Divine Calculator, eh? I don’t like fortune-telling, but I’m known for dealing harshly with criminals—been disciplined for it, in fact. Since we both prefer using our fists, how about a handshake?”

He raised his right fist, holding it level before Wu Zui—a gesture martial artists used in the country to invite a duel.

“Nonsense! What is this place? You think the detective department is for brawling? Get back in line!” Before Wu Zui could respond, Xiao Anguo barked, determined to send the big man back.

Martial artists tended to be hot-tempered. With Xiao Anguo scolding him, the big fellow stubbornly remained, holding out his right fist, insisting on sparring with Wu Zui.

But that made sense—those who came were unafraid of the twenty percent mortality rate. What they needed was to awaken magnetic energy, to gain the power to protect themselves. Leadership mattered little in comparison.

“You’re out of line! Number 542233, I order you to return to your post and get a physical check-up!” Xiao Anguo, seeing the young man disrespect him, could not maintain his composure.

While the burly detective challenged Wu Zui and stirred up chaos, another of those Wu Zui had warned entered the Magnetite Room with the researcher, unconcerned.

He saw the rise of the ghosts as his chance to prove himself, and magnetic awakening as the key. Delay his progress? Impossible!

Wu Zui was furious with detective 542233. He was risking exposure just to save their lives, yet someone insisted on going in and even wanted a handshake? Did they think Wu Zui was easy-going?

Wu Zui clenched his right fist, colliding it with the big man's.

“Mao Lie!”

“Wu Zui!”