16 Entering the Apocalypse 1

After finishing the fried rice, Mazao patted her stomach again.

This time, it shouldn't have been hunger but a feeling of being full. Yet, she still seemed somewhat unsatisfied, staring reluctantly at her empty plate that didn't even have a single grain of rice left.

Initially, I thought I'd see her marvel at the food like a primitive person, but now, seeing how she cherished the rice I had personally fried, I was the one who felt flattered. It was the first time in my life that someone had so highly regarded something I made.

Was it really made by me though? It was just takeout added to rice, stirred together in a pot to heat up, probably less than ten percent the work of my own hands.

"Tonight, I could only offer such modest fare, but tomorrow I'll prepare it with more care," I decided to take this as an opportunity to improve, "so there's no need to be reluctant, next time it will be even tastier."

"Really?"

She suddenly looked up, her eyes brightened, and then, realizing she had shown too much eagerness, she coughed shyly.

"Really," I said, though revealing my true intentions, "if you stay a few more days, you'll get to taste many more different dishes."

Upon hearing this, her expression dimmed.

"…You've been very kind to me. Even though I don't know what you really think of me, you've indeed hosted me and cared for me, and I must thank you. Thank you," she said slowly, "which is exactly why I must stay away from you. Otherwise, sooner or later, you'll despise me, curse me, see me as an enemy, and regret why you ever associated with me."

"I would never do such a thing," I earnestly assured her.

"If you don't, it just means that you hadn't had the chance yet before you died."

It seemed she had built thick walls around herself, and my words couldn't reach her sealed heart.

I only wished I were more skilled at sweet-talking, capable of opening her heart with words at such a critical moment. Despite my reluctance, I had to give up persuading her for now.

Besides, I didn't have the leisure for more. Outside, the sun had fully set, and the sky was completely dark. From the start, my purpose of coming home was just to check in with Mazao about my schedule and inquire about her Broom Star Physique and the nature of her transmigration. I had to finish investigating the fifteenth-floor room before tomorrow morning.

"I need to head out again, and I might not return tonight," I said as I got up.

"Where are you going?" she asked, alert.

"I'm planning to go to the bathhouse with a friend, might grab some late-night food there, perhaps even spend the night," I began to bluff, "If it were possible, I would have liked to take you with me, but I guess you're not in a position to go out right now, are you?"

"Yes, I am currently wanted by the official forces," she nodded regretfully.

"So, just rest easy at my place for now. Like I said before, feel free to use anything here. You can watch TV, use the computer, or perhaps read some of the novels I've collected."

As I spoke, I walked over to the bookshelf next to the TV, took down a mystery novel, and, giving it to her, I tentatively asked, "Have you ever read this type of book before?"

She examined the book's cover and flipped through it before shaking her head, "No, I haven't. But since you recommend it, I'll give it a try."

After that, she got up from the dining table and sat down on the nearby sofa, then actually began reading.

It seemed she could read.

If the Doomsday Era truly existed, I wondered what the literacy rate was like then? Could she understand the modern concepts mentioned in the mystery novel? She had never shown any misunderstandings when speaking with me. Perhaps she had received decent education during the Doomsday Era.

The concept of "calling the police" probably didn't exist in the Doomsday Era, yet she had asked me not to call the police the first time we met, which could be explained by her previous encounters with the police, but there were other parts that were harder to explain. Even in a peaceful society, people from different eras might encounter communication gaps, and yet, I had rarely felt such a gap in our interactions.

That said, she did naturally reveal some traits of a Doomsday survivor...

I once again felt sincerely willing to trust her. That's why I initially overlooked many doubts unconsciously and even now, I was still actively looking for evidence that she was a Doomsday Transcender. Unintentionally, I found myself increasingly fascinated by her—this mysterious girl.

I picked up my backpack, walked out of the house, then turned back to close the door.

Through the ever-narrowing gap of the door, I quietly observed her delicate figure reading on the sofa, until the gap completely closed.

-

I once again entered the community where the fifteenth-floor room was located.

At the same time, I controlled the "Firefly" to scout the surroundings of the fifteenth-floor room first.

Although I had previously heard that the place would be re-secured as a crime scene, it became obvious that this was merely an excuse to drive away ordinary citizens like Changan and myself; in reality, no one was protecting the scene. It seemed to Luo Mountain that there were no clues worth searching for again, only negative remnants that needed to be dealt with the next morning.

I had also specifically used the "Firefly" to recon ahead of time around the community and didn't see anyone who appeared to be from Luo Mountain keeping watch. Were they hiding, or were there actually no people around? If it was the latter, it seemed rather negligent and careless. Even I could sense that a Fallen Demon Hunter might still be interested in the fifteenth-floor room; a legitimate police officer would surely not overlook this reasoning.

But Luo Mountain is not a public security agency, and the demon hunter woman has admitted that Luo Mountain lacks criminal investigation experience. Setting aside combat, Luo Mountain could hardly compare with the professionals I had encountered during my previous external investigations into feudal superstitious forces.

What about Agent Kong, who claimed to be a police officer?

I tried to confirm the movements of Agent Kong and Changan.

Agent Kong referred to himself as "Probe" when speaking to the demon hunter lady, and from his words and literal meaning, his responsibility in the supernatural organization Luo Mountain should be to investigate supernatural incidents and report them to the organization, which then dispatches demon hunters to handle the incidents on the front lines.

"Police officer" was likely just his cover identity, or more precisely, it was probably just a false identity. From the surveillance information gathered by the "Firefly," it was evident he wasn't engaged in activities befitting a police officer.

During the morning, he seemed to be following Mazao under the pretense of tracking a serial killer, but now he was wandering around the downtown area, occasionally entering seldom-visited places to observe, and writing something down on paper and pen. Possibly he was fulfilling his duties as a "Probe."

I couldn't help but consider the possibility: Could it be that those actively searching for Mazao were not the police department, but actually the organization Luo Mountain?

For what purpose? Could it be that Mazao unknowingly exposed his identity as a Doomsday Transcender, and Luo Mountain was in search of transmigrators?

I temporarily set aside the confusion in my heart and turned my attention to Changan.

Changan was currently at the hospital with his sister visiting their mother; I'll omit the details about his sister and mother for now. Overall, I noticed several suspicious men around him. These men were not surveilling Changan, but rather the area around him. While they moved covertly, their lack of awareness of the "Firefly" still revealed slight flaws.

I thought that they were probably Luo Mountain's people. However, the whereabouts of the demon hunter woman were entirely elusive. According to what she said to Agent Kong over the phone, she should have already been on the scene by this time.

But on second thought, this situation made a lot of sense. Agent Kong said she had previously confronted and repelled a Fallen Demon Hunter, perhaps she was remembered by the enemy and chose to stay hidden to avoid startling the quarry.

If the Fallen Demon Hunter (serial killer) really was Mazao, then their precautions would be in vain because Mazao was now not in a position to fight or even move normally.

While observing and pondering, I had now arrived at the door of the fifteenth-floor room.

Since Changan was already protected, I would take charge of investigating the cave. Changan had previously encountered this unexplained bizarre phenomenon, and I wondered if, like in some supernatural stories, the phenomenon might persistently entangle the involved parties like an enigmatic curse, dragging them into an endless abyss.

Thus, for my friend, I had to thoroughly investigate it.

No, I must honestly confront my own desires... it was my own desire to explore this thing.

I am a person who gives priority to his own desires over friends.

I grasped the doorknob of the fifteenth-floor room. The door was locked, and I did not have the key to this room. Yet, I never worried about how I should enter. Under the effect of my superpower, the lock core rapidly melted. I smoothly pulled the door open, walking in as if entering my own home.

The lights were off inside the room; it was night, so naturally, it was pitch-dark. I gestured, and several "Fireflies" that had previously arrived here flew out from the corners, emitting a bright orange-red glow, casting a mystical ambiance like candlelight illuminating the living room.

I casually shut the door behind me, then approached the black plush carpet and bent down to lift it.

The black ritual array appeared before my eyes just as before.

The wooden cover, which had seemingly disappeared, had also reappeared on the floor.