Chapter 109: Forgotten Machinery

"Sure enough, I really can't count on anyone..."

Han Su thought about Red Trench Coat’s words, and also wondered what would have happened if the Xu family hadn’t helped this time.

Perhaps, under the arrangements of Red Trench Coat and those behind her, he could have obtained the Investigator license.

But then, he would have fallen into their trap. Certainly, he could put on a façade while having other plans behind the scenes. Yet, in this circle, who could say that the so-called "conditions" weren’t already binding him with some kind of invisible restraint the moment he agreed?

And if he didn’t agree, would the other party be able to easily prevent him from getting the license?

This Disaster Management Bureau, it truly was hard to get through...

Every step was a pitfall. The concerns Zhang Chiguo had when he first joined the Bureau were already starting to materialize.

Back at the apartment building, Han Su’s first move was to pour a glass of water and place it beside him. After waiting for a while, there was no anomaly at all.

He thought of the anomaly he witnessed at the Bureau and that domineering female voice, musing to himself:

However, the day of his transformation’s completion was also approaching. Perhaps, next time, he would face it directly.

Of course, there was another important issue: not only had Miss Ai approved his report, but she had also verified and deleted the file related to the Ghost Truck. The pile of wreckage had also been sealed away as crucial evidence.

So, could he now try summoning the Ghost Truck himself on occasion?

After all, its appearance was always accompanied by thick fog, and even if someone saw it, the Ghost Truck now looked vastly different from before...

Suppressing the impulse to head out of the city and test it immediately, he sorted his thoughts and considered several other questions:

Miss Ai had reminded him of his authority to reestablish the kidnapping case.

Red Trench Coat and those behind her wanted to impose conditions even before he was promoted to Investigator.

Why did they all care so much?

They could define the case before—why couldn’t he define it now?

...

Another issue was: "That stolen mechanical fragment is at Lilac Courtyard..."

"No matter what role that fragment played in the kidnapping case, I must retrieve it..."

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the glass of water. There was still no movement.

It seemed the peeping really wouldn’t return.

Han Su picked up his phone and dialed a number: "Special Assistant Xu, things went relatively smoothly. The Ghost Truck shouldn’t trouble Xu Ji anymore."

"I know, Mr. Han. I must admit, you handled this grotesque incident very well. I look forward to your future in the Disaster Management Bureau."

"Save the compliments, Mr. Xu. Have you asked about the matter at Lilac Courtyard?"

"..."

"Well..."

Special Assistant Xu paused for a moment before replying, "I asked the next day, but I must say, it seems more difficult than I expected. The owner of Lilac Courtyard doesn’t want to issue new invitations right now."

Han Su was stunned: "Hm?"

To some extent, he had grown used to the Xu family’s influence and reach.

And now, they couldn’t even get him an invitation?

"My guess is that there’s a private gathering at Lilac Courtyard tomorrow. The owner likely values this event and doesn’t want to invite outsiders at this crucial time. If Mr. Han isn’t in a hurry, perhaps in three days..."

Han Su cut him off: "I’m actually in a bit of a hurry."

"I’m quite curious—this owner of Lilac Courtyard doesn’t even give the Xu family face?"

Special Assistant Xu hesitated and said, "There are indeed many proud individuals in Qinggang City. Though they maintain good relations with the Xu family, they don’t feel the need to obey our every command."

"The Esotericism Expert I invited last time and the owner of Lilac Courtyard—they’re both that type."

"......"

Han Su’s mind flashed to that old woman who had smashed the crystal ball. He formed a certain judgment about the owner of Lilac Courtyard.

It seemed that beyond the Disaster Management Bureau, not all individuals with mysterious powers were hostile or part of some cult trying to bring something into reality. There were also those who leaned toward neutrality.

In other words, that old woman and the owner of Lilac Courtyard—were they both old-school Esotericism scholars?

After pondering briefly, he asked, "So, this private gathering—what is it about?"

Special Assistant Xu sighed in relief. If Han Su insisted on using the Xu family’s status to gain access, he’d be in a tough spot.

But since he asked something else, he answered openly: "It’s a sponsorship meeting related to the Beauty Pageant Queen. Many influential individuals will attend."

Han Su frowned: "Sponsorship meeting? What’s that?"

"A money grab."

Special Assistant Xu replied, "Some want to boost their prestige with money. Some have problems they hope to solve. Some just want to network. And some simply want to admire the top contestants up close."

"So everyone gathers, dresses up in their best clothes, says the nicest things, and sees if they can gain some benefit."

"......"

Han Su nodded: "Got it."

A thought flashed through his mind—perhaps he could just sneak in?

As he was thinking, Special Assistant Xu spoke again, hesitating: "Mr. Han, if you truly want to enter Lilac Courtyard earlier, it’s not impossible. It’s just that this method..."

‘Why didn’t you say so earlier if there’s a way?’

Han Su asked, "What?"

Special Assistant Xu hesitated: "The Xu family was invited to this banquet. The Master never participates in these things, but the Young Master can attend. Perhaps, you could enter Lilac Courtyard as his assistant. But in that case..."

He finally said it: "It might be a bit disrespectful to you."

"?"

Han Su was speechless: "You rich folks really overthink things..."

He had already considered breaking in illegally, and Xu was worried about status?

"Make the arrangements."

He said it without a second thought. Just before hanging up, a new thought came to mind.

That mechanical fragment—there were reports, news, photos, even demonstration videos. It wasn’t a secret. He ought to gather more info.

He spoke again thoughtfully: "By the way, Special Assistant Xu, with your status, you surely know things we don’t. That mechanical fragment stolen from Central City’s Science Museum ten years ago—are you familiar with it?"

Special Assistant Xu was clearly stunned: "Mechanical fragment?"

Han Su said, "Yes, ten years ago, it was exhibited at Central City’s Science Museum, then suddenly stolen. It even made the news. The theft occurred on the same day as our kidnapping case."

"..."

Special Assistant Xu sounded puzzled: "Was there such a theft?"

Han Su suddenly felt an extreme sense of oddness and slowly said, "You can look it up yourself."

"Alright."

Though puzzled, Special Assistant Xu agreed. After some clacking noises, his voice became surprised:

"There it is—the theft—I’ve seen this before. I... I actually forgot all about it."

The strangeness in Han Su’s heart intensified: "What do you mean?"

"I investigated your kidnapping case, of course I looked into all possibly related incidents."

Special Assistant Xu’s voice was both frank and confused: "The Master had me investigate, since you were troubled by it and are the Young Master’s only true friend. Naturally, we had to pay attention."

"But... but it’s strange. I investigated that mechanical fragment and even reported it to the Master. Yet just now, when you brought it up, I’d completely forgotten..."

"......"

"Hmm?"

Listening closely, Han Su’s sense of strangeness even turned into a sense of absurdity.

After hanging up, he pondered for a while and directly called Zhang Chiguo: "Uncle Zhang, I have a question."

"Do you remember a mechanical fragment stolen from Central City’s Science Museum?"

"......"

Zhang Chiguo seemed busy. The moment he picked up, Han Su could hear him finishing up another conversation: "Yes, even if Miss Ai has to unlock another seal, find the leaker."

Then his tone eased slightly: "Mechanical fragment? Didn’t I tell you to rest? There’s no rush with the tasks."

Han Su interrupted the middle-aged man’s rambling: "The newly unearthed mechanical fragment that was stolen from the Science Museum. Uncle Zhang, do you think..."

"......"

He didn’t even send the link. Yet Zhang Chiguo’s voice was filled with confusion: "Did that really happen?"

Secretary Cui Qiao, who must have been nearby, searched online immediately and handed a tablet to him. Zhang Chiguo’s voice turned extremely odd: "This? Strange, I feel like..."

But he didn’t say it immediately. Instead, he said: "Hold on."

There were hurried footsteps, then the sound of rummaging in an office.

When Zhang Chiguo spoke again, his voice was full of confusion: "Xiao Han, what made you think of this?"

"I’m doing my best to investigate everything related to the kidnapping case. Naturally, I found the report."

Han Su had confirmed something and said slowly, "Uncle Zhang, you didn’t pay attention to this?"

"I did."

Zhang Chiguo replied gravely, then added: "I even remember studying and investigating that theft. Just now, I found my notes on it at the very back of my drawer, with my analysis from back then."

"But..."

He paused and then said slowly: "Before you brought it up, I had completely forgotten about it."

"The notes were right there. I had marked it for continued investigation, suspecting it was related to the kidnapping case. But in fact... all these years, I never followed up. I forgot all about it."

"I even reviewed those notes again during the years, revisiting old cases, but never noticed that part."

"......"

After hearing all that, Han Su’s suspicion was fully confirmed. He couldn’t describe the shock in his heart and hung up.

He understood now.

Only now did he fully understand why Song Chu‑shi said only some people would remember that mechanical fragment.

That thing—could it really make people forget it entirely?

Its existence, the report of its theft, had always quietly remained online, in newspapers.

People had seen it, investigated it. But somehow, in just a blink, they all forgot about it, couldn’t recall a thing...

That was just too damn bizarre.

If viewed through the Disaster Management Bureau’s framework of "rank," then this mechanical fragment, which had been silently affecting countless people in Qinggang City, must be of what rank?