Chapter 150 Tracking the Humanitarian Division 2

Ma Zao immediately left the room and went to the front hall.

Although Zhu Shi and Lu Youxun were talking, most of their attention was on Ma Zao. Seeing that the other seemed to have suddenly made a new discovery, they both stopped talking and moving. I followed without hesitation, and the two of them followed closely behind. We arrived at the front hall.

Ma Zao observed the area around the front hall, then came to the center, staring intently at the void before him, before a look of realization dawned on his face.

"What did you find?" I asked.

“It’s spatial transfer,” she said.

I didn't react for a moment, but Lu Youxun quickly understood: "...Ah, I see, so it really was spatial teleportation..."

"What happened?" Zhu Shi asked.

“Actually, my agents have investigated when and how the freak creator moved all the equipment and facilities from the ‘clinic,’” he said. “There are surveillance cameras on the streets outside, and our magical investigation methods are also working properly. No matter what kind of vehicle he used to move the items, there should have been some traces left behind. But we didn’t find any such traces.”

"If he used spatial teleportation to pack up all the items and take them away, that makes perfect sense. Coincidentally, the black mist you mentioned in your report also has the power of large-scale spatial teleportation."

As he spoke, Mazao took out another photograph and showed a scene from the past.

I leaned closer to look, and the photo showed scenes of past events in the front hall—the freak creator stood in the middle of the front hall, surrounded by a jumble of high-tech equipment and devices, while a vortex of black mist floated in front of him.

The black vortex of mist was about two meters in diameter, and he was moving large pieces of equipment into it. Half of the equipment disappeared into the vortex from one side, but did not pass through the other side, as if it had entered some unknown space.

"A portal?" I think that word best describes this black mist vortex.

Immediately afterward, I realized that our investigation at the "clinic" was likely heading into a dead end.

Even Lu Youxun said with great regret, "This is truly the worst-case scenario..."

The most efficient use of Asaho's blessing power's historical regression ability in tracking prey is to directly trace the prey's historical footprints. From a common-sense perspective, regardless of how cleverly the prey moves, its historical footprints are continuous in the material world. Asaho simply needs to follow these traces to find the source. This can also be described as a superpower version of "checking surveillance footage."

The destination of the freak's transfer of advanced equipment and facilities would undoubtedly be the secret base of the Humanitarian Affairs Department. Whether he used a vehicle or something else, we can find out by "checking the surveillance footage." Even if he used an aircraft to transfer the equipment and facilities, I can simply enter my fire elemental form, grab Masaharu, and fly away while she tracks me down.

Unlike methods like spatial teleportation and portals, the historical footprints of prey are interrupted here.

We cannot directly trace the Humanitarian Affairs Division.

"There's no other way, let's investigate all the clues we can find first," Zhu Shi suggested. "Besides the equipment and facilities, this 'clinic' should have also stored documents and other materials, right? Those items are more valuable than the equipment and materials. Ma Zao, can you find information about those documents and materials in the historical records?"

“There are no documents or data stored here, not even the physical examination data of the monsters.” Asahi shook his head directly. “After the monster creators conducted physical examinations on the monsters here, it seems that they memorized the data in their brains… It’s also possible that while testing the monsters’ physical data here, they had their clones in other places record it.”

"In other words, this is just a medical examination site. Speaking of which, the Monster Creator also mentioned that the Monster Creator only uses this 'clinic' on days when he conducts medical examinations on monsters, so of course it's not used to store any data." Lu Youxun said after thinking for a while, "Could you write down the process of the Monster Creator conducting medical examinations on the monsters? It would be best to describe it in detail again, as it might become a clue."

“No problem.” Ma Zao replied while keeping her eyes on the center of the front hall.

After a short while, she said, "Also, I should be able to continue tracking it."

"Continue tracking what?" Zhu Shi asked instinctively at first, then immediately realized, "—Wait, you mean you can investigate here to find out the historical traces of past figures after they passed through the portal?"

Mazao shook her head: "That's not it. Even I couldn't possibly stand still and investigate the historical records of another space."

"So, what are you planning to do?" I asked curiously.

“I’m not just able to investigate historical records,” she said. “My blessing power is ‘reversion,’ the power to restore things to their past state.”

As she spoke, she turned to look at me, and her speech became calmer. I don't know if I'm just imagining things, but I felt that she might be intentionally trying to impress me.

She seemed to be carefully observing my expression before continuing, "In other words, I can try to recreate any phenomenon that has ever occurred here using my blessing power."

I quickly realized what she meant, and Zhu Shi and Lu Youxun also looked surprised.

She didn't look at the reactions of the other two; her eyes seemed to be fixed only on me.

"You mean..." I asked tentatively, "that you can open the portal the monster creator opened here?"

She nodded seriously: "Yes."

"Wait a minute," Zhu Shi interjected. "Ma Zao, your power must be under more strain when used on external objects, right? Now you even want to materialize the strange phenomena that have appeared here in the past... Won't this put a burden on your soul?"

"There will be a considerable burden."

Mazao didn't try to be brave and told the truth: "Even if it could be recreated, it could only be safely recreated for a very short time. Conversely, as long as I don't try to exceed this time, the burden won't be so great as to deepen my soul's trauma. However, I cannot recreate the portal again until the burden accumulated in my body recedes."

“If I understand correctly, the portal you can open is only a one-way trip; once used, there's no turning back. If the other side of the portal is a secret outpost of the Humanitarian Division, rushing through would be like a lone army venturing into enemy territory. At that point, let alone continuing to track the Humanitarian Division, even self-preservation would be in question.”

While listing the shortcomings of this approach, Lu Youxun also revealed a hint of interest, and I felt that he might want to go through it himself.

But then he glanced at me again, and a look of regret crossed his face. Yes, he must have realized that the optimal solution wasn't to send himself to the other side of the portal.

“Lu Chan, if you suggest that Zhuang Cheng go through the portal next, I’m going to hit you.” Zhu Shi glanced at Lu Youxun. “Zhuang Cheng’s strength is indeed very powerful; there’s absolutely no one else in this city who can match him. But behind the portal is likely the heart of the Humanitarian Division. It’s not something you can just walk into as easily as you’re strong. Who knows what kind of monsters await the intruders on the other side?”

“Zhu Shi, although we have different positions within Luoshan, you don’t need to distrust me so much. The Humanity Division is one of the three major threats to Luoshan. How could I recommend that my own people rush headlong into the heart of such a force?” Lu Youxun shook his head. “Zhuang Cheng doesn’t need to go through the portal himself. He can just release his flames to go through.”

Yes, I could easily send the "fireflies" to the space on the other side of the portal first.

By doing this, I can then clearly observe what's on the other side, and even teleport myself there directly; or I could even just pass through directly in my physical body. If anything goes wrong, I can simply use the "fireflies" I left here beforehand to teleport myself back.

Of course, Zhu Shi and Ma Zao would definitely dissuade me from the second approach. Moreover, if the other side is indeed the heartland of the Humanitarian Division, there might be a barrier that could sever my connection with the "Fireflies." All things considered, it's better to release the "Fireflies" first to test the waters.

I repeatedly asked Mazao if recreating the portal would worsen her trauma, and she earnestly assured me that I could rest assured.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you,” I said.

She nodded vigorously, then told us to step back slightly. She also took two steps back and stretched out her palm towards the center of the foyer.

At the same time, I also summoned a "firefly," ready to be released at any time.

She took a deep breath and then uttered two words.

"--return."

As soon as he finished speaking, in the center of the front hall, the black mist that could have sealed off supernatural abilities was forcibly recreated by Asahi's supernatural power, emerging from an empty space!

The black mist automatically formed a vortex after it appeared. Compared to the vortex with a diameter of more than two meters in the photo, the black mist vortex that Asahi recreated was only a few tens of centimeters in diameter. If a human wanted to pass through, they would probably have to crawl through it like a tunnel.

The moment the recreation was completed, Mazao's expression showed obvious strain. This vortex of black mist couldn't last long.

I didn't waste any precious time. The "firefly" in my palm shot out like a fleeting spark of electricity and disappeared into the black mist vortex.

Seeing this, Mazao closed the portal and let out a long, weary sigh. I was paying close attention to her condition. This time, she showed no signs of swaying or falling, so it seemed her earlier assurances weren't a lie, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Next, I turned my attention to the "fireflies" passing through the portal.

The "fireflies" seem to have entered an unknown indoor space.

(End of this chapter)