Chapter 026: University of Michigan Investigation Team
Rong Le had seen Yamamoto Temple's information in Tina's background information.
Since filling in that case, he has obtained relevant memories completed by the system, and therefore has a certain understanding of his identity as a professor at the University of Michigan.
Yamamotoji, Tina's kendo teacher, is one of the best in swordsmanship. Rong Le even invited him to drink, hoping that he could take good care of Tina. Unexpectedly, after getting drunk, Yamamotoji kept asking him for advice on how to please girls, looking like he was troubled by love.
“I didn’t expect to see my former colleagues here.”
Rong Le smiled and said, "But I've resigned and am now just an ordinary private investigator. You've been here for a long time, so you might not have heard the news."
"Resigned?"
Anna pushed her glasses up, stared at him for a moment, and then dropped the subject: "Is that so? So you came to me for an investigation mission?"
"That's right." Rong Le nodded and said calmly, "I came here this time to ask if you know about the upcoming arrival of the Son of the Evil God in Polant."
"If we allow this situation to continue unchecked, not only will Portland disappear, but the impact will also spread to the surrounding areas. Furthermore, I've recently discovered the presence of other religious groups here. At least three groups have gathered in Portland."
"According to the law of mutual attraction between occultists, there's no guarantee that other organizations will come and take advantage of the situation."
"It's still unclear who's behind this, but...Polant has become a breeding ground for paganism."
Anna's expression turned serious: "Are there any suspected targets?"
Rong Le: "Yes, we are still observing it."
She took a few steps over the scattered books on the floor, pulled one out from the shelf on the other side of the wall, flipped through it a few times, and stopped at one of the pages:
"Chapter 3, Section 1 of the Field Personnel Code: When encountering an investigation mission, the danger level must be immediately assessed and handled according to the severity of the situation. See Chapter 1 of the Investigator's Manual for details."
"This case is at least a Class B potential risk investigation mission. Immediately request support. Depending on the situation, establish a certain degree of lockdown in the area. Protecting your personal safety is your primary responsibility."
Anna stopped to take the investigator's manual and said, "In that case, let's report it."
Rong Le sighed slightly.
It seems that this must be done. He looked at the number of teammates displayed and it was obvious that reinforcements were necessary.
Otherwise, relying solely on him, a "weak detective", Anna, who is obviously a brainiac, and Baiyue Thor, would not be enough to complete the Polant module.
He said nonchalantly, "Then I'll just join the support team. Thank you for your help, Ms. Anna."
Anna: "This is the one, I need your help."
The system prompt sounded in Rong Le's ears.
[Role Mission: 5, Go to the library to request reinforcements and increase your strength. Completed.]
…
After leaving the library, Rong Le strolled slowly on the street.
After walking around for a while, he found a bench to sit down and put his hands behind his back. He was wearing a hat today, so he put it on his face.
The weather was already very cold, especially in this coastal area where the temperature was always low. Rong Le's coat could not keep out the cold, but he sat quietly on the bench as if he didn't feel the cold.
"Look what I see, a homeless little detective?"
A familiar voice sounded.
Rong Le lifted her hat, blinked her green eyes slightly, and raised her eyebrows in surprise: "Doctor Kurosawa, are you taking a day off today?"
Kurosawa stood in front of him in casual clothes, his face as pale as ever, with dark circles under his eyes. He glanced at him calmly and said, "Come out and pick someone up."
His voice was filled with veiled accusation: "The room is empty."
Rong Le chuckled twice: "Really, who would be so excessive as to make Dr. Kurosawa suffer like this?"
Kurosawa's eyes were filled with murderous intent. Rong Le raised her head, her green eyes smiling as she stared at him: "Doctor, aren't you going to take back what you lost?"
Kurosawa laughed mockingly: "Once he's gone, it'll be hard to catch him back. Isn't it because you know this that you let him show up openly?"
Rong Le: "Now that you mention it... I really feel a little sorry."
He stroked his chin and thought, "How can I make it up to you? Speaking of which, I'm very interested in the doctor's experiment. Let me see the results of your hard work."
Hei Ze's face suddenly turned cold, and he seemed very unhappy, but the more unhappy he was, the more Rong Le wanted to play on his sore spots.
Until I watched the other person's face change drastically with joy.
He sighed, "As a private investigator, I have absolutely no resistance to uncovering secrets, doctor."
Kurosawa's expression changed back and forth, and after a long time he regained his composure.
He said cryptically, "You're surprisingly curious, but instead of targeting me, worry about yourself, kid."
After he finished speaking, he turned and left in triumph.
Rong Le's expression changed slightly.
…
In the seemingly calm sea, a ship sails across the sea, heading towards an unknown direction.
In the cabin, the investigators who were about to dock sat together.
The investigation team dispatched this time consists of more than a dozen people, with different genders, ages, races, and responsibilities.
As the largest and oldest organization, Miskatonic University is famous in the occult world and serves as a benchmark for all investigators. It has nurtured many investigators and sent them to all parts of the world.
It is actually located in an independent space, relying on the uniqueness of advanced mystical items to support the survival of the entire school. Therefore, other people only know of its existence but not the exact coordinates of the school.
Of course, this is just to prevent pagans from raiding the school. After all, there are still many young investigators and weak scholars here. This is also the decision made by the principal many years ago to protect the investigators.
The Michigan University students who maintain this world order even use their coursework to assist in investigating cases, and the Polant case is definitely a rare major case this year.
What's more, the investigator who discovered this incident was the legendary Rong Le.
Although the report was submitted by Anna, who was stationed locally, and Rong Le himself only appeared in the report, no one could ignore his existence and potential influence.
The support team sent by the University of Michigan is luxurious, with a full range of militant clerks, professors, and doctors, each of whom is capable of standing on their own.
The leader of this operation was whispering to everyone about the precautions of the investigation mission.
As the first investigator of the case, Rong Le's clues needed to be submitted along with the report. He was very skilled in writing this kind of report, which also allowed them to intuitively understand how deep the water in Polant was. The names involved, even the cold words on the surface, were enough to scare people.
"...Everyone, please proceed with caution and safety. A Class B incident is extremely dangerous. Professor Anna will be there to meet us after we dock. Most of us are library staff, and some are tourists, so we'll inevitably be separated. Operational instructions may not be delivered in a timely manner. Please take care to keep your communicator safe."
"You must obey orders at that time. With Mr. Rong Le in command, we have a chance of victory."
"Is that guy really that powerful?" the young man asked, scratching his head. "It feels like everyone's pinning their hopes on him. No matter how powerful he is, isn't he just an ordinary person?"
"In the face of a disaster of this magnitude, even the most powerful individual can't save everything."
"Bai Yang, you started school late, you don't know how scary that man is."
Teammate Liu Guangye leaned against the wall and spread his hands. "He's a devilish man. During his tenure, the rate of mysterious cases around the world increased by an average of over 20% per year. The year he joined, it even reached a terrifying 35%. He naturally attracts the attention of pagans."
"Those guys tried to cause trouble everywhere to attract his attention, but they were all easily dealt with by Mr. Rong Le."
Bai Yang: "Is it so scary? I'd really like to have a fight..."
Before he could finish his words, another cold voice rang out: "You are not qualified to compete with him. Why don't you compete with me first?"
In the corner, Tina opened her eyes at some point and stared at him quietly.
His face was unremarkable, the kind that wouldn't attract much attention if he were walking in a crowd. Only his slender body with smooth and powerful muscle lines attracted attention.
The young man sat in the shadows, holding the weapon in his arms, exuding a dangerous aura.
"No, no, no, I don't mean to compete with you, Captain Tina—I mean Captain!"
Bai Yang almost bit his tongue.
"I'll kill you if you call me that name again." Tina said coldly.
"yes!"
Tina closed her eyes again, and the room became quiet for a moment.
The team leader stared at everyone's admiring gaze and said, "Investigation Captain, please be sure to follow the instructions of the operations advisor. If you violate the rules again, the school will really punish you."
"This time, no one went to the principal to plead for mercy."
They knew who he was talking about.
"I see."
Tina stood up and pushed the door open.
The door slammed shut.
Bai Yang breathed a sigh of relief, his expression as if he had come back to life: "It's terrifying, the captain's aura is so strong."
Liu Guangye: "Who told you to mention Mr. Rong Le in front of the captain?"
Bai Yang: "Teachers talk about him in class, and seniors highly respect him. He has such an impressive resume, and his portrait even hangs in the Hall of Glory! I'm curious too."
The Corridor of Honor is filled with portraits of legendary investigators from past generations. Generally, only those who have made significant contributions, set unsurpassed records, or participated in widely circulated classic cases are qualified to be hung there. They are a symbol of the long history of the University of Michigan and a weather vane guiding the path of future generations.
It can be said that all the people hanging there are the idols of these little guys, and Rong Le is definitely the topic they talk about with great relish.
The reason is simple: he is still alive.
Bai Yang took a deep breath and said, "I heard that the captain also admires him very much. What kind of person is this person like? Aren't you curious, senior?"
Liu Guangye said: "I have seen him."
Bai Yang: “Oh?”
His eyes sparkled as he asked, "Is he really as scary as the rumors say?"
The team with Rong Le as the operational consultant were all trembling with fear when they mentioned him afterwards, but with an undefeated perfect record, it is understandable that his style is a little cold.
The younger students who enrolled at Michigan University later were all very curious about Rong Le.
Liu Guangye smiled and said, "Maybe to some extent."
That is their obsession and their goal.
The students were in awe of this teacher, whose ruthless methods were well-known at the time. He was an excellent and impeccable professor, like a towering mountain that people looked up to. I heard that he has turned over a new leaf now, but Liu Guangye has reservations about this.
But even he couldn't help but admit his attention to Rong Le.
Liu Guangye remembered that the day Rong Le resigned, his class of freshmen had just started school.
I don’t know who leaked the news that Rong Le walked into the principal’s office and submitted her resignation to the principal.
When he heard the news, he was sitting in the classroom. The professor was talking about the various habits of mythical creatures when a student suddenly rushed into the classroom and shouted:
"Oh no, Mr. Rong Le is leaving!"
The classroom was quiet for a few seconds, and then there was an uproar.
The classroom exploded, and after everyone was shocked, they began to question it, because no one had thought that Rong Le would resign - this name seemed to have become an inseparable part of the University of Michigan.
Soon someone left the classroom quickly, and then the others also reacted, packed up their things and left together, skipping class openly.
Rong Le is very famous among these students.
He is Tina's guardian and the operational consultant of the University of Michigan's chief investigation team. In the first class of freshmen, he stood in front of the stage with a dashing posture, spoke in a witty and humorous manner, and patiently guided these rookie investigators to enter that mysterious world.
After school started, Rong Le was often active on the front lines, creating one miracle after another. Records about him often appeared in the investigation case courseware they used in class. The young investigators yearned for power and mystery, and this young man with black hair and green eyes undoubtedly occupied all their attention.
The classroom soon became noticeably empty.
The professor at the podium had given up struggling and started packing up his things and walking out with everyone else. Everyone knew that the class could not continue today.
Liu Guangye also left with the main group. Before returning to the dormitory, he passed by the administrative building and found that it was surrounded by the school’s self-defense forces who were responsible for maintaining order.
Seeing that more and more students were gathering around the building, Liu Guangye was worried about a stampede, so he returned to the dormitory early and missed the scene of Rong Le walking out of the building.
Afterwards, I only heard from my seniors that the Glory Avenue in front of the administrative building, which was covered with maple leaves, was crowded with people and an unprecedented grand occasion.
…
Bai Yang lay bored in the cabin.
They had nothing to do at sea. A group of energetic young people were so bored that they could only hide in the room to sleep. Once they reached the shore, they would basically have no free time and they might not even be able to save their lives.
As he passed by the deck, he found that the bad-tempered captain was still standing in the same place, staring at the sea.
In the captain's body, the monster bloodline has gradually revealed its inhuman face. People at this stage have become half-human, half-monster beings, always eager to merge into the sea.
The Captain's appearance is becoming less and less human, and he will soon degenerate into a complete monster and lose his mind.
Logically speaking, they must eliminate the captain before he completes his evolution and strangle him in the cradle, but they still need to take a boat to Portland. The leader asked them not to act rashly, to be patient for the time being and make a decision when they reach the shore.
Bai Yang didn't have any psychological barriers. He just prayed that the captain wouldn't suddenly feel particularly close to the sea and jump in without a care in the world...
Although some of them can drive a boat, it is still a question whether they can reach Portland safely in such obviously strange sea areas.
Just when Bai Yang's thoughts were wandering to how long it would take him to swim to Portland if he fell into the sea, he suddenly heard a familiar sound of footsteps outside.
His brows jumped, and he immediately got out of bed and opened the door.
Then a familiar figure was seen walking towards the captain. Under the black windbreaker, the hidden long sword revealed a bright cold light.
Bai Yang screamed, "Wait, Captain Tina, stop it!"
After he stopped the captain from having the horrible idea of killing the captain, he collapsed on the ground exhausted and vomited his soul.
It seems that the captain is particularly excited today. Is it because he is about to meet someone and can't help but want to do something...?
That guy is such a sinful man.
*
After many days, Rong Le appeared in the church again.
He walked in openly, without any intention of hiding anything, and Shijin soon got the news.
The only one who dared to appear in front of him again after playing a trick on him and standing him up was probably Rong Le.
When he arrived, the black-haired, green-eyed young man was standing by the fountain outside the church, looking at him with a bright smile in the sunshine.
"Good morning, Shishijin."
Shijin: "Why are you free to come here today?"
"Because I'm finally done with my work. Seriously... I'm exhausted from having to do everything myself!"
Rong Le complained in a light tone, "I recently picked up a child. I couldn't leave him alone in the hotel, nor could I throw him on the street. My companions were busy, so I had to bring him here."
Thor beside him smiled guiltily.
Shijin said softly, "I see. Is he the important person you mentioned? But the fact that you take such good care of him shows that you still care about him."
Assorted flattering words always sound good, so it's no surprise that they are so popular in the church.
"Don't make fun of me, and I'm here to apologize this time."
Rong Le: "I was too much last time when I left without saying goodbye. My companion contacted me urgently for something important, so I had no choice but to leave first. Although it may be a little late, I hope you don't mind it."
As the young man explained, he looked up and peeked at his expression. His black hair hung down by his ears, and his smile was beautiful and gentle.
"I'm sorry, Shishito."
Shijin sighed softly: "I'm not angry with you, don't worry about it. In fact, I feel extremely honored to be able to share your worries."
"Come to think of it, you asked me to find a doll, but things like Polante are not very common. If you don't mind, please accept this. I made it in my spare time."
Shijin handed over the thing in his hand, which looked very carefully wrapped.
Rong Le asked if she could open it directly, and after getting a positive answer, she opened the package directly.
Inside is a furry bunny stuffed animal.
The snow-white, soft, and big red eyes are so pitiful that people want to squeeze them hard. They are very beautiful and cute.
In the live broadcast room:
"This beautiful lady is so clever and skillful, he can even make dolls with his own hands!"
"It feels like true love. Shijin has been courting Rongrong all the time, but Rongrong is like a scumbag who flirts with everyone. You don't even know how to cherish such a beautiful woman who is looking at you with such affection."
"If it were me, I might be tempted."
"I second that. The point is that she looks very virtuous and gentle!"
"This is hilarious! Why do people say the death rate in the City of Mist is so high? Judging by the comments, I know a lot of people were fooled by the disguise."
"Those who say he is virtuous and gentle should observe his eyes more."
“…”
Rong Le said in an ambiguous tone, "It's a little rabbit."
He held up the doll and smiled at Shijin: "Why a rabbit? Does Shijin think I'm as adorable as a little rabbit?"
"I think it suits you perfectly."
Shijin looked at him holding the doll and said softly, "It's pure white and fragile, and needs careful care."
"—After all, Portland is very dangerous."
After giving the gifts, Shijin accompanied Rongle to stroll around the church.
Thor quietly served as his own background. Although he tried hard to make himself invisible, he always felt that someone was staring at him with terrifying eyes in the dark.
But when he looked over, Shijin looked like the most gentle and docile beauty, with a pure and harmless smile on her face.
Until someone came to find Shijin and said that there was something important that needed his attention. Shijin said goodbye to them and the terrifying sight disappeared.
When Shijin finally left, Rong Le collapsed on a chair in the church's back garden and whispered, "It's so full of malice."
"I've only left him there for a few days, but you can't contain your anger? You're venting your dissatisfaction in this way..."
He stroked the soft little rabbit and chuckled, "It's quite cute."
Thor looked confused: "What?"
He didn't know whether he should trust his intuition. After all, the detective seemed to have a good relationship with him.
So it’s better not to say it?
"Are you that insensitive?" Rong Le raised an eyebrow. "You've been stared at with murderous eyes for so long, and you don't feel anything at all?"
“…”
Thor was shocked.
So it’s not an illusion?!
"The more harmless something is, the more suspicious it becomes. Just like reasoning, eliminate all the impossible factors. What remains, no matter how incredible, is the truth."
Rong Le stroked the rabbit and smiled at Thor, who was obviously devastated.
Thor has gradually adjusted to a normal routine during this period, his mental state has improved a lot, his face has gained some weight, and he looks much healthier overall.
He changed out of the baggy lab coat in the basement and put on a neat white shirt and black suit pants. The size was a bit big for the skinny boy, but he had a slender figure, and the slightly slumped shape made him look loose and casual. His every move gradually revealed the youthful vigor.
At first glance, you can tell that the boy is well raised.
Rong Le expressed satisfaction with this.
Thor: "So, we're going to stay here. What else is going on?"
Rong Le: "The bishop of the church will hold a dinner party tonight. All the upper-class people and believers who madly admire him will flock to the party. I have something to say to him. As for you..."
He paused and said, "Take good care of yourself."
Tolton felt bad: "Take care of yourself?"
Rong Le said cheerfully, "That's right. There will probably be a lot of people who will be very enthusiastic. You have to try your best to survive."
...Do you realize you said something horrible, Detective?!
Thor was so frightened that his face turned pale and he suddenly felt that it was a wrong decision to come out with Rong Le.
…
As night fell, the area in front of the church gradually became lively.
The magnificently decorated church was brightly lit, and people in brightly colored clothes gradually gathered at the door.
And no one knows how many people here have been infected and distorted, turning into monsters that only know how to chase flesh and blood under the cover of night, devouring innocent lambs in the magnificent church.
Under the watchful eyes of the gods, whether they are assimilated, infected, or eaten, they are all sacrifices on the table, the most loyal lambs, contributing to the indescribable revival.
How many survivors are there in this city?
“It’s disgusting.”
Rong Le stood in the corner, leaning against the wall and observing the people coming and going. She said in a low voice, "So that's why I hate churches..."
Thor stood beside him. His simple white shirt and black pants were a bit plain but not out of place. The boy was thin and his big eyes were rolling back and forth nervously, like a small animal that had strayed into a busy banquet.
He looked so helpless as he shivered.
Many eyes have been sizing him up, both openly and covertly, with sticky malice licking him invisibly, just waiting for the right moment to pounce on their prey.
Thor's keen intuition made him feel uncomfortable. Every cell in his body was clamoring for him to escape quickly. He barely stood still, his eyes filled with tears as he endured it. "Mr. Detective..."
"The party is about to begin."
Rong Le suddenly lowered her eyes, leaned against the wall and smiled softly at him. This smile was filled with a touch of elegance and decadent warmth, as if a medieval noble had traveled through time to the modern era, so gorgeous that it was eye-catching.
"Next, you have to protect yourself. Remember, trust your intuition."
"Because if you hesitate, you'll be caught and eaten by the terrifying monster."
As he spoke, he waved his hand and was about to send the man away.
Thor wanted to cry but had no tears: "No, Mr. Detective, I can't do it alone, no... I can't do it!"
Rong Le pushed him out: "Go find something to eat or a place to stay. No matter what, since you're here, at least you can play alone for a while away from the adults. That's the meaning of the party."
Thor still wanted to struggle: "I will try my best to reduce my presence and make sure I don't disturb you."
"Don't even think about it. Go quickly."
Thor looked at him dejectedly and walked away slowly.
What he didn't notice was that when he left Rong Le, someone in the hall also turned their heads slowly as he walked, their eyes following his figure like maggots attached to bones.
"Just throw him out like that? I heard that after you brought him out, there was always someone accompanying him everywhere. I thought you valued his safety very much."
A voice sounded behind Rong Le.
"Of course I value it."
Rong Le didn't take her eyes off the boy. "But blindly protecting him isn't right. I do have some experience in teaching students."
The founder of tonight's dinner, the most eye-catching bishop in the audience, slowly stepped forward. He was wearing a church robe, and his eyes were lowered, but his noble divinity and compassionate temperament could be vaguely seen.
He said slowly, "I agree with your decision."
Rong Le: "I just have to sacrifice some of your lovely lambs. Do you mind?"
Fairlight smiled faintly. "If they die, that's their fate, their proper destination. They'll eventually return to God's embrace. This isn't sacrifice, it's dedication."
Rong Le's expression suddenly turned cold.
Goal achieved, but still unhappy?
Fairlight thought so and raised his hand to touch his head, but Rong Le turned her head away and said, "Why are you unhappy? Is it because I didn't do well enough?"
He said calmly: "If you want them all to disappear, that's fine."
"Your arrogance truly amazes me, Your Excellency."
Rong Le raised the corners of her lips and said with a half-smile, "In your eyes, humans are not humans, but objects that can be manipulated at will. Do you think that giving all the toys to me will please my child?"
"Don't be ridiculous."
Rong Le leaned slightly closer to him, whispering intimately. From a distance, they looked like a pair of lovers in love: "If you do this, I will only hate you more."
"Didn't I tell you that the stench on you was so strong that it almost suffocated me?"
There were only two of them standing in the dim corner. They were very close to each other, their bodies were intimately pressed together in the dim corner, and their breaths were even intertwined.
Although others frequently cast their eyes over here, they did not dare to approach rashly. The bishop's wide robe almost covered most of the young man, as if he was encircling his own territory. No one knew what the detective said in the bishop's ear.
All I could see was that the bishop's eyes were becoming more gentle.
Only Fairlight knew that the words spoken by the man in his arms were not sweet words, but malicious words as sharp as a knife.
The purpose is to stab people until they bleed.
Rong Le was provoking him, constantly testing and trampling on his bottom line.
This is used to confirm the boundaries of the territory and decide on the next plan of action.
Fairlight didn't get angry, but looked at him quietly with his eyes lowered.
He bent down indulgently, allowing Rong Le to do whatever she wanted to him more conveniently. He was tall and slender, with a broad and upright body shrouded in a long robe. He lowered his eyes gently, allowing the irritable cat in his arms to scratch him continuously.
"You're right," he said.
"—Only you can see through me."
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