Gray Tower 1.2
The lab results sent a chill down everyone's spines.
The gray powder was not dust, but a synthetic carrier composed of various complex components, encapsulating a special enzyme complex in a dormant state. Preliminary analysis shows that this enzyme complex has a highly selective catalytic decomposition ability on certain organic polymer materials—especially old photographic paper, certain types of ink, and even some protein substrates (such as animal glue).
“This wasn’t about stealing property,” Situ Jin said, looking at the report with disbelief in his voice. “This was… the precise destruction of information on a specific carrier.”
Almost simultaneously, Jiang Zhaoyan uncovered even deeper information: one of the core projects of that overseas laboratory over the past three years was the development of bio-enzyme technology for "directional degradation and information reconstruction," and its theoretical basis originated from an unpublished paper by Lane on "neural trace erasure and overlay."
"So, the 'Grey Tower' is not only continuing Ryan's biological experiments, but also expanding into more covert areas—information control, or rather, memory carrier erasure?" Li Weimian concluded, her eyes sharp. "What 'memories' did the old man who reported the case lose?"
Wen Lin immediately returned to visit the old collector. Faced with the evidence of the gray powder discovered by Situ Jin, the old man finally stopped insisting that only "worthless old things" had been stolen. He trembled as he opened a hidden compartment behind a bookshelf, only to find it empty.
“There used to be several photo albums there, as well as some manuscripts left by my father.” The old man’s eyes were filled with fear. “The photo albums contained some old photos of our family, and the manuscripts… my father participated in some early geological explorations, and there were some of his records about his observations in a certain special area.”
"Special area?" Wen Lin pressed.
“I don’t know exactly where it is. My father was vague, only saying that there was a place where ‘the stones are alive and can record things.’” The old man tried to recall. “I think the manuscript mentioned a word… ‘Valley of Ashes’.”
Ash Valley.
This word, like a pebble thrown into a lake, created ripples within the task force.
"Investigate!" Yu Yan ordered. "All geological records, folk tales, and even missing persons reports related to the 'Valley of Ashes'!"
Just as the direction of the investigation was becoming clear, the second case occurred.
The victim was a middle-aged female writer known for her non-fiction works. She reported to the police that her manuscript for a book about "forgotten corners of the city" had disappeared, along with a large number of old photographs and original tapes of interview recordings she had collected for the book. Strangely, the safe containing these materials was intact, with no signs of technical unlocking, but some of the materials inside had turned into gray powder, while others had completely vanished.
“The core chapters of her manuscript involve an investigation of an old church that has been abandoned for many years and whose predecessor was related to a secret scientific research project.” Li Weimian quickly browsed through the female writer’s notes. “She mentioned that she found some ‘unexplained marks’ in the church’s basement.”
Jiang Zhaoyan immediately retrieved the information on the church and discovered that its land ownership had changed hands many times in a complicated manner. Among the investors of one of the shell companies, the vague shadow of the familiar "Grey Tower" Foundation was clearly visible.
“The objective is clear,” Fan Jinci began in the video conference, having been simultaneously analyzing all the physical evidence data. “The ‘Grey Tower’ is systematically eliminating certain carriers that may record ‘history’ they don’t want to be known. The old man’s father’s manuscript and the female writer’s investigation into the old church both touch upon a core secret.”
“And their methods have evolved,” Situ Jin added. “From initially just stealing (like in the elderly man’s case), to now partially destroying it on-site (like in the female writer’s case). The appearance of this gray powder means they need to erase the traces more quickly, or… they encountered interference during the ‘processing’.”
The investigation into the "Valley of Ashes" has yielded a startling discovery. A geological exploration report, classified decades ago but later declassified, mentions that a valley on the outskirts of the province contains a unique mixture of magnetic minerals and organic matter in its rock strata. Under specific conditions (such as geomagnetic anomalies or the passage of strong currents), this mixture can produce phenomena resembling the "recording" of surrounding sounds and even blurry images, which the then-puzzling exploration team referred to as "living rocks." The report concludes by recommending that "further research is of extremely high value and the news should be kept secret."
One of the people in charge of that report was the father of the old collector who lost the manuscript.
"So, the 'living stones' of 'Valley of Ashes' might be a natural information recording medium?" Wen Lin felt like he was listening to a science fiction story.
“And Ryan, or ‘Grey Tower,’ may have known this for a long time and has been researching how to utilize or control this property,” Li Weimian analyzed. “They erased records that might point to ‘Valley of Ashes’ or related research in order to cover up their activities.”
“That old church,” Jiang Zhaoyan typed, pulling up a satellite map, “is located right on the flank of the only road leading to the ‘Valley of Ashes.’ The female writer’s investigation may have inadvertently touched upon their transportation routes or surveillance points.”
All the clues, as if drawn by a magnet, pointed towards the mysterious and dangerous "Valley of Ashes".
Yu Yan looked at Fan Jinci, who had remained silent, and asked, "What do you think?"
Fan Jinci's gaze fell on the terrain map of "Valley of Ashes" on the screen, and a stream of data seemed to flash deep within his gray-blue pupils. Fragments of Ryan's early, scattered notes surfaced in his mind—those wild ideas about "natural carriers," "information imprints," and "collective unconscious fields"...
“That’s not just a location,” Fan Jinci said slowly, his voice carrying a hint of unspoken gravity. “It could be a huge, natural ‘memory bank,’ or… a ‘trap.’”
The Gray Tower's frantic erasure of all relevant records is likely not merely for secrecy. They may be conducting some crucial operation within the Valley of Ashes that absolutely cannot be disturbed.
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