Chapter 122: Ghost Stories Taking Root

Leisurely moments are fleeting. After concluding his conversation with Li Taixing, Qi Chen received a new assignment from the Anomaly Handling Department the following day.

Accompanied by Warm Man, he headed to Fu Ying’s office. Fu Ying, who was seated at her desk, looked up at the two as they entered and spoke directly:

"There is a new mission that requires the two of you to handle. The file is here; take a look."

Picking up the two printed documents from the desk, Qi Chen and Warm Man began to browse through them simultaneously. Upon seeing the title, Qi Chen immediately frowned.

"The Minsheng Mall Disappearance Case." Staring at the heading, Qi Chen felt surprised. Hadn't the Joyous Candy Tree just erupted at Minsheng Mall not long ago? Why was there a new anomalous event there now?

Patiently holding back his questions, Qi Chen continued reading.

"Anomalous Event: Minsheng Mall Disappearance Case.

"Mission Description: Free-roaming Anomaly No. 308—codenamed 'Joyous Candy Tree'—caused extremely severe destruction to Minsheng Mall. Recently, reconstruction work led by the Third City and supported by several large conglomerates has been underway.

"However, seventeen members of the construction teams involved in the reconstruction have gone missing within a single week. After an investigation by the Security Bureau’s investigators, the case was formally transferred to the Anomaly Handling Department. Preliminary surveys and tests by the Intelligence Analysis Group indicate that high-intensity anomalous psychic energy still exists within Minsheng Mall.

"The Special Task Force excavated more than ten meters underground and discovered a large quantity of residual root systems belonging to the Joyous Candy Tree. However, upon identification, these residual roots are not the source of the anomalous aura within Minsheng Mall. Further investigation by Anomaly Walkers is required."

The intelligence provided was limited, yet it was enough to make one’s scalp tingle.

"Have you both finished reading?" Fu Ying raised her head to look at the two formidable Anomaly Walkers, her cold voice as calm as ever.

"Finished," Warm Man replied after glancing at Qi Chen. "Is there no further intelligence?"

Having experienced so many anomalous events, they knew well how crucial information was to handling them. It could be said that the more information known, the greater the certainty of resolving the anomaly, and the higher the probability of avoiding unnecessary casualties.

However, Fu Ying only shook her head slightly. "This is all the information the Intelligence Analysis Department could obtain. Our preliminary assessment is that this is likely a subsequent anomalous event resulting from the influence of the Joyous Candy Tree. There is one thing I forgot to tell you before: the Amber Person that Qi Chen destroyed—we later did not find its remains at the scene."

"Hmm?" Qi Chen also realized that something was wrong. That Amber Person was not like most anomalies, which existed as psychic entities; it was a physical object that genuinely existed.

He vaguely remembered that there were remains after he smashed the thing to pieces, but the subsequent Special Task Force hadn't found anything. Had it vanished into thin air? Or perhaps...

"Could it be that the remains of the Amber Person are what caused these disappearances?" Qi Chen boldly voiced his speculation.

However, Warm Man shook his head slightly, offering his own insight. "I don't think so. At the time, both I and Captain Fu clearly perceived the anomalous aura of the Joyous Candy Tree being completely extinguished. Although there was residual psychic energy, its core must have been genuinely destroyed by you.

"I am more inclined to believe that these missing remains are just a lead. It is more likely the true goal of the enemy."

Qi Chen had almost forgotten that there were traces of an enemy mastermind behind the Joyous Candy Tree; naturally, it could no longer be treated as a purely anomalous event. Perhaps the core goal of the person behind the scenes was never the Joyous Candy Tree at all? This rare C+-level anomaly might have been nothing more than nourishment.

Warm Man, who had been on the job far longer than Qi Chen, had experienced similar situations. His brows furrowed, and his expression turned unusually stern. "Most anomalous events are isolated. But an anomaly with strong enough psychic intensity, even after it perishes, is highly likely to trigger a chain of subsequent events."

In short, for an anomaly with such high psychic intensity as the Joyous Candy Tree, even if it were eradicated, there was a high probability of it triggering others. Usually, however, the subsequent anomalies would show a clear decline in psychic intensity and threat level. Yet, the current Minsheng Mall disappearance case showed a trend that defied conventional logic.

"So many disappearances in just one week—the psychic intensity of this anomaly must be at least D-level. And it is likely still in its fermentation stage."

Hearing Warm Man’s assessment, Qi Chen increasingly realized that this mission was no ordinary anomalous event; it likely harbored a significant crisis.

"I have obtained some additional intelligence separately, extracted from the remaining construction workers using my ability," Fu Ying suddenly spoke, causing the eyes of Qi Chen and Warm Man to light up. Any new information was a good thing!

"I had them focus on recalling whether anything abnormal happened during construction, and we finally found a common thread." Fu Ying’s expression was somewhat strange. "While they were working, each of them would dream every night, and the content of their dreams was remarkably similar."

"What was it?" Warm Man couldn't help but ask.

"It was Minsheng Mall," Fu Ying said. "But it wasn't the destroyed Minsheng Mall, nor was it the Minsheng Mall from before the Joyous Candy Tree. It was... a mall that bore the name 'Minsheng Mall,' but inside, it appeared as if it were a mall from before the Era of Mist."

Aside from Qi Chen, the other two had never even seen the sun, let alone witnessed the prosperity of malls before the Era of Mist. Yet, based on the construction workers' descriptions of their dreams, Fu Ying had reviewed many old texts and image materials from the past era and was shocked to realize that what they were dreaming of was indeed the appearance of a mall from before the Era of Mist.

The current mall was basically just a large shopping center; although it contained a small amount of luxury goods created by new conglomerates born in the Era of Mist, it mostly sold cheap, practical daily necessities. There were no big-name brands at all.

However, according to the records, malls before the Era of Mist were essentially large, comprehensive service venues. Dining, cinema, trendy toys, and many other things were unheard of in the Era of Mist. Yet, these scenes were being dreamt of by the low-level construction workers who spent most of their time laboring on construction sites. This in itself was an extremely uncanny occurrence.

"This trend..." Warm Man’s expression became increasingly grim. He looked directly at Fu Ying behind the desk and said in an extremely uncertain tone, "Do you think... this is the prelude to the appearance of a Rule-type Anomaly?"

A Rule-type Anomaly?

Qi Chen looked at Warm Man, seeing for the first time this experienced senior colleague display such a grave expression. Even when facing large-scale anomalous outbreaks, Warm Man’s gaze had never been this frightening.

As for Rule-type Anomalies, after learning about them from Warm Man, Qi Chen had also looked up some relevant information in the Anomaly Handling Department. They were truly the most terrifying type of anomaly.

"I am not sure. But it is indeed currently approximating the precursors to the birth of a Rule-type Anomaly," Fu Ying said, her face equally serious.

Only a Rule-type Anomaly would cause people of the Era of Mist to occasionally glimpse scenes that completely defied their understanding of life; this was experience passed down by word of mouth from survivors.

"Therefore, the two of you must investigate the Minsheng Mall disappearance case with the utmost speed!"