Chapter 32 The Investigation Bureau Pays a Visit
Knock, knock, knock...
The sound of knocking echoed through the apartment.
Within his perception, Fang Xiu clearly discerned the presence of two individuals outside his door—he had, in fact, heard them ascending the stairs even before they knocked.
Peering through the peephole, he saw a man and a woman clad in professional attire.
Without the slightest hesitation, he opened the door, entirely unconcerned that they might be something... inhuman.
After all, anomalies could not affect the physical world unless they were "seen." That meant they couldn't knock on doors.
Moreover, for two uniformed individuals to come looking for him at this hour, the likelihood of them being from a special agency was high.
As the door swung open, the man stepped forward, producing an identification badge. "Fang Xiu, correct? We are agents of the Global Anomalous Events Joint Investigation Bureau for Strategic Defense, Offensive Operations, and Logistical Support. Here are our credentials."
Fang Xiu examined their badges with a composed expression, committing their names to memory.
He wasn't surprised in the least. Surveillance cameras were everywhere—if a special agency wanted to track him down, there was no way they wouldn't.
The only thing that did catch him off guard was the sheer length of their organization's name. It was such a mouthful that anyone with subpar lung capacity might struggle to say it in one breath.
"Come in," he said.
He stepped aside, allowing them entry. As they walked in, both agents subtly scrutinized him.
Fang Xiu, in turn, was also observing them. More specifically, he wanted to confirm whether they could see his wife.
At that moment, his wife appeared delighted, perhaps excited by the presence of new people. She stood elegantly to the side, speaking in a soft, affectionate tone. "Darling, we have guests?"
Yet, the agents' gazes remained fixed on Fang Xiu, showing no indication that they had noticed her.
Could they truly not see her? Or had they, like himself, learned to ignore anomalies?
Fang Xiu pondered.
As members of a special agency, they were undoubtedly far more experienced than a newly awakened Spirit Master like himself. They likely possessed deep knowledge of anomalies.
If even they could not see his wife, then that could only mean—he was special.
Perhaps the ability to perceive anomalies was unrelated to being a Spirit Master.
But Fang Xiu was not one to jump to conclusions. He needed further confirmation.
While he was mulling over his thoughts, the two agents were also forming their own assessments of him.
There was something distinctly unsettling about Fang Xiu.
Calm. Far too calm.
It was a kind of composure that defied reason, utterly unlike the reaction of someone who had survived an anomalous event.
The two had encountered many such survivors before. Most were deeply traumatized—some fled at the sight of the Bureau, while others frantically bombarded them with questions, desperate to uncover the truth about anomalies.
But never before had they seen someone so utterly unfazed.
Once seated in the living room, Shen Lingxue spoke first, scrutinizing Fang Xiu as she did. "You don't seem the least bit surprised by our visit. Have you heard of the Investigation Bureau before?"
Fang Xiu shook his head. "No. But given the existence of anomalies, the fact that society has not descended into chaos suggests the presence of a force maintaining order. That's not difficult to deduce."
"Indeed, it's not," Shen Lingxue admitted with a trace of approval. "But ordinary people, after experiencing an anomalous event, rarely remain composed enough to think this rationally."
"You've deduced correctly. The Investigation Bureau is a specialized agency tasked with handling anomalies. It is the official governing body of the Spirit Masters. We are here for two reasons—first, to investigate the anomaly at Bai Liu Academy, and second, to evaluate whether you are qualified to join us.
Though independent Spirit Masters exist, the Bureau alone possesses absolute authority, holds the most comprehensive knowledge of anomalies, and controls the vast resources Spirit Masters require.
This is an opportunity for you.
Now, let's begin with the first matter—tell us everything you know about the Bai Liu Academy anomaly."
Before answering, Fang Xiu spoke with measured calm. "Before I answer, I have a few questions of my own."
Shen Lingxue's brows knitted slightly. "I am the one asking the questions here."
Before she could continue, Li Wenhao quickly interjected, "Investigator Shen, Fang Xiu has only just survived an anomaly. He must have countless questions. If we answer them first, it will help him organize his thoughts, making it easier for him to provide information later."
Shen Lingxue hesitated for a moment before giving a slight nod, granting her approval.
Li Wenhao turned to Fang Xiu with a polite smile. "Ask away. Now that you're a Spirit Master, you'll eventually come to learn these things. As long as your questions don't touch on classified information, I'll answer them."
Fang Xiu swept a glance over the two of them, already forming his conclusions.
Shen Lingxue was likely a Spirit Master, while Li Wenhao was not. There was a distinct difference in the aura of someone who had survived an anomalous event—it was something beyond mere expression, an intangible weight they carried.
It was a perception brought by one's own spiritual intuition.
So this was the Bureau's standard operating procedure—a Spirit Master paired with a regular human.
Spirit Masters, their minds tainted by anomalies, often exhibited eccentric or extreme behavior. Having a regular human partner to monitor them could, to some extent, provide a stabilizing influence.
How deeply had Shen Lingxue's mind been warped? That remained unknown. But based on her demeanor, she was cold, prideful, and domineering—whether this was her natural disposition or the result of anomaly exposure was unclear.
Not that it mattered to Fang Xiu. His only concern was uncovering the truth about anomalies.
"My first question—what exactly are anomalies?"
Li Wenhao smiled faintly. "That is, without fail, the first question asked by those who survive an anomalous event. Unfortunately, I must tell you that even the Bureau has yet to provide a definitive answer.
Where do anomalies originate? What are they? What is their ultimate purpose? No one knows for certain. At least, not at my clearance level.
The only certainty is this—anomalies appear without warning. They manifest suddenly, without discernible patterns. Their sole, observable intent thus far is to devour humans—or, to be more precise, to consume the human psyche, the essence of one's spirit.
Our working theory is that anomalies are entities of twisted consciousness, self-sustaining sources of contamination. They take on different forms—some have flesh, some are spectral, and some exist purely as conceptual phenomena.
But regardless of their form, one thing remains constant—they bear an overwhelming hostility toward humanity.
It appears that by consuming the psyche of humans, they strengthen themselves.
Moreover, every anomaly acts as a contamination source, much like radioactive material, continuously emitting a corruptive influence that distorts the minds of those nearby.
This corruption fuels negative emotions, warps the soul.
You became a Spirit Master, so you should already understand—our power is the byproduct of being tainted by anomalies."
Fang Xiu processed this information before continuing.
"My second question—how are Spirit Masters classified by strength?"