CHAPTER 887: CHAPTER 887: THEN LET HIS BIRTHDAY AND DEATH ANNIVERSARY BE ON THE SAME DAY

The Investigation Squadron is the most powerful squadron of the Disaster Investigation Bureau. When the other squadrons received the information transmitted by the old leader from the Black Ring, all of their faces changed.

A Level-One combat readiness directive is only used when the Investigation Bureau faces a major crisis or is about to engage in battle with another large base. The captains of ordinary squadrons do not even have the authority to initiate it. Aside from the director, only the exploration squadron investigating urban areas and the Judgement Squadron responsible for internal investigations within the Bureau have the authority to issue it.

Moreover, after the directive is issued, it still requires the approval of seven squadron captains and the support of over half the top managers to take effect.

"Take the other members of Group Thirteen and come with me to the conference room," the old leader said gravely. "The Investigation Bureau hasn’t breached a new Deceit Building for five years. This is a big deal for us. We need all departments to cooperate."

Previously, they went to the Third Mental Hospital, which was just a Black Building, and already lost quite a few personnel. Now, not much time has passed, yet they are about to attack a Deceit Building again. This decision is too risky, and the old leader is not sure whether it can be approved.

...

The doors of the central conference room of the Disaster Investigation Bureau were opened, and captains took their seats one by one. They all wore serious expressions, their eyes fixed on Han Fei, who stood beside the old leader.

Since Han Fei joined the Investigation Bureau, several meetings have been held just because of him.

"Gao Cheng, tell everyone your plan," the old leader gestured for Han Fei and the top student to proceed, and they presented Li Xue’s initial suggestion.

Devouring the Unspeakable Eyes and using the highest level of Hatred for oneself—this was sheer fantasy, and all the attendees expressed their skepticism.

To convince everyone, Han Fei opened the Greed Abyss and controlled the Hatred imprisoned within it.

The principal, the girl, Fear Nightmare, and Tong Xin—these four instances of Hatred appeared in turn, truly opening the eyes of the Investigation Bureau’s leaders. Previously, they only knew that Han Fei deliberately imprisoned Ghosts and Monsters, but they never imagined that without fanfare, Han Fei could already control four instances of Hatred!

Some were astonished by Han Fei’s growth speed, while others showed fear and began to worry.

"The amount of Hatred I can control simultaneously has already reached its limit. To advance further, I must devour even stronger Hatred to satisfy even more greedy ambitions," Han Fei realized one thing after consuming Bai Fa: ordinary Hatred can no longer enhance the Greed Personality. After his battle with individuals from Hope New City last night, he also realized his limit was controlling four instances of Hatred. Releasing more simultaneously would be overwhelming for him.

To change the current situation and release more Hatred at the same time, he must consume Ghosts that transcend the ordinary Hatred Level.

Han Fei could sense the ambition shared between Gao Cheng and himself. His intuition told him that devouring the eyes of a Divine Spirit in the Deep Sea Aquarium might allow him to achieve the eighth Personality Awakening of the Greed Personality. At that time, he could release more Hatred and truly stand at the pinnacle of the disasters.

"The risk is too great. The Disaster Investigation Bureau is humanity’s last hope. How can we risk our last hope on such experiments?" The captain of the Logistics Squadron shook his head after a long silence: "No matter what reasons you give, I will oppose it."

"Don’t forget the original purpose of the Investigation Bureau’s establishment: to uncover the cause of the disaster outbreak and eliminate all Ghosts and Monsters!" The old leader unfurled a map and pointed to Area A: "The Disaster Investigation Bureau has been established for over a decade and still hasn’t gained a foothold in Area C. We remain a long way from the source of the disaster outbreak in Area A, but we are running out of time."

The old leader didn’t agree to Han Fei’s suggestion impulsively; his high position granted him profound insight into many inside matters.

Once the conference room doors were locked, classified documents were spread out on the table.

The Investigation Bureau had knowledge of Hope New City’s corruption and the God’s Birth Day blood sacrifice. They had also summarized the patterns of Hatred and the presence of the Divine Spirit: "Whenever it nears the God’s birthday, all Hatred becomes active and breaks free from bindings, wantonly killing survivors to prepare gifts for the Divine Spirit. Correspondingly, they receive benefits from the Divine Spirit. Have you noticed that after God’s Birth Day every year, new Hatreds emerge in the city? The original Hatreds also seem to be strengthened to a certain degree?"

All Hatred depends on the Shrine Memory World, and as Gao Xing continues to grow stronger, the Ghosts and Monsters that worship Gao Xing also become more powerful.

If not for Han Fei’s presence, there would be not a shred of hope in this bleak future. Most people’s final fate would only be to become livestock bred by Ghosts and Monsters.

"For more than a decade, the strength and number of Ghosts and Monsters have increased at a rate far surpassing ours. They started trying to domesticate humans long ago. Perhaps in their eyes, we are no longer qualified to be their opponents," the old leader’s words struck a painful truth and harsh reality.

"After many investigations, we can now confirm that the source of the disaster outbreak is beneath the Eternal Life Building in Area A. In other words, the first Ghost emerged from there." The old leader paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone present: "But the Eternal Life Building is a Forbidden Building, and no one has entered it and come out alive. Ever since the eighth Personality Awakened, Qi Ming, went missing in the Eternal Life Building three years ago, we’ve been like ostriches, always deliberately ignoring this problem."

"There are only a few eighth Personality Awakened individuals. Until we understand what’s inside the Eternal Life Building, entering blindly is suicide," said the stable and risk-averse Logistics Squadron captain.

"But if we don’t investigate, we will never see the truth! We will never end this disaster!" the old leader declared firmly.

"We understand your reasoning, but knowing it means death, who are you asking to go?" the captain of the Patrol Squadron spoke up. Recently, the situation had been growing increasingly chaotic, and everyone was getting a bit exasperated.

"I will go," Han Fei raised his hand. "After devouring the Deep Sea Aquarium, I will enter the Forbidden Building!"

At those words, the room fell silent.

Han Fei was even crazier than the most radical proponents of war, and with his power rapidly increasing, some people gradually began to worry. But as long as he was willing to enter the Forbidden Building, many of those concerns became redundant. No one had ever entered that building and survived to leave. In the eyes of those higher-ups, Han Fei was also making what could be his final contribution to all the survivors.

"I still disagree." The captain of the logistics squad stood up: "You are the most promising among the young people and the greatest asset of the Investigation Bureau. Even if someone must go, it should be us old folks forging a path for you."

"Let’s vote." The old leader raised his hand: "We will fully attack the Deceit Building, assist Gao Cheng in suppressing the top-tier Hatred in the Aquarium, and from the moment he successfully imprisons the Hatred, count a year for him to enter the Forbidden Building and investigate the origin of the Disaster!"

The old leader knew time was tight, but he still wanted to proceed cautiously, to give Han Fei as much time as possible.

In the meeting room, people gradually raised their hands. Soon, more than half of the higher-ups agreed, but only five captains were willing to cooperate.

"I cannot make a decision immediately." The captain of the Judgement Squadron looked at Han Fei. He was a man of extremely cold demeanor, seemingly born without any emotions: "I hope you can contact the director. If she agrees, the Judgement Squadron will fully support."

He stood up and turned to leave.

"Indeed, reporting this to the director is necessary." The old leader nodded as well: "Tonight, all combat groups will be on standby within the safe zone of the Investigation Bureau. Once we receive the director’s instructions, we will set off tomorrow morning!"

The meeting concluded, and the leaders and managers of the various squads hurriedly left. Hunting the top-tier Hatred was a major task, requiring the full strength of the Investigation Bureau.

"This outcome is much better than I expected." The old leader pushed the documents on the table toward Han Fei: "Tomorrow is your stage, make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Understood."

Han Fei memorized all the information on the documents and left the meeting room with Group Thirteen.

"Gao Cheng, are we really going to hunt the top-tier Hatred?" Dong Quan still felt a sense of unreality. He had heard from friends about the Hatred in the Deep Sea Aquarium, that it could form a giant ghost hundreds of meters tall from countless corpses and ghosts, with an unspeakable aura in its eyes.

"Afraid?" Han Fei walked past Dong Quan: "Hunting it is only the first step of my plan."

"What else are you planning to do?"

"The captain said to give me a year, but I can’t wait that long." Han Fei’s expression was very serious: "Perhaps you’ve always thought I was impulsive, but let me tell you something: the time we can still live is actually only a few more days. Everything must be completed before the God’s Birth Day arrives!"

Han Fei did not explain further and left quickly.

Returning to their respective quarters, everyone began their final preparations, with a somber air pervading the Investigation Bureau.

As night fell, at Midnight, several captains received messages from Director Li Xue.

From that moment, the immense war machine that was the Disaster Investigation Bureau began to operate at full speed!

...

The initial light of dawn pierced through thick clouds. As daylight came, all three checkpoint gates of the Investigation Bureau were opened, and modified vehicles filled with Investigation Bureau members drove out, like a steel torrent.

"Judgement Group One, enter designated position."

"Transport and Escort Squads One to Three, assembly complete!"

"Patrol Squads One to Nine, assembly complete!"

"Logistics Squads One to Five, assembly complete!"

"Investigation team, all personnel in place!"

The loud cries echoed in the silent city. Survivors, who had been in hiding for so long, stood up again, their long-repressed voices resonating throughout the city that rightfully belonged to them, not fearing being heard by ghosts and monsters at all.

Looking at the convoy outside the car window, Han Fei felt more confident: "Destiny is a cycle. This time, Gao Cheng will take back Gao Xing’s eyes! Then, step by step, turn Gao Xing’s birthday into its day of mourning!"