"Hmm... wait, I don't have any issues at the mental level either..."
The dream about that snake which had the same face as him.
Actually, Li Pan, out of boredom, did some research, and the Daoist Temple in his dream, the plaque read 'Zhong Mountain Temple', and when paired with the huge figure of the monster with a human head and a snake body, as well as this 'Nine Yin Manual', it indeed matched up with some kind of ancient legendary creature.
Zhong Mountain's mountain god, Candle Dragon, Zhu Jiuyin
There are many Xianxia style games on the QVN quantum network, with lifelike, vividly modeled monsters. That wasn't hard to look up, but the problem is, Li Pan usually doesn't play Xianxia online games, does he? It doesn't make sense for it to suddenly invade his dreams, right?
Could it really be, as Mr007 speculated, that it happened during the containment of some 'Candle Yin'-like monster, the company botched it, and like the Guardian, it lurked into his psyche?
So, the 'Nine Yin Manual', it's just a 'monster' then?
But...
"But there was no strange reaction from the pocket watch, was there?"
If it were a monster capable of wiping out the company, the hands on that watch should be spinning out of control, right?
Yet yesterday, the pocket watch only reacted slightly to his formal outfit/Guardian. And the 'Nine Yin Manual' seems indeed just to be a volume of antique Bamboo Slips.
Mr007 also spread his hands,
'It's just my guess. If the patterns of monsters were so easy to analyze, the company wouldn't go through such great lengths.'
Well, at least Mr. Aqi made a guess that was quite insightful and could be copied, *cough*, borrowed for the report. At least they are truly thinking about how to contain monsters and doing their job well, much more diligent than Li Pan who's always scheming on how to fleece the company.
Mr007 wrote,
'Arrived at Warehouse No. 7.'
Great, time to get to work. The first stop on the inspection tour is obviously No. 7, the one the Whirlpool Gang had turned into a tangled mess, with limbs and appendages scattered everywhere. The police also have to cordon off the scene for evidence collection.
After all, how could a tax-contributing behemoth like the monster company not have an automated process for when its facilities are attacked?
Now the surrounding blocks are cordoned off with police tape, detectives and special agents from various departments remotely control drones flying over the ruins of the warehouse, scanning here, aiming there, collecting evidence, taking photos, filing reports, following procedures. It's all about getting through the daily grind.
As the acting manager, Li Pan naturally has to represent the company on the surface, and Aqi has come down as well.
Aqi is wearing a hood and gloves, and its face is covered with huge Hacker goggles; these days, there are even more extravagant looks around, so even if someone notices that there's nothing under the formal outfit, they'd probably first assume it's some kind of optical camouflage, rather than guessing it's a ghost. You have to say, this is indeed the convenience of a society where the basic quality of life has improved.
So, Li Pan just stuffed his hands in his pockets, listening to Aqi listing the damages. After all, it's just for show to the tax authority; the full video of the incident he had already sent to the head office along with the written report on the first day. The higher-ups don't care about the money; it's all about going through the motions and rebuilding the warehouse. As for the Whirlpool Gang, just leave it to the ncpa to catch them. After all, the two are sworn enemies, a few less dead people don't make a difference.
However, there is indeed one thing that might need attention.
Locker No. 7 is empty.
Of course, Locker No. 7 is empty. Aqi is standing right next to him.
Okay, what's disappeared is the measure for containing a tangled mess.
Li Pan looked down at the massive hole leading three stories underground, blasted open, knowing that the gaping wound, savage as a beast's bite, was clearly not made by the ninja's small knife.
Then he jumped into the hole, gazing into the deep, dark tunnel.
He knew something had escaped into Tokyo's sewers.