The cold light of the projector flickered on the wall, continuously replaying a bizarre image:

A spider-like creature as large as a truck, with writhing limbs and scales covered in tumor-like human faces. Amid its gaping maw attacks, a school-uniformed girl tilted her delicate face in a smile, her lower body having transformed into thousands of writhing red threads.

Clearly, there was no one else in the room, but the Chief Member remained sitting upright and solemn.

His body did not move a muscle, fully conforming to every requirement of the "Governor’s Etiquette Norms," yet his face showed a terrifying split — the right half was the familiar dignified countenance, but the left half twisted into an inhuman ferocity.

One half of his lips were tightly pressed, while the other half curved strangely.

"Tap."

A drop of viscous fluid slid from the left corner of his mouth.

Suddenly, a scarlet long tongue darted out like a snake’s, licking the girl’s image in the projection.

The light screen rippled, blurring the girl’s smiling face for a moment.

Thud—Thud—Thud—

Three dull knocks suddenly sounded.

The red light in the Chief Member’s eyes ebbed like a retreating tide, and his distorted face reformed like clay, returning to his usual dignified appearance in an instant.

He uttered a single word calmly: "Enter."

A figure in black robes silently slid into the room.

The mask seemed to devour the light, leaving only two bottomless eye sockets in the pure blackness. When the hem of the robe brushed the carpet, it did not even disturb the dust.

The black robe and black mask — this was the hallmark attire of the "Night Watchers."

This mysterious department specialized in handling sinister events, dubbed the "Black Yama" in the Lower City for their dress and approach.

They were few in number, their identities a mystery, yet they wielded terrifying power.

"Raven, you’ve come."

The Chief Member glanced at the newcomer; he did not know what face lay behind that mask, but he knew the person was Raven.

Raven’s gaze swept over the projection, pausing imperceptibly: "Is it her?"

Raven was not tall, even somewhat hunched, and his voice was like sandpaper scraping metal, slightly hoarse.

His stature was not imposing, even a bit hunched, and he seemed enveloped in a shroud of mysterious black mist.

Beneath the black robe came the faint sound of chains clinking, those being special shackles designed by the Night Watchers for capturing unusual criminals.

The video continued playing, soon featuring another man.

"Is it still him?"

Raven’s voice deepened slightly, carrying more gravity.

He appeared lost in thought, then asked and answered himself, with a tone of barely restrained astonishment:

"Two Evil Sacrifice parasitic entities, appearing to be intimate lovers?!"

The Chief Member slowly stood, walked to the desk, gently opened the drawer, took out two files, and handed them to Raven.

"These are materials compiled by the Executive Government this afternoon.

The male is Zheng Hang, a second-year, class seven student at the 47th Academy, who conducted an Evil Sacrifice over a month ago."

The Chief Member paused, his expression somewhat inscrutable,

"It seems he succeeded. It’s still unclear which Evil Sacrifice parasitic entity possessed him, but he has displayed two abilities: controlling bones and shadows."

Raven took the file in a manila envelope, not opening it, but directly stowing it within his robe.

The Chief Member continued:

"The female is named Feng Yuhuai, a first-year in the martial arts key class at the Eighth Academy. Her father is a captain at the Patrol Office and has recently been quite favored by a special commissioner from the Upper City."

The Chief Member paused with a playful tone:

"Feng Ju is helping the commissioner investigate [Mask], and it seems the commissioner long knew [Mask] was an Evil Sacrifice parasitic entity. However, now it appears [Mask]’s true identity is Zheng Hang. Of course, [Mask] may not be alone, Feng Yuhuai....."

Seeing Raven remain silent, the Chief Member coldly chuckled, dropping this interesting topic.

Raven then slowly spoke:

"Our previous agreement could only be one person. So, which one do you want to choose?"

The Chief Member’s face turned solemn, his finger lightly pointing to the screen, a flash of red in his eyes:

"I don’t care about the male; you can eliminate him according to the Night Watcher’s protocol. The female, I want her..."

The Chief Member licked his moist lips, his voice turning eerie,

"She is growing too slowly. I want her in the Night Watchers."

The office fell into a deathly silence, only the projector softly buzzing.

Raven’s black mask slightly hung low, the chains under the robe emitting an uneasy tremor.

After a long while, a hoarse voice came from behind the mask:

"Are you mad, letting an Evil Sacrifice parasitic entity into the Night Watchers? Do you think it’s possible?"

The Chief Member stared intently at Raven:

"Since I assumed the position of Member of Parliament, I understood a truth: if you dare to think it, nothing is absolutely impossible to accomplish.

All rules, like the code of a safe, can ultimately be unlocked, can they not?"

Raven remained silent.

The Chief Member coldly stared at him:

"Raven, the reason I sought you out is because I am certain you can accomplish this. You have a special quota....."

Three seconds.

After a full three seconds of silence, Raven turned and walked towards the door.

When he grasped the doorknob, frost instantly covered the brass handle:

"Remember what you promised me!"

......

The blue and white patrol car slowly glided into the yard of the Patrol Office, tires rolling over puddles, emitting a sticky sound.

Feng Ju parked the car in the corner space, and after cutting the engine, he delayed getting out.

He took out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and lit one.

The orange-red ember flickered in the dark, ash falling onto his uniform pants. Not until the filter burned his fingertips did he push open the car door.

The night wind seeped into the hole in the back of his uniform, slithering like an icy snake along his spine.

Yet Feng Ju felt no chill, even the taste of smoke in his mouth was as faint as air.

On his retina, eerie numbers continued to tick:

[335:27:44]

[335:27:43]

[335:27:42]

[335:27:41]

[...]

"This looks like some kind of countdown..."

He murmured to himself, pressing his fingers hard on his eye sockets, the numbers on his retina burning his nerves like a branding iron.

"Who engraved these in my eyes, was it the one who awakened me?"

Feng Ju racked his brains, seemingly recalling a vague voice that said something to him.

But at that time, he was in a "half-dream state," hearing indistinctly, feeling the voice mixed madness with sorrow, evil with an odd familiarity.

"The one who awakened me should be someone around me, but who could it be?"

Feng Ju scavenged through the memory of each familiar person, but could not figure out who would have such a power to "bring someone back to life."

No, it should be a monster with such power!

"Besides Yuhuai, could there be other monsters around me?!!"

Feng Ju felt a chill spread through his body, but no matter how he pondered, he couldn’t figure out the answer.

He now only blamed himself for his lack of expertise, for not being a true detective.

Unable to deduce that monster’s identity, he could only speculate about its motive:

"Awakening me, does it need me to accomplish something, yet only gave me 14 days?"

At this thought, Feng Ju suddenly felt a fear more terrifying than his daughter’s betrayal:

"If I fail to do what It wants, will I die again when the countdown reaches zero?!!"

Question:

What is more terrifying than death?

Answer:

Coming back to life, only to die again!!