Chapter 56: Just Keep Smiling at a Time Like This

“Hello, Comrade Qian Lin, I am Sun, Deputy Director of the Political Department of An City Public Security Bureau,” the leading man extended his hand without hesitation.

Qian Lin shook his hand and nodded. “Hello.”

Without much small talk, Director Sun handed Qian Lin a folder and then pointed to the two officers beside him. “These two are Officers Wu and Chen from the local precinct. The victims were all found within their jurisdiction. If you have any questions, you can ask them.”

“All right.” Qian Lin put away the folder and looked at the two officers. “I mainly want to ask if all these people were found unconscious in the same place?”

“Eight of them were found in the same location; the other three were discovered nearby. There’s nothing particularly unusual about the timing,” Officer Wu replied. “In fact, after the second alarm, we sealed off the area immediately and sent out patrols, but no matter day or night, we found nothing. Yet the incidents kept happening, one after another. We don’t even know how they managed to get inside the cordoned-off area.”

“That place is a villa district still under construction. The first three victims discovered were construction workers there, but the others are completely random,” Officer Chen said with a helpless tone. “Students, office workers, men and women, young and old—it’s basically a completely random series of attacks.”

“Random, huh...” Qian Lin flipped through the files and sighed. “Ghost-type Pokémon are scary, yes, but they usually wouldn’t attack humans so blatantly. Eleven people in half a month—that’s almost one per day…”

Suddenly, a thought struck Qian Lin.

The constitution of humans in this world is weaker than that of the Pokémon world. According to the information in his mind, given the physical strength of humans here, if the ghost-type Pokémon truly intended to attack humans, none of these people would have survived.

But since these people are still alive, could it be that the ghost-type Pokémon isn’t attacking humans out of malice but for some other reason?

It couldn’t really be just playing with humans, could it?

Qian Lin shook his head helplessly. Apart from those ghost Pokémon that are prone to killing humans, most others are just mischievous spirits. It’s quite possible that the Pokémon is following people simply to play.

“Comrade Qian Lin, have you discovered anything?” Officer Chen asked, noticing Qian Lin’s silent shake of the head.

“I have some guesses,” Qian Lin nodded but didn’t reveal them outright. Instead, he put down the file and looked at the three officers. “Could you please take me to that place? Whatever the reason, I need to confront that creature face to face.”

Regardless of the ghost-type Pokémon’s attitude or whether it harbors ill will, Qian Lin was determined to face it directly.

After bidding farewell to Director Zhou and informing Secretary Li of the situation, Qian Lin got into a vehicle once more, following a police car to the site of the incident.

The location was in the city center, part of a newly planned construction zone, not far from the hospital.

About ten minutes later, the vehicle stopped in front of a guard post.

—

Stepping out, Qian Lin surveyed the large area ahead. Night was approaching; the sky had begun to darken, and the streetlights were already on. Although the area was brightly lit, Qian Lin inexplicably felt a chilling coldness.

That’s the innate skill of a ghost, he thought.

Qian Lin shivered. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid—no one in this world isn’t afraid of ghosts.

Director Sun stood beside him, frowning with concern. “Are you sure you don’t want the Special Police Unit to accompany you inside?”

Qian Lin shook his head, pulling out a Poké Ball containing a Pandemonium and gesturing toward it. “I mean no disrespect to the police, but this kind of situation is better handled by specialists. I have a better choice to deal with ghosts.”

Both the Normal-type Swellow and the Dark-type Pandemonium were well-suited to counter ghost-types, though the fighting-type aspect of Pandemonium was something to be cautious about.

But it didn’t matter—Pandemonium’s level was quite high. Surely the ghost Pokémon wouldn’t be stronger than Pandemonium... right?

“Ahem...”

In any case, the advantage was on my side.

Director Sun blinked at the Poké Ball in Qian Lin’s hand. Honestly, as a political officer, he rarely had the chance to interact with Pokémon. Most of the information he saw was on his phone, and now he was quite eager to see one up close.

In fact, it wasn’t just Director Sun; the others nearby had similar expressions. Most of them had seen Pokémon before, but only from a distance, so their nervousness was understandable.

Qian Lin didn’t know what they were thinking, but since he was going in alone, he wouldn’t wait until things became critical to release his Pokémon—that would be reckless.

So, after confirming he was going in alone, he threw the Poké Ball. A flash of light revealed the massive form of Pandemonium before everyone.

“Roar~”

Pandemonium let out a low growl and smiled at Qian Lin.

Almost instinctively, all the surrounding officers raised their weapons. Even the five men who had accompanied Qian Lin were on high alert. If they hadn’t forcibly restrained themselves, they might already be standing in front of Qian Lin to block his path.

Pandemonium looked at the wary gazes around it with a humanlike expression of puzzlement.

Qian Lin stepped forward, patted Pandemonium’s arm, and smiled. “It’s your first time seeing him too, so it’s normal to be a little nervous.”

—

“Roar~” Pandemonium nodded.

The five men following Qian Lin immediately lowered their weapons. Their previous readiness had been reflexive; they knew Pandemonium wouldn’t harm them, but the first encounter was naturally tense.

Qian Lin said nothing further, gripping Pandemonium’s shoulder as he addressed the group. “I’m setting off now. If anything happens, I’ll contact you immediately. Please do not enter the area without clear instructions from me.”

“Understood,” said Fu Xing. “But please keep in regular contact every ten minutes. If we don’t hear from you after ten minutes, we will initiate a breach.”

“No problem,” Qian Lin acknowledged.

Fu Xing nodded, stood upright, and saluted.

The others behind him quickly followed suit.

The surrounding police officers, led by Director Sun, also saluted Qian Lin respectfully.

Qian Lin: “...”

Enough with the salutes—I’m about to shell out for a three-bedroom apartment again.

He didn’t want to return the salute, but he wasn’t active military or even retired, nor did he hold any rank... waving seemed inappropriate.

Maintaining an awkward yet polite smile, Qian Lin turned and walked into the construction site.

Forget it, he would tell the vehicle supervisor later.

Sighing, Qian Lin stepped into the ghost-type Pokémon’s territory, with Pandemonium alert and following closely behind.

So… which little rascal is being so mischievous?

Gotcha—a sneak attack coming your way.