Chapter 2

Opportunities need to be created by oneself.

Li Hao needed to create his own opportunity.

Soon, Li Hao had a file neatly organized in front of him, and he stood up, heading towards the small office in the work area.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Li Hao knocked on the office door.

A voice from inside the room called out, "Come in!"

...

Li Hao pushed open the office door.

"Director!"

"Li Hao!"

Wang Jie, a middle-aged man, couldn't help but smile when he saw Li Hao.

This was a polite and hardworking young man, after all, he had received a higher education at Yincheng Ancient Academy. Although he dropped out early, he wasn't expelled but chose to leave on his own, and Wang Jie still paid attention to him.

Li Hao also smiled and quickly said, "Director, I have something to report."

"Sit down!"

Wang Jie called out. The tasks of the Confidential Room weren't too heavy, and there were no major issues. Major cases were usually handled by the enforcement team, so overall, the Confidential Room was quite stable.

Wang Jie guessed that Li Hao was reporting to get familiar and perhaps get a promotion.

But the time was too short. This guy had dropped out and had only been officially employed for half a year. It was impossible to get a promotion in such a short time.

As he thought, Li Hao's expression became serious, and his voice sounded somewhat solemn: "Director, in the Confidential Room, I mainly handle the organization of files related to some unsolved and pending cases. In the year I've been here, I have reorganized and reclassified the files from the past ten years..."

Wang Jie instantly smiled and nodded, "I know, a high achiever is a high achiever! The files used to be a bit messy, and some old files were almost eaten by bugs. I had people reorganize them, but they still couldn't be found when needed. Since you came, I can find any case I need right away. You've done a good job..."

Li Hao quickly shook his head, "Director, I'm not here to boast."

Not?

Wang Jie laughed, could it be that there really was something to report?

He didn't say anything, just nodded, signaling Li Hao to continue.

Li Hao took out the file in front of him, handed one to Wang Jie, and opened another for himself. Despite his young age, his voice was steady: "On September 16, 1720, a self-immolation case occurred in Yincheng Anju Community. Someone witnessed the victim burning alive, with flames suddenly bursting from inside the body, burning the person to death."

Wang Jie now looked at the file in his hand and then at Li Hao.

It was a case from ten years ago, and it had already been closed as an accident, not a crime. Why was this guy bringing up a case that was closed ten years ago?

Li Hao continued, "On September 22, 1723, at Yincheng Commercial Center, a salesperson suddenly caught fire in her hair, which quickly spread to her entire body, burning her to death in public."

Wang Jie nodded, "I know this case. I was the one who filed it and even went to the scene myself. It was an accident caused by excessive static electricity in the commercial center at the time."

Li Hao didn't argue and continued, "On August 18, 1725, at Yincheng Minsheng Hotel, a guest was found dead in the hotel after one day, also due to self-immolation."

There was a five-year gap between the first and second cases, and a two-year gap between the second and third.

In five years, there were three self-immolation cases, all considered accidents. Yincheng handled many cases every day, and three accidental self-immolations in five years weren't a big deal, and few people paid attention.

Unless the same person handled all three cases, it might have drawn some attention.

The Confidential Room had countless files, and Wang Jie usually didn't pay much attention. Now, after hearing a few sentences, he had a vague feeling and frowned at Li Hao.

Li Hao continued, "On February 16, 1727, on Yincheng Oriental Street, another person died from self-immolation. The cause was the appearance of a ball of lightning nearby, suspected to have triggered the self-immolation. It was one and a half years since the last self-immolation case!"

Wang Jie's expression changed. From three years to two years, and then to one and a half years, another self-immolation case occurred in Yincheng!

"On August 12, 1728, the Yincheng Suburban Inspection Office reported a missing person, and later found a burned corpse by the river, suspected to be caused by lightning during a thunderstorm, and it was closed as an accident."

Another one and a half years!

This was reported by a subordinate agency. The Confidential Room only organized files and didn't handle cases, especially not accidental ones, which were already closed by the subordinate agencies and wouldn't be overturned easily.

Wang Jie's expression became increasingly serious. He hadn't paid attention before, as the Confidential Room had too many files, and many old files were destroyed each year.

"Another one and a half years..."

Wang Jie didn't look at the file in his hand but at Li Hao, and said in a serious tone, "Three years, two years, two times one and a half years. In August or September of 1729, did another self-immolation case occur?"

1729 was last year.

Wang Jie recalled, did it happen last year?

Was the time interval one year?

If it really happened, it meant that six self-immolation cases occurred in Yincheng in ten years!

On average, it wasn't much, one every two years. Yincheng was large, and different departments handled different areas. A department might only encounter one case in ten years, so who would pay attention?

Li Hao nodded, "Another case occurred in 1729, and it was at Yincheng Ancient Academy. The victim was my classmate, from the next dormitory! One of the reasons I left Yincheng Ancient Academy is related to this. I witnessed everything and developed a fear of the academy, especially after the strange self-immolation of my classmate. I want to know why it happened!"

Li Hao's expression was serious, "So I came to the Inspection Office, partly for this reason. Outsiders can't access these files, but I can! I reviewed and organized the self-immolation cases from the past ten years and found... this might not be an accident at all!"

Wang Jie quickly flipped through the file in his hand, looked at it for a while, and then at Li Hao, and said in a serious tone, "Tell me your thoughts."

"Ten years, a total of six cases, no, strictly speaking, nine years, as we haven't had such a case this year."

Li Hao said seriously, "Director, because of my classmate, I took it very seriously. It's already July, and if the self-immolation cases are not coincidental, it has been almost a year since the last one! The time interval is getting shorter each time. If it's not an accident, similar cases might occur soon."

"Not an accident?"

Wang Jie repeatedly flipped through the files. He was an old inspector, and later, due to his age, he was transferred to the Confidential Room.

If Li Hao hadn't organized and combined these cases, no one would have paid attention.

However, when the six self-immolation cases were combined, anyone could sense something was wrong.

Wang Jie lightly sighed, "From the current situation, we can't determine if it's premeditated, but... too many coincidences might not be coincidences!"

Wang Jie was very perceptive and quickly said, "I will communicate with other departments, especially the enforcement team. The Confidential Room doesn't directly solve cases, but with consecutive self-immolations, we need to pay more attention. If it happens again..."

At this point, Wang Jie's expression changed, "It would mean that your judgment is correct, and it might not be a simple accident!"

He looked at Li Hao, and his serious expression relaxed, and he smiled, "Of course, there's no need to be too tense! Even if it's a real murder, there are worse cases. Li Hao, you did a good job!"

Wang Jie's seriousness didn't last long.

Not to mention that it wasn't confirmed, even if it was a murder, it wasn't a big deal. He had seen and heard too much. Six deaths in ten years weren't significant.

He was more pleased with Li Hao's dedication and responsibility, and he understood why Li Hao had dropped out of school.

Classmate?

Good friend, right!

Otherwise, Li Hao wouldn't have dropped out.

...

On the other side, Li Hao didn't say much.

Murder?

If it was a real murder, why did he drop out and flee from Yincheng Ancient Academy?

Witnessing it firsthand, a simple murder would have been better.

What was that red shadow?

Self-immolation?

No, it was burned by the red shadow. But the other classmates who witnessed the self-immolation didn't see the red shadow at all!

Were they lying?

No, there was no need.

Li Hao knew that only he saw it, and the others didn't notice the red shadow, or they couldn't see it.

Moreover, he had recently felt it again, and even saw the red shadow faintly last night.

Maybe... not just one!

"If no one pays attention, these cases will be closed as accidents, and the files will gather dust in the Confidential Room. But if the Inspection Office notices and confirms it's not an accident, they will report it to the Night Watchers."

If no one pays attention, these cases will be closed as accidents, and the files will gather dust in the Confidential Room.

But if they are noticed, the Inspection Office is quite responsible.

"Night Watchers!"

Li Hao silently repeated. On the other side, Wang Jie stood up and said, "I'll go talk to the enforcement team. We might need Li Hao's help in the follow-up, as you compiled this case..."

Li Hao nodded quickly, feeling a bit relieved.

Great, he heard what he wanted to hear.

He did all this to be involved, not directly, but as the one who discovered the anomaly. If the Night Watchers get involved, Li Hao might have a chance to interact with them.

Of course, interaction doesn't mean joining. Even if he could join... Li Hao wasn't sure he would dare to!

In the past year, he had seen too many files.

Some things are evident in the details, like the red shadow. Li Hao had reviewed some records, and Yincheng had such cases.

However, those people either died or disappeared, without exception!

Li Hao didn't mention this, as it was extremely dangerous. He didn't dare tell anyone that he could see the red shadow, even the Night Watchers might not be reliable.

"Regardless... I must approach this mysterious force through normal channels!"

Li Hao took a deep breath and left the office.

Not just to uncover the truth, but to protect his own life.

Those who could see the red shadow died, and whether others could see it, Li Hao didn't know, but he knew that all those who were exposed died, which was very unusual.

"I can't lose my life easily. Leaving Yincheng Ancient Academy to come to the Inspection Office wasn't to escape."

Walking out of the office door, Li Hao sighed and smiled.

The best outcome would be for the Night Watchers to solve the problem, and if he could have some unexpected gains, that would be even better. As a civil servant, if he could join the Night Watchers, he hoped to join the civil service department.

As for the enforcement department, Li Hao didn't think he could handle it, and it was also dangerous. A few days ago, when he went to his teacher's place for dinner, he subtly inquired, and the Night Watchers... had significant casualties!

"One step at a time!"

Li Hao watched Wang Jie rush out and smiled. The first step was finally taken.

"Red shadow..."

He silently repeated, what was that thing?

And why can I see it?