Chapter 15

"He seemed to be reporting to someone just now, that person is——"

"Eighty-seventh floor." Ya added.

"Let's go!"

Wu Xiaode lightly leaped out of the window, instantly transforming into a crow. After circling the building a few times, he found the eighty-seventh floor.

The crow observed for a moment and spotted the office with the lights on.

Inside, a man sat with his legs crossed, one hand holding a cigarette and the other a phone, speaking animatedly.

The window was open.

The crow did not enter but hid outside the window to listen.

"Director Wang, things on our side are basically settled. Whether we catch that wanted criminal or not doesn't matter much, but I'm a man of my word."

"The promise stands, the goods are ready, my secretary will send them over to you right away."

"Yes... Kill him after capturing him to eliminate any future trouble. Your location is——"

"Binhai Road? Where are you playing cards?"

"Shen Shen Restaurant, Room 308? Alright, I'll send him over right away."

The call ended.

The man swiped his phone a few times and sent a voice message: "Go to Binhai Road, Shen Shen Restaurant. Director Wang and his group are playing cards. Go and take care of it."

The message was sent.

The man threw his phone on the sofa, took a puff of his cigarette, and sighed, "Finally, it's done."

"Maybe not yet."

Another voice echoed in the room.

The man turned around sharply.

He saw the window was open, and a teenager was sitting on the windowsill, looking at him with interest.

"Wu Xiaode!" the man exclaimed.

He rushed to the desk and reached for a button.

Smack!

The man's hand was struck, and he staggered back as if hit by lightning, almost losing control of his body.

Wu Xiaode stood in front of the desk, retracted his hand, and curiously looked at the button on the desk before turning to the man.

"You must be a big shot, otherwise, you wouldn't have the power to issue a warrant for me."

The man's expression changed, and he tried to move but found his body unresponsive.

What just happened?

Why couldn't he move his feet after being hit by him?

"You misunderstood. We were just trying to find Xia Huilan, not to harm you," the man forced a smile.

Wu Xiaode smiled back, walked up, and patted the man's shoulder affectionately, saying, "Actually, you got one thing wrong."

"Please enlighten us, we'll correct it if we're wrong," the man said earnestly.

"You said on TV that I set fires, killed people, and was extremely vicious, even killing several civilians. But you overlooked something very important," Wu Xiaode said.

"What is it?" the man couldn't help but ask.

Wu Xiaode looked at him deeply and said softly, "Is there a possibility... that I am indeed that kind of person?"

The man was stunned.

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead and back.

"We don't understand anything. Please be magnanimous and don't hold a grudge against us small people—oh, compensation! Just tell us what you want, and we'll compensate you for your losses," the man said with a forced smile.

"A woman was bewitched and tied to a chair. I'm very curious who cast that spell," Wu Xiaode said.

"It was Xia Huilan's mentor! He paid a large sum of money and hired some thugs from the black market!" the man hurriedly said.

"Who is at Binhai Road, Shen Shen Restaurant?"

"Director Wang from the Imperial Defense Bureau, he issued the warrant."

Wu Xiaode nodded silently.

The Imperial Defense Bureau was a higher-level organization than the police, managing the military and police.

Such a big shot could issue a nationwide warrant with ease.

"Alright, I'm done asking. Please take your leave—"

"Wait! I have a secret to tell you! It's about the ultimate secret of the 130th underground floor of our company." The man said urgently.

"I don't want to hear it," Wu Xiaode said.

The man shouted, "This can reveal the true secrets behind the world! I'll offer it to you, just let me go. It's a huge bone—"

Wu Xiaode's expression changed, and he covered the man's mouth, pressing him against the wall, saying,

"Shut up! Do you think I'm curious?"

The man's eyes flickered, and he mumbled, but couldn't say a word.

Wu Xiaode said, "Sister Lan said your company has too many secrets, many of which are state secrets—these things, if revealed, would immediately activate any information terminal around, connecting to the central AI to check the level of information leakage."

He shook his head and lowered his voice, "I don't care about your secrets. I'm here to settle things peacefully."

Wu Xiaode dragged the man to the window, looked outside to make sure no one would be hit, and then threw him out—

The man let out a scream, drawing a parabolic arc in the night sky as he fell to the ground.

Wu Xiaode stood by the window and waited for a few moments.

Finally, a few faint lights floated up from the street below the eighty-seventh floor, landing in front of him.

"Too few, not enough to share. Let's set this building on fire," the spirit of the crow complained.

"Innocent people can't be harmed," Wu Xiaode said softly.

"Ah, what can we do, this is really too few," the spirit of the crow said.

A phantom lamp suddenly appeared in the air.

The moment it appeared, it made a loud "bang" and quickly turned into a star.

Wu Xiaode was stunned.

—What's going on?

A gentle wind appeared in the air, swirling around the room.

The wind, like a vortex, surrounded Wu Xiaode, making a soft and long whistling sound, as if telling a story.

Wu Xiaode's expression tightened, and he turned to look at the Book of the Dead.

The Book of the Dead had opened automatically, showing rows of icy small characters:

"You have completed two killings, both targets were sinners with mountains of karma."

"The countless spirits lingering in this building have finally fulfilled their wishes and can now be free from the bonds of hatred and pain."

"They are about to rest in peace."

"At this moment of parting, they bless you together."

"You have received the 'Final Blessing of the Many Spirits'."

"Your merit has increased by one point."

"Current merit: 1."

"Merit is an extremely rare intangible force. Unlike soul power, it cannot be used to drive techniques, but it is a threshold for many things."

"In the future, you can use it when issuing commissions."

Wu Xiaode was speechless.

There were "countless spirits" lingering in this building.

What did they do to cause so many people to die here?

From this, it was clear that Xia Huilan's decision to leave was entirely correct; otherwise, she might have died here one day.

But why would a tech company have "countless spirits"?

"Wait! Wait!"

The crow suddenly shouted.

"What's wrong?" Wu Xiaode asked in surprise.

"I sensed the aura of a fellow spirit... We need to save it!" the crow flapped its wings and said.

"Do you know where it is?"

"It should be above, we need to fly up."

"Let's go."

Wu Xiaode jumped out of the window, transformed into a black bird, and flew up along the wall.

"Stop! It's right here." the crow said.

Wu Xiaode landed on the windowsill, pressed his hand on the glass, and gently pushed.

Crash!

The glass shattered instantly.

He entered the room and looked around. It was a spacious area, seemingly like a warehouse.

The crow transformed back into a bird, perched on his shoulder, and looked around anxiously.

"Quick! Quick! Quick!" it said.

"Don't rush, let me check the situation."

Wu Xiaode walked to the door and looked at the series of signs by the door.

At that moment, the memories of Xia Huilan and the female corpse flashed through his mind.

Although they gave Wu Xiaode highly specialized knowledge, it was inevitably based on the company's various equipment to demonstrate the application of that knowledge.

With this, Wu Xiaode naturally knew some things about the place.

"This sign means... temporary storage room."

Wu Xiaode explained, "The things here are to be used in experiments soon, they are just stored here temporarily and will be moved soon."

"I already sensed the aura of a fellow spirit in the left wall," the crow urged.

Wu Xiaode closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then pressed his hand on a spot on the wall.

"I remember... all temporary storage rooms are constructed like this..."

He pressed a spot on the wall.

A small control panel popped out, floating in front of him.

Wu Xiaode looked at the mechanical icons and tapped one of them.

The wall slowly opened.

Inside the wall was a wire cage, with a crow locked inside.

Perhaps due to being confined for too long, the crow looked listless, and when Wu Xiaode appeared, a trace of despair flashed in its eyes.

The crow's voice suddenly softened, and it said, "Ah, look, she's so beautiful!"

"Her? Male or female?" Wu Xiaode asked cautiously.

"Female—she's still alive, quick, save her!" the crow urged, stomping on his shoulder.

"You're a spirit, she's alive, you're different," Wu Xiaode couldn't help but say.

"Idiot, her soul strength is extremely high, she has a chance to become a hero after death—this is a one-in-a-million extraordinary woman, do you understand? Save her quickly!" the crow urged again.

Extraordinary woman…

How many human films have you seen?

Wu Xiaode found it amusing and reached out to save the crow, but suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong? Please, I'm begging you. Spirits can't influence the real world, only you can save her," the crow pleaded, lowering its stance.

Wu Xiaode frowned, as if thinking about something.

The crow said again, "Your Iron Wire Fist can definitely break this cage. It's just a simple task to set her free."

Wu Xiaode finally spoke, "It's not that problem."

"Then what is it? I'll share some soul power with you, help me, brother." the crow said.

"I don't need extra soul power. I just think... at such an important moment, why not let you save her yourself?" Wu Xiaode said.

"What? You want me to show off?" the crow exclaimed involuntarily.

"—It's to let you personally manifest your divinity, to prepare for her transformation into a hero in the future," Wu Xiaode corrected him.

The crow was stunned and turned to look at Wu Xiaode.

Wu Xiaode had a determined and resolute look on his face, nodding seriously at it.

Without warning—

There was a loud "bang!" and countless phantom starlights emerged from the crow, coalescing into three stars in the air.

The starlight shone on the Book of the Dead, quickly turning into rows of icy small characters:

"Congratulations!"

"You have gained the recognition and admiration of the spirit of the crow."

"Current recognition level: three stars."

"This book has resonated with the spirit of the crow and will randomly draw valuable things from it."

"Drawn talent attribute:"

"Secondary Agility (passive) (permanent)."

"In any battle, your movements and attacks will be more agile, and enemies will find it harder to hit you."

"Explanation:"

"You have grasped one of the secrets of using the Book of the Dead:"

"Helping others to manifest their divinity will surely win their hearts!"