Divine Oracle [Transmigration] (ORACLE)
"No overtime pay, but I’ll dig into my own pocket—if the division accumulates over 150 hours of overtime in a month, I’ll clear each of your shopping carts once."
Chu Mingyi hadn’t even finished his cigarette when they arrived at a shabby-looking police station. He hastily stubbed it out in a nearby trash bin.
The street was eerily quiet, devoid of any pedestrians, with only the streetlights still glowing. Song Si narrowed his eyes, taking in the building—its plaque was rusted and the words "Municipal Safety Police Station" now barely legible and missing strokes to the point of reading "Municipal Female Police Pound." The bulletin board hadn’t been updated in ages, the last notice dated a year ago. The neglected greenery in front had grown wild as even some shrubs creeping up to the windowsills…
At first glance, it looked like a condemned building awaiting demolition.
Yet this very "condemned" building was brightly lit at two or three in the morning, an undeniably eerie sight.
Chu Mingyi led Song Si inside. The cold predawn air carried the heavy scent of smoke clinging to the man beside him.
They passed through the station’s lobby, turning into a dimmer, quieter corridor. At the end stood three security gates equipped with infrared cameras and fingerprint scanners. Pressing his thumb against the scanner, their faces lit up on the gate’s display as a mechanical female voice intoned, "Identity verified. Love your work, but love life more. Good night."
Song Si, who had been dragged out of bed in the dead of night, couldn’t help but yawn at the message. "Boss, even the security system wants to say goodnight. I’m a patient who just survived a suicide attempt and an infrasonic wave attack. Can’t I take a sick day?"
Chu Mingyi turned to him with an amused look, then suddenly slung an arm around his neck, pulling him close.
Song Si wrinkled his nose at the overwhelming smell of smoke.
"Ever since you woke up, it’s been ‘Boss’ this, ‘Boss’ that," Chu Mingyi clicked his tongue. "I’m really not used to it."
Song Si obliged, "Brother-in-law."
Chu Mingyi’s steps faltered. He promptly released Song Si and put distance between them.
"Finish interrogating that woman tonight, and I’ll treat you to a buffet tomorrow morning. Plus, you can take the day off."
The promise sounded utterly unreliable. Song Si sighed as he followed.
Another dozen-meter-long corridor later, a glance out the window revealed a modern eight-story building ahead—boxy, with all windows shut, and their one-way privacy film obscuring the interior. More than half the floors were still lit.
The ground floor housed a few scattered shops, including a 24-hour convenience store still open. A drunkard swayed under a streetlight before vomiting. Everything seemed perfectly ordinary.
Chu Mingyi followed Song Si’s gaze. "Remember this?"
The book hadn’t mentioned it. Song Si opted for selective amnesia. "Can’t recall."
Chu Mingyi turned down the corridor, heading toward the building. A few minutes later, they stopped at an elevator. Chu Mingyi scanned his fingerprint, and the same mechanical voice announced, "Fifth floor, Special Investigation Third Division."
"The convenience store is run by our department, the wonton shop next door is operated by the fourth department, the women's clothing store belongs to the first department, and there's also a buffet restaurant owned by the big boss," Chu Mingyi said. "The shops operate as usual, but none have access to the upper floors. The only entrance is through the police station."
The elevator doors opened, and Chu Mingyi held them aside, letting Song Si enter first.
"Their main purpose is camouflage, but the profits help subsidize our staff. Our department earns the most. You used to love the ice cream at the buffet—went every week without fail. Don’t remember that either?"
Song Si shook his head. "I’ll try it after work. Maybe it’ll jog my memory. You’re treating."
Chu Mingyi chuckled. "Wow, losing your memory made you stingy."
Song Si looked up at the ceiling. "Because I can’t remember my bank card PIN either."
Chu Mingyi: "..."
"Fifth floor," a mechanical female voice interrupted their conversation.
The brief chat ended. Chu Mingyi, who hadn’t slept properly in three days, had bloodshot eyes that were more noticeable under the bright lights. He pressed the elevator button wearily and said, "Follow me."
The fifth floor had only one door. Inside was a large office space filled with lush greenery, and vibrant under the fluorescent lights at this late hour.
Someone called out, "Si-Si!" Song Si looked up to see a young man with dyed blond hair and earrings waving excitedly at him.
Beside him sat a crew-cut man with a stern face and typing rapidly on a laptop.
Xu Xinxin with his Hypersensitivity of the five senses, and Lin Zheng, whose left hand had a mind of its own.
Yu Yiming, who had brought in the suspect earlier, was also present. The entire third department had gathered, except for Tian Li, who was holding down the fort at the clinic.
Song Si nodded briefly at them while also quickly memorizing the two characters' appearances and trying to match them to the novel’s descriptions.
Chu Mingyi instructed, "Order midnight snacks if you're hungry. I’ll cover it." Then he pulled Song Si into an inner room, where Fu Xi sat in front of an interrogation chamber. The woman who had attacked Song Si was handcuffed to a chair, pale and connected to an IV drip, looking like she might collapse at any moment.
Fu Xi was asking slowly, "Your name is Lu Ling, right? I remember you."
It didn’t sound like an interrogation—more like a friendly chat.
The woman inside seemed not to hear, remaining silent for a long while.
Chu Mingyi turned off the one-way glass and audio equipment in the interrogation room and called Fu Xi out.
Fu Xi was still in pajamas covered in little sheep, his hair seemingly uncombed. He scratched his head as he stepped out. "Si-Si’s here."
Chu Mingyi said seriously, "His memory isn’t fully recovered. Subconscious interrogation is too risky. Fu Xi, you have to promise not to attempt anything dangerous. Be cautious, or you’ll never borrow him from me again."
Fu Xi smiled at Song Si. "Got it, got it. Chief Chu, you really don’t understand Si-Si. Even if he forgot his own name, he’d still remember how to escape from someone’s subconscious."
Chu Mingyi raised an eyebrow. "Even if I don’t understand him, I understand how reckless you are."
Fu Xi smiled good-naturedly again. "Don’t worry."
Then he turned to Song Si, who was still trying to recall the plot, and said, "Si-Si, we’ll use equipment to enter Lu Ling’s subconscious and guide her to recall valuable information. It might even help restore your memory."
Song Si nodded, signaling for him to continue.
"We've collaborated on numerous interrogations before, never once failing, so relax and don't be nervous," Fu Xi spoke slowly as always. "Once we enter the Sea of Consciousness, I'll guide while you assist. You don't need to fully immerse yourself—just maintain a semi-projection state, observing me and the entire consciousness world as an outsider. The moment I touch the subject's Thunder line and the Sea of Consciousness starts violently counterattacking—and if you judge it poses danger to me—use your ability to sever the connection and end the interrogation. Simple, isn't it?"
"What happens if you suffer a fatal attack in the Sea of Consciousness?"
Fu Xi replied calmly, "I'd become a vegetable."
Song Si's brows furrowed sharply. "What if I misjudge?"
Fu Xi said with certainty, "Misjudgment doesn't exist."
Song Si pressed, "Your life is in my hands. How can you be sure I won't misjudge?"
Fu Xi smiled. "Never doubt your own judgment, just as I never doubt your decisions. That's the secret to success."
Song Si opened his mouth to ask more, but Fu Xi patted his shoulder. "No need to worry. Overthinking will only hinder you. Trust me—once you're in the machine, you'll remember exactly what to do. This is the innate ability of you and your Butterfly."
Chu Mingyi looked grave and called out, "Xu Xinxin."
Xu Xinxin poked his head in. "Boss, what's up?"
"Go into the interrogation room with them. Monitor their vitals, and cut the connection immediately if anything seems off," Chu Mingyi instructed. "If she can't be use, we still have Liu Cenning. Safety first."
Xu Xinxin's gaze lingered on Song Si as he nodded repeatedly. "Got it!"
Fu Xi waved. "Come on, Xiao Si."
The machines were ready—simple-looking helmets, one of which was shaped like Ultraman, clearly Fu Xi's personal choice.
Three chairs were placed facing the woman. Chu Mingyi closed the interrogation room door, summoned Yu Yiming and Lin Zheng, activated all monitoring devices, and put on his headphones.
Lu Ling's face was pale and her gaze unfocused as it drifted past them before finally settling on Song Si's face.
Her lips moved slightly.
"Miss Lu, pardon the intrusion," Fu Xi said politely. "We need to administer a polygraph test."
Xu Xinxin stood up and moved to place the helmet on Lu Ling's head.
For the first time since being brought into the interrogation room—having remained silent, expressionless, and motionless—Lu Ling actually shied away slightly.
Chu Mingyi immediately ordered, "Stop."
Xu Xinxin heard the command through his earpiece and halted while looking at Lu Ling. "What's wrong?"
Of the three people in the room, Lu Ling's gaze remained fixed solely on Song Si, unblinking and her lips slowly pressing together.
Song Si sensed her emotions—disappointment, sorrow, anger, despair...
His brow furrowed slightly as Chu Mingyi spoke again. "Song Si, you talk to her."
Mindful of his role, Song Si softened his expression and spoke gently, "Relax, this is just a standard polygraph procedure. It won't harm you."
Lu Ling's shoulders trembled faintly.
After a long silence, the woman who had just narrowly escaped death lowered her chin slightly while still staring at Song Si as she whispered hoarsely, "...You lied to me."
Song Si froze.
What?
Lied to her? About what?
And why does this sentence sound so strange?
He turned to look at Fu Xi, who wore an expression that said "here we go again," eyes fixed downward and his lips sealed.
Yu Yiming's calm voice came through the earpiece: "The treatment sequelae are taking effect. This is an opportunity."
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