Divine Oracle [Transmigration] (ORACLE)
Who?
Song Si quickly changed his shoes and caught up with Chu Mingyi, who was heading to the parking lot to get the car. He called out, "Is the suspect confirmed to be the director of the Fourth Division?"
Chu Mingyi gave a noncommittal "Hmm" before asking, "Why are you following me? Your injuries haven't healed yet. I gave you two days off."
"Take me with you," Song Si insisted, blocking the car door to force his way into the passenger seat. "Are you sure? I might have been rambling subconsciously. Didn’t Fu Xi say Director Li couldn’t be the one?"
Chu Mingyi replied, "No one rambles subconsciously."
He started the engine, glanced at Song Si sitting beside him, and frowned. But in the end, he said nothing and stepped on the accelerator, speeding out of the parking lot while dialing Yu Yiming.
While waiting for the call to connect, he explained, "I had my suspicions after you interrogated Lu Ling. A safe word isn’t something just anyone can set. Lu Ling, a powerful esper who underwent drug modification, was able to keep secrets during the mindscape interrogation—meaning whoever set the safe word must have extraordinary hypnotic abilities. Then there’s Liu Cenning. He has no special abilities, so being hypnotized isn’t unusual in itself. But the fact that you were attacked upon triggering the safe word, and subsequently suggested to commit suicide and lose your memory, means the hypnotist’s abilities are at least above yours."
"As far as I know, within the entire Special Investigation Bureau, only Li Yunan and Fu Xi possess that level of skill. And what a coincidence—right after we interrogated Lu Ling, the Fourth Division showed up to take you away. I suspect Li Yunan already realized he was exposed. He sent his subordinates to stall us while he used a business trip as an excuse to flee the country."
From the backseat, Fu Xi, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Li Yunan was my teacher. I’ve known him for over a decade, and I don’t believe he would do something like this. Song Si’s Sea of Consciousness is abnormal. I don’t fully trust what he said inside it."
Song Si interjected, "What exactly did you see in my mind?!"
After his question, the two men in the car fell silent.
An uneasy quiet settled over them, each lost in their own thoughts. Song Si waited for an answer that never came, his heart tightening with anxiety. "What was it? Don’t I have the right to know what’s in my own Sea of Consciousness?"
Fu Xi suddenly sighed.
Chu Mingyi, still focused on the road, answered vaguely, "Just an ordinary playground. Anyway, whether it’s Li Yunan or not, we’ll know once we find and interrogate him."
Fu Xi said nothing.
A beep signaled the call connecting, and Yu Yiming’s voice came through. "Boss, as you instructed, we’ve been tracking Li Yunan. Two hours ago, he deviated from his business trip route and has now reached the departure level of F City International Airport. I hacked his ID records but couldn’t interfere with his security check. He must have already switched to a fake identity. What’s our next move?"
Song Si froze.
He glanced at Fu Xi through the rearview mirror. Fu Xi’s expression had turned cold, his lips pressed tightly together and veins bulging at his temples.
Li Yunan had forged an identity, used a business trip as a cover, and was now attempting to flee the country overnight!
Everything matched Chu Mingyi’s suspicions perfectly!
Chu Mingyi ordered, "We can’t let him pass customs—he must be stopped within the country! Notify Xu Xinxin and Tian Li to head to the scene immediately. Is Lin Zheng with you?"
A voice beside Yu Yiming responded, "He is."
"Apply for an arrest warrant immediately and mobilize the local investigative branch in F City to evacuate civilians near the airport, facilitating Tian Li and Xinxin's operation. Yiming, continue tracking him and share the coordinates with all team members. Fu Xi, due to conflict of interest, return to the bureau now with the others. Song Si and I are heading to the scene."
"Xiao Si is going to the scene?" Lin Zheng's surprised voice came through. "Chief, I object! Song Si is the only one in the bureau who can treat Esper syndrome—his safety must be prioritized! And what can he even do at the scene?"
Song Si: "..."
Chu Mingyi took a moment to glance at Song Si and asked, "Do you want to go?"
Of course, Song Si wanted to go. He still had too many unanswered questions about this case and nodded without hesitation. "Yes."
Lin Zheng's stern voice came through the phone, "Xiao Si, this isn't a game!"
Chu Mingyi said, "If he wants to go, let him. It’s a good chance for him to see how our Third Division operates, especially since he’s lost his memory—it’ll help with future cases. Time’s tight. Yiming, connect the team’s real-time comms now."
Yu Yiming: "Copy that. Yi-ge, protect Song Si."
Chu Mingyi acknowledged and hung up, then turned to Fu Xi in the back seat. "Given your special relationship with Li Yunan, take this car and return to the bureau now. Song Si and I will take the helicopter."
Fu Xi’s expression darkened, but knowing his sensitive position, he didn’t argue. Chu Mingyi drove to a private airfield near the residential area, left the car for Fu Xi, arranged for takeoff preparations, and strode into the airfield with Song Si.
The night wind was strong. Song Si had left in such a hurry that he was still in his pajamas, the loose sleeves billowing in the wind. Midway, he sneezed.
A helicopter stood ready nearby, with crew prepping for takeoff. Chu Mingyi boarded first and pulled Song Si up before retrieving a combat suit, handgun, and headset from behind the seat and tossing them to him to change into.
The combat suit was slightly too long—clearly tailored to Chu Mingyi’s build. Song Si had just finished putting on the top and was about to change his pants when Chu Mingyi suddenly clicked his tongue. "Can’t you change in the back?"
Song Si: "? We’re both guys—why the fuss? I’m still wearing underwear."
Chu Mingyi: "..."
He grabbed his clothes and moved to the back seat, leaving Song Si momentarily bewildered before continuing to dress.
A crew member announced, "Mr. Chu, ready for takeoff at any time."
Chu Mingyi swiftly finished gearing up, loaded his gun, and stepped into the cockpit. "Understood."
The cabin door closed, leaving only the two of them inside. Song Si, now seated behind, asked, "Is this the bureau’s helicopter? You’re flying it yourself?"
"It’s my family’s. No time to return to the bureau," Chu Mingyi replied. "Buckle up."
The rotor’s deafening roar filled the cabin as the helicopter lifted off. Song Si had just fastened his seatbelt and was about to ask about the mindscape interrogation when he felt gravity slam him into his seat like a giant hand. The helicopter surged upward with wild acceleration.
After a moment, the speed stabilized.
Yu Yiming’s voice came through the headset: "Li Yunan has entered customs. I’ve hacked his facial recognition—customs officers are troubleshooting the glitch now. He might suspect something and is moving toward other counters."
Xu Xinxin's voice came through the channel: "Estimated arrival at destination in fifteen minutes."
Tian Li chimed in: "Is Sisi coming? Is Sisi coming? Is Sisi coming? I'm so nervous!!"
Yu Yiming responded: "Xiao Li, quiet down."
Tian Li: "...Oh."
The channel fell silent again.
Once the speed stabilized, Song Si entered the cockpit and took the co-pilot's seat. Fu Xi was already on his way back to headquarters, leaving only him and Chu Mingyi.
He asked: "Fu Xi said he didn't believe what I said in the Sea of Consciousness. Why?"
Chu Mingyi remained silent for a moment.
"You recognized our identities in the Sea of Consciousness but didn't attack us," Chu Mingyi said. "I suspect the master there was the Twin Butterflies in your mind."
Song Si: "What do you think?"
"Your constitution is special. The situation in the Sea of Consciousness was unexpected yet makes sense. I believe what you said there because the Twin Butterflies are also part of you. What they reflect... is still your true subconscious."
He paused slightly when saying that last part.
Song Si listened, then slowly curled his lips into a smile. Glancing subtly at Chu Mingyi's expression from the corner of his eye, he joked: "After losing my memory, I actually thought I might be the real culprit."
Chu Mingyi chuckled lightly. "Perfectly normal. With your consciousness attacked and memories lost, you'd naturally have many confused thoughts. There was a Fourth Division agent who encountered a completely deranged mental esper during a mission. After being attacked, he became convinced he was a hidden terrorist boss and even turned himself in at headquarters. Took over three months of treatment to recover."
Song Si inhaled slowly, then exhaled.
"You really don't suspect me?"
Chu Mingyi's gaze swept over him, giving him a thorough once-over.
"You?" He raised an eyebrow. "When Liu Cenning was conducting human experiments, you were still studying at the same school as me. How could you have provided him with specimens?"
Song Si: "..."
He felt both relieved and more confused than ever.
"Is that so? I don't remember," he murmured. "Boss, tell me—do you think our world might actually be a novel?"
Chu Mingyi: "What nonsense. Have Fu Xi check you later... or my brother could examine you. He's quite expert in this area."
Song Si fell silent, looking down at his hands.
They were undeniably human hands—clearly jointed, with firm skin that would bleed if cut and break if struck with a hammer.
Li Yunan was currently attempting to flee the country. Liu Cenning's case had reached a very clear stage at this point. No matter how he looked at it, none of this had anything to do with him, Song Si.
Leaning back into his seat, Song Si let out a long sigh. His tense body relaxed as he said exhaustedly: "You're right. My brain might really be broken."
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