Chapter 183: Clues

While Lin Mu was contacting the Heavy Prisoners Penitentiary with Jiang Chu and others, a small fishing boat bobbed on the waves far out at sea. An old fisherman on board cast out a large net, appearing to fish.

However, there was a small hole in the boat’s cabin wall. Something that looked like a shiny lens extended through the hole. Inside the cabin, a young man was holding a telescope, watching something far away on the shore.

After observing for a while, he pulled out a mobile phone. He continued looking through the telescope as he dialed a number.

“Hello, Brother Feng. Something might be wrong with Lin Mu’s situation,” the young man said immediately as the call connected.

“What’s happened? Any problems over there?” Fu Feng put down his teacup and concentrated as he asked.

They had dedicated substantial resources lately to investigate Lin Mu’s background, but nothing useful had turned up—only ordinary information. Frustrated, Fu Feng had resorted to having someone watch Lin Mu constantly.

“Nothing actually happened. But I saw him with someone. They seemed very familiar,” the young man said, his voice puzzled.

“With someone? Who?” Fu Feng asked quickly.

“Brother Feng, do you remember that case from two years ago? We collaborated with another department. A guy surnamed Jiang came over then. We all called him Captain Jiang,” the young man replied slowly while watching through the telescope.

“Jiang Chu?” Fu Feng asked, shocked and suspicious. He knew very well who Jiang Chu was. While lower-level members of the Secret Case Division might not understand, Fu Feng’s rank allowed him access to classified information. Jiang Chu belonged to the Dragon Protection Corps.

That was another secretive Huaxian unit. Its authority surpassed the Secret Case Division’s, as the Secret Case Division dealt purely internal matters while the Dragon Protection Corps handled external affairs. During urgent situations, they even had the power to deploy military assets.

Naturally, that required approval from the Dragon Protection Corps’ top brass.

Regardless, if Lin Mu knew Jiang Chu, it implied his background wasn’t simple. Anyone associating with the Dragon Protection Corps underwent stringent vetting. No one with suspicious traits could ever join them.

“Alright. Stop the surveillance and return immediately. This Lin Mu probably doesn’t pose a significant threat. I’ll call Old Jiang myself later to check,” Fu Feng hung up. He didn’t call immediately since Lin Mu was currently with Jiang Chu. Contacting Jiang Chu now seemed inappropriate; he’d wait for a better opportunity.

Lin Mu had no idea that far out at sea, a small fishing boat was gradually sailing away. That prying eye quietly closed.

“Hurry! Someone’s coming! Hide the stuff!” a voice whispered urgently from behind rows of iron bars. Instantly, rustling fabric filled the air as everyone shoved something beneath their blankets. Just as they finished, two guards walked by, checking each cell.

“Hah. The Heavy Prisoners Penitentiary reports nothing unusual. They did a check; everything’s normal. All the inmates are securely locked inside their cells,” Jiang Chu said, letting out a breath as he lowered his mobile phone. Lin Mu, however, frowned deeply. Something felt off, though he couldn’t pinpoint it. Scanning the area, his unease grew specifically about the People’s Armed Police.

He didn’t mean the guards had turned traitor. Compared to ordinary people, there was just something strange about them. He couldn’t name it despite looking closely for a while. Finally, he signaled Jiang Chu to call one over.

“Brother Lin, any other questions?” Jiang Chu asked. Though uncertain what Lin Mu wanted, he summoned a People’s Armed Police officer.

Lin Mu waved his hand, signaling Jiang Chu not to speak yet. He then posed some questions to the guard.

“Have you all been stationed here continuously these last two days?” Lin Mu asked intently, closely watching the guard’s face.

“Yes, Sir! We’ve stood our posts constantly! We haven’t moved an inch!” The guard pulled his shoulders back and answered loudly.

“Anything unusual?” Lin Mu pressed.

“Report, Sir! Nothing unusual was noticed!” The guard answered with unwavering firmness.

“Any shift changes?” Lin Mu’s gaze sharpened, seemingly noticing something different in the guard’s expression.

“Shifts change every six hours. Rotated without break according to schedule. All posts are manned!” The guard reported stiffly, eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Stand still. I need to examine you,” Lin Mu nodded, stepping forward and placing a hand directly on the guard’s head.

“Yes, Sir!” The soldier stood ramrod straight, weapon tucked beside him. He snapped his arms to his sides, palms pressed firmly against his trousers’ center seams.

Lin Mu drew a thin strand of Zhenqi from his Dantian. Carefully, he channeled this Zhenqi through the guard’s Baihui acupuncture point at the crown of the head. He was cautious; the brain was far too complex. Mishandling here could easily turn the guard into an idiot.

“Alright, return to your post,” Lin Mu said, withdrawing his hand. The guard immediately jogged back to his position.

“What’s wrong, Brother Lin? Something amiss?” Jiang Chu asked, perplexed.

“Indeed, I’ve found something strange. Though I need to inspect all the People’s Armed Police personnel to confirm my suspicions,” Lin Mu replied.

“That’s manageable. I’ll have them all assemble,” Jiang Chu said, a hint of relief showing. Discovering abnormalities, even tentative ones, was better than flying blind here.

After roughly ten minutes, Lin Mu finished examining all People’s Armed Police officers who had been on duty in the past two days.

“So that’s it! No wonder they all saw nothing usual. This explains things!” Lin Mu murmured, his expression focused as he slowly nodded.

“What’s going on?” Jiang Chu pressed anxiously.

“Every guard on duty here has been hypnotized. Their memories were altered. Things they witnessed during that time were erased. What they recount now isn’t their memory—it’s an implant left by whoever hypnotized them,” Lin Mu stated firmly.

“What? Their memories… wiped?” Startled, Jiang Chu’s heart jolted.

“Exactly. Modern hypnosis can achieve this, though it takes considerable time. Simultaneously wiping so many memories? Impossible for a regular hypnotist; it’s too time-consuming,” Lin Mu nodded. “Pulling this off requires a Superpower User. Some with spiritual supernatural abilities, aided by Alien Energy, could find this relatively straightforward.”

“You mean… this implicates… Superpower Users?” A chill ran down Jiang Chu’s spine. “Those Europeans from the airport last time?”

“Hard to say on my part,” Lin Mu shook his head. “Were you monitoring them?”

“Yes, they’re under twenty-four-hour surveillance. But nothing suspicious popped up. Besides, most monitoring happens remotely from HQ. Very low chance those watchers were hypnotized,” Jiang Chu replied, looking puzzled. “Could they truly hypnotize people watching from the other end of cameras? That sounds too bizarre!”

“Can’t rule it out. Maybe such a supernatural power exists!” Lin Mu gave a helpless smile. His grasp of supernatural powers wasn’t exhaustive. Such abilities were inherently strange. If what Jiang Chu described existed, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising.

“That’s terrifying! How did you even detect the guards’ abnormality?” Jiang Chu asked, shaking his head slightly as he looked at Lin Mu.

“When I examined their heads, I detected damage caused by external force in a specific brain region—the area storing human memories. While I couldn’t identify the lost memories, clearly, someone interfered with their minds,” Lin Mu explained briefly. “Combined with their curt, forceful responses? They seemed confident, but their expressions were vacant. Because those memories aren’t theirs, recalling felt robotic, unnatural.”

“I see. The poison goods have been missing for a day now. This much time passing makes their whereabouts unknown. Particularly since the ocean isn’t far—any smuggling route via water would be incredibly hard to track,” Jiang Chu sighed heavily. They had kept watch on the Europeans, yet the operation happened right under their noses.

“No. Something’s definitely off with those Europeans,” Lin Mu stated thoughtfully. Then, suddenly decisive, “Where are they staying? We need to head there. Now.”

“Alright. I’ll go with you,” Jiang Chu agreed immediately. He summoned a vehicle, and both departed the warehouse for the city center.

Approximately thirty minutes later, they arrived at a mid-range star hotel, not the best in Jingdu. The group of Europeans stayed here, having booked rooms online the day before their arrival.

“Just called. Confirmed they’re in the dining hall having breakfast. Daily at this time, they emerge together. After eating, some return to rest, others explore briefly. This pattern held for days,” Jiang Chu relayed information he’d just obtained via phone. They entered the hotel.

Checking the guide, they saw the restaurant was on the third floor. Lin Mu and Jiang Chu took the elevator straight up.

Entering the dining hall, they immediately spotted the group. Twenty-plus people sitting together formed an unavoidable target.

Lin Mu only glanced once before whispering to Jiang Chu beside him: “This group has problems. Six of the Superpower Users have vanished!”