A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 778 - Chapter 778 Chapter 554 Psychiatric Hospital_1

Chapter 778: Chapter 554: Psychiatric Hospital_1 Chapter 778: Chapter 554: Psychiatric Hospital_1 At the local police station, Duanmu Huai found some clues. Initially, the chief wasn’t fond of their visit. However, when he learned that they had been invited by Earl Best, he relaxed a bit.

According to the police, the fatalities were likely caused by a gang.

Their judgement was based on robust evidence.

According to the police autopsy reports, those killed had been bitten to death by some creature. The photographs in the magazine were unintentional; those were just some of the wounds. In fact, the perpetrator didn’t just bite their necks, but tore them apart, as if they had been killed by a pack of wild beasts.

Although the autopsy records indeed indicate death by excessive bleeding, this bears no resemblance to the fabled vampire behavior– anyone would bleed to death from that many wounds.

As for the grave, it was indeed unearthed, but all traces suggest that it was dug up from the outside. If it were the work of a vampire, it would have been the inside.

Pretty much, those magazines are just sensationalizing, taking things out of context.

The police did not come to their conclusion about the gang’s involvement without some basis. Because those bodies… were not locals or even from out of town. According to their investigation, they were all foreigners, all of them illegal immigrants!

Thus, the police believe this could be the work of an organization involved in human trafficking. Perhaps there was an internal dispute, or a conflict with these refugees that led to their murders as they tried to cover up the crime.

Of course, there are some inconsistencies here. For example, if it were about human trafficking, why would they resort to such a method to kill? A simple firing squad would suffice. According to the police, this was to instill fear in the other refugees. The victims might have been killed by a dangerous dog owned by the criminal organization– this could explain the strange bite marks on the victims.

Therefore, they are currently investigating nearby gangs for any leads related to human trafficking– so the police view this as a simple, egregious murder case, disconnected from any vampire myths.

“In any case, please convey to Earl Best that our police force will certainly apprehend the culprit and bring them to justice!”

After saying all that, the chief had Duanmu Huai and the others leave the police station.

“……………………………..”

Mary held her notebook, looking dazedly at Duanmu Huai.

“Mr. Duanmu, what should we do now?”

“The police’s investigation is their business. But they did say that as long as we do not interfere with their investigation, we can do whatever. Hmm… About the locations where these bodies were found, you remember, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s question, Mary nodded and opened her notebook.

“I found the bodies in a refurbished mansion in Vinate Bay. According to the police, it was originally an abandoned residence until a man named Winscott bought it with plans to renovate it completely. Throughout the renovation process, there were a series of worker disappearances, and then the bodies were discovered…”

At this point, Mary furrowed her eyebrows.

“Moreover, the bodies found had nothing to do with the missing workers, and they were all males. Based on the autopsy reports, it appears they died a few weeks ago.”

“So the police are presently investigating human trafficking and gang dealings. They want to find the missing workers but unfortunately, they have not found any clues yet… What about Winscott?”

“That gentleman seems to have suffered some emotional trauma and is currently recuperating in the state asylum. The police have tried to question him, but seem to have gained nothing.”

“Heh, an asylum, another familiar place,” Duanmu Huai snorted.

“Eh? Familiar?”

“Yes, ordinary mortals would react that way when they encounter monsters because they perceive something they cannot comprehend, leading to mental breakdowns, and they become insane. Whatever they say will naturally be construed as ramblings, and they are immediately admitted to an asylum. If you were to tell anyone about your experiences, you would probably end up the same way — so if you want to find clues, an insane asylum truly is a good place.”

“Uh…….”

At this point, Mary turned pale.

“Do we really have to go? I’m a little scared…….”

“That’s up to you. Didn’t you say you wanted to record your investigation and then write a novel?”

“…I’m in!”

For her dreams, Mary decided to give it her all.

Although she had made her decision, on her way to the insane asylum, Mary couldn’t suppress her inner questions.

“Mr. Duanmu, you said that humans become insane when they see those things……but we have all seen similar things, right? Why don’t I feel it’s that dangerous? And Ms. Lorena and you seem to be fine too, right?”

Looking at Duanmu Huai, Mary expressed her confusion. It wasn’t that she was fearless – whether it was Shoggs, Baskerville’s Hellhound, or Glaki’s incarnation that Mary herself had killed, she had been terrified in front of those monsters.

But hanging around Mary, it seemed to only extend that far. It’s like going to a haunted house or watching a horror movie. You’ll be scared at the moment, but after a good rest, you won’t feel so frightened.

So Mary found it hard to understand why ordinary people would go mad after seeing those monsters.

“This is easy to understand. You should know by now that Lorena and I come from a different world. In our world, monsters like these are commonplace. As a Judge, I have dealt with quite a few Subspace Creatures, and as a Pilgrimage Priest, Lorena has encountered numerous demons and monsters.”

At this point, Duanmu Huai spread his hands.

“So for us, these monsters are nasty yes, but we don’t see them as anything remarkable. At worst, they are just unfamiliar and repugnant.”

“Hmm…….”

“But the people in this world are different. They didn’t grow up watching monsters, nor do they believe that monsters exist. So when they see these monsters with their own eyes, their whole worldview collapses… Imagine, things that you took for granted in your daily life suddenly turn out to be different. Can you fathom how terrifying that would be?”

“Uh… I’m sorry, but it seems I can’t quite grasp what you’re saying.”

“Let me put it this way.”

Duanmu Huai snapped his fingers.

“How would you react if you found out that these humans you see are not as they appear to be?”

“…???”

“Let’s keep it simple. Suppose everything you see now is an illusion. The images your eyes capture are not the real ones. In fact, including myself, Lorena, and all of your friends, our real bodies look like quivering chunks of flesh, with blood vessels swaying like snakes, all covered in eyes wrapped in thin membranes. Imagine one day all humans turned into that. Would that terrify you?”

“Wu…”

At this point, Mary’s face turned pale.

“That… that is indeed horrifying.”

“And that’s how these people feel. They’ve had a close encounter with things that should not exist in this world. Therefore, their perception of the world starts to shift towards these things… To put it simply, can you imagine what it would be like to perceive the world one day through an ant’s antennae or a bee’s eyes?”

“Please stop… I’m starting to feel uncomfortable…”

Just the thought of it was enough to make Mary look ashen, swaying a little.

“That’s how it is. Those people went mad simply because they couldn’t bear such a revelation.”

“But I don’t seem to be feeling the same way, do I?”

“Thank your Golden Pupil for that. Because of that, your mind is always stable. Like you said, you fear, but you sleep it off… You will see what ordinary people, those without the Golden Pupil, turn into after seeing those monsters.”

As they talked, they made their way to the mental hospital outside the city. It looked particularly gloomy, with every window barred shut. The patients, dressed in hospital gowns, had an air of listlessness about them, and the healthcare workers looked as lifeless as zombies. But that’s besides the point. Duanmu Huai sought out the hospital’s director, Dr. Berg, announced his identity, and requested a meeting with Winscott.

“No way.”

The Mediterranean doctor with the glasses flatly refused Duanmu Huai’s request.

“That patient is easily agitated. He is currently confined in a zone for patients with extreme violent tendencies. He cannot be stimulated in any way, especially by… ”

While talking, the Mediterranean doctor looked Duanmu Huai up and down and narrowed his eyes.

“Especially by dangerous individuals like you who can cause psychological trauma in others.”

“………………”

Even if it were true, Duanmu Huai wanted to punch the guy at this point. Was that any way to speak?

Although it was indeed true…

So Duanmu Huai did end up punching him.

He just reached over the office desk, grabbed the Mediterranean doctor by the neck, and lifted him up.

“What…what’re you doing?”

Now the Mediterranean doctor’s face turned pale. He struggled, opened his mouth to scream, but Duanmu Huai simply tightened his grip, turning his scream into thin air.

“As you’ve said, I’m not an easy opponent, Doctor Berg.”

Duanmu Huai stared into the Mediterranean’s eyes ominously, a trace of murderous intent in his own, before speaking.

“If you refuse my request, I will have to cause you a bit of psychological trauma, reluctantly.”

“Wait, if you do this, I’ll… I’ll call the police.”

“This is a mental hospital. Perhaps the doctor is also a lunatic. Can we trust the words of a madman?”

As he said this, Duanmu Huai tightened his grip again.

“Or are you saying you’d rather be a corpse than a madman?”

“…”

“I’m giving you one chance. Take us to see him. YES or NO?”

“…”

At this moment, the Mediterranean doctor’s face was as white as a sheet. He couldn’t speak. All he could do was nod frantically. After all, his own life was more important.

Good. Intimidation was successful.

Duanmu Huai nodded in satisfaction, then let go. The Mediterranean doctor fell heavily to the floor. Looking down on him, Duanmu Huai spoke calmly.

“Alright. Lead the way.”