Deep in the Living
Chapter 100 - 94: The Class Monitor’s Choice

Chapter 100: Chapter 94: The Class Monitor’s Choice

"Luo Di, how does the first one look?"

In Anna’s view, the first case was simply perfect.

The target was precise, the region exact.

All that was necessary was to figure out a way to identify the human body model, perfectly suitable for the two newcomers.

Quickly complete it and add a record in the archive, the obtained pituitary, even if it could not be used to combine with the body, could still be used to make props or be exchanged for points.

"Not so good."

However, Luo Di held a completely opposite view; such overly simple targets were meaningless to him, unable to provide the thrill of the hunt, and moreover, that kind of pituitary wasn’t valuable on the Hell side.

Besides, there are many supermarkets throughout the city, and finding a human body model might not be that easy.

"What about the second one?"

"Even worse."

The second case was somewhat similar to the missing person’s case Luo Di had dealt with not long ago.

Moreover, the target was only focusing on middle-aged and elderly people with poor mental states, a very low-level existence; even if the difficulty fluctuated, it wouldn’t be too high.

On top of that, the other party had never shown themselves, investigating might end up wasting a lot of time.

"Luo Di, you want to take on cases of a higher difficulty level, right?"

"Yes... too simple is not interesting, and a waste of time."

On the side, Marco, responsible for liaison, also echoed: "Indeed, Mr. Di’s capabilities should consider dealing with Mature Pseudo-Person cases, it’s a pity that there are only these two recent events available."

"Let me look again."

The casebook in Luo Di’s hands was still quite thick, perhaps something interesting could be found among the "stagnant cases."

However,

As page after page was flipped through by hand, Luo Di’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Although some of these cases met the standards, most of the Pseudo-People had clearly moved on, and the clues given in the data only took one glance to know they were outdated, finding them was like looking for a needle in the ocean.

Anna almost didn’t harbor any hope; she knew very well why these cases had stagnated.

Fifteen minutes had already passed,

Anna even started browsing a video website at her side,

Luo Di, who had maintained the same page-flipping speed, suddenly stopped, not because he saw a favorable case, but rather the backpack behind him transmitted a light trembling, as if the class leader had moved a little.

As a result,

Luo Di decided to scrutinize the currently flipped-to case closely, but had not looked for long before his brows furrowed tightly, this event had even fewer clues, and the stagnation time was also very long.

Seeing Luo Di stop flipping through the pages, Anna also squeezed her head over.

...

"Event Name": Non-existent Nursing Home

*Note: The event has stagnated for six months and 16 days

"Event Description": A suspicious nursing home is seemingly appearing randomly throughout the city area; once an individual enters, they completely disappear, and due to the inability to find bodies, it is impossible to determine whether the individual has died or not.

According to the current data collected, there are approximately 31 missing person cases in the city "suspected" to be related to this nursing home, with only one missing case definitively related to the nursing home.

This missing event occurred three months ago.

Cliff, a 47-year-old workshop worker, planned to visit his father at the Truoqi Nursing Home after finishing work normally. He spoke to his wife on the phone ten minutes after work, saying he was on his way to the nursing home.

Ten minutes later, when the wife discovered that the cooking spices at home were finished, she made a phone call planning to ask her husband to buy some on the way back home, only to find the call could not go through.

Six hours later the Investigation Bureau received a report from the wife.

After reviewing footage from surveillance cameras along the way, it was found that Cliff disappeared shortly after leaving his workplace.

The other 30 missing persons, more or less, all had connections with the nursing home, either working at the nursing home or needing to visit family there.

But the information before their disappearance was unclear, and the locations of the disappearances are scattered throughout different areas of the city.

"Fluctuation Frequency": Unable to estimate

"Event Difficulty": Purple or above

"Pseudo-Person Analysis":

Has reached a mature state, can create portable Corner-like Spaces.

Aimed specifically at a special group of people who wish to go to the nursing home, can induce cognitive distortions, or unconsciously guide their thoughts, getting caught in the Corner-like Space in places where surveillance can’t capture.

The type of Pseudo-Person may include one or more of the following types: Spatial, Thought Influence, Curse, Spiritual Body.

Suspected to be of the Special Type, or even an Abnormal Type of Pseudo-Person, high threat level.

"Handling Conditions": Operation by a team of 3~5 people, avoid separating while searching for the nursing home, at least one Official Investigator is required to lead the team.

...

Anna looked at this complex event record and repeatedly shook her head, "This event corresponds to a mature Pseudo-Person and has already been stagnant for half a year, it is very likely that the entity has participated in ’interstice screening’.

Even if the thing is still active in Mingwang City, it’s not something we can handle.

The quality and depth of its pituitary are suspected to have reached ’Abnormal Type’."

Luo Di was puzzled when flipping through the casebook just now,

Within "Pseudo-Person Analysis", this section always ended up giving a qualification,

Mostly "Ordinary Type" Pseudo-People, and also a few "Special Type", this current event mentions "Abnormal Type" for the first time.

"Anna, besides the years, mature or immature, is there another way to evaluate Pseudo-People?"

"I only found out after joining the Investigation Bureau, let me simply explain.

Located in the Capital, the Head Research Bureau published an academic journal a few years ago titled ’The Depth of the Pituitary’, proposing a concept of ’depth’; they believe that the depth of the pituitary corners directly affects the ’potential’ of the Pseudo-Person as well as their dangerous manifestations after reaching maturity."

This is also why multiple mature Pseudo-People, after undergoing interstice screening, can ultimately determine a sole victor, occasionally achieving an overwhelming victory.

Literature separates Pseudo-People into the following four categories based on depth:

1. "Ordinary Type," the most commonly seen Pseudo-Person.

Before becoming a Pseudo-Person, they tend to be unremarkable individuals in life, with average stress resistance, ordinary lives, no extreme pursuits, and no excessive pain.

They lack particularly notable traits, as well as any major flaws.

These individuals often fear mundane things, such as common rats and insects in daily life, ordinary monsters from literary and cinematic works, or a feeling of fear toward someone in their vicinity.

It’s quite easy for these people to develop a Thought Corner and to form simple "Fear Embodiments." Their abilities are typically average and are easily detected through psychological screening.

For instance, in the severe wards of psychiatric hospitals, there are many ordinary Pseudo-People who were discovered through psychological screening.

2. "Special Type"

These Pseudo-People already possess a ’characteristic’ before their transformation or have an ’obsession’ that far exceeds that of an ordinary person or have certain physical functions that are well above normal levels, etc.

This allows them to realize more specific, more unique, and more complex "Fear Embodiments."

Their disguises might be better, or possibly worse, but their overall threat level is much higher than those of the aforementioned category.

The special pituitary that corresponds to their brains is usually valuable and is the top choice for most investigators.

3. "Abnormal Type"

Even before becoming a Pseudo-Person, you can sense their threat.

They are clearly different from normal Humans, having committed heinous crimes, even as Humans, in incomprehensible ways.

Alternatively, they were adept at "Disguise" before becoming Pseudo-People, using their excellent acting skills to package themselves, even becoming prominent "exemplary figures."

Once these individuals develop a Thought Corner, they can to some extent suppress the whisper from the Corner, retain parts of their ego and take the initiative.

Their "Fear Embodiments" appear very distinct, and the abilities they acquire from the Corner are extremely bizarre and dangerous.

They often evade various forms of psychological screening, easily integrating into human society to mature, and ultimately winning the selection event to gain an "identity" in the Corner.

As for the last category.

4. "Divine Type"

Due to very limited supporting data, the authors of the literature are unclear about what they were like before becoming Pseudo-People, or in other words, they are not much different from ordinary people.

The only criterion for categorizing a pituitary as "Divine Type" is that their "Fear Embodiment" has a connection to divinity, directly relates to some horrific myth, or the embodiment itself can be associated with divine characteristics.

What exactly qualifies as divine characteristics, I’m not entirely clear on that.

In any case, this type of Pseudo-Person is exceedingly rare, rumored to be even less in number than Connectors. There are extreme differences within this category; they are either very dangerous or very amicable, and almost impossible to detect using existing methods.

Of course,

The so-called ’depth of the pituitary’ simply defines [Potential] and does not directly represent the true strength of a Pseudo-Person.

Even an Ordinary Type Pseudo-Person can encounter certain ordeals and experiences during their growth and become very dangerous.

It only needs to be considered as a factor of reference."

Luo Di immediately thought of something, "Divinity, myths... The target of this year’s Admissions competition seems to be a Derivative formed by a Pseudo-Person related to divinity."

"Yes! This should be a very rare case, that Divine Type Pseudo-Person has reached a cooperation with Capital City. After all, such Pseudo-People can probably completely resist the influence of the Corner and might inherently be good people.

But even just being ’Abnormal’ is special and dangerous enough.

The event you have chosen has a high likelihood of being nullified. Let’s look at something else."

"Mm."

Anna’s analysis is correct.

The Pseudo-Person behind the nursing home has already matured, and the event has been stalled for half a year. The opposite party has probably already completed the interstice screening and gone to the Corner Depths.

Just as Luo Di was about to flip past this page,

Rustle rustle rustle~ The backpack behind him moved again, with a larger movement than the last time. Even through the backpack, one could faintly feel the sensation of hair sliding.

If the first time was a coincidence, this time it was definitely not.

This might be the class leader’s choice.

"I still want to try this one."

"Alright."

Anna did not object; she seemed to have sensed something just now as well.

But there was another issue at hand,

Even if the two decided to take on the event, they would need at least three people, and among them an Official Investigator to lead.

Luo Di also turned his gaze to Marco beside him, who promptly waved his hands, indicating he didn’t want to be involved in such troublesome matters.

Beep beep beep!

At this moment, Marco’s wrist communicator suddenly rang.

Marco, who had been very relaxed all this time, tensed up after answering the call, his small eyes widening suddenly.

"What is happening today~ Please wait a moment, I have to greet an important guest."

"What guest?"

"From the Capital City."

Luo Di didn’t care about who came to visit the Investigation Bureau; he just wanted to quickly take on the stagnant event chosen by the class leader.

It wasn’t long before Marco returned, but he was accompanied by another person into the archive room.

He was not unfamiliar,

Luo Di had just seen him this morning,

"What a coincidence! Fellow townsman, we meet again!"