Anomalous Records

Wang Xia quickly dodged behind Hu Kai Liang, clinging to him like a frightened bird, asking, "Uncle Hu, can you defeat it?"

Before Hu Kai Liang could answer, several lines of text appeared simultaneously on all five phones: "I'm afraid not. A mere level three superhuman cannot defeat my true form. My true form is not here at all. Although it can destroy the phone to delete the death sequence I installed, I advise you not to do so. After all, I am a great lover of humanity, and I truly cannot bear to see you seek your own deaths."

Level three superhuman?

Zhao Yan Chun and the others looked at Hu Kai Liang, whose face was tense, clearly not expecting this anomaly to reveal its origins upon meeting them. Listening to its tone, its true form wasn't here, the phones were just death sequences... This arrogant attitude and anthropomorphic language were extremely similar to the intelligent high-level anomalies of legend!

How could a low-level superhuman like him be so unlucky as to encounter a high-level anomaly? Wasn't this trying to take his old life?

Hu Kai Liang, who could usually analyze rationally when facing the phantom bus, now broke out in a cold sweat. He asked in a deep voice, "Do you mean that if we don't agree to become your so-called anomaly collectors, you will kill us?"

Ye Yu heard this, knowing she had successfully intimidated Hu Kai Liang, which was exactly the effect she wanted. In the situation just now, it was impossible for her to contend for command with Hu Kai Liang. Not only would the others not obey her, but they might also hinder her actions by believing in a mistaken escape method. Therefore, Ye Yu chose to fabricate a more powerful anomaly as a third party, using a deeper fear to break this deadlock!

Her mind stirred, and the text simultaneously appeared on all five phone screens:

"No, of course not. Although most of my kind enjoy eating humans, I was not born to kill. I am merely following the will of the God, seeking suitable humans to work for the God. When I passed by your phones, I discovered you were being deceived by a despicable scoundrel, so I mercifully descended."

"Believe me, I come to save you, not to kill you. Weaklings like you truly offer little nutrition to me. :)"

This bizarre high-level anomaly seemed to be demonstrating its friendliness and sincerity by directly announcing its death rule. Humans bound by it would have seven days to exist, but could exchange for survival points by collecting anomalies, whether existing or vanished. The amount of points received would simply differ. Humans would use points to exchange for survival time.

Even a deceased level one anomaly could be exchanged for 5 points, equivalent to five days of existence. From these rules, it seemed the Anomalous Records truly only wanted to force them to continuously collect anomalies, rather than kill them. Of course, no one could determine if this lenient death rule was real or fake.

In reality, this death rule was true, because the true form of the Anomalous Records was only level three, and the fragmented death sequences only had level one intensity, so it could only do this much. As long as Zhao Yan Chun and the others smashed their phones right now, they could immediately escape the pursuit of this weak anomaly.

However, Hu Kai Liang and the others didn't know that. Even Hu Kai Liang was intimidated, let alone the others. Everyone was wary of the eerie, human-intelligent entity behind it.

Wang Xia murmured, "It keeps mentioning 'God.' Who is God? A more powerful anomaly?"

"Please do not casually refer to the God like that. The God is not merely an anomaly; the God is our supreme monarch, and now also your supreme monarch. If you disrespect the God and incur His wrath, I cannot save you."

Wang Xia was astonished, "King? Does the anomaly world also have a king?"

Hu Kai Liang had never heard of a king in the anomaly world, but his first reaction was that this high-level anomaly wouldn't bother to deceive a small figure like him. From a human perspective, most high-level anomalies possessed intelligence. Perhaps there truly was an anomaly with terrifying strength that had suppressed all other anomalies to ascend to kingship.

Due to the influence of the Anomalous Records' symbol, his mind conjured an image of a person holding a cat sitting on a throne, with countless ugly, twisted high-level anomalies prostrating below. Thinking of this, his heart tightened, and he shivered with cold. The existence of a king among anomalies was not good news for humanity.

But Hu Kai Liang didn't have time to consider that carefully now. "...You said we were being deceived. What do you mean?"

"I heard your analysis just now. It itself has no problem, but unfortunately, this poor bus has encountered trouble. It was hijacked by a despicable scoundrel. At this moment, the bus's final stop is not Jinyang People's Hospital, but... Jinyang Xiehe Hospital."

On all five phone screens, the words "Jinyang Xiehe Hospital" appeared in blood-red, giving this ordinary hospital name an eerie, terrifying nuance.

Hu Kai Liang hadn't even recovered from the fact that this high-level anomaly had been secretly observing them when he was choked by the crucial information the other party had just revealed: "Jinyang Xiehe Hospital? That's impossible!"

As if thinking of something, he quickly walked to the public transportation route map, intending to wipe away the dirt on the words "Jinyang ** Hospital," but then recoiled in fear, as if the dirt was something that could bite off his fingers.

Wang Xia asked in fear, "Where is Jinyang Xiehe Hospital?"

Tang Nian Ke replied, "It's a hospital that burned down ten years ago. They say it's haunted, so it's been sealed off for a long time. Is that place also an anomaly?"

Ye Yu said in a low voice, "Jinyang Xiehe Hospital is an unresolved level seven anomaly that has been sealed for ten years. It's extremely dangerous. Ordinary people who enter will surely die."

Hu Kai Liang couldn't help but glance at her.

On the five phones, text appeared again: "Although your strength is very weak, your knowledge seems quite extensive, so there's no need for much explanation. Do you understand my meaning now? Following your method can indeed allow you to get off the bus smoothly, but once you get off, you will step into the vicinity of Jinyang Xiehe Hospital. In your human terms, it's walking into a trap."

"But don't worry, for that scoundrel's despicable behavior, I have a countermeasure. :)"

Hu Kai Liang asked, "What method?"

"I can show you how to survive, but my dear humans, you must know that we anomalies are not philanthropists. In exchange, after you escape, you must give me the core of bus 712. :)"

Hu Kai Liang didn't agree immediately, only saying, "I don't even know how to survive yet, how would I know where the core of this bus is?"

"It's very simple. You also guessed that the pregnant woman is the key. The core is on her. Perform a caesarean section on her, make her give birth early, and get off the bus before the tenth stop. You will survive. :)"

System Mister casually stated the escape method, seemingly not worried at all that Hu Kai Liang and the others would go back on their word.

Zhao Yan Chun asked, "Uncle Hu, can the anomaly's words be trusted?"

Hu Kai Liang was flustered by the information he had just received: "I don't know."

"I think there's some truth to what he said." Ye Yu took a deep breath, seemingly having made up her mind, and took out an ID card from her pocket.

"Let me introduce myself. I am a level one investigator from the Jinyang City Investigation Squad, Ye Yu."

The card had no photo or name, but it listed her work unit as the Jinyang City Investigation Squad, part of Zhongzhou, along with a distinctive embossed seal. Most notably, there was an encrypted code that could only be looked up through the "Shenzhou Monster Extermination Alliance" software or the investigation squad's internal network. This was a way to protect investigators. Ye Yu's主动 (proactive) revelation of her name was a sign of sincerity.

While the others were still wondering what an investigation squad was, they saw Hu Kai Liang, with a complex gaze, say, "So you're from the investigation squad. No wonder... But why didn't you say so earlier?"

Ye Yu said awkwardly, "I originally intended to, but I saw Uncle Hu step forward first. I felt that Uncle Hu had rich combat experience and was much more seasoned in dealing with anomalies than I am. If Uncle Hu had already figured out a way and was controlling the situation well, a weakling like me didn't need to add trouble."

To show sincerity, Ye Yu's shadow stirred slightly, and a dark figure half-emerged, scaring Wang Xia into retreating. Fortunately, the shadow quickly receded. Wang Xia and the others looked at Ye Yu with suspicion, not expecting her to also be a superhuman!

Ye Yu continued, "Moreover... Uncle Hu probably isn't from the investigation squad, right? My seniors warned me that quite a few civilian superhumans dislike people from the investigation squad."

"You didn't dare reveal your identity earlier because you were afraid I was one of those dangerous elements who hate the investigation squad, and would take the opportunity to attack you?"

Hu Kai Liang understood that Ye Yu's concealment was due to safety concerns, and the wariness in his eyes lessened somewhat. "You don't need to worry about that. I'm from the Anomalous Group, not aligned with those who enjoy killing or are mysterious."

Ye Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "It's precisely because I saw Uncle Hu's friendly attitude and knew you weren't a bad person that I proactively revealed myself. I didn't expect Uncle Hu to be from the Anomalous Group."

In Ye Yu's mind, posts from veteran investigators' forums quickly appeared. The Anomalous Group was currently the largest civilian superhuman organization; their attitude towards the investigation squad, though distant, was still considered friendly.

Wang Xia tugged at her cousin Tang Nian Ke's sleeve, asking softly, "So what is the Anomalous Group?"

Tang Nian Ke mumbled, "How would I know?"

"Ding, we have arrived at Dong Luan station. Passengers wishing to alight, please use the rear door."

Everyone heard the announcement and turned their heads, seeing the fifth man in a jacket at the sixth stop slowly boarding the bus with his head down.

"The situation is urgent, I won't waste any more words." Ye Yu spoke quickly, revealing all the information about the phantom bus 712 that she had read on the bounty board.

Although Wang Fang had revealed that there were spies from other organizations in the "Monster Extermination Alliance," this was still software developed by the government, and the information within was tightly controlled; not everyone had the qualifications to know it. Hu Kai Liang naturally didn't know these things. So when he understood Ye Yu's meaning, his face immediately became extremely tense.

Previously, he had only heard that the investigation squad hadn't caught the phantom bus because it appeared and disappeared unpredictably. When he found himself on the bus, he only thought he was unlucky, believing that with his experience, he could escape. He never expected this time it wasn't just bad luck, but a catastrophe!

A level four anomaly had swallowed five elite investigators, including even a level five powerhouse!

Hu Kai Liang knew that everyone's lives on the bus were now intertwined. This young girl from the investigation squad couldn't be lying about something like this, and that was the most terrifying part. An anomaly that even a level five investigator couldn't resolve, and even died from, how could he possibly deal with it?!