Travel through time, and then establish an anomaly management bureau!

Page 41

For Elion, the restaurant's eerie silence was not a mere mechanical malfunction, but rather a supernatural event from a mysterious realm that he could not comprehend.

His limited knowledge of the occult could not provide a concrete explanation, but that keen "inspiration" from the depths of his soul, a sharp sensitivity to the distortion of rules, made him unable to suppress his curiosity and want to find out more.

He had to go! He had to see for himself what was hidden in the piano music at that restaurant.

Unbeknownst to him, about five meters behind him, in a deep shadow where light could not reach, a figure almost blended into the darkness was following him.

Zhang Su's consciousness had completely taken over the beautiful body double. Through the double's eyes, he could clearly see Elion's precarious posture.

'This kid's pretty alert, like a stealthy kitten.' Zhang Su commented in his mind, manipulating his clone to glide silently like a real shadow, always maintaining a precise distance.

The Stand's "Shadow Gloves" were remarkably effective, and combined with the interplay of light and shadow in the corridor, even Elion's extraordinary intuition seemed unable to penetrate this double concealment and detect the "tail" behind him.

The two walked one after the other through the quiet corridor, with only the low hum of the distant engine as background noise.

Soon, two heavy, carved wooden doors leading to the "Starry Sea Hall" restaurant appeared at the end of the corridor.

Elion quickened his pace, almost running, to the door, and eagerly reached out to push it open—

"Crack!"

A dull metallic clang rang out, and the door was stopped and locked shut just as it was pushed open a little.

Elion froze.

He looked down and, by the dim light of the wall lamp above the door, clearly saw a thick metal chain lock, coldly wrapped around the brass handles of the two doors, with a sturdy padlock firmly locking the chain.

Obviously, the restaurant is locked outside of mealtimes.

"Tsk, it's locked!" Zhang Su saw the lock through his stand-in's perspective and his heart tightened. "This is troublesome... The lock is on the outside, so it's impossible to open the door from the inside. Do I have to show myself as a stand-in and break it open by force?"

He quickly weighed the pros and cons: if he appeared and broke the lock, the commotion would be significant, and it would almost certainly alert Elion.

This kid is under immense stress right now. If he sees a beautiful Eastern woman in a bizarre, tight-fitting combat suit suddenly appear and violently break the lock, his first reaction will definitely be that he's seen a ghost or encountered something even more terrifying. He'll most likely be so scared that he'll turn around and run away. He won't have time to investigate at all. Then this "investigation" will be completely ruined.

“But if I don’t help him… am I just going to let this kid stand there helplessly at the door? His adventure would be over before it even started, and then how am I supposed to see how he performs?” Zhang Su was a little troubled. His stand-in’s fingers unconsciously rubbed the surface of the cold Shadow Gloves as he pondered whether there were any other more discreet methods.

Just as Zhang Su was struggling with his decision, Elion, who was standing in front of the door, did something he didn't expect.

Elion was not discouraged, nor did he try to pull the obviously unshakeable chain with brute force. He looked around warily to make sure no one was in the corridor, and then quickly took out two thin, exceptionally smooth metal wires from the inside pocket of his dark casual coat.

He crouched down, almost curled up in the shadow of the door frame, holding a metal wire in each hand, and with extreme skill, as if wielding delicate surgical instruments, precisely inserted them into the keyhole of the padlock.

His movements were gentle and steady, his fingertips twitching slightly, his ear almost pressed against the lock, listening intently to the extremely subtle sounds of the mechanism inside the lock cylinder.

"Pick a lock?!" Zhang Su saw it clearly through his double's eyes, and a surge of surprise and admiration instantly welled up in his heart. "This kid's got guts! He didn't falter at all, knowing that brute force wouldn't work, he went straight for the technical stuff!"

He had just been thinking of using his stand-in's brute force to solve the problem, but now, in comparison, he suddenly realized that his thinking as a "senior who is seven or eight years older" was a bit crude.

"I'm ashamed, I was so focused on crushing them with superhuman strength that I forgot the basic principles of problem-solving. Out of ten points, just for this spirit of not giving up when faced with difficulties and finding alternative solutions, it deserves ten points!"

Zhang Su held his breath, his Stand's gaze fixed on Elion's nimble hands, silently cheering him on: 'Go for it, young master! You have to open it! Let me see what you're capable of!'

Elion frowned slightly, his fingertips applying varying pressure as he subtly adjusted the angle of the metal wire. Time seemed to stretch out in the silence.

However, to Zhang Su's surprise, this "long" feeling only lasted for less than ten seconds!

A very faint yet exceptionally clear "click" came from inside the lock cylinder!

Elion's tense shoulders relaxed instantly, and with a flick of his wrist, the padlock that had been stubbornly locked just moments before sprang open!

He quickly removed the padlock and untied the heavy chain from the doorknob, his movements fluid and without the slightest hesitation.

"Holy crap!" Zhang Su almost shouted out in his mind, and even the pupils of his stand seemed to dilate slightly. 'Ten seconds?! It started already?!' He had previously estimated that Elion might need several minutes or even longer, or simply fail. This efficiency completely exceeded his expectations.

"A perfect score of ten? Even a hundred points wouldn't be enough! This kid is hiding his true strength!" Zhang Su was shocked, and his evaluation of Elion skyrocketed.

This lock-picking skill is not something that can be mastered overnight; his proficiency and precision would have placed him at the top level even in his previous life.

What left Zhang Su speechless was that after Elion gently placed the untied chain on the carpet by the door, he muttered to himself in a low voice, with a hint of dissatisfaction, "I haven't practiced in too long, my technique is rusty. In the past, it should have been opened in five seconds."

Zhang Su was speechless upon hearing this.

Good heavens! Five seconds?! You're still in your rusty phase?! Being overly modest is like being at Versailles, young master. Your technique isn't just 'okay,' it's practically the reincarnation of 'The King of Lockpicking'!

He was now intensely curious about the young nobleman's "hobby".

Elion couldn't hear Zhang Su's inner complaints. He gasped, placed his hands on the cold, heavy wooden door, and very slowly and cautiously pushed it open a crack.

Instead of going in immediately, he used his toe to deftly move the heavy chain on the ground, so that one end of it was wedged under the door, preventing the door from closing completely and leaving a gap large enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.

After doing all this, he nimbly entered the dark restaurant like a fish.

The door was behind him, blocked by the chain, and remained slightly ajar, allowing him to escape at any moment.

Zhang Su once again praised Elion: "He's meticulous! He even prepared an escape route in advance! His lock-picking skills are superb, his on-the-spot reaction is calm, and he considers every detail. He's truly a promising investigator!"

A glint of appreciation flashed in the double's eyes, which remained cool and aloof even in the shadows.

Then, the beautiful double also slipped through the crack in the door left by Elion and quietly entered the "Starry Sea Hall" restaurant.

The investigation has officially begun. The prey (the anomaly), the hunter (Elion), and the observer (Zhang Su) lurking in the deeper shadows are all in position.

The moment Elion stepped into the "Starry Sea Hall," he felt himself swallowed by a deep, thick darkness. It was as if the entire space was filled with sound-absorbing cotton, and he couldn't even hear his own breathing.

The simulated starry sky dome overhead lost its brilliance in the darkness, leaving only a few faint lights, like distant, cold eyes gazing down.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, took out a lighter from another pocket, and lit it with a click.

Those eyes, honed by aristocratic education and adept at observing details, began to scan in the dim light of the fire.

First, he went to the dining table to check. He reached out and gently ran his fingertips over the cold silver cutlery and smooth porcelain plate, which were all clean and free of any large stains. Then he checked the tablecloth for any unusual stains, tears, or some incomprehensible symbols, but found nothing.

Then he crouched down, his gaze sweeping over the thick, dark blue carpet.

There were no signs of dragging, no suspicious items scattered around, and nothing strange.

Then examine the walls and decorations; the seascape painting hanging on the wall is only a blurry outline in the firelight.

He approached one of the paintings and examined the frame and the painting itself carefully, looking for cracks, displacement, or strange changes in the pattern.

Brass wall lamps, tassels on velvet curtains—all the decorations remain as they were at the end of dinner, quiet and ordinary.

Then, he looked up at the deep blue dome and the crystal "stars," and then warily scanned the dark corners of the restaurant where the light could not reach.

There were no hanging objects, no suspicious shadows wriggling, only pure stillness.

He thoroughly and carefully explored the entire restaurant, except for the central stage area.

Everything seemed too normal, just like an ordinary restaurant after closing time.

This "normality" only exacerbated his inner unease.

That sharp inspiration, born from the soul and twisting the rules, points towards the stage—the only place where a voice has ever been heard, and the only place yet to be examined.

After standing there for about a minute, Elion took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his pounding heart.

He knew the real test was about to begin. He had to touch the "source"—that lonely black grand piano.

He strode towards the stage. Each step felt like walking on cotton, or on thin ice about to collapse.

The sound of his heartbeat was amplified infinitely by his own senses in the deathly silence, pounding against his eardrums faster and faster, heavier and heavier.

When he stepped onto the few low steps of the stage, his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

But he did not back down.

Standing before the piano, his pale, tense face was reflected in the glossy black lacquer surface. He raised his slightly trembling hand, his fingertips icy cold, and gently placed it on the edge of the keycaps.

The cold touch spread from his fingertips, bringing a strange sense of clarity. He took a deep breath, and with a sudden burst of strength, he ripped open the heavy piano keycaps!

"Buzz..." The faint friction sound of the piano lid opening was exceptionally clear in the silence.

Nothing unusual happened. The anticipated terrifying scene did not occur; no monster leaped out of the instrument case, and no piercing noise erupted.

Elion's heartbeat calmed down slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then extended his index finger and, with an almost reverent caution, gently pressed the center C key.

"Do—"

The crisp, full, and standard piano tone broke the deathly silence of the restaurant, like a stone thrown into an ancient well, creating ripples that were quickly swallowed up by the surrounding silence.

The music faded away, and everything returned to normal.

Courage, as if ignited by the sound of the piano, exploded in Elion's chest.

An impulse to recklessly abandon all fear overwhelmed everything else.

Without further hesitation, he plopped down on the piano bench.

The cool leather cushion made him shiver slightly, but he quickly straightened his back.

He placed his hands upright, with an almost instinctive elegance, gently on the black and white piano keys.

He closed his eyes, took a long, deep breath, and inhaled all his courage and determination.

Three seconds later, his eyes suddenly opened, his gaze filled with seriousness.

Read-y&i1zero7th Master+4cover-long, strong fingers fell!

No longer tentative single notes, but a smooth melody!

He recalled the cheerful rhythm the female pianist had played at dinner time.

The melody had long been captured by his extraordinary, rule-distorting perceptual talent, and was engraved deep in his memory like a brand.

At this moment, he mobilized all his musical knowledge and amazing memory, trying his best to reproduce that piece of music!

The first few notes sounded a little awkward, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

But soon the rhythm stabilized, and the melody became smooth and elastic.

That familiar, playful and warm, joyful piano music once again flowed through the empty and silent "Starry Sea Hall"!

"My God!" Zhang Su, hidden in the shadows, was once again amazed by the music. "He can play? And... he plays so well?!"

Although Zhang Su was a complete novice when it came to music in his previous life, he still had basic appreciation skills.

Elion's playing technique, rhythmic control, and emotional expression at this moment far exceed the scope of simply "being able to play".

This level of skill absolutely surpasses those so-called "Piano Grade 10" certificate holders he had seen in his previous life! What shocked him even more was that Elion was able to reproduce this piece so completely and fluently after only hearing it once at dinner!

"His memory and sense of pitch are simply incredible!" Zhang Su exclaimed inwardly. "He's comparable to 1900 from 'The Legend of 1900.' Just how many more surprises is this kid hiding?"

His appreciation for Elion had reached its peak.

Elion was completely immersed in his performance, his fear temporarily dispelled by the power of the music. He closed his eyes, his fingers dancing across the keys, trying to use the familiar melody to fight against and understand the deathly silence of this space.

However, just as he reached a cadenza in the piece, at the height of his emotion—

A sudden change occurred!

As the joyful melody reached a climax, the entire restaurant scene suddenly distorted and changed, like water with a stone thrown in!

Warm, bright, amber-colored light, like the finest honey, suddenly appeared from all directions, instantly replacing the cold darkness and faint starlight, gently bathing the entire "Starry Sea Hall"!

The walls, tablecloths, silverware, and crystal glasses all came alive and vibrant under this light.

Then, an even more chilling change occurred!

Semi-transparent figures, like faded old photographs, appeared out of thin air in various corners of the restaurant!

Some sat at the dining table, raising their glasses and chatting; some carried silver platters and moved about; some stood in front of the bar, just like the guests and waiters at dinner time!

What followed was a huge uproar!

All the sounds that had been completely erased before suddenly returned like a flood bursting its banks!

The clinking of cutlery, the clinking of glasses, the murmur of guests talking loudly or whispering, the waiters announcing the menu in hushed tones... all the noise that usually accompanies dinner time was now turned up to maximum volume, filling the entire space!

What's even more unsettling is that, on stage, the figures of a small classical orchestra suddenly appear beside and behind Elion.

The violinist closed his eyes and played, the cellist focused on his performance, and the violist plucked the strings. Their playing blended perfectly with Elion's violin music, creating a complete and joyful piece.

What you see before you is no longer a quiet midnight restaurant, but a vibrant and bustling dinner scene.

Light, shadow, human figures, and sound are perfectly interwoven, bringing the scene to life!

Upon seeing this, Elion's hands, which were playing the piano, froze instantly. He suddenly opened his eyes, and the scene before him, which was beyond his imagination and resembled a ghostly theater, was completely beyond his comprehension!

"This...how is this possible!" he exclaimed in shock, but his voice was drowned out by the huge "cacophony of voices".

However, what's even stranger is that even though his hands had left the keys, the joyful piano melody did not stop; it continued to play smoothly and on its own, as if an unseen ghost pianist had taken his place!

Just as Elion was stunned into a blank, frozen in place, completely bewildered by this sudden and drastic change—

Hidden in the shadows, Zhang Su reacted with lightning speed. Driven by his consciousness, his Stand shot out from the shadows of the pillars like an arrow, making no sound. With a speed beyond the reach of ordinary vision, it instantly circled around to the side of the stage, only a meter away from Elion!

The Stand's cold, sharp eyes were fixed on Elion and the illusory figures around him. Its body sank slightly, assuming a posture ready to pounce or attack at any moment.