Chapter 744: Lost Things
"At first, we were only studying the world on the other side near the chasm. You simply can't imagine what we found over there—it was filled with things beyond our comprehension.
As the research progressed, we lost many exploration and scientific personnel. The danger level there exceeded our expectations, so we had to recruit new explorers from the Old City District.
During the exploration process, we discovered two critical pieces of information.
First, explorers who could make those pale yellow crystals glow had an easier time surviving over there.
Second, as long as an explorer stayed on the other side of the chasm for a certain period—roughly around two hours—people on this side would gradually lose all relevant information about that explorer."
The young man lowered his head, not daring to meet Colt's eyes, afraid the man might suddenly snap and kill him.
But he had no choice but to mention this information, because it was extremely important.
"But I haven't forgotten Little Black. Did you just send it over there?"
Ephesus asked, her voice filled with agitation.
"...We only conducted animal experiments in the initial phase. That was about five years ago... Do you really have a black cat?"
The young man sighed. He recalled the early days of exploration, when they had lost many companions—but he had no memory of them anymore.
"...Of course I have a black cat. It..."
Ephesus leaned against the wall, pressing her head with her hand. She vaguely recalled some memory fragments that felt somewhat unfamiliar.
"That's right... The police came to my house... Back then, Mom and Dad were really worried... It seemed like we had lost something extremely important... But soon they... stopped caring... If it weren't for Little Black... what exactly did I lose?"
Tears dripped down Ephesus's cheeks and splattered onto the ground. She felt deeply sad right now, but she couldn't remember the reason for her sadness.
"The experiments... After an explorer enters the chasm, their connection to this side gradually weakens. People who knew them will slowly lose their memories of that person. That's why we could keep sending explorers over there without drawing anyone else's attention.
But individuals who have particularly close relationships with the explorers might retain some impressions. However, these impressions also fade over time until they eventually disappear completely. You two must be in that situation."
The young man glanced at Ephesus. The burly man seemed normal enough, but he hadn't expected this young girl to be able to forcibly create a nonexistent creature to preserve those impressions. Moreover, this process had likely been completed subconsciously—this was not something an ordinary person could achieve.
This was a very unique case. Ephesus was an excellent experimental subject.
"...So you're saying you took away the most important person in my life and also made me lose the memories of that person?"
Colt tried to calm himself down, but the anger burning in his heart was nearly impossible to suppress. He had never been a calm person to begin with, and over the years he had become much more composed—perhaps it had something to do with someone he had forgotten.
But now he couldn't even remember who that person was.
"Wait! You still have some impressions—that means those people aren't dead yet! Otherwise, you would have completely forgotten them! Only I can let you go over there and give you a way back!"
The young man hurriedly threw out his bargaining chip. All his previous explanations had been for self-preservation. If these people wanted to rescue those 'important people,' they had to keep him alive.
Thud!
Colt slammed his fist into the metal wall beside the young man's head, leaving a small dent in the metal.
If the young man had spoken even a second later, that punch would have blown his head off.
"I just took a look at those instruments maintaining the chasm. They're not difficult to operate—even a fool could use them. He's completely unnecessary to run them. And the claim that having an impression guarantees they're alive is total nonsense. He has no idea what's happening on the other side."
Lin Ye stood near those instruments and casually spoke.
"I—"
Before the young man could try to weasel his way out, Colt punched him square in the head, blowing it apart.
"Sorry. I really couldn't hold back anymore."
Colt ultimately failed to suppress the rage surging from the depths of his heart.
"It's fine. Close the door. We need to go complete the commission."
Lin Ye raised his rifle and gunned down all the researchers.
He was about to head over there to find people soon, and he wasn't going to leave any loose ends here.
That young man had thought way too much. Lin Ye would never have let him stay behind.
"I'm going in. You operate the instruments here!"
Colt grabbed the duffel bag full of firearms and weapons. He had to go over there as quickly as possible to find that 'important person' he only had a faint impression of.
"I'm not about to let my client go to a place like that alone."
Lin Ye rejected Colt's suggestion.
"She's going over there? I can bring back all the survivors on that side."
Colt would rather have Lin Ye stay here to maintain the chasm's stability so he could go with peace of mind.
"How could I possibly stay here!"
Ephesus said with extreme determination.
"That's an entirely different world over there. How many survivors can one person find alone? And there might be countless unknown dangers there. Are you sure you want to go alone?
I'll teach both of them how to use these instruments. As long as they close the large door, those two can definitely hold this place down."
Lin Ye checked the metal door, then examined the corpses on the ground once more.
"Uh, is it really okay for just the two of us to stay here?"
Wen Luo asked nervously.
"No problem. The chasm won't close before you come back."
Susie said seriously.
"Good. I'll teach you how to use these instruments right now. You can record it and take a look when needed. But after two hours, the recording might disappear. We'll try to be back within two hours, though I hope you can use those two hours to memorize the knowledge in the video."
Lin Ye also had no idea about the situation over there, so he couldn't be sure if he could return in time.
"Even if two hours pass, I won't forget you."
Susie looked at Ephesus and hugged her tightly.
"I'll come back with Little Black."
Ephesus also hugged Susie. She would only return from that side if she found Little Black.
"Alright. Let me explain how to use these instruments."
Lin Ye began describing the operation methods and precautions for the instruments. Wen Luo recorded it with her phone nearby. It took him over ten minutes to finish.
This space was connected to a transparent disinfection corridor leading to the chasm, and inside the corridor was a booth for wearing protective suits.
Before entering the corridor, Lin Ye turned his head to glance at Wen Luo and casually asked:
"You came to my detective agency just to find a quiet place to study? Then why not go to the library?"
Watching Lin Ye's retreating back, Wen Luo felt her heart skip a beat, as if the frozen time had started flowing again.
"Sigh... Give me your phone."
Susie took Wen Luo's phone, then gave her a gentle push from behind, guiding her toward that corridor.