Chapter 113: The Hypnotist

Federal Weird Investigation Bureau, inside a temporary conference room.

A strange scent of disinfectant mixed with coffee beans floated in the air.

Nie Yang twisted open his new thermal cup, and a warm vapor tinged with the sweet aromas of goji berries and red dates billowed out, wrapping his perpetually gentle smile with a faint, unreal blur.

He had just taken over the A Ji (tentative) case codenamed "Midnight Nightmare."

The orders were clear: dispatch a top‑class hypnotist from outside the Investigation Bureau as an assistant, with him as the operation team leader, to uncover all murderous patterns of the Weird, assess the final level, and devise a containment plan.

Nie Yang's gaze fell on the tablet beside him, which displayed the headquarters' newly released "Core Captain" roster.

The Core Captain plan is to merge the Investigation Bureau's resources and focus on cultivating several core agents.

These core agents must serve as overall commanders on every mission and possess strong individual combat ability against the Weird.

The list includes two names: Ouyang Feng and the former criminal investigation captain Qin Zhixia.

"Times really change fast,"

Nie Yang suddenly blurted out a headless remark, and a flash of incomprehensible complexity flickered behind his gentle smile.

"The once sand‑intolerant, idealistic little girl now has to stand shoulder to shoulder with someone like Ouyang Feng and become a self‑sufficient 'Core,'"

His tone revealed neither clear envy nor lament.

Perhaps both.

He and L are still just ordinary agents handling various emergencies.

"Tap tap tap......"

The clacking of the keyboard did not pause for a moment.

Sitting opposite him, L—Lin Linling, kept her head down; the delicate face mostly hidden behind thick black‑rimmed glasses showed no expression.

"According to the model's estimate, the Core Captain plan can redirect 80% of the Investigation Bureau's limited S Ji resources,"

"The mission success rate is projected to increase by 52.5%, and elite‑agent attrition to drop by 87.3%,"

"It aligns with the optimal solution for current resource allocation,"

"With Qin Zhixia's abilities and personality, she may not be the sharpest blade, but she can serve as a morale‑boosting tonic in critical moments,"

She narrated everything in her usual flat, emotionless tone, instantly shattering the fleeting melancholy that had just risen in Nie Yang.

Nie Yang smiled helplessly, about to say something.

"Squeak—"

The conference room door was pushed open from outside.

A man walked in.

He wore a well‑tailored Armani haute‑couture suit, his hair impeccably groomed, rimless glasses perched on his nose, exuding a professor‑like elegance and aristocratic aura.

He seemed out of place in the room filled with simplicity and functionality.

He scanned the room, his gaze pausing on L's high‑performance laptop, then lingering briefly on Nie Yang's veteran‑style thermal cup.

Then, an impeccable gentle smile appeared on his face.

"You must be Captain Nie Yang and Agent L; I am Liu Can,"

"I am a psychology consultant specially hired by headquarters, pleased to work with you both,"

"On the way I briefly learned about the creatures we're to confront, called 'Weird.' I look forward to our upcoming collaboration,"

His words had just fallen.

"Snap."

A light sound.

L's hands, which had been rapidly striking the keyboard, stopped.

She lifted her head, nudged the black‑rimmed glasses on her nose, and the lenses reflected the screen's cold light.

She looked at Liu Can and, in her usual inorganic, AI‑assistant‑like voice, said:

"Mr. Liu Can, Ph. D. in psychology, Harvard graduate, mentored by Robert Dirts, specializing in deep hypnosis and consciousness intervention,"

"None of your public cases have ever involved the supernatural realm,"

"Folklore says you can induce deep hypnosis in anyone within a second,"

"Based on existing neuroscience and psychology case analyses, the probability of that rumor being true is below 0.01%, essentially false marketing,"

"I'm curious about your actual capability, exactly to what extent,"

This unvarnished, even sharp, questioning instantly dropped the room's atmosphere to freezing.

Liu Can's smile remained gentle, but the eyes behind his lenses had lost their warmth.

"Agent L, human consciousness isn't code in your computer,"

"Some domains can't be resolved by your 1s and 0s,"

"Haha, L is blunt; Mr. Liu Can, don't mind that," Nie Yang immediately laughed, smoothing the tension, raising his thermal cup:

"Our current mission is indeed very tricky; we need an expert like you......"

He hadn't finished speaking.

Liu Can suddenly raised his hand toward L and snapped his fingers crisply.

"Snap!"

"Look into my eyes,"

He told L in a flat tone, yet with unquestionable command.

L's gaze subconsciously met his.

At the moment of contact, her pupils contracted sharply, then gradually dilated.

Her whole body seemed paused, frozen in place, her eyes hollow and vacant.

The conference room fell into dead silence.

Liu Can's smile at the corners of his mouth deepened, and in a tone almost malicious he said slowly:

"You were very rude to me just now; now, apologize to me."

S... o... r... ry...

L's lips moved mechanically, spitting out three dry words.

Nie Yang's smile on his face vanished completely.

In its place was sheer astonishment from head to toe.

"Very good."

Liu Can seemed very satisfied with the result; with keen interest he examined L's pale, expressionless face and continued to issue orders.

"Your attire is eyesore; take off your coat."

L did not hesitate; crossing both hands, she grabbed the coat's hem and pulled it off.

"Now, take off your shirt."

L's hand paused briefly, then began to undo the top button of her shirt.

Her movements remained mechanical, her gaze still hollow, but a Weird sense of humiliation inexplicably spread.

"Enough!"

Nie Yang slammed the Thermal Cup onto the table, emitting a muffled "Bang".

He stood up, blocking L and Liu Can, and on his previously gentle face a cold expression appeared for the first time.

Liu Can lifted his eyes to look at Nie Yang, his smile playful yet subtly revealing arrogance.

He completely ignored Nie Yang's fury, instead directing his gaze toward the L behind Nie Yang, who had already undone two buttons, exposing a delicate collarbone.

"Now, do you think my ability is enough for you? Captain Nie."

The words had just fallen.

"Bang!"

He snapped his fingers again.

L, blocked behind by Nie Yang, jolted sharply, as if waking from a great dream.

She blinked bewilderedly, looked down to see her undone buttons, then looked up at Nie Yang standing before her and Liu Can across the table with a smiling face.

She sprang to her feet, and for the first time her face displayed a complex expression mixing bewilderment and horror.