On the other side,
"System, show me exactly what level of existence this is."
[System scanning...]
[Warning! Extreme danger!]
[Target Code Name: Little Girl Looking for Her Mother]
[Level Rating: SSS-Rank]
"SSS-Rank?!"
Steve's pupils constricted slightly.
Is this the ceiling of this world? Did I just run into the ultimate boss right after stepping out?
"Reporting to Command Center, I've hit the jackpot."
Steve spoke through the mental link; though his tone was calm, the information he conveyed caused an instant uproar in the command hall back in reality.
"I've encountered an SSS-Rank paranormal."
Before the screens, all the staff officers stared at the dainty and pitiful little girl in the image, completely stunned.
SSS-Rank.
This was the power ceiling of the paranormal World, a legendary world-ending existence.
To think he'd bump into one right after heading out? And it's a seemingly harmless little loli?
At that moment, Alex, suspended in the void, looked at Steve with her large, green, tear-filled eyes, her voice soft and sweet enough to break one's heart.
"Big brother, can you take me to find my mommy? My mommy is gone..."
Steve didn't agree immediately; his mind raced as the emergency analysis report from the Command Center popped up.
[High-risk target; highly likely that a certain dialogue rule has been triggered.]
[Recommendation: Conduct a rule test first, for example, by refusing.]
"Makes sense."
Steve landed on the ground with her.
Steve's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Alex, a hint of apology appearing on his face.
"Sorry, little sister, big brother has some urgent business right now and might not be able to help you."
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in the Command Center held their breath, staring intently at the little girl.
However, surprisingly, Alex did not go berserk or reveal a hideous face.
She just lowered her head in disappointment, sniffled, and nodded obediently.
"Oh... it's okay. Thank you, big brother. I'll go find another adult then."
"Huh?"
Steve was slightly taken aback and quickly checked his own status.
The Totem of Undying within him were quiet; not a single one had triggered.
"Refusing doesn't trigger a killing rule?"
Feeling much more at ease, Steve called out to Alex as she was about to float away.
"Wait, little sister, what's your name? Where did your mommy go?"
Alex stopped and said while rubbing her eyes.
"My name is Alex. I don't know where mommy went. It's just me and grandma at home, but grandma is sick and still unconscious in the hospital. I couldn't find anyone to help..."
After hearing this, Steve frowned slightly.
It was too normal.
Whether in logic, emotion, or reaction, this paranormal named Alex behaved no differently from an ordinary human girl who had gotten lost.
But it was precisely this extreme normalcy that was the greatest abnormality in a world filled with paranormal, especially since she held an SSS-rank paranormal status.
"Since I've encountered an SSS-rank, there's no reason to let it go."
His mind made up, Steve wore a gentle smile.
"Alright, Alex, my name is Steve. It just so happens I'm free now. I'll help you find your mommy and check on your grandma while we're at it, okay?"
"Really?!"
Alex looked up suddenly, her eyes bursting with the light of pleasant surprise.
"Thank you so much, big brother Steve. You're such a good person."
"Let's go."
The wings behind Steve flapped suddenly, and his body took to the air instantly, hovering a meter off the ground.
"Lead the way. Which hospital?"
However, after waiting for a few seconds, he noticed Alex was still standing on the ground, looking up at him with no intention of following.
"What's wrong?"
Steve asked, puzzled.
Alex twiddled her fingers, her face turning red with embarrassment.
"But... big brother, I can't fly."
"..."
Steve's body stiffened, and he almost tumbled out of the air.
He looked down at this little girl who had just grabbed him while he was moving at high speed within a spatial interlayer, complaining wildly in his mind.
"You can catch me with your bare hands in space, yet now you're telling me you can't fly?!"
"The logic of these paranormals really can't be judged by common sense."
Steve didn't bother exposing her; he landed directly and held out his hands.
"Fine, then I'll carry you while I fly."
He scooped Alex into his arms; she felt light, and her body was warm and soft, completely unlike the cold, stiff paranormal from before.
Steve even took the opportunity to scan her with his mental energy, and the results showed that this was just an ordinary human body.
"This is too realistic."
Steve was secretly alarmed but asked aloud.
"Can you point the way now?"
"Over there."
Alex reached out her small hand and excitedly pointed toward a direction in the city.
"Hold on tight."
Boom!
With a flap of his wings, Steve turned into a streak of light and soared into the sky.
The explosive power of Fifth-Tier Zombies was truly terrifying; the surrounding scenery instantly blurred into lines.
"Kyaaa!"
Alex cried out in fright in his arms, burying her face tightly against Steve's chest and shouting tremulously.
"Brother Steve, it's too fast! Can you fly a bit slower? I'm scared."
Steve glanced down at the little girl, who was like a frightened quail, his eyes flickering.
At that moment, another analysis from the Think Tank came into his mind.
[Target Code Name: Alex]
[Behavioral Pattern Analysis: Suspected of having a dual personality or double-sided rules.]
[Speculation: Before the player agrees to the request, she is a paranormal with SSS-Rank authority. Once the player agrees and establishes a contract relationship, she regresses (or disguises herself) into an ordinary human girl without any abilities.]
[Warning: This may be an extremely advanced form of predatory camouflage. Please remain highly vigilant.]
"Quite the performance."
Although Steve was wary, he slowed down as requested and glided steadily over the city.
Paranormal World, Haven City Hospital.
With Alex's guidance, the two of them soon arrived above a large hospital in the city center.
"We're here."
Steve didn't land directly at the main entrance, but instead found a deserted corner to descend slowly.
To avoid trouble, his massive mental energy instantly spread out, slightly distorting the sensory perceptions of the surrounding pedestrians.
In the eyes of ordinary people, he was no longer a green-faced, fanged monster with wings, but an ordinary young man bringing his sister to see a doctor.
"Let's go. Take me to see your grandma first."
Steve set Alex down.
"Mm-hmm, this way."
After landing, Alex immediately grabbed Steve's hand and ran familiarly toward the inpatient department.
As he walked, Steve warily scanned his surroundings.
People came and went in the hospital, with doctors and nurses bustling about.
"No domain fluctuations."
Steve thought to himself.
"This hospital is part of the real physical world, not a scene conjured by Alex using paranormal powers."
This was even stranger. An SSS-Rank paranormal actually has a grandmother hospitalized with an illness? Are you kidding me?"
Passing through several corridors, the two arrived in front of a special care ward door.
Alex pushed the door open and tiptoed inside.
On the hospital bed lay an elderly woman with a head full of silver hair and a withered face. Her eyes were tightly shut, and she was covered in tubes, while the nearby instruments emitted a monotonous ticking sound.
"Grandma..."
Alex walked to the bedside, gently holding the old woman's withered hand, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
"Alex is here to see you... I also brought a big brother to help you..."
Steve walked to the bedside, said nothing, but directly sent his vast power into the old woman's body.
[Scan results synchronously transmitted to the Command Center]
"Physical functions are failing, but it hasn't reached death, however..."
Steve suddenly frowned; his power detected an extremely obscure black mass of energy around the old woman's heart.
"This is... a curse?"
Steve understood immediately.
"A special power is entrenched in her heart, forcibly sealing her consciousness within her body, causing her to fall into a deep coma, and it is even constantly draining her life force."
"This must be the root cause of why Mom and Grandma were sick that Alex couldn't find."
Steve asked in his mind.
"For this kind of curse-like negative status, should I just use milk to clear it? But what if something goes wrong?"
[Think Tank Suggestion: Highly recommended to try]
[According to MC World rules, milk has absolute priority in clearing all status effects, whether it's a virus or a curse, both are within the clearing range]
[Furthermore, the target's vital signs still exist; the curse is merely a suppression status. Using milk counts as detoxification, which theoretically will not cause physical harm to the host body]
[To be safe, it is recommended to use it in conjunction with the Totem of Undying, to prevent curse backlash or triggering the instant-death rule]
Steve nodded.
He looked at the still-crying Alex and gently patted her shoulder.
"Alex, stop crying. Big brother might have a way to wake your grandma up."
"Really?!"
Alex suddenly looked up, her face streaked with tears, her eyes full of hope.
"We'll know once we try."
Steve flipped his wrist.
Buzz!
An iron bucket filled with milky white liquid appeared in his hand out of thin air.
This was a specialty from the Minecraft World, the artifact for detoxification: milk.
"Come, help your grandma sit up a bit."
Steve's other hand had already gripped a Totem of Undying and placed it against her grandmother.
Although Alex didn't know what Steve was holding, out of trust, she obediently followed instructions.
Steve brought the bucket close to the old woman's lips. Although the old woman was unconscious and unable to swallow, under the guidance of Steve's telekinesis, the milky white liquid turned into a thin thread and slowly flowed into the old woman's mouth.
The next second.
A miracle occurred.
Zzzzt! Zzzzt!
The moment the milk entered her body, the old woman's body suddenly trembled violently.
Wisps of black smoke, visible to the naked eye, drilled out frantically from the old woman's seven orifices and pores—like snow encountering fierce fire—emitting shrill screams before rapidly dissipating in the air.
No matter what kind of strange curse it was, in the face of rules, all beings were equal.
"Cough, cough... cough, cough..."
As the last puff of black energy dispersed, the previously unconscious old woman suddenly coughed violently a few times, and then... Steve glanced at the medical record card on the bedside table, which only had a few hastily written words:
Name: Hannah.
As for the cause of illness, it was all question marks.
At this moment, the old woman on the bed slowly opened her eyes, her cloudy gaze gradually focusing.
"Grandma, you're awake."
Alex, who had been guarding the bedside, saw this scene, rushed forward excitedly, tears bursting from her eyes.
"It's me Alex, grandma, you're finally awake."
Hannah listened to the unfamiliar, tearful, childish voice, and a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes.
She turned her head, looking at the little girl clinging to her chest, and then at the unfamiliar young man standing to the side.
"Who is Alex? Grandma?"
Hannah's voice was hoarse and weak.
"Are you Paula and George's child? How is that possible? Weren't they just married?"
She looked at Steve again, her eyes full of doubt and vigilance.
"Who are you?"
Steve was slightly stunned when he saw this.
"Strange."
He thought to himself.
"Could that curse be capable of devouring memories? Judging by her reaction, there seems to be a memory gap. Was she in a coma?"
Before Steve could speak, Alex wiped away her tears and explained.
"Grandma, you've been in a coma for ten years. Mom is also gone. Dad went to find mom and hasn't come back. Now I'm the only one left at home."
"What?!"
Hannah seemed struck by lightning upon hearing this, and her already weak body trembled violently.
"I was in a coma for ten years?!"
"Ten years... How could this be... Paula and George, they..."
The light in the old woman's eyes dimmed instantly, overwhelmed by grief.
Steve leaned against the wall, arms crossed, calmly observing everything.
"What Alex said before was true: ten years in a coma, parents lost."
"And..."
Steve activated his spiritual perception and confirmed it again.
"This is a real world, not an illusion created by the dread domain. Meaning, this Alex, classified by the system as SSS-rank, is truly just a human little girl?"
This was simply unbelievable. How could a nine-year-old human girl be rated as an apocalyptic disaster?
At this moment, Hannah suppressed her grief, tightly hugged the terrified Alex, and comforted her softly.
"I'm sorry, Alex... it's grandma's fault for making you suffer..."
After calming down slightly, Hannah turned her gaze back to Steve, a mixture of gratitude and inquiry in her eyes.
"Who is this gentleman?"
"Oh, I am Steve, just someone who wanted to help."
Steve stepped forward and said in a calm tone.
"I met Alex on the road, and she asked me to help her find her mother, so I came with her to see you first."
"Grandma! It was big brother Steve who saved you!"
Alex looked up and quickly added.
"During the ten years you were in a coma, the doctors at the hospital all tried, but they said there was nothing they could do. But big brother Steve gave you something white to drink, and you woke up! Steve is amazing."
Hannah heard this, and although she didn't understand what divine medicine that was, the debt of saving a life was greater than everything. She immediately struggled to get up to express her thanks.
"Thank you, thank you, young man, for saving my life. I have no way to repay you..."
"It's nothing, elderly lady, just a small effort."
Steve pressed her down and got straight to the point.
"Can you tell me specifically about Alex's parents? I want to help Alex find them."
Hannah shook her head painfully.
"Alex said I've been in a coma for ten years. In my memory, it feels like it just happened yesterday. Back then, Paula and George had just gotten married, and life was very happy. Then I knew nothing more."
"That's what dad said."
Alex added in a low voice from the side.
"Dad said that right when he and mom got married, you suddenly fell into a coma, grandma, and no matter how much they called, you wouldn't wake up."
"It seems I won't get any clues about the disappearance from her; after all, her memories are stuck ten years in the past."
Steve thought to himself.
He turned to look at Alex.
"Then Alex, tell me, specifically when did your parents disappear?"
Alex tilted her head as she recalled, then said,
"Mom suddenly disappeared five years after grandma fell into a coma, and dad left in the sixth year after grandma fell into a coma. He said he was going out to find mom, and then he never came back."
Steve's brow furrowed.
"Then where have you been living these past few years? Who has been taking care of you?"
How could a child of only a few years old, with both parents gone and her grandmother in a coma, survive alone in a world where the supernatural runs rampant?
"When dad left, he placed me in auntie Pearl's home."
Alex replied obediently.
"Auntie Pearl has been taking care of me all these years, sending me to school and bringing me to see grandma."
"Auntie Pearl?"
Hearing this name, Hannah seemed to recall something.
"Is it that little girl, Pearl?"
Alex nodded.
"Yes, it's Auntie Pearl."
"Miss, do you know her?"
Steve asked.
"I do, of course I do."
Hannah nodded, a hint of nostalgia appearing in her eyes.
"That girl Pearl used to play with George all the time when they were little. Back then, Paula and George lived very close to each other. Those two, along with Pearl... anyway, they grew up together."
"I see."
Steve nodded.
At the same time, the Command Center sent a quickly organized timeline summary to his mind.
[Think Tank Intelligence Summary]
2016: Paula and George married; in the same year, Hannah fell into a deep coma of unknown cause.
2020: Alex's mother, Paula, disappeared.
2021: He decided to go look for his wife and subsequently disappeared (Analysis: It is highly likely George discovered some key clue; it doesn't seem like he abandoned his daughter to evade responsibility). In the same year, Alex was entrusted to Pearl's care.
2026: Alex encountered Director Steve and requested help finding her mother.]
Looking at this clear timeline, Steve had a plan in mind.
"Alex, did your mother show any unusual behavior or say anything strange before she disappeared?"
Steve asked.
Alex looked at Steve with a blank expression.
"Big brother, I was only a few years old back then, I don't know anything..."
"True."
Steve looked at Alex's youthful face and smiled bitterly to himself. She was probably only four or five then; it was already good enough that she could remember anything at all.
"However, a nine-year-old SSS-Rank Supernatural Entity?"
Steve looked at the seemingly harmless Alex, the clouds of doubt in his heart thickening.
"It seems I'll have to ask that Pearl. Since she was her parents' close friend and raised Alex for so many years, she should know a lot of the inside story."
Now that he had a direction, Steve didn't plan to stay at the hospital any longer.
"Miss, your body should be fine now, right?"
Steve looked at Hannah's ruddy complexion. The milk's effect was immediate, even clearing up many of her age-related ailments.
"I'm fine. I feel even more energetic than before the coma."
Hannah moved her limbs.
"Then let's handle the discharge and go home."
Steve suggested.
"I also want to take a look at your home; maybe I'll find some clues."
"Good, good. Thank you so much for helping me find my children."
Hannah was moved to tears of gratitude.
"I didn't expect to be in a coma for ten years. They've taken care of me for so long; it's time I go back and cook a meal for Alex."
An hour later, at Alex's residence.
After finishing the discharge procedures, Hannah specifically went to buy some groceries on the way home.
Although the world had become somewhat strange and oppressive, life had to go on.
The house was located in the old city district, an aged two-story building.
Alex took out the key, stood on her tiptoes to insert it into the lock, and skillfully opened the door.
*Creak.*
The door opened, and the interior didn't have the expected musty smell or dust from being sealed for years. On the contrary, the furniture was neatly arranged and the floor was very clean, clearly indicating that someone cleaned it regularly.
"Grandma, after dad disappeared, we didn't live in this house much, but I've always kept the key."
Alex said, holding Hannah's hand.
"Sometimes on weekends, auntie Pearl would bring me back to clean. She said this is home, and we have to wait for mom and dad to come back."
Hannah's eyes reddened again as she listened, and she nodded.
"That girl Pearl... she's very thoughtful."
Steve walked inside but didn't rush to sit down.
At that moment, his consciousness shifted slightly, contacting a Fifth-Tier Zombie clone on standby at the other end of the city through a Soul Link.
Steve controlled it to make a trip to the official Supernatural Countermeasures Bureau.
Now, he could only use this world's authorities to pull up all the movement records and disappearance reports of Paula and George from five years ago to find out where they went and who they had contact with.
The clone vanished instantly and immediately swung into action.
The current Zombie army, except for those guarding the Teleportation Gate, were all scattered throughout the city, torturing supernatural entities and gathering cores.
Fortunately, the thousand-person Think Tank was behind him performing multi-line operations and analysis; otherwise, Steve couldn't have managed everything on his own while also handling Alex's situation.
"Young man, please have a seat."
Hannah called out.
"I'll go to the kitchen to cook for you all. You must taste Grandma's cooking."
After saying that, the old woman carried the vegetable basket into the kitchen, her back appearing somewhat hunched and lonely.
Only Steve and Alex remained in the living room.
"Alex, what about your auntie Pearl?"
Steve asked.
"Auntie Pearl has to work."
Alex sat obediently on the sofa.
"She's usually very busy and probably won't get off work until the afternoon."
"I see."
Steve nodded and then stood up.
"Can you take me to see your parents' room?"
"Sure."
Alex hopped off the sofa.
"It's upstairs. I'll take you there."
The two arrived at the master bedroom on the second floor.
It was a large bedroom that, despite being unoccupied for a long time, still retained the atmosphere of daily life.
A large wedding photo hung at the head of the bed.
In the photo, the man was handsome and tall with a bright smile, while the woman was gentle and beautiful, leaning into his embrace. They looked incredibly in love, their eyes full of hope for the future.
"So these are Paula and George..."
Steve looked at the photo, committing their faces to memory.
Then, he began to look around.
His power spread out, sweeping through every corner of the room, every inch of the walls, and even the cracks in the floor.
However...
"Nothing?"
Steve's brow furrowed slightly.
Under his spiritual perception, this room was simply too ordinary.
No secret compartments, no hidden layers, no residual energy fluctuations, and not even a hint of supernatural aura.
It was just like an ordinary empty room left behind after its owners had gone on a long journey.
"This doesn't make sense..."
Steve silently observed the room. Under the carpet-style sweep of his fourth-rank power, besides the old furniture and some insignificant clutter...
He truly found no valuable clues, not even a trace of residual anomalous aura.
It was too clean—so clean that it was actually abnormal.
"Brother, are there any clues?"
Beside him, Alex cautiously tugged at the corner of Steve's clothes, looking up with a face full of expectation.
Steve snapped out of his thoughts, crouched down, gently patted her head, and shook his head.
"Sorry, Alex, I haven't seen any clues in this room for now."
Hearing this, a clear flash of disappointment crossed Alex's eyes, but she quickly and sensibly forced a smile, took Steve's hand, and said.
"It's okay. Brother already helped me cure grandma and is even going to help me find Mommy and Daddy. I'm already very happy."
Pulled by Alex's cold little hand, Steve could only follow her toward the door.
As the two walked down the corridor, Alex suddenly lowered her head and murmured as if to herself,
"Actually, many people helped me look for Mommy and Daddy before, but they never found them and then they went back."
She looked up at Steve with innocent eyes.
"It's okay if brother can't find them. Brother helped me save grandma, so you're a very good person. Maybe the next brother will be able to help me find Mommy and Daddy."
Steve's footsteps came to a sudden halt upon hearing this, his pupils contracting slightly.
"Many people helped you look before?"
"Mm."
Alex nodded vigorously.
"There were quite a few; they were all very good to Alex."
The two made their way back to the living room.
At this time, the scent of cooking wafted from the kitchen. Hannah was busy preparing dinner, the mundane activity bringing a touch of warmth to this lonely home.
Steve strolled casually through the living room, his gaze sweeping over the calendar on the wall and the ornaments on the table, but he indeed found nothing unusual.
"The problem likely isn't here, or rather, the clues have been deliberately erased."
He glanced at Alex, who was sitting on the sofa playing alone with a tattered rag doll, his expression filled with doubt.
In what form exactly did this so-called SSS-level Anomaly exist?
Just then—
"Knock! Knock! Knock!"
A series of rapid and forceful knocks suddenly rang out, breaking the silence of the house.
Steve's eyes instantly sharpened as he entered a state of high alert.
Who would come at this time?
Hearing the knocking, Alex jumped up excitedly from the sofa. While shouting "Who is it?", she ran toward the door on her short little legs.
"Don't move."
Seeing how excited Alex was, Steve grabbed her and pulled her behind him for protection.
"Alex, stay back. I'll open it."
In this world full of the unknown, every time a door was opened, one could face the triggering of a death rule.
Steve walked to the door but didn't rush to open it. Instead, he released his power like tentacles, probing through the door panel to the outside.
In his perception, a woman around thirty years old stood outside the door. She had pleasant features, was dressed in professional attire, and was carrying some fruits and vegetables.
"Breath is steady, heartbeat is normal, no anomalous fluctuations. She's an ordinary person."
Having made his judgment, Steve reached out, gripped the handle, and slowly opened the door.
Outside, Pearl was about to pull out her keys. Seeing the door open, she instinctively thought it was Alex and a smile began to form on her face.
"Alex, Auntie..."
However, when she saw that the one opening the door was a strange and handsome young man, Pearl's smile instantly froze. Her expression dropped, and her eyes filled with vigilance and hostility.
"Who are you? Why are you in this house?"
She questioned him sharply while instinctively taking a step back.
Just then, Alex's little head poked out from behind Steve, and she shouted happily,
"Auntie Pearl!"
"Alex?!"
Seeing that Alex was safe and sound, Pearl's tense nerves relaxed slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on Steve.
"Hello, I am Steve."
Steve's expression was calm as he explained,
"I'm a friend. I met Alex on the road and came to help her."
After seeing Alex, who wasn't injured or seemingly threatened, Pearl knew the man before her likely hadn't done anything to the girl.
She sized Steve up. After confirming once more that he didn't seem dangerous, she let out a sigh of relief, her tone softening slightly.
"Sorry, I thought something had happened to Alex. When I got home from work and saw she wasn't at my place, I figured she must have come back here. I was just anxious..."
Steve sensed carefully once more, confirming that she indeed did not manifest that nauseating anomalous aura.
"It's fine. Come in."
Steve stepped aside to clear the path.
Pearl walked into the house. As soon as she put down her things, Alex immediately lunged forward, hugging her leg and acting spoiled.
"Auntie Pearl, you're off work! Are you tired today?"
Pearl crouched down, dotingly stroking Alex's head, and said gently,
"I am fine. As long as you're okay, I'm not tired."
Just then, a slightly aged but energetic voice came from the kitchen.
"Is that child Pearl who has come?"
Pearl's hand, which was straightening Alex's collar, suddenly stiffened. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She slowly and incredulously raised her head, looking toward the direction of the voice.
She saw Hannah standing at the dining room door with a beaming smile, holding a plate of steaming food.
"Hann... Miss Hannah?!"
Pearl stood up abruptly, her voice trembling, and her eyes instantly turned red.
"You... You're awake?!"
She simply could not believe her eyes.
Hannah, who had been in a vegetative state for ten whole years and had been given a death sentence by doctors, was actually awake?
And she could even walk around and cook?
"Yes, I'm awake."
Hannah nodded with a smile, placed the dish on the table, and sighed with emotion.
"I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, you've grown so big and become even more beautiful."
"This... this is simply a miracle."
Pearl covered her mouth as tears flowed down.
"It was brother Steve; he's the one who saved grandma. He used his magic milk!"
Alex pointed at Steve proudly from the side.
"What!?"
"Brother Steve gave grandma a kind of divine medicine, and then grandma woke up."
Pearl turned her head, looking at Steve in shock. Besides gratitude, there was a deep sense of inquiry in her eyes.
"Are you a medical expert in some field? Or..."
In this world of anomalous recovery, a method that could wake a ten-year vegetative patient was definitely not something ordinary medicine could achieve.
"Who I am isn't important. What matters is that Miss Hannah is awake."
Steve didn't answer directly, but looked straight into Pearl's eyes, his tone becoming somewhat meaningful.
"Miss Pearl. Since you are an old acquaintance of Alex's parents, there are some things from back then I'd like to ask you."
Looking into Steve's deep eyes, Pearl's heart tightened for some unknown reason.
She remained silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright."
The three of them went to the sofa and sat down.
Steve sat seemingly at ease, but his power remained locked onto Pearl.
"Thank you, Mr. Steve, for saving her."
Pearl took the initiative to reach out her hand to express her gratitude.
"I am Pearl, Alex's aunt."
"It was no trouble at all."
"I want to know the truth behind Paula and George's disappearance back then."
"And what secrets are hidden within all of this."
The atmosphere in the living room became somewhat heavy.
Steve looked at Pearl with burning eyes and continued to press for answers.
"Do you know where they went before they disappeared? Or did they say anything special?"
Pearl frowned in thought for a moment, recalling,
"I remember the night before Paula disappeared, she specifically came to see me."
"What did she say?"
Steve immediately followed up.
A trace of reminiscence appeared in Pearl's eyes.
"She was very agitated at the time. She grabbed my hand and said, 'Mom is saved,' and mentioned going somewhere. I didn't hear the specific name clearly back then, only vaguely catching the word 'Mountain.' She left the next day and never returned."
"'Saved'?"
Steve frowned slightly. It seemed Paula had discovered some clue back then that could lift Hannah's curse.
"And what about the husband?"
"His situation was similar."
Pearl sighed.
"A year later, George also suddenly found me, saying he had found a way and clues about Paula. After entrusting Alex to me, he set off to find Paula. The result was the same—no word from him since."
Steve was slightly stunned as his mind began to work rapidly.
Just then, he received a message in his mind from his Zombie clone at the official supernatural countermeasures bureau.
A detailed top-secret file was transmitted directly into Steve's mind.
[File Record: Missing Persons Investigation]
Paula: Five years ago, the last ticket record showed her traveling to a town at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains, after which no trace could be found.
George: Four years ago, his movements also showed him heading to the Appalachian Mountains, but after staying there for three days, ticket records showed he took a bus to the Imperial Capital, eventually disappearing there.
Looking at these two reports, a sharp light flashed in Steve's eyes.
"The first destination for both was the Appalachian Mountains. The difference is that Paula disappeared there, while George seemed to have found something there and then returned to the capital."
Steve snapped back to the present and looked at Pearl.
"Do you know the Appalachian Mountains?"
"The Appalachian Mountains?"
Pearl was startled.
"Right, Paula seemed to have mentioned that name back then. That was the place."
Steve nodded, the threads in his mind gradually becoming clear.
This matter was filled with strangeness at every turn.
Whether it was the inexplicable ten-year curse inside Hannah or the consecutive disappearances of the couple, there was definitely an invisible hand pulling the strings behind the scenes.
At this moment, the thousand-man Think Tank also quickly provided an analysis report.
[Think Tank · Intelligence Summary and Deduction]
2020: Paula discovers a clue to save Hannah, heads to the Appalachian Mountains, and subsequently disappears.
(Inference: The clue points to some kind of supernatural power or paranormal.)
2021: Based on information, George also heads to the Appalachian Mountains.
Turning Point: George did not disappear in the mountains but headed to the Capital instead.
(Analysis: George most likely obtained a key item or information in the mountains and learned of his wife's whereabouts, which led him to the Capital. His disappearance there suggests the ultimate source may be in the Capital.)
Paranormal Determination: The curse in Hannah's body comes from a 'paranormal.' Usually, only another 'paranormal' can discover and attempt to break such a curse.
Conclusion: The one who cast the curse is a 'paranormal,' and the one who provided them with clues or help is highly likely the same 'paranormal.']
"The analysis makes sense."
Steve mentally praised the Think Tank. Paula got one clue pointing to the Appalachian Mountains, while George got two clues because his wife was missing.
As for the origin of these clues...
"From a paranormal?"
Steve sneered inwardly.
"It seems something extraordinary lives in those Appalachian Mountains."
Just then, Hannah's kind voice came from the dining room.
"The food is ready, come and eat, everyone."
"Yaaay, dinner time!"
As soon as Alex heard it was time to eat, her quiet little face immediately became excited, and she grabbed Steve's hand.
"Big Brother, auntie, let's go eat! Eat! Eat!"
"Alright alright."
Steve pulled back his thoughts and smiled as he patted Alex's head.
Pearl also composed her emotions and stood up.
"Let's go."
The three of them came to the dining table.
The meal was very sumptuous; Hannah's skills were indeed beyond reproach. At the table, Hannah and Alex kept putting food into Steve's bowl, expressing their gratitude.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Steve. If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't have woken up."
Hannah said with reddened eyes.
"It's nothing, Ma'am. God helps the worthy."
Steve responded politely while placing a piece of rib in Alex's bowl.
The meal soon ended.
Steve put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and his expression became serious.
"Ma'am, Miss Pearl, I already have clues about the two of them. I plan to make a trip to the Appalachian Mountains."
"Really?!"
Hannah stood up excitedly.
"Thank you so much!"
"No need to be so polite."
Steve waved his hand.
"Big bro Steve."
Alex, who had been eating quietly, suddenly grabbed Steve's sleeve, her large eyes full of hope.
"Can I go with you? I want to find Mommy and Daddy too."
Hearing this, Steve was slightly stunned.
Pearl's expression changed, and she hurriedly said,
"Alex, don't be naughty. That's deep in the mountains and forests; it's very dangerous. We shouldn't disturb him while he's working."
Steve looked at Alex, his mind weighing the options rapidly.
This was an SSS-rank paranormal. Although she looked like a harmless little girl now, if he left and this time bomb remained here, if some rule was triggered and she suddenly went mad, everyone in this house and even the entire city would be buried with her.
Thinking of this, Steve nodded and smiled.
"Alright, let's go together then. I will protect you."
"That's great!"
Alex jumped up happily.
Although Pearl was worried, seeing that an expert like Steve had agreed, she couldn't say anything more.
A few minutes later, outside the house.
Without any hesitation, Steve scooped Alex into his arms.
"Hold on tight."
He activated his Space Ability.
The figures of the two instantly vanished into the void, turning into a streak of light that soared into the sky, flying at high speed toward the Appalachian Mountains.
Mid-air, Steve thought for a moment and took out dozens of Totems of Undying, stuffing them into Alex's small hands.
"Hold onto these, and don't let go no matter what happens."
This was to prevent any accidents.
Deep within the Appalachian Mountains.
The ancient trees here reached for the sky, shrouded in mist, and signs of human life were rare.
Steve hovered in the air, his vast power instantly covering an area of dozens of kilometers. He pushed deep into the mountains, following Paula's consumption records and travel trajectory from back then.
"Over there."
Soon, Steve's gaze locked onto a mountain hollow.
Hidden amidst the dense forest sat a dilapidated priest church.
"There are no modern buildings around, only this old church."
Steve made a judgment; this should have been Paula's destination back then.
Whoosh!
His figure descended, stopping steadily before the mottled gates of the church, and he set Alex down.
"Wow, it's so worn down here."
Alex looked around curiously; everything here was a novelty to her.
Steve didn't speak, merely narrowing his eyes slightly to sense the surroundings.
"No human presence, but there's a very peculiar fluctuation."
He stepped forward and pushed open the creaking gates.
"Let's go, let's take a look inside."
The two entered the church. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the doors and windows of the main hall were broken.
Walking into the center of the hall, they saw several broken clay statues of deities scattered around—some missing arms or legs, some even missing their heads.
"Brother, what are we doing here? There doesn't seem to be anyone around."
Alex shrank her neck back slightly in fear.
Steve stood in the center of the hall with his hands behind his back. His gaze didn't fall on the statues but was directed toward a side door at the back of the hall.
The moment he stepped into the church, his power had touched upon an extremely obscure aura.
"No need to look further."
Steve spoke indifferently, his voice echoing through the hall.
"The person we are waiting for has already arrived."
Just as he finished speaking...
Tap, tap, tap.
A series of slow, rhythmic footsteps came from behind the side door.
Then, a figure slowly walked out.
It was an elderly man wearing a tattered black priest robe with hair and beard as white as snow. He held a whisk that was missing some of its hair. He looked kind and benevolent, like an ordinary old man guarding a church.
But Steve could clearly sense a strange, eerie energy within the old man—one that was being restrained as much as possible yet still felt heart-pounding.
The old man walked up to the two of them, bowed slightly with his hands joined, and spoke in a raspy yet calm voice.
"For such a distinguished guest to grace us with his presence, this humble priest, Harold, apologizes for the lack of a proper welcome."
The atmosphere inside the hall was strange and heavy.
Facing the old priest's greeting, Steve remained calm and returned the gesture with a slight cupping of his hands.
"Father, I have come here to inquire about an old matter from five years ago."
"Five years ago?"
Harold's whisk paused slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed through his cloudy old eyes.
"Have you come... looking for Paula?"
Hearing her mother's name, Alex, who had been hiding behind Steve, immediately poked her head out and asked urgently,
"Sir, do you know my mother? Have you seen my mother?"
Harold's gaze fell on Alex's delicate yet somewhat pale little face. He looked dazed for a moment before sighing.
"Mother? It seems you are the child of Paula and George. Your eyes and brows indeed look very much like his."
"Father."
Steve interjected at the right time, getting straight to the point.
"Can you tell us about what happened back then? Her parents have been missing for several years, and I saw that their trajectories both pointed to the Appalachian Mountains. I figured there should be some clues here."
Harold looked at the pitiful Alex before him, a flash of regret and pity crossing his eyes.
"It was a fated tragedy..."
He shook his head and pointed to a stone table in the courtyard.
"Sit, you two. It is a long story."
The three of them sat down on stone stools in the courtyard. Harold lightly swayed his whisk, sinking into his memories.
"That was five years ago. Because of some special insights in my studies, I had left the mountain to travel and was not in the church."
"Until one day, I suddenly sensed that a guardian array I had placed deep within the church was forcibly triggered. When I rushed back, I found the array had been broken, and the object I had been guarding for so long had disappeared."
Speaking to this point, a hint of bitterness appeared on Harold's face.
"I was both shocked and furious at the time and used various tracking methods, but I could never find the whereabouts of that object. Just as I was disheartened and prepared to give up—which was four years ago—Gorge came to my door."
"He was also here to ask about Paula's whereabouts. At that time, he told me many details about Paula before her disappearance. Combining the time the array was broken with the residual aura, I finally confirmed that it was Paula who took advantage of my absence to sneak into the church, take that object, and subsequently vanish."
Steve's brow furrowed slightly, his finger lightly tapping on the stone table.
"Father, I wonder if it is convenient to tell us exactly what that object you were guarding was?"
"There is nothing that cannot be said; it is already lost."
Harold sighed and lowered his voice.
"It was a pendant, or to be more precise, it was an evil object."
"An evil object?"
Steve's gaze sharpened.
"Indeed. It was something passed down by the previous parish, who instructed me to guard it strictly."
Harold shook his head.
"As for what specific effects that pendant had, I am ashamed to say that after guarding it for so many years, I still do not know. I only felt that it contained extremely an extremely foul aura, seemingly possessing the power to overturn the world."
"Hmm..."
Steve silently noted this key information.
Then, as if thinking of something, he stared sharply at Harold.
"Wait, Father, you just said you set up an array in the church?"
"As far as I know, Paula should have been just an ordinary person. How could she possibly break through your array?"
Steve had already used his power to carefully scan the old priest.
Harold was not a Supernatural Controller; there was no supernatural entity parasitizing him, but a special energy fluctuation did indeed flow through his body, its strength roughly equivalent to the Third Tier.
This was a power system similar to priest arts or faith power.
How could an array set up by a cultivator with Third Tier strength be broken by an ordinary woman who couldn't even truss a chicken?
"Unless someone acted on Paula's behalf, or gave her a tool to break the array."
Steve pointed out incisively.
"You are indeed sharp."
Harold looked at Steve appreciatively and nodded.
"George also questioned it like that back then. He said his wife was just an ordinary person and it was absolutely impossible for her to break the array. But the facts were right there: the array was indeed broken, and the pendant was indeed taken away."