Chapter 17
1448 Words
Huayu Residential Area.
The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows across the streets as the police arrived to conduct their inquiry. The residents, sensing the gravity of the situation, were eager to cooperate.
The formal questioning took place with the police positioned outside, while Sheng An and Hao Jingye conducted the interviews inside the small, dimly lit rooms.
The researcher behind the alarming message was identified as Song Linwei, a man whose agitation was palpable.
Before Sheng An could even begin her questioning, Song Linwei blurted out, "Is it true that the apocalypse is coming? The police don't believe me, but surely you must be from a higher authority, right?"
Sheng An's face remained an unreadable mask. She responded with a seemingly casual question, "Do you really believe in that so-called Iron Man?"
Song Linwei chuckled dryly, "You keep coming back to confirm with me because there's something out of the ordinary, isn't there? If everything were normal, my post wouldn't have caught your attention, would it?"
His doomsday prediction post had indeed caused a stir. The police were skeptical, yet they continued to interrogate him, their persistence hinting at deeper concerns.
Tonight, higher-ranking officials had joined the questioning. The police waited outside while the three of them were confined to the room.
Could there really be no issue here?
Sheng An scrutinized him. His intelligence and clarity were evident in his every reaction. He was fully conscious and coherent, not some madman spouting nonsense.
Sheng An placed the transcript on the table and asked, "What kind of research do you do?"
Caught off guard, Song Linwei hesitated before answering truthfully, "Physics-related."
Sheng An nodded, "So you believe in science. I'm curious, how did this Iron Man convince you?"
Leaning forward, she fixed him with an intense gaze.
Song Linwei replied, "His very existence defies science."
He pointed to his eyes, "And I saw him with my own eyes."
Sheng An neither confirmed nor denied his statement. She leaned back, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Alright, Mr. Song, can you describe this 'Iron Man' you saw?"
Song Linwei's smile vanished, replaced by a frown. "I've already told the police."
"I want to hear it directly from you," Sheng An insisted, her smile unwavering.
With a resigned sigh, Song Linwei began, "Yesterday morning, before heading to work, I noticed a flash outside my window. Being quite sensitive, I went to check.
"I saw Iron Man, a figure entirely golden. No, more like humanoid metal, clinging to the window. We were face to face."
"Could you see his face clearly?" Hao Jingye interjected.
Song Linwei shook his head, "Not really. He was more like a metallic humanoid. You'd know something was off just by looking at him. He's very unique."
Sheng An asked, "What did you two talk about?"
Song Linwei recounted, "I was terrified and stepped back, instinctively grabbing a broom to defend myself. But he spoke first, claiming to be Iron Man..."
Sheng An's eyebrows twitched, and Hao Jingye frowned deeply.
"He really looked like Iron Man, made of steel. I threatened to call the police, but he said the apocalypse was coming, so there was no point. Instead, he advised me to stock up on supplies." Song Linwei sighed.
"So you firmly believe the apocalypse is coming?" Sheng An queried.
"Given the unusual event and the meteorite issue, isn't it reasonable to suspect the end times?"
"No, it's not unreasonable. You're very perceptive," Sheng An acknowledged. "You could tell Iron Man was male, but could you guess his age?"
Song Linwei shook his head, "No, I couldn't."
He sighed again, looking at Sheng An, "I've told you everything I know. That Iron Man is real. If you see him, you'll be shocked."
"But we haven't seen him," Sheng An replied with a cryptic smile. "Are you sure you have nothing else to add?"
Song Linwei shook his head, "No."
He hesitated, then leaned forward with a troubled expression, "Iron Man seemed confident you wouldn't catch him. Can you?"
"Do you want us to catch him?" Sheng An asked in return.
"Of course. I want to know more. Will the apocalypse really happen?"
He looked at them, his lips trembling as he asked softly, "So, can you tell me if the apocalypse is real?"
He asked with great trepidation.
Hao Jingye was about to shake his head when Sheng An suddenly said, "Yes. In 20 days, a meteorite will strike, bringing global destruction."
Song Linwei's pupils dilated in shock.
Hao Jingye was equally stunned, clearly not expecting Sheng An to disclose such information.
Song Linwei's composure shattered, his face a mask of shock, confusion, and a resigned despair.
He slumped, his voice hoarse, "I knew it."
Sheng An asked, "Now that you know, what are your plans?"
Song Linwei shook his head, his eyes vacant, "I don't know. With the apocalypse coming, what plans can there be?"
He took a deep breath, licking his dry lips, "Don't worry, I'll keep it confidential."
There was nothing more to gain from him.
Sheng An stood up, "We'll leave for now, Mr. Song. If you have any more information, please contact us."
Song Linwei nodded and saw them out.
Hao Jingye was full of questions.
As soon as they stepped outside, he lowered his voice and asked, "Sister Sheng, why did you tell him?"
The apocalypse news was still under wraps; it shouldn't be casually disclosed.
With the police nearby, Sheng An shook her head and didn't answer.
They were then led to another household.
Sheng An raised an eyebrow, "Are these two buildings adjacent?"
Hao Jingye nodded, lowering his voice, "Yes, they are adjacent, which is why the Iron Man sightings seem credible."
This household had a child, and Sheng An didn't ask many questions.
"Little one, what did the Iron Man you saw look like?" Sheng An asked softly.
The child thought for a moment, pouting, "He wasn't like the one on TV at all. He was annoying!"
"Oh, what was annoying about him?"
"He took my Ultraman!" The child was almost in tears.
"That's too much!"
Sheng An squatted down, producing a delicate Ultraman from her bag, smiling, "How about Auntie gives you this Ultraman?"
The child's eyes lit up, and he immediately took it.
He looked at Sheng An, his eyes sparkling, "Thank you, sister."
Sheng An patted his head, her smile growing warmer, "So cute. Can you tell me what he looked like? And what did he say to you? Tell me everything, and we'll help you find him and get your Ultraman back."
The child's eyes sparkled even more, gripping the Ultraman tightly and nodding vigorously.
The child tried his best to recall.
But children's logic is often fragmented. Sheng An and Hao Jingye pieced together the scattered information—
Yesterday, the child was home alone and heard something outside the window.
Unable to open the window, he pulled back the curtain.
He saw a glittering Iron Man.
He asked, "Who are you?"
—Quite brave, not scared at all.
The "Iron Man" heard the voice and opened the window.
He jumped in, scaring the child into tears.
The "Iron Man" said, "Stop crying, you're so annoying."
Then, he noticed the Ultraman figure on the wall.
The "Iron Man" asked, "Do you believe in light?"
The child, too scared, kept crying.
The man pouted, said something, and left with the child's Ultraman.
Hao Jingye asked again, "Kid, do you really not remember what he said?"
The child shook his head.
He was too busy crying to remember.
Hao Jingye sighed.
Sheng An patted the child's head and, after checking the handprint, left with Hao Jingye.
*
They exited the residential area.
After saying goodbye to the police, they got into their car.
Hao Jingye said, "Their information overlaps a lot, and these two don't know each other. The child's words differ slightly, but the key details match. It seems Iron Man... might be real."
"He is real, a metal-based ability user," Sheng An replied, starting the car, her expression indifferent. "Continue investigating Song Linwei. Check his living environment, family situation, and his recent contacts. Compile everything for me."
Hao Jingye was surprised, "You suspect him?"
He sat up straight, urgently asking, "Is there something wrong with Song Linwei? He seems truthful."
Sheng An's revelation about the apocalypse had already surprised Hao Jingye. Now, hearing her different reaction, he sensed something was off.
Sheng An smiled, "He didn't lie, but he certainly hid some details."
"Could he be the metal-based ability user?!" Hao Jingye guessed boldly.
Sheng An sighed with a blend of frustration and amusement, "Can you think any further ahead?"
- Writer
