There's nothing particularly unusual about the content of the online feud, it's just some people questioning the existence of mysterious creatures. After all, no one has actually seen those mysterious creatures since records began, and the captured footage is always blurry. In the past, this could be attributed to poor technology, but now, even pinhole cameras capture in 4K HD, and you still can't get a clear shot of a monster?

Doesn't this suggest that it's all fake nonsense? And this Mikoto Jun, the video creator, is naturally a fraud!

Mikoto Jun naturally couldn't stand it, so he got into a big argument with the other party below.

Such arguments on the internet are not unusual, especially when it involves things like Ghosts and gods, some people watch for fun, some insist they exist, and others strongly refute. That's how online fights go.

But the issue lies in the timing of this feud!

This feud occurred half a month before Mikoto Jun went to the construction team's site!

This naturally made Duanmu Huai think more.

"Continue checking for me."

Staring at the computer screen, Duanmu Huai spoke.

"Best check if anyone contacted Mikoto Jun privately after the feud, and when the construction team came up with the plan to restructure the mountain path, where the funding came from for the rebuild, it'd be best if you can find the accounts!"

"...You think all this was planned?"

Hearing Duanmu Huai's words, Yuko Shionji was somewhat surprised. Since Duanmu Huai made it so clear, Yuko Shionji wasn't stupid, she could naturally guess his intention.

It's just... Yuko Shionji thought, Duanmu Huai didn't seem like this smart a person.

"Cult tricks are just a few moves back and forth, I've long been familiar with them."

Duanmu Huai sneered, indeed, he doesn't like to use his brain. If Duanmu Huai were to guess himself, he might have no clue even after a lifetime. But the issue is, Duanmu Huai has taken down so many cults and has such extensive experience dealing with them that he often understands the means of these cults by looking at the outcome first.

In Duanmu Huai's view, this seemed more like a trap set by the cult for Mikoto Jun. Luring him to awaken the Burrowing Demon Worm, Duanmu Huai had seen these tricks many times. For example, the account that argued with Mikoto Jun might have been manipulated by the cult, first making Mikoto Jun angry, then switching to another account to contact him privately, prompting him to shoot the video of the real mysterious creature to slap back at his critics. Then some info about the Burrowing Demon Worm would leak — thinking further, Mikoto Jun might have become a mysterious creature enthusiast due to this cult's deliberate cultivation!

Duanmu Huai knows very well, unlike those facade organizations, true cults have a steadfast belief. They are willing to spend decades pushing a plan forward for it. If they've indeed spent a decade on this, it wouldn't surprise Duanmu Huai.

Of course, it's because Duanmu Huai is so familiar with the methods of these cults that he's able to think of these things. Otherwise, he wouldn't bother to waste his brain guessing based on clues alone.

As for Saeki Ryoko's preliminary investigation result, she was a supernatural enthusiast on the internet, interested in researching curses and even set up her own website, specifically searching and recording various curses and blessing methods, basically updating every day before her death.

This brings up a common point.

Clearly, these two people, though unknown in reality, were somewhat famous figures in the supernatural circles online. One as a video creator making mysterious creatures videos, and the other as someone who set up a site collecting curses and blessing spells.

"I really didn't expect, there actually is a commonality."

After the investigation results came out, Yuko Shionji was quite surprised, and Shajuye stared curiously at the screen, asking with a puzzled expression.

"The commonality is that they both like supernatural things?"

"On the surface, yes, but there's a deeper connection beyond that."

"Deeper connection?"

"That's right."

Yuko Shionji nodded and explained to Shajuye.

"Whether it's editing videos or setting up a website, both require significant time and effort, and it's not a spur-of-the-moment thing, but long-term maintenance. This means that these two are not just simple verbal supernatural enthusiasts, but active ones."

"Precisely because they are active, they are easier to incite into action."

Duanmu Huai snorted coldly.

As Yuko Shionji mentioned, anyone can collect ghost stories and such. But accumulating over time by editing videos and maintaining a website is essentially a job. Without patience and energy, it's impossible. The more dedicated a person is, once incited, the more capable they are of autonomous action.

Unlike other online arguers who are just all talk and no action.

"Their intelligence still needs further digging, but currently, that's not the focus."

Duanmu Huai glanced over the intelligence and then tossed it aside. Having Yuko Shionji check again was just to confirm if there was a common point, and now it's clear that there is.

"The focus?"

"The House of Death, we haven't figured out how Shi Ban Zhi died."

"But... wasn't it suicide?"

Shajuye asked with confusion, and Duanmu Huai shook his head.

"There are many types of suicide, being forced to 'suicide' is one of them."

"Being forced to 'suicide'?"

"You guess."

Duanmu Huai didn't answer Shajuye's question, instead turning to Yuko Shionji.

"Investigate online intelligence related to the House of Death, see if there's any clue, especially in this recent period."

"Okay."

Upon receiving Duanmu Huai's order, Yuko Shionji quickly tapped on the keyboard, and soon one window after another popped up on her computer screen, various pieces of information flashed by. Duanmu Huai sat on the sofa in silence, drinking tea, and Shajuye sat beside him, gently stroking the little panda in her arms.

"Found it!"

After an unknown period, Yuko Shionji suddenly stopped and spoke softly.

"Oh?"

Duanmu Huai stood up and walked to Yuko Shionji's back, staring at the screen.

"What did you find?"

"Here."

Yuko Shionji extended her slender finger, pointing at the screen with a tone laced with a bit of anger.

"NAK TV's crew 'Exploring the Suicide Holy Land' is about to head to the House of Death for an investigation, claiming to uncover the mystery of the Suicide Holy Land in the House of Death."

"Oh?"

Duanmu Huai frowned, staring at the announcement.

"They really are courting death, by the way, why are you angry?"

"...

Yuko Shionji didn't answer, instead she clicked a video below, and soon Duanmu Huai saw a familiar scene.

Even though it was mosaiced, Duanmu Huai could still see that this was the surveillance video from Shi Ban Zhi's suicide.

"So, the program crew intends to use the Shi Ban Zhi suicide event as a gimmick to hype their program?"

Duanmu Huai wasn't surprised by this; Japanese variety shows are like that, basically not treating people as people, especially those prank shows. Many Duanmu Huai found excessive when he watched them. Had it been him, he would've hit back long ago. But the celebrities on the opposite side could only swallow their anger and obediently endure the pranks. Of course, although their popularity might increase after the ordeal, but... ah, clowns will always be clowns.

"Hmph."

Yuko Shionji huffed unhappily but said nothing more.

"This makes it interesting."

After pondering for a moment, Duanmu Huai pulled out his phone and made a call.

"It's me, I'd like to trouble you with something."

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