Chapter 1 Diary

Border Town Prison.

The building, resembling a medieval castle, served as the prison hall and entrance. On both sides, city walls, fifty meters high, had manned watchtowers at regular intervals, working in conjunction with drones for joint inspections.

It seemed there was also some invisible electric net or alternative film floating above the city walls.

A black sedan, painted with gray lines and adorned with a metal cap on its roof, slowly drove along the sole road and parked in the empty prison lot.

Both the main and passenger drivers simultaneously stepped out in black leather shoes, though their sizes differed significantly.

Both were clad in black trench coats, each with an eye-patterned emblem on the chest, but the material and color varied.

The main driver was a young man who appeared ‘fair-skinned and tender-fleshed,’ no older than thirty, and was immediately captivated by the prison upon exiting the car.

In contrast, the middle-aged man who stepped out of the passenger seat looked relaxed, with deep eye bags like ravines on his face, stretching to his fullest, as if he had slept the entire journey.

The middle-aged man did not look at the prison but turned his gaze to the ‘newcomer.’

“Are we that short-staffed?”

The hoarse question, like an arm extending from a sewing gap in a rock, pulled his young colleague’s attention back from the prison.

The young man scratched his head awkwardly. “Mr. Anderson, you fell asleep as soon as we got in the car… My name is Zhang Chi, from the Behavioral Science Department. This time, the minister arranged for me to accompany you on this ‘prison visit.'”

“Bring your bird and follow me.”

Zhang Chi was somewhat puzzled. “Does a direct prison like this still need a bird?”

Anderson seemed disinclined to waste words. He simply took out an egg-like metal container from the lining of his overcoat.

Click~ The eggshell opened with precise mechanization, and a parrot-like bird was awakened and voluntarily flew to Anderson’s right shoulder.

Zhang Chi also had his own bird perch on his shoulder in a similar manner.

Thus, the two walked one after another into the imposing prison gate,

verified their identification,

surrendered their weapons,

had blood drawn for testing,

underwent psychological evaluations.

With all preparations complete, a prison guard in full protective gear led the two deeper into the prison, bypassing the chaotic and relatively open general area.

Various vulgarities emanated from the open cells of the general area. The prisoners rarely saw outsiders dressed in formal attire without any protective measures.

After passing through the general area,

and then through a fully enclosed corridor,

they descended fifty meters down a spiral staircase at the end,

arriving at the deepest section of this Border Town Prison, a place neither the prison guards nor the ordinary prisoners held in the general area wished to approach.

Heavy Punishment Detention Area.

Prisoners held here have often committed transgressions beyond the bounds of capital crimes and are themselves incredibly dangerous.

But for some reason, they cannot be allowed to die.

“Mr. Di has been transferred to the ‘communication cubicle.'”

“Your visiting time should not exceed fifteen minutes. If any dangerous incidents occur during this period, we will immediately terminate the visit.”

Anderson clasped his hands together, rotating his wrist joints, while also instructing the young man beside him.

“Zhang Chi, I will primarily conduct the conversation from now on.

Do not speak to Mr. Di without my permission. Even basic eye contact should be minimized as much as possible.”

“Understood. I’ll mostly be taking notes.”

Zhang Chi had already taken out his department’s specialized notebook, ready to diligently record the upcoming conversation.

“Let’s go.”

They passed through the final transition area.

A new type of bulletproof glass served as a barrier, isolating the prisoner inside.

Zhang Chi’s first field mission required him to interact with such a criminal, and he was somewhat nervous. After all, he had done his research before setting off and clearly understood how dangerous the individual was.

The file referred to him as a “Demon.”

This appellation came from a survivor, who, according to his account, said that the one doing the hacking and slashing at the scene was not a person at all, but a Demon with eyes blazing with fire and horns on his head.

【Violent Syndrome】, 【High IQ】, 【Lack of Humanity】, 【Superhuman Physique】

These personal tags recorded in the file were clearly remembered by Zhang Chi.

However, when Zhang Chi looked inside through the obstructing glass, he only saw an ordinary young man doing standard push-ups.

No curved horns, no red skin of a Demon. Instead, he had black hair and yellow skin, just like Zhang Chi.

Even sensing the arrival of visitors, this person did not stop his push-ups, his lips moving slightly as he silently counted.

“198, 199, 200…”

After two hundred push-ups, ‘Mr. Di’ slowly rose.

He had specifically worn a white shirt and trousers to welcome his ‘guests.’ Due to the push-ups, his shirt was largely soaked with sweat.

When Zhang Chi saw the man’s face, his first impression was surprisingly friendly.

But upon closer inspection, Zhang Chi immediately perceived an invisible danger beneath that friendly facade, and he, too, became vigilant.

At this moment, ‘Mr. Di’s’ gaze also shifted, and their eyes met.

Zhang Chi, who had become a probationary agent with excellent grades and almost full marks in practical tests, instantly felt his back soaked with cold sweat. However, he managed to compose himself as much as possible, nodding politely in greeting.

Using the nod as an excuse, he buried his head in his notebook, recording the ‘feeling’ he had just experienced.

“Mr. Di, we’re here today to ask for your assistance in analyzing a special case.”

Anderson took over the conversation, simultaneously placing a pre-arranged document on the scanner. A replica was quickly delivered to Mr. Di’s hands.

It took Mr. Di only three minutes to browse the document before neatly stacking it again and holding it in his hand.

They were completely soundproofed, and communication was transmitted via electrical signals.

Mr. Di’s voice was received by a wall receiver, converted through electrical signals, and then transmitted to the headphones worn by the two.

Even after processing, the voice was still very uncomfortable to listen to.

Though it came through the headphones, the voice felt as if it originated from deep within the ground.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen young guests. I can help you analyze the case, but there’s a condition. Talking to an old man like you, Anderson, accelerates my aging. Let this young man discuss the case.”

Anderson knew the criminal’s temperament well; if he refused, he might very well have made a wasted trip today.

He turned to look at Zhang Chi, who was taking notes.

“Remember, in the following conversation, absolutely do not discuss your personal information. Only inquire about case-related matters.

I will monitor the entire time, and if there is any inappropriate conversation, I will stop this visit.”

As a probationary agent in the Behavioral Science Department, interacting with criminals was a major part of Zhang Chi’s future work, so he decisively accepted the task.

Anderson, as the senior, voluntarily stepped back, leaving the space to the two young men.

Zhang Chi was not in a hurry to communicate with the prisoner before him. He first closed his eyes, communicating with something deep within his brain through a peculiar method.

After the communication, he reopened his eyes.

The previous rookie awkwardness instantly vanished, replaced by a pair of exceptionally resolute eyes.

Just as he was about to speak to the criminal behind the bulletproof glass,

the other party, with a benevolent expression, raised his right hand and waved at him at a fixed frequency.

The sound synchronized in the headphones, though it had become much more amiable than before.

“Come closer…”

The words seemed to penetrate his thoughts,

but Zhang Chi remained motionless, using his mental strength to resist the other party’s verbal pull.

The voice in the headphones continued, “Oh? It seems you’re a very excellent newcomer. But if you don’t come forward, there’s no need to talk to me.”

“Go forward,” Anderson’s voice came from behind him.

Zhang Chi looked troubled, but he slowly moved closer, stopping about a meter from the glass.

“Ahem~ Mr. Di, could you discuss with me…”

Just as Zhang Chi initiated his question, a voice suddenly came through the headphones, interrupting his inquiry.

“What’s your name?”

Zhang Chi realized he hadn’t introduced himself yet. Just as he was about to utter his name through his teeth, the headphones spoke again.

“Zhang~ Zhen… No. Let me guess, Zhang Chi, right?”

“Yes.”

Just as Zhang Chi intended to switch back to the topic, the other party, to his surprise, preempted him and directly stated the analysis results of the case:

“This ‘Butterfly Killer’ will commit another crime within three days. It’s highly probable that the victim is already abducted by him. Go to the area of his second or third crime and investigate missing obese males aged 45-55. There might be clues.”

Mr. Di gave the analysis results while skillfully folding the copied document in his hand.

“Thank you.”

After receiving the valuable information, Zhang Chi did not linger. He seemed to have sensed some danger.

Just as he turned to leave, a voice came from the headphones again, “So~ when do you plan to commit a crime?”

“Huh?!”

“Let me rephrase that. When did you start having homicidal urges, Zhang Chi? Let me guess…”

Zhang Chi decisively took off his headphones, ending the verbal exchange with Mr. Di.

However, the communication was not interrupted. Instead, the other party’s voice became clearer, no longer processed by electrical signals, but coming directly from behind him.

If the previous voice was like something from the ground, this original sound was like a sewing gap directly to Hell, with the Demon’s original voice constantly seeping out from within.

“What?!”

Zhang Chi was shocked; the glass barrier between him and the criminal had vanished.

‘Calm down~’

A whisper from his mind instantly dispelled his tension. Zhang Chi quickly put on the black gloves that matched his trench coat, switching to combat mode.

This pitch-black trench coat featured a combat-grade multi-layer flexible metal structure, capable of blocking even medium-caliber bullets, and Zhang Chi himself had achieved the highest score in his group during the pre-employment combat test.

He assumed a Mongolian wrestling stance, ready to subdue the unarmed prisoner before him.

Swish!

Something flashed past his eyes, too fast to see clearly.

Immediately after, something else fell continuously.

Zhang Chi looked down; his ten fingers were scattered on the ground, his combat gloves smoothly cut open.

Every finger connected to his heart,

yet his brain suppressed the pain. His grimacing eyes stared intently at Mr. Di before him, realizing that the paper file in the other’s hand had been folded into a small knife shape.

“Paper!”

Zhang Chi had no time to be shocked by the other’s method. He moved his feet and swung his fingerless hand with all his might.

Slap! A sound of flesh connecting came.

His palm failed to touch Mr. Di. Instead, Zhang Chi’s wrist was firmly seized by the other party.

The sensation of this grip was utterly unlike a human’s, but rather like some scorching iron lock clamping his wrist tightly.

“What kind of Monster are you?!”

Zhang Chi still showed no signs of giving up, decisively raising his leg for a high kick.

Slap!

This time, it was a solid hit.

But the sensation returned to his instep was like kicking a stone surface. Mr. Di before him remained motionless, only his head tilting about 10 degrees.

Danger!

Zhang Chi felt an unprecedented sense of danger!

At this moment, the soft whispers in his head became noisy, and he even felt as if his entire face was about to crack open.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Some tentacle-like structures seeped out between Zhang Chi’s eye sockets and teeth, and some cracks appeared at his nose, as if his entire face was about to split open, revealing the most terrifying part within.

Chirp! Chirp!

The bird chirped incessantly.

The bird belonging to Zhang Chi, which had perched on his shoulder earlier, chirped non-stop at this moment, frantically flapping its wings, wanting to leave its owner.

As Zhang Chi was about to transform into some terrifying form,

Whoosh~ Something else, too fast for the naked eye to catch, attacked from the front.

Zhang Chi only felt as if something had been inserted into his mouth, and the terrifying transformation occurring on his face was forcibly interrupted. His consciousness gradually blurred.

Looking down,

the small knife folded from paper had been inserted into his mouth, reaching his brain, and a cluster of tissue was destroyed.

In his dying moments,

a brief moment of clarity made Zhang Chi recall some things.

He seemed to have started hearing invisible whispers from his brain on a certain day.

He seemed to occasionally become like a stranger under the influence of the whispers.

He seemed to have killed his girlfriend some time ago.

Thud!

His body fell heavily to the ground, and pink liquid flowed from his mouth where the paper knife was inserted.

The agent was killed,

but the prison alarm did not sound for a long time.

Only the bulletproof glass, which served as a barrier, slowly descended again from the ceiling.

At this moment, Mr. Anderson, standing outside the glass, unhurriedly took out a cigarette and lit it for himself. Looking at the corpse, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

It wasn’t surprise that his colleague was killed, but surprise that Mr. Di had grown even stronger during his confinement in prison.

Mr. Di was crouching by the corpse, seemingly conducting an examination, and simultaneously giving his analysis, “This guy didn’t even know he had undergone ‘change’ to achieve a perfect Disguise… These things are ‘evolving.'”

Anderson’s voice came through the earpiece: “Thank you for your trouble this time, Mr. Di.”

“Since you already determined that this person had an issue, why didn’t you resolve it internally?”

Anderson shrugged, “If news of ‘Pseudo-humans’ within our ranks leaks out, it will definitely cause widespread panic. Even a one-in-ten-thousand risk cannot be taken.

Comparatively, an agent being accidentally killed by a criminal during a prison visit sounds much better.”

“Is that so?”

Mr. Di suddenly stood up and came to the glass, pressing his entire face against it, as if he was about to break through from the inside.

This scene made Anderson, the old hand, break out in a cold sweat. “Mr. Di, there will certainly be a reward for your help~ We’ve found what you requested last time.”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Di immediately returned to normal, stepping back voluntarily, and his tone became gentle.

“Is that so?”

Anderson took out an exquisite, leather-bound notebook from his clothing. It looked quite old. “I’ll make a copy for you now.”

“No, give me the original.”

Mr. Di was holding a handful of teeth, which he had just temporarily pulled from the corpse during his examination.

These sturdy teeth seemed to be embedded between Mr. Di’s fingers, serving as temporary tools.

He placed his five fingers on the glass surface, rotated them clockwise, and the bulletproof glass was cut open with a circular opening.

Crackling sounds~

He extended his arm and poured the teeth outside, letting them roll to Anderson’s feet, then made a gesture to ‘receive something.’

This action immediately triggered the prison alarm, and red lights flashed.

However, Anderson did not retreat. Instead, he stepped forward and handed over the diary in his hand.

Mr. Di, upon receiving the diary, instantly became ‘docile,’ and his attention was completely focused on the diary.

He immediately reached out to touch the cover, even pressing it against his face to sniff it carefully, as if caressing the skin of his beloved.

“Ah~ It hasn’t been tainted by other people’s scent, and it hasn’t been flipped through. This is wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Anderson.”

The prison visit ended.

Anderson proactively explained the situation to the prison authorities, urging them not to interfere with Mr. Di’s reading of the diary.

Back in his room, Mr. Di could no longer restrain himself. He washed off the bloodstains on his hands and then carefully dried them with a towel.

Sitting at his desk,

he gently hooked the cover of the diary with his index finger, his eyes focused on the text inside.

Holder: Luo Di

Diary Start: June 10, 2026

Day One, Sunny

As each word entered his vision, Luo Di’s thoughts also returned to several years ago, to that special and unique high school era.