Artifact Report

Chapter 135 Han Liuyue Chai Si's Order
"Oh, I never thought that someone as smart as you could be fooled by such a trick."

Even its face was still radiating with spray, but the vulture actually looked proud.

But Han Liuyue didn't take it to heart. Instead, she smiled at it and said, "You are smart. Then tell me."

"Since the 17th, my thinking and mental state have gradually become clearer."

If the vulture hadn't been tied up and unable to move, Han Liuyue suspected it would have tapped its forehead to show its intelligence.

"Before, I was muddle-headed and driven by instinct. Essentially, I was no different from a wild animal."

It seemed to be sighing.

"But after the 17th, it was like I woke up from a dream, and my thoughts connected in my mind. When I was locked in the coffin, I took a good look at myself for the first time."

The two couldn't help but look at each other.

There are actually quite a few residents who can think; but why have vultures, which originally acted solely on instinct, also undergone such changes?
Han Liuyue vaguely felt that Brother Chai knew the reason.

Not only Chai Si-ge, maybe even Jin Xueli knew it - after their eyes met, she immediately turned her head away.

"Have you ever thought about why we vultures, after transforming into human form, believe wholeheartedly that we are the real masters?"

As if this was the first time the vulture had the opportunity, he spoke these words patiently: "Because our goal is to leave the nest and enter Blackmore City. Only when we wholeheartedly, from the inside out, from body to mind, we believe that we are human, can we hope to enter the human world."

Jin Xueli frowned slightly and said, "I think I understand. This time, when you wake up, you will already be in the human world..."

"Yes. Not only has 'wholehearted belief' become unnecessary, but I'm also in a state where I can't even consider myself as myself.

"I'm maintaining my human form while also maintaining my consciousness as a vulture. This is probably the first time in the history of the nest that I've ever been able to do this."

It seemed really pleased with itself.

"During this time in the coffin, I thought about a lot of things. Since I was bored, I also did a lot of experiments. For example... 'Incomplete Transformation'."

Han Liuyue was stunned.

"You-you can keep some of it from transforming?"

"Yes, yes, that's what it means."

The vulture, as if he had found a confidant, said, "I was thinking, I've already entered the human world. Will I have to lose my consciousness unnecessarily the next time I transform? I don't want that."

That’s right, creatures with lower intelligence would not think about preserving themselves.

Only when intelligence improves and self-awareness becomes stronger will people develop resistance to this.

"So I came up with a plan... I could transform most of my body into the target's shape, leaving only a small, invisible part of me in its original vulture form. Could I possibly preserve my consciousness this way?"

Needless to say, the answer was obvious, as the two of them had just experienced it themselves.

Jin Xueli took a breath and asked, "Which piece did you keep just now?"

"Butt." Vulture said as a matter of course.

...This part is really safe.

If you think about it this way, there are still many places that are invisible to others and dark under the light. Even if everyone changes into swimsuits when encountering vultures in the future, it still cannot be protected - such as private parts, scalp, soles of feet, inside of the mouth...

Vultures are now a very troublesome resident, especially when there are many people around.

However, hunters forming teams to enter the lair is a method used by every family.

"After I learned 'Incomplete Transformation' without any instruction, you two were the first group of humans I met."

Vulture's mood suddenly became complicated when he said this. He said to Han Liuyue, "Everything was going smoothly...but you had to mess it up in the end."

"Huh? What's going on?" Jin Xueli turned her head and asked.

Oh yes, she doesn’t know what happened to Han Liuyue yet.

Han Liuyue told her her experiences and speculations, trying to pick out the key points - anyway, the message to notify the pick-up had already been sent out, and they had nothing to do while waiting for the arrival of the people.

"I suppose the lock had been broken off when you first went to inspect it after the landslide."

"Yes."

The vulture was very cooperative and took the initiative to say: "When you came, I was indeed in the coffin and hadn't pushed the door open yet. I reached out from inside the coffin and grabbed the lid.

"You couldn't open it from the outside, so you thought the lock was intact? In fact, as soon as you left, I pushed the lid open and got out."

Jin Xueli stared at it with an angry look on her face - the vulture's trick was simple to say, but it was really hard to tell at the time: unless she opened the lid herself, who would know whether it was locked or pulled by the vulture from the inside?
Han Liuyue continued, "Luckily, the coffin lid was deformed. Once opened, it was difficult to close again. That's how I realized the vulture was hiding behind the coffin with me."

When the coffin lid could not be closed again, it was the first person Jin Xueli said, "The coffin is still locked," which basically confirmed that this was the fact she saw.

"But how did you manage to escape before I got suspicious?"

Han Liuyue still had doubts and said, "Just when I thought you might be the vulture, I went back to the coffin and saw that you were gone. Could it be that you can read minds?" "Hey, aren't you a smart person?"

The vulture, as expected of a resident, gave a rather annoying laugh: "Why couldn't you figure it out yourself?"

When Han Liuyue turned around to look for the axe, Jin Xueli patted her arm.

"I think I understand... After all, I have fought with 'myself' personally." she said.

"Hmm?" the vulture asked through his nose.

"I'm afraid that once you get up, the vulture hiding behind the coffin will become you. It will have your way of thinking and know what you will see. When you combine the two, it will naturally know what conclusions you will draw and what you will do next."

"Oh, that's true." Han Liuyue tilted her head and thought for a moment, "I really can't hide my thoughts from myself. Once the answer is revealed, it turns out to be so simple."

She smiled at Jin Xueli: "I didn't realize you're quite smart!"

Jin Xueli's face drooped. "Are you praising Chai Si like that too?"

"How can that be? I don't even have time to show respect."

"So you also know that this is disrespectful?"

This girl really loves chatting with me, Han Liuyue sighed in his heart.

She couldn't stop talking once she started, so I guess Jin Xueli actually likes her very much, right?
That’s what she thought, and that’s what she said—Jin Xueli blushed after hearing that.

It could be out of shyness, or it could be out of anger, it’s hard to say.

"Speaking of Brother Chai, now is the perfect time."

Han Liuyue pointed at the vulture and said to Jin Xueli, "Keep an eye on it. I have to call him and report the situation."

As she walked to the side of the road with her phone in hand, she heard Jin Xueli mumbling, "...How much money do you want to pay me for being so loyal and working so hard..."

It’s not about money!
Han Liuyue wanted to turn around and shout something at her, but before she could turn around, the call tone on the phone suddenly stopped. After a pause, a male voice said, "...Speak."

"Yes,"

Han Liuyue involuntarily put his feet together, straightened his back, and stood at attention like he did in the army.

"The vulture just escaped and transformed to attack Jin Xueli, but the situation has been brought back under control."

Next, she summarized and reported all the information, including the vulture's enhanced intelligence, the environment in which it operated, its "incomplete transformation" behavior, and the targets it wanted to kill.

"Can I still be restored to Vesile?"

As expected of Brother Chai Si, he grasped the crux of the matter right away.

Moreover, he didn't seem surprised by Vulture's new behavior - he had already known about it, right?
"Sorry, we can't. He's been dead for too long," Han Liuyue said. "At least, that's what Vulture said."

Although she got a lot of information out of the vulture, she knew very well that it was not because of her cleverness - it was all because the vulture didn't mind telling her.

Its mind has evolved, and it has begun to show off and feel proud, like a bird showing off its feathers; fundamentally, this is not a "torture".

Vultures can neither die nor feel pain.

The only thing she could do was to break its shape and cause it a little inconvenience; she posed no essential threat, nor could she offer a truly attractive price.

She didn't need to say this, Chai Si was also very clear about it.

"...As expected, it's developing like this. It's okay, I didn't trust the information the residents gave me anyway."

Chai Si was not disappointed or angry, and his tone remained calm.

"Take the vultures and the corpse and enter the nest immediately. There will naturally be people to pick up the mess and clean up the scene. Afterwards, bring back Vesile's corpse and burn it. The things have been placed where you opened the passage—"

He paused, then suddenly said, "You'll find a paper bag in your backpack."

Han Liuyue was stunned.

"As you said, vultures are different now, so I have an idea that's worth a try."

Chai Si finished the order in a low voice, and Han Liuyue turned around and glanced at Jin Xueli.

She found a branch from somewhere and poked the vulture's half-recovered face, causing it to grumble.

"...No problem," Han Liuyue replied, "Leave it to me."

　I remember seeing someone ask if Chai Si had a back-up plan, and he did have one...

　　I can rest again tomorrow! How should I write this thank you chapter? Which character should I let appear...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)