“We’ve detected dimensional fluctuations at the mental institution and Laos. In fact, these fluctuations happened at the same time,” Qin Lao said solemnly.

“Our comrades at Laos have inspected the hotel and the surveillance footages from the surrounding areas. There’s nothing odd about them. As a result of the B and R Initiative, the Zhao family frequented Laos. Here are the information about the Zhao family and Zhao Ran. Do have a look.” Wang Meng pulled out two file pockets from the stash of documents and passed them to Xu Lan.

“Song Xi probably resented our investigation. She hasn’t divulged anything other than her identity. We couldn’t find anything on the child as he resided in the nail houses.”

“Uh huh, what about the dimensional transmutation at Laos and the mental asylum that took place at the same time? Dimensional fluctuations are happening all over the world, am I right?” Xu Lan asked as he flipped through the files.

“Yes. The world that we are in now is akin to a sieve. It is filled with voids everywhere. However, our report shows that the frequency, speed, and trajectory of the voids are strangely similar. It is as though these voids are a single entity,” Liang Yu elaborated.

Zhao Ran was twenty-six years old. He was two years younger than Song Xi. Three years ago, the Zhao family announced that they had a son overseas, and he was going to return to the country and take over the family business. Back then, the Zhao family was not as affluent and it was only reported by non-mainstream media. Prior to that, the Zhao family kept Zhao Ran’s existence as a well-protected secret. There was not much information about him, aside from the fact that he spent only five years to obtain a Master’s degree in Economics and a Ph.D. degree in management. Transferring between schools was a norm for him, and he finally settled down in Whitehorse City after his mother married into the Zhao family.

There did not seem to be any connection between the reputable Zhao family who came to fame quickly in Whitehorse City and the Zhao family who used to be residents in the nail houses. The only obvious connection would be the surname they share, Zhao. If they were related at all, it would probably be that they shared the same ancestors five hundred years ago. Xu Lan wondered if he was being unreasonably suspicious of Zhao Ran. He reached into his pocket and felt the white handkerchief wrap itself around his hands.

“Do you guys think it’s possible for a void to appear at the same time in different locations?” Xu Lan stared at Qin Lao as he asked.

“I know it sounds ridiculous, but the possibility of it happening is real.”

“Oh? That’s interesting. How would it be possible?” Xiao Feng took a long drag and breathed out smoke rings as he asked.

“The Universe is multidimensional, it’s just that we can’t perceive some of the matters and latitudes. For some reason, the parallel dimensions are merging into one. As a result, dimensional cracks are formed and we’re seeing things from different latitudes.

However, the influx of foreign matters will upset the balance of our dimension, causing a greater crack to form and disrupting the space-time equilibrium in the process. Whenever the crack appears at a location, there will be a counterpart of the location withstanding the energy generated by the crack. If the existing energy at the counterpart could not withstand the force of the new energy, a new crack will be formed. This is just like a rucksack with an open bottom,” said Qin Lao.

“What does this have anything to do with Bai Wu then?” Xu Lan was confused by the explanation. He flipped through the files and voiced out the reason why he was there. After everything, he would rather not be a chess piece in someone else’s game.

“… Are they aware of Bai Wu’s real identity?” Qin Lao whispered as he was confused by Xu Lan’s candor. Qin Lao thought if everyone knew about it, Bai Wu would not have been allowed to roam around freely and mingle with the public.

“Qin Lao, what you’re saying is that the person who appeared at Laos and the mental asylum could have been the same person? The suspect took advantage of the crack, which explained how he or she managed to operate the game and committed crimes at different locations within the same time frame?” Xu Lan asked.

“This is not entirely impossible,” Qin Lao nodded and looked at Xu Lan with admiration.

“Do we have any information on Zhao Ran’s mother? No news about the woman who has gone crazy?” Xu Lan looked at Wang Hao as he tapped his index and middle fingers on the files.