Beyond the door lay a small space, no more than ten square meters. A five-tiered cabinet stood directly opposite the entrance, lined with glass bottles filled with white powder.
Bai Yuanju said, "Take this. Then, go to the warehouse we just passed and pick any weapon you like. Just sprinkle this Transformation Powder on the Specter, and it will briefly materialize them. Specters are inherently fragile—one shot anywhere on their body will instantly eliminate them."
"Of course, if you're not comfortable with that, I can have a few police officers accompany you. You'd just be responsible for spreading the powder while they handle the shooting."
Robin was puzzled. "If that's the case, why not just send the police to deal with the Dimensional Rift directly? My presence makes no difference."
Shooting at ghosts, huh? To be perfectly honest, the last time Robin had ever fired a gun was in her previous life — when she emptied an entire magazine and killed two people.
One was pure gold, the other... let's call it silver for effort.
…In a game, of course.
This Dimensional Rift posed minimal danger and was easily contained. If there was any flaw in the entire operation, it was undoubtedly Robin herself. Removing her would surely make the mission smoother, wouldn't it?
However, Bai Yuanju calmly explained, "Only members of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations can use this Transformation Powder. In anyone else's hands, it's just ordinary dust with no effect."
Whether Shi Han was likable or not was beside the point; her craftsmanship in creating anomalous artifacts was undeniably exceptional. Nearly every item she created shared a crucial characteristic: exclusive usability for Bureau members of the Dragon Nation.
The reason was simple: to prevent her creations from being stolen and exploited by malicious outsiders.
Even if others coveted the Bureau's strange and powerful artifacts, their envy would remain unfulfilled. Hand them over, and they'd be useless. The security measures were airtight.
"But... how does this artifact even verify my Bureau affiliation?" Robin asked.
"I wouldn't know about that," Bai Yuanju said, taking a bottle from the shelf and handing it to Robin. "After all, I didn't make this thing. All I can say is that it's quite... metaphysically inclined." The bottle was roughly the size of a soda can, made of glass with a metal cap.
As Robin took the bottle, she couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Why does this packaging look so much like Chili Powder?" She shook the bottle, and the powder inside looked like flour.
"Just pour some into your hand and scatter it," Bai Yuanju instructed. "It's harmless to humans, even if ingested, though I wouldn't recommend it."
"Why not?"
"Because the main ingredient seems to be... someone's cremated remains."
Robin's face twisted in disgust, and she recoiled, holding the bottle away from her.
They didn't linger in the special warehouse after retrieving the item. Back in the regular warehouse, Robin chose a sleek-looking compact handgun designed for women and spent about five minutes getting a quick tutorial on its use from Bai Yuanju.
How to switch off the safety, how to load a magazine, and how to chamber a round.
Firearms are inherently simple to operate, designed for intuitive use. However, this simplicity only extends to the most basic function: pulling the trigger to fire a bullet.
Maintaining and modifying firearms, as well as mastering accurate marksmanship, are skills that take time to develop. Right now, Robin could barely fire a gun, and where the bullet landed was entirely up to chance.
As they left the warehouse, Bai Yuanju continued to instruct, "The White Specter has no physical form and is difficult to spot with the naked eye in dimly lit environments. Even in bright light, you'll only catch a vague outline. If you're not careful, you might miss it entirely. However, it's easily detectable through any electronic device, so use your phone's camera to scan for it."
"It lowers the ambient temperature. If you feel a sudden drop, it means it's nearby, so be extra cautious. Also, remember that it can phase through walls. It could appear from the ceiling or beneath your feet, so don't just focus on what's ahead—stay alert to your surroundings."
"Finally, even if you get possessed, don't panic. White Specters aren't particularly aggressive. Initially, you'll just feel weak, like you have a fever or the flu. They only become life-threatening after three hours of possession. You can even sprinkle some Transformation Powder on yourself and shoot a non-lethal area—that should take one down."
"Don't worry, I have a healing Super Ability. As long as you're still breathing, I can save you without leaving any scars."
Bai Yuanju had covered every conceivable precaution and potential scenario, leaving Robin stunned. It felt less like embarking on a mission and more like taking an exam with all the answers provided.
Imagine the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations' initial response when the first White Specter appeared. They likely detected a Dimensional Rift but found no immediate anomalies. Nothing seemed to have happened... until strange rumors began to circulate in the areas near the rift.
For example, there were reports of white figures wandering under the moonlight late at night, people seeing something clinging to their backs in the bathroom mirror, strangers appearing behind them in selfies, bizarrely cold rooms in temperature-controlled facilities, and innocent victims meeting inexplicable deaths in their own homes.
The Bureau of Anomalous Investigations could only attempt to piece together the truth from these terrifying rumors. To all appearances, it was just another ghost story. Robin couldn't help but wonder how she would react if she were given such "ghost story"-style clues to investigate. She'd probably be scared half to death.
Yet, through the tireless efforts and dedication of the Bureau's members, accumulated over time, they had unraveled all the characteristics of these monsters and even developed a specialized countermeasure: Conversion Powder. Creatures that once seemed formidable and perilous were now considered mere cannon fodder.
Twenty minutes later, a police car pulled up in front of Eleventh Middle School. Robin never imagined that the next time she returned to school after so many years, it would be under such circumstances.