First Interstellar Guide Chapter 7: Special Guide

Chapter 7: Special Guide

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Inside the Eagle starship, Mrs. Joseph called Yu Ran into the room for a conversation alone. She probed Yu Ran’s mental landscape herself, seeing some of Yu Ran’s past memories and sensing the deep-seated emotional pain within Yu Ran’s mind — as Mohr and the association reported, Yu Ran had lost his parents some time ago, and it was a shock that awakened him as a guide, with only meager C-grade mental energy. She had a fondness for this peculiar-eyed youth; there was a strange sense of familiarity from their first meeting. Perhaps it was because her own son was also a guide, only a few years younger than Yu Ran. Looking at Yu Ran felt like seeing her own child.

Mrs. Joseph gently held Yu Ran’s hand and said, “No one taught you how to control your mental energy after awakening as a guide, so your fox remains asleep most of the time, unable to perceive the emotions around you… Don’t worry, after we reach the capital star, I’ll take you to the Sanctuary. There, professional teachers will teach you how to control your mental energy. The power of a guide is very strong. Even if your mental energy is only C-grade, you can still do a lot of things and help many people…” Her voice was very gentle, like a mother talking to her child.

Yu Ran seemed to have no guard against her. The spirit body of the little fox played happily with her spirit body puppet cat on the side. However, Mrs. Joseph’s mental energy was strong; her puppet cat had sleek, beautiful fur and was larger than an ordinary cat. In comparison, Yu Ran’s fox was only half its size. The two furry little animals together created a warm and harmonious scene.

“Madam, how long will I study at the Sanctuary?” Yu Ran asked curiously.

“The Sanctuary only teaches basic courses, usually for two years. Of course, guides with high talents will learn faster; some graduate in three months. The specific duration of your studies depends on your comprehension and mastery abilities.” Mrs. Joseph paused and continued, “You’re only eighteen this year, right? After graduating from the Sanctuary, you can choose a university you like to continue your education.”

“That’s great. I want to go to a military academy.” Yu Ran’s expression was serious.

“A military academy? Why are you interested in that?” Mrs. Joseph asked.

“I heard that there are few guides in the military, but many sentinels on the front lines suffer from mental instability. I want to do something for them.” Yu Ran said shyly, lowering his head.

“It’s rare to have such a heart.” Mrs. Joseph sighed. The conditions on the front lines were harsh, with constant danger to life. There were few guides willing to go there, but Yu Ran seemed to be a child willing to endure hardship.

The two chatted happily, and half an hour quickly passed.

Meanwhile, Lu Zexuan had received a message from the Federal Investigation Division, asking him to go to the scene of Leonard’s death to assist in the investigation. Mohr accompanied him. 

On the way, Mohr introduced, “The Investigation Division has sent two people this time, Kane and Kroger, they are the aces of the Investigation Division, their spirit bodies are respectively a cheetah and a butterfly. These two work together seamlessly, and their experience in investigation is also very rich. Especially Kroger, it is said that he is the most formidable interrogator of the Investigation Division.”

Lu Zexuan asked, “Their leader, Chief Zhu, didn’t come?”

Mohr speculated, “Perhaps there are too many things going on in the capital during the New Year, and he couldn’t get away? Or maybe this case is too simple to attract the attention of that mysterious chief?”

Zhu Tianyi was indeed mysterious. Lu Zexuan had only seen him once at a banquet on the capital star. His spirit body was a black spider, and he liked to crawl around in dark corners. He himself was always elusive. He didn’t come this time, perhaps because he thought the case was trivial and could be handled by sending two subordinates?

Lu Zexuan and Mohr quickly arrived at the scene of Leonard’s fall. The area had been cordoned off, and the two from the Investigation Division were investigating.

Kane, as a sentinel, was responsible for surveying the scene. His keen vision, smell, and hearing could capture every detail of the crime scene. Meanwhile, Kroger, as a guide, was talking to the reporters. His high mental energy allowed him to easily detect lies from ordinary people and obtain the most genuine and effective information.

In the world unseen for ordinary humans, a group of colorful butterfly spirit bodies were swiftly scouting around — they were searching for abnormal mental fluctuations. As long as there was a guide at the crime scene or if there had been any mental suggestion by a guide, they could detect it.

“Are you sure he jumped from there suddenly?” Kroger pointed to the spot where the deceased fell.

“Yes, I was also shocked! Officer Leonard allowed us to roam freely, I was taking photos, and then I heard the sound of glass breaking, and then I saw him falling!” 

“Was there anyone around him at the time?” Kroger continued to ask.

“No one was around him, I remember he was smoking by the window alone.”

“Yeah, we weren’t near him at the time, he must have accidentally fallen!” 

The reporters answered anxiously, fearing implication.

Kane and Kroger exchanged a glance. Just then, the butterflies discovered the approach of another guide, Mohr.

Kroger turned to Mohr and approached him, extending his hand. “Mohr, long time no see.”

Mohr smiled and shook hands with him. “Long time no see. Is the investigation going smoothly?”

“There are still some doubts,” Kroger said.

Kane also approached, saying, “Major Lu, we have a few questions for you.”

Lu Zexuan nodded. “Okay.”

Kroger asked, “When you saw Leonard last night, did he behave unusually or show any abnormal emotions?”

Lu Zexuan calmly replied, “Last night, creatures attacked the base, he was hiding in this building, seemed a bit frightened. I suggested he use the healing chamber to save people, he was reluctant at first, but eventually agreed under pressure. Other than that, nothing seemed unusual.”

Lu Zexuan carefully recalled everything about Leonard, a self-serving official, and indeed, his behavior and emotions seemed normal.

Kroger called Kane aside and whispered, “These reporters are not lying, and they are not guides, so they can’t control sentinels. Moreover, from their descriptions, Leonard’s mental state was normal just before he fell, and he was in the mood to smoke by the window.”

Kane said, “There are no signs of a struggle at the scene, and the window railing hasn’t been tampered with. Excluding homicide and suicide, the only explanation left is an accident.”

— Was it really an accident?

The two glanced at each other, and Kroger, with a pensive touch to his chin, suggested, “Let’s be cautious. Let’s push the timeline forward and see if there are any suspicious individuals. After all, this Leonard’s identity is not ordinary; his uncle is a congressman. We need to present an investigation report that leaves no room for doubt for the higher-ups to believe.”

Kane agreed, “Okay, let’s go.”

After bidding farewell to Lu Zexuan, the two turned and left to visit Leonard’s relatives and friends.

It wasn’t until noon that Kane and Kroger arrived at the Eagle starship — they came to find Yu Ran.

They had found out that Leonard had been interviewed by reporters at the hospital around nine in the morning, and Lu Zexuan had coincidentally taken Yu Ran to the hospital at that time. From the mouths of a patient at the hospital, they learned that Yu Ran had come to see her, to bid her farewell.

The key point was that Yu Ran was a guide. He was the only one who might have had contact with Leonard before his death.

Kroger looked alertly at his companion. “Isn’t the timing of this Yu Ran’s appearance a bit too coincidental?”

Kane replied, “He wasn’t at the scene when Leonard fell.”

Kroger reminded, “Don’t forget, high-level guides can control sentinel emotions remotely. As far as I know, the farthest distance for such control is 500 meters.”

Kane said, “The distance between the hospital and the government building is over two kilometers. It’s unlikely that a guide could control a sentinel from that far away, right?”

Kroger thought for a moment. “That’s true, the distance is too far for mental tendrils to reach. However, I still want to ask Yu Ran in person.”

When the two knocked on the door, Yu Ran was chatting with Mrs. Joseph.

Upon seeing the cheetah and the butterfly suddenly appear, Yu Ran’s little fox seemed startled, curling up behind the Scottish fold cat for protection. Mrs. Joseph stood up to shield Yu Ran, smiling and saying, “Hello, the two from the Investigation Division, you’re here for Officer Leonard’s case, right?”

Kroger said, “It seems Madam already knows? We have a few questions for Yu Ran behind you.”

Mrs. Joseph placed her hand gently on Yu Ran’s shoulder to reassure him. She looked at Kroger and said, “Yu Ran is just a C-grade guide, he only awakened recently and doesn’t know how to use mental energy yet. Don’t scare him. Besides, when Leonard died, Yu Ran was not at the scene. General Lu can testify to this.”

Lu Zexuan, who was behind Kroger, nodded. “That’s right, at that time, Yu Ran and I were at the hospital.”

Kroger said, “We know that. But a guide doesn’t necessarily have to be present to commit murder. We still need to confirm some details.”

“M… murder?” Yu Ran looked terrified. The young man’s face turned pale with fear, his eyes trembling slightly from the shock. His frightened and aggrieved appearance made Kroger feel a sense of guilt, as if he were bullying a small animal.

Kane coughed and intervened, “We’re just conducting a routine investigation. If this has nothing to do with you, you don’t need to be afraid. We won’t wrong you.”

Mrs. Joseph looked at Yu Ran and comforted him, “Since they suspect you, let them ask a few questions. Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Then she turned to the two investigators, “Kroger, be gentle in your approach.”

“Understood.” As soon as he finished speaking, Kroger suddenly extended his mental tendrils, which floated in the air like colorful ribbons — then they abruptly attached to Yu Ran’s head.

A sudden attack, no time to prepare!

Yu Ran felt a buzzing in his head, and suddenly, his mental world was invaded by countless colorful butterflies. They flapped their beautiful wings recklessly, flying everywhere in his mental landscape. They seemed to breed, their numbers growing and growing — in the blink of an eye, the entire mental landscape was submerged by the colorful butterflies. They were almost everywhere, and any emotional fluctuation would be keenly detected by them.

The “mental hallucination” caused by butterflies was a very special ability of guides. Like taking hallucinogens, one would fall into a state of confusion, and answers would be given to any questions asked. The most terrifying aspect of guides with insect-type spirit bodies was their “growth capability.”

Kroger was initially just a C-grade guide, with only one butterfly spirit body. However, with outstanding talent, his mental energy grew at an astonishing rate. After just a few years at the Investigation Division, he had grown into an A+ grade guide, and his spirit body had transformed from a single butterfly into a “butterfly colony” capable of massive reproduction. Moreover, he often faced cunning criminals, underwent highly professional training, and was proficient in criminal psychology, knowing how to catch them off guard and exploit their weaknesses.

In the blink of an eye, Yu Ran’s mental landscape was already occupied by densely packed butterflies. Such a strongly oppressive “mental interrogation” would be difficult for anyone to hide any secrets.