...
...
It was still a modern city, almost identical to what it would be in three years.
Even the café was in the same location.
Wen Xishu even had another experience of being recognized. However, this time, after a simple explanation, he moved toward another area.
"The great Brother Crow's assistance to you doesn't end here, you know. When you want to quickly find out someone's whereabouts—you can go to the Bureau of Statistics. There, you can find out who's still alive and who's dead. They won't give you extra information, but I think you need to confirm first whether the person you thought was dead is really dead. This time, don't ask too many questions."
Wen Xishu understood that asking too many questions might cause some glitches again.
"That's right, I need to first confirm whether Mr. Jin is really dead."
Guided by the text hint given by the colorful crow, Wen Xishu already knew where the Bureau of Statistics was located.
In the tallest office building in the city center.
The building handled many affairs.
Not only could it query mortality rates and death records, but it could also impact the world of the living by influencing newborns.
In fact, there's a saying about ancestral tombs emitting green smoke. If one accumulates enough merit in the world of the deceased, they can endow their bloodline with extraordinary talents during the fetal stage.
That is, being blessed by ancestors, giving them a head start in life.
For instance, making the child smart and good-looking. Of course, this requires a vast amount of merit.
It often requires the collective effort of the entire family. This explains why orphans in starting orphanages always have unusual talents. They sacrifice whatever they can.
Wen Xishu soon arrived at this building and reached the first floor.
There were many people coming and going to handle various affairs, such as "dream intervention," "spirit return," "seventh-day rites," and "ancestral protection," all processed in this building.
The "Bureau of Statistics" that Wen Xishu wanted to visit, however, was not much noticed.
The Bureau of Statistics was on the fourteenth floor.
The elevator was quite crowded, most heading to the thirteenth floor. The thirteenth floor was called the Memorial of the Living.
The living often burn certain things for the deceased, and the earliest wealth the deceased receives in this world is these burnt offerings.
The items are worthless; no matter how many millions or billions of ghost coins you burn, they have no value.
These items can't earn any merit.
But the intention attached to these items can be converted into merit.
In other words, how many people in this world truly can't bear to let you die... Their longing for you can be converted into your initial merit in the world of the deceased.
On the thirteenth floor, some are happy while others are sad. Some thought they had many connections in life, and those people held a grand funeral, yet there was no merit at all.
Some had only one or two friends in life, with no tombstone after they died, only a tablet, yet they had a considerable amount of initial merit because of those one or two friends.
Of course, there are also those who enter the Netherworld with a vast amount of merit.
Public servants who have handled business here once dealt with a great person's affairs, which was a street-long mourning in the world of the living.
Wen Xishu could imagine many people breaking down on the thirteenth floor, realizing only after death... who was truly the most precious to them.
He was quite curious to see the commotion, but he was really busy today and in a hurry.
After reaching the fourteenth floor, Wen Xishu quickly paid the merit to qualify for the inquiry.
The person handling his case was also a Minotaur, but wearing glasses, a tie, and a suit, without a battle axe in its hand, looking more refined.
"Welcome, compared to downstairs, it's relatively quiet here. Whose information do you want to inquire about?"
"I can't tell you the cause of death; I can only tell you whether that person is dead. I hope you understand."
The Minotaur was very polite.
Wen Xishu spoke at this time:
"Can I know the age of the deceased?"
The Minotaur replied, "Of course."
Wen Xishu then asked:
"Can I directly look up this year's death records... limited to the world of the Bunker?"
Wen Xishu was uncertain about the current time point, so he planned to systematically review the death records of only those from the world of the Bunker for the entire year.
This way, there's no chance of missing key information.
The Minotaur thought for a moment:
"That's actually possible, but I need to first process it to block out all causes of death. And..."
Wen Xishu raised his eyebrow, "And what?"
The Minotaur smiled:
"You need to pay extra."
Suddenly curious, Wen Xishu asked:
"By the way, can merit be robbed in the world of the deceased?"
The Minotaur shook its head:
"Theoretically, yes. If one spirit destroys another, they can acquire its merit."
"That's how it is in the Lower Spirit District, where spirits go through brutal struggles. No one should reveal they have merit, or they'll be attacked by other spirits."
"But in the Upper Spirit District, you can't even injure each other; your attack abilities are infinitely weakened. Only the Law Enforcer has the authority to attack."
Wen Xishu's heart stirred slightly. Although my attacks are infinitely weakened... I have a 'guarantee.'
Merit is very important, Wen Xishu realized. With merit, these monsters in the world of the deceased are quite accommodating, and many services can be done.
He needed to figure out a way to rob some merit.
At that moment, Wen Xishu suddenly understood:
"No wonder my previous life was called Evil Land. Indeed, I, Wen, am about to commit some evil."
However, now, he needed to find out one thing.
Was Mr. Jin truly dead or not?