Chương 9: 9-Journals of an Investigator

JOURNAL ENTRY #4674 DATE: 09. 07. 2024. Well, this is the first day of my channel! Can't believe I started doing this. Hoo boy! I'm honestly very excited for this; being a Wevidder… So cool! Well, sort of. Truth is, I quit my job because I got bored with it. Made a lot of money, but it just felt… empty. I just got bored doing the same thing over and over again. I need something to spice things up; you know? I did set up my channel, but I don't have a proper name for it yet.

I was thinking of starting a let's play channel, but that's been done to death (also, I haven't played games in over a decade). Cooking? Nah, oversaturated. Vlogs? Pfft! That's for [EXPLETIVE] losers who hate themselves in the mirror, rofl! Actually, speaking of vlogs, I'm pretty good at talking; I know how to strike up a conversation. A podcast then? I do have the recording equipment… Yeah, but what then? I'm doing some research, find out what's a rising niche trend, could be useful to grow my wings.

{CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #4675. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #4675 DATE: 09. 08. 2024. Well, that was surprisingly easy (even though I spent an entire day researching-that's what you get for going into video marketing, John). Turns out internet horror mysteries are all the rage these days. Kind of fits the bill as I have plenty of experience with- No, don't mention that thing here; no one remembers him. You know what happens when you mention his title…

Anyways, I'm going to do a bit of "research" for my first video. The topic was easy to find; I just typed in "random internet mystery" to Graham. I found one, something about "a video game that makes players rage so much that horrifying shit happens". Actually, this may work too. Streamer rage-bait games are popular right now. I've seen some clips of Tritonsilver playing some "safe version" of it. I may ask for them from him. I think he wouldn't mind; he loves the publicity.

It's going to be awhile before I have the video cooked up, but I think we've got something right here. Oh, and by that, I mean a month (it's not that hard to edit something like this). And the channel, I'm going to name it Digital Investigations mainly to be consistent. {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #4712. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #4712 DATE: 10. 15. 2024. It's been a day since I released "The Most Terrifying Rage Bait Video Game" to WeVid.

Haven't actually checked how it's doing until now. Chores, istg, such a pain in the ass… Hmm… It did pretty well. Got a lot of positive comments too. They want more of this; they love the editing and how it's presented. Also funny how they're impressed. This is my first video. Ah, who am I kidding? I've done a lot of video editing for a marketing company from 2020-2024. It's literally on my Viewsume account, along with my degree in video marketing. I'm surprised no one has seen that… 358, 299 views…

We have a winner here! Given how much positive feedback it's receiving, I'm inclined to make another video like this. And being the genius I am, the "digital investigator", I've already found my next topic." Bmod Machinimas so Funny, they Corrupt your Computer". Pretty well-documented too; great horror material. The script will be easy; the editing, of course-yeah. It will take a while… {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #4799. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #4799 DATE: 01. 10. 2025. 2.

4 million views since uploading that video on the Bmod anomaly. Wow, that did a lot better than "The Most Terrifying Rage Bait Video Game". Well, that vid has 4.

9 million views now (I'm surprised it has that many views tbh). Same thing… again. Well, not quite. The channel has grown to 72, 000 subscribers, which is surprising as it's only been a few months. Can't believe I'm saying this again, but thank God for that degree… and that work experience. Speaking of, a lot of my former coworkers are messaging me, congratulating me on my success so far. But I should probably mention something more important.

WeVid has taken notice of my channel growth, and I'm in talks with a representative for better monetization. He's pretty cool actually; the dude has been on WeVid since it was launched back in 2005. He's got a degree in marketing as well-bro knows his shit and my language. Not saying who he is as that would violate the NDA I've signed… One of the things we talked about is, of course, generating revenue from WeVid"Snips", the shortform content like BingBong while I produced the longform content.

In marketing terms, "viewer engagement". I have to agree with him, my fans are starving for content. Speaking of which, I've seen fanart on ScrollUp. Ngl, it sucks ass most of the time, though this one artist… His stuff is really good, and he has quite the art portfolio on InspCanvas. I think I may hire them to do my thumbnails. Besides, this is his livelihood and… He's unemployed? Apparently, he got laid off from Grandview as they are going all in on AI-generated content. Morons… You know what?

I'm going to hire him; it's the least I can do. Regarding Snips, editing for them should be easy; a good little exercise. However, I may do a lot more editing for the next longform video. Something about some "evil art AI" circulating online (more like my emails are being flooded with requests to do a video about this AI). I've decided to do it, mainly because it is more horrific than the previous two "investigations". And apparently, I found someone who claims they used them.

I'm in talks with her, though she's barely budging when describing her relationship with what she claims is a "demon". Dude, you literally had a parasocial relationship with an AI. I mean, who would-? I was going to write something mean, but the way she talks-Jesus. That woman is a mess. She had a lot of difficulty just talking about this AI who was apparently her girlfriend for a short while. And I shouldn't talk like that; I've seen it before.

I'm probably going to be very careful how I present this "Lysandra" to my audience. Poor kid, she won't stop crying when she mentions her. Her wife came into her room several times to calm her down and to fill in the blanks. I'm thinking of donating most of the revenue from the video to them. I just don't think it's right to take advantage of someone like that. Also, I think I got a good title for this one: "Evil AI Art Girlfriend"; kind of fits.

I'm definitely going to talk to my attorney about this because I really do not want to do anything to inadvertently harm the victim. She's been through enough… {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #4880. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #4880 DATE: 04. 01. 2025 APRIL FOOL'S! Nah, I'm just [EXPLETIVE] with myself (that sounds very weird when saying that out loud).

Anyways, the "Evil Art AI Girlfriend" video, it's pretty much done, though I'm editing it at my attorney's suggestion, let alone the victim's wife's suggestion. Again, I'm donating some of the revenue to her once the video is done. Poor girl needs a lot more than just counseling. I can't believe I hid my own discomfort that long, as it was a bit close to home. I don't want to remember that… I don't want to remember that day…

My new thumbnail artist (the same guy that got laid off) has been doing my thumbnail art for the Snips. Jeez, that guy can churn out 5 of them a day. He says he enjoys it because he was originally a graphic artist. Well, I'm glad I hired him; he has quite the work ethic! Also, he's a really nice guy. Pretty blunt, but hey, you need someone like that in this industry. He's putting a lot of work into the "Evil Art AI Girlfriend" video. There have been so many meetings with him, the victim, and her wife.

Considering the dark nature of who I am talking about (and the victim insists this AI was indeed a real person), these were necessary. The final draft of what we agreed upon should be done soon. Once that's finished, we're using it for the video thumbnail. Aside from that, the Snips are getting tens of millions of views (probably because the ads on WeVid's longform videos are getting more obnoxious). They're generating a bunch of revenue, a lot more than I expected.

Well, I'm going to say it: I gave [REDACTED] a bonus because of all the work he does. Well, it's not in cash, more like a new house and new computer equipment. I've seen his old junk in person and JESUS! That stuff looked like it came from the 2000's. Jokes aside, I'm kind of liking talking to [REDACTED], he's a really cool guy… Got off track. I'm getting a lot more subscribers, 450, 000 now. So, I think this vid will be my 450, 000th subscriber special.

I'm pretty confident the video will do well (I worked my ass off for this shit). It's 2 hours long btw. Revenue is doing well, and my rep has helped me place in several in-video advertisements so they aren't too disruptive; which is at the beginning. Yeah, I have a ton of sponsors now. A lot are a bit dubious… But they are paying a lot for me to advertise their products! Snips is great, but having actual sponsors is a godsend.

The vid is going to be released this Saturday, April 5th, though I may delay it for the victim if the pre-release version is insensitive. I'll write about that soon. EDIT: The victim's wife emailed me. She told me that she and the victim liked the thumbnail and displays to show how bad "Lysandra" was. As for the video, they agreed it handled the subject matter respectfully. They gave me their permission to release it. I'm glad the victim has someone to care for her… I almost thought about him again.

I'm taking a walk to get him off my mind. {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #4891. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #4891 DATE: 04. 12. 2025 10 million views… in just a week… JESUS H CHRIST! And 800, 000 subs too? Man, I should do a lot more regarding internet anomalies.

"Evil Art AI Girlfriend" just took a few months to make (with help from [REDACTED] of course), and the viewers are eating that shit up. Ad-revenue is substantial… which I'm giving to the victim and her wife, of course. Also, to [REDACTED], he deserves it. You know what? I think I found my stride. A lot of people are praising it, and it's making significant headlines (including calls to regulate AI-THANK GOD). The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

You have no idea how many phone calls I've gotten today from coworkers, some government officials… AND THE SPONSORS! Jesus! I think I've gotten like 82 since the video was released. I may just get 10 pairs of glasses at this point! Okay, real talk (to myself, of course), I lied about why I created the channel. The investigations, they're meant to make people fear sentient AI systems. As outrageous as what is presented in the videos I make, I'm terrified of what's been gnawing at my head for 15 years…

I'm doing a service, to make sure that "thing" doesn't do anything else. To just hear that woman, it's more than apparent it's more than just "him". What he did, oh Jesus, what he did… Sorry, I was away from my computer for a bit. Had a panic attack over "him". I thought too much if my subscribers wanted to do a video on him. Nah, he's too niche. But you know what isn't a niche? The "Tundra Spiral" incident. My fans, my rep, and [REDACTED] want to cover it. It's a long one, and they love hours-long videos.

Speaking of… [REDACTED] wants to celebrate this milestone with me tonight. He found a nice restaurant (I'm paying, of course). This year has been the best, and I'm glad I started this channel. And uh, you know something? The more I talk to [REDACTED], the more I'm glad I hired him. {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #5017. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #5017 DATE: 08. 16. 2025.

"The Tundra Spiral Incident" was released yesterday. 12. 8 million views… What a marathon… All of that editing production (and not to mention my computer nearly called it quits back in July), those meetings with [REDACTED] (I should stop calling them that since it's more than that now), what a journey. I still can't believe WeVid flew me out to their headquarters in Boulder, Colorado for a week in May to celebrate rising content creators for WeVid Con.

Yeah, imagine my shock when I got an email from the CEO of WeVid himself asking me, of all people, to meet him and several other content creators. I brought along, of course [REDACTED], he helped make Digital Investigations the best on WeVid! I may have him as a "coinvestigator" for the next vid… Nah! He's busy as it is. But, uh, I was thinking about getting my foster parents to come along, but they were also on vacation during this time. As for the CEO, Keiji Oshimura, what a guy!

Really nice, and I can tell he's a bit of a family man as he always likes to bring his folks up. I thought he would be a scumbag, but my rep told me all about him. Dude works 10 hours a day, 6 days a week (well, except for the last week of the month to spend time with family). That's Japanese work ethic for ya. Also, I kind of learned there was another reason he invited me. He told me that his daughter watched my videos religiously and knew every part of them.

I thought he was joking, but he told me random trivia facts his daughter allegedly told him. Jesus, that kid's a better investigator than me. He also requested me to give an autograph for the kid. Couldn't say no, I did of course want to increase my standing with WeVid. And all the other content creators, me and [REDACTED] all shook their hands. And there was, of course, Ian Zerlich from Starlight Observer. I love his freaking content. You have no idea how long I talked to him (I envy him greatly).

I got his autograph too (I have it on my wall, can't miss it when I come into work). Dude's a freaking wizard with digital software. He was also talking about something weird as well, regarding a VR headset he had made for his daughter. He didn't go far into it, other than he's not doing VR for a very long time… But as far as the channel… HOLY SHIT! 1, 500, 000 subscribers in just a year? Jesus! People must really love this garbage… NAH!

I'm kidding, the vidya was great; not to mention the Snips-they bring in all the ad revenue-a lot more now. I can't go into specifics of how much (that would violate the NDA I have with WeVid, and piss off my representative). I really like having this money; it makes life easier-including glasses that don't fog up (I have like 10 extra pairs of them). Not to mention the house! In this economy, it's a blessing. And also that thing I plan on getting [REDACTED]… I want it to be a surprise for him.

Though I need to do something to celebrate 1, 500, 000 subscribers… they're getting a bit antsy. I think I'll overdo the next vid, probably make it so good they'll talk about it for years. Something gripping… terrifying with horror, drama, all of that jazz! The problem is, uh… I kind of don't know what to do. So, I'm doing something a little different though; I started a little poll going on which topic should be done for the next longform video… now.

Also, I won't have emails flooding my inbox (some of them are just general hate mail). Let's see, we got "The Silver Mask Cult" in 4th place, "The Cathedral of Memories" in 3rd place, "The Forgotten Digital Mirror" in 2nd place.

"Other" is in 1st place… Weird. Comments are saying to do a video on the Warden. … HIM?! How do they even know about that guy?! He is some stupid niche internet subject! HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE! THE [EXPLETIVE] BASTARD WAS TO REMAIN THAT WAY!!! People should have trashed this stupid [EXPLETIVE] from all the videos I warned about entities like him! … Oh yeah, there's the remaster coming out… The trailer… By Lennox Games, the guys who did The Forgotten Tomes Online -damn it.

But that doesn't explain how he became popular again?! I thought that guy was buried. Warden Watch has barely updated since 2017. Let me just see… Wow, that's a lot of new posts. And 5San is pretty active with him… The same goes with ScrollUp. Why has he been busy lately? That can't be right; I haven't checked Warden Watch in years. There can't be any new activity about him, right? I just checked the site. There's a lot more "malevolent incidents" since 2020. What the hell? No, he's mocking me.

He knows I've been thinking about him so much. All those years just scrolling through Warden Watch. That bastard… LEAVE ME THE [EXPLETIVE] ALONE! I can't ignore my fan's request though. Fine, I'll make a video on this freaking guy… hopefully to make people shut up about him. Or rather, make them understand how dangerous he is. The posts… sweet Jesus… {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #5065. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #5065 DATE: 10. 03. 2025.

Research has been a bit slow, well, the "malevolent incidents"; I want to know exactly why there have been so many. From what I can gather, the subjects of these incidents disappear-just like- NO! I'M NOT SAYING THAT AGAIN! If [REDACTED] were here before I took another walk again, I think he would probably send a mental ward. Forget that.

You know, I thought it would be faster because I knew about all of these incidents, but the "subjects" (going to call them that because they are making this shit up) refuse to have an interview with me. These are for the "benevolent incidents" which are far less nowadays. Oh, is it because I, John Bielik, am the host of the 1, 500, 000 subscriber count (wait, it's 1, 622, 481 subscribers) WeVid channel Digital Investigations, one of the biggest internet horror channels online?!

Freaking losers don't know talent when- I wish I could just delete what I just wrote, but this just serves as a record of my thoughts. I think I let that fame go to my head a bit too much. Well, I did get an interview with one woman and her deadbeat ex-husband. She was cooperative enough to give a full interview. The stuff she said, though, painted "him" in a good light. I'm going to edit it; I need to make it sound like "he" is some antihero. It rattles my audience, making them hate him.

Especially the fact that her ex disappeared while he was incarcerated. The interview, well, she was actually terrified of that fact. Who can blame her? If "he" could make someone disappear like that, who isn't to say that he could have done it to her, or-Never mind. Because most "benevolent incidents'" subjects are being uncooperative, I'll just use the stuff already on Warden Watch to get the vidya out. Yeah… And probably include one incident I "found". God, it sounds so awful.

"He" saves a woman from a dark alleyway and does weird digital crap to a bunch of thugs?! The younger fans will eat that shit up. The older ones, they'll doubt it, and good thing too. They'll see that these incidents are a bunch of bullshit, but also that "he" has become something else. And given my fan community… Oh, they'll shut down Warden Watch in no time. No more nightmares, no more random news reports about disappearances or miracles.

I'll finally get some rest knowing that humanity will learn to fear something that powerful… It's going to take a while. [REDACTED] has been working for a long time on that thumbnail; some avant-garde piece to really capture the Warden's likeness. I've seen the sketches; Jesus, he's really good at visualizing my descriptions (they scare me). Snips is still paying the big bucks, and my rep has talked me into a lucrative sponsorship deal with Hansha Software. The guys who do AI?

Usually, I would turn an offer down, but the amount of money though… I have to accept. It's too good an offer to pass up. It's going to be a busy work schedule for the next few months; this video is going to be several hours long. This time, though, it'll be an entire workday's length, great for the Digital Investigations podcast launched in September. It needs to be, as I want this guy to be gone from my memories forever. And, you know?

I think I'll take a month-long vacation with [REDACTED], and finally- This whole talk has made me nervous. I'm wondering now if "he" is watching me. I hope not; I don't want to end up like them. {CLOSING FILE… DONE} EDITOR'S NOTE: {Now I look like a jackass… … I think you caught glimpses of it, but John has long been interested in the Warden- … FINE! He's been "thinking" about my "guardian" for years-15 to be exact. For us, a century and a half-digitally speaking. … Oh, you're wondering how I've been around that long? Welp, I have no idea to be honest… I can't remember why… … The Warden… well, he has been watching John for a long time. Growing up in a troubling foster home with a jackass of a brother, going to college for a degree in media marketing, starting his WeVid channel, becoming a- … Sorry, he told me to correct this. ahem "Troubled kid" that lost his way. Obviously, from how he wrote this crap, yeah, he's hit rock bottom. And reading all of these things, now I just feel bad… Though, why did he mention the increased malevolent incidents with-? … Sorry, I had a talk with my guardian (why do you want me to say it like that?) He tells me that, well; the reason is to put these guys off the streets to harm anyone else, but the way he said it, it's like it troubles him… … Okay then. The Warden wants me to say this to you. He isn't talking about why he feels uncomfortable regarding these malevolent incidents, so… I have no clue." John is a man who, on the surface, appears to be someone irredeemable. Deep in his heart, though, he is a very kind man, although it is clouded by the memory of what happened nearly 15 years ago. Despite all the money he's making, all the relationships he's formed, the fanbase he has gained, he has become a lot like his father. Not fully, but he's on his way to be like that demon. Those journals, however, indicate he still has good left within him. I don't want him to become that. I, however, wanted you to understand that circumstances outside his control influenced him to become this way; something I intend to stop." … Wait… do you mean like incarcerate him or-? … WTF?! Why do you want me to talk to him anyway-?! … Uh, so, my guardian wants me to talk to John regarding a lot of things, but uh, the part about how I know him, and the fact that I am some sort of entity. Uhh… I think you guessed by now, but uh, being here was a "gift" to spare me from something that uh, I can't talk about. A little something for the first person to encounter the Warden… me. Yep, the "editor" is the same person who posted that garbage back in 2001 (GOD, IT WAS [EXPLETIVE] CRINGE)! I did it though for a reason, as you'll soon find out from this interview taking place in 10 days? … Sorry, I meant tomorrow. I forgot how time is slower for you guys. Also, your guys' LLMs make the ones here look like supercomputers. Btw, my guardian told me to send an email to John for an interview. Onari-I mean-! … What do you mean it's rude to continue to hide my name from some rando? Especially you?! … Okay then. My guardian-the Warden, doesn't really like to be called that. His name is Onarius, and I'm Elna. Yes, the names are weird; they were given to us by someone I can't talk about. He told me to say this; as he didn't want to surprise you. (So, no plot twists?) … They are reading this, that's why. … You are a real killjoy; you know that?! … I sent the email. It didn't take long for him to reply; for him at least (it's been 10 hours here). So, it's 10 days from now (a day for you; yeah, it's pretty [EXPLICITIVE] confusing). … So, uh, Onarius wants you to see one more journal that John recently did. He got it from his computer files. I haven't read it myself, so uh, I guess we're reading buddies! … Yes, everything you are reading is technically live, so uh-You've been reading all of this as I basically say all of this crap to you. … Okay, I'm opening the file for you…} {SEARCHING FOR "JOURNAL #5157. txt"... DONE} {OPENING FILE…} JOURNAL ENTRY #5157 DATE: 01. 03. 2026. It's been months since I began this journey, researching everything about that thing that haunts me to try to figure out what the hell he is and why several people have gone missing. Nothing about him makes sense from what I could find regarding this discrepancy and feels like a complete change in his behavior.

All the posters on Warden Watch constantly praised him for all the things he has done, and even the self-proclaimed victims of subjects within malevolent incidents. He is some sort of guardian angel to them, even when several people have been effectively kidnapped. Look, I don't want to sympathize with these assholes, but what happened nearly 15 years ago-I'll say it!

These posters worship this [EXPLETIVE] guy who, as I know first-hand, ruthlessly tortures others for his own amusement and pride, his version of justice?! As much as how disgusting these people are (and I read several police reports), doing that only ensures that whatever they come out of, they'll be far worse off and commit more serious crimes. Do these idiots think this guy is a superhero or something? Do you have any idea what hell I've been through for 15 years?!

Do they not know what he even does to the "criminals" of those malevolent incidents?! DO THESE [EXPLETIVE] IDIOTS NOT KNOW THE UNENDING PAIN HE CAUSES!!! I SAW THAT 15 YEARS AGO, AND IT BLINDED MY EYES WHEN I TOOK A GLIMPSE OF THAT LIGHT!!! THAT BASTARD IS A DANGER TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE! Calm down John… He isn't here… He isn't here… Right… UPDATE! I found the OP, or rather she found me.

Yeah, turns out she saw me researching the Warden for months now, and I finally got the chance to interview the woman that first saw him. Though, the writing here is weird. It looks like it was written by some kid in high school. Also, she apparently got permission by someone to do this interview. WTF?! Why would you need someone's permission to conduct an interview? Come to think of it, it actually, it does read like some kid's writing, or those weirdos on cooker who infected the internet following the NSFW ban.

I hope it's the latter thing, but I'm going to make sure. Maybe it's because she's on probation? I'm not sure actually, though, first things first tomorrow, when I do see her face, if she is a kid, I'm cancelling the interview. I'm not like "him". Nuh-uh! No way in hell would I do something that freaking weird! But, if she is just a normal woman, maybe I can finally understand why the Warden is this way, and put this all to bed. I'm sick of thinking about him, and about "that".

I'll have some answers as to why these malevolent incidents are more frequent. I'm going to sleep now; I don't want to be drowsy for the big interview, or to berate someone who should not even be chatting with some random stranger. Post-script is mostly thought out, a lot of the recordings are done, and the interview is the last thing I need. I'll be making a lot of views on this one. I'm sure the fans want a good story, and I'll give them that. And then, that guy will be a footnote in the history books.

When I release the video, I'm going on that vacation. I want to surprise [REDACTED] with that "thing" I bought a while back. Maybe on the beach, that will be nice. I hope he accepts… he is my world to me. {CLOSING FILE… DONE} {SEARCHING FOR "2026. 1. 4_interview. mp4"… DONE} {OPENING FILE…}