Chapter 35: Executing the Mission
‘Spiritual Penetration, Gods’ Language…’
Han Su glanced at the girl, then slowly withdrew his gaze.
This theory was something he’d never heard before—but thinking of his right eye and left hand, he felt a vague sense of familiarity.
Others performed penetration through innate talent, or training acquired later in life. But I completed it using the spell Song Chu-shi gave me and the scars the monster left on me—so does that make me innate or acquired?
Feeling he had caught onto something, it was as if Han Su had quietly opened another door inside his mind. He gently pinched his slightly numb left hand, stood to one side, deep in thought.
Beside him, the instructor checked his watch.
As the assessment time ended, he immediately signaled the staff to stop the playback and opened the door to enter the room.
The other trainees in the room had already awoken.
They stared at each other blankly—some with confused expressions, others with pallid looks, and some with thoughtful faces, as though they had understood something but weren’t quite clear on the details.
A few thought back to the several people who’d just been sent out, and amid their daze they wore faces of disbelief and defiance: “Is that even real?”
“The same audio clip—why did I just hear a jumbled mess, while she could make out two separate spells?”
“Did she cheat?”
“……”
Amid the commotion, the instructor strode forward, snorted coldly, and jeered, “Looks like you’re all just a bunch of untalented people.”
“Look at her!”
He turned and nodded at Han Su: “Didn’t even have to take the assessment and gets an A-Level!”
Han Su, still lost in thought, glanced at him.
The instructor mocked all the trainees present with fairness, then sighed and said, “In this test—the easiest one to score high on—you didn’t get so much as a glimmer of light. Which group you end up in depends entirely on your future efforts.”
Hearing this, those who’d performed poorly in this round felt a slight uplift—only to hear the instructor continue: “Though, honestly, further training won’t help much with your evaluation.”
Upon hearing that, everyone felt utterly dispirited.
The instructor added, “It’s only related to life or death.”
A group of trainees bristled inwardly: ‘So much bullshit talk—just get to the point, will you?’
In fact, over the next few days of training, the instructor’s words came eerily true.
The group finally moved past the novelty of joining the Disaster Management Bureau and began to feel their brains squeezed full of new knowledge.
They learned Qinggang City’s internal structure, terrain, population distribution, key classified locations, power distribution, internal and external policy implementation, and so on.
It even included some combat and firearms theory, along with related electronic device operation.
If at the start this was supposed to be training but turned out to be only two assessments, now it felt much more like actual training.
But it happened fast, as though they were eager to cram all the necessary information into their heads, then toss them out of the base—leaving them barely even time to memorize the code of conduct.
Strangely though, they spent a surprising amount of time on these “useless” things, but topics about the bizarre, pollution, or weird phenomena were never touched. And now, the current content, no matter how well trainees learned it, no longer factored into their evaluation.
Six days later, the instructor entered the training room and, smiling at those whose expressions varied, said, “Congratulations, everyone.”
“Your training is now essentially complete. Though the final evaluation results aren’t out yet, you all know how you’ve performed.”
“The trainees with strong Spiritual Sensitivity and Intuition already have promising futures. Two of them will be directly assigned to Group D1.”
“The third one has secured a placement in the psychiatric hospital—maybe even to be sent to the laboratory to carry out a serious research mission.”
“And you, as ordinary people, will face the final assessment.”
“Of course, don’t be discouraged. I told you from the start we won’t eliminate anyone—this entire training, or rather the assessment, only serves to help assign you into groups.”
“……”
If he hadn’t said that, it would have been fine—but hearing it made many trainees feel a wave of despair.
A week ago they’d excitedly signed their names on the contract; now they regretted it just as much.
Many of them knew what they were getting into by joining the Disaster Management Bureau—they knew the social status and extraordinary authority they’d gain as Investigators—but they hadn’t prepared to be placed in groups D5 or D6.
Of course, many composed individuals suppressed their emotions and calmly considered: “So, what is this final assessment?”
‘……’
“This one is important. Many of your evaluation results will depend on this item.”
At that moment, the instructor clapped his hands.
From outside, someone entered carrying a tray.
On the tray were numerous sealed envelopes. He gestured for everyone to gather around and said cheerfully:
“Of course, this is also your opportunity.”
“Memory and Spiritual Sensitivity are innate abilities. They can’t be changed, and there’s no way to improve them. But the upcoming assessment is your chance to show what you’ve got.”
“In these envelopes are the tasks you need to carry out tonight. Do your best to complete them. But don’t feel pressured—professionals will be monitoring, so in theory, the tasks carry no risk.”
“But please believe me—this might be the only task you receive from the Disaster Management Bureau that has no risk.”
“……”
‘Going straight into task execution?’
Han Su, along with the other trainees, felt a slight tremor in their hearts.
Everyone exchanged glances, and soon, some stepped forward to take an envelope.
When it was Han Su’s turn, he casually drew one from the middle, opened it, and saw a piece of paper inside.
Printed on it was the content of his task:
【10:00 PM to 3:00 AM — Stand guard at Huaguang Building Elevator No. B3. Please report any observed anomalies in time, and terminate any humanoid creatures that emerge from the elevator.】
Below that were details on where to collect firearms and other necessary items.
“Stand guard at the elevator?”
The task content left Han Su feeling puzzled. He couldn’t comprehend the difficulty of the task.
When he looked up at the others, he saw many wore the same confused expression.
Observing anomalies was somewhat understandable. But this “terminate”—was it serious?
His suspicion peaked after a period of rest, during which, following the instructions, they went to collect their issued firearms.
When they received those heavy, dark weapons, many found it hard to believe.
They were the real thing.
And each came with two magazines.
In today’s cities, firearm control was extremely strict.
Gang fights involved baseball bats and chainsaws.
Guns existed only in film and television.
Most participants in this training were indeed elites among elites—but being elite only meant excelling in specific areas.
For those who had never handled a gun before, suddenly holding one—it was completely unfamiliar territory.
Han Su also took a gun, deep in thought. Just then, a soft voice spoke beside him: “What’s your task for tonight?”
Turning his head, he saw the girl who liked wearing a black hoodie with the hood up.
His heart immediately became alert.
The assessment had emphasized confidentiality more than once.
Could probing others’ tasks also be part of the assessment?
Seeing him not respond, the girl looked at the gun in his hand and said, “You don’t know how to use a gun, right?”
Han Su replied, “You sure are curious.”
The girl in the black hood said, “Do you want me to teach you?”
Han Su chuckled and said, “There’s such a kind offer?”
Who knew if these candidates all vying for spots in Group D1 or D2 might be trying to set traps?
However, the girl in the black hoodie led Han Su to one side and very methodically demonstrated how to load a magazine, disengage the safety, aim, and change magazines.
She explained in detail, softly and gently, just like a kindergarten teacher teaching a child to use chopsticks.
Han Su listened carefully.
After a while, several other trainees who weren’t used to handling guns also gathered around in silence to observe. She didn’t seem to mind at all.
Han Su studied with her for a while and didn’t notice anything suspicious.
Instead, a new doubt arose in his heart.
After the girl patiently demonstrated once more, he couldn’t help but reach out:
“Thank you, Han Su.”
The girl in the black hoodie paused, lowered her head, but still extended her hand and said, “My name is Dong Wei.”
“Dong Wei……”
Han Su felt a twinge of disappointment but still asked, somewhat reluctantly, “May I ask—have you ever had an alias called Meilan, or something similar?”
“Meilan?”
The girl in the black hoodie was momentarily stunned, then shook her head with a smile and said, “No……”
Han Su felt a bit of disappointment in his heart.
He thought, it really didn’t seem to be her. But then, if she wasn’t trying to set a trap or had any ulterior motive, why was she being so kind to him?