After emerging from this peculiar mental space, Zorro found the figure of Huan Bao’er standing before him.
Several researchers, long stationed at the Documentation Department, stood beside the woman with inscrutable expressions.
Zorro turned his head with difficulty and noticed that he had long been surrounded.
“Gener… Director, ma’am.”
Huan Bao’er cast a glance at the unsightly-looking man’s hands—there was that extra book, “Standard Answer,” its characters twisting dreamlike and illusory.
“Since you’ve gained its recognition, I’ll let this slide. but your elite team member status is revoked; you are ineligible for evaluations for three years, all leaves are canceled, and bonuses are forfeited.”
“Oh.” Zorro lowered his head.
The general director waved her hand at the men around her.
The robed scholars turned and left, some steps marked with curiosity and others with indifference; in moments, only the two remained.
“And most importantly! The coordinates of the Third Hub must not be leaked in violation of the rules. Severe punishment awaits any breaches!”
After speaking, Huan Bao’er reached out and lightly tapped Zorro’s shoulder.
“By the way, well done. Report for duty at my department later.”
“Ah?” Zorro looked up, stunned.
A cold, knowing smile flickered in Huan Bao’er’s eyes:
“A pure one, but with a touch of cunning. I’m looking forward to seeing how you troublemakers perform from now on.”
……
Zhao Xuemei and her group followed Zhu Yin to admire the sights of the Hub Town.
Some areas usually closed to the public were easily accessible for a tour thanks to the Deputy Mayor’s presence.
Zhu Yin looked at the group: “Let’s have dinner together tonight.”
Li Mi said, “Deputy Mayor Zhu Yin is too kind. But as you know, I had previously asked you for help in contacting that big star from the Frequency-Lost Land to pick us up; they’ll be here soon.”
Zhu Yin feigned just remembering, laughing heartily as he patted Liang Xi on the shoulder:
“Ah, I almost forgot. Well then, how about Liang Xi and Miss Xuemei stay for dinner? Several of our town colleagues will be joining.”
Liang Xi immediately brightened up—he wouldn’t have to go to the Frequency-Lost Land after all.
Zhao Xuemei glanced at Li Mi, who gave a slight nod.
“Alright then,” the lady said.
Liang Xi looked up at the Deputy Mayor: “Could Boboli come too?”
A sincere smile spread across Zhu Yin’s face: “We’d be delighted.”
That evening, in the ‘Terra’ private room of the Delicacy Hall, several officials from the town warmly greeted Zhao Xuemei and the other two.
The poised and elegant Zhao Xuemei understood that they had never intended to invite Li Mi’s crew in the first place. Extending the invitation to her three was a gesture out of respect for Zhao Anlong and Yang Zicang.
“Mr. Boboli, please eat! Is it not to your liking?”
“Ow, almost there,” Boboli looked up and responded hurriedly. “I’m eating, you guys, no need to worry about me.”
With that, he immediately buried his head and quickly pressed the buttons in his hands. On Liang Xi’s face, who was controlling another button on the gaming console, appeared an expression even more serious than a steady A-rank conflict.
Moving his fingers, he gritted his teeth to execute a special move with his controlled character, only to have it interrupted by Boboli’s character.
Rustle, rustle, rustle! Liang Xi’s fingers suddenly doubled in speed as he rapidly flicked the A and B buttons.
Boboli’s eyes flickered, his two thumbs instantly appearing like several thumbs, pressing down nearly ten times in one second.
It was interrupted again!
Liang Xi stared in shock at Boboli’s operation.
“It’s the Thousand-Arm Fist!”
“Hmph, your Flame Sword Technique is not bad either, about eighty percent mastery, right?”
Liang Xi looked at the pixelated figure lying on the ground on the screen and slumped onto the chair, as if he had lost his soul.
“You have the Thousand-Arm Fist. No way, I want to learn it too.”
“Hehe, want to learn? I’ll teach you.”
When they had almost finished eating, Zhao Xuemei spoke to the few people at the other end of the large round table:
“I heard that our Hub Town has a security team that can head to other cities, doesn’t it?”
Zhu Yin set down his chopsticks.
“Miss Snow, you seem quite familiar with our Hub Town. That’s right, such a security team exists. However, even when they enter other cities, they can’t obtain temporal sequence, so they’re just a security-oriented squad. Their responsibility is to protect important figures within our Hub Town.”
Fulrry Zhao smiled and nodded lightly.
“I was wondering, could members of our team apply to join this security team?”
The chopsticks of the group paused briefly.
Though called a security team, in reality, the slots had long been allocated by the front-tier cities.
The man in charge of security hadn’t yet thought of a polite refusal when Zhu Yin spoke up: “Of course, you can.”
“You–” The two at the table turned to look at Zhu Yin.
Zhu Yin shrugged indifferently and said with a smile:
“If Miss Snow wishes to visit other cities, I can temporarily have two members of our city withdraw from the security team. What do you think?”
Fulrry Zhao covered her mouth with a light laugh, thinking to herself that Li Mi’s estimate had been spot on—it really hadn’t been hard to pull off.
“Then I must truly thank Mr. Zhu Yin.”
“You’re welcome.”
……
The next day, Yang Zicang looked at the empty seat beside him. Zorro really hadn’t shown up.
Jiaoma also glanced at that spot, but today she showed no other emotions, instead meticulously jotting down every piece of guidance Croft had offered.
Yang Zicang felt as though this woman might have gone somewhat dark.
“Alright, those are the parts that need modification today. Everyone, get to work quickly.”
Croft turned his head to look at Yang Zicang.
“You, come with me. I’ll teach you how to add these elements that need improvement and the hidden doors.”
Yang Zicang was jolted by that sweeping glance, his heart shuddering instantly.
“Go ahead, do as the executive officer says.” Jiaoma glanced at him meaningfully.
“Oh.” Having no choice but to comply—under not one but two roofs—Yang Zicang obediently took out his employee card.
After all, this was what he had hoped for anyway.
With a wave of Croft’s hand, a corner of the genuine Magic Eagle Hall phantom materialized in the middle of the office.
This was the first time everyone had truly seen their labor manifested in the real world. Though still a psychic field, it was different from earlier ones where entering immediately revealed they were “dreaming.”
Croft’s psychic projection, with Yang Zicang following, swiftly navigated through the vast internal structure of the Magic Eagle Hall.
To the others watching outside, the area hovering in the middle of the main office resembled a three-dimensional screen, continuously displaying the region they were in and their movements.
With this vivid demonstration, everyone quickly grasped how to add those elements.
{Since these are additional rewards, the Parliament mostly just assists in creating conditions for them to appear or exchanges Virtual Zero Sequences for auxiliary help, like the “Time-sequence Expansion State.”}
Yang Zicang listened intently to Croft’s words, not daring to overlook a single term.
{As for the other specifics of the prizes, we’ll have to figure out how to add them ourselves. Of course, I believe Lost Illusion Company will offer enticing items.}
[So, with all this treasure lot, how are we supposed to add rewards?]
{Easy, just set up a points system. You can use points to draw for free.}
Yang Zicang nodded in admiration.
He had already envisioned the disappointment of the crowd when their hard-earned points would be wasted on useless rewards. However, since this didn’t require consuming their additional time sequence, it was ultimately harmless—just a waste of time and effort.
In Croft’s hand appeared the image of an exquisite yet simple ancient treasure chest.
He looked at Yang Zicang.
{Use your mental strength to create and mark it. Follow my rhythm. First, this section of Corridor A needs twenty-eight.}
Yang Zicang activated his staff card to communicate with the company’s energy, then deployed the Right of Mental Manifestation. Relying on his imagination, he manifested one nearly identical chest after another.
{Too slow!}
Croft snorted.
{Finish them all within a minute!}
[Huh?]
{What “huh”? This is the arena meant to accommodate the contestants from two entire cities. Do you think each person will open only a few dozen chests? On top of that, we still need to add other content today. Hurry up!}
[Wh—What?]
Yang Zicang was shocked.
Two cities—even excluding those who clearly weren’t strong enough to participate—still meant close to twenty or thirty thousand potential contenders if counted from the middle-tier upward. Each of them opening a few dozen chests… just how many zeros was that?
In the brief moment Yang Zicang was stunned, the backs of two bent fingers struck him on the head.
{You’ve wasted three seconds. If this were my workshop, half of your day’s bonus would already be deducted! Get moving!}
Outside, nearly three hundred people simultaneously shuddered.
Wang Dingshan lowered his head, pretending to be very busy.
Just yesterday, they were still envying Yang Zicang for having earned the appreciation of this executive, who even invited him to the Fate Track and to join the executive’s work group.
Now, these people are only relieved.
Over the next hour or two, as if testing the limits of his Right of Mental Manifestation, Yang Zicang bent these treasure chests into twisted shapes until they resembled monsters on the verge of mental collapse.
But Croft paid no heed and even nodded approvingly at some chests with eerie appearances, seemingly pleased by their terrifying designs.
Around noon, feeling mentally drained as if he had been up for a week, Yang Zicang finally heard Croft’s command to stop.
{Good job. Human potential grows through pushing boundaries again and again. You’ve seized this opportunity. Now, off to the next training session.}
[N-Next session?]
Yang Zicang slowly turned his head, filled with surreal tinnitus like harsh wind through a morbid forest.
Croft pointed ahead and said:
{This time, pour a persistent wave of negative mental energy into the room. Ready? Now, envision your most terrifying thoughts.}
Most terrifying?
Yang Zicang shuddered deep inside.
From all around arose phantom images of countless treasure chests, stretching, writhing like demons baring their fangs, elongated shadows floating into the air, mouths wide open about to chomp.
Suddenly, watching them, he remembered his suitcase—and how he might have killed someone with it.
Then, Yuan Fubin’s final screaming voice and vision appeared around, along with the terrifying aura of the mobile-phone Demonic Nightmare released for the first time from his own hand.
The mimic chests became ethereal and eerie, resembling that suitcase.
A hint of satisfaction appeared on Corbut’s formerly frowning face.
{Excellent, this lad has talent. Having such a sudden close encounter with a Demonic Nightmare’s rampage scene will surely impress whoever turns the corner and enters the room.}
Everyone outside struggled to contain their expressions.
Corbut gave a glance left and right, then casually waved his hand, and the atmosphere in the room became more realistic and substantial, as if the illusory mood and phantoms had shaped the dangers truly lurking within.
{All right, let us mark it. We have submitted our “reference task.” From now on, how exactly the parliament presents this scene in this room is their affair.}
Patting his hands as if dusting off ashes, Coulbuth moved on.
{Keep it moving, make use of your good mental state before lunch.}
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