The journey to the National Security Bureau was uneventful. After looking around the lobby on the first floor, Ren Suo found the Counter-Special Crime Bureau located on the third floor.
The term ’National Security Bureau’ of the Mysterious Country is actually a general designation encompassing various bureaus divided by function, totaling seventeen—the Eighteenth Bureau, the ’Counter-Special Crime Bureau’, had appeared only recently. Not every province or city has a Security Bureau, and even those that do may not have all seventeen divisions. For example, the Lianjiang City National Security Bureau only included the Business Guidance Bureau, Social Investigation Bureau, Technical Investigation Bureau, Enterprise Bureau, and the Counter-Special Crime Bureau.
Other divisions such as the Confidential Affairs Bureau, International Intelligence Bureau, and Counter-Espionage Intelligence Bureau were not present. Although Lianjiang City was a developed coastal city, it was not significant enough to warrant these.
Ren Suo reported to the Counter-Special Crime Bureau in the afternoon and discovered the entire third floor was their office area. Although both the National Security Bureau and the Counter-Special Crime Bureau were referred to as ’bureaus,’ this was just a conventional term. Strictly speaking, by hierarchical level, a provincial capital’s National Security Bureau should be termed a Security Department, though most people just called it a Security Bureau.
When reporting for duty, Ren Suo directly called An Suyu, the person who had notified him. A woman in her twenties then appeared before him. Contrary to her gentle-sounding name, An Suyu had short hair and relatively dark skin. Despite her attractive appearance and good physique, the way she stood ramrod straight made Ren Suo feel she could knock him out in an instant.
"Follow me," An Suyu said indifferently, leading Ren Suo into Room 303 on the third floor. "You are now a member of Tactical Team Three. Your ID and team uniform are with your team captain... Captain You, your new recruit is here!"
Room 303 seemed empty at first glance. However, once An Suyu spoke, from behind a ’paper wall’ of files and documents piled as high as the computer monitors, a burly, square-faced man stood up. "Newcomer?"
That’s You Jilong! Ren Suo recognized him immediately. He was the man in the Black Body Armor responsible for escorting Lianjiang City’s civil servants to the training base!
"Yeah, didn’t you know the Deputy Bureau Chief assigned two newcomers to your team?" An Suyu said irritably. "You’re always complaining about being short-handed at meetings..."
"We are short-handed!" You Jilong immediately retorted. "Only two? Aren’t there over a hundred in Lianjiang..."
"Do you also want those who haven’t even stepped through the door yet?" An Suyu countered, then turned to Ren Suo. "Alright, he is your superior, Captain You Jilong of Tactical Team Two... You should recognize him, right? He will tell you the specifics."
You Jilong searched through the mountain of documents before him, like a high school senior hunting for an exam paper, before eventually producing a crumpled document. "This is your salary and benefits," You Jilong said. "Take a look, and if there are no issues, sign it."
Ren Suo took it, and his brows quickly lifted in pleasure. There was no probation period, meaning immediate official employment. The salary was 6,000 yuan, which didn’t seem like much. However, it also included lunch, dinner, transportation, and housing subsidies. A quick calculation suggested his monthly income would be in the five figures. Social insurance and housing fund were, of course, included, with the unit taking full responsibility.
Most importantly, after three years of work, employees could apply for an interest-free housing loan of up to five million yuan.
But after the brief excitement, Ren Suo calmed down. He flipped through the document again and looked up in confusion. "Um, weren’t we supposed to be eligible to enter the Cultivation Ground for cultivation...?"
"The Cultivation Ground? Oh, cultivation!" You Jilong suddenly slapped his forehead. "This employment contract was drafted two months ago, before the Cultivation Ground was even built. Access to the Cultivation Ground is linked to our work IDs... Right, the work ID, let me look for it..."
Unlike when he had led their training, You Jilong, despite still having a robust square face, acted much more relaxed and casual. This reassured the tense Ren Suo. As a Cultivator, the unit I’m about to join is definitely not ordinary, he thought. But seeing that my superior is a normal person makes me feel much more at ease.
"Turns out I put it here yesterday." You Jilong retrieved two small booklets from the third drawer beneath his desk. After comparing them with Ren Suo, he handed him one. "Take care of it," he said. "It costs 65 yuan to get a replacement. The Cultivation Ground is near West Sports Road, converted from the original sports center. You can use a map to navigate there."
"No problem." Ren Suo took his ID. It had a brown cover imprinted with the flag of the Mysterious Country, laid out in landscape format. The first page displayed his photograph, name, and work unit, along with two professional duties:
"1. The holder of this document has the obligation to assist any Mysterious Country citizen requesting aid.
2. The holder of this document has the authority to request cooperation from Mysterious Country citizens and entities for official actions; any resulting losses will be covered by the National Security Bureau."
An obligation and a right. This alone spoke volumes about the ID’s significance.
"You should understand what kind of job you are taking on, right?" You Jilong patted his shoulder. "Not everyone can enter the Tactical Bureau, and not everyone... can come to Tactical Team Three."
"Regarding this, I also have some confusion," Ren Suo asked. "Um... why was I chosen to join the Tactical Bureau?"
Before coming, Ren Suo had opened his WeChat for the first time in a while. As someone who had spent three consecutive days gaming, he barely touched his phone except to order takeout.
There weren’t many messages on WeChat. Ren Suo had always been a hardworking student, deeply immersed in practicing administration essays. Even when using WeChat to communicate, it was mostly for business; he didn’t casually chat with friends.
The only exception was a group Ren Suo had joined a few days prior, [We Are the Future Successors of the Mysterious Country], which was brimming with messages because he had not muted it yet.
He clicked into the group, intending to ask about the Counter-Special Crime Bureau, only to find members already discussing their assigned units.
"Seeking teammates at Social Investigation Bureau!"
"Social Investigation Bureau +1."
"You guys are lucky, being able to go to the National Security Bureau. Why was I assigned to Baiyun District Public Security Bureau..."
"You’re also at the Public Security Bureau? Me too! But I’m at a Public Security sub-bureau in Haizhu District."
"BOO HOO... o(╥﹏╥)o, have we been abandoned? Why haven’t I received a notification?"
"I heard that Director Yu’s department is the Counter-Special Crime Bureau, and it’s said to have the best treatment and prospects. Has anyone been assigned there?"
At that moment, a user named ’Xiao Qiao’ said, "Don’t worry! Whether you’re at the Public Security Bureau, the Social Investigation Bureau, or with me at the Counter-Special Crime Bureau, we all have a bright future!"
"Beauty, are you looking for someone to cling to your coattails?"
The more Ren Suo read, the more cringeworthy he found it. Although I didn’t ask, I can tell that the Counter-Special Crime Bureau is one of the more coveted units for public Cultivators, Ren Suo mused. But why was I directly admitted?
You Jilong glanced at Ren Suo. "You have undergone the Qi Cyclone transformation, right?"
"Ah?" Ren Suo was taken aback. "How do you..."
I just had my Qi Cyclone transformation and became a Cultivator three days ago! How does You Jilong know? Ren Suo wondered.
"On the fifth day, when we test your talent, we also check your specific transformation time," You Jilong explained. "Those expected to transform within a day or two are directly admitted to the Tactical Bureau. For those taking a bit longer, say seven to fifteen days, their admission is deferred until after their transformation. Those taking even longer are assigned to other departments."
"As of now, the only condition for joining the Tactical Bureau is becoming a Cultivator! After all, we are quite busy here," You Jilong said, tapping the documents on the table, "and the work is dangerous. Only Cultivators who have undergone the Qi Cyclone transformation can guarantee their safety."
"Just for that reason?"
"Just for that reason. Did you think you were recruited because the Deputy Director has a particular liking for your type?" You Jilong chuckled, then glanced around the office. "The other team members are currently out on a mission, searching for the Goddess. I’ll introduce you tomorrow when everyone is back."
"Searching for the Goddess?" Ren Suo was a bit puzzled.
"Searching for the Goddess," You Jilong said indifferently. "Have you seen that ’If You Are Strong, Climb Ten Thousand Meters’ video?"
Ren Suo’s expression tensed, but he quickly relaxed. "I have."
"You should know that everything in that video is true," You Jilong continued. "But you probably didn’t notice that the Goddess—the female lead—has a Lian Province accent when she says ’thank you’ in Xuan Wen."
Ren Suo was startled. "Right, it seemed like..."
I didn’t pay close attention before, Ren Suo realized, but now that I recall, the Truth Seeker’s Xuan Wen pronunciation did sound very natural to me—it matched my own linguistic patterns perfectly.
"Because of this, the bureau is now trying to trace the Goddess’s movements. However, after several days with no results, the bureau will likely call off this pointless search today," You Jilong shrugged. "Anyway, this is your desk. Let’s go get your uniform. You start work tomorrow; be here by 9:00 AM for check-in."
Just then, An Suyu suddenly pushed the door open. "Captain You, another one of your people. Come claim them!"
Ren Suo turned his head to see who was so lucky to become a new recruit of Tactical Team Three along with him. However, the next second, he was stunned, and that yearning deep in his heart surged once again—
"Hello, Captain You." A cheerful, pretty girl greeted Captain You, then looked at Ren Suo with some surprise. "Oh, you’re here too," she remarked.
Then, she smiled. "It seems we’ll be colleagues from now on."
Based on what You Jilong just said, the Tactical Bureau only takes Cultivators who have transformed. Does that mean Qiao Muyi has also undergone her Qi Cyclone transformation? Ren Suo pondered.
"You’ve come at a good time." You Jilong suddenly seemed to recall something. "Right, I also need to test you two..."
"A test?" The two turned their heads towards You Jilong simultaneously. An Suyu, who had been about to leave, also paused, looking at them with interest.
"Yes, a test," You Jilong affirmed, reaching out to place his hands on their shoulders.
Something’s wrong! Ren Suo sensed as soon as You Jilong’s hand landed on his shoulder. In a mere instant, I’ve lost sensation in half my body! If this continues, I’ll completely lose control...
Suddenly, You Jilong swiftly pulled his hands back. He looked at them both with a smile and said, "Your ’Clothing’ technique is quite good. It should be sufficient for the daily tasks of Tactical Team Two."
So that was the test! You Jilong used ’Lock’ on us and wanted us to activate ’Clothing’ to resist! Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi understood, exchanging glances.
It appeared both had successfully resisted.
"Alright, let’s go get your uniforms first. You can come back and sign the contracts later," You Jilong said nonchalantly, heading out with Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi close behind.
No one noticed that his hands, hidden behind his back, were slightly shaking.
At that moment, Ren Suo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
That was close, Ren Suo thought. Good thing I didn’t equip ’Combat Basics’ and chose ’Magic: Garment’ instead!