At two in the afternoon, the lobby of the Lianjiang City National Security Bureau was crowded with over two hundred people, most of whom were young.
Ren Suo stood not far from the entrance, tutting in amazement at the bustling scene. "So many people, all transferring to the National Security Bureau... Are they here to enlist?"
Li Qingxuan also found it incredible. "Logically, the administrative department shouldn't need this many people, right? But since it's an interview, they're probably picking one in ten, maybe even one in a hundred."
Ren Suo said, "But how were we chosen? We neither interviewed nor applied; it's like it just fell from the sky. If Director Ye hadn't called us here, I'd think it was some kind of pyramid scheme."
A rather cheerful-looking young man nearby overheard Ren Suo and agreed enthusiastically, "Right? Right? I'd only just joined the tax bureau when suddenly news came that I could transfer to the National Security Bureau... Could it be because of that rumor?"
"Which rumor?" Ren Suo and Li Qingxuan were startled.
"You don't know?" The young man seemed eager to show off—particularly to Li Qingxuan. He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "That's right. The information online is mostly a mix of truth and fiction, and any news that gets even slightly popular is immediately suppressed."
"But I have someone in my family who confirmed some of the online rumors are true." The young man raised an eyebrow suggestively at Li Qingxuan. "My name is Xie Qiansi. Nice to meet you."
Li Qingxuan glanced at Ren Suo. Ren Suo immediately slung an arm around Xie Qiansi's shoulder enthusiastically. "Your name is Qiansi? We must be fated then!"
"What kind of fate?" Xie Qiansi asked.
"I'm Ren Suo, you're Xie Qiansi," Ren Suo explained. "Put our names together, and don't you get 'Lock Qiansi'? It means we definitely have an earth-shattering fate ahead of us."
"Is that so?" Xie Qiansi was a bit confused.
Meanwhile, Li Qingxuan giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Li Qingxuan. What was that rumor you were talking about?"
At the mention of this, Xie Qiansi perked up. "I can't say much, but have you seen any news about Supernatural Beings these past few months?"
Li Qingxuan thought for a moment and nodded. "Two months ago, during the New Year, there were rumors about Flower Street in the west part of town. Apparently, two people there performed acts involving both ice and fire. They supposedly created ice with their bare hands and breathed fire on the spot, seemingly without any props. It went viral on social media, with everyone claiming they were genuine Supernatural Beings."
"Breathing fire is simple enough, but creating ice on the spot... No one saw them use saltpeter or anything. But they were only popular for a few days; they disappeared from Flower Street before the New Year celebrations even ended. When I went there on the first day of the Chinese New Year, they were gone."
"I remember seeing similar news, but I've forgotten the details."
Ren Suo said, "Supernatural power... like that assassin from 'Assassin's Bloody Banquet' a few days ago?"
Xie Qiansi nodded. "I can't prove the specifics, and you might not believe me anyway. But 'Assassin's Bloody Banquet' has been substantiated—the video is still available online, and the Black Thorn Building in Misty City is still under repair. The higher-ups seemed to want to suppress it, but..."
He shrugged. "Do you think it's hacking technology beyond imagination, or an Ability... from another dimension?"
Li Qingxuan asked, "But what does this have to do with us?"
"It has a lot to do with us," Xie Qiansi explained. "If I'm not mistaken, we're about to join the newly established National Security Bureau Eighteen. And you've already met people from National Security Bureau Eighteen."
Li Qingxuan was somewhat surprised. "Who?"
Ren Suo, however, seemed to understand immediately. "Those in Black Body Armor during the physical examination?"
"I hear other departments call them 'Black Cat'," Xie Qiansi chuckled. "We suddenly got this interview opportunity right after the physical exam. Clearly, our qualification stems from the physical exam, yet our Physical Condition is only slightly better than an average person's."
"What kind of job in this world doesn't consider your intellect, your talents, or your Physical Condition, but instead looks for some kind of hidden Potential within your body?"
Seeing Ren Suo and Li Qingxuan looking thoughtful, Xie Qiansi took out his phone. "Let's add each other on WeChat; it's easier to keep in touch."
After Ren Suo added him as a friend, he was immediately pulled into a group chat with a rather interesting name—
[We Are the Future Successors of the Mysterious Country].
"Got a newcomer?"
"Is she beautiful?"
"Looks like our Young Master Xie sweet-talked another one in."
Xie Qiansi said to Li Qingxuan, "In the system, connections are paramount, even within the National Security Bureau. Even if we fail this interview, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll be sent back to our original positions. That's because we're very likely 'gifted' individuals. If so, we can then share information and help each other out for mutual benefit..."
"Young Master Xie is truly impressive," Ren Suo interjected. "Did you set up this group?"
"Yes!" Xie Qiansi said proudly.
"So, if I start 'speeding' in this group chat and posting all sorts of crazy stuff, will you get into trouble?" Ren Suo asked, feigning seriousness.
Xie Qiansi's face stiffened. He said, "Then I would have no choice but to kick you out..."
"Brother, in the system, connections are most important. Kicking people out like that could easily offend someone!" Ren Suo patted his shoulder and said solemnly.
Xie Qiansi rolled his eyes. He knew Ren Suo was just cockblocking him, so he promptly turned to approach another pretty woman.
Li Qingxuan nodded at Ren Suo and smiled. "Thank you."
"Thank me for what," Ren Suo waved his hand dismissively. "I just can't stand show-offs... Huh?"
Not far away, Xie Qiansi was introducing himself to an incredibly cute girl with a round face. "I'm Xie Qiansi. Do you know the inside story of this interview?"
The cute girl shook her head and whispered, "I don't know... My name is Qiao Muyi..."
The cute girl's sweet and gentle demeanor perfectly stoked Xie Qiansi's peacock-like urge to show off. Just as he was about to step forward to display his connections and eloquence, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder, stopping his advance.
The next second, Xie Qiansi saw that guy—he wasn't sure if his name was 'Ren Suo' or 'Ren Lock'—enthusiastically slinging his arm around Qiao Muyi's shoulder.
"We must be fated! My name is Ren Suo, and your name is Qiao Muyi. Put our names together, and don't you get 'Suo Muyi'? It proves we must share an incredible destiny!" he declared.
Qiao Muyi looked at Ren Suo and blinked, saying nothing.
Xie Qiansi was so annoyed his butt clenched—this guy didn't even bother to change his damn pickup line!
Ren Suo continued to smile joyfully until he heard the voice inside his head say:
"Key detected."
"Key is in an unfamiliar Status, beginning acquisition."
"Key has taken form. Acquisition will take 9,658 seconds. Constant contact must be maintained during acquisition. 9657, 9656, 9655…"
Ren Suo almost spat blood. Over nine thousand seconds! That's more than two hours! How could he possibly find a reason to maintain contact with Qiao Muyi for that long! He'd just noticed Qiao Muyi gave him that heart-fluttering feeling, and Ren Suo knew instantly—this had to be another Key! He'd initially thought, just like with Black Body Armor Qiao Dan, the Key would be unobtainable. While the Key on Qiao Muyi was obtainable, the time required was just too ridiculous. It'd be more practical to just knock her out, drag her into some dark room, and grab the Key!
At that moment, five buses drove up outside the National Security Bureau, immediately causing a traffic jam. Ren Suo curiously looked over. Is the National Security Bureau going on a trip today? he wondered.
Several people in Black Body Armor got off the buses, Li Dan among them. Their leader, a rugged-looking man also in Black Body Armor, strode to the National Security Bureau entrance and roared:
"Silence! I am You Jilong, and I'm in charge of your interviews! Next, I'll call out names. When your name is called, come out and line up. Have your IDs ready!"
The first-floor lobby instantly fell silent. Into this hush, someone in the crowd suddenly asked:
"Is it execution by firing squad?"