"So why didn't I give myself an alias right there at Li Jing Square, like 'Restraint Belt Madman' or something like that? Oh well... things are what they are, hopefully they won't give me a nickname that's too tacky."
Ji Minghuan muttered, his eyelids were so heavy that they were about to droop.
He had been woken up halfway through sleep, and his waking temper was too strong, unable to find someone to vent on, he had no choice but to go outside and hang around with his brother, accidentally taking down five bandits. As a result, returning home made him even more tired.
Ji Minghuan yawned and raised a hand to poke the Attribute Panel.
Additional notes popped up behind the three attributes.
[Strength (Adding this attribute can enhance your overall physical quality and the strength of the "restraint belt")]
[Speed (Adding this attribute can enhance your neurological reaction speed and the speed of the "restraint belt")]
[Spirit (Adding this attribute can enhance your mental strength and the resilience of the "restraint belt")]
[You currently have 1 attribute point, which can be added to any one of the three attributes.]
At this moment, a [Add] option appeared behind each of the three attributes.
Ji Minghuan, with drooping eyelids, swiftly scanned the options and then unthinkingly added his attribute point to "Speed."
[The "Speed" attribute of game character "Gu Wenyu" has changed: C-level → C+ level]
Just like in those martial arts novels, it's often said that "only speed breaks all martial arts," Ji Minghuan held the same belief, adding this attribute not only made him react faster but also sped up the restraint belt, thereby allowing him to take the initiative in combat, unlikely to be instantly killed in a sudden confrontation.
After distributing the attribute point, he continued to open the "Character Skill Tree System."
[Branch One (Hidden): Restraint Sensing (Learned) → Restraint Truth (Pending) → Unknown → Unknown...]
[Branch Two (Frenzy): Restraint Extension (Pending) → Unknown (Upon learning the previous skill of this branch, the details of this skill can be obtained) → Unknown → Unknown...]
[Branch Three (Li): Restraint Detection (Pending) → Unknown (Upon learning the previous skill of this branch, the details of this skill can be obtained) → Unknown → Unknown...]
"Restraint Truth" allows others to speak the truth, akin to a lie detector;
"Restraint Detection" allows gathering information about others' abilities through contact with the restraint belt.
As for "Restraint Extension," it's temporarily not considered, clearly visible as the "Frenzy" branch specializes in skills that enhance combat power.
Ji Minghuan isn't currently lacking in combat power but is missing means for protection and tracking clues.
He thought to himself: "Let's first go for 'Restraint Detection,' this skill can be used to uncover details about my family members, especially Gu Wenyu's father and sister. Once I complete the main tasks related to them and obtain new skill points, I can learn other skills at will."
Thus, he long-pressed "Restraint Detection," and the text on the panel turned from dim to a bright, glowing red-black hue.
[Spent "1" skill point, successfully learned the skill "Restraint Detection" of the "Li" branch: When you use the restraint belt to touch the opponent (must be human or humanoid), a series of their data (attributes, abilities) will pop up in your mind.]
[The next skill of the "Li" branch is now available for learning.]
Ji Minghuan glanced at the newly unlocked skill under this branch.
[Restraint Suppression: After you use the restraint belt to bind an alien, you can temporarily suppress their extraordinary abilities.]
"Sounds quite useful," he thought, "but it's unclear what level of 'binding' is required, whether the whole body needs to be tied up or just a knot on the calf will suffice... too many possibilities, once this skill is learned, then find a scapegoat to fully test the skill rules."
Afterwards, Ji Minghuan switched back to the system panel, flipped to the last page, and found a prominent option—[Create a new game character], the text color of this option differed from others, written in pure blood-red.
He raised his finger and tapped on it, immediately a series of text prompts emerged.
[Current split progress is incomplete, unable to create a new game character.]
[Tip: The required split points to create a new game character are: 3 (you currently have only 1 split point, once the total accumulates to 3 split points, you will be able to create the next "game character" in the real world)]
He thought: "So, as long as I obtain two more split points, I can create a new game character. Once there are two characters, I can try to make a move on the Welfare Institute..."
The sound of rain softened, and the drowsiness deepened; his eyelids felt as heavy as if they were lined with lead, closing the panel in his view entirely, throwing aside all complex thoughts, Ji Minghuan then closed his eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Not long after he slept, Gu Qiye returned home in casual clothes.
Without turning on the entryway light, Gu Qiye restrained his footsteps, silently passed through the first-floor living room, ascended to the second floor, and stopped outside Gu Wenyu's room. After a brief pause, he gently turned the doorknob and quietly pulled the door ajar.
Through the sliver of the door opened, Gu Qiye glanced inside the room at Gu Wenyu.
Gu Wenyu lay in bed, sleeping deeply and peacefully, not looking like he was pretending.
"Was I overthinking it..."
Gu Qiye murmured to himself with a complex expression, feeling that the Insect Pupa Man he encountered earlier bore some resemblance to his brother, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly where.
Taking a deep breath, the damp, cold air pierced his lungs like a sharp sword, dispelling his chaotic thoughts. He carefully avoided making any noise that might wake his brother, slowly closed the door, and returned to his own room to rest.
Outside the window, the rain drizzled down, creating pretty parabolas under the eaves.
It was a quiet rainy night.
"Restricted grade Superpower User, code number 1002—'Ji Minghuan', mentor visit, please prepare for questioning as soon as possible."
Once again, a familiar announcement sounded in his ears, followed by a spread of cold light, waking Ji Minghuan who was lying side by side on the bed.
He opened his eyes, turned his body, rubbed his temples with his left hand, and reached for the cold metal collar around his neck with the other.
The mentor had once said: if his superpower usage is detected, the collar would immediately inject him with a massive dose of sedatives and Superpower Inhibitors.
Yet, during the time Ji Minghuan was using his superpower to control another body, the collar seemed not to detect his power usage; otherwise, he would have been shocked awake long ago, let alone had such a long "dream"... It was truly baffling.
"So... is my superpower really that advanced? Even with its own anti-detection system." Ji Minghuan thought, releasing his hand from the cold collar, stretching his stiff neck.
Sitting up and looking ahead, the mentor had already walked in from the corridor entrance, the metal isolation door closing behind him.
"Good evening, mentor." Ji Minghuan greeted warmly as usual.
"Good evening." The mentor smiled.
Ji Minghuan raised an eyebrow, surprised at how easily he had gotten the mentor to talk, and asked, "So... is it really night outside now?"
The mentor chuckled mysteriously, taking out two photos from his sleeve, placing them on the table.
He introduced, "Interested in hearing about some Superpower Users that recently appeared outside?"
Ji Minghuan sat across from him.
"For example, this is a Superpower User newly discovered last night in the Chinese Capital. His superpower seems to be creating restraint belts with extremely high resilience, similar in appearance to bandages. When appearing, he likes to hide where no one can see and wrap himself in a cocoon of restraint belts, suspended in mid-air, doesn't it look a bit scary?"
Really... news travels this fast?
Ji Minghuan was slightly startled, listening to the mentor while examining the photos on the table.
In the photo, a bizarre, gigantic cocoon was hung upside down by a black strip of material under a billboard in some square.
If you look closely, you'll find this "cocoon" is also surrounded by rings of black strips. The circles of markings on its surface are eerie and mysterious, as if a bottomless pit, greedily drawing the gaze of onlookers.
He thought, judging by this, my superpower events indeed occur in the Real World. I previously suspected that dream might just be a parallel world, but I guess I was overthinking it.
Thinking this inwardly, Ji Minghuan pretended to ask, "What is this thing... Mentor, are you sure this is a Superpower User and not some alien creature?"
"No, look at the second photo." The mentor shook his head.
Upon hearing this, Ji Minghuan looked down at the second photo underneath.
In the photo, the black cocoon opened, revealing a man wearing a mask and dressed in a tailcoat, hanging upside down under the billboard, casually flipping through a book in his hand.
Staring at this strange humanoid for a while, Ji Minghuan looked up at the mentor, curiously asking:
"Mentor, what is this Superpower User called?"
The mentor interlaced his fingers slowly, responding patiently: "After unanimous discussion from the outside world, they decided to temporarily refer to this Superpower User as 'Black Cocoon'."