Hu Wenjun extended his fan-like right hand and gestured two fingers at Pei Yan, "Considering you’re a first-time offender and young and inexperienced, we can overlook your mistakes. As for your options, there are two paths. The first, we will have specialists seal your abilities, modify your memory, and make you forget you ever had such powers, letting you return to being an ordinary person."
"What’s the second path?"
"The second path is to enter the system, accept national regulation, and comply with the law. We’ll be responsible for training you and assigning you work; you will need to follow commands. By the way, our unit offers pretty decent benefits." Hu Wenjun said with a rare smile, giving a teasing remark.
"Isn’t there a third option? Can’t I go home and promise not to misuse my powers?" Pei Yan muttered quietly, still holding onto hope despite knowing the situation was settled.
"Do you think that’s possible? The country won’t allow a potentially threatening force to exist in an uncontrolled state. You can’t have both freedom and power; either you live unrestrained as an ordinary person, or you accept regulation and enjoy power. But young man, is there really anyone truly unrestrained in this world? No matter what we do, we are bound by various things, by family, laws, social circles, or morals."
"I’ve seen too many people who become obsessed with power and believe they’ve broken free from constraints. They are too arrogant, thinking that having power gives them the right to defy laws and challenge the world, but their outcomes are tragic. I don’t want to see the same happen to you, so it’s fine if you don’t choose the second path, we won’t force you. Honestly, I’d rather see you become a law-abiding citizen." Hu Wenjun advised sincerely as he sat back in his chair—a heartfelt guidance from a senior to a junior.
"Officer Hu, since I’ve already witnessed the fascinating other side of this world, how could I choose to retreat? I choose the second path, but I have a few conditions." After listening to Hu Wenjun’s words, Pei Yan smacked his lips and made a decision after a moment of contemplation.
Hu Wenjun was taken aback but looked at Pei Yan with interest, "Go ahead, let me hear what conditions you have, but remember, don’t get too excessive, and definitely don’t touch the legal bottom line."
"Alright, first, you can’t dissect or study me! You must ensure the personal safety and privacy of me and my family."
"That’s impossible." Hu Wenjun said bluntly.
Seeing Pei Yan showing signs of an outburst, he waved his hand at him and continued, "Your condition is reasonable, but there are things I need to explain clearly. First, research on you must proceed, and the specific reasons will become clear once you join the bureau. However, I assure you that our research on you will absolutely prioritize your safety, and we will seek your consent beforehand and will not violate humanitarian principles. Secondly, regarding safety issues, we’ll find ways to protect your family’s safety, but when you join the bureau, it’s essentially for work, and the nature of our work involves certain dangers. Would it make sense to assign a person specifically to protect you during missions?"
Pei Yan thought over Hu Wenjun’s words and realized he made sense, so he nodded and continued, "Alright, let’s do it your way. Secondly, you can’t assign me tasks that involve wiping out families or anything that’s against humanity. Of course, if it’s genuine service to the country, I think I can accept it."
"What do you think we are? Wiping out families? As I said, we’re the Otherworld Incident Investigation Bureau, responsible only for investigating incidents related to otherworld invasions. Moreover, there’s an agreement between nations that people like us are not allowed to intervene in mundane wars without permission." Hu Wenjun responded with mixed emotions, looking at Pei Yan with a serious expression on his face.
"Oh! So, does that mean there are people like us in other countries as well?"
"And thirdly, when I officially start working, how much can I earn per month?"
Pei Yan’s eyes sparkled with desire, and Hu Wenjun awkwardly coughed a few times, "Cough, cough, cough, you’re quite direct, huh? It definitely can’t compare to robbing banks or being a bodyguard for the wealthy, but it’s not low, and the benefits are good."
"Then I don’t have any questions left, just the last issue of how to tell my parents. Surely I can’t tell them the truth, or can I?" Pei Yan mused aloud.
"How could you tell them the truth? Don’t worry about this; it will be arranged by us. There will be local and military comrades visiting your home under the guise of a special recruitment to talk to your parents. You will be seen as joining the military. After a few years, you will retire, and we’ll make other arrangements."
"Wow, you guys have quite the power! You can coordinate with the military?" With the matter settled, the relieved Pei Yan leaned back in his chair and teasingly put his hands behind his head.
"Don’t think too much. We’re just one of the government departments. Due to the special nature of our tasks, we sometimes need to coordinate with other departments, but don’t think of us as all-powerful. Come on, I’ll take you home!" Hu Wenjun walked up and patted the back of Pei Yan’s head.
"I haven’t put my pants on!"
"Get in the car, release the state, and change in the back seat of my car. Remember, don’t sit your bare bottom on my car seat!" Hu Wenjun said while walking outside.
Pei Yan, clutching his underwear and shorts, quickly followed behind him, asking in a low voice, "By the way, how did you guys catch me? Where’s my phone? I just remember heading out to the internet café early this morning, then somehow ended up here. What time is it now, and how do I explain this to my parents once I get home?"
Reaching the car, Hu Wenjun took a package from Xiaowang, opened it, first pulled out a watch, checked the time, put it on, and then took out two phones, handing one to Pei Yan and keeping the other in his pocket, "It’s twelve o’clock noon now. You’ll get back to the city by around four or five in the afternoon."
"What? I’m not in the city now?" Pei Yan asked, wide-eyed.
Hu Wenjun didn’t respond directly and continued, "When you get home, tell your parents you were drawn to attend a camp exhibition day, an event hosted by the local garrison, called ’Military and People as One.’ You participated in the event on site today."
After speaking, a female soldier in uniform approached with a bag, opened it, placed a camouflage military hat on Pei Yan’s head, then handed him a small red flag, stuffed the bag into his hands, "In here are materials about the event process and relevant details. Look through them while in the car."
"Oh!" Pei Yan said, looking at the small flag, opening the bag, and glancing inside at the brochures, military commemoratives, a gifted water bottle, notebook, and a stack of notes.
"Wow, you guys are well-prepared!" Pei Yan praised sincerely, looking up for a closer look at the female soldier and realizing with a start, "You, you’re the female police officer from earlier! Why did you change clothes?"
Before he could react, the warehouse door slid open with a clang, a wave of heat and glaring sunlight spilled into the dim warehouse. "Enough chit-chat, get on the car, change your clothes, then come out to take some photos." Hu Wenjun took Pei Yan to the car and patted his back, saying.
Pei Yan was bewildered as he changed into his clothes and was led out of the warehouse, moving like a puppet. Not far ahead, a burst of clamor reached his ears, and after several twists and turns, a wide shooting range appeared before his eyes.
Seeing the orderly spectators and the People’s Liberation Army soldiers demonstrating combat skills, Pei Yan’s jaw dropped as he realized that there was indeed a military-civilian event happening here....