Long Yuehong was utterly confused:
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Jiang Baimian explained in detail:
“Di Marco said that you can't casually bring the aura of a ‘Mind Corridor’ level Awakened into your own world of consciousness. It's easy to alarm the original owner, allowing them to locate your mind and enter without opening a door.
“Although Shang Jianyao has used most of the ‘Coward’ aura on Di Marco, it seems like there's still a little bit of residual influence.
“Could this have attracted the attention of the original owner, and this attention has brought some imperceptible changes to the surrounding environment that ordinary people can't detect?
“Have similar changes attracted the attention of hidden powerhouses within the company, or triggered some pre-existing but inconspicuous problems, leading to changes in Room 23 and trapping you in a hallucination?
“The reason you saw ‘Naturalism Church’ believers running around naked is because you were just discussing this, so it was reflected in the hallucination.”
After explaining her guess, Jiang Baimian added:
“I don't know enough about Awakened at the ‘Mind Corridor’ level. I can only make a guess with many details that can't be verified.”
After understanding, Long Yuehong was somewhat happy for some reason:
“Right, there aren't so many coincidences. There are enough reasons behind many coincidences.”
And this time, the “reason” was Shang Jianyao.
Shang Jianyao smiled:
“This still doesn't explain why we didn't encounter it sooner or later, but happened after Little Red and I met and told me about the ‘Naturalism Church.’”
Long Yuehong stammered, unable to answer.
Jiang Baimian forcefully guessed:
“Maybe the ‘Naturalism Church’ news was a trigger?
“Maybe if you hadn't met Little Red, you wouldn't have approached Area C after lights out, and the prerequisite for the change is a room that's empty at night, empty for a long time?”
“I think it's the latter.” Bai Chen felt that the second explanation was the most logical and reasonable.
Of course, all of this was based on the assumption that “Long Yuehong is unlucky” was false.
Shang Jianyao added a comment:
“It's too shy.”
Jiang Baimian exhaled silently and said:
“The matter of Room 23 should have been secretly resolved by the company. We don't need to worry about it. Just keep an eye out for any abnormal situations happening there.”
She turned to look at Shang Jianyao:
“As for you, we need to find a way to resolve the little bit of yellow-green mist remaining in the ‘Sea of Origins’ as soon as possible. It's fine within the company; there are taller people to take the hit. If you go to First City, it might cause a lot of trouble.
“And even without external influences, you have to worry about what the original owner of the ‘Coward’ might do to your mind world.
“Alas, I just hope this isn't ‘Nether Weaver’s’ arrangement…”
Mentioning “Nether Weaver,” Bai Chen suddenly said:
“Didn't Shang Jianyao say that when opening the door, he felt his consciousness would leave his body, like there was a vortex behind the door? Do you guys remember what the ‘Nether Weaver’ symbol looked like?”
“A female figure hiding behind a door and peeking…” Long Yuehong suddenly fell silent.
Because he understood what keyword Bai Chen wanted to mention:
“Door!”
“In terms of imagery, it feels connected.” Jiang Baimian said thoughtfully, “But it doesn't look like the manifestations of ‘Nether Weaver’s’ gaze.”
Shang Jianyao immediately shook his head:
“There's no sense of oppression.”
“Moreover, ‘Nether Weaver’ definitely knows that Shang Jianyao has residual aura from Di Marco.” Jiang Baimian gave the most powerful evidence.
This Arbitrator, who likes to gaze at her church and believers, couldn't have missed the battle in the ‘Underground Ark’ back then.
The Old Task Force fell into silence, unable to find another direction for analysis.
Finally, Jiang Baimian said to Shang Jianyao:
“In short, try to solve the problem of the yellow-green mist first. Remember to report the situation at any time, and let's brainstorm ideas together.”
“We've already had a meeting and developed several plans.” Shang Jianyao gave an answer that made people unsure whether to be relieved or worried.
Jiang Baimian turned and pointed to the sofa area:
“The items have all been distributed. Take your own. One portable computer per person.”
As she spoke, she picked up a stack of documents and handed them to Bai Chen:
“These are the bio-prosthetics you can exchange for at your current level. Take a look and consider them.”
Bai Chen “hmm”ed, walked to Jiang Baimian's side, and took the stack of papers.
Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong were equally curious and didn't immediately take their reviewed items. Instead, they simultaneously leaned in beside Bai Chen and looked at what she held in her hands:
“Feline bio-prosthetic… Has greater explosive power, has retractable and extendable enhanced claws…
“Python bio-prosthetic… Possesses greater flexibility, powerful strangulation ability, and can effectively reduce various damages…
“…”
At this time, Jiang Baimian looked at Long Yuehong and asked with a smile:
“Do you want to get one too?”
Long Yuehong shook his head without hesitation:
“There's no need for now.”
With a dedicated military exoskeleton device, he was even more reluctant to harm his original flesh.
Jiang Baimian “hmm”ed, put away her smile, and solemnly asked:
“Do you still want to transfer out of the Old Task Force?
“If you want, I'll submit a report for you again.”
The upcoming trip to First City would be dangerous.
Long Yuehong was silent for a few seconds before saying:
“Okay.
“But there's no need to force it.”
“It's not like I can force it.” Jiang Baimian chuckled self-deprecatingly and turned her gaze to Bai Chen. “What about you? Now that you have the qualifications to undergo modification, do you want to transfer out of the team?”
Bai Chen looked away from the documents in her hand and said in a deep but not low voice:
“The reason I want to undergo modification is to go to First City again.”
Jiang Baimian immediately exclaimed “Aiya”:
“I thought you were reluctant to leave us, your companions.”
As she said this, her eyebrows and eyes relaxed, with a hint of a smile.
Bai Chen ignored her and resumed looking at the documents.
A few seconds later, she said:
“I'll give you an answer in a few days.”
“Okay.” Jiang Baimian returned to her seat, turned on her computer, and began typing out Long Yuehong's application.
After printing it out, she was originally going to the Deputy Minister's office anyway, so she took the report with her.
…………
646th floor, inside the Deputy Minister's office.
Xi Yu picked up the report in front of him, glanced at it simply, and smiled:
“Who transfers positions in less than a year? It's not like he's missing an arm or a leg.
“If this gets out, what will people think of what I manage?”
Jiang Baimian was not disappointed and seized on the Deputy Minister's words and laughed:
“You mean, he can transfer positions after a full year?”
Xi Yu smiled and looked at her, without answering.
Jiang Baimian joked again:
“If he replaces it with a bio-prosthetic, does that count as missing an arm or a leg?”
“You're becoming more and more cunning as a team leader.” Xi Yu chuckled.
She pondered for a moment and then said:
“The normal length of service for high-risk jobs in the Security Department is three years. Your situation is more special, so it can be only two years.
“Manage the progress yourself. After two years, you and your team members can transfer positions.”
“Okay, Minister.” Jiang Baimian happily agreed.
She considered it and tentatively asked:
“Minister, is there a way for me to become an Awakened?”
Xi Yu smiled with slight surprise:
“Why do you suddenly have this idea?”
“There are more dangers encountered outside, so naturally, you want to improve yourself.” Jiang Baimian responded with a smile.
Xi Yu nodded slightly:
“The company has some research and experiments in this area, but there have been no breakthrough results. It can only be said that there is a certain probability.
“If you want to try, you need to inject an anesthetic and enter a state of unconsciousness. The whole process is confidential, and the chances of success are not high.
“And after you wake up, even if you don't Awaken, you may experience some aftereffects.
“There's no need to say anything now. Think it over carefully before giving me an answer.”
Jiang Baimian nodded and subconsciously raised her right hand to touch her metal cochlea.
…………
495th floor, Area C, No. 11.
Long Yuehong stood in the living room that doubled as the master bedroom, looking blankly at the neighbors who were surrounding him and the portable computer.
According to his original plan, after taking back the computer, he would mainly teach his younger siblings the basic functions. When no one was around, he would secretly enjoy the Old World entertainment data to avoid delaying Long Zhigou and Long Aihong's studies.
But why had it developed into this situation?
Long Yuehong only remembered that a group of uncles and aunts suddenly flooded in, asking him all sorts of questions about the portable computer and the Old World entertainment data.
Then, his younger siblings came back with their friends, excitedly clamoring to see it.
Under the equally expectant gazes of his parents, Long Yuehong opened the computer in a daze and played a reviewed TV series.
Why was this happening? How did they know about the Old World entertainment data, and even tell him what to click on and where? Long Yuehong looked around, feeling like the world had become extremely strange.
During this process, he saw his father, Long Dayong, patting a middle-aged man on the shoulder and laughing:
“Old Feng, you're late. Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll save you a spot!”
His mother, Gu Hong, was surrounded by a group of aunts like a star surrounded by the moon, her face full of joy.
She kept saying to the acquaintances around her:
“See if there's anything you like. Tomorrow, I'll have my Yuehong continue playing it!”
Long Zhigou and a few friends squeezed into two seats, excitedly discussing the contents of the show, while their peers outside the door looked inside with envy.
Long Aihong pulled out her good friend from those people and, under a stream of envious gazes, modestly walked through the crowd and sat in her exclusive seat.
Long Yuehong unconsciously revealed a smile, feeling like this seemed pretty good too.
He leaned down and pressed a few buttons.
Suddenly, a huge virtual screen appeared in the air, allowing the contents of the show to be presented better.
This made it easier for people sitting far away to see clearly.
Amidst exclamations, Long Yuehong leaned over to Long Aihong's side and asked with confusion and curiosity:
“Little Ai, how did you know I had these data?”
Long Aihong said with a matter-of-fact expression:
“Brother Yao demonstrated it in the ‘Activity Center’ just now, and he said you had it here too, in the what-what disk what-what folder.”
The corners of Long Yuehong's mouth twitched a few times. He wasn't surprised at all.
ps: Asking for monthly tickets during the double period ~