She Gently Waved a Hand, and a City Rose from the Ground

Keeping his complaints to himself, Su Yang quietly changed the subject.

He certainly didn't want to have anything to do with a death benefit someday.

"Mr. Director, do you mean we're going on a mission now? But I have class in a little while."

Zhao Shengshen blurted out, "Skip it! What's the big deal?"

Su Yang: "..."

Black lines covered Su Yang's forehead. There was simply too much to complain about.

You're the director of the Education Bureau. Are you really telling a student who's about to take the college entrance exam to skip class?

Zhao Shengshen waved a hand dismissively, not caring in the least.

"How can a true man get hung up on such trivialities? I'll just have a word with your principal later. From now on, whenever you don't feel like going to class, don't go!"

"But shouldn't we prepare before going on a mission..."

"No buts... Come on, the mission is what matters!"

Giving Su Yang no chance to refuse, Zhao Shengshen pulled him toward the door of the conference room.

Su Yang wanted to say something more, but Zhao Shengshen was far stronger than he had imagined. With a slight tug, he lifted Su Yang off his feet.

It was hard to imagine that such tremendous strength was hidden beneath that suit.

The director of the City Education Department was strutting through the school in broad daylight, dragging a third-year high school student along. If anyone saw them, they would surely make the city's headlines.

But to Su Yang's shock, when Zhao Shengshen dragged him past the principal, who was fiddling with his phone outside the conference room, the principal acted as though he couldn't see either of them and continued standing in the hallway, fiddling with his phone.

It wasn't just the principal. The students coming toward them in the hallway also acted as though they couldn't see Zhao Shengshen and Su Yang, ignoring them entirely.

As Su Yang and Zhao Shengshen passed by, the students didn't even move their eyes.

What's going on?

Could this be Zhao Shengshen's Sequence Ability too?

Just as Su Yang was brimming with confusion, Zhao Shengshen's magnetic voice reached his ears.

"You noticed?"

Zhao Shengshen turned his head and looked at Su Yang, his eyes full of amusement.

"Are you wondering why they can't see us?"

"This is my Sequence Ability!"

"Within my Domain, I can easily alter the emotions and states of mind of any creature capable of thought... even their short-term memories."

Zhao Shengshen let go of Su Yang's sleeve and pointed lightly at his chest.

"For example, right now, I can easily sense the confusion in your heart."

"Of course, I can only sense your confusion. I can't tell exactly what you're thinking."

"Perhaps when I advance to the Demigod tier, I'll be able to know what other people are thinking and change it."

Hearing Zhao Shengshen's explanation, Su Yang suddenly understood.

So that's how it was!

No wonder his emotions had inexplicably calmed down several times when he had gotten worked up before.

Su Yang carefully mulled over what Zhao Shengshen had just said. The word "Demigod" caught his attention.

"Mr. Director, what did you mean by the Demigod tier?"

"Come on, we'll talk as we walk. The people from the Soul-Reaping Bureau are still waiting for you!"

Zhao Shengshen took the lead, walking ahead of Su Yang.

From his long strides, it was clear that Zhao Shengshen really was in a hurry.

"We divide Sequence Abilities into nine tiers. With every tier they rise, Sequence Abilities undergo a qualitative transformation."

"The Soul-Reaping Bureau calls Sequence Ability users above the fourth tier 'Divine Envoys,' and those above the sixth tier 'Demigods.'"

"The last time a Demigod took action was a hundred years ago."

As he spoke of that Demigod, even the look in Zhao Shengshen's eyes changed.

Su Yang had seen that look in the eyes of starstruck fangirls before.

"That was a Demigod with a First Sequence Ability. With a gentle wave of his hand, he erased a city."

Hearing this, Su Yang's breath caught.

"He erased a city? That's insane! Then the people living in that city..."

"Don't worry."

Zhao Shengshen shrugged and continued.

"After that Demigod with a First Sequence Ability acted, another Demigod with a Fourth Sequence Ability also stepped in."

"She too gently waved her hand, and the city returned to its original state. All the living beings who had died came back to life."

Zhao Shengshen spoke casually, but what he said sent Su Yang's brain crashing completely.

With a wave of her hand, a city rose from the ground and all the dead came back to life? What kind of power was that?

No wonder Sequence Ability users above the sixth tier were called Demigods. Probably only gods could perform such a feat.

Su Yang steadied himself and looked at Zhao Shengshen before him, filled with respect.

He remembered perfectly clearly that this director was a fifth-tier Sequence Ability user!

Though he wasn't a Demigod yet, he should still be unimaginably powerful!

The next moment, Su Yang swallowed, and a measure of respect entered his voice.

"Then as a fifth-tier Sequence Ability user, Mr. Director, wouldn't you..."

"No, no, no! You're overthinking it. Please take back your respect."

"I'm just a total good-for-nothing. I was hoping that once you rise high and make your fortune, you'd look after an old man like me."

Su Yang: ...

It was the first time he had ever heard someone describe himself that way.

For a moment, Su Yang didn't know how to respond.

"But no matter what, I think the reason this city can be as peaceful and prosperous as it is now must be largely thanks to you, Mr. Director."

"Since you're in charge of a Soul-Reaping Bureau jurisdiction, Mr. Director, you must have faced countless dangers and saved this city many times, right?"

"No! It's just that none of them wanted to take over this jurisdiction. If we ran into danger now, I'd definitely throw you out to take the bullets for me at the first opportunity. After all, I don't have the strength to truss a chicken."

Su Yang: ...

All right, all right. Whatever you say.

As they talked, Su Yang and Zhao Shengshen arrived outside the school.

Su Yang immediately spotted the black stretch sedan parked at the school gates.

The sight of the car reminded Su Yang of the bumpy ride he had experienced the last time he rode in Zhao Shengshen's car, and for a moment, he actually felt a little afraid.

Zhao Shengshen saw Su Yang's troubled expression and immediately raised an eyebrow.

"What? Still afraid to ride in my car?"

"Don't worry, it's daytime now. I definitely won't speed. After all, my public identity is still the director of the Education Bureau!"

Watching Zhao Shengshen pat his chest as he made his promise, Su Yang felt a little more at ease.

He's right. It's rush hour now. No matter how reckless Zhao Shengshen is, surely he can't race through the streets like that again?

With Zhao Shengshen patting his chest and making assurances, Su Yang got into the car.