The white mouse implanted with the Fuxi Cell was now brimming with energy, darting around its cage, bullying the males and harassing the females like a newly crowned Rat King.
Yan Anqing put on gloves and pinched the back of its neck.
Squeak!
The white mouse struggled madly, yet it made no attempt to bite Yan Anqing.
"Preliminary testing shows that the Fuxi Cell does not alter the recipient's temperament. Its aggression and attack tendency have not increased."
After thoroughly testing all sorts of data, Yan Anqing disposed of the white mouse according to normal experimental procedures.
"Tiered Lifeform..."
As Yan Anqing disposed of the corpse, he silently chewed over those five words.
Did breaking through the original limits of one's species count as reaching a tier, or did one need to possess a special energy source to qualify?
With so little information available, it was difficult to deduce the truth.
He would probably have to wait until he completed the second stage of the Main Quest before he could understand the game program's criteria for "tiered."
After all, the reward for the second stage was not merely a new function, but also an introductory overview of the Power System.
After tying up the loose ends, Yan Anqing added Dongfang Zhi, who had previously called herself a "Second-Level Researcher of the Academy of Sciences," on WeChat.
She accepted his friend request very quickly.
Dongfang Zhi's nickname was simply her own name, while her profile picture was a full-body photo of herself. She was pretty, lively, and radiated youthful charm.
It seemed that she liked wearing white stockings. The selfies in her Moments were dressed much the same way, with nearly identical styling.
Yan Anqing considered it briefly, recalling the Detailed Explanation of 95 Personality Types he had once studied, and roughly analyzed her subconscious.
A moment later, he sent her a message. "I'm very interested in your previous proposal."
Dongfang Zhi seemed to have been organizing her thoughts all along.
Almost the instant Yan Anqing's message was sent, she replied with a huge block of text.
"Dear Mr. Yan Anqing, hello."
"Based on your past experience, specialties, and education, like most people, you can only begin as a Field Operative. Your base monthly salary will be around 6,500, and each assignment comes with additional allowances. Different levels of difficulty come with different allowances."
"Recently, the higher-ups have attached great importance to Golden Pupil Syndrome, and the subsidies for related special assignments have increased substantially. Besides that, the Five Insurances and One Fund are guaranteed, along with meals and accommodation. After three years of work, the state will assign you housing..."
"There is no need to worry about the political review. I will help you handle everything."
"This is only the beginning. If you perform well, promotion is completely guaranteed. We do not care about personal connections here. We look purely at ability and results. Those who earn more merit can rise quickly."
"A permanent position should not be difficult for you. With your capabilities, perhaps in ten years, you might even be promoted to Section Chief..."
That final sentence carried a faint note of probing.
Yan Anqing smiled soundlessly.
When Dongfang Zhi had gone to see Xie Zhe, everything she observed had been what he wanted her to see.
The conclusions Dongfang Zhi reached through her own thoughts were also the results Yan Anqing had deliberately guided her toward.
The identity of a "Blood Moon Latent Candidate" was neither as dazzling and piercing as that of a Golden-Eyed One, nor did it lack the attention and conveniences that came with it.
From Dongfang Zhi's reaction, Yan Anqing immediately understood what she was thinking.
She had not reported information about him to her superiors. She wanted to observe this lead alone and ultimately claim all the credit for herself.
That was understandable.
Yan Anqing looked at the clock on the wall.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
After fifteen seconds, he replied, "Fine."
Dongfang Zhi's response popped up instantly. "That's wonderful! We've been short on personnel lately, especially talents like you! It takes about three hours to get from the capital to northern Hubei... Wait for me!"
A moment later.
Dongfang Zhi seemed to realize that she had appeared a little too eager, so she sent a cute tongue-out emoji. "Sorry, I just received an urgent mission. I'll arrange for someone to buy your plane ticket and reimburse your travel expenses. How does that sound?"
"No problem."
After replying, Yan Anqing closed WeChat.
Why did he want to get connected through Dongfang Zhi?
Was it simply because it was easier to cultivate within the Six Doors?
No.
He needed more knowledge, more cutting-edge technological information, and inspiration from more geniuses.
Only then could he better reshape this world into the form he liked.
Come to think of it, with the map-editing game bound to his soul alone, Yan Anqing could have the moon crash onto America.
Creation was harder than destruction.
He liked doing challenging things.
Following the address she had given him, Yan Anqing soon arrived at his destination.
No. 39 Zhaofu Street.
It looked like a fast-food restaurant with poor business, one that might close down at any moment.
The moment he stepped inside, a young man in casual clothes approached him.
"Come with me."
In what was presumably the kitchen, there was unexpectedly an elevator leading underground.
Based on a preliminary estimate from the sensation of movement, Yan Anqing felt that the elevator had descended at least 350 meters.
That was roughly the depth of the 111th basement floor.
It had not reached the bottom yet, but this was already his destination.
As he stepped out of the elevator, his view suddenly opened up.
The underground world was broader and brighter than he had imagined.
Walls and floors built from specialized metal, cold lights, receptionists wearing monocles...
Everything around him carried a science-fiction atmosphere.
Led by his guide, Yan Anqing quickly completed the onboarding procedures.
Photographs, tests of various physical data, entering his records and work history...
After going through a long series of procedures, Yan Anqing finally became an honored staff member of the National Confidential Department.
His colleagues were all friendly. They seemed rarely to see newcomers join, and they treated him with considerable warmth and enthusiasm.
After explaining his duties, obligations, and some basic information, they let Yan Anqing familiarize himself with the Secret Base on his own.
Through chatting with his colleagues, Yan Anqing learned quite a lot.
For instance, the section he was currently assigned to was called "Yaoguang"!
To join the Yaoguang Section, ability, education, and work experience were all secondary. The most important thing was a background review.
If an applicant, or any direct relative within three generations, had ever traveled abroad or had a criminal record, there was no chance of passing the political review.
"The work environment is pretty good. Aside from irregular field assignments, I just need to pass tests in combat, physical fitness, and reconnaissance every month."
Yan Anqing gave his new job an impartial assessment. "So this is what they call a retirement job?"
Although he was only a Field Operative, his colleagues got along harmoniously. At the very least, there were not many people as eccentric and difficult to communicate with as Xie Zhe.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Unusual smashing sounds rang out from the southeast.
At the same time, a hysterical male voice reached his ears.
"Damn computer, what good are you? Die!"