The loading progress has been updated. Current progress: 60%
"Huh?" Gu Yan, who was navigating, was startled when the system suddenly popped up.
He had never known what this loading progress was for. Only now had it finally shown some change.
It left him at a loss whether to laugh or cry. In some webnovels, the protagonists had been invincible for countless years before their systems finally arrived and issued beginner missions.
His system had only been around for a little over ten days, yet it had already loaded to 10%. That seemed pretty conscientious, too.
With a thought from Gu Yan, the panel appeared before him.
Third Herrscher Auxiliary System Host: Gu Yan Physique: 465 (Base Value) Ability (?): Plunder, Bestowal, Ice Cones, Midair Movement, Mustard Seed Space. Buffs: Strengthened, Swift Steps, Charge, Intermediate Healing, Toughness, Giant Strength, Breath Concealment, Shadowless, Dragon Body Passive Skills: Ancient Martial Arts Mastery LV98, Honkai Creature LV13, and so on. Loading incomplete, progress 60% Herrscher Records: Recorded (0/16)
On a certain street with few pedestrians.
Gu Yan looked at the navigation on his phone. After checking it again, he fell into thought outside a hospital.
Third Mental Hospital of the Southern District, Haishi.
If he could smoke, he might have lit up a cigarette right now.
What was this supposed to be called?
The small hermit hid in the wilderness, while the great hermit hid in a mental hospital?
Would it be too abrupt if he went in like this? Should he use the back entrance instead?
Climbing over the wall would work, too.
However, the atmosphere on this street was rather strange.
Where did that strangeness come from? From the vendor who had burned his pancake stall, the stores where wedding photography and a funeral home stood right next to each other, and the "old man" who was not very good at chess.
They were probably all undercover agents. Gu Yan slowly crouched down, having grown somewhat tired from standing.
Yet that slight movement immediately attracted countless gazes.
So climbing over the wall was out. Should he use the main entrance? Fine. He was a normal person, after all. What was there to fear?
After dusting off nonexistent dirt, Gu Yan strode into the mental hospital.
"The newcomer who just went in doesn't need watching anymore."
"OK."
"Brother Li, save me! I burned all three of my pancakes!"
"Get lost. I'm running a funeral home now. I don't know how to make pancakes!"
After entering through the hospital's main entrance, Gu Yan did not see many people outside. The security guard seemed to know some information about him. After confirming his identity, he did not stop him.
"Mr. Gu."
There was a flower bed directly opposite the entrance. The man who had previously gone to his home was standing in front of it.
"Don't call me that. It feels awkward... Speaking of which, we're colleagues now. May I ask your name?"
"My name is Zhang Yu. Just call me Brother Yu."
Sure, Brother Octopus.
"Good to meet you, Brother Yu." After the two shook hands again, they officially became acquainted. Zhang Yu then took on the role of tour guide.
"I'll show you around."
"The outpatient building in front is for appearances, though it's also the bureau's medical building. You can come here for minor injuries. Some members of the Medical Department live on the third floor."
"Behind this building is a training ground, but that's only the outdoor one. Every building has stairs leading underground. There's a larger professional training ground down there."
"And there's the cafeteria..."
Zhang Yu went on and on, giving him a general explanation of every building and floor.
As soon as they entered the medical building, he took Gu Yan straight to the stairs.
"Come on, I'll show you the professional training ground. That's usually where the most people are. They're all a bunch of try-hards."
"They spend all day thinking about getting stronger, getting stronger, getting stronger. It's no fun at all. Training is nowhere near as comfortable as slacking off."
"By the way, that friend you're close with—Zhao Qi, right? He's at the training ground too. He came this morning."
"Brother Yu, since we're an official organization, why did we choose a... mental hospital as our cover?" Couldn't you pick somewhere else?
Gu Yan really did not want to tell his family that he worked at a mental hospital. And walking in through the main entrance under everyone's watch was practically forced treatment for his social anxiety.
Zhang Yu smiled faintly and merely quickened his pace downstairs, seemingly hinting that the answer lay below.
The staircase was not long. They soon reached the bottom, where a heavy metal door blocked their way.
He obtained the abilities Fire Control and Water Control.
As Zhang Yu opened the metal door, the howls from the training ground reached them.
"Fire, come forth!"
"Water Style: Who Built This Dam?!"
"Ice, submit to me!"
"..."
Gu Yan fell silent. For a moment, he could not tell whether this was really a mental hospital.
No wonder. No wonder!
If they trained outside and someone heard them, they would surely think someone had gone mad. Then, upon seeing that this was a mental hospital...
Oh, then it was fine.
What a brilliant move! It directly prevented the awkward situation of people misunderstanding them and calling the police.
Gu Yan turned to look at Zhang Yu's calm face. After hesitating, he still asked, "Brother Yu, are these people mentally sound?"
"Of course. Look over there. Isn't that your good friend Zhao Qi?"
Don't point! I don't know him!
Zhao Qi was the idiot who had just shouted, "Ice, submit to me!" Gu Yan now deeply regretted ever meeting him.
"It's fine. This is normal. The use of abilities depends on the Ability User. Shouting like that has a slight effect on our concentration and explosive power."
"Don't worry. Nobody shouts like that in actual combat. They just vent their stress while training. Besides..."
Zhang Yu smiled sheepishly. "Who doesn't have a chuunibyou dream? But when we shout a couple of times and really get an ability, the feeling is absolutely amazing!"
"So that's how it is..." I don't understand, but I'm deeply shaken.
"Come on. Let's look around some other places first. You can decide for yourself later whether you want to come back." At this point, Zhang Yu gave an ill-intentioned chuckle.
"There's also a surprise waiting for you. Looking forward to it? Follow me around first, then we'll talk."
Heh heh heh. This kid doesn't know that Gu Li received word the moment he entered this street and has been waiting for him in the office building. I'll take him around for a few hours first. There'll be a good show later.
I wonder what will happen when that hot-tempered Gu Li gets stood up by her little brother. Will she curse? No, her upbringing is too good. No matter how bad her temper is, she wouldn't curse.
Hit him? Surely not. He is her biological younger brother, after all.
But what if she beats me up?
No. I can't let this kid sell me out.
A surprise?
An odd look flashed through Gu Yan's eyes.
Was Zhang Yu delaying for time? Why? Was it because of the surprise he had mentioned?
When dealing with unfamiliar people, one had to remain cautious.
He would first see what Zhang Yu was plotting.
"Brother Yu, can you give me a hint? What kind of surprise is it?"
Zhang Yu smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out. But promise Brother Yu you won't get angry, hold a grudge, or sell me out. I'm doing this for your sake."
Gu Yan frowned. Why did he feel as though he had been tricked? Surely not. He and Zhang Yu had no grudge between them. They had only met twice, and Gu Yan had not sensed any malice from him.
If Zhang Yu had a problem, he would not be this relaxed.
Zhang Yu might only be an outsider. The real danger was in the office building!
Normally, they should have handled the important business first instead of leisurely wandering around. They were definitely trying to lower his guard!
Gu Yan's imagination ran wild.
A scene had already appeared in his mind: He had fallen into their trap and entered the office building, only for several burly men to rush out and surround him while letting out sinister "heh heh heh" laughter.
What is going on? Isn't this an official organization? No, wait. I found this place because of the special phone Zhang Yu gave me! Someone had been watching me from the start and planned all of this!
After pondering for a while, Gu Yan still could not figure out why anyone would target him.
Has that Herrscher returned? No. She wouldn't use such despicable methods.
Did my identity as a Herrscher get exposed? Impossible! He had never told anyone about it!
Could it be because his identity as an S-rank Support-Attribute Ability User had attracted them? But if even that information had leaked, then the Huaguo Ability Department would practically be a nest of enemies. That was absurd!
He would take things one step at a time and see what tricks the other side was playing!
If they really thought he was merely a Support-Attribute Ability User, they were far too naive!
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