"Forget it. I'm a little tired and don't feel like looking around. Let's go straight to the office building to register."
Zhang Yu froze, staring at the lively Gu Yan in silence for a moment.
"You're an Ability User. You're tired after walking just a few steps?"
"Yeah. I just got back from the North Continent, and I didn't sleep well because of the time difference." Gu Yan tried to read something in the other man's eyes.
"Uh, then let's rest in the back garden for a while. There's an artificial lake there, with birds singing and flowers blooming. It's good for sleep."
"No need. We can go straight to register. I'm curious about the surprise you mentioned, too."
He wore a refined, gentle smile, but his tone was firm.
"All right, all right. What a sensitive fellow." Zhang Yu felt something behind him, sending a chill down his back.
"Sorry to trouble you. Please lead the way." Without changing expression, Gu Yan shattered the Ice Cones behind Zhang Yu.
If the other party had just dropped all pretense and meant him harm, the Ice Cones would have pierced his heart and killed him instantly.
But it seemed Zhang Yu truly knew nothing about it.
Zhang Yu had no idea that his attempt to have a little fun teasing the newcomer had nearly cost him his life.
All he knew was that this wasn't his first time playing the role of "Bad Uncle," yet he had actually botched it.
This shouldn't have happened. How could this happen?
As a rather special Charm and Speed Dual-Attribute Ability User, he was absolutely unrivaled at recruiting newcomers!
How had he failed to get even a small invitation accepted?
I'll find a chance to run first. Judging by this kid's reaction, if anything happens later, he'll definitely use me as a shield.
His older sister was not someone who would reason things out easily!
Looks like he wouldn't get to watch this drama after all.
Though meddling in other people's family harmony was a little immoral, he couldn't resist a good show!
And this was the fun of an A-Class Mental-Attribute beauty and her quasi-A-Class Support-Attribute younger brother!
I just love a good spectacle!
But getting himself dragged into it was another matter.
The two of them fell silent.
On the other side, Gu Li leaned against the wall, seemingly lost in thought.
No one else dared to speak or let their eyes wander, but all their ears stood straight up. They held their phones and tapped away, communicating through the group chat.
"Who upset her? Why does the atmosphere feel so terrifying?"
"I heard Gu Li's younger brother was coming, so she's been waiting here for quite a while."
"Someone really came! The show's starting!"
"What do these siblings look like? We've got another male god in our bureau!"
Gu Li heard footsteps and her eyes lit up.
That should be Xiao Yan, right?
She walked toward the entrance—
Whoosh!
The sound of air splitting rang out. Gu Li narrowly dodged a hand blade. "Xiao Yan, what are you doing?"
As Gu Yan approached, he sensed countless gazes sweeping over him, making his suspicions even more certain. Zhang Yu had already found an excuse to leave, and Gu Yan did not stop him. After all, Zhang Yu appeared not to know the details, so letting him go did not matter.
Then he saw his older sister!
Why was his older sister here? Could she be in disguise?
The others also turned to look at the scene. This family had a truly special way of greeting each other!
Seeing the wariness in Gu Yan's eyes, Gu Li realized that a misunderstanding had occurred.
I'll calm Xiao Yan down first.
Ding! Ability acquired: Cognitive Interference
There really is a problem! She can interfere with cognition. No wonder this person looks exactly like my older sister. Have I already fallen victim to it?
Having gone completely astray in his assumptions, Gu Yan's whole body tensed as he guarded against attacks that might come from any direction.
"Xiao Yan, just—"
Gu Li was interrupted when Gu Yan, worried that his thoughts were being interfered with, kicked out.
As a Mental-Attribute Ability User, Gu Li's senses were naturally exceptionally sharp, and she dodged again.
Bang!
The wall cracked from the kick, startling the onlookers into a flurry of panic.
Gu Li's face darkened. "Xiao Yan, are you done fooling around?"
She didn't mind disciplining her disobedient younger brother a little!
"Still pretending?"
Even after being exposed, she hadn't given up? Why was only this one person attacking?
While remaining on guard, Gu Yan analyzed the situation.
He mobilized Honkai Energy, sending it surging through his entire body again and again.
Why was there no reaction? With the strength of the Honkai Energy in his body, he shouldn't be affected by the Ability. But why did this person still look like his older sister to him?
Had she disguised herself?
Or was he simply overthinking it, and the person before him really was his older sister?
If he had been overthinking it, then this really was the Haishi Ability Bureau, and his older sister was here because she was an Ability User too?
Could there really be such a coincidence?
Seeing that these people had no intention of attacking, Gu Yan took out his phone and called Gu Li.
Then the dialing tone and ringtone sounded at the same time.
"..."
It seemed he still couldn't be sure, so he hung up again.
Both the dialing tone and ringtone vanished.
This should be real, right? This can't really be happening!
"...Sis?"
Gu Li merely looked at him without saying a word.
Oh no. It really seems like I got it wrong!
Gu Yan felt the gazes hidden in the darkness turn into needlepoints that pierced his body, leaving him utterly mortified.
That bastard Zhang Yu! Why did he have to act like some kind of riddlemaster when he had nothing better to do?
"So this is what you meant by finding a job?" Gu Li sat behind the office desk and listened as Gu Yan explained everything that had happened. She leaned forward slightly, her tone difficult to read.
"Yes. I didn't know you were an Ability User too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have planned to keep it from you."
Gu Yan took a sip of tea, his expression calm as he tried to salvage his image.
His sister's rank was high, and she was beautiful, so people often gathered around her. As a result, many had heard Gu Yan describe his thoughts, and they had laughed so hard they doubled over.
It doesn't matter. I'm already in a psychiatric hospital anyway. So be it. What normal person comes here... Gu Yan consoled himself.
"I won't interfere with your choice. This job is dangerous, so protect yourself."
Gu Li also wanted him to live under her protection and be placed under her management, but the bureau had not approved it.
First, having relatives on the same team would interfere with her judgment and decision-making.
Second, Gu Yan's rank was not low, and his abilities were highly valuable. He should be used where he was needed, rather than being kept under protection.
The higher-ups had specifically instructed them to cultivate Gu Yan properly. He could not be treated like a mascot and coddled.
A B-Class Ability User already possessed the power to protect a region and keep it safe. An A-Class Ability User could ignore most conventional firearms. There were only four A-Class Ability Users publicly known in the Haishi Ability Bureau, so Gu Yan could be considered an important combat asset.
Two thousand five hundred kilometers above the surface.
There was no air here. It was utterly silent, and the blinding sunlight faced no obstruction.
It was impossible for any life-form to survive in such a place without protection.
That was humanity's understanding.
A Mechanical Dragon flew through the azure expanse and dazzling light.
On the dragon's back, a woman slept with her eyes closed. Her long hair fluttered in the wind, and her exquisite face resembled an angel's. Her fair swanlike neck, half-hidden beneath her hair, was alluring, while her misty, flowing dress lent her an air of holiness.
A mechanical dragon and a sacred girl—the scene looked like something from a fairy tale.
"Mm..."
Her eyelashes trembled, and Ji slowly opened her eyes, letting out a comfortable murmur.
That was a wonderfully refreshing sleep.
Her light-blue eyes swept over her surroundings. Morr had been carrying her through space the whole time without being detected by any satellites.
Her fatigue had completely vanished. It was time to go back.
"Roar!"
Sensing that his master had awakened, Morr roared excitedly. Although the sound could not travel through space, Ji felt it.
"Let's go. We're heading down."
The corners of Ji's mouth lifted, her smile carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
A race as insignificant as ants. Pathetic resistance. Feeble struggle.
Do everything in your power and let me hear your wails!
Before you continue