Cipher Talent

"What is all this?"

Everyone looked at each other, especially those who had applied to join this department themselves, unlike Han Su. Their expressions were bewildered.

Is this some kind of rulebook?

Two out of the first three rules were about cleaning up murders. This should be a manual for legal homicide, right?

In the silence, many people had already begun to question things. However, the instructor above seemed to understand their thoughts. He swept his gaze over them and suddenly said, "Just remember it, don't ask questions casually."

"People like us don't welcome the overly curious."

"Also, you don't have much time to memorize this manual, because we'll start other training in the afternoon. The following days are also fully scheduled, so you only have now and your free time to use."

"This will be your final assessment, but you'll quickly find it might be the fairest one. To be assigned to Group D1D2, you need at least three A-class ratings or above."

"This will be the only thing you can achieve through hard work."

Below, everyone was stunned. Whether they had questions or were a little resentful of the instructor's cold and arrogant demeanor, they suddenly came to their senses.

Instantly, the sound of pages flipping filled the air.

These people, from all walks of life and mostly elites, began to show their different characteristics.

Some immediately started reading rapidly, their eyes scanning quickly as they muttered softly.

Some rolled their eyes towards the ceiling with each page they flipped, trying to memorize it.

Some painstakingly read word for word, craning their necks in a desperate effort.

Han Su, however, slowly flipped through these rules. They were extremely detailed, with many terms not commonly found in real life.

He flipped through it once slowly, searching carefully to see if there was any content related to the monsters in the dark bunker.

But unfortunately, there was none.

These were indeed just operational rules, and they were simple narratives, with few examples and no explanations.

The previous and next rules often had no connection.

After this first read-through, he was certain it was impossible to memorize everything in just a few days.

Thus, the morning of the first day passed. Within the entire training facility, there were hardly any sounds of speech, only the hum of memorization. A rather peculiar individual was a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

Han Su noticed him. It seemed he had also just slowly flipped through the manual once, then sat there in a daze. After a while, he got up to go to the restroom, then went to the water dispenser to get some water, then did eye exercises.

Han Su, sitting nearby, became annoyed and said, "Can you settle down? You're disturbing me!"

The man with gold-rimmed glasses paused, then said apologetically, "Sorry, I'll go out then."

He then took his paper cup and went out, leaving the manual on the table without even bringing it. The people nearby stared:

Did this guy just give up completely?

Soon, it was time for lunch. All the trainees still had their manuals with them, memorizing as they ate. But after lunch, the instructor quickly ordered them to put down their manuals and perk up, as it was time to start the second training session.

For the second training, they were taken to the place where Han Su had heard that mysterious voice when he first entered.

Recognizing the room, Han Su couldn't help but be startled. He had just been prematurely kidnapped because he heard this voice. Could it be that another wave was coming?

"The previous manual was to improve your survival rate during missions, while this assessment is to test your potential."

The instructor's gaze swept over the trainees. "In the other assessments, you need to get the most A-class ratings to ensure you are assigned to the earlier groups."

"But for this assessment, if you perform exceptionally well, you can directly cut the line and be assigned to Group D1."

After a day of this, the trainees, who were suffering immensely from the manual's content, suddenly became energized. They even thought, "Why wasn't such a good assessment put first?"

"I used to feel anxious having to go back every half a month. Now, after only two days, I have to go back again. I'm a bit rushed..."

"This isn't going back to my parents' house, what's the rush?"

Nearby, as Han Su nervously watched the room with the speaker, he suddenly heard something through the instructor's earpiece. The instructor's expression was surprised, then he nodded and said to Han Su and the girl in the black hood:

"The two of you don't need to go. Stay behind!"

"Stay behind?"

Han Su, who was contemplating what to do if blinking happened again, suddenly looked up.

Not only him, but the surrounding trainees also looked confused, not understanding why these two could be treated differently from the others.

The instructor glanced at Han Su and said, "Because you heard the secret words three days ago, we don't recommend trainees to withstand such pressure twice within a week. Therefore, that performance will count as your score."

He then looked at the girl in the black hood and said, "She doesn't need to."

Han Su was stunned: "Huh?"

"Then what will our evaluation be?"

Inside the base's office at the same time, Zhang Chiguo sat before the monitors, while other researchers stood beside him.

Holding a thick file of the applicants' registration information, he asked casually, "Are the protective preparations ready?"

"Are the emergency measures prepared?"

Facing Zhang Chiguo's seemingly relaxed inquiries, the staff nodded one after another. "No problem, Chief Zhang. We're all proficient. Security, protection, stretchers, body bags—everything has been prepared in advance."

"That's good."

Zhang Chiguo picked up the list and casually pointed to Han Su's name. "This student was brought back by me a few days ago. I was worried he might have been contaminated by the grotesque, so I tested him beforehand. We don't need him to go through the test again, right?"

The researchers hurried to reply, "Of course, of course. This is also clearly stated in our regulations."

"That girl who just returned from the wilderness doesn't need to participate in the assessment. In fact, she can be directly assigned to D1 group. As for this one, who was exposed, we can just evaluate him based on his previous performance."

Zhang Chiguo nodded slightly and said, "So, what evaluation do you plan to give him?"

The researchers looked at each other. A bald researcher beside him hesitated and said, "Giving him a C-class evaluation should be quite appropriate, shouldn't it?"

"According to the report, his performance was mediocre. He just fell asleep. How poor must his spiritual intuition be for that to happen?"

"It's just that we don't have a habit of directly giving D-class..."

"..."

After hearing his words, many staff members nodded in agreement.

Zhang Chiguo listened but said nothing, lowering his head to look at the files.

The very first page was Han Su's. It already contained a record of Han Su's background, experience, and so on. Compared to the files of others, it appeared extremely ordinary.

He looked like a born workhorse, quality cannon fodder. Dreaming of entering D1 or D2 was like wishing for the impossible.

If he received a low evaluation for this, it would be too much...

He didn't voice his opinion, merely refraining from participating in the discussion. Gradually, the atmosphere around them became somewhat oppressive.

The bald researcher and the other staff members looked visibly bewildered, feeling as though something was amiss.

At this moment, Cui Qiao, the slender secretary wearing a black suit, suddenly spoke from beside Zhang Chiguo. "How do you do your work? Are you sure you've considered all aspects when determining the ratings? Are you sure the executive personnel selected this way are competent enough for the work they face?"

The bald researcher beside her froze. "Huh?"

Cui Qiao frowned at their reactions and added, "This student from Qinggang University displayed astonishing calmness when encountering the ghost truck."

"He wasn't run over and killed by the ghost truck in his sports car. He dodged several times and even saved someone. It sufficiently demonstrates his rationality when facing the grotesque, and also his strong and stable mental state."

"..."

"So what?"

The bald researcher asked blankly, "He fell asleep. He fell asleep while listening to the secret words..."

Cui Qiao said calmly, "Don't you think he possesses an extremely strong dullness when facing the ramblings of gods? This is very beneficial for him to resist contamination from the unknown and the grotesque. Isn't he a good prospect for blockade work?"

"Of course, I also know that high spiritual power is very helpful for future mystical power training. However, suitable executive personnel are the focus of our recruitment of new talent. A monolithic way of thinking and procedural work are not the good atmosphere of the Disaster Management Bureau!"

"..."

The bald researcher was dumbfounded this time, asking blankly, "It's always been like this..."

Just then, a staff member beside him suddenly spoke up. "Just giving this student a C for his performance is definitely not enough. I think a B-class evaluation..."

His eyes flickered slightly towards Zhang Chiguo, and he stated decisively, "Is also not enough!"

"The fact that he could fall asleep while listening to secret word spells shows his dullness... his personal will is firm, his mind is pure. Only then can he avoid being easily contaminated when dealing with the grotesque."

"Coupled with the fact that he could retreat unharmed when facing the ghost truck, while also bringing someone with him..."

"...What a talent!"

The more he spoke, the more he marveled. He looked at the bald researcher and said, "Teacher, S-class might be a bit excessive, but I think giving him an A-class evaluation is still appropriate."

The bald researcher froze for a full three seconds before finally reacting. He glanced at Zhang Chiguo, who was silently looking at the files, and hesitated.

"Right... Right?"

"..."

Only then did Zhang Chiguo slowly nod and say, "I think what you said also makes sense. After the report is written, submit it to me for my signature!"

[PS: Monthly votes have been refreshed mid-month. I know, I see them!!

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