Investigator's Two Great Tools

"Training's over, everyone get back here quickly!"

The so-called sticking together, cooperating, and looking out for each other was just an unspoken understanding, quickly interrupted by a gruff voice: "Is this a place where you can smoke?"

"You aren't investigators yet, don't act so lazy!"

"..."

Everyone quickly put out their cigarettes and returned to the training room. They saw staff members placing black leather suitcases on the tables, and the instructor, with his hands behind his back, said coldly to everyone:

"Your training is now complete, and your groupings have been arranged!"

"From now on, you will each report only to your respective execution captain or the investigator who summoned you, awaiting orders at any time."

"Furthermore, the arrangements for each group will differ."

"Group D1D2 will not have an execution captain. You will form your own teams and do not need to remain at the base. After training concludes, you will return to society and receive orders directly from the Disaster Management Bureau. Your individual missions will also form independent evaluations."

"Group D3D4 will be in teams of two. You will serve the Disaster Management Bureau four days a week. You do not need to remain at the base at other times, but you must remain vigilant and respond immediately when a mission arises."

"Group D5D6 must not leave after training concludes. You will remain at the base and await orders at all times."

"However, whether you remain at the base for unified training or are allowed to leave the base to move freely, you are forbidden from leaking any information about the base."

"Each violation of these rules will result in a demotion, until you are demoted to Group D5D6 and remain at the base, or are directly demoted to Group D7 and permanently lose your personal freedom."

"Do you understand?"

"..."

The reaction from below was not as enthusiastic as expected.

A strange expression appeared on everyone's faces: Why is there such a big difference in treatment between the groups?

Is there already such a clear hierarchy upon entering the Disaster Management Bureau?

Especially for D5D6, they've lost the right to move freely. What's the difference between that and being directly imprisoned?

Does status within the Disaster Management Bureau directly correlate with freedom?

"Very good."

The instructor nodded with satisfaction and glanced at the black suitcases on the table. "Execution personnel can be considered half-investigators, especially Group D1D2, who are already regarded as intern investigators."

"And now I can tell you:"

"Investigators are the ones responsible for eliminating those unnatural things that shouldn't exist in reality and stopping their spread. Those who believe in these unnatural things are also part of the spread and must be eliminated."

"And as investigators, you will possess two powerful tools to protect yourselves at all times."

"This box contains these two powerful tools, which will be issued to you shortly as a graduation gift from the training institution!"

"..."

"Powerful tools? Are they guns?"

Thinking of the items confiscated after the execution assessment, Han Su's heart stirred slightly.

At this moment, the instructor casually opened a box and displayed it to everyone: "This is a weapon to protect your safety, and to subdue enemies or other strange things when necessary..."

As he spoke, he picked up a black object, pressed a button, and sparks immediately crackled from the tip.

Even his voice carried a hint of excitement: "Thunderbolt 101 High-Voltage Stun Baton, with a 20,000KV restricted-level electric shock to instantly paralyze the target, coupled with 4W strong light illumination and a 110-decibel deterrent alarm."

"Three-in-one self-defense design, suitable for various scenarios such as community security guards, slum families, wilderness truck drivers, and investigators of the grotesque. The alloy metal composite structure weighs only 700g for easy carrying, and a full charge can last for 36 hours."

"From now on, I require you to carry it with you at all times!"

"..."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately fell. Damn it, after all that talk, all you're giving us is a stun baton?

"Finally, I get to see it..."

Amidst the astonished expressions, Crow next to him exclaimed in a low voice: "The investigator's special weapon, known as the mysterious sword, a high-lethality weapon."

"This is a special weapon for investigators?"

Han Su glanced at her. She had walked back with him earlier and was now standing beside him. "In the previous assessment mission, they at least gave us a gun. Now that we're officially joining, they're giving us a stun baton. Who are they trying to fool?"

"I don't really understand either..."

Crow also looked a little embarrassed and explained in a low voice: "My aunt told me that real investigators disdain using guns. They believe guns are a classical and crude, low-logic weapon."

"Firstly, using a gun makes too much noise. Even with a silencer, the sound is too conspicuous."

"Secondly, when you use a gun against an enemy, it often means you've exposed yourself to their gaze. In battles on the mystical side, this is a significant weakness."

"Therefore, among the investigators I know, very few are specifically equipped with guns."

"Of course, once you reach the investigator level, applying for a gun is very easy. It's just too troublesome to write reports for bullets."

"..."

"She's actually serious?"

Han Su felt a slight surprise. At least for now, he still found it difficult to understand how a stun baton could be more important than a gun.

However, if he put himself in their shoes, imagining he was still in the dark ancient castle, he would understand a little. In a place like that castle, facing so many monsters, the effectiveness of a stun baton and a firearm would seem to be not so different.

He hadn't, however, tried the experience of blasting monsters with a machine gun.

"So, what's the second most powerful tool?"

The other trainees had expressions similar to Han Su's, a clear sense of disappointment and confusion, but someone still mustered the energy to ask.

"That would be this identification card!"

The instructor above held up a black-covered ID card and showed it to everyone, saying solemnly, "This card bears the steel seal of the Disaster Management Bureau. You will need to carry it with you from now on, but you must be extremely careful not to let outsiders see it easily."

"When the time comes, I mean, when you receive an emergency mission, or face unexpected situations that require you to act, that's when you'll present this card."

"Once this card is presented, you will possess temporary legal immunity!"

"..."

Initially, the crowd looked somewhat disappointed upon seeing the ID card. It wasn't until they heard this statement that someone's interest was slightly piqued. "Legal immunity... what exactly does that mean?"

The instructor glanced at him and said, "You won't get points deducted for running a red light!"

Everyone was stunned: "Huh?"

"Which means..."

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses below, deep in thought, slowly opened his mouth. "By extension, killing people is also not illegal?"

The instructor slowly exhaled and nodded, "Correct!"

Upon hearing this, a buzz erupted below as discussions broke out, and everyone's face showed an expression of extreme astonishment.

"However, it's only immunity from the laws of normal society!"

The instructor raised his voice and solemnly admonished, "After presenting this card, you will only be bound by the internal rules of the Disaster Management Bureau. Of course, you can run red lights outside, and you can kill people outside."

"However, everything you do outside will require you to write a report explaining the reasons upon returning to the Disaster Management Bureau. Only after approval from the higher-ups within the Bureau will your actions be deemed legitimate."

"If you exceed the upper management's tolerance, even if you can evade legal punishment outside, you will face even more severe sanctions from within the Disaster Management Bureau!"

"So, don't truly believe you possess supreme power. On the contrary, many eyes will be watching you."

"..."

"..."

This final statement, delivered with such gravity, poured a bucket of cold water on many who had just become excited. However, Han Su, amidst the crowd below, felt his spirits lift slightly as a very logical question came to mind:

"In other words, if one is skilled at writing reports, they truly possess supreme authority?"

This explanation suddenly made it clear why Young Master Zhang, who had been thriving in Qinggang's underworld, had been so desperate to join this department.

"So, grab your bags, take your IDs and weapons, and prepare to walk out of the base gates!"

The instructor's words were drawing to a close. "Your mobile phones and communication devices will also be returned to you. Miss Ai's encrypted communication software has already been installed on them. Just remember one thing: from this moment on, your lives are no longer the same as before."

"In principle, Miss Ai's orders will supersede everything for you."

"Including your life!"

"..."

He spoke very solemnly, and as if to create a certain solemn atmosphere, the moment he finished speaking, a faint notification sound suddenly rang out from everyone's mobile phones.

Han Su looked down and saw the first message sent to him within the software:

"Dear Executive Personnel, hello. I am Miss Ai. Welcome to the Qinggang Bureau of Abnormal Disaster Assessment First Executive Department D2 Working Group."

"Codename: Butcher."

"Initial Rating: C+"

"..."

"I'm only in the D2 Working Group?"

Han Su was slightly taken aback. He had known that getting an A would allow him to be assigned to D1 or D2. With his five A's, he thought he was guaranteed a spot in D1.

But with a sideways glance, after exchanging looks with Doctor and Black Tiger, he realized that both of them had also been assigned to the D2 group. He had entered with a leading score, while Black Tiger had just barely scraped in.

So, D1, then...

He glanced at Miss Crow not far away, as well as a few others who had received an S-class rating in cipher spell. It seemed only they were in D1.

Of course, this wasn't important to him. He just subconsciously looked towards a few other areas.

Where was Old Zhang?

Now that he was a member of the D2 Working Group, what kind of identity would Old Zhang adopt to come chat with him?