A few days flew by.
Under Ye Chenyang's attentive guidance, Jiang Mian's "progress" was astonishingly swift.
She could now not only maintain a Small Wind Field for long periods, but also compress it and attach it to small objects—in other words, "enchant" bullets, as Ye Chenyang had put it.
At the same time, she was learning to use firearms, covering both basic theory and practical training.
Her aim still needed work, but the power of each shot was already enough to threaten First Order Calamities that weren't specialized in defense.
Of course, that was Ye Chenyang's opinion.
Perhaps because she had only recently taken a Suppressor, Jiang Mian had been in particularly good spirits lately and picked up everything quickly.
If she wanted, she could hit practically anything within Gale's range.
As for Gale's exact range, even Jiang Mian herself couldn't estimate it very well. She could cover at least an entire city block.
So she deliberately kept its force in check, to avoid overdoing it as she had on the first day.
At one point, she casually asked Ye Chenyang how he found the time.
His answer was that the authorities generally granted High-tier Sequence Awakened considerable autonomy.
He went to work by choice, to gain experience. If Jiang Mian found City Defense unsuitable after joining, she could also apply for a transfer.
Jiang Mian neither agreed nor disagreed. Once she had everything ready, she went alone to the City Defense Office in East City.
Unlike the standalone buildings of the Public Security Bureau and the Special Affairs Bureau, the City Defense Office stood right against the city wall—or, rather, was "embedded" in it.
The towering wall was a heavy gray-black, reflecting a deep metallic sheen.
At its base, ordinary soldiers responsible for basic defense came and went.
They made up the vast majority of City Defense, handling essential duties such as routine patrols, keeping watch, maintaining equipment, and building fortifications.
They were the foundation of the defense line, while the Awakened belonged to separate units.
Jiang Mian pushed open the office's heavy glass door. The interior was simply laid out, and most of the people coming and going wore standard Combat Suits and hurried about.
She walked up to the reception desk and explained why she was there.
"Hello, my name is Jiang Mian. I'm here to report for my probationary position."
The female clerk at the desk looked up at Jiang Mian, seeming a little surprised. But once she took Jiang Mian's identification and invitation letter bearing an official seal, her expression immediately turned solemn.
Come to think of it, when she'd been hospitalized, those leaders had stuffed a pile of invitation letters into her hands. It seemed that had come in handy.
"All right, please wait a moment... Sequence 48, [Eye of the Storm]?"
The clerk looked over the documents in front of her, and her voice took on a hint of respect.
Everyone knew that an Awakened with a High-tier Sequence like this would be guaranteed to reach at least the Seventh-tier, as long as they didn't die young.
They were also exceedingly rare. Having three in their city this year was already unusual.
If the young woman before her... grew into her potential, the leaders would be sure to mention her every day—or put her picture up on the wall.
"Yes." Jiang Mian nodded lightly.
"Please wait a moment. I'll process your paperwork right away."
The clerk worked quickly. Before long, she produced a contract and briefly explained:
"Miss Jiang, as you requested, your probationary period will last one month. During that time, you'll be assigned to Team Five of the East District Third Branch Team."
"Your probationary stipend will be paid daily at 1,200 yuan. If you take part in actual combat and make a contribution, you'll receive additional compensation."
Twelve hundred a day...!
That was thirty-six thousand a month!
Jiang Mian's mental abacus began clacking away. At her current rate of one Suppressor every ten days or so, that would cover her expenses in this area perfectly.
"Thank you! I'll work hard to learn. It's just... I don't have much combat experience..."
"Don't worry. Captain Qin has trained plenty of newcomers and will make the arrangements.
"Besides, probationary members are mainly there to observe, learn, and provide support. You usually won't be sent straight into dangerous situations."
The clerk reassured her with practiced ease, then handed Jiang Mian a temporary ID badge and a handbook.
"The paperwork is complete. Please go directly to Sentry Tower Number Three on the East City Wall and report to Captain Qin Wu. I hope your probation goes well."
"Okay, thank you."
Jiang Mian gathered her things and headed up the passage behind the office. Before long, she reached a lift platform.
The platform was made of the same dark metal as the city wall, and looked exceptionally rugged. Jiang Mian glanced up and could see only a round patch of sky through the opening above.
After a short wait, the platform gave a low hum and began to rise at a steady pace.
Hiss!
With a soft sound, the platform came to a smooth stop.
The scene opened up before her, and a fierce gust immediately whipped Jiang Mian's hair into disarray.
She looked toward the outside of the wall. Visibility was fair nearby, but the farther out she looked, the thicker the Mist grew, roiling like something alive and filled with unknown horrors.
Over the past few days, she and Ye Chenyang had filled in many gaps in her knowledge.
The reason Base Cities could be established was something called a "Radiance Monument."
They were the product of the abilities of certain high-tier [Radiance] Awakened. They could create a special field, thereby forming "safe zones" where humanity could survive.
To mark out their borders and keep Calamities from invading, people had built towering city walls.
The people on the wall were clearly divided into two groups.
Most were ordinary soldiers in standard Combat Suits. They barely reacted when Jiang Mian passed by.
The rest were Awakened gathered in small groups. When they had no missions, they had a fair amount of time to rest.
A standard squad usually had five members. To allow for a greater variety of tactics, each squad's Awakened generally had different abilities.
Jiang Mian was already strikingly beautiful, and the glasses she wore were completely out of place in this environment. Inevitably, she drew the attention of those around her.
Gale's perception silently spread out, catching every quiet remark they made about her.
"New face? Here for probation?"
A burly man crouching in a corner to maintain his weapon glanced at her, then looked away.
"She looks so skinny. Can she even handle it?"
"Maybe. Did you forget they screen everyone before letting them up here? Unless it's a really high-tier Sequence, anyone who isn't good at fighting can't get through."
"Who knows? I hope she doesn't end up on our team. Going on a mission with a rookie like that would have us worrying the whole time."
Jiang Mian glanced over without showing it.
City Defense really didn't take just anyone. You had to have some kind of strength. Someone with nothing but enhanced senses, like Wang Chen, would certainly never pass the initial screening.
Awakened on the front lines, like the City Defense forces, let their strength do the talking. And the [War] Sequence, which enhanced physical abilities, made up the vast majority.
As their abilities grew, Awakened could undergo subtle changes in appearance. Those with strength-based abilities, for example, became taller and more muscular, while those with speed-based abilities developed more balanced physiques.
With her appearance, it was only natural for people to gossip unless she made her Sequence Ability known.
Jiang Mian ignored their comments and headed for the place marked on the map in her handbook.
After entering the Sentry Tower, she soon found a lounge. A line of neat lettering was engraved on the metal plaque above the door:
"East Third Five Team."
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