First Day at Work, Already Planning to Resign

Resignation Letter

Respected Bureau Leadership:

Today is my first official day on the job, and I am very pleased to formally submit my resignation to the Bureau at this time.

I have been undergoing initial training for half a year now. In these six months, I haven't received any help from the Bureau; going to work every day feels like visiting a grave, and my heart sinks the moment Monday arrives.

Here, I have gained experience in tedious approval processes and ubiquitous bureaucracy, but I haven't gained much of a salary.

I truly do not wish to waste my life in a job for which I am ill-suited, and I want to change my environment to see the poetry and the distance.

Whatever, let it be.

Of course, this is not because the salary is low, nor because the work environment is dangerous, and certainly not because I was assigned to the logistics support department upon officially joining.

Leaving the Anomaly Bureau, I am quite reluctant—reluctant to part with the leadership's bureaucratic nepotism and the sycophancy among colleagues.

I am very glad that I can no longer contribute my strength to the glorious future of the leadership.

Additionally, I suggest that in the future, when painting grand visions for young people, you refrain from using phrases like "the leadership sees everything."

After a while, it easily gives everyone the illusion that the leadership has developed cataracts.

Sincerely, Regards!

Resigner: Li Fan

Setting down his pen, Li Fan flicked the resignation letter he had just finished writing, a look of relief washing over his face.

He casually tossed the notice stating "Training Grade E, Mental Power Grade E, Assigned to Support Center Anatomy Division as Probationary Investigator" into the trash can.

He had been reborn into this world for over a month now.

An antique dealer in his past life, he had transmigrated into a probationary investigator for the Southwest Branch of the Anomaly Bureau.

Without inheriting the original owner's memories, he had been thrown straight into training.

After a month of closed-off training, he had been completely bewildered, eventually receiving the lowest grade and being assigned to the worst department.

If it weren't for the fact that they wouldn't let anyone leave during the closed training, and his desire to figure out the state of his predecessor, he would have resigned long ago.

Today was the first day of official work after training, and also the day he would resign for good.

He was simply not suited for this life of constant fear and nine-to-five nightmares.

He didn't even care about the stable government position anymore.

Folding the resignation report into an envelope, Li Fan walked out of the dormitory and headed toward the office building with a light step.

The Bureau-wide welcome ceremony for new recruits was about to be held in the auditorium; he could see the electronic banner for the meeting from afar.

There were also warning slogans in the courtyard, such as:

"Once your heart is empty, report it immediately! Beware of the Cleaning Association!"

"Those whose hearts are spotless are often not human!"

"The calmer the heart, the further from humanity!"

Arriving at the office building, Li Fan stuffed the resignation letter into the Bureau Chief's mailbox, feeling the heavy burden in his heart finally lift.

From here on out, everything here had nothing to do with him; he would be completely free and at ease.

He then turned to head to the staff cafeteria for breakfast.

Inside the cafeteria, the place was already bustling with people.

Although everyone had been training together just days ago, now that they had been split into departments and roles, the diners had divided into distinct groups.

Near the windows, in the brightest and most comfortable spots, sat those who had entered the frontline Investigation Department—the ones with the most hope of becoming Awakeners.

These people wore crisp uniforms, their voices loud and their eyes bright. They chatted with one another, erupting into boisterous laughter from time to time; though few in number, their voices drowned out the entire cafeteria.

A few who had been familiar with Li Fan merely glanced at him, as if they didn't know him at all.

The class divide had been drawn just like that.

Next was the middle area, occupied by members of the political work department, all wearing expressions of bureaucratic stuffiness. Though their mental power didn't meet the standards for Awakeners, they held real power.

Finally, there was the area near the edge of the corner.

This was where those assigned to the Support Center sat. They would likely remain probationary investigators for the rest of their lives—low rank, low pay, low status. The "Three-Low" personnel.

These probationary investigators from the Support Center ate quietly, making no sound.

A bunch of losers.

"Brother Fan, here, over here!" a voice called out.

Li Fan, who had just grabbed a serving of fried dough sticks and soy milk, looked toward the sound and saw Zhao Lei waving at him from the Support Center dining area, looking jubilant.

Li Fan carried his tray over and sat down. Zhao Lei couldn't wait to start gossiping:

"Brother Fan, which department did you get assigned to? I got the Support Center Equipment Division. They say Zhao Yaqing was assigned to the Second Group of the Third Investigation Brigade. Man, I didn't expect her to be so capable. I wonder if I'll still be able to see her when she comes to pick up her equipment."

Li Fan ate a piece of fermented bean curd and said, "I was assigned to the Anatomy Division."

Zhao Lei nearly spat out his soy milk, breaking into a violent coughing fit.

The colleagues nearby also shifted their trays back slightly, subconsciously distancing themselves from Li Fan.

The Anatomy Department—that was hardly a desirable place; it was essentially the worst division in the Anomaly Bureau.

Every day was spent dealing with those grotesque corpses. There was no hope for promotion, raises were difficult to come by, and the workload was rumored to be grueling.

Furthermore, it was said that spending too much time with those corpses made people go insane or become perverted.

The Anatomy Department rarely saw staff turnover, usually only through suicide. They took in very few people each year, so one rarely heard of anyone being sent there.

The colleagues nearby, who had previously felt a sense of shared misery, now looked at Li Fan with a hint of superiority.

The loser among losers.

"Brother Fan, what exactly was your test score? But, well, the Anatomy Department isn't all that bad. At least... at least it's stable." Zhao Lei was at a loss for how to comfort him.

The others around them also chimed in with words of consolation, spouting platitudes about how the starting point wasn't the finish line and that if he worked hard, the leadership would notice.

Li Fan didn't mind; after all, he had already submitted his resignation.

On the wall-mounted television, the latest "Anomaly Briefing" had begun to play.

"A mass anomalous infection event has occurred in Maple Valley City; the Northeast Branch of the Anomaly Bureau has responded swiftly..."

"The Phantom Spirit Party attacked a Mo Country military police convoy, resulting in 131 deaths..."

"The Soul Suppression Bureau has discovered nearly a hundred underground churches of the Indian undead and is struggling to suppress them..."

"Thirty-five days ago, the 'Collector,' one of the twelve knights of the Cleaning Association, raided the Advent Society's Manchester headquarters, killing thirty-five Spirit Descenders on the spot, including seven high-level Spirit Descenders possessed by anomalies. None of them had their heads left..."

Li Fan whistled.

The Cleaning Association lived up to its reputation as the largest criminal organization of Awakeners; they were truly wicked. No, it should be said that the "Collector" was truly wicked.

Thirty-five Spirit Descenders—that meant thirty-five Awakeners—reduced to nothing but scraps. What a concept!

He was truly notorious, ranking among the top of the Awakened wanted list. It was said that seven presidents of small and medium-sized countries had been assassinated by him.

Fortunately, after resigning, he would be a stable antique dealer; there was no way he would ever run into the Collector in this lifetime.

A man from the Equipment Department sitting opposite him whispered:

"I heard this Collector actually has principles. He never targets civilians; his targets are always Awakeners or government officials from various countries... Who do you think is stronger, our Bureau Chief or the Collector?"

The Bureau Chief he referred to was Zhao Yifeng, head of the Southwest Branch of the Anomaly Bureau.

Zhao Lei also lowered his voice:

"That goes without saying. Bureau Chief Zhao Yifeng is a top-tier Awakener, rumored to be rated A! I reckon if the Collector wanted to kill him, it would take at least three rounds, right?"

A pretty girl nearby covered her mouth and giggled:

"You're too mean. Can't our Bureau Chief just surrender? I heard the Collector is super handsome, but no one has ever seen his true face..."

Zhao Lei said, "Paradox, that's a paradox. If no one has seen him, how do you know he's handsome? Sigh, this Cleaning Association is expanding its power way too fast... Don't you think, Brother Fan?"

Li Fan shook his head. "The Collector is a bit too strong for his own good. His achievements overshadow his masters; that's not a good thing for the Cleaning Association."

At this moment, the words "Awakener Wanted List" appeared on the screen, followed by the top ten Awakened criminals. The number one spot was occupied by the Collector, represented only by a silhouette!

"Holy crap, the Collector's ranking went up again! He's soared to number one!"

"It seems even the Advent Society has issued a bounty on him. Both the underworld and the authorities have been mobilized."

"Is the Cleaning Association really that prestigious? Every one of the twelve knights is this strong..."

Amidst the exclamations, Li Fan finished his breakfast, bid Zhao Lei goodbye, and returned to his dormitory to start packing his luggage.

The welcome party for the new recruits was starting in a dozen minutes, but he couldn't be bothered to attend.

He had already resigned, anyway; there was no point in engaging in hollow pleasantries with people.

After packing for a while, his phone suddenly rang. It was the guard station at the entrance.

"Li Fan, your parents are here to see you. Per regulations, internal staff must personally escort visitors inside."

Li Fan was stunned, his gaze softening as he looked at a photo frame on the table.

The frame held a picture of a family of three. Unlike his previous life, in this one, he had parents and family.

Although he hadn't inherited their memories, just looking at the slightly stern father and the kind-eyed mother in the photo, he knew this was a warm family.

He had only spoken to them over the phone before and hadn't truly met his parents yet. He hadn't told them about his resignation either; he hoped they would understand.

Gathering his composure, Li Fan met his parents at the guard station.

"Little Fan, have you not been eating well lately? Why have you lost weight?" his mother, wearing a floral dress, said with a pained expression. "Quick, take your father and me to your dorm. We brought you a bunch of good food."

"The kid looks like he's got some energy, though. Looks like he performed well during training," his father said with a smile, patting Li Fan on the shoulder with satisfaction. "You've grown up..."

A warmth spread through Li Fan's heart. In this life, he was no longer alone.

"Dad, Mom, let's head to the dorm," Li Fan said with a smile, taking the heavy luggage bags from them.

The two of them each had a suitcase and a large backpack, carrying quite a lot of things.

He could even faintly smell the scent of cured meat and sausages.

Li Fan felt much more at ease as he walked with his parents through the Anomaly Bureau courtyard with a light step.

The feeling of having family around was truly wonderful.

For the sake of his family, he really should resign, leave the Anomaly Bureau, and live a stable, ordinary life.

He just wasn't sure if his parents would mind him losing his government-sanctioned position.

Li Fan decided he would explain his decision properly to his parents once they reached his dormitory, hoping they would understand.

"The Bureau is holding an orientation meeting for new recruits today, so everyone is at the grand auditorium," Li Fan said with a smile.

His parents exchanged a glance, still smiling, but said nothing.

They only occasionally remarked on how there wasn't even a single guard in the courtyard.

They soon arrived at the dormitory. Li Fan opened the door and set down their luggage, but just as he was about to pour them some water, he was caught off guard as his parents' smiling expressions turned instantly solemn.

Could they have figured out he was planning to resign?

The two of them closed the door and stood before Li Fan, respectful and deferential.

Judging by their expressions, they were actually terrified of Li Fan, their eyes filled with a fanatical fervor.

While Li Fan was still confused, the two suddenly raised their hands above their heads in unison, saluted him, and began to chant in low voices:

"Human souls shall eventually be purified, the filthy world shall eventually be cleansed, and the Lord of the Abyss shall eventually descend!"

Following this, his father bowed his head to Li Fan and said in a deep voice:

"Reporting to the Team Leader, the first phase of the Cuckoo Project has been fully deployed. All 323 psychic bombs at the Anomaly Bureau's Southwest Branch have been set. Once activated, they will destroy sixty percent of the Southwest Branch's operational capacity in a short time, while simultaneously releasing the locally contained anomalous items to cause widespread infection. The infiltrators of the Cuckoo Squad are all on standby, ready to launch a full-scale attack at any moment."

His mother then stepped forward, hands hanging respectfully at her sides, and said:

"Shall we initiate the first phase of the plan immediately? With just one explosion, all the investigators will be purified. It is truly a flawless plan. Please accept your subordinates' praise. May the world be cleansed, and may the Lord of the Abyss descend."

"Furthermore, your weapons and equipment have also been prepared..."

A large suitcase was opened, revealing rows of severed heads hanging inside. Each head had been treated with preservatives, dried and shrunken to the size of a palm.

Some of them even bore elaborate facial tattoos—they were unmistakably the Spirit Descenders of the Advent Society seen on the news today!

With fawning, excited smiles on their faces, his father and mother spoke in unison:

"...We defend your orders with our lives..."

"...Respected Lord Collector!"