"Shall I go first, then?"
Hu Zihao turned to Shi Yu and asked.
Shi Yu was also curious about exactly what kind of Staircase Hu Zihao had awakened, so he nodded, letting Hu Zihao speak first.
"All right, I'll go first!"
Seeing Shi Yu's signal, Hu Zihao stood up and looked at Liu Yiyi and Shen Bai at the front.
"My name is Hu Zihao. I awakened as a Gifted yesterday."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The Staircase I awakened is the Staircase of Resilience. Its first step is Unyielding.
"The Staircase of Resilience doesn't allow a submissive heart. It strengthened my mind and body. I have greater strength than an ordinary person, and I can turn my will into strength to enhance it further. I have some ability to heal myself. Also, the worse my situation gets, the stronger my abilities become."
So that's how it works... No wonder I could actually see Hu Zihao healing himself when he was badly injured...
After hearing about Hu Zihao's abilities, Shi Yu commented inwardly. He realized that Hu Zihao's abilities were very well-rounded, with no real weaknesses in terms of physical enhancement.
Liu Yiyi looked delighted, smiling so broadly she couldn't close her mouth.
"Great! That sounds like a tank fighter. Finally, someone who can charge in with me!"
Clearly, Liu Yiyi was very satisfied with Hu Zihao's abilities.
Looking at Liu Yiyi's smiling face, Shi Yu realized that her previous team really hadn't had anyone who could fight and take a beating the way she could.
Shen Bai was a tailor. Although he could fight, he probably wasn't the type to clash head-on. Huo Qiuliang leaned more toward the mental side, while He Siying... Shi Yu remembered that gust of Backflow that had carried away the choking smoke.
"Then I'll be counting on you from now on! Since I've joined, I'll give it everything I've got."
Hu Zihao clenched his fists as he spoke. He probably really was ready.
The Staircase of Resilience didn't allow its holder to retreat from a path they had chosen.
"Good lad! We're all in this together now!"
Liu Yiyi really was happy. She walked over to Hu Zihao and patted his shoulder. Hard enough that it sounded painful.
Seeing that Hu Zihao could still grin, Shi Yu knew the other boy's Staircase really was different from his own frail one, which did nothing to strengthen his body.
Now everyone's gaze in the room converged on Shi Yu. He was the only one left.
Shi Yu felt rather pressured. He was starting to regret going last.
But there was no helping it now. He controlled his expression, steadied his slightly trembling voice, then stood up and spoke.
"My name is Shi Yu. I awakened my gift a few days ago.
"I have the Staircase of Thought. Its first step is Coincidence.
"The Staircase of Thought is a Staircase of imagination. It allows what I want to happen within reasonable limits, as long as I firmly believe in it.
"I can make certain events happen without fail if the necessary conditions are in place, or use my thoughts to arrive roughly at certain conclusions that I could otherwise reach through investigation. I can also move objects that aren't too heavy from a distance, though the force is relatively limited."
When Shi Yu finished, he found both Liu Yiyi and Shen Bai somewhat silent. Huo Qiuliang, meanwhile, looked as though everything had suddenly clicked. He tilted his head and looked at Shi Yu.
Feeling a little oppressed by the silence, Shi Yu slowly spoke.
"That's... all..."
What's going on? What's with this atmosphere? I didn't say anything wrong.
Shen Bai turned to Liu Yiyi and exchanged a look with her.
His expression grew serious.
"Shi Yu, who else knows about your abilities besides us?"
Shi Yu was a little startled by Shen Bai's attitude, but he still answered.
"No one else knows. You saw the file just now too, Shen Bai."
Shen Bai visibly relaxed, then said,
"Shi Yu, remember this. Even after you advance again, try to keep your abilities a mystery. Don't let others understand them completely unless you truly trust them. That's... my advice."
Shi Yu nodded after hearing this, but he couldn't help finding it strange.
Shi Yu knew his abilities were well-rounded, even excessively so, but in his mind, they were only one set among countless others. There would always be someone stronger than him.
But now it seemed he might be a little more powerful than he'd imagined.
Even Liu Yiyi grew serious. A force began sweeping around her, and as it brushed through the air and grazed their cheeks, it brought a subtle warmth.
Soon, she calmed down again, then shook her head toward the person beside her.
"It's fine. I checked. No one can hear us."
Shen Bai nodded.
Then Liu Yiyi looked at Shi Yu and said,
"Kid, you might not realize... just how comprehensive your abilities are... You don't have to tell me how many steps your Staircase has. As long as you can advance, even if it's only one more step, you're already stronger than over sixty percent of Gifted."
Liu Yiyi said solemnly,
"You've met too few Gifted... You don't know what some people's Staircases are like.
"Some can only shrink a single finger. Some can control twelve hairs on their own heads. Gifted like that are everywhere."
Shen Bai looked at Shi Yu.
"Your Staircase is far too dependent on thought. If the higher-ups find out, they absolutely won't give up on... or rather, leave you alone. If you're willing to trust our advice, keep as low a profile as possible."
Hearing this left Shi Yu feeling unsettled.
Do I actually have such an amazing Staircase? They're rating it so highly just from hearing about it. What if I do terribly in actual combat? Will the captain be disappointed?
But he couldn't let his thoughts wander now. He needed to give them a clear response.
Shi Yu stood straight and said solemnly,
"I understand."
Huo Qiuliang leaned over from the side.
"Well, you little rascal. So that's what happened. No wonder I suddenly got diarrhea."
Huo Qiuliang thought for another moment, then sucked in a long breath.
"What a waste of a great gift..."
Before Huo Qiuliang could finish, Liu Yiyi grabbed him by the back of the neck from behind and hauled him away.
"Kids don't interrupt when the adults are talking!"
Liu Yiyi tossed Huo Qiuliang aside, then looked solemnly at Shi Yu.
"Remember, you must keep your Staircase hidden. If anyone asks, say it's something vague like Telekinesis or Psychological Suggestion! Got it?"
"Got it, got it!"
Seeing how serious Liu Yiyi was, Shi Yu hurried to answer.
Liu Yiyi nodded.
Actually, she felt fairly reassured by Shi Yu's behavior so far. Of the three newcomers, Hu Zihao was rather thickheaded, but upright, and he had also been carefully screened by a Curtain-Caller, so his character was definitely sound. Han He rarely spoke, but fewer words meant fewer mistakes. He was steady, and at least he wasn't a fool. Shi Yu was clearly more quick-witted... He had thoughts of his own and was willing to think things through. He didn't look like a vacant, foolish child, so there probably wouldn't be any problems.
Thinking this, Liu Yiyi gradually relaxed, quite satisfied with her three new teammates.
Shen Bai was no longer so tense either. He was a better judge of people than Liu Yiyi; anything she could think of, he could too.
After breathing a sigh of relief, Shen Bai checked his watch.
It was already past three in the afternoon.
"It's about time. You can all go home for now. You don't need to come to the Police Station tomorrow. I'll send you a new address, and we can meet there."
His expression softening, Shen Bai said,
"Hu Zihao, I had my teammate make some protective measures for your mother, along with some clothes I sewed and some forged items the captain made. You don't need to worry about her. You can also go stay with your mother. With those protections in place, ordinary Curtain-Callers won't be able to find you easily, and they'll have a hard time hurting you. If any of the items are triggered, I'll be alerted. At our speed, we'll be there quickly."
"Ah... Thank you, Shen Bai."
Hearing Shen Bai's words, Hu Zihao's last worry finally lifted.
As long as Mom's safe, it doesn't matter what happens to me.
After speaking to Hu Zihao, Shen Bai turned to Shi Yu and Han He.
"Xiao Liang told me you're staying together for now. I've prepared some things for you to take when you leave too. Consider them welcome gifts."
Shi Yu hadn't expected to get anything himself. He hurriedly tugged at Han He, and the two thanked Shen Bai together.
"Thank you, Shen Bai!"
Shen Bai nodded, then turned and signaled for Huo Qiuliang to fetch the things.
Huo Qiuliang nodded, turned, and left the room.
"No need to be nervous. Let's exchange contact details while we're here. Add each other on Green Bubble and all that. We're family now."
With all the current topics settled, Liu Yiyi was very happy. She took out her phone and started adding Hu Zihao and the others on Green Bubble.
After exchanging contact details, Liu Yiyi also took down their addresses, then began putting her hands all over the three of them.
Liu Yiyi patted Hu Zihao's shoulder again, much more lightly this time. At least, it no longer sounded painful to Shi Yu.
Liu Yiyi really was pleased with Hu Zihao. In some respects, their personalities were quite similar. They were both relatively straightforward people.
That made sense. After all, Liu Zunfu was relatively withdrawn, and his emotional intelligence wasn't particularly high either... Only someone like Hu Zihao could have gotten close to Liu Zunfu so quickly.
Watching Hu Zihao chuckle foolishly, Shi Yu thought about the events of the past few days.
He hadn't interacted much with Hu Zihao before, and over the past two days, they had been in circumstances where they could be killed at any moment. Everyone had been weighed down with worry. Only now could Hu Zihao truly relax and smile.
He's such a good person... Why did we have to go through something like this...?
As Shi Yu's thoughts wandered, he heard Liu Yiyi say,
"Not bad! You've got a good build too. I'll put you through some proper training. I guarantee you'll be quite the fighter!"
As she spoke, Liu Yiyi rolled up her sleeve and showed off her muscles.
"Haha, sure, Yiyi-holy crap!!!"
Hu Zihao was laughing as he replied to Liu Yiyi, only to break into a startled shout halfway through.
His eyes widened, and his mouth hung open as he stared at Liu Yiyi's arm.
"Oh... my God."
Hu Zihao's shout interrupted Shi Yu's recollections. He looked up at Hu Zihao, then let out an exclamation of amazement himself.
Even Han He's lips parted slightly, revealing his surprise.
"Heh heh~"
Liu Yiyi was very pleased with everyone's reactions. Shen Bai merely shook his head helplessly.
Liu Yiyi's arm was completely at odds with her appearance.
Her muscles were extraordinarily defined, without a trace of fat. They were sleek and powerful, their contours so pronounced that they looked skinless. Like an anatomical muscle model woven together.
This was not an arm a human should have.
Watching Liu Yiyi's arm, Shi Yu could even sense the sound of tendons rubbing together as she moved her muscles. Compressed and then released, they were bound to unleash explosive power. Like sparks flying beneath hammer blows, like chains turning on steel wheels.
Liu Yiyi's words echoed in Shi Yu's mind.
"I carry the legacy of Smelting."
Strength, chiseling blows, heat, forging.
Smelting was a legacy of strength and reshaping.
"So~ boys, you've still got training to do~"
Liu Yiyi reached out and pushed Hu Zihao's chin up, manually helping him close his mouth.
Then she reached out and squeezed Han He's arm before offering her assessment.
"Not bad. You're one of the sturdiest Hunters I've met. Keep training. A Hunter needs enough explosive power."
Han He regained his composure and nodded. Still, he couldn't help glancing at his own arm.
He felt a little less confident.
Finally, she came to Shi Yu. Liu Yiyi didn't touch him. Her expression could almost be called doting, as though she were looking at a rare protected animal.
"Shi Yu needs training too... Your build won't do, kid... Just look at Hu Zihao and Han He. But you don't need to train like them. Your abilities have a different focus, after all. I'll put together training plans for you later."
Shen Bai added from the side,
"In early-stage combat, good physical fitness and technique are important too."
Shi Yu nodded, shrinking back slightly, indicating that he would train properly.
"Yes, all good kids. Hope for the future."
Liu Yiyi sighed, then turned toward the door.
Sure enough, Huo Qiuliang pushed the door open and entered, carrying some things.
"How come you've never said that to me, Yiyi?"
Shen Bai reached out to take Huo Qiuliang's bag, while Liu Yiyi slapped Huo Qiuliang on the head again.
"You little brat, you're always scheming and causing trouble, and you never listen. You should be grateful I don't hit you every day!"
"Ow!"
After taking the blow, Huo Qiuliang quickly dodged aside, muttering,
"I already get hit every day."
"You've still got something to say!"
Liu Yiyi turned to hit Huo Qiuliang again, leaving the three boys secretly stifling their laughter.
Clearly accustomed to the two troublemakers, Shen Bai opened the bag and briefly checked its contents before handing it to Shi Yu.
"These are iron items the captain forged. They provide protection and ward off harm. I also sewed some little dolls earlier that have similar effects. Take them."
After Shi Yu took the bag, Shen Bai said to Hu Zihao,
"Your share should already be with your mother. Just keep them safe when you get home."
"Thank you, Shen Bai."
Shi Yu and the others thanked him repeatedly.
Shen Bai waved a hand.
"Don't worry about it. These are basic things. Once we get to know one another better, the captain and I will make some items and tools specifically for you."
This is great. Joining an organization is much better than I'd imagined.
After taking the bag, Shi Yu couldn't stop thanking him.
Hu Zihao was even more profuse with his thanks.
"It's getting late. I'll drive you home."
Shen Bai chatted with them a little more, then glanced at his watch and spoke.
"There's no rush. We probably won't call you in tomorrow. It might be the day after, or the day after that. It depends on the response from above. I'll let you know the exact time and place beforehand, and we'll meet there."
As he spoke, Shen Bai opened the door and led the others downstairs.
Even at this hour, the Police Station still hadn't had a moment's peace. Looking at the officers hurrying along the corridors and the civilians coming upstairs from time to time, Shi Yu sighed.
"No one's got it easy..."
Before you continue