At two in the afternoon, more than two hundred people had gathered in the lobby of the Lianjiang City National Security Bureau building, and most of them were young.
Ren Suo stood not far from the entrance. Looking at the sea of people before him, he couldn't help clicking his tongue. "So many people, all being transferred to the National Security Bureau... Are we joining the military or something?"
Li Qingxuan also found it unbelievable. "Logically speaking, a clerical department shouldn't need this many people, right? But this is an interview. They're probably picking one out of ten, or even one out of a hundred."
Ren Suo said, "But how were people like us selected? We didn't interview, and we didn't apply. This practically fell out of the sky. If Director Ye hadn't told us to come, I'd have thought this was some pyramid scheme."
"Yeah, yeah."
A rather sunny-looking young man beside them heard Ren Suo and said in agreement, "I'd only just started working at the tax bureau when I suddenly got news that I could transfer to the National Security Bureau... Could it be because of that rumor?"
"What rumor?" Ren Suo and Li Qingxuan were both taken aback.
"You don't know?" The young man seemed eager to show himself off—especially in front of a young girl like Li Qingxuan. He lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Makes sense. Information online these days is mostly a mix of truth and lies. Anything that gets even a little popular is immediately suppressed."
"But I've got people in my family who confirmed that some of the rumors online are true." The young man raised his brows at Li Qingxuan. "My name is Jie Qiansi. Nice to meet you."
Li Qingxuan glanced at Ren Suo. Ren Suo immediately draped an arm warmly over Jie Qiansi's shoulder and said, "Your name's Qiansi? We're fated, then!"
"What kind of fate?"
"My name is Ren Suo, and yours is Jie Qiansi. Put them together and it's 'lock a thousand threads.' That means we're definitely destined for something earth-shattering."
"Is... is that how it works?" Jie Qiansi was a little stunned.
Li Qingxuan covered her mouth and laughed. "Hello, I'm Li Qingxuan. What was that rumor you mentioned?"
Jie Qiansi perked up at once. "I can't say too much specifically, but have you seen any news about people with superpowers over the past few months?"
Li Qingxuan thought for a moment and nodded. "Around the Lunar New Year two months ago, I heard that two people on Flower Street over on West Street performed Ice and Fire Duality. They made ice and breathed fire with their bare hands right in front of everyone, but they didn't seem to use any props. It got really popular on Moments, and everyone said they were real superpowered people."
"Breathing fire is easy enough, but making ice on the spot... Nobody saw them carrying saltpeter. Still, they were only popular for a few days. They disappeared from Flower Street before the New Year was even over. When I went there on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they were already gone."
"I remember seeing similar news too, but I've forgotten it all."
Ren Suo said, "Superpowers... Like that killer from Assassin's Bloodstained Banquet a couple days ago?"
Jie Qiansi nodded. "I can't prove the details either, and you might not believe me even if I told you. But Assassin's Bloodstained Banquet has already been confirmed—the video is still available across the whole internet, and Fog City's Black Briar Building is still under repair. The higher-ups seem to want to suppress it, but..."
He shrugged. "Do you think that was unimaginably advanced hacking technology, or an ability... from beyond another dimension?"
Li Qingxuan asked, "But what does that have to do with us?"
"It has a lot to do with us." Jie Qiansi said, "If I'm right, the place we're about to join is the Newly Established Eighteenth Bureau of National Security. And you've already met the people from the National Security 18th Bureau."
Li Qingxuan was somewhat surprised. "Who?"
Ren Suo, on the other hand, looked like he understood. "Those Black Vests during the medical examination?"
"I heard other departments call them black cats." Jie Qiansi chuckled. "We only suddenly received interview qualifications after the physical examination. Obviously, our qualifications came from that examination, but our physical condition is at most just a little better than ordinary people's."
"Tell me, what kind of profession in this world doesn't care about your brains, talents, or physical condition, but instead looks at some kind of potential inside your body?"
Seeing the thoughtful looks in Ren Suo and Li Qingxuan's eyes, Jie Qiansi took out his phone. "Let's add each other on WeChat. It'll make it easier to stay in touch."
After Ren Suo added him as a friend, he was immediately pulled into a group chat. The group name was rather interesting—
We Are the Successors of Xuan Country's Future.
"New people again?"
"Are they pretty girls?"
"Our Young Master Jie talked another one into joining."
Jie Qiansi said to Li Qingxuan, "In the system, connections are the most important thing. Even at the National Security Bureau, connections are indispensable. Even if we fail this interview, we might not return to our original positions, because there's a good chance we're people with 'talent.' Then we can share information, help each other, and benefit each other..."
"Young Master Jie is so impressive." Ren Suo cut in. "Did you create this group?"
"Of course!" Jie Qiansi said proudly.
"Then if I drive in this group chat and speed onto the highway, would you get in trouble?" Ren Suo asked solemnly.
Jie Qiansi's expression froze. "Then I can only kick you out..."
"Little brother, connections are the most important thing in the system. Kicking people out like that can easily offend them!" Ren Suo patted his shoulder and said seriously.
Jie Qiansi rolled his eyes. How could he not realize Ren Suo was stopping him from picking up girls? He decisively turned around and headed toward another beautiful woman.
Li Qingxuan nodded at Ren Suo and smiled. "Thank you."
"For what?" Ren Suo waved a hand. "I just can't stand show-offs... Hm?"
Not far away, Jie Qiansi was introducing himself to an adorable round-faced girl. "I'm Jie Qiansi. Do you know the inside story behind this interview?"
The cute girl shook her head and said softly, "I don't know... My name is Qiao Muyi..."
The girl's soft, sweet manner perfectly struck Jie Qiansi's peacock-like urge to show off. Just as he stepped forward to display his connections and eloquence, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder and stopped him from proceeding.
The next second, Jie Qiansi saw that person—whether his name was "Ren Suo" or "Ren Lock"—warmly put an arm around Qiao Muyi's shoulders.
"We're fated! My name is Ren Suo, and yours is Qiao Muyi. Put them together and it's 'lock wood dependence.' That means we're definitely destined for something earth-shattering."
Qiao Muyi blinked at Ren Suo without saying anything.
Jie Qiansi was so angry his ass clenched—this bastard hadn't even bothered changing his introduction!
Ren Suo was still smiling happily when he heard the voice in his heart say:
"Key detected."
"Key is in an unfamiliar state. Beginning acquisition."
"Key has already formed. Acquisition will require 9,658 seconds. Contact must be maintained throughout the acquisition process. 9657, 9656, 9655..."
Ren Suo nearly coughed up blood. More than nine thousand seconds meant over two hours. Where was he supposed to find an excuse to stay in contact with Qiao Muyi for that long?
He had noticed just now that Qiao Muyi gave him a fluttering feeling in his heart, and Ren Suo immediately knew—this was definitely another key! He had thought Qiao Muyi would probably be like Jordan from the Black Vests, completely impossible to acquire from.
The key on Qiao Muyi could be acquired, but this time requirement was utterly ridiculous! It would be more practical to knock her out, drag her into the Black Room, and steal the key!
Just then, five buses drove up outside the National Security Bureau, instantly clogging traffic. Ren Suo looked over curiously, wondering whether the National Security Bureau was going on a trip today.
Several black vests got off the buses. Ren Suo saw Li Dan among them. Then a fierce-looking black vest at their head walked to the National Security Bureau entrance and shouted:
"Quiet! I'm You Jilong, the person in charge of your interviews. Next, I'll call names. If your name is called, come out and line up. Take out your ID cards!"
The first-floor lobby instantly fell silent. In that atmosphere, someone in the crowd suddenly asked:
"Execution?"
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