"This is… too much!"
"Investigators are public servants, the only path to accessing extraordinary powers. It's normal to have many people."
Ye Luo was much calmer.
He had already been shocked by everything he needed to be shocked by a few days ago.
Besides, he was already a legendary Awakened. With no rush or impatience, his state of mind was naturally stable.
"However, despite the crowd, I estimate ninety-nine percent are just here to watch the show."
"Huh? Why?"
"Didn't you watch the press conference yesterday? Investigators are indeed the ones most likely to obtain extraordinary powers, but they also bear heavy responsibilities, acting as frontline warriors against the eerie."
Extraordinary powers were alluring, and many people wanted to push open the door to the new world.
But similarly, many people were apprehensive, worried, and fearful.
Or perhaps their physical condition was too poor, and they knew they had no hope… The spokesperson for the Investigation Bureau had clearly stated that recruitment considered comprehensive qualities, but physical fitness accounted for a significant portion of these.
That alone was enough to eliminate ninety percent of university students.
Ye Luo believed that if he hadn't awakened and were just an ordinary member of the masses, he would have been like others – yearning for extraordinary powers but… lacking the courage to take that step.
Things were different now.
He had already reached the dream's endpoint for many. Whether he applied to be an investigator or not was his choice; he would see.
He turned to Wang Fan, "Fan, are you really going to apply?"
His gaze shifted slightly downward, landing on Wang Fan's noticeable little belly.
It wasn't that he doubted him, but he simply… didn't believe Wang Fan could pass the assessment.
Wang Fan patted his belly, "Of course I am! This is my chance to become a dragon when the wind and clouds gather! Even from a rational analysis, this is the Investigation Bureau's first public recruitment. If we get in, we'll definitely be prioritized for training. Awakening will be just around the corner!"
"Oh, right, right, right!"
What he said was true, provided he could pass the test.
"Let's go, let's go, hurry up and sign up. My brother and I will conquer together and reach the pinnacle of the world."
…
The Investigation Bureau's recruitment fair was held in a large gymnasium in the university town.
The gymnasium was the testing ground, accessible only to those who had signed up. Outside, a throng of university students and onlookers crowded the area.
Ye Luo even saw many reporters with their cameras.
This scene was truly exaggerated.
It was only seven-thirty in the morning!
As it approached eight o'clock, the recruitment fair began. Ye Luo had already familiarized himself with the process – which was, naturally, different from a normal recruitment fair.
"First is registration, then applicants will enter the gymnasium in batches of sixty for the Investigation Bureau's recruitment assessment, a live test. One of the assessments will definitely involve physical fitness, but the rest are unclear."
Ye Luo mused.
Since Wang Fan, this 'deadbeat,' was so keen on joining the Investigation Bureau, as his 'old father,' Ye Luo naturally wanted Wang Fan to awaken. Therefore, he would do everything he could to help.
The competition had already begun.
Although he still didn't believe Wang Fan, with his 'useless' physique, could pass.
A glint of light flashed in Ye Luo's eyes. He grabbed Wang Fan, "Don't rush. If you want a better chance of passing, listen to me."
He pointed into the distance.
Outside the gymnasium, the crowd was dense, a black mass. However, the number of people actually stepping forward to register was small.
Many were still observing, hesitating.
Or perhaps they never intended to register, only wanting to witness the Awakened. But as they looked around, everyone seemed to have just one head and two hands; there was nothing different.
This situation was as Ye Luo had predicted.
"Not many people are willing to take the first step. Given the current situation, if we register now, it will be our turn soon. So, why don't we let others scout the path and see what the investigator selection process is like?"
"We can't see what's happening inside the gymnasium, but we'll know when the people inside come out."
"What if they don't say anything?" Wang Fan asked.
Ye Luo pointed to the reporters in the distance, "They will ask for us."
Then, he took out his phone and opened a TV program. The scene they were witnessing was being broadcast on it – the Baiyun University Town Investigation Bureau Recruitment Fair, live!
They didn't even need to get closer; they could get a general idea of the assessment format by watching the live stream on their phones.
Wang Fan exclaimed, "You're so cunning!"
"Isn't it all for your sake?!"
"Indeed, indeed. Dad is very pleased."
"Get lost!"
The first batch of sixty people entered. About ten minutes later, the second batch of applicants entered the gymnasium, followed by the third batch after some time.
At this point, the first batch of applicants emerged.
Ye Luo counted them. All sixty were present, but they were drenched in sweat, and many had pale faces.
They looked tired, and perhaps frightened?
As he was pondering, reporters and cameramen swarmed forward, thrusting microphones towards them, almost overwhelming the exiting students.
When had they ever received such treatment?
The pale, almost exhausted looks of the assessed students frightened some people. Many students who had been hesitating now backed away.
Wang Fan, however, was exceptionally brave.
Ye Luo was confident. Since he had decided he wanted to improve, he was naturally fearless of a mere assessment.
Both of them had registered and soon entered the gymnasium with the same batch of assessed students.
"There are three tests in total. For the first test, extend your hands and touch this peculiar stone in front of you."
"Is this the legendary treasure that can detect spiritual roots?"
"Perhaps it's some kind of talent testing method! It's a bit magical!"
"Officer, can you tell us what this is?"
Eyes filled with curiosity examined the peculiar stone before them.
It was a gray stone, rough at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it seemed translucent and quite miraculous.
Within the Investigation Bureau, this peculiar stone was named the 'Mysterious Harmonizing Stone,' designed to test a person's acceptance of mysterious energy.
People are different. Some are naturally more prone to attracting mystery and accumulate 'mystic value' at a faster rate than others.
Such individuals are not necessarily more talented, but overall, 'mystic attractors' have a higher disposition than 'mystic insulators,' or at least are more likely to awaken.
This method could roughly assess a person's aptitude.
It wasn't necessarily accurate, but it was still quite remarkable.
Investigator Jiang Feng also found it very miraculous. After all, their Baiyunzhou branch had only received this batch of peculiar stones from headquarters a few days prior.
And he heard that it didn't seem to be a product of the research institute.
Rather, it came from a mysterious cooperative organization.
Could it be that in the Eastern Huang country, besides the Investigation Bureau, the Research Institute, and the Special Forces, there was an even more mysterious department?
Perhaps there was.
Because he heard that the headquarters had a very precious advanced study quota, to study in a mysterious place.
However, for a Level 2 Investigator like him, it was too distant.
Just work diligently.
Jiang Feng shook his head. He remained silent to the questions of the curious young people before him, refusing to answer any of them.
Some students understood, "Perhaps this is a secret of the Investigation Bureau. We'll know when we become investigators."
No, that's not true.
Jiang Feng inwardly complained.
He was an investigator himself, but let alone him, even his superior, and his superior's superior, were equally surprised when they first received these special devices.
"Time is short, let's proceed with the testing."
One by one, male and female university students, with expressions ranging from curiosity to nervousness, extended their hands and grasped the gray peculiar stones before them. After two to three seconds, a faint luminescence would bloom within the semi-transparent stones.
Whether bright or dim, everyone would produce a light.
"So, everyone lights up. I thought I had good talent."
The first person to be tested drooped his head.
When Ye Luo was tested, the light emitted was quite bright. He had deliberately suppressed the restless energy within him. His intuition told him it could be even brighter, extremely bright.
But being too bright was not good. In this dangerous world, only by being low-key could one live longer.
Even now, Ye Luo felt it was too bright; the examiner glanced at him.
To his surprise, Wang Fan also ignited a very bright light.
Could this guy actually have a chance to pass?
…
"Holy crap, holy crap, I can't do it anymore, son, help me!"
"Get lost."
Despite his words, Ye Luo still pulled up Wang Fan, whose legs felt weak.
They had just emerged from the small dark room of the second test.
What was inside the small dark room? No one could clearly explain. They only felt fear, as if being stared at by a giant beast, with demons whispering in their ears.
This test left them utterly confused, unsure if it was good or bad.
Following that, after a short break, they began the final test, which was simple and direct: run ten laps around the track.
"Ten laps, I… I f***!"
Wang Fan crumpled.
When Ye Luo finally finished, panting, he found Wang Fan, although exhausted like a dead dog and having run less than half the distance, was stubbornly persevering.
This resilience and persistence… it was truly burning fat!
…
"But I still didn't finish ten laps, damn it!"
"If the examiner hadn't called a halt, I, Emperor Wang Fan, would have definitely finished… Who knew there was a time limit, damn it!"
Wang Fan lay on the bed, half from exhaustion, the other half also from exhaustion.
His body was tired, and his spirit was tired.
He felt finished.
Of course, the results of the recruitment were not immediate. According to the investigator, notifications would be sent out around evening, regardless of whether they passed or failed, so they just had to wait patiently.
Time ticked by.
Wang Fan grew more and more nervous, even Ye Luo felt a bit of it, likely having caught the bug.
Not just the two of them; the dozens of students who had applied in this dormitory building were all anxiously waiting.
Suddenly,
"Ding dong~!"
Their phones vibrated slightly, and everyone received the same text message.
A message with the special insignia of the Investigation Bureau.
"I'm done for!"
"Wuwuwu…"
"The Investigation Bureau is indeed hard to get into."
"Did our entire floor fail?"
In the corridor, students cried out.
Wang Fan trembled and opened his text message. He was suddenly stunned.
It contained an envelope different from the others.
"Mr. Wang Fan, you have passed the preliminary assessment and review. Congratulations on becoming a glorious trainee investigator. Please proceed to the designated location tomorrow morning at eight o'clock to participate in the investigator training camp."
"I passed, I passed!"
"Ye Zai, I passed! Hahahaha—"
"Quick, check yours!"
Wang Fan was beside himself with excitement and began to worry for his good brother.
However, Ye Luo had performed impressively during the assessment, so it should be fine.
He leaned closer to look.
Ye Luo also opened his text message. As expected, it was an invitation to the training camp.
This was within his expectations; he wasn't surprised at all.
But wait, why was there another text message?
Also an invitation!
An invitation adorned with mysterious and profound patterns! It slowly unfolded before the two of them.