The sight that met Yu Zhibo's eyes was a massive building, seemingly cast from steel and surrounded by high walls, a veritable fortress of iron.
This structure, tens of meters tall, resembled a giant iron ingot from afar. It was situated in a slightly lower elevation. An indoor air circulation system was likely in use, as Yu Zhibo saw no windows and couldn't discern the number of floors. However, the mid-level and top of the iron fortress were densely packed with cutting-edge technological weapons, their ports coldly aimed outwards.
Beside the main building stood concrete structures interspersed with greenery, and beyond that lay the proper military zone. Soldiers formed square formations on the parade ground, their shouts echoing to the heavens.
"Sister An Ge, is our Sacred Bureau managed in a militarized fashion?" Yu Zhibo asked Wang An Ge, feeling a bit conflicted. He had watched "Soldiers Sortie" on Bilibili and harbored a vague yearning for military life, yet also cherished his freedom.
"Although the Sacred Bureau originated from the 135th Division, it operates separately from the military zone. However, there are military elements within the Sacred Bureau, such as our Investigation Department's first team, and the Execution Department's first and second teams. Most of their members are awakened individuals from the military," Wang An Ge explained, driving the sedan downhill, bypassing the imposing main gate tower, and heading towards a side entrance.
Seven people stood beneath the main gate tower, dressed in various attire, but all exuding powerful auras. Their eyes lit up upon seeing the Range Rover, and they stepped forward to greet them.
However, upon seeing Wang An Ge turning to leave, they became anxious. A burly man, nearly two meters tall, wearing a colonel's insignia on his military uniform, extended his hand. His palm, as large as a cattail leaf, lifted and opened. The Range Rover Yu Zhibo was in seemed to be lifted by an invisible hand, stopping ten centimeters above the ground.
The once imposing Range Rover lost its grandeur, suspended in mid-air. Its four tires spun idly, yet it couldn't move an inch. Under the abilities of the burly man in uniform, it was like a toy.
"The colonel who made the move is an awakened individual who can control metal, and he's the team leader of Team One, named Zhang Quan. The one next to him in the white shirt is the team leader of Team Two, Fang Jian, a plant-type ability user. As for the buzz-cut guy with the scar on his face, he's the team leader of Team Four, Xiao Yuan, whose ability is beast transformation. The four behind them are all their team members."
Wang An Ge remained unfazed, seemingly anticipating the man's actions. She introduced them to Yu Zhibo while dialing the number of Team Three's leader.
The call was answered quickly. "Little An Ge, haven't you arrived yet?"
"Team Leader, we're being held up at the main gate by Team One's leader. Please come over quickly."
"He actually dares to stop them!" The voice on the other end of the line immediately became angry. The next moment, the call was hung up directly.
Wang An Ge's lips curled upwards, and she said to Yu Zhibo, "It seems we can't avoid it after all. Get ready to watch a good show."
As a novice, Yu Zhibo sat in the passenger seat, enjoying the spectacle and pretending to know nothing.
Then, they saw the seven people walk over.
Zhang Quan, the leader of Team One, spoke first, greeting with a smile, "Little Wang, you're back from a mission."
Without waiting for Wang An Ge's reply, he then looked at Yu Zhibo, his eyes lighting up. He chuckled heartily, "This little brother must be student Xiao Yu, right? How about it, want to come sit with our Team One? We just acquired a tiger demon recently, weighing over a thousand catties. Its meat is delicious and can improve physical constitution. For a growing young man like you, eating it continuously for a month would guarantee a significant growth spurt. Young man, you're too thin right now!"
"What do you say? Want to try? We have plenty." Zhang Quan winked at Yu Zhibo, acting as if they were old friends.
"He has already agreed to join our Team Three, so don't even think about it," Wang An Ge said calmly before Yu Zhibo could reply.
"Hey, don't be so definitive. I'm a metal-type ability user, and our team can also provide various weapons for free. Perhaps he'll be interested in our team," Zhang Quan said with a smile.
As soon as Zhang Quan finished speaking, before Wang An Ge could retort, the leader of Team Two next to him couldn't help but chime in.
"A bunch of rough guys who only know how to train. Who would be interested in you normal people? Little brother, why don't you come to our Team Two? I'm a plant-type ability user. After we awakened, we became immune to diseases, but our families will still age. If you join our team, I'll give you a pound of spiritual liquid purified from plants. Drinking it will guarantee your family members are in great health and live to be ninety-nine."
Fang Jian, the leader of Team Two, had green hair and was under thirty. He had a handsome face and exuded an approachable aura.
As he spoke, he looked at Yu Zhibo with earnestness, showing great importance.
Upon hearing this, Yu Zhibo was somewhat moved, as both his father and mother had poor health.
However, this feeling lasted only a moment before it vanished.
Since he had promised to join Team Three, there was no reason to change his mind easily. At worst, he could find other restorative transcendent medications later.
With this thought, Yu Zhibo wore a simple smile, scratched his head, and appeared shy, making no response.
Then, Wang An Ge spoke, "No need. Isn't the spiritual liquid you sell on the Sacred App store? Ten merit points a bottle. My little Yu has plenty of merit points. If it's not enough, our team leader can also give some, so you don't need to go out of your way."
It was evident that Wang An Ge was afraid Yu Zhibo would be tempted, even using the affectionate nickname "my little Yu," which made the latter feel a bit speechless, almost ruining his "simple and honest youth" persona.
Fang Jian retorted, "I can take it down anytime!"
"When you put up forty bottles for sale last batch, our team leader bought ten bottles to maintain his skin. He should still have five bottles left. You don't need to worry about this," Wang An Ge said with a chuckle.
Hearing this, Yu Zhibo's resolve to join Team Three became even stronger.
As the leader of Team Two retreated, Xiao Yuan, the leader of Team Four, chuckled, making the scar on his face, similar to Kakashi's, appear even more ferocious.
He tried his best to maintain a friendly smile and said, "Don't listen to them. The tiger demon Old Zhang told you about was exchanged with me. Our team mostly deals with demon beasts. If you join our team, not only will you have an unlimited supply of demon beast meat, but you can also often capture young demon beasts. Raising them from a young age will make them good helpers for us awakened individuals. Come to Team Four, and I guarantee you won't regret it!"
Yu Zhibo wasn't tempted, but he thought about finding an opportunity to buy a young demon beast with merit points later, to see if it could be used as a spirit beast.
As his thoughts turned, he considered the possibility of buying a demon beast from this team leader in the future. He didn't want to be too cold, so he continued to scratch his head and smile innocently, "I'll listen to my Sister An Ge!"
No matter how sweet your words, I'll just smile innocently.
Hearing Yu Zhibo's response, Wang An Ge, who was driving, couldn't help but curve her lips.
Xiao Yuan looked at the thick-browed, big-eyed youth with his innocent smile and felt a bit at a loss for how to proceed.
At this moment, Zhang Quan, the leader of Team One, spoke again, with a righteous expression, "Can you guys have some awareness? No matter which team it is, aren't we all serving the country?
Most of our Team One executes missions within the city, where there are countless dark creatures. Your abilities, little Yu, can be best utilized here. When there are fewer dark creatures in the city, are you afraid there won't be new awakened individuals? At worst, if new awakened individuals appear, I'll pick them for you first. You should have a long-term perspective."
He then pointed at the leader of Team Two, "You, a plant-type ability user, dealing with plants all day, how many dark creatures do you see in a month? Why would little Yu go to Team Two? To plant potted flowers?"
He then pointed at the leader of Team Four, "And you, a beast transformation ability user, fighting demon beasts all day. Are there dark creatures in the forest? Even if there are, they aren't many, are they? Wouldn't little Yu be wasted in your team?"
Good heavens, Yu Zhibo was shocked by Zhang Quan's ability to attract hatred. He hadn't expected this rough guy, who looked so crude, to be so eloquent.
Zhang Quan ignored the angry glares from the other two team leaders and looked at Wang An Ge, saying, "As for your Team Three, forgive me for saying..."
"What about Team Three?" A sharp shout was heard. Instantly, the temperature in the area where they were dropped drastically. Under the sun, a giant ice palm rapidly formed and slammed down towards the heads of the three team leaders.
The woman was 1.75 meters tall, 3 centimeters taller than the not-yet-fully-developed Yu Zhibo. Her silver hair fluttered. Despite being a beautiful woman, she inexplicably exuded an aura of dominance.
"Si Junfang, are you crazy!" As the ice palm descended, Zhang Quan cursed. A set of metal exoskeleton armor quickly formed on his body, and his fists were soon encased in layers of alloy, making them look as large as buckets, with ten-centimeter-long spikes protruding from the front. He swung his fist at the ice palm, the wind whistling, looking extremely formidable.
*Crack!* The ice palm shattered into countless fragments. Before Zhang Quan could breathe a sigh of relief, he saw Si Junfang stomp her jade foot forward. An ice pillar suddenly erupted from the ground, hitting his metal-clad buttocks and sending him flying more than five meters high. It was like a rocket attached to his rear, turning him into a parabolic projectile that flew over three meters away.
The leaders of Team Two and Team Four, being sensible, did not resist head-on. They directly led their team members to retreat to the side. Seeing Zhang Quan's fate, their anuses tightened.
Zhang Quan, as if nothing had happened, pushed away the hands of his subordinates who were trying to help him, clutched his buttocks, and stood up. He continued, "Forgive me for saying, but Team Three is full of beauties. Although their strength is also great, ultimately, heroes are easily swayed by beauty. I'm afraid little Yu will be ruined in your team!"
"Nonsense! When he hadn't awakened yet, and the Information Department issued missions, didn't you all think it was a prank? Did anyone accept the mission? Now that you see he's awakened, you're shamelessly trying to snatch him? Are you trying to hog all the good things in the world?"
The four soul-piercing questions left the three team leaders speechless.
"We snatched him from the mouths of dark creatures, and he himself favors our Team Three. Therefore, if I say he belongs to Team Three, he belongs to Team Three. It wouldn't matter even if Lin Xiuquan came!"
"But he's really suited for our Team One!" Zhang Quan still didn't give up, muttering.
"Shut up!" Si Junfang said with a sneer. "You and I both know that eliminating dark creatures is a fixed mission for every team. The more we eliminate, the greater the hope of exploring that world. Don't talk to me about national righteousness. Doesn't little Yu also serve the country in our Team Three? Take back your expressions, I'm not buying it!"
Zhang Quan immediately scratched his head sheepishly. The leaders of Team Two and Four, whose strength was inferior, also looked embarrassed.
After speaking, Si Junfang turned to Yu Zhibo, her icy expression melting away like snow. She quickly replaced it with a smile that was both generous and elegant, delicate yet natural.
She gracefully walked to the car, bent down, and tilted her head, leaning close to the car window. Her eyes reflected the bewildered face of the young man in the passenger seat.
"Little Yu, Team Three welcomes you!"
Looking at the flawless beautiful face, the friendly smile, the expectant eyes, and recalling the violent scene that had just unfolded before his eyes, Yu Zhibo found it difficult to refuse.
Yu Zhibo glanced at Zhang Quan, who was still clutching his buttocks, and a drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He chuckled dryly, "Please, guide me."