Chapter Eleven: A Special Mission

The following morning.

Qi Fangyan anxiously knocked on Lin Lei’s door.

“Lei Lei, could you give me a ride to work? I overslept today.”

Lin Lei smiled and nodded, “Of course, no problem.”

It was the first time Qi Fangyan had ever asked Lin Lei to take her to work of her own accord.

He immediately went downstairs with her, bought some breakfast at the entrance, and then started the car.

“Sis, are you alright? Your eyes look a bit red.” Lin Lei asked cautiously as he drove.

“I didn’t sleep well last night.” Qi Fangyan held her soybean milk, responding gloomily to his question, “Don’t mention it, I found out about some disgusting things yesterday…”

Lin Lei sneered inwardly at her words, but outwardly feigned ignorance and concern.

“Sis, are you under too much pressure at work… How about I accompany you somewhere to relax this weekend?”

Qi Fangyan hesitated at Lin Lei’s invitation, “Lei Lei, you can’t spend all your time with me. I’m much older than you. You should hang out more with your classmates, people your own age…”

Lin Lei shook his head again.

“You know what I was like before, Sis. I don’t have any friends at school… If you don’t want to go out with me, that’s fine.”

He was telling the truth. The original him had no friends, and even after his personality changed, Lin Lei hadn’t attended school for a long time. Aside from Li Xueshu, he had no one to talk to there.

Qi Fangyan grew flustered, “Lei Lei, that’s not what I meant… I just don’t want you to be too disconnected from society. Of course I want to go out with you.”

Lin Lei nodded and smiled, “You’re so good to me, Sis.”

...

Afternoon.

At the shooting range.

“Hey, isn’t that Lin?”

Lin Lei, who frequently practiced at the Investigation Bureau’s range, happened to run into Huo Qi.

Lin Lei forced a smile, “Consultant Huo…”

“There’s a newcomer in your physical training class, right? Someone named Wen Xiang?” Huo Qi stopped Lin Lei.

Lin Lei raised his eyebrows, “Did you assess Wen Xiang for entry into the Operations Department, Consultant Huo?”

Huo Qi shook his head and lowered his voice, “He was signed in by the Deputy Director, a genius source energy user. Overflowing at the first stage, an A-level Gift, truly remarkable. We haven’t seen an A-level Gift in Biyang for years.”

Lin Lei was intrigued—no wonder that guy was so arrogant.

To have joined the Investigation Bureau with an overflowing first-stage source energy level was enough to spark Lin Lei’s imagination.

He asked, “Consultant Huo, do you know what his Gift is?”

Huo Qi shook his head.

“I only heard that he’s from the elemental category, but the specifics are known only to the Deputy Director. An A-level in the elemental category certainly won’t be weak… I suspect that two months from now, at the Investigator’s Stage-Three Exam, this kid won’t miss the chance.”

Lin Lei frowned, “Didn’t you say that to register for the Stage-Three Exam, you have to reach a certain threshold in investigation points? Even if he has two months left to accumulate points, he’s still at the first stage. Even if he’s overflowing, he likely won’t have enough time to apply for breakthrough materials in the next two months, right? Without breaking into the second stage, he couldn’t possibly pass the exam, even with an A-level Gift, could he?”

Lin Lei knew well that most third-stage investigators were at the third stage.

Source energy users with A-level Gifts were a different case, but surely they’d need to reach the second stage at least.

Huo Qi chuckled, “To register for the Stage-Three Exam, you need to reach a thousand investigation points, but that's no issue for Wen Xiang. As for ‘breakthrough materials,’ he certainly doesn’t have time to apply for them himself, but… who says breakthrough materials can only be obtained through personal application?”

At these words, Lin Lei was stirred once more, recalling Li Xueshu’s repeated hints.

His expression turned subtly thoughtful, “What do you mean?”

Huo Qi smiled at him, “Don’t think about it. You haven’t been at the Bureau long enough. Opportunities like this… rarely come your way.”

Lin Lei raised his eyebrows at Huo Qi’s words.

He remembered Li Xueshu’s remarks.

It seemed the Investigation Bureau would soon release that special mission.

He wondered how many breakthrough materials would be offered, and whether he and Wen Xiang would be competitors or collaborators.

...

Saturday.

Lin Lei accompanied Qi Fangyan to the amusement park, spent the morning together, and had lunch at her home.

“Sis, eat more.”

Lin Lei understood clearly that Qi Fangyan accepted his requests not only because of her gentle nature, but also because she hoped he would grow into a better person.

At heart, she still regarded Lin Lei as a younger brother.

Lin Lei’s current objective was to alter Qi Fangyan’s fixed impression of him.

He intended to gradually reveal his reliability and maturity in their interactions.

This would not happen overnight.

But Lin Lei had ample patience.

Now, with Zhou Haoran out of the way, Lin Lei was even more at ease.

Halfway through the meal, Li Xueshu called.

A new mission?

Lin Lei remembered Li Xueshu’s earlier warnings and felt a surge of anticipation.

“Sis, keep eating—” Lin Lei picked up his PDA and walked to the balcony.

Li Xueshu’s voice sounded,

“Lin Lei, just now the Bureau released a special investigation mission, offering breakthrough material ‘Azure Blossom’ as a reward!”

“‘Azure Blossom’ is considered a premium among breakthrough materials, with a much higher chance of advancing to the second stage than ordinary ones!”

“When I advanced to the second stage, it was thanks to obtaining an ‘Azure Blossom’!”

Lin Lei was invigorated.

There was more than one kind of breakthrough material at the same level, but even the lowest quality was worth no less than a first-tier seal artifact!

And if Li Xueshu called it a premium, its value was beyond question.

Li Xueshu continued,

“This mission is highly unusual. Only third-stage investigators can nominate candidates, and it’s restricted to first-stage source energy users. Because of confidentiality, I can’t reveal much detail, only that the mission is very dangerous…”

“If you’re willing, I can nominate you for this mission.”

Lin Lei answered without hesitation, “I’m willing!”

Indeed, with Li Xueshu’s hints, Lin Lei had been waiting for this opportunity.

Li Xueshu said, “Alright, I’ll nominate you right away. Soon, when you refresh your PDA, you should see the mission list show a special assignment. Operate as instructed to accept it…”

As soon as he ended the call, Lin Lei opened the Investigation Bureau’s internal app, quickly found the special investigation mission Li Xueshu mentioned, and applied.

There was no introduction to the mission, only the word ‘top secret.’

Seeing the application was successful, Lin Lei was filled with excitement.