GRMFBS CH227

Zhan Yan laughed uncontrollably as he read the gossip strips.

His sister’s gossip strip shifted as well. After heading out, she went straight to her workshop in the black market, picked up Yang Ran, hopped onto her stealthy flying mega-motorcycle, and sped directly toward the headquarters of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau.

Haah, Sister’s flying motorcycle really is drool-worthy! If there’s an opportunity in the future, could she take me for a ride too?

Neither Gu Jiancheng nor Ning Xi cared for empty pleasantries, so Ning Xi led Deep Shadow directly into the reception parlor.

Su Ming and Black Wolf moved to follow them inside.

Grasping the door handle, Ning Xi turned around and flashed a gentle, genial smile: “Black Wolf, the Operations Department ran into a bit of trouble; sorry to trouble you to go handle it. Su Ming, head to the Research Department for me and check on their progress.”

The door clicked shut.

Through the narrowing crack of the door, Black Wolf saw Deep Shadow turn around and curl the corner of his lips at him in a completely silent smirk.

Heh.

Black Wolf bristled instantly.

“Did you see that? What does he mean by that! How dare he be so arrogant on our turf!”

Su Ming: “Your ears popped out again.”

Twitching and swiveling back and forth.

Black Wolf: …

Clamping his hands over his head.

Damn it! Deep Shadow is an absolute jinx to me!

Zhan Yan chuckled as he watched the gossip strips.

Classmate Xiao Gu was clearly still holding a grudge about Black Wolf saying he poked people’s nostrils.

When Black Wolf said that back then, Zhuo Xun, the leader of the Retirees’ Alliance, had been present as well. Gu Jiancheng cared quite a bit about keeping up his image when wearing his Deep Shadow persona. Explaining it to Zhuo Xun out loud would make him lose face, but staying silent meant taking the blame.

Gu Jiancheng: Grudge noted.

Zhan Yan found the grudge-holding classmate Xiao Gu terribly adorable.

Still, Ning Xi shutting everyone else outside looked like he intended to discuss major business.

Spectating via the gossip strips, Zhan Yan couldn’t help but grow serious as well.

He genuinely hoped Xiao Gu could build a good relationship with the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau. His mother being there was only a small part of the reason. It was much more about the broader trend.

Due to the existence of information contamination, the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau had always strictly demarcated the boundary between this world’s supernatural realm and ordinary humans. As long as Infinite remained unresolved, this control would never end.

To truly integrate into this world, one couldn’t endlessly avoid its present reality. Cooperation was always better than isolation.

He wanted Gu Jiancheng to be accepted by this world—not merely as classmate Xiao Gu, but also as Deep Shadow.

Just like on the forum, transforming from a mysterious supernatural fugitive into a hero who had once saved the world. He hoped that in reality, Deep Shadow could also step out of being a solitary lone wolf and become someone surrounded by many, many companions.

Zhan Yan unconsciously bit the inside of his lip.

He wondered what kind of cooperation framework Ning Xi would propose, and whether Xiao Gu could accept it.

Inside the gossip strips, both men sat down, preparing to talk business.

Gu Jiancheng asked, “Is Tianshi here?”

Zhan Yan: ?

Why are you asking that right now?

Eating melons remotely, Zhan Yan couldn’t help getting a bad premonition.

Ning Xi: “She will come today, but isn’t here yet. Are you looking for her?”

Gu Jiancheng: “I have a friend who is a fan of Tianshi and wants an autograph.”

Zhan Yan: … Brother, while I appreciate the sentiment, it really isn’t necessary to rush this much!

I asked you to get an autograph so you’d act polite and courteous in front of Mom, not so you could snag it through Ning Xi as a middleman!

Besides, is right now the right atmosphere to talk about fans and asking for autographs?!

Boss Deep Shadow didn’t sense anything wrong in the slightest.

What was “atmosphere”? Did it have anything to do with what he wanted to accomplish?

Ning Xi paused: “When she arrives, I’ll mention it to her.”

[Deep Shadow Gu Jiancheng saw that Ning Xi’s attitude was very cordial and felt the need to express some friendliness in return. Noticing that the shadow of the small marimo ball on Ning Xi’s desk lacked vitality, he gave a reminder: “That thing you’re keeping is a fake.”]

Ning Xi: “…Thanks, I know.”

He was no longer keeping it alive anyway, merely leaving it there as a decoration.

The conversation finally shifted into formal proceedings.

The terms of cooperation Ning Xi proposed were exceptionally relaxed, practically just exchanging contact information and sharing intelligence to avoid wasting resources. Simultaneously, it ensured a mutual obligation to provide assistance going forward—asking Deep Shadow to casually lend a hand if he ever found employees of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau in peril.

Gu Jiancheng had no objections.

Ning Xi probed further: “If you’re willing, our internal contribution exchange system can also be opened to you.”

If someone wanted items from the contribution redemption pool, they had to take on missions. Once they started taking on missions, wouldn’t they gradually join the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau?

Gu Jiancheng maintained a blank expression: “Do you intend to open this contribution exchange system solely to me, or do you plan on eventually opening it to those in the Retirees’ Alliance as well?”

Ning Xi spoke with utter sincerity: “I do indeed hope to use this to build deeper cooperation with the Retirees’ Alliance. Is there any issue with this approach?”

The members of the Retirees’ Alliance would only have a greater demand for their internal supplies, and a gradually accessible contribution system was an ideal process for both sides to adjust to one another.

Previously, the players of the Retirees’ Alliance had closed themselves off with zero inclination to act. But things were different now—Ning Xi had received word that the players in the Retirees’ Alliance were resuming their training!

Even if it was only three days a week for an hour a day, it was still a great developmental trend!

Gu Jiancheng: “This redemption framework is remarkably similar to the system inside Infinite. Most players suffer from psychological trauma.”

Ning Xi understood immediately. Easily triggers trauma responses, right? Aside from standard triggers, it could stimulate their behavior to revert back to their survival routines from Infinite—the ingrained, tormented habits beaten into them by Infinite.

Then they would modify it. While contribution point redemptions had the advantage of being crisp and streamlined, introducing a bit of inconvenience for the sake of the players’ mental states was completely acceptable.

Once he confirmed Deep Shadow was genuinely open to cooperation, Ning Xi relaxed. The two went back and forth, ironing out the specifics.

Even while discussing terms, Ning Xi continued to feel a lingering dissonance. By his assessment, Deep Shadow’s attitude today was far too accommodating.

From the moment they met, Ning Xi had been scrutinizing Deep Shadow’s disposition: his attitude toward “Polar Brilliance,” his reaction to Black Wolf, his performance during negotiations…

He could trust Deep Shadow thanks to Approaching Science, but trustworthiness didn’t mean having zero agenda. Could Deep Shadow truly seek nothing in return?

Was it because he had never engaged with Deep Shadow directly before, causing collected intel to skew his judgment? Or had Deep Shadow’s personality undergone a massive shift?

After hashing things out for a while, Gu Jiancheng grew impatient: “Do you have detailed regulations? Hand them over and I’ll read through them directly, then tell you what I can’t accept.”

Ning Xi: “We do, but…”

Gu Jiancheng: “Hand it over.”

Ning Xi pulled a thick booklet from his desk drawer: “A lot of things in here won’t apply to you; you don’t need to pay them mind.”

Gu Jiancheng began flipping through it.

[Prohibited from bombarding assessment forms with lightning.]

[Prohibited from secretly stealing food left in the refrigerator by colleagues.]

[Prohibited from assaulting the psychologist; prohibited from ripping out the psychologist’s hair.]

…

[Prohibited from acting like a Peashooter while drinking bubble tea in the cafeteria.]

Gu Jiancheng: ???

He looked up at Ning Xi.

Ning Xi: “Ah… An employee did that in the cafeteria before, using the boba tapioca pearls to shoot a smiley face onto the wall.”

Gu Jiancheng: … What kind of employees do they hire?

He kept reading.

[Prohibited from dancing in the hallway while hugging models.]

Ning Xi: “Ignore that one. Someone from Research was under intense psychological stress once and danced down the hallway hugging an anatomical model of an anomaly.”

[Prohibited from sleeping on lab tables.]

[Prohibited from stashing real supernatural artifacts inside the Polar Brilliance shop.]

[Prohibited from pre-circling the killer’s name in mystery novels in the break room.]

…

Gu Jiancheng couldn’t resist looking up at Ning Xi again.

Is your Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau really this abstract?

Ning Xi’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest. What was this? He had seen far more abstract antics, especially when they first recruited former players. Those players freed from Infinite were each more unhinged than the last; someone like the Bug King who bred cold-resistant mosquitoes and mutant roaches was practically child’s play.

On the other end, Zhan Suiru had arrived as well.

She didn’t send a message in the group chat, reaching out to Black Wolf directly.

It had been too long since she last dealt with Deep Shadow, and the present Deep Shadow didn’t quite match the personality in her memories. She worried her impressions were outdated. Yang Ran’s soul rested in Deep Shadow’s hands; she couldn’t afford to accidentally offend him.

Very few people in the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau had ever encountered Deep Shadow, and the most recent one to do so was Black Wolf. Zhan Suiru had previously reached out to Black Wolf to ask about Deep Shadow’s personality. Hearing that Black Wolf had seen him again after he arrived today, she decided to consult him once more.

Black Wolf came straight over to receive Zhan Suiru.

Trouble in Operations? That was just Ning Xi’s excuse to shoo him away!

He had dragged Da Wule along as well.

Da Wule had headed into the lounge first.

Sporting a wine-red silk shirt with the top two buttons undone, he was brewing Gongfu tea with an utterly mismatched aesthetic. Seeing Black Wolf bring someone in, he raised a hand with a beaming smile: “Yo, want a cup? If you don’t drink tea, there are other choices here.”

The perks at the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau were exceptionally generous; the break room was stocked with all sorts of drinks and snacks.

Black Wolf cracked open a can of coffee: “Who drinks that tea of yours? Fussing for half an hour isn’t even enough for a single mouthful.”

Zhan Suiru had no desire for tea either. Da Wule contentedly poured his own brew, listening to Black Wolf recount the situation regarding Deep Shadow.

Black Wolf wasn’t one to embellish stories, but Deep Shadow’s attitude toward him had never been pleasant either.

“He poked Jingzhang’s nostrils—Jingzhang told me so himself, and Jingzhang never lies,” Black Wolf grumbled. “And then he started brawling with me.”

“You’re asking about his mood today…” Black Wolf couldn’t hold back a snort. “I didn’t do a single thing today, and he sneered at me.”

He had followed behind the deputy director the entire way without uttering a single word!

“Grudge-bearing, petty, and narrow-minded.”

Zhan Suiru understood. Broadly speaking, Deep Shadow still retained his old personality, and his mood today wasn’t great.

Da Wule comforted her: “No worries, he’s with our deputy director right now. With our deputy director’s brains, he definitely won’t let him compromise his condition. Let me tell you, when our deputy director wants to charm someone, he can charm anyone.”

“I know,” Zhan Suiru replied. “Deep Shadow isn’t the type to go back on his word.”

Once he agreed to something, he would inevitably strive to do his best.

Da Wule held little interest in Deep Shadow; what interested him was Approaching Science.

“Are you very close with Approaching Science?“

Back when he had recklessly teased a kid, he had ended up exposed with that whole “little demon who broke off an engagement for him” incident, which he still remembered clearly to this day.

Black Wolf scoffed: “Petty.”

Da Wule sipped his tea with a smile: “Oh, did your little nephew take you off his blacklist yet?”

Black Wolf: …

Because of his high-profile recruitment pitch toward Approaching Science, he had ended up getting played. Somehow, Approaching Science had found out about Black Wolf faking his death to mess with his little nephew Bai Ji. After the boy took him off the blacklist and exchanged a few words, he got furious all over again. To this day, Black Wolf remained firmly planted on his nephew’s blacklist.

Comparing notes, the two reached a firm consensus: Approaching Science wasn’t someone you could mess with easily, his pettiness rivaling Deep Shadow’s.

“Hey, how do you usually get along with Approaching Science? Are you always super serious, never cracking jokes?” Da Wule asked Rong Sui.

Zhan Suiru: “Uh… we joke around too.”

Not only did she joke around, she had even gone offline repeatedly not long ago, leaving Approaching Science hanging.

Yet Approaching Science never seemed to hold a grudge against her; in fact, he had proactively reached out later to provide the method for saving Yang Ran.

The contrast couldn’t be more glaring.

Da Wule clicked his tongue: “Why is this kid so biased?”

Zhan Suiru found herself wondering as well. Thinking back carefully, throughout her interactions with “Approaching Science,” “Little Network Squirrel,” and “Little Dragon Demon,” she seemed to have teased every single one. Approaching Science had never gotten angry once. If Da Wule and Black Wolf hadn’t brought it up today, she wouldn’t have known that Approaching Science retaliated like that when poked into anger… Aww, that’s actually kind of cute.

Was this just being kindred spirits?

Chatting idly, the group eased their tension.

Just then, Su Ming knocked on the door, accompanied by Nie Ling.

She had gone to the Research Department to inform Nie Ling of Deep Shadow’s arrival, so Nie Ling prepared to head over. The isolation chamber had been primarily crafted by him and Da Wule, so both of them naturally needed to be present.

On their way back, Ning Xi messaged them to head straight to the break room. He already knew Rong Sui had arrived with Yang Ran, and it was time to take her and Deep Shadow to inspect the isolation chamber.

Ning Xi glanced at Deep Shadow. Even though Deep Shadow remained impassive, Ning Xi felt he had indeed been amused by their “employee handbook”—he wouldn’t have flipped through it for so long otherwise.

“Rong Sui has arrived. Shall I take you two to inspect the isolation chamber together?“

Gu Jiancheng took a deep breath internally. He was about to meet the family under an alternate persona.

[Deep Shadow Gu Jiancheng and Zhan Suiru met in the break room of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau; both sides were intensely nervous.]