GRMFBS CH226

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Tomorrow, Xiao Gu would not only face the task of saving Yang Ran but also the test of meeting the parents while wearing his “vest” (secret identity). Zhan Yan decided he should keep Xiao Gu in a good mood tonight. He told Gu Jiancheng about the massage chairs in the movie theater. Gu Jiancheng’s reply was delayed by two seconds.

“What’s wrong?” Zhan Yan asked curiously.

“I’m searching for articles about how excessive fitness is harmful to your health,” Gu Jiancheng said honestly.

Hey, that’s right! Later, he would just forward the link classmate Xiao Gu sent him to his dad!

“You still think faster!” Zhan Yan was full of hope again and gave a mua over the phone.

Gu Jiancheng fell silent again. I feel like Yan Yan is so enthusiastic today…

Ah, I really want to be by Yan Yan’s side, but I can’t. If I go, Zhan Suiru’s vigilance will max out.

I’d better just work hard on raising my favorability score first.

After hanging up the phone, Zhan Yan quietly let out a breath.

What should I do? Why am I getting more and more nervous? I won’t go into the Dawn World tonight. I need to get a good night’s sleep and use the Gossip System tomorrow to confirm the situation over there. Absolutely nothing must go wrong.

Zhan Yan slept well. The next morning, he woke up, did his morning exercises, and ate breakfast. Woo, Dad’s cooking is so delicious. But I can’t eat too much; I need to save room in my stomach for my brother’s sweet bread.

Today was the day to treat Yang Ran, and his Gossip System absolutely, positively could not make any mistakes!

Zhan Yan drank a bowl of porridge, ate a fried egg, had a few bites of cold side dishes, and then stopped.

As soon as he put down his chopsticks, everyone in the family looked at him.

This amount of food was only about a third of his usual intake, right? A young, strapping lad was right at the age of having a big appetite, not to mention Zhan Yan exercised every day.

Zhan Yan: “I’m craving bread.”

He went to the fridge and took out all the bread his brother had brought him.

“I…” Zhan Yan still wanted to explain a little, but the Gossip System suddenly popped up a message:

【Gu Jiancheng has arrived at the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau under the identity of Deep Shadow.】

???

Zhan Yan looked at his mom and sister, who were still sitting at the dining table, and then confirmed the melon strip again.

Wasn’t the agreed time starting from the evening? Why go so early?

“I just occasionally crave bread,” Zhan Yan quickly explained, then grabbed the bread and sprinted upstairs to his room.

Zhan Yunkai couldn’t help but study the dishes he made: “Has my cooking skill declined?”

He took another bite. It doesn’t seem like it.

Ji Yueming helped him confirm: “No. It’s probably just that the kid’s taste has changed.”

Zhan Yan returned to his room and quickly opened several melon strip interfaces, laying out all the interfaces of the relevant people side by side.

He was originally worried his sister would be nervous, but why did it seem like Xiao Gu was even more nervous than his sister?

A new message appeared in the small group for treating Yang Ran.

Deep Shadow: “‘Polar Radiance’?”

Zhan Yan: ?

What is Xiao Gu talking about?

He flipped through the Gossip feeds, flipped through the Gossip feeds.

Gu Jiancheng had put on the fake face he used in the [Infinite World] and was currently standing outside the entrance of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau’s headquarters—a boutique toy store located on a bustling commercial street.

The store sold boutique toys aimed at adults, such as lightsabers, palm projectors that released magic circles, large flapping wings, flying sword hoverboards…

When Gu Jiancheng first arrived, he almost thought they were playing a trick on him. Fortunately, the moment he stepped into the store, he sensed twenty-seven or twenty-eight gazes falling on him through either technology or extraordinary abilities, confirming that this chuunibyou-esque storefront was indeed not ordinary.

【Gu Jiancheng thinks the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau designing their entrance like this is too chuunibyou; it’s simply sick in the head.】

Zhan Yan: Pfft.

It was impressive that the headquarters of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau came up with such a disguise; ordinary people really wouldn’t think of it.

Ning Xi replied almost immediately.

Ning Xi: “Tell the shop assistant you want to see the special effects of the newest model of the Light Martial Sword and ask him to take you to test it.”

Gu Jiancheng: ?

He looked down and poked his phone expressionlessly.

Deep Shadow: “You guys are still playing that secret code game?”

Isn’t this a bit too chuunibyou?

Gu Jiancheng suddenly began to doubt if his decision to gradually reach an agreement with the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau was too hasty. Were they really reliable?

Ning Xi: “No, the entrance is in the darkroom for testing light effects.”

“I’ll go pick you up.”

Gu Jiancheng walked expressionlessly to the shop assistant: “I want to see the special effects of the newest model of the Light Martial Sword. Please take me to try it.”

Zhan Yan was laughing so hard at the Gossip feeds that he almost rolled over.

The shop assistant shuddered, intimidated by his aura, but remained very professional. He revealed a stiff smile, picked up a beautifully crafted large toy from the shelf, and said, “Hello, this is the newest model of the Light Martial Sword. Please follow me; the darkroom for testing special effects is over here.”

Gu Jiancheng nodded and followed him inside.

Ning Xi: “Our shop assistants are family members of the employees; they are all ordinary people.”

“Please don’t intimidate the employees’ family members.”

Deep Shadow: “Heh.”

Zhan Yan covered his face, shaking with laughter on the bed.

He had already found out that the headquarters of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau had more than this one entrance. Their employees didn’t usually use this one to commute. However, those internal passages involved secrets that couldn’t be shown to outsiders, so Gu Jiancheng had to go through here.

His sister… belonged to the external personnel, so she would probably also have to use this external passage to go to the headquarters.

Gu Jiancheng followed the employee into the darkroom.

【Polar Radiance employee Shan Zhi dutifully explained to Deep Shadow (Gu Jiancheng) how to use the newest model, super color-changing, boutique, cool Light Martial Sword, his voice turning sharp due to nervousness.】

A green information word was added to Zhan Yan’s “Items” column.

Gu Jiancheng didn’t intentionally intimidate the ordinary employee; he was just a bit stressed in a highly guarded, unfamiliar environment and accidentally reverted to his state from his first two years of college, his aura quite fierce.

Zhan Yan felt his heart ache again as he looked at the Gossip feeds. Sigh, Xiao Gu’s superhuman aftereffects are cured, but his psychological ones still need to recover slowly. What should we do about this situation? A psychologist? No. With his situation, it’s impossible for him to tell a psychologist the truth. An ordinary psychologist would probably make him transfer to psychiatry, and he couldn’t possibly trust a psychologist from the supernatural world.

Maybe I should study it myself. Zhan Yan decided to find some professional psychology books to read when he had time.

The poor employee finally finished his introduction, shoved the Light Martial Sword into his hand, and ran out of the darkroom as if fleeing for his life, quickly shutting the door.

Focused solely on finishing the introduction and getting out of there fast, the employee forgot to switch the Light Martial Sword to off mode. Right now, this thing was stuck in its colorful, cool super mode. The colorful light effects shifted in the darkroom, very conspicuous.

Gu Jiancheng held this thing, freezing for two seconds.

How did he say to turn this thing off again?

A hidden door opened in the darkroom. Gu Jiancheng looked over with a wooden face.

A white-haired man in his early thirties appeared at the doorway. Behind him, to his left, followed Black Wolf, and to his right stood a woman in a blue combat uniform. Both had serious expressions and sharp gazes, looking very imposing.

Zhan Yan had already seen in the Gossip feeds that the woman in the blue combat uniform was named Su Ming. She was Ning Xi’s former disciple—the one who chased a celebrity twenty-six years ago, calculated that her idol was destined to die, and took the results to Ning Xi, which directly led to all the Harvesters scattered by the Infinite being rooted out.

Su Ming had just been dragging Ning Xi:

“Master, you can just let someone else go pick him up, Master!”

You are a squishy with no combat power right now, Master!

“At least we should swap in someone who can take a beating, right?” Su Ming dragged Black Wolf over.

Black Wolf: ???

What do you mean ‘swap in someone who can take a beating’?

“I’m not afraid of him at all, okay?!” Black Wolf puffed out his chest, raised his head, and inhaled.

But unfortunately, the Deputy Bureau Chief was a resolute person. When he said he would go himself, he would go himself; he hadn’t even planned to bring anyone else.

However, his disciple was very worried about him and insisted on dragging the durable Black Wolf along.

Black Wolf’s muscles were tense, his head held high, and his face expressionless, swearing to show some imposing momentum.

Isn’t it just Deep Shadow? He’s here to cooperate, not to fight. What’s there to be nervous about? Moreover, this is our headquarters; with one shout, I could call out eight hundred van-loads of people!

The hidden door slowly opened, and Black Wolf took a deep breath.

Inside the dim and mysterious room, he saw Deep Shadow… holding a dazzling, seven-colored lightsaber.

The functions of the newest model, Light Martial Sword, were very powerful, including an infrared sensor function. Upon sensing the appearance of new people, it automatically activated sound effects.

“Pew pew pew!”

Gu Jiancheng: …

Black Wolf: …Pfft.

No! I have to hold it in!

Gu Jiancheng’s expression grew even more terrifying. His dark eyes met Black Wolf’s twitching mouth.

Black Wolf shivered, and the wolf ears on his head swish popped out.

Ning Xi remained unmoved, walking over and smiling at Deep Shadow: “Hello, I am Ning Xi.”

He extended his hand naturally toward Gu Jiancheng.

Su Ming and Black Wolf couldn’t help but hold their breath.

Su Ming: His expression is so terrifying, Master! Master, you are truly not afraid of Deep Shadow attacking you!

Black Wolf: Is your danger sense broken, Deputy Bureau? Deputy Bureau, do you really think I can withstand Deep Shadow!

The dazzling Light Martial Sword changed its sound effect: “Swish swish swish!”

Ning Xi had had his eye on Deep Shadow for a long time. Deep Shadow was powerful and shared their goals. Now that the situation had stabilized, there was no longer the possibility of a sudden pollution outbreak. What an excellent partner for cooperation!

He originally wanted to use this cooperation opportunity to establish deeper collaboration with Deep Shadow. It was just that the previous plan was to try and keep him around for a chat after he saved Yang Ran. However, since Deep Shadow had come so early, it showed he also had the intention to communicate beforehand.

Ning Xi’s smile was very friendly.

In fact, he felt a little weird.

Ever since ‘Approaching Science’ said Deep Shadow was willing to help Rong Sui treat Yang Ran unconditionally, he felt things were a bit out of his control. But he didn’t know why.

It wasn’t that he thought Deep Shadow wouldn’t help Rong Sui. Based on his judgment of Deep Shadow, Deep Shadow would indeed be willing to help Rong Sui, but it shouldn’t be completely without conditions.

People who don’t fight for their own interests cannot survive in the Infinite.

Deep Shadow might not demand Rong Sui pay any price, but he should at least strive for some requests that would make things easier for himself, such as that accidentally forgotten wanted poster…

【The super color-changing, boutique, cool Light Martial Sword emitted rapidly shifting, flashing colored lights and “pew pew pew” sound effects. Amidst the brilliant color changes and sound effects, Ning Xi revealed an amiable smile to Deep Shadow Gu Jiancheng.】

【The super color-changing, boutique, cool Light Martial Sword transitioned from red to purple colored light with “swish swish swish” sound effects. Amidst the colorful lights and sound effects, Deep Shadow Gu Jiancheng scrutinized Ning Xi with dark, deep eyes.】

Zhan Yan thought to himself that he was done for; this serious, important meeting of big shots had now turned into a chuunibyou performance in his mind.

Gu Jiancheng’s expression remained unchanged; he had heard of Ning Xi’s great achievements.

The Infinite liked to play dirty, first scattering Harvesters, waiting until the intelligence was mostly gathered and the opposing world was sufficiently tormented, and then going up to devour the opposing world.

It wasn’t as if the opposing world had never discovered Harvesters early before. However, discovering Harvesters only meant the opposing world had detected the invasion early; it didn’t mean they could solve the troubles brought by the Harvesters.

The Harvesters scattered by the Infinite were like ants; they would hide in any hard-to-find crevices and gnaw on the furniture. They would evade, hide, identify ant poison… and do their utmost to exchange for benefits from the Infinite. Kill one batch of Harvesters, and more Harvesters would appear. They were the consumables of the Infinite, willing to do anything for liberation, to go home, to survive.

Only this world had managed to completely root out all the Infinite’s Harvesters in one breath. Ning Xi’s Great Evolution Calculation directly dragged the Infinite’s usual invasion process forcefully into the next stage. And in the first stage, those Harvesters hadn’t even had time to cause any damage to this world.

It was this kind of ability; even after it was ruined, he could still become the Deputy Bureau Chief of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau, showing no dejection, completely composed.

Gu Jiancheng stuffed the Light Martial Sword into Ning Xi’s extended hand.

Ning Xi took the Light Martial Sword and turned it so the hilt faced upward: “There’s a hidden switch here; twist it and press down to turn it off.”

The cool, seven-colored light effects of the Light Martial Sword disappeared. Only the faint glow provided by the light strips lining the baseboards remained in the darkroom, barely enough to let people see their surroundings.

Su Ming and Black Wolf breathed a sigh of relief. The tense atmosphere was finally gone.

Zhan Yan also breathed a sigh of relief. The chuunibyou atmosphere had finally returned to normal.

Ning Xi casually shoved the turned-off Light Martial Sword behind him and issued a friendly invitation to Deep Shadow: “Shall we go?”

Black Wolf, who was trying hard to continue puffing his chest and maintaining his imposing momentum, was unexpectedly shoved a large toy into his hands.

Black Wolf: …

He turned around and shoved the large toy into Su Ming’s arms.

What is this thing? Disgusting!

He continued to keep his head high and chest out.

Ning Xi led Gu Jiancheng through the hidden door. After officially entering the headquarters of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau, the style returned completely to normal.

The walls and floors were smooth and clean, with various protective arrangements hidden beneath. Metal doors blended seamlessly with the walls; there were three sets of doors in total, each requiring multiple identity verifications. After officially entering the main bureau, staff members rushed back and forth, and various running instruments emitted soft hums… Everything was orderly, entering a professional atmosphere.

Gu Jiancheng walked side by side with Ning Xi very naturally, with Su Ming and Black Wolf following behind. Passing staff members couldn’t help but cast secretive and surprised glances.

Black Wolf involuntarily parted his lips, revealing two sharp canine teeth.

Su Ming gave him a puzzled look: What’s wrong with you?

Black Wolf gave her an awkward look: Don’t you think our positioning makes us look like little sidekicks? And we’re being stared at by a bunch of people.

He bared his teeth and scanned the area, scaring off all the secretive, spectating gazes.

Isn’t it just Deep Shadow? What’s there to look at?

Tsk, annoyed.

Su Ming transmitted her voice very quietly: I think they are looking at you.

Black Wolf felt baffled and transmitted back: Looking at me? What’s there to look at about me?

He appeared at headquarters frequently; it wasn’t like he was some rarely seen endangered species.

Su Ming discreetly pointed to her head.

Black Wolf’s ears twitched.

Damn it! When did his wolf ears pop out!

Black Wolf reached up and covered his two large, furry ears.

Retract quickly, retract quickly!

The two large ears trembled in his palms.

Black Wolf: … What the hell are you nervous about!

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