Chapter 40
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Chapter 40: Night Watchman
Bai Yan walked alongside Alan as they continued through the white building.
They reached an office at the end of the third floor. At the door stood a tall man, about 5’9″, wearing a cyan crow mask and a light white suit.
He guarded the office door, observing those who passed by.
His mere presence exuded a distinctive aura that made others instinctively fearful.
It was as though he were the hunter and everyone else merely his prey.
Alan leaned close to Bai Yan’s ear and whispered, “That’s ‘Raven Reaper’ at the door, one of the three most powerful individuals in Tatsumi City’s DHA. He either guards this location or receives classified assignments directly from the director.”
He paused before adding, “Usually dubious tasks.”
Having dealt extensively with DHA at Babel Tower, Bai Yan naturally understood that organizations like DHA were never purely law-abiding.
In fact, in at least one timeline, DHA had become completely corrupt.
“Magician, what brings you here?”
Raven Reaper addressed the two men conversing, his laugh echoing slightly.
His tone remained calm and detached, and Bai Yan could tell the man beneath the mask was relatively young.
Maintaining his customary smile, Alan replied, “I need to discuss something with the director, and this man here is the subject of that discussion.”
Bai Yan studied this so-called Raven Reaper, sensing he had encountered this NPC in the game, though he was the forgettable type.
After a long examination of Bai Yan, Raven Reaper nodded slightly and moved aside.
“Enter.”
Alan dismissed him and continued speaking to Bai Yan, “This is our DHA’s illustrious, significant, and rather intimidating… director’s office. Bai Yan, you’re about to meet the Director of Tatsumi City DHA, Mr. Trap.”
“Even I can’t read him, so exercise caution.” Alan smiled as he pushed the door open.
“Director, I’ve arrived,” Alan announced.
Bai Yan followed through the doorway into a spacious office. Behind the desk sat a thin, smiling elderly man in an immaculate white suit, his chin resting on his interlaced fingers.
He projected an aura of kindness.
The elderly man, Mr. Trap, spoke softly, “Is this him, Alan?”
Alan nodded, smiling. “Indeed, he’s the one I’m recommending.”
Bai Yan stepped forward, noting the old man’s curious, searching gaze, and introduced himself with a smile, “Pleased to meet you, Director. I’m Bai Yan.”
Mr. Trap observed Bai Yan before turning to Alan. “I can consider your recommendation, Alan. But I require justification.”
Alan had anticipated this question, as it came with every recommendation.
“Truth be told, there’s no specific reason—just intuition. I believe making him an ally would be advantageous.”
He briefly paused before continuing, “Consider this: even explanations for superpowers can be rather simplistic. Many things stem from intuition, and we all know how reliable a superpower’s intuition can be.”
Mr. Trap nodded gently and gestured for Alan to depart.
Once alone, he studied Bai Yan intently and asked, “Mr. Bai Yan, do you wish to join the DHA?”
“Yes,” Bai Yan responded promptly.
Mr. Trap replied unhurriedly, his voice emotionless, “Provided you pass my interview, you may officially join DHA. I simply want to understand your genuine motivation for joining.”
Bai Yan sensed a truth-detection spell must be active.
He decided to offer an honest answer.
With an earnest expression, Bai Yan declared solemnly, “I wish to join DHA to assist people and save the world.”
“Save the world?”
Mr. Trap’s eyebrows rose; clearly, he hadn’t expected such a response.
Bai Yan spoke truthfully. Naturally, his purpose in joining DHA was to gather intelligence for Babel Tower, so the ultimate goal was undoubtedly world salvation.
Mr. Trap remained silent momentarily.
“Your ambitions appear quite noble, but I seek more specific answers. What do you hope to achieve, or what do you wish to gain?”
“Strength, honor, power, women, satisfaction, or something else… what do you desire after becoming a superpower?”
The question left Bai Yan slightly perplexed.
He occasionally questioned his own desires in this new world.
‘Having nothing after arriving here, do I seek family, friends, and connections of my own?’
No, he had grown accustomed to solitude.
Strength? Not particularly necessary. Honor, no. In some ways, he already possessed power. Regarding women, that wasn’t a priority. Satisfaction…
What did he truly want?
Bai Yan realized his happiest moments were during superpower events, especially when… he witnessed the game becoming reality.
Wasn’t that fascinating?
“Perhaps what I seek is simply interaction with the abnormal,” he concluded.
Bai Yan reached this less noble conclusion—saving the world was necessary but not his primary interest.
He had grown weary of tranquility and no longer desired a quiet, mundane existence.
“I see.”
Mr. Trap nodded, maintaining his unchanging smile, and finally declared, “Is that your belief? Then you’re qualified, Bai Yan.”
Bai Yan couldn’t discern why he qualified. The Director was evidently enigmatic and wouldn’t reveal the answer.
But he could guess… Likely because of his honesty.
If one couldn’t be truthful with superiors, they weren’t worthy of becoming a night watchman.
—
A light rain fell this afternoon, shrouding the city in mist.
Bai Yan occupied his personal office, barely 20 square meters. The space was arranged simply and cleanly: white walls, desk, chairs, bookcases, and storage containers.
Rising from his chair, he opened the window, feeling the gentle spray of rain.
From here, he could view the nearby Platinum Zone, where Tatsumi City’s noble elite resided.
“So I’m an employee now?” he mused quietly.
As a third-level night watchman, Bai Yan worked as a clerk, processing various daily applications from “origin” level superpowers in the poorer districts.
Tatsumi City housed numerous superpowers, and their daily applications were routine. Some Bloods needed to apply before purchasing blood packs in bulk, while werewolves required permits before each transformation—specifying estimated location and timing to prevent unnecessary incidents and conflicts.
Superpowers remained strictly regulated… Of course, this applied only to registered ones. At least half of Tatsumi City’s superpowers concealed their nature.
Some didn’t hide their identities but still scorned DHA’s authority, like the Queen of Scarlet Moon and Pastor.
Regarding school, Bai Yan had requested temporary leave.
To minimize the professor’s disappointment, he claimed a dump truck accident had left him crawling, preventing his attendance.
Well, it wasn’t that he’d abandoned his studies entirely.
Seated at his desk, Bai Yan retrieved his phone and launched the next stage of the “Black Star Faction” event.
The first level, “Night Visit Vampire,” required obtaining Black Star Faction intelligence from Marquis Scarlet.
Completed.
The second level: “White Night Pharmaceutica.”
Game Tip: “Select one booster for this level; the remaining two will become boost options for future missions.”
This level offered three boost options: “White Night Pharmaceutica Roadmap,” “Mystical Power – Photosynthesis,” and “Relic – Rotating Copperhead Belt.”
“Warning: Core Operators cannot participate in consecutive battles! Please arrange order accordingly!”
‘Damn it, I only have two core operators,’ Bai Yan frowned slightly.
‘Copperhead Belt… Sounds ridiculous. Though the effect seems potent.’
The first boost, “White Night Pharmaceutica Roadmap,” like the previous “Secrets of Marquis Scarlet,” clearly offered reduced difficulty but meant one fewer reward after full completion.
Without hesitation, Bai Yan selected the third boost, planning to exchange it post-event.
The sole available operator was “Psychic Dancer”; he selected it.
“Psychic Dancer, selected.”
