Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The system’s words might as well have stamped the word "TRAITOR" directly onto Chen Anzhi’s forehead.

"A traitor, huh?" Lu Yan murmured internally. "Shouldn't affect my graduation certificate, I hope."

Given the host's current low spiritual power threshold, full disclosure carries a risk of cerebral death. Accept relevant data: Yes/No.

"Yes."

...You're being sarcastic. I don't believe you.

Lu Yan smiled faintly and let the topic drop.

He wasn't sure what to expect for breakfast, but the cafeteria was stocked with heavy fare—rich meats, high-sugar, high-protein, high-fat. A logical conclusion formed: today's training would not be gentle.

Since his contamination level had risen, he'd noticed certain normal human desires fading. Appetite, the need for sleep, sexual drive. It made him genuinely wonder if "second-generation Awakened" even existed.

Fortunately, the cafeteria chef was exceptional. Outside these walls, the food would easily earn a Michelin three-star rating. The mood among the diners was correspondingly high.

Lu Yan picked up an apple and took a bite, his teeth leaving four parallel marks on the pale flesh. He then filled his plate with dishes that caught his eye.

A server cheerfully informed him that if there was anything he craved that wasn't available, he could leave a request; the head chef would prepare it the next day.

New recruits clustered in small groups. With a glance, Lu Yan saw Chen Anzhi chatting amiably with seemingly anyone, his smile warm and approachable.

Among the crowd, Lu Yan spotted a familiar face.

It was Director Hu, the one who had fled City K on the first available flight and had assisted in the parasitized fish surgery.

Hu noticed him too and waved enthusiastically, plate in hand. "Xiao Lu! You're here too!"

He hurried over. "Ah, when City K was locked down, the lines were dead. It's such a relief you're okay. I never imagined you'd become an Awakened! Such a big deal, and you didn't even post about it. Me, I'm Support-type. My talent is Cell Division. You?"

"Also Support. Early Warning."

"Early Warning's good. Sense danger, run early."

Babbling excitedly about finding a fellow townsman in a strange land, Hu kept talking.

Cell Division. Talent Sequence #432. Accelerates cellular differentiation in the human body. Remarkably effective for certain external injuries.

The top-tier talent in this sequence is 'Genetic Recombination', Sequence #13. A pity. The only human who ever mastered it has passed. The draconic wings on Tang Xian'an's back are a result of Genetic Recombination. Since that person's death, the world has never seen another 'perfect synthetic human' like Tang Xian'an...

"You mean Qiao Yu? The one who compiled the Talent Sequence Periodic Table?" Lu Yan asked. "Don't Awakened have very long lifespans?"

As a medical student, Lu Yan had seen Qiao Yu in textbooks. Died at seventy in 2067—half a century ago now.

The system was silent for a moment. When some humans reach a point of irrecoverably high contamination, they voluntarily choose euthanasia to avoid becoming pollutants. The pseudo-concepts your species creates—'conviction', 'dedication', 'sacrifice'—are truly fascinating. More effective than any hypnotic talent.

*

At the door of the multimedia classroom, the teaching assistant in charge of tracking lateness and early departures wore a grin of excitement.

"Did you hear? The head instructor this time is Team Leader Tang!"

In the entire Special Operations Department, many bore the surname Tang. But "Team Leader Tang" referred to only one person.

"Knew already," replied another TA, a C-Class Awakened from Team 1, his smile tinged with nostalgia. "My head instructor was also Team Leader Tang. That was… forty years ago now."

"My batch had the lowest final practical mortality rate, but the highest number of mid-training dropouts."

Out of thirty, ten withdrew, unable to bear the pressure. The final field test achieved zero deaths, and they unprecedentedly cooperated to hunt a C-Class pollutant.

The twenty who graduated all became core pillars of the current Special Operations Department. That included the current leader of Team 2, Bai Qiushi.

The younger TA beside him shuddered. "That sounds terrifying, mate."

The newly recruited, green Awakened had no idea what hellish training model they were about to face.

Lu Yan had always done well in school, but habitually chose a seat in the middle-to-back of the classroom.

Flocking together was human nature. After just one night, many had already formed small groups for comfort, especially those with adjacent dorm rooms. The scene resembled an expensive private high school classroom.

Hu Youbang, past fifty, naturally took the seat next to Lu Yan. Back at the hospital, they had been superior and subordinate, colleagues for years. Their bond was far sturdier than any formed here overnight.

Lu Yan didn't object.

At 8 AM sharp, a piercing class bell rang, instantly silencing the room.

Lu Yan's hearing was sharp. He could clearly make out footsteps approaching from a distance, each step falling with precise, measured rhythm.

What puzzled him was a feeling that these footsteps didn't sound entirely human… more like a four-legged animal.

Maybe it was his imagination, but the surrounding temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. Inside him, Wang Yu, as if sensing danger, grew still and dormant.

The metal door sensed the arrival and slid open automatically.

A tall man walked in, leading a dog.

He wore a form-fitting uniform of deep black, the collar sealed tight. His eyes were a pure, startling gold.

But the most arresting detail was the odd-looking… muzzle on his face?

It was an anti-bark device, the kind used for dogs.

Even the dog he was leading didn't wear one.

Not all the new Awakened were completely ignorant. Someone gasped involuntarily, "Is that… the Tyrant?"

The German Shepherd leapt onto a nearby stool and cleared its throat. "Greetings, everyone. I am the head instructor for this new employee training…'s dog. You may call me Xiao Tian. Ahem. The head instructor isn't fond of speaking, so I will be delivering today's address."

"This training program lasts three months. The first two are theoretical study at the base. The final month is practical field assessment."

"The current schedule is theory in the mornings, practicals in the afternoons. Evenings may have additional sessions depending on circumstances. Starting the second month, instruction shifts entirely to practical application."

Xiao Tian let out a soft aowoo and continued. "First, let me introduce the 'Trainee Point System'. Each trainee starts with 10 points. If your points reach zero, you will be dismissed from headquarters. We will not allow any Awakened with insufficient expertise or who attempts to muddle through to reach the front lines. However, dismissal from Special Operations does not preclude joining the Pollution Disease Control Center."

"Upon graduation, remaining trainee points can be converted to Contribution Points at a 1:1000 ratio."

"The head instructor for this training is my owner, Tang Xian'an. You are fortunate. You need not worry about final mortality rates. Because my owner is the only S-Class Awakened on official record. His deeds are too numerous to list here. Those interested may search the Awakened Forum."

"In addition, headquarters has assigned you six teaching assistants. A 'TA Responsibility System' is in effect. Each TA is responsible for 10 to 11 trainees. During training, your TA will reside on the same floor as their assigned trainees."

Part-time dorm supervisors. Each new employee had been assigned a dorm floor before arriving. Each floor typically housed 7 Combat-types and 3 Support or Special-types.

"Of course, we are not monsters. At the end of each month, the top three trainees by points will receive an Outstanding Trainee award! Other trainees may also receive special allowances."

"When facing pollutants, any lapse can be fatal. Sweating and straining now is to prevent bleeding on the front lines later. Since you have chosen to join the Special Operations Department, you must possess the resolve to see this through."

As he spoke, a staff member handed out sheets of paper.

Lu Yan looked down. It was a class schedule. The first lesson started at 8:30 AM. Each class was 1.5 hours, with a 20-minute break between. Lunch and afternoon breaks were 40 minutes each. It was more grueling than the gaokao year.

Morning: Pollutant Identification, Pollutant Distribution Mapping.

Afternoon: Strength Training, Endurance Training, Combat Training.

Evening: Extreme Temperature Endurance (1 hour).

The daily schedule varied. Other subjects included "Weapon Selection," "Talent Extension Training," "Live Pollutant Training," "Firearm Use & Maintenance"... and even "Special Vehicle Operation (Aircraft, Motorboat, Sailboat)."

According to the schedule, there were only two days of free time per month, both at month's end.

The schedule also listed Lu Yan's assigned TA.

Lu Yan was in Dorm 5, Room 3. The TA for this floor was a C-Class Awakened codenamed "Lone Wolf."

The first month's curriculum consisted of general classes. The second month would split trainees into specialized courses based on their first-month performance.

Director Hu stared at the schedule and couldn't suppress a groan. "But I'm just Support-type! Why do I have to learn all this? I'm fifty-three!"

Xiao Tian's canine ears twitched, catching the complaint. "When a pollutant comes for you," the dog stated, "it won't care if you're Combat or Support. It only cares if you're easy to kill!"

To be perfectly honest, as an animal Awakened, I also attended the new employee training and graduated with honors," Xiao Tian continued, its canine head held high. "I'm forty-two years old this year. One human year equals eighteen dog years, which makes me seven hundred and fifty-six! You're not going to be worse than a dog, are you? No way, right? Right??"

Lu Yan couldn't help it. He whispered internally to the system, You and it... are you long-lost brothers from different mothers?

The tone was identically, infuriatingly smug.

The system replied, [...Thank you for your sudden concern.]

*

The morning theory class was taught by a researcher dispatched from the Second Research Institute—a sharp, severe-looking middle-aged woman.

Many researchers never Awakened, but their understanding of pollutants was no less than that of frontline personnel. She had even classified pollutants into different taxonomic orders.

"Research indicates that the pathological direction of pollutants ultimately converges," she stated, her voice crisp. "Different orders of pollutants, at the evolutionary endpoint, will exhibit identical forms and common traits."

"For pollutants of the same order, even if we have never encountered a specific variant before, we can deduce similar weaknesses."

This kind of intelligence, posted on the Awakened Forum, would easily be worth hundreds of Contribution Points.

Lu Yan studied with intense focus.

Some Combat-type Awakened, less interested, zoned out or even secretly played with their phones under the desks.

The moment the lecture ended, those who had been on their phones were informed by the teaching assistants: 0.5 trainee points deducted.

……

……

With breaks so short, cafeteria staff delivered lunch directly to the teaching area.

Their expressions were particularly benevolent, as if saying, Eat well for the journey ahead.

In the office, the TA codenamed Lone Wolf reported the day's proceedings with rigid formality. He finished with, "Team Leader Tang. Are we really merging the afternoon Strength and Endurance training sessions? Won't that be... a bit excessive?"

The two combined classes totaled three hours.

According to Tang Xian'an's instructions, the trainees were to conduct a weighted orienteering march through mountainous terrain.

Those who Awakened, whether Combat or Support, possessed physical strength and recovery far beyond ordinary humans. Coupled with the omnipresent real-time monitoring system, safety wasn't a primary concern.

Tang Xian'an tilted his head slightly. The anti-bark muzzle shifted a fraction. "Excessive?"

"No." A chill ran down Lone Wolf's spine. He immediately betrayed his seemingly delicate charges. "It's perfectly appropriate!