Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Lu Yan was scheduled to return to City K today. Zhou Qimeng pointed out that with the flight still seven or eight hours away, they might as well grab a proper meal first.

Lu Yan considered it. He supposed it made sense. Normal people did eat on a schedule.

Besides, he could use the time to think a few things over.

Zhou Qimeng took him to a private restaurant in City A, reputed to have the best food in the city.

The place was nestled within a villa district, membership only.

"I'd only ever heard about it, never had the chance to try," Zhou Qimeng said, presenting an invitation card. "A business partner gave me this. I wonder how it'll stack up against your cooking, Doctor Lu."

The memory of those two meals in the mobile home made saliva pool involuntarily in his mouth.

The villa's interior alone had cost a hundred million to decorate. Now, it housed the world's most premium ingredients and a top-tier culinary team.

Patrons all wore masks, dining alone in private rooms.

There was no menu, no restaurant name. The chef decided the courses. Each dish was a masterpiece of plating, its aroma intoxicating.

Yet, with a single exchanged glance, both Zhou Qimeng and Lu Yan sensed the problem.

Everything in the restaurant—meat and vegetables alike—originated from pollutants. Processed, yes, but a faint, residual pollution value still lingered.

Not enough to trigger Pollution Disease in an ordinary person. It might even act as a stimulant, nudging one's spiritual power threshold upward.

"I know the Prevention Centers and the headquarters sell this kind of processed meat," Zhou Qimeng murmured. "It's part of a treatment plan promoted by the Seventh Research Institute. But most of the people eating here… they're just regular folks, right?"

"Yes," Lu Yan replied. "I've heard that on the fringes of many contaminated zones abroad, there are mercenaries—not even Awakened—calling themselves 'Calamity Hunters.' They hunt low-level pollutants for food."

Those low-level pollutants were often humanoid. Meaning they were once people.

Compared to animal-based aberrations, humanoid low-level pollutants had significantly lower pollution values and lethality.

Neither of them could bring themselves to eat the meal. They'd heard such restaurants were booming overseas.

[Not just booming. It's a status symbol now. If a major IXS influencer hasn't been to a place like this, their clout gets questioned.] The system's tone was dripping with sarcasm.

On the drive to the airport, Zhou Qimeng sighed, frustration tinging his voice. "The common people always suffer through the hardship, while the wealthy are already dining on pollutants."

Lu Yan thought for a moment. "Pollutants can indeed be utilized as a resource."

In Tang Xun'an's dream, during his three months at the institute, Lu Yan had occasionally observed their cultivation of pollutants.

Researchers would raise small animals, more often plants, exposing them to pollution sources to turn them into pollutants. They'd be culled in their early growth stages, their useful parts harvested as "special materials."

Additionally, the Special Operations Department periodically delivered "special items" hunted from the field.

[You're becoming more of a rationalist by the day.] the system remarked.

Lu Yan: "That's not exactly a compliment."

Boarding the plane, he still took out his phone, opened his contacts, and sent a message to Tang Xun'an.

[Weren't you quite firm in your attitude before?] the system echoed his earlier tone with detached calm. ["I like the cute Little Tang, not this centuries-old Lao Tang."]

Lu Yan's emotional fluctuations were typically minimal, but at that moment, he felt a strong urge to muzzle the system.

The flight was uneventful.

Seven hours later, the plane touched down smoothly.

He turned on his phone and navigated to the private message interface of the Awakened Forum.

His contact list was short, and he rarely received messages from strangers.

That made the default avatar at the very top all the more conspicuous.

Tang Xun'an: Okay.

Tang Xun'an: Can I have a private contact method, then?

Lu Yan: LY20971111

[Am I watching some male high school student romance slice-of-life show now?]

Lu Yan put his phone away, expression blank. "You can choose not to watch."

It was nearly 4 AM when he arrived in City K. Almost the instant his message was delivered, WeChat notified him of a new friend request.

The ID was XUNAN. It could only be Tang Xun'an.

It was the note attached to the request that gave Lu Yan pause.

Note: It's Xiao Tian.

*

Although he hadn't slept until 5 AM the previous morning, his stubborn biological clock still woke Lu Yan promptly at 7.

Today, he had to report to the City K Prevention Center for debriefing and to update his staff card. Then, he'd take the high-speed rail to City S.

To City S, to buy a school district apartment for Director Hu's grandson.

Back at headquarters, he received a special welcome from Director Li. "Mr. Lu, congratulations on completing your training. My colleagues in City A mentioned you ranked first among the new hires."

Lu Yan nodded, replying calmly, "Just lucky."

He went to the examination center for a basic physical assessment.

Current spiritual power threshold: 2100. Pollution index: 13.2%. Meeting the standard for a D-Class employee.

Reaching D-Class unlocked more permissions for him.

At the very least, the Awakened Forum's functions opened up more fully.

The system sent a site notification, reminding him he now qualified to participate in the "Intermediate Rank Awakened Leaderboard."

The leaderboard was calculated annually based on a points system tied to the strength of pollution sources cleared.

Making the list meant extra resources from the Prevention Center each month. Breaking into the top 10 granted eligibility for a "Fusion Surgery" provided by the Third Research Institute—a free procedure to install special items harvested from pollutants onto one's own body, regardless of nationality.

In truth, fusing with pollutant materials was always dangerous. The slightest misstep led to complete aberration.

Only someone like Lu Yan, relying on his system, would be so reckless. And somehow, succeed.

Intermediate Rank: C-Class and D-Class Awakened.

Advanced Rank: S-Class, A-Class, B-Class.

By rights, S-Class should be in a category of its own. But with only one in the entire forum, it was too lonely at the peak, so it was lumped together with A and B.

Lu Yan scrolled casually. The leaderboard only had 50 slots.

The Awakened ranking was an undeniable pyramid. Roughly ten thousand people competed for these positions.

He clicked on his own info panel. It displayed "Contribution points being calculated…" He closed the forum, largely uninterested.

At the logistics department, Lu Yan converted the points he'd painstakingly accumulated over three months of training at the center into contribution credits.

He finally bought that sleek silver longbow he'd coveted for so long. Much earlier than he'd anticipated.

A distinct, satisfied expression softened Lu Yan's features, making his face appear gentle and strikingly pleasant.

The system chose that moment to pipe up. [This bow is 30,000 contribution credits. A B-Class spiritual weapon, the price is fair. But it's not very portable. And honestly, the Center probably used it more for decoration than expecting to sell it. That C-Class dagger would suit you better.]

Lu Yan: "But it's beautiful."

System: […]

But because he was, in fact, flush with credits, Lu Yan followed the system's suggestion and also purchased a dagger named "Venom Fang."

A C-Class spiritual weapon, priced at 10,000 contribution credits. Envenomed, particularly effective against biochemical-type pollutants. It could be concealed on his person, far more convenient.

Mindful of the school district apartment for Director Hu's grandson, Lu Yan finished his resupply and headed for the high-speed rail station.

Carrying what were clearly controlled, dangerous blades, he should have failed security. But after flashing his staff card, Lu Yan was escorted through a special channel and boarded the train with his precious weapons.

The authorities hadn't just arranged a special channel; they'd prepared an entire private carriage.

The chief attendant smiled. "We received notice from headquarters that a Special Operations Department employee had booked this train. We've prepared a dedicated carriage for you. We wish you a pleasant journey."

Lu Yan had the carriage to himself. It had a movie screen, a game console, even a bed.

There was no denying it—joining the Special Operations Department came with resource privileges that permeated every aspect of life.

[It's preferential treatment. It's also isolation.] The system's response was calm, carrying a hint of mockery at Lu Yan's apparent naivete.

City K wasn't far from City S. The high-speed rail took less than two hours.

As an international metropolis and the nation's financial heart, City S was dazzlingly prosperous, pulsing with energy. The streets were filled with hopeful young people.

Another benefit of joining the Special Operations Department: accommodations were covered everywhere, saving Lu Yan a significant chunk of change.

Every city's Prevention Center had dedicated guest quarters. Free food and board. You could live there forever if you wanted.

In City S, the staff member assigned to receive him was a woman. Lu Yan looked at her and found her oddly familiar.

Her name tag read: Du Weiwei.

"Were you in City K a few months ago?"

Du Weiwei looked surprised. "Ah, my hometown is City K. I came to City S for university. I went back for Spring Festival and… got caught in the Pollution Disease outbreak. I was stuck there for a long time. I just graduated this year. Originally, I was planning to go home and live off rental income…"

But after experiencing Pollution Disease firsthand, Du Weiwei found she couldn't just lie back and do nothing.

She still remembered the despair of being trapped indoors, and the Special Operations Department personnel who had broken down the door at her darkest moment.

She wanted to do something. Even if she was just an ordinary person, the strength she could offer was minuscule.

Lu Yan: "I know. Your family still owns an entire building."

Du Weiwei's face remained blank for a moment, then, as if remembering something, she suddenly blurted, "You're that guy wandering around downstairs that night! Holy crap, you actually joined the Special Operations Department! Are you here in S City on a mission?"

"Here to buy a school district apartment." Lu Yan wasn't very familiar with S City. "What's the best elementary school here?"

Du Weiwei answered without hesitation, "That would definitely be the Affiliated Elementary of X Middle School in Hongjiang District."

The apartments near that school went for about 200,000 per square meter, and even that was often just a listed price with no actual supply.

Fortunately, for the current Lu Yan, a 20-million apartment was only worth 2,000 contribution points. His balance could easily cover ten of them.

Contribution points could be exchanged for cash, but cash could not be converted into contribution points.

The next day, Lu Yan began viewing properties with an agent. Considering practicality, he focused on move-in ready homes. Places he could occupy immediately. In the end, he chose a resale apartment with a total price of 27 million.

Since he didn't plan to stay in S City long, he paid in one lump sum. That same day, he signed the purchase agreement with the seller.

The real estate agent nearly hugged his leg and called him daddy.

The following day involved paying taxes and transferring the title at the property bureau.

Presumably, the relevant departments had been notified, because everything proceeded smoothly, all green lights.

Logically, once the purchase was complete, the transaction was over.

But the seller enthusiastically sidled up to him: "Young Lu, you're from out of town, right? To be honest, I've hit a bit of a snag with my business lately. You buying this place really saved my skin."

"Coincidentally, I'm heading out tomorrow for a business deal." He lowered his voice a notch. "You know about that really hot spot in S City lately, the Mermaid Club?"

Lu Yan's eyebrow lifted. "What's that?"

"You know, with the Pollution Disease causing mutations? A bunch of folks living by the coast grew fish tails." The seller's voice dropped to a whisper. "They've been gathered up on an island now, even built a resort around it. This club's been under construction for years. Always been a favorite haunt for the wealthy and powerful, but they've finally started opening it to the public."

"Truth is, I've got a boat ticket. Gets you to that island. You seem like a straightforward guy, so I won't fleece you. One million. Want it? You won't see real mermaids anywhere else."

He finished with a heh-heh laugh, his face twisting into a lewd grin that screamed 'every man understands.' "I hear these mermaids, even though their physiology is different from humans, they've all got reproductive cavities regardless of gender. Supposed to be the ultimate experience."

"Growing a fish tail... wouldn't that make them aberrations?" Lu Yan asked the system.

He recalled the fish-headed mermaid he'd seen in K City and immediately felt nauseated.

The system replied: [Not aberrations. They are pollutants. This Mermaid Club... I recommend you go.]

"Why?" He had no interest in mermaid reproductive cavities.

The system thought for a moment. [You might see your father.]

*

Far from the mainland, in the West Coast Sea, Shen Qingyang lay listlessly across a coastal reef.

It was July. The low-latitude sun was more vicious than he'd imagined. He wasn't even sure if his tentacles were getting fried.

"That Black Dragon you mentioned... it still hasn't come." Shen Qingyang's voice was weak.

Before him lay a copy of Three Years of College Entrance Exams, Five Years of Simulation - Science Edition, so worn from repeated use it was nearly falling apart.

The Prophet sat nearby. "It should be coming soon, theoretically. Since that's the case, I'll look again."

The last prophecy had injured him badly. The Prophet hadn't used his innate ability in some time.

He closed his eyes, opening them a moment later. The massive human eye was webbed with red veins. "... The future has changed! Why? That's impossible!"

"What do you mean?"

The Prophet said weakly, "... The Black Dragon isn't coming."

Shen Qingyang angrily whipped a tentacle down, slapping the beach and sending a spray of seawater several meters high. "I've waited here for three months! I even missed the college entrance exams! And now you're telling me it was all for nothing?"

The Prophet was momentarily speechless. "You don't even have an ID card. How were you going to take the exams?"

Shen Qingyang's tentacles curled in anguish. "It's not the same. I'm not like you. I have mimicry. I could've just knocked out some underperforming student on the street, taken his exam pass, and taken the test for him. At my current level, scoring over six hundred would be no problem at all!"

The Prophet: "..."

He wanted to retort, but was stunned to realize that this... actually seemed feasible.

"It's alright, don't be upset. There's always next year." The Prophet comforted him. "If you like, you can take them every year. And with a score over six hundred now, a year of retaking would get you an even higher score. The person you like would definitely see you in a new light."

Shen Qingyang's mood calmed. "You're right, Teacher. Where should we go now?"

He'd had enough of this signal-dead island.

The Prophet did a quick calculation. "Let's go to S City. The fish I've been raising... it's time to harvest them."