Chapter Twenty-Three: Staying in Sea City

"Furthermore," Shui Yuanyu added, "if you join the National Special Investigation Bureau, you don’t have to work when there are no cases. You only need to arrive promptly when a case arises and your assistance is required. Otherwise, you are free to go about your own business."

Lü Lan rolled her eyes at Shui Yuanyu, who was busy sweet-talking her. What he said was technically true, but given that all sorts of incidents occurred across the country daily and their numbers were so limited, she hadn't had a vacation in ages!

"So, what do you think? Will you join?" Shui Yuanyu asked, looking at Lin Xiaoyan.

Lin Xiaoyan was deeply tempted—not for any other reason, but for that monthly salary of over ten thousand! However, she thought of another issue. "Um, can I avoid going to the capital?" She had never been to the capital and was afraid of it.

Shui Yuanyu pondered for a moment and nodded. "That’s possible, but you will need to go there once every three years."

Lin Xiaoyan nodded repeatedly, then asked with anticipation, "Then, can I stay in Yuzhong?"

"I apologize, but there is no branch office in Yuzhong. Currently, there are only five branch offices of the Special Investigation Bureau nationwide. There is one in Shanghai, so you could stay there."

Director Zhao, standing behind them, nodded enthusiastically.

"However," Shui Yuanyu added, "the branch office is merely an administrative location. Most of the members there are constantly out on missions, so..." He looked at Lin Xiaoyan. "Are you truly sure you don't want to go to the capital?"

Lin Xiaoyan nodded firmly. "I'm staying in Shanghai!" She was truly terrified of leaving her comfort zone and afraid of strangers. Had it not been for the lack of a suitable university back home, she never would have come to Shanghai in the first place. Currently, the only cities she felt familiar with were Yuzhong and Shanghai, having spent four years at university in the latter.

Shui Yuanyu looked at Lü Lan, who nodded. He then sighed at Lin Xiaoyan. "Fine. Go to the Shanghai branch this afternoon to process your paperwork. Since you have already saved three people, that counts as completing three missions, so your probationary period is waived."

Shui Yuanyu entered Lin Xiaoyan’s details into the Bureau’s database and had her sign the agreement. She signed her name on the dotted line.

Finally, looking at her, Shui Yuanyu tried one last time to persuade her. "The capital has more missions. If you go there, you get a bonus for every mission you complete! Every other ability user has chosen the capital. Are you sure..."

"I’m staying in Shanghai!" Lin Xiaoyan remained resolute; a monthly salary of over ten thousand was already more than enough for her!

"Very well," Shui Yuanyu said helplessly.

That afternoon, Lin Xiaoyan finished processing all her documents. She stared at the freshly issued credentials, feeling a bit dazed. She never imagined that one day she would possess special abilities and join the National Special Investigation Bureau! She was now a government official! The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, reading over her credentials again and again.

Shui Yuanyu and Lü Lan had already departed for the capital, reminding her before they left to visit the headquarters in three years, or whenever she happened to be in the capital, to update her records.

He Qi'an watched the excited Lin Xiaoyan with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Since you are now a member of the National Special Investigation Bureau, I am assigning you a task."

Lin Xiaoyan looked at him in confusion. "What task?"

"El Hospital."

"!!!" Lin Xiaoyan widened her eyes and glared at him accusingly.

Director Zhao looked at her warmly. "Little Lin, your ability is a perfect fit for our police department! In the future, if you run into any trouble, come to us for help! And if we have any issues, we’ll come to you!"

*I'll pass on that, thank you very much!* she thought.

It was no wonder Director Zhao was so happy; Shanghai lacked local ability users. The few who had appeared in the past were all recruited to the capital. The current members of the local Special Investigation Bureau branch were all practitioners of the occult who didn't involve themselves in police matters and were perpetually away on missions. To finally have an ability user stay in Shanghai—one whose power was actually useful to the police—how could the Director not be thrilled?

"Let’s go. It’s time for the meeting, and you need to attend," He Qi'an said, checking his watch.

Lin Xiaoyan took a step back. "I’m not a police officer, I don't need to attend the meeting, right? We’re in different departments!"

He Qi'an took out his phone and placed it in front of her. "I’ve already issued the task, and your department has approved it."

*Ding-dong.* Her phone chimed. She opened it to find a notification from the newly downloaded Special Investigation Bureau app informing her of a new mission.

Lin Xiaoyan looked up at He Qi'an in disbelief. "Do I not have the right to refuse?"

He Qi'an shook his head. "No."

*I’ve been tricked,* she thought. *What do I do now?*

And so, Lin Xiaoyan was led into the conference room. As she stepped into the massive space, her body tensed instantly. She caught a glimpse of the room packed with people and immediately lowered her head. She could clearly feel every gaze fixed upon her. Her palms grew sweaty, and she involuntarily gripped her trousers.

He Qi'an noticed her distress and swept his gaze across the room; the others immediately looked away. Feeling the pressure lift, Lin Xiaoyan let out a sigh of relief.

"Sit here," He Qi'an said, leading her to an empty seat. She sat down, surrounded by strangers, and dared not look up.

Director Zhao and the others took their seats, the Director beaming. "Before we begin, I’d like to introduce a new colleague!" He pointed to Lin Xiaoyan and said warmly, "This is Lin Xiaoyan, a special appointee to our police force. In the future, Comrade Lin will be..."

Lin Xiaoyan felt immense pressure. How many murders could there possibly be in Shanghai? Besides, she couldn't spend her life touching everyone's hands to read their fate! She looked at He Qi'an with a pained expression, and he couldn't help but find her misery amusing.

Once the Director finished speaking, He Qi'an stood up. "I assume everyone knows the content of today's meeting: the illicit organ trafficking at El Hospital..."

Lin Xiaoyan kept her head down, staring at her hands as her thoughts drifted far away. In tense situations, she liked to use daydreams to distract herself. She calculated her monthly and annual income, wondering how long it would take to save for a house, what kind of house she would buy, and how she would decorate it.

"Our informant planted at El Hospital has been exposed," He Qi'an said, his face cold as he crossed out the name Li Hongzhi on the blackboard.

Li Hongzhi, who was sitting in the room, lowered his head in shame.