Chapter 58: Keycard

Before Jiao Xingjian arrived, Xia Mi had not been idle. She rushed into the building and ransacked every office, especially Deputy Director Jiao’s. She even took the opportunity to sit in Deputy Director Jiao’s chair for a minute.

Well, it wasn’t as comfortable as the ergonomic chairs in her classmates’ homes.

Xia Mi gave Deputy Director Jiao’s chair a shallow evaluation, deciding it was a bit hard on the lower back and not very good.

Next, she went to the office of the missing trio. Liao Tianhua’s office was so clean that not a speck of dust could be found on the desk. Every document was neatly arranged in the filing cabinets, and the ledgers for every loan and photocopy were recorded with absolute clarity. It was so tidy that there were virtually no traces of anyone having lived in the space; only the countless documents in the cabinets proved just how capable a man Liao Tianhua was.

Qiu Hailan’s office was a different story. The desk was piled high with clutter, two fifty-kilogram dumbbells sat beneath it, and the pen holder was stuffed with pens swiped from god-knows-where. If one actually wanted to find something, they wouldn’t even know where to start digging.

Most importantly, there were no documents in Qiu Hailan’s office.

Supposedly, the paperwork for the entire frontline team fell on Liao Tianhua’s shoulders. Even when the Second Team returned from missions, Liao Tianhua was the one who helped write their reports.

It was for this very reason that the Second Team had always been overshadowed by the First Team. After the Pharmaceutical Factory incident, the Second Team members who had been clamoring to beat up Liao Tianhua all became as quiet as mice once he finished processing the reports for the event. They never mentioned the beating again.

Finding no clues in Qiu Hailan or Liao Tianhua’s offices, Xia Mi headed to Mi Xiangyan’s office.

On Mi Xiangyan’s desk lay a pile of papers covered in nonsensical scribbles like “alcoholic father, sick sister, fragile him, heartless her.” It was impossible to tell what kind of melodramatic novels she had been reading.

After finishing her inspection, Xia Mi estimated that Jiao Xingjian was about to arrive and ran downstairs to wait. Sure enough, barely half a minute later, a police car pulled up in front of her.

Jiao Xingjian froze for a moment when he saw Xia Mi after getting out of the car. “Where are ‘Shield’ and ‘Eye’?” he asked. “Where are the members of the Supernatural Squad?”

Xia Mi was also taken aback. “Was I supposed to call them?” she asked.

Jiao Xingjian usually didn’t have to worry about such matters. He only needed to make a single phone call to Liao Tianhua, and Liao Tianhua would arrange the personnel.

“Are just the two of us going in to save them?” Jiao Xingjian asked.

Xia Mi asked cautiously, “Is that not allowed? If it weren’t for the need for a key ite- a key person to enter the Domain, I could usually handle this alone.”

Jiao Xingjian sighed. “Little Xia, no matter how strong your individual power is, you have to learn teamwork. This is the Disposal Bureau building being invaded. For something this big, how can only the two of us go in for the rescue? We need to call the members who have become ‘Rong,’ the original members of the First Team need to be on standby, and the logistics team needs to follow up. Otherwise, if the two of us die in the Nest, the Inner World¹ and the surface world are currently separated – who would even know why the five of us went missing?”

As he spoke, Jiao Xingjian couldn’t help but shake his head, looking quite disappointed in Xia Mi.

Xia Mi immediately felt a sense of crisis.

This was her first mission after joining! Was she already screwing it up?

Xia Mi hastily pulled out her phone to call for backup, but she froze the moment she turned on the screen.

Seeing her stop, Jiao Xingjian asked, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you calling them?”

“Who am I looking for?” Xia Mi asked.

Jiao Xingjian continued to sigh. “First, look for ‘Shield,’ of course. I am not a ‘Rong.’ Once I enter the Nest, I will be contaminated by the Zhuo and need to wear a Protective Suit. The Protective Suit requires remote protection from ‘Shield.’ Arranging for ‘Shield’ to go to a safe house and assigning personnel to protect ‘Shield’ is standard procedure.”

Xia Mi said, “But I don’t have the contact information for ‘Shield’ or ‘Eye.’ Right now, I don’t even know their names.”

Xia Mi knew “Eye” was named Tong Ming; she had heard “Shield” shout it in the Secret Room. But at this moment, Xia Mi would absolutely not bring that up.

“How could you not know this? Aren’t you…” Jiao Xingjian paused mid-sentence.

Xia Mi explained, “Deputy Director Jiao, although we have established the Supernatural Squad, ‘Shield’ and ‘Eye’ haven’t joined the team yet. Their identities are still confidential. Only Group Leader Mi and the two Deputy Captains, Qiu and Liao, know them.

“I was supposed to have access to this information, but only after becoming a full member and completing the handover with the original First Team Captain, Liao Tianhua, would I be qualified to know these secrets. I haven’t unlocked that clearance yet.

“I don’t have the contact info for any of the people you mentioned. Don’t you have them?”

Jiao Xingjian said, “Of course I have them, but…”

Xia Mi looked at Jiao Xingjian expectantly.

Jiao Xingjian said helplessly, “But to maintain secrecy, ‘Shield’ and ‘Eye’ don’t use internal group numbers. Their phone numbers were stored in my phone, and my phone was stolen.”

“You didn’t memorize such important phone numbers?” Xia Mi asked.

Jiao Xingjian replied, “I had them memorized before, but Captain Liao was usually the one making the calls. I haven’t used them in a long time. Memory is a fickle thing…”

Xia Mi said, “This mission doesn’t seem to need ‘Eye’ much, but you need ‘Shield,’ and the Supernatural Squad members need ‘Shield’ too. Did you really not record ‘Shield’s’ contact information anywhere?”

Jiao Xingjian answered, “I recorded it in the files using a cipher, but the files are in the office. I’d have to go inside to find them.”

Jiao Xingjian looked at the Disposal Bureau building with a complicated expression.

Xia Mi understood what he meant. He was worried that the moment he stepped into the building, he would be pulled directly into the Nest and never have a chance to come back out.

“Does anyone else know ‘Shield’s’ contact information?” Xia Mi asked.

Jiao Xingjian said, “Her identity is confidential. Four people knowing was already a lot. How many more people should know?”

There were only four people who knew. Three were trapped in the Nest, and the last one didn’t have his phone.

Xia Mi sighed. “I do know what ‘Shield’ looks like. I could find her ID photo and phone number in the database, but by the time I identify her and make the call, it’ll probably be dawn. The three grassroots leaders have been trapped in the Nest for about an hour already. If we keep delaying, there’s no telling what will happen to this building.”

Jiao Xingjian said, “It seems you already have a plan?”

Xia Mi replied, “It’s like this, Deputy Director Jiao. I’ve assisted hundreds of Zhuo-affected people in maintaining their sanity back in Building 6. I believe that even if you enter the nest without any protection, I can help you maintain your rationality.

“Without the assistance of a ‘Shield’, this is our fastest method.

“However, I hope we don’t add any more people who need my protection. Any more and I’m worried I won’t be able to manage.”

“Are you certain?” Jiao Xingjian asked.

Xia Mi nodded. “Don’t worry. Even if you become a Zhuo-affected person, I can clear the negative status for you.”

Even if she accidentally drained Jiao Xingjian’s vitality in a moment of carelessness, they still had Xiao Liao. Once they reunited with Xiao Liao, as long as the person wasn’t dead, they could be healed.

Thinking of Xiao Liao, Xia Mi couldn’t help but cast a slightly resentful glance at Deputy Director Jiao.

She had originally admired and respected this leader quite a bit, but teaming up with him was just so awkward!

Deputy Director Jiao had been away from the front lines for too long, he was getting on in years, and he relied too heavily on Xiao Liao. It was difficult to coordinate with him.

No wonder the game positioned Deputy Director Jiao as a “Keycard²” item, which was entirely different from a medical kit.

Deputy Director Jiao had only one use: to swipe his card and open the gates to the nest.

Xia Mi began to grumble about her boss in her head.

Jiao Xingjian also felt that Xia Mi, as a grassroots leader, was far too inexperienced. She wasn’t as skilled as Liao Tianhua or Qiu Hailan, but he had no choice but to work with her.

“Wait for me a moment,” Jiao Xingjian said.

After speaking, he dialed a number, seemingly reporting the situation to his own superiors and giving instructions in case he didn’t return.

Xia Mi took the opportunity to call Fang Zihan, telling him to get people from the Second Team’s Logistics Group to stand guard outside the Disposal Bureau, lest the two of them get trapped in the nest without anyone knowing.

After Xia Mi finished her brief instructions, she saw that Jiao Xingjian was still on the phone. She couldn’t help but squat on the ground, drawing circles with her finger.

When Jiao Xingjian finally finished his report, he turned around to see a bored Xia Mi.

Jiao Xingjian frowned. “Xia Mi, what are you doing? Stand up straight, you have no decorum! If you’re bored while waiting, go contact other team members to stand by outside. Don’t waste time.”

Xia Mi stood up and said, “Reporting to the leader, I’ve already asked Fang Zihan to call for backup. I don’t have the Logistics Group’s number, but Fang Zihan does. He can help me gather the people.”

Jiao Xingjian gave an “Oh.” He wanted to apologize but couldn’t bring himself to lose face, so he just uttered another “Oh.”

“Let’s go,” Jiao Xingjian said. “Time is of the essence.”

Xia Mi also gave an awkward “Oh.”

Jiao Xingjian walked in front while Xia Mi followed behind. When they reached the main entrance, Jiao Xingjian stopped, waiting for Xia Mi to open the door for him.

Xia Mi also stopped, waiting for Jiao Xingjian to open the door for her.

The two stared at each other. Jiao Xingjian let out a long sigh and shook his head inwardly.

This Xia Mi had been so eloquent during her interview, even memorizing his entire speech, but in reality, she didn’t even have the sense to open a door.

It wasn’t that Jiao Xingjian insisted on others opening doors for him, he was just used to the days where the door would automatically open whenever he approached.

It wasn’t that Xia Mi forgot to open the door for Jiao Xingjian either, but Jiao Xingjian was the “Keycard.” If he didn’t open the door, Xia Mi suspected they wouldn’t be able to enter the true Inner World.

Xia Mi had no way to show the game to Jiao Xingjian. she didn’t want to point at her boss’s nose and say, “In my superpower, you’re just a tool.” Would she have any future left in the department then?

Thus, Xia Mi could only choose to be a silent, colorless blockhead.

Jiao Xingjian walked up to the access control, scanned his face, and opened the entrance to the Disposal Bureau.

The electronic screen showed that this was Jiao Xingjian’s second time swiping in today.

Jiao Xingjian noticed the count and said, “Before me, someone who looked exactly like me used my face to open the door.”

Xia Mi also glanced at the screen and asked, “Twice… but didn’t you scan your face when you came to work today?”

Jiao Xingjian said, “I came in with others, and the guards usually open the door for me.”

“Oh,” Xia Mi responded pointlessly.

Jiao Xingjian felt like Xia Mi was mocking his lifestyle.

He gave a light cough and said, “In the future, I will open the doors myself. I don’t need others to do it for me.”

Xia Mi didn’t quite understand Jiao Xingjian’s mindset and asked in confusion, “But when I came in today, I was with Captain Liao. He scanned his face. When people run into each other, they just go in together. There’s no need to overcorrect to this extent, is there?”

Jiao Xingjian: “…”

He took a sharp breath, feeling that acting alongside Xia Mi was incredibly awkward.

Xia Mi felt it too. It was awkward and uncomfortable; working with a leader was truly exhausting.

In just this brief interaction, the little respect she had for Jiao Xingjian was nearly depleted.

After the two entered, they found the surroundings completely different from before.

Originally, the lights in the Disposal Bureau had been off, leaving the entire building pitch black.

But after they stepped inside, it was broad daylight. Employees who should have finished work and gone home were back in the office, busily doing who-knows-what.

Xia Mi reached out and pulled an employee she didn’t recognize, releasing a “Silkworm” from her palm.

She sensed that these people all possessed Zhuo energy, but this time, her silk passed right through the employee’s body, hitting nothing but air.

She couldn’t absorb the energy from these people.

This was the first time Xia Mi had encountered such a situation.

“What’s going on?” Xia Mi asked, puzzled.

Amidst her confusion, Xia Mi’s phone rang.

Xia Mi picked it up and saw it was Jiao Xingjian’s lost phone number.

She stared at the real Jiao Xingjian and answered the call. A deep, magnetic voice belonging to Jiao Xingjian came through the phone: “Xia Mi, come to my office. I want to talk to you about the Second-Class Merit.”

Xia Mi had her phone on speaker. She held the phone up to Jiao Xingjian’s ear, letting him hear the sentence clearly.

“The Second-Class Merit, Deputy Director Jiao,” Xia Mi said.

That Second-Class Merit still hadn’t been given to her!

Translator’s Notes