Lie Huo Jiao Chou

is field of vision.
One corner of the book was titled “Thousand Demon Bestiary”.
When his gaze focused on it, small characters appeared on the pages of the book, telling him what he saw.
It usually only showed the name, but sometimes it also came with a detailed explanation.

Xuan Ji was born with this book in his eyes, perhaps it was a special ability he had since birth.
It couldn't be taken out, and besides reading it, it couldn't perform any other functions.
Its origin was unknown, the author was unknown…the author looked like he or she wasn't very cultured – Xuan Ji was not good at foreign languages when he was young, and when he was in college, he tried to cheat using it during the English test by opening the “Thousand Demon Bestiary” and staring at the test paper.
Unexpectedly, this thing seemed to have fewer characters than the ones he knew.
After hesitating for a long time, it finally floated out the characters “foreign language.”

It's like a lousy game cheat, mostly just talking nonsense.
For example, at the moment, Xuan Ji is in the lobby of the Mystical Department of the Bureau of Paranormal Control, intending to open the Bestiary and see what magical species there were here.
As he scanned the crowd in the lobby, the pages of the “Thousand Demon Bestiary” only popped out the word “human” dryly.

’

“Rubbish,” Xuan Ji muttered to himself, “I don't know these are called 'human'?”

The Bestiary seemed to be in tune with his thoughts, and the word “human” disappeared, replaced by two words: mortal human.

Xuan Ji: “……”

He angrily closed the useless Bestiary, and his vision cleared.
He looked around the lobby – from left to right, there were six partitions in total, with signs reading “Metal,” “Plant,” “Ice and Water,” “Thunder and Fire,” “Spirit or Power,” and “Special and Others.”

Among them, the “Plant” and “Spirit or Power” areas were crowded with people, and visitors were queuing up, with ropes set up to maintain order.
In the “Metal” area, there were only six or seven visitors, while the “Ice and Water,” “Thunder and Fire,” and “Special and Others” areas were basically deserted, and the staff were idle.
The service window of the “Thunder and Fire” was not even open, as they were called over to help the “Plant” next door.

“Hey, Lao Xiao, Lao Xiao,” Xuan Ji grabbed Xiao Zheng and pointed to the partition sign with his chin, “What does this mean?”

“Speak normally, don't touch me,” Xiao Zheng slapped away his hand, “What do you mean by 'what does this mean'?”

“That partition–“

Xiao Zheng looked at him inexplicably, “Partition? It's divided according to the six major categories, what's the problem?”

Xuan Ji, full of curiosity, asked, “What are the six major systems?”

Xiao Zheng and Xuan Ji had been old friends for many years.
They would usually banter and tease each other, and had a certain level of camaraderie.
However, Xuan Ji had never revealed his origins to Xiao Zheng.
Until now, Xiao Zheng could only vaguely guess that Xuan Ji might come from some secret folk organization as a rare “Thunder and Fire” type, and was incredibly knowledgeable about talismans and magic circles, knowing things that were unheard of.

But strangely, sometimes he would lack common sense on some well-known issues.

“Superpowered individuals are classified into six major types based on their strength and attributes,” Xiao Zheng said briefly.
“This is the mainstream classification system used internationally in modern times, and the defining criteria for each spectrum is listed under the respective signboards.
Can you read? Look for yourself.”

Xuan Ji eagerly leaned over the glass window separating them from the employee area, observing how they defined the various types of superpowered individuals.

The closest signboard to him was “Metal,” with a large sign two square meters in size that read:

“Individuals who meet either of the following two conditions can be considered as having the Metal-type superpower.

(1) They possess a sensing ability for any one or more metals that exceeds that of an ordinary person.
This 'sensing ability' includes but is not limited to accurately sensing the location, volume, composition ratio, forging process, and distribution of free electrons on the surface of the metal.

(2) They are able to influence metal without physical contact, including but not limited to changing the spatial location, altering the length and shape of metal, depriving or moving the free electrons in metal, and changing the distribution of free electrons.”

“So 'Metal’ refers to those who can sense and control metal,” Xuan Ji said.
“But what about those who can turn parts of their body into metal? Aren't they considered Metal types?”

’

“I've never heard of that,” Xiao Zheng rolled his eyes.
“You're an adult, watch fewer Transformers.”

Xuan Ji blinked and asked again, “What about those who have multiple attributes at the same time? For example, they can breathe fire, control metal, and fly?”

“That's not our concern, the organizational relationship may belong to the circus.” Xiao Zheng felt he was talking nonsense, his patience exhausted, and he didn't want to bother with him anymore.
He walked quickly to the administrative front desk at the end of the employee channel, knocked on the desk, and asked, “Employee number 3-1101, name 'Xuan Ji,' is the card ready?”

“It's ready,” the receptionist at the front desk, a pretty round-faced girl who seemed to have heard their conversation just now, smiled and said to Xuan Ji, “In the six major spectra of special abilities, except for the 'special and other' category, the rest basically correspond to the traditional Chinese 'Five Elements' theory.
The Five Elements include 'metal, wood, water, fire, and earth,' which interact with each other in both positive and negative ways.
Therefore, although there are special ability individuals with multiple attributes, it's unlikely for a person to have attributes that clearly conflict with each other, such as 'metal' and 'thunder and fire'.”

After hearing the front desk girl's words, Xuan Ji hesitated for a moment and said, “Oh,” thoughtfully murmuring to himself, “I didn't know that.”

“Come sign and pick up your card, and complete your onboarding process,” Xiao Zheng beckoned to Xuan Ji.

Xuan Ji no longer thought about special ability spectra, happily walked up to pick up the pen, and without even looking, signed his name on a pile of contracts and disclosure documents.
“Do I now have a position? Can I get a hukou? Can I buy a house in Yong'an City?” he asked.

“Yes, yes, and yes,” Xiao Zheng answered coldly, “But do you have the money?”

Xuan Ji: “…”

“You're an old hand at this, so you don't need to attend the training.
Your department and job responsibilities are all in the employee handbook.
Your predecessor couldn't hand over the work to you due to some special circumstances.
The department office is on the 36th floor.
I've already informed them, so someone will pick you up.
Go up by yourself,” Xiao Zheng said to Xuan Ji, nodding to the receptionist as if he were an emotionless delivery man.
He felt that he had done a good deed and fulfilled his duty.

After speaking, the busy Director Xiao didn't give Xuan Ji a chance to retort.
He turned and left.
Xuan Ji didn't have a chance to complain about the coldness of human relationships before he saw the receptionist stand up and say crisply, “Director Xiao, take care.
Welcome, Director Xuan, to join our Bureau of Paranormal Control.”

Xuan Ji was taken aback.
“What did you call me?”

“Director.” The receptionist handed him his new work ID card, which showed his position: Xuan Ji, Aftermath Department, Acting Head of Operations and Acting Department Director.

Xuan Ji flipped the small card back and forth several times, feeling a little confused.
“Aftermath Department…Director? Me? Miss, did you print the card wrong?”

The receptionist replied, “No, Director Xuan.
That's how it's written on the documents I received.”

Xuan Ji was shocked.
“Is our department really that unconventional?”

A trainee who hadn't even completed the probation period was promoted directly to department director? This unit was too hasty and unreliable, wasn't it?

“You're too modest,” the receptionist laughed, covering her mouth.
“Normally, we're thrilled just to be able to talk to Director Xiao, but you were personally mentored by him.
You must be an incredibly talented and exceptional person.”

This girl was actually a fan of Director Xiao.
Although Xuan Ji was flattered, he didn't enjoy being praised in front of him.
He felt like he had benefited from Xiao's influence and was like a nephew who had been given a position due to nepotism.

’

“There are very few exceptional people in our logistics department, and anyone who is exceptional receives elite treatment.
As a backup department director, it's not surprising for you to take over the Aftermath Department.
Gong, the former director of the department, fell ill and was just approved for medical retirement, leaving a vacancy.
According to Director Xiao, you were once an advisor to our bureau, so you must have both the experience and the ability to take over the Aftermath Department.
” While speaking, the receptionist led him inside.
“Follow me.”

“Although…” Xuan Ji frowned slightly, skeptical.
“Is there really such a good thing?”

He had never won more than five yuan in the lottery and had never eaten a pie falling from the sky.
Suddenly tasting this sweetness made him uncomfortable, and he felt suspicious.

Wait a minute…
Xuan Ji suddenly remembered that he had looked at the job posting and left a message in his friend's circle asking Xiao Zheng which position was the easiest to apply for.
Instead of jokingly replying with “toilet tester,” Xiao Zheng had replied seriously after a moment of silence: “Aftermath Department.”

Wait, was Xiao Zheng doing this intentionally?

But why?

Have you heard of the principle of cheating people for their money, cheating them for sex, and cheating them to become officials?

Xuan Ji couldn't figure it out.
He walked through the administrative hall and into the interior of the Control Bureau building.
There, he saw a huge withered tree in the open space in front of the elevator.
He didn't know what kind of tree it was, but the diameter of the trunk was about a hundred meters, and it was covered with withered vines.
Looking up from the bottom, he couldn't see the top at a glance.

Because the visual effect was too shocking, it seemed almost divine.

Xuan Ji looked at the tree and inexplicably felt a tremor in his heart.
The receptionist next to him turned around and said, “This is the foundation tree.
The tree was here first, and then the headquarters building was built.
Isn't it spectacular? Shall I take you around?”

Xuan Ji wiped his eyes and looked through the Thousand Demon Bestiary.
However, he found that the pages were blank.
After a while, four words floated up on the atlas with a rattling sound: “withered vines and decayed wood.”

Xuan Ji's eyes twitched.
What a useless thing!

At this moment, his cell phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated, and three messages came in a row.

“Emergency mission in the Aftermath Department, come to the 36th floor!”

“Don't dawdle!”

“Hurry up!!!”

Xuan Ji: “…”

Xiao Zheng was not only a tornado of a person, but even the messages he sent were suffocating.

“Before I came, you cheated me by saying that the Aftermath Department was a marginal group, with no competition, only eating and not working.
But now, before I even report, there's a mission.
No need, miss, I won't go sightseeing anymore.
Director Xiao is in a hurry.
The elevator is over there, right? You go ahead, I'll go up by myself.
Thanks.” Xuan Ji said goodbye to the receptionist who was leading the way and walked towards the elevator.
He also sent a voice message to Director Xiao, “You big pig's foot.”