Chapter 64 The Old Man’s Tricks Are Deep

Chapter 64 The Old Man’s Schemes Run Deep

“S-sir, wh-where are you t-taking me…”

The *Shy LEGO* was almost in tears.

“Are y-you going to l-lock me up? Are you going to throw me into c-containment… sob… containment zone?”

The tiny white LEGO desperately tried to burrow into Lin Jianyuan’s sleeve, its jagged spiky edges tickling his wrist.

Lin Jianyuan plucked it from his sleeve and reassured, “Don’t be afraid. I’m not.”

The *Shy LEGO* shook like a leaf.

His roommate tilted its “head” slightly and shot a silent “look” at it.

The *Shy LEGO* immediately froze stiff.

“Don’t scare it,” Lin Jianyuan chuckled, reaching out to pinch his roommate’s gallbladder. “It’s already scared enough. Don’t scare it to death.”

The roommate’s gallbladder bulged slightly, as if secreting some unhappy liquid.

But then it swelled up and rubbed against his palm.

“Since when is it a ‘person’?” the roommate griped. “It’s just a single piece of bone.”

Lin Jianyuan: “?”

*Is that the point here?*

So you really were threatening and intimidating it!

Lin Jianyuan found this even funnier and couldn’t help but break into laughter, scooping his roommate into his arms and giving it a thorough ruffling.

“Baby, how are you so adorable? Okay, okay, it’s not a person, not a person~”

The passing Bureau members: “…”

They swiftly turned their heads away or covered their faces with folders.

Don’t look! It’ll cause mental pollution!

Lin Jianyuan went straight to the Director’s office.

The Director was on the phone, his tone as gentle and affectionate as a father coaxing his son.

But from the other end of the computer came a furious, bristling roar.

It was unmistakably Shi Shaoning.

“Okay, okay, vacation, you must take a vacation this time… Yes, yes, if you don’t get a vacation this time, I’ll cut off my head and let you use it as a ball. It’s real, not empty promises. I’m already writing the transfer request. While you’re on vacation, we’ll assign other A-Class Fighters. I promise we won’t bother you, absolutely won’t, not even if the sky falls…”

Lin Jianyuan’s lip twitched upon hearing this.

Recalling his own experiences of crunch-time overtime, he felt a deep sense of empathy for this office drudgery.

Seeing him arrive, the Director said to the person on the phone, “Alright, I have to go now. Xiao Lin and Evil Domain are here to see me. Yes, that’s right, our power couple is here.”

Lin Jianyuan: “~~~”

Empathy stopped.

His lip instantly curled into a smirk.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Jianyuan wasn’t very familiar with the office pleasantries and didn’t know how to start.

After a moment’s thought, he figured there was no need for pleasantries anyway.

So he got straight to the point: “Director, I still have a few heretics in my possession. Could you please rescind their bounties as well? I’ll bring them in for registration right away.”

The Director rubbed his hands nervously: “Well, Xiao Lin, I must explain to you how the wanted notices work. These wanted notices… they’re not as simple as you might think…”

Lin Jianyuan: “My wife has a way to erase the Marks.”

The Director stopped rubbing his hands.

The Director hadn’t reached his position solely by feigning ignorance.

He immediately understood what Lin Jianyuan meant. His expression turned serious at once.

“Xiao Lin, heretics must be contained. Shi Shaoning should have already familiarized you with the relevant rules and regulations. This is the most important operating principle of the Bureau.” The Director’s tone was stern.

Lin Jianyuan frowned, ready to argue his case, but the Director abruptly changed his tone in the next second.

“But then again,” the Director said, “the heretics have been quite docile in your hands.”

Lin Jianyuan immediately caught on, pulling out the *Shy LEGO* and placing it on the table: “Docile. All of them are docile. Look at the *Bone Instrument*, it’s now just a decorative ambiance light.”

The *Shy LEGO* quivered intensely.

Lin Jianyuan gave it a meaningful look.

The *Shy LEGO* began trembling as it started secreting calcium.

Lin Jianyuan: “It can also calcify.”

Director: “???”

The Director’s expression shifted from shock to utter astonishment.

“Calcify?!”

“Yes,” Lin Jianyuan said. “The *Bone Instrument* can collect and control calcium. It’s also severely socially phobic, so it’s afraid to see people. If anyone approaches, it will over-calcify them, turning them into bone sculptures. The principle is actually quite simple and reversible. I already had it restore those fighters earlier.”

Director: “…”

Lin Jianyuan: “Anyway, after meeting me, it’s become a stress-relieving toy and an ambiance light. It hasn’t harmed anyone since. As for mental pollution…”

Lin Jianyuan glanced at the *Shy LEGO*.

“Yikes!” The *Shy LEGO* let out a sound like a punched squeaky toy, stammering in panic, “M-m-my pollutants have been solidified! They won’t spread! Really, they won’t! I’m very well-behaved!”

Lin Jianyuan pressed the *Mobile Terminal* against the LEGO.

The sensor built into the *Mobile Terminal* showed zero pollutant readings.

Lin Jianyuan turned to the Director and said, “It’s been solidified. The pollutants were solidified by Xie Yu’s digestive juice. That’s why the Bureau can’t detect it.”

“No wonder we couldn’t find it before despite throwing the Bureau’s full resources into the search.” The Director steepled his fingers under his chin. Leaning forward slightly, his eyes sharpened: “So, what is your proposal?”

"The Bureau requires that all heretics must be contained. So what is the definition of containment?"

Lin Jianyuan said, "If they’ve already been stabilized and no longer harm people, can that also be considered a form of containment?"

"..." The Director silently stared at him, a heavy silence settling between them.

The air grew somewhat stagnant, like a thin layer of frost settling over Lin Jianyuan’s skin, creating a silent sense of pressure.

Xie Yu subtly stepped forward.

Eerie, swaying flesh-red shadows became clearly visible on the walls and ceiling.

The Director remained silent for a long time.

Then suddenly laughed.

"Lin Jianyuan, haven’t you finished your orientation training yet?"

Lin Jianyuan: "?"

Huh? Why suddenly bring up orientation training?

Lin Jianyuan eyed the Director suspiciously.

The Director said, "The definition of heretic containment is, in fact, to confine pollutants within a specific range, prevent public access, and eliminate situations where humans are harmed. It’s actually quite similar to what you’re saying."

The Director paused, then glanced at Xie Yu with interest. "The only difference is whether we use the Bureau’s technological methods to secure pollutants or employ alternative means."

Lin Jianyuan vaguely felt he was about to step into a trap and said with suspicion, "So?"

The Director smiled kindly. "Go on, which warrants do you want revoked?"

Lin Jianyuan: "At what cost?"

The Director: "Evil Domain participates in our research studies as a test subject."

Lin Jianyuan refused without hesitation: "No way!"

The Director immediately said: "Then provide a digestive fluid sample. One sample in exchange for one bounty revocation."

Then he looked at him with a knowing smile.

Lin Jianyuan: "..."

Damn!

The Director set him up!

Well-versed in office politics, Lin Jianyuan instantly recognized the Director’s rhetoric.

First, he suggested using his partner as a test subject, and after Lin Jianyuan immediately refused, he retreated to just asking for a digestive fluid sample.

That way, Lin Jianyuan couldn’t refuse.

...What a joke.

He would have agreed directly if he’d just asked for the digestive fluid sample.

Did it really have to be so complicated?

So ridiculous!

Ah, whatever. Maybe the old fox just enjoys this kind of high-level feeling of playing with people’s minds.

Look how pleased with himself the old fox is.

Lin Jianyuan rolled his eyes but quickly composed himself, whispering to his roommate, "Baby, is it convenient for you to provide a digestive fluid sample?"

"Of course," his roommate replied, seeming to find the question amusing. He tried so hard not to laugh his guts were shaking. "Couldn't be easier."

For some reason, Lin Jianyuan suddenly remembered the time he threw up all over Yu Xiuli.

He immediately stifled a laugh too, his shoulders shaking.

Watching this new employee couple, the Director also showed a satisfied smile.

Great!

So easy to handle!

People in love are much easier to deal with than easily agitated types!

His roommate made another trip home to bring over the potted mint plant—what he called the Eye Vine.

Lin Jianyuan remembered there was a punching bag in the company basement. That thing could both relieve stress and generate energy; having it at home would save a lot on electricity. So he asked his roommate to go to the company with him to get it.

Even though they’re now a household earning $3 million a year, they should save where possible, spend when necessary!

Even though he had some understanding of Lin Jianyuan’s capabilities, when Lin Jianyuan produced all his little toys, the Director was absolutely stunned.

What stress ball—isn’t this the Class A heretic "Time Thief" who can control time?!

What little stone—isn’t this the Class A heretic "Stumbling Block" that makes people trip upon contact and can’t be approached?!

Not to mention the Dragonfly, the Wicked Big Mouth...

What in the world is all this?!

So many powerful heretics, and you’ve transformed them all into practical household items for home and office to boost happiness?!

And I don’t even want to talk about you! What kind of nicknames are these you’ve given them?!

Do they actually listen to you?!

They actually answer to those names?!

Ah, whatever, whatever, even the Class S heretic obeys Lin Jianyuan without hesitation, so what do these Class A-D heretics matter...

With his hands behind his back, watching the whole documentation process, the Director silently gave Lin Jianyuan a thumbs-up.

So resourceful, Lin Jianyuan!

And just like that, the matter was resolved perfectly.

After registering all the members of the household, Lin Jianyuan suddenly remembered something else. He turned to the Director and said, "By the way, sir, can I discuss one more thing with you? Um, could I get a salary advance? We’re running out of food at home."

The Director: "???"

What? What did you say?

You fucking have an army of handy little gadgets for WFH and boosting happiness that could rob a bank any minute, and you’re telling me what?

Can't afford to eat?

Can’t afford? Food???

Who would've thought that…

Turns out Lin Jianyuan is actually an honest guy!!!

The Director cut in immediately, "So the salary hasn’t been paid yet? It might have been delayed by something. I’ll have them cut you a check for this month’s pay right away. It’ll be transferred before the end of the day today."

Lin Jianyuan was surprised, "Huh? Back pay? This month? Isn’t it already the 27th today? Didn’t I only start three days ago?"

The Director replied, "That’s just how our Bureau operates. Don’t go thinking you’re getting special treatment—I’m telling you, you’re not. This is just the standard procedure. No exceptions, no matter who asks."

Lin Jianyuan said, "Oh, okay."

*Honest to a fault.jpg*

After leaving the Director’s office, it was almost exactly two o’clock. Just in time for the orientation.

As soon as the Angel Eyeball projected the map, his roommate zipped off with Lin Jianyuan.

Didn't waste a second on the way.

"Why do I suddenly feel so empty..." the Squeeze Toy said miserably.

"You should be grateful you get to slack off," the Little Stone retorted coolly. "Do you love working so much you’ve got a death wish?"

"Why does that sound so familiar?" the Squeeze Toy snapped, suddenly realizing. "Damn, you’re plagiarizing our Emperor!"

"Plagiarizing, my ass," the Little Stone snorted. "I’m just memorizing Bro Yuan’s quotes by heart."

The Squeeze Toy: "..."

The Angel Eyeball: "Brother Stone is right."

The Maw of the Abyss: "...Brother Stone is right."

The Angel Eyeball: "Chief Squeeze is also right. We’re all here to provide better service for Bro Yuan, so let’s just meet halfway."

The Maw of the Abyss: "Chief Squeeze is also... huh? What came after?"

Its memory isn’t as good as Shadow Devour’s!

"Alright, shut up, all of you," Lin Jianyuan suddenly felt like a preschool teacher.

The preschool teacher angrily punched his own pants pocket and barked, "Class is starting! Little mouths!"

The little toys immediately shut their little mouths.

The onboarding training was pretty standard, much like any other workplace’s orientation.

First, they introduced the Bureau’s structure, then the daily work protocols, and some important points to note.

The class from 2:00 to 3:30 was a general session—all new hires from this round in the Field Operations Department, Internal Affairs, and Containment Department were attending together.

After the break, the second round of training would be department-specific sessions.

That also meant Lin Jianyuan and Xie Yu would have to go to different classes.

Lin Jianyuan decisively whipped out the Angel Eyeball.

"Go record the class next door."

"Roger that."

The Angel Eyeball acknowledged the order and beat its three pairs of wings, flying off into the distance.

His roommate’s lips quirked up.

A soft duodenum gently hooked onto Lin Jianyuan’s palm.

Lin Jianyuan: "~"

Woot woot~

Whose wife is so good at being cute~

Turns out it’s my wife~

The Field Operations Department’s training was very hands-on.

It covered how to identify heretics, subdue them, and contain them.

The class was well-presented.

The only problem was that there was a heretic sitting in the classroom.

...Actually, having a heretic in the classroom wasn’t that big of a deal.

Because this heretic wasn't even listening.

His appendix wiggled back and forth, intestines gurgling.

The whole time, he sat with his chin propped up, smiling and tilting his head.

Either whispering a few words to the person next to him.

Or leaning on the desk to "watch" his neighbor take notes seriously.

If you ignored his appearance, it was kinda like a school romance vibe.

If anyone could ignore his appearance………………

Anyway, the first day of onboarding training was over.

The theoretical content was actually much more than this. Besides theory, the Field Operations Department also conducted extensive training for new employees, including field exercises.

All to quickly train new hires into combatants who could hold their own.

There were quite a few classes. The basic theory course alone would last half a month.

They also had to write reflection papers. Take exams. Participate in physical training.

Just thinking about it was a drag.

But since he'd just started, the next week would all be theory classes.

Theoretical classes don't necessarily require sitting in the Administration to attend—they can be taken online from home.

Their mobile terminals have even been granted access to rewatch the lectures anytime.

Subtitles are available, and you can speed it up to N times.

Just one thing to note: all of this is classified material and must not be shared externally.

Overall, it’s quite relaxed.

“Work's over!”

Lin Jianyuan stuffed his notebook and angel eyeball into his pocket, slung an arm around his roommate, and said cheerfully,

“Let’s go home!”

“Okay.” His roommate smiled, his mouth curving at the corners. “Should we go grocery shopping first?”

“Sure, sure. The fridge seems pretty empty… Wait.” Lin Jianyuan suddenly remembered the landlord raising the rent and corrected himself, “No, I almost forgot we need to look for a new place. Aren’t we moving?”

Roommate: “Oh.”

“Then let’s hold off on groceries for now?” Lin Jianyuan said. “We can just eat at the Administration.”

Roommate: “Sounds good.”

The two went to the break room, eating from the buffet while leaning in together to browse rental apps on their phones.

Actually, the Administration covers room and board, so they could just live there without needing to find another place.

But staying at the Administration has one big problem:

Lack of privacy.

No matter how lovestruck Lin Jianyuan is, he wouldn’t do something like kissing, cuddling, or being all lovey-dovey with his roommate in public.

Besides, his roommate still needs to eat him.

The way his roommate eats him is, after all, pretty intimate…

Well, it’s somewhat private for Lin Jianyuan.

His roommate doesn’t find eating him the least bit embarrassing.

Ugh!

Just another example of a couple not seeing eye to eye~

The two leaned in close, scrolling through rental apps together.

As they scrolled, a notification popped up on the phone:

“XX Bank”: On 08/27/20xx at 5:20 PM, your account ending in 1929 received a salary deposit of 100,000.00 yuan. Balance: 102,451.46 yuan.

Lin Jianyuan: “Holy shit!”

“?” The roommate looked surprised. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Jianyuan: “Check yours!”

Lin Jianyuan took the phone his roommate pulled out from his gallbladder, still warm from body heat.

Sure enough, his roommate had also received a salary notification.

“XX Bank”: On 08/27/20xx at 5:21 PM, your account ending in 3578 received a salary deposit of 200,000.00 yuan. Balance: 200,000.00 yuan.

Lin Jianyuan held both phones, looking left and right.

He was grinning uncontrollably.

He couldn’t hold it back at all!

“What’s up with you?” The roommate laughed, poking him with his duodenum and leaving a small dent in his cheek. “So happy about getting paid?”

“Of course I’m happy!! This much!” Lin Jianyuan was already over the moon, his eyes and brows brimming with joy.

They say homicidal intent can’t be hidden.

But the ecstasy of striking it rich overnight is even harder to conceal!!!

Completely uncontrollable! This smile! This rush of excitement! This urge to jump up and shout “Woo-hoo!”!!!

Oh my god, hahahahaha.

I can’t take it. This is insane, hahahahaha! 300,000!

He and his wife got their first month’s salary on their very first official day of work!

300,000!!!

300,000!!!

Goddammit, he couldn’t even make 300,000 in a whole year slaving away at that shitty previous company!!!

Ugh, just thinking about it brings bitter tears!

“Let’s hold off on apartment hunting!” Lin Jianyuan said excitedly. “Wife! Let’s go out and have fun!!!”

It feels like it’s been eight hundred years since he last went out to have fun!

Roommate: “Okay. Where should we go?”

Lin Jianyuan: “I don’t know! But I want to go out and have fun!”

The roommate’s soft intestines trembled with laughter: “Okay, okay, let’s go have fun.”

Lin Jianyuan hugged his roommate tightly and cheered: “Let’s go out! Stay at a luxury hotel! Fly first class! Business class! Let’s go out and have fun!”

Lin Jianyuan’s eyes sparkled.

The corners of his mouth were raised so high they nearly reached the sky.

That smile was so infectious that even though Xie Yu didn’t understand why he was suddenly so happy, he couldn’t help but feel happy too.

I’m so happy!

Going out to have fun!

Going out to have fun together!

Lin Jianyuan was incredibly proactive.

Before he even finished his meal, he had already booked the flights, hotel, and tickets to attractions.

He booked the best of everything.

After all, they had 300,000!

—And the Management Bureau’s salary was even tax-free!

The best part wasn’t actually getting 300,000 on his first day of work.

It was that even if he spent all 300,000 in one go, in two weeks when next month’s salary arrived—

Guess what?

Hey! Another 300,000!

"...And after I booked the flights, hotel, and everything, something even better happened!"

In the bedroom, Lin Jianyuan was packing his luggage, bursting with excitement, animatedly telling his roommate:

"Something even better is, I booked the best of everything. The hotel is a presidential suite, the flights are first class, the attractions have VIP skip-the-line passes. Even the entire itinerary is custom-designed with a professional private guide, including transfers, all fun, no shopping!"

"—But! After I paid for everything, I realized I only spent 70,000!"

"70,000!"

Lin Jianyuan grew more and more excited as he spoke, his cheeks slightly flushed, his words in rapid succession: "Even though I know part of it is because it’s the off-season—summer vacation is almost over and we booked flights and hotels on weekdays—but! Still! It’s cheaper than I imagined! Oh my god, I’m really on cloud nine! I really, I never thought one day I’d say something like ‘only’ 70,000… ‘only’ 70,000!"

The roommate’s left colon was on the balcony collecting underwear.

The right colon was in the bedroom grabbing shampoo.

The remaining liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and stomach were curled up cat-like beside the excited Lin Jianyuan.

Listening to him talk with such animation.

Though not entirely sure what he was so happy about.

But seeing him so happy made them feel happy too.

Lin Jianyuan packed with full energy amidst the swaying intestines.

Taking items passed by the roommate’s intestines, neatly arranging them into the suitcase.

"All done!" Lin Jianyuan stood up straight, rubbing his chin. "Let me think again, what else are we missing…"

Roommate: "Don’t overthink it."

Lin Jianyuan: "—Forget it, no need to think!"

They said at the same time.

Lin Jianyuan paused, shared a smile with his roommate.

The next second, again at the same time:

Lin Jianyuan: "If we’re missing anything, we’ll just buy it!"

Roommate: "If we’re missing anything, I’ll come back for it."

Lin Jianyuan: "…"

Roommate: "…"

Lin Jianyuan lunged playfully, gathering the roommate’s wildly flying intestines like kneading bread dough, laughing heartily: "‘Wife! We’re rich now! Can’t we be a little extravagant? Why would we need to run back home for toiletries when we’re out having fun!’"

"Is that so." The roommate smiled, his coiling intestines beginning to wrap around him, holding him and swinging like a hammock. "I didn’t know~"

"I didn’t know~ I didn’t know~" Lin Jianyuan, swaying happily in his embrace, shook his head like he was giddy.

He buried his face into the roommate’s body, nuzzling into the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas, murmuring, "You don’t know, you don’t know anything. What if I mess with you? You wouldn’t even know I was messing with you~"

Roommate: "You’d mess with me?"

Lin Jianyuan: "Hehehe, of course!"

Roommate: "What did you mess with me about?"

Lin Jianyuan: "."

He went blank.

Lin Jianyuan lifted his head from the roommate’s body, saying seriously: "Alright, I admit it. I told you that being someone’s wife means waking up every morning and praising how handsome I am—that was me messing with you."

"But I really do think you’re handsome," the roommate lifted his duodenum, pinching Lin Jianyuan’s cheek. "Otherwise, why would I like you so much?"

Thump!

Lin Jianyuan was struck by the sincerity attack!

"Ahhh wife~"

Lin Jianyuan had completely melted. Turning into slime, he clung to his wife, squirming happily, affectionately calling out,

"Wife~ Wife~"

"Stop being silly!" The roommate laughed until his pancreas shook. "It’s so ticklish!"

The suitcase was on the floor.

The two were on the bed.

Hugging led to— "mwah!"

A quick peck.

One wasn’t enough.

Lin Jianyuan hugged and nuzzled; the cool, soft roommate was the best cuddle buddy for summer.

Even though it was already the end of summer, it was still hot.

But he liked his roommate so much he didn’t want summer to end.

Wrestling and cuddling.

The couple was sweetly clingy.

After cuddling for a long time, he looked up and realized that it was only eight o'clock.

It was still so early.

This! Is the charm of not having to work overtime!

This! Is also the charm of not having to commute!

The free time after returning home is so plentiful.

So plentiful that it gives you that surprise feeling of having done so many things, only to look back and find the sky still bright.

Lin Jianyuan was immersed in an unparalleled, overwhelming happiness.

Just as expected, something unexpected was about to happen.

BEEP—!

An unfamiliar, urgent alarm sound rang out.

Lin Jianyuan reflexively looked up.

His roommate also tilted his "head" slightly.

On the table, two mobile terminals were placed side by side, and one of them was flashing a frantic red light.

"Class-S Heretic [Hesitation] is escaping! [Evil Domain], please return to the Management Bureau immediately to assist in containment!"

"Repeat! Class-S Heretic [Hesitation] is escaping! [Evil Domain], please return to the Management Bureau immediately to assist in containment!"

Roommate fell silent.

Lin Jianyuan lifted his head from the mass of pink offal: "Honey, your terminal..."

Xie Yu displeasedly pressed the human back into his embrace, his intestine shooting out like a whip, about to strike down fiercely!

The sound of it cutting through the air was audible, and it seemed on the verge of shattering the mobile terminal emitting the sharp alarm!

Lin Jianyuan exclaimed: "Honey!"

The roommate stopped his movement.

Lin Jianyuan reached out to grab that section of intestine and found its texture completely different from usual.

It had become very rigid, just like a whip.

Touching it even felt cold and hard.

But the moment Lin Jianyuan touched it, the roommate went soft again.

Like a deflated balloon.

Slumping limply back into his embrace.

"I'm off duty," the roommate said sullenly. "Why are you calling me?"

"This is overtime," Lin Jianyuan gently stroked his roommate's throat with his fingertip. "Isn't it because you're so amazing? Who else could stop [Hesitation] besides you?"

The roommate's appendix stiffened, swayed once.

Then went limp and drooped again.

"Want to go out and play," the roommate leaned in, nuzzling his cheek. "Go out and play."

Lin Jianyuan's heart melted from the nuzzling.

But damn responsibility made his heart harden.

Keeper Lin said gently: "Going out to play is for tomorrow. How about we go catch [Hesitation] in a flash today? Baby can catch it in just one second, right? Then spend another second to pick it up and shake it a couple times, another second to warn it to behave these next few days! Don’t disturb us going out to play! Then another second to bundle it up, give it a few squeezes, and hurl it back into its cell with a bang... How many seconds does that add up to?"

The Class-S baby was successfully coaxed into behaving like a big baby.

The roommate's lips curved upward as he got up: "4 seconds. Wait for me."

A massive flesh-red shadow rippled across the walls and ceiling.

The next second, the shadow vanished.

Without the roommate, the entire room instantly felt empty.

Lin Jianyuan sprawled on the bed, stretching out his limbs into a starfish shape, feeling quite content as he gazed at the ceiling, waiting for his honey to return.

Counting down from 4.

4, 3, 2...

The roommate did not return.

The other mobile terminal on the table rang.

Lin Jianyuan: "?"

Lin Jianyuan's heart sank, and he quickly bolted upright.

Looking, it was an internal communication initiated by the Director.

Lin Jianyuan immediately answered, asking: "What's wrong, Director? Did something happen?"

Thinking of his roommate, his worry had turned into a heavy weight, pressing down on his chest and making him feel stifled.

Frowning, he asked, "Is it [Hesitation]..."

"[Hesitation]? Oh, you mean [Hesitation] escaping? No, no, it's fine. Luckily your partner arrived in time and successfully contained [Hesitation] again."

The Director's cheerful voice came from the mobile terminal. "I'm not contacting you for that. I have good news for you."

...Good news?

Lin Jianyuan glanced suspiciously at the time.

8:47 PM.

Good news?

At this hour?

Lin Jianyuan cautiously asked: "What good news?"

The Director: "Well, you just registered several heretics today. I’ve reported the situation to the higher-ups. The organization has also revoked the wanted notices for those heretics."

Lin Jianyuan: "..."

With that long of a lead-up, crap, the Director was definitely about to drop something big on him.

But for the sake of the 300K, Lin Jianyuan still patiently and politely asked, "And then?"

The Director: "And then, the organization thinks your work ability is particularly strong, and your efficiency is remarkably high. Especially your ideological awareness..."

Lin Jianyuan: "..."

Silently grabbing the squeeze toy, he mouthed, "1.5x speed."

Squish.

The Director’s speech instantly sped up through the communication.

"The organization believes!@!%!%@!@... Considering!@%!%@!... Approved by%!% and*!#…!@ unanimous vote..."

Lin Jianyuan’s heart jumped, and he pressed down on the squeeze toy.

The squeeze toy switched back the communication to normal speed.

The Director: "...has decided to appoint you as a Senior Professional Title, with an immediate increase in salary and benefits."

Lin Jianyuan: "..."

The Director (in an encouraging tone): "Lin Jianyuan, congratulations! You are now an A-Class Fighter! Congrats!"

Lin Jianyuan: "........................"

It had already been more than 4 seconds.

That's far more than 4 seconds.

His roommate still hadn’t returned.

Lin Jianyuan looked away from the wall clock and said indifferently, "Spit it out. What’s the matter? Hurry up, no more nonsense."

The Director quickly spilled everything: "A Class S heretic, Regret, has been detected. Shi Shaoning isn’t here. We want your wife to help capture it. Your wife is refusing flat out. She’s throwing a fit at the bureau."

The Director paused, switching to an even more humble tone, almost pleading,

"Lin Jianyuan! Come to the Management Bureau and calm your wife down!"

Lin Jianyuan: "..."

If Lin Jianyuan hadn’t already been working for several years, he might have almost believed it.

—Why would calming his wife down require promoting his title?

Sounds good, but it’s really just to make him work overtime officially.

And even get his wife to work overtime too!

As expected, wherever there’s work, there’s PUA.

They're PUA-ing him and his wife from day one! Will it ever stop?!

That devious old coot Director!!!