Chapter 74

Chapter 74

The Real World

C City Anomaly Security Bureau

Based on the progress reports Rao Fei had sent from within the anomaly, the Anomaly Security Bureau roughly estimated that the "Anomaly 101" event would conclude within the next couple of days.

Since all designated personnel were already inside the anomaly, the matter wasn’t considered top-secret within the bureau. Essentially, key members of each action team had a clear understanding of the situation.

Especially in the past two days, as the anomaly’s end drew nearer, the atmosphere in the Anomaly Security Bureau grew increasingly restless.

Everyone in the bureau routinely faced life-threatening situations. While they might be prepared to disregard their own lives, everyone had family—parents, children—to worry about.

Except for those who were orphans, never settled down, or lived completely alone. But such individuals were few and far between in daily life.

As the Director, Zhao Yanhan naturally noticed this phenomenon. Aside from those about to enter the anomaly, there wasn’t much he could say to the others.

Because he himself, while appearing calm on the surface these past two days, was also deeply concerned about the situation.

To speak realistically, over the years, the Anomaly Security Bureau had never given up searching for other players capable of using that particular anomalous item. Unfortunately, those they managed to find had extremely low compatibility with the item.

So far, Lin Lan remained their *only* option.

‘Only’—this word represented too much uncertainty.

Even Lin Lan himself was a factor in that uncertainty.

Wang Xingxing, Rao Fei, Peng Jia, and Peng Xu were all carefully selected action team members.

Before entering the anomaly, Peng Jia and Peng Xu had even received instructions from headquarters: if it cost all four of them and still couldn’t secure Lin Lan’s clearance, they were permitted to take action against other players in the same anomaly.

Given the combined abilities of the Peng brothers and Rao Fei, Lin Lan would be able to get out of the anomaly no matter what.

However, Zhao Yanhan also understood the character of these three men. Unless the situation became so critical that there were no other options, they would likely choose to prioritize sacrificing themselves.

They would only retaliate if other players made a move first, and only to ensure stability.

What worried him was...

Zhao Yanhan recalled his last communication with Rao Fei, who mentioned that Lin Lan’s position was somewhat precarious.

In his office, the man unclenched his tightly balled fist and picked up the phone to make a call. "Is the psychological counseling team ready?"

The response came quickly: "Director Zhao, yes. As soon as Director Lin exits the anomaly, we will provide psychological intervention immediately. We’re familiar with the procedure."

Zhao Yanhan did not comment on that, only instructing, "Ensure the procedure is gentle. Had Lin Lan issued any orders to your team before entering the anomaly?"

The head of the psychological counseling team fell silent for a few seconds before replying, "Yes. Director Lin said before entering that if he emerged from the anomaly alone, he allowed us to use any form of soothing on him, and that we must immediately ensure his emotional stability."

Zhao Yanhan: "Good, understood."

With that, he hung up.

The office fell into silence once more.

Having worked together for years, Zhao Yanhan understood Lin Lan’s character deeply.

He wasn’t cold or selfish, usually kept a low profile, and disliked troubling others. If given a monthly allowance and an internet connection at home, he could stay indoors for months without stepping outside.

At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary person.

His personality was both sound and fragile.

Years ago, headquarters had considered steering Lin Lan’s temperament in another direction, but the idea was ultimately rejected by the Director of headquarters.

The reasoning was simple: who could guarantee that a cold, unfeeling person who felt no psychological burden watching others sacrifice themselves would willingly bear the consequences of having their abilities restricted by anomalous items, never improving significantly, for the sake of elderly and children they had never met?

Thus, the plan to shape Lin Lan’s personality was put on hold.

These discussions were never hidden from Lin Lan.

Afterward, every time Lin Lan emerged from an anomaly, he pretended on the surface that it didn't matter. But Zhao Yanhan knew he couldn’t bear too many sacrifices made on his behalf.

Each time he exited an anomaly, he needed to undergo some psychological intervention.

But after so many interventions, Zhao Yanhan always worried that one day, Lin Lan would reach a breaking point and suffer irreversible psychological damage.

Moreover, due to the anomalous item Lin Lan carried—an item with overbearing power—the power of other anomalous items found it difficult to take effect on Lin Lan.

At this thought, Zhao Yanhan couldn’t suppress his stifling anxiety and took a deep, stern breath.

The next moment, the phone rang again.

He exhaled and answered, "Speak."

"Director Zhao, Director Lin and the others are back!"

"Them? Besides Lin Lan, who else?"

The action team member on the phone was clearly excited, his voice so loud it was audible even without the receiver: "Them! They’re all back! Director Lin, Rao Fei, Wang Xingxing, Peng Jia, Peng Xu! They’re all here!"

"Good, I understand." After hearing the names, Zhao Yanhan calmly hung up.

The next second, with a sharp crack, the office door slammed against the frame. Zhao Yanhan had already vanished from the office.

***

On the other side, the moment Lin Lan exited the anomaly, he used his item to lock onto the other four besides himself.

His power was stretched to the limit, insufficient to include Rao Fei and the others in the range of immunity from anomaly selection.

But over time, he had discovered a bug in his anomalous item that could be exploited.

He couldn’t place Rao Fei and the others within the immunity range, but before implementation, there was a target selection step.

The item’s function was to prevent humans of a certain age range from being selected by anomalous events.

In other words, only humans could be selected as targets.

Inside the anomaly, due to the anomaly’s suppression, aside from daily energy supply, he couldn’t complete this operation.

Now outside the anomaly, Lin Lan proficiently locked onto each person before him one by one.

Rao Fei, Wang Xingxing, Peng Jia, and finally Peng Xu. After scanning the last one, Lin Lan, who had been holding onto his last thread of tension, finally relaxed completely.

Surrounded by numerous colleagues from the Anomaly Security Bureau, his eyes rimmed red, he bent over, gasping for breath, his whole body shaking violently.

He felt like a prisoner who had to undergo inhuman punishment regularly, and for once, luck was on his side—he went out and returned without facing any "punishment."

He could finally catch his breath.

"You... you really are all human. Not anomalies, not disguised anomalies."

"Haha, you... haha, you’re all still alive."

"You made it out of the anomaly with me! Haha, you made it out of the anomaly with me!!"

The usually gentle and refined man wore an expression and tone that seemed half-crying, half-laughing. By the end, overwhelmed by emotion, he even started coughing.

Rao Fei and the others were similarly speechless.

It all felt too much like a dream—like a dream when they woke up, like a dream when they were in the sea, and even more like a beautiful illusion before death when they sank to the bottom and saw the young man waving at them from the deck.

It wasn’t until they truly left the anomaly, set foot on the Anomaly Security Bureau’s grounds, and received the feedback from the anomalous world confirming their clearance of the anomaly that reality finally sank in.

Wang Xingxing looked at his hand, and slowly, a small, transparent stone resembling a diamond appeared in his palm.

"Anomalous Item: Industrial Waste from the Wasteland World

Grade: Unknown

Usage: Unknown

Effect: Unknown

Description: Industrial waste commonly found in the wasteland world. Could it be that it’s also a treasured keepsake carefully collected by someone? Lucky player, now that you’ve obtained this item, will you discard it or cherish it?"

This was something Selection Manager Su had given him while he was getting makeup done backstage during a public performance.

Recalling the series of unknowns fed back to him by the anomalous world, Wang Xingxing carefully stored the small stone away and turned to comfort Director Lin, who was still half-crying, half-laughing.

"Director Lin, control your emotions, control your emotions~"

"Don’t let it be that we’ve all made it out, only for you to pass out from oxygen poisoning."

Having vented for a while and indeed feeling dizzy with numbness in his hands and feet, Lin Lan leaned against the wall and obediently tried to calm himself.

At that moment, Liu Jiang, who had also been watching the scene, adhered to his get-it-done attitude and efficiently approached Rao Fei, who seemed to be in a relatively stable condition.

Rao Fei, who had also received a "diamond" as a gift in return, turned his head: "What is it? Go ahead."

His emotions were extremely complicated.

As could be seen from his earlier warning to Wang Xingxing, he held deep suspicion toward any anomaly.

But now...

Since he was told to speak, Liu Jiang got straight to the point: "That anomaly you encountered in the anomaly—the one that kept showing up everywhere in the anomaly—did you run into him again this time?"

Rao Fei also leaned against the wall: "What about it?"

"When you and Director Lin entered the anomaly, I made a new discovery. Take a look—is this what the anomaly you encountered in the anomaly looked like?"

Liu Jiang produced a photo—the very one provided by Wu Yang, a club activity photo of Su Ximu from his university days.

Rao Fei took the photo and examined it closely. The young man in the photo had fine features, clear eyes, and even the small dimple at the corner of his mouth when he smiled was identical.

He frowned: "Where did you get this photo?"

The team members who came to pick up Director Lin were all core members of the Anomaly Security Bureau.

So Liu Jiang could speak freely.

He lowered his voice and said directly, "About two months ago, a student vanished right from his dorm. Since this student and his roommate had previously witnessed a player disappearing, his roommate had my contact information and came straight to our bureau."

"This photo is of the missing student named Su Ximu."

Rao Fei’s hand, holding the photo, paused: "What name?"

Liu Jiang repeated: "Su Ximu."

"Which Su, which Xi, which Mu?"

Liu Jiang turned the photo over and showed him the name written on the back.

Rubbing the edge of the photo, Rao Fei stared at the three characters as if recalling something, his pupils suddenly contracting.

He looked at Liu Jiang and spoke, as if asking him, or perhaps himself: "Could it be that an anomaly, after taking a liking to a player’s physical form, also took a liking to the player’s name?"

In other words, could such a coincidence really happen in this world?

It was possible.

But Rao Fei knew that his own heart was beginning to waver.

He found himself somewhat unwilling to paint the young man—who had smiled and waved at them, saying he would send them home—as something sinister.