As the head of the Special Affairs Bureau's Hoshan Road Base, Director Jien Rushuang didn't have player privileges.
She came from the military defense technology system and was a nuclear engineering and nuclear technology researcher. Over thirty years old, she had a spirited and decisive demeanor and rarely engaged in frivolous conversation.
As for why a nuclear engineering researcher—who wasn't even a player—was appointed to head the Yin City Special Affairs Bureau...
Wei Linglan had no idea.
"Director Jien, I am Wei Linglan, a registered operative of the Yin City Mobile Detachment, Team Two, ID number 024811."
Wei Linglan saluted Jien Rushuang and began to report on the mission. She recounted everything that had happened, from the moment she accepted the mission at the Yongyi Pavilion Restaurant to when she led her team into the office building.
Jien Rushuang listened quietly to the report, her brows slightly furrowed. "I understand," she said noncommittally. "Go downstairs and follow procedure to write a detailed report. As for your parents and the other civilians, we will conduct comprehensive physical examinations and perform Level A Memory Clearance on them after we exit the Misty Territory."
Revealing the secrets of the game massacre at this stage would cause a huge shock to the existing social order. To reduce the negative social impact and to guard against certain anomalies that could easily cause cognitive disasters—(for example, nightmares that can kill in dreams, or a Succubus that makes one have wonderful dreams with just a glance)—the Academy of Sciences, the Engineering Academy, and the Special Affairs Bureau's Scientific Research Division jointly developed a Memory Clearance guide. They used various methods, confirmed to have no side effects, to erase the relevant memories of those in need.
Memory Clearance is divided into seven levels. Level A involves using hypnotic suggestion and chemical sprays to erase a common person's memories from the past few hours, replacing them with vague and easily forgotten ones. It is especially suitable for eliminating the impact on witnesses of large-scale anomalous events.
"Yes, ma'am."
Wei Linglan saluted Jien Rushuang and Xing Hechou. She hesitated for a moment but suppressed the urge to ask about the details of the mist before turning to leave the command center.
After she left, Jien Rushuang continued to look at the Heterodox Academy youth in the center of the command center, who was busy drawing a Formation, her expression revealing neither sadness nor joy.
"You should really smile more," Xing Hechou coughed softly and said quietly to her. "Being so serious all the time puts a lot of pressure on them."
"Heh." Jien Rushuang pursed her lips coldly and glanced at Xing Hechou. "I see you're not under much stress."
"Really?" Xing Hechou rubbed his stubble with a wry smile. "My hair has been falling out terribly recently. I need to get some hair growth and conditioning herbs from the Technical Division."
Speaking of the Technical Division, Jien Rushuang's expression turned a bit strange.
Ever since the game massacre began, special products from different scenario worlds have opened a new door for scientific research. Numerous researchers were cooped up in their labs; new theories were proposed every week, and new practical technologies were realized. Among these were many odd experimental products.
For example, there was a purple, apple-shaped fruit that, upon consumption, could increase one's height. However, its side effect was the complete loss of sphincter control, leaving toilet habits entirely to fate. There was also a type of scavenger fish with little flesh and many bones. It had a bitter and sour taste, and a texture comparable to dry wood; no one would want it even if it were given away at the fish market. But long-term consumption of this fish truly strengthened the kidneys and invigorated the body—a blessing for male compatriots. The only side effect of this fish was that it caused people to lose their hair like crazy; if consumed in large quantities over a short period, it could even cause eyebrow loss.
There were a great many such bizarre experimental products. Consequently, the higher-ups had to order a halt to investment in a batch of projects that, for the time being, showed no practical application or research potential. Incidentally, the project for cultivating the kidney-strengthening, body-invigorating scavenger fish wasn't cut directly. Many researchers still used their free time to "offer advice" to the project team in the laboratory, while also taking the opportunity to enjoy some of the fifth-generation, artificially-bred scavenger fish soup, which had milder side effects.
Regardless, it was ultimately a good thing that the researchers maintained such high enthusiasm... probably.
Jien Rushuang shook her head, casting aside her scattered thoughts.
At this moment, the blindfolded young man in white cloth had nearly finished drawing the Formation. He planted his enormous brush on the ground, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and after a short rest, he let out an explosive shout, thrusting the tip of his brush forcefully into the center of the Formation to mark the final spot.
Everyone in the command center, including Jien Rushuang and Xing Hechou, held their breath, silently waiting for something to happen.
One second passed, then two. All was calm; nothing happened.
Xing Hechou looked around. After waiting for a long while, he couldn't help but ask, "Comrade Zhu, what's going on—"
Before he could finish, the air began to vibrate. The sound of shattering glass filled everyone's ears, along with a distant, barely audible cat's meow.
The Heterodox Academy scholar, Zhu Xuemin, let out a long breath and sighed somberly, "The Mirage Cloud Gathering Formation has taken effect. We have left the Misty Territory. Yin City is safe... for now."
At that moment, Li Ang, who was in a holding room downstairs, also heard the sound. Like everyone else, he looked up, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Have we left the Misty Territory?
This uncanny premonition surged in everyone's heart. The Special Affairs Bureau agents, both inside and outside the holding room, were quite excited. The civilians in the room were even more direct; overwhelmed by the emotion of having survived the disaster, they excitedly embraced each other.
As an ordinary person, Li Ang also took the opportunity to hug Wang Congshan, causing her face to turn red as she quickly pushed him away.
"What are you doing?" Wang Congshan glared fiercely at Li Ang, her face a bit flushed. "Why are you smiling so brightly?"
"It's nothing, I'm just really happy," Li Ang said.
Li Ang still had a sincere, brilliant smile on his face, but his mind remained absolutely calm.
At this moment, Wei Linglan must be in an office somewhere, reporting to her superiors. Her report will definitely include information about the 'two companion players.' Based on my assessment of the Special Affairs Bureau, they will definitely arrange comprehensive physical examinations for these innocent civilians who were caught in the mist. Firstly, this is to be responsible for the safety of the people, in case they were harmed by something in the Misty Territory. Secondly, it's also to check if any other players are hidden among the civilians.
Li Ang's thoughts raced. Players with physical abilities far exceeding the norm are easily exposed during a comprehensive physical examination. Whether it's an eye exam, an ENT exam, a complete blood count including hemoglobin and other routine blood tests, or a full biochemical panel, a bone density test, and a metabolic rate test, all of these can easily identify players. Luckily, I've already made preparations...
Indeed, Li Ang had thought of this even before Miss Chai plundered the Red and White Devils. When he changed back from Yu Zhenghai to Li Ang, he had specifically taken out the Origin of Life in the dense fog and stuffed it into the inner lining of the clothes on his back. After everyone was brought into the Special Affairs Bureau base, he immediately allocated the single free attribute point he gained from leveling up to Intelligence, thereby meeting the usage requirements for the Origin of Life. Then, he immediately activated the Origin of Life hidden in the inner lining of his clothes, making some modifications to his body structure and adjusting his bone density and other data to an ordinary person's levels. This process consumed a great deal of Sanity Value. Even Li Ang nearly fainted when his Sanity Value dropped to almost 25%.
After the modifications were complete, he endured his headache and took advantage of the moment when everyone was hugging each other. He retrieved the Origin of Life from his back, put it into his backpack, hugged Wang Congshan briefly, and completed the entire concealment process.
This level of concealment was the absolute limit of what Li Ang could achieve. If the Special Affairs Bureau can still discover me after this, then I can only say, 'You guys at the Special Affairs Bureau are truly something else.'
His headache didn't last long.
Soon, a staff member from the Special Affairs Bureau entered the holding room and briefly reassured everyone. Citing the need for verbal statements and comprehensive physical examinations, they split everyone into groups, who then took turns entering different interrogation-specific rooms.
Li Ang, still suffering from his headache, cooperated very actively with the Special Affairs Bureau's interrogation. He apprehensively explained why he had disguised himself as Wei Linglan's boyfriend and voluntarily removed his makeup (since the Special Affairs Bureau would discover it during the check-up anyway). During the recording of his verbal statement, the two Special Affairs Bureau agents maintained calm expressions and showed no particular reaction, only expressing slight surprise at Li Ang's makeup skills. But that was all. These days, who doesn't know a bit of makeup? It's hardly a rare skill.
After his verbal statement was recorded, a specialist took Li Ang to another room for a thorough physical examination. This included, but was not limited to, blood tests, muscle tissue sample collection, CT scans, and bone density checks.
After the series of complex physical examinations was completed, Li Ang was taken to a private room resembling a psychologist's office. There, he lay on a couch to undergo hypnosis by a psychologist and receive a treatment with some kind of chemical spray.
The Memory Clearance procedure was completely ineffective against Li Ang, who was a player. But he still pretended his memory had been erased, his eyes unfocused, drooling, and constantly repeating what the psychologist had told him.
"I've been eating at the Yongyi Court Restaurant for a very long time... I've been eating at the Yongyi Court Restaurant for a very long time..."
Li Ang was a professional when it came to playing the fool. In elementary school, if Li Ang encountered a teacher on the street and didn't want to say "Hello, Teacher," he would showcase his impressive acting skills: eyes wide, neck tilted, walking on his hands, and mumbling, "You can't see me, you can't see me." This way, he could easily avoid greeting the teacher, and the teachers would give him a wide berth, no longer daring to call on him in class.
Of course, that was all in the past. Li Ang's skills at playing dumb had declined somewhat now, but it was still enough to deceive an ordinary psychologist. If he took a selfie of his act right now and sent it to a photography magazine, he could probably win the annual photography award with the title 'A Fool's Springtime.'
In short, after everyone had completed both the physical examinations and Memory Clearance procedures, they were led by Special Affairs Bureau agents to an open area behind the first floor. Once everyone had assembled, the agents escorted all the dazed civilians onto several official vehicles and, using their residential information, sent them home.