[The talent transplantation surgery, I'd call it an instant reincarnation surgery.]
[Donors of the surgery instantly reincarnate.]
Even after removing pollutants from special items, extreme weakness follows, let alone stripping talents from humans.
Lu Yan still remembers the first day he awakened his talent. When Lin Sinan came with the staff, the system warned him not to enter the research institute.
Among the three departments related to Harbingers, the research institute is the most mysterious, never open to the public. But no one denies the institute's contributions.
Whether it's the tools and special drugs provided by the Disease Prevention and Control Center or the detection devices essential for Harbingers, it all hinges on the institute's tireless efforts day and night.
It's like a knife—harmless on its own, it all depends on the person wielding it, whether they want to kill or save.
Therefore, Lu Yan openly stated, "I accept the modification of my file. But I refuse the talent transplantation surgery."
As an experienced logistics personnel, Director Li readily replied, "Understood. Headquarters has also considered cases like yours where you don't want to undergo talent transplantation. In that case, your recorded talents will be listed as 'warning' and 'cross-species communication.' What do you think?"
"Cross-species communication" was information obtained from the reports by the detectives and Tang Xunan. But this talent wasn't highly practical and didn't meet the selection criteria for special operations.
"Warning" ranked 501 on the talent cycle list, the most common awakening for ordinary people. And this thing was more apparent than useful. No one really expects auxiliary-type Harbingers to kill many pollutants anyway.
Lu Yan thought it was acceptable.
Director Li: "Great. Also, the research institute has reviewed the mission report you submitted earlier and found it very valuable. They've specially awarded you 100 contribution points as intelligence reward."
That was unexpected for Lu Yan.
After leaving the director's office, Lu Yan headed to the medical center to update his work permit.
"Spiritual threshold 1450. Congratulations, Mr. Lu, you've reached the level of an E-class Harbinger. We'll immediately replace your work permit."
Spiritual threshold 500-1500: E-class.
Lu Yan was previously at the bottom F level. Surprisingly, in just over a month since awakening, he had reached the threshold of D-class.
But in the few instances he faced, any Harbinger of similar level would meet a dead-end. Danger always comes with opportunity, and Lu Yan had no complaints.
With the upgraded level, his monthly salary increased.
Lu Yan went to the logistics department to collect this month's special drugs, three pills, and casually picked up a brochure from the front desk.
The staff glanced at his work permit pinned to his chest and smiled, "Hello, sir. These are the latest spiritual items in stock at the K City Contamination Disease Prevention Center, along with the contribution points redemption list."
1 contribution point can be exchanged for 10,000 cash, 100 contribution points for one D-class special drug.
Lu Yan took out the drugs he had just received and compared them with the picture in the brochure. They were identical.
According to the brochure, the headquarters invests an average of millions each month on Harbingers. It seemed they weren't joking.
Lu Yan flipped a couple of pages further.
The average price of F-level spiritual weapons was around 100.
The average price of healing items at F-level was around 300.
The first page of the brochure displayed a B-level spiritual item, a beautifully crafted silver longbow named "Dream Shock."
Description: B-level spiritual item. Arrows shot induce hallucinations when hitting enemies and provide self-defense.
Recommended for users with a spiritual threshold of 5000 and above.
Price: 30,000 contribution points.
Lu Yan had earned over six thousand contribution points for treating Zhou Qiming's illness but unfortunately spent them before they could accumulate. Now, he was cash-strapped, so he nonchalantly put down the brochure, feigning disinterest.
The newly recruited Harbinger skills training conference was held in Yanjing. Spanning three months, it ran from April 1st to June 30th.
During this waiting period for the training, Lu Yan, having nothing else to do, resumed performing surgeries at the hospital.
Because of his exceptional physical condition post-awakening, Lu Yan could perform seven to eight major surgeries a day, leaving even the anesthetists trembling at the thought of overtime.
Even the nurses who used to flock around him now changed colors and almost left in haste.
Given Lu Yan's outstanding performance, he was successfully employed as the youngest chief physician at the K City First People's Hospital.
It wasn't conventional, but it made sense. A few inexperienced young doctors, unclear about the situation, expressed dissatisfaction, but the hospital authorities quickly quashed their objections.
A joke, really. His primary job wasn't even being a doctor. So, what was the fuss about giving him the title of chief?
However, before Lu Yan could get used to being called "Chief Lu," he was compelled to hitch a ride with Zhou Qiming to Yanjing.
The headquarters had arranged a first-class ticket for the flight.
Zhou Qiming drove his silver Rolls-Royce to the hospital entrance to pick Lu Yan up after work.
Dressed in a floral shirt and sunglasses, he seemed like a young master about to hit the nightlife scene. On the passenger seat lay a roll of bright red banners.
Seeing Lu Yan coming out, Zhou Qiming stepped out of the car, pulled out the banner, and shook it with excitement, "Dr. Lu, I checked. They say doctors like this. Do you like it?"
Lu Yan glanced at the banner, which read two lines in bold: "Gynecology Virtuoso, Compassionate Healer."
Presented by patient Zhou Qiming to Dr. Lu of K City First People's Hospital.
March 28, 2121.
The system couldn't resist: [Chuckle.]
Lu Yan: "...Are you afraid people won't know you've been pregnant?"
In that moment, Zhou Qiming saw a clear line of text popping up above Lu Yan's head.
[Affection -1].
Yes, due to his talent in the virtual world. Everything around Zhou Qiming could be visualized.
The title above Lu Yan's head changed. Previously "Carnivorous Flower Doctor," in just a few days, it inexplicably became "Bloodthirsty Fish Killer."
Lu Yan declined the banner; he couldn't afford to lose it.
He sat in the passenger seat, and as Zhou Qiming pressed the gas, the luxury car made its way from the hospital to the airport.
Zhou Qiming: "I've never joined the special operations department, so I lack freedom. But Dr. Lu, I support your decision to join. Becoming a civil servant is good, there's security. After all, not everyone, like me, is a self-made second-generation rich."
System: [Even his self-made status was sponsored by the Disease Prevention and Control Center, to prevent social backlash in case of investment failures.]
Zhou Qiming: "My talent sequence ranks 59. It's a pretty high-level talent, and I haven't trained much these years. My spiritual threshold has risen to over seven thousand. I think I'm quite reliable, Dr. Lu."
Lu Yan let it go in one ear and out the other: "Hmm."
Here's a smooth English translation:
Half an hour later, the car finally reached the airport. Lu Yan got out of the car, about to pick up his ticket, when he saw Zhou Qiming open the trunk and take out a bunch of bright red roses.
Zhou Qiming, with deep affection, said, "We've been through a lot together. Doctor Lu, I'll be frank, you're the only person who has ever moved me in my over forty years of life."
The sky was blue, the sunlight pleasant. Zhou Qiming was also quite handsome, at least on the surface.
Lu Yan quietly asked the system, "Is there a polite way to decline?"
Although Lu Yan always claimed to be homosexual, he was more like an asexual. His interest in dead bodies far surpassed that of the living.
System: [Yes, think carefully about his forum name.]
So, Lu Yan took the roses and smiled, saying, "Mr. Zhou, you're a good person, but I'm a zero."
The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Throughout the journey, Zhou Qiming didn't speak to Lu Yan again.
The seats in the first-class cabin were quite far apart. Lu Yan watched as Zhou Qiming ordered three glasses of whiskey on the plane, drowning his sorrows.
After some thought, Lu Yan put on his eye mask and tried to sleep.
But he was abruptly awakened by intense turbulence.
Above him, the captain was somewhat panicked, announcing, "We've encountered extreme thunderstorm conditions mid-flight. We'll be making an emergency landing. Please fasten your seat belts—"
Lu Yan turned to look out of the window.
The black clouds loomed threateningly. The inky clouds occasionally revealed glimpses of purple lightning at their edges.
If that was all, Lu Yan wouldn't have been too worried. After all, he'd heard the captain was from a resilient nation; such extreme weather should be manageable.
What worried Lu Yan was the rising numbers on his contamination detection device.
Pollution level: 2000.
The system whispered, "[Mutated bird group, originally a flock of geese, now called thunderbirds. E-class pollutants, usually appearing in groups.] [They were migrating, and your plane happened to collide with them.] [Honestly, the system suggests the host should stay indoors. Every time you travel far, it triggers the 'disaster strikes from the sky' buff.]"
"Animals can mutate too?"
"Animals are living beings, why wouldn't they mutate? Besides animals, plants can too. Anything living can. Especially things in the sea... they're much more terrifying than pollutants caused by humans."
"Land-based mutations started a hundred years ago. But sea mutations have been ongoing for centuries..."
Ignoring the flight attendant's warnings, Lu Yan unfastened his seat belt and went to Zhou Qiming's side.
"Zhou Qiming." Lu Yan shook him. "Wake up, there's contamination."
Due to the turbulence, Lu Yan almost had to use both hands to steady Zhou Qiming, almost like pinning him against a wall.
Zhou Qiming, still groggy from the alcohol, tearfully said, "Doctor Lu, you're so handsome. I've figured it out. I'm willing to do anything for love."
At that moment, Lu Yan seriously considered splashing water on Zhou Qiming's face to sober him up.
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