Joining the special operations department undoubtedly tilted resources in every aspect of life.
"It's both a privilege and isolation," the system calmly remarked, almost mockingly implying Lu Yan's lack of worldly experience.
K City wasn't far from S City, less than a 2-hour high-speed train ride.
As an international metropolis and the nation's financial hub, S City gleamed with vitality, bustling with hopeful young faces on the streets.
Another perk of joining the special operations department was full accommodation wherever one went, saving Lu Yan considerable lodging expenses.
Each city's Prevention and Control Center had dedicated reception facilities, offering free food, drinks, and lifelong accommodation.
In S City, the staff assigned to accommodate Lu Yan was a woman. Glancing at her, he found her oddly familiar.
Her ID card read three words: Du Weiwei.
"Weren't you in K City a few months ago?" Lu Yan asked.
Du Weiwei looked surprised, "Ah, my hometown is in K City. I came to S City for university. During the Spring Festival, I went home and coincidentally encountered the contamination disease. I ended up staying there for quite a while. Just graduated this year and was planning to return home to collect rent..."
But after experiencing the contamination disease firsthand, Du Weiwei realized she couldn't rest easy.
She remembered the despair of being trapped at home and the special ops personnel breaking in when hope seemed lost.
She wanted to do something, even though she was just an ordinary person with very little to offer.
Lu Yan: "I know your family has a whole building for a house."
Du Weiwei's expression remained blank, but then, as if recalling something, she suddenly said, "You were the one wandering downstairs that night! Wow, you actually joined the special ops! Are you here in City S for a mission?"
"Here to buy a house in a good school district," Lu Yan, not very familiar with City S, asked, "Which is the best primary school here?"
Without hesitation, Du Weiwei replied, "That would be X Primary School in Hongjiang District."
The housing around this school cost around 200,000 per square meter and was often in high demand.
Luckily, for the current Lu Yan, a house worth 20 million was just 2000 contribution points. He could easily afford ten of those with his balance.
Contribution points could be exchanged for cash, but cash couldn't be converted to contribution points.
The next day, Lu Yan started house hunting with the agent's guidance. He focused on ready-to-move-in finished houses. In the end, he chose a second-hand house with a total price of 27 million.
Since he didn't plan to stay in City S for long, he made a one-time payment. That day, he signed the purchase agreement with the landlord.
The real estate agent was almost worshipping him.
The next day, he had to pay taxes and transfer ownership at the housing authority.
Apparently, the relevant departments had been notified, and everything went smoothly for Lu Yan.
Normally, once the house was bought, the transaction would be over.
But the landlord eagerly approached him, "Little Lu, are you from out of town? To be honest, I've had some business trouble recently. Your purchase of this house solves a big problem for me."
"Well, I happen to have a business meeting tomorrow." His voice lowered, "Do you know about the Mermaid Club in City S that's been trending lately?"
Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, "What about it?"
"Wasn't it caused by contamination, leading to mutations? Some people living by the sea grew fish tails. Now they're all relocated to an island with a resort built for them. The club has been there for years. It used to be a place for the elites, and now it's finally open to the public."
"To be honest, I have a ticket to that island. Want it for a million? You won't see real mermaids anywhere else," the landlord finished, a sly smile on his face, "I heard these mermaids have reproductive organs of both genders, unusual but exquisite."
"Growing fish tails, wouldn't that be mutated beings?" Lu Yan asked the system, remembering the fish-headed mermaids he'd seen in K City, feeling nauseated.
The system replied: [They're not mutated beings, they're pollutants. I recommend you visit this mermaid club.]
"Why?" He wasn't interested in the mermaids' reproductive organs.
After a moment of thought, the system said: [You might see your father.]
In the western seas far from the mainland, Shen Qingyang lay weakly on a rocky shore by the Dragon Maiden Lake.
In July, the sun at low latitudes was fiercer than he imagined. He wasn't sure if his tentacles were getting cooked.
"Why hasn't the Black Dragon come?" Shen Qingyang's voice was feeble.
In front of him was a worn-out book, "Three Years of High School Entrance Exams and Five Years of Mock Tests - Science Comprehensive Edition," almost falling apart due to repeated use.
The prophet sat beside him, "It should have come by now. Let me check again."
His last prophecy had left him severely injured. He hadn't used his prophetic ability during this time.
He closed his eyes and, after a moment, opened them. The enormous human eye was bloodshot all over: "The future has changed! How is this possible?!"
"What do you mean?"
The prophet weakly said, "The Black Dragon won't come."
Shen Qingyang angrily slammed his tentacle on the beach, splashing water meters high, "I've been waiting here for three months, even missed the college entrance exams! And now you're telling me it was all in vain?"
The prophet was momentarily speechless, "You don't even have an ID. How would you take the exams?"
Shen Qingyang's tentacles curled in pain, "It's different, unlike you, I have mimicry. I can hit the streets, knock out a low-scoring student, steal their exam permit, and take the test. With my abilities, scoring over 600 would be a piece of cake!"
The prophet: "..."
He wanted to argue but was stunned to realize this plan might actually work.
"It's okay, don't be upset. There's always next year," the prophet comforted him, "If you like, you can take the exams every year. And with a score over 600 now, after another year of review, you'll score even higher. The person you like will definitely look at you differently."
Shen Qingyang's emotions calmed down, "You're right, teacher. Where do we go now?"
He had had enough of this signal-less island.
The prophet calculated and said, "Let's go to City S. It's time to collect the fish I've been raising."
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