Lu Yan arrived home in the middle of the night. As he entered, the system's voice buzzed in his ears.
"Prophet, in his youth, once participated in a mysterious society called the Truth Society... This society has been banned in the country, labeled as a cult. In his younger days, he coincidentally obtained seven kingfisher embryos, and the one we are looking for now is overseas."
In K City, at the Parasitic Fish, Dragon Maiden Lake, and Mermaid Club, Lu Yan found three unhatched kingfishers. One was quite large, and after consuming two, he gained regeneration and delirium.
However, the system suggested, "Do you want to exchange for a new pair of eyes?"
This statement was intriguing. The system chuckled, "Isn't it ridiculous? Does anyone really believe they are the chosen one and can always conveniently find unhatched fish?"
"Open your Tianqi Forum, go to the reward mission section. Scroll down to the B-level category, page 3, row 6."
Lu Yan followed the instructions. The post was titled "[Kroman Manor]" in the B-level pollution zone, located on the distant Sunset Peninsula.
Introduction: Kroman Manor has always been the private estate of the Count. In recent centuries, due to poor management, the Count had to sell properties, and Kroman Manor was one of them. Its new owners are a wealthy couple engaged in ocean shipping.
The couple, beyond forty years old and childless, finally conceived at the age of 44. The husband hired the best private doctor and brought his wife to Kroman Manor for childbirth.
However, the doctor concealed the fact that he was contaminated before coming. The entire family, along with the unborn child, was killed, and the manor was shrouded in black mist.
In the past year, the black mist began to dissipate. Some disaster hunters explored, but all lost contact. Some claimed to see the seal of the Truth Society on the manor's outskirts.
[Additional information] (accessible after accepting the mission)
Objective: Explore Kroman Manor and report back.
Rewarding party: Disaster Hunter Guild
Total reward: 70,000 contribution points + equivalent value of spiritual energy items/pollution clues
Note: Based on detection, pollution levels within 10 kilometers of Kroman Manor range from 2100-2700. The internal pollution level is estimated to be around 6700, classified as a B-level pollution zone.
Outside China, due to historical legacy issues, there isn't a single central organization like in Huaxia. Besides the official Pollution Disease Prevention and Control Center, various private groups have emerged, with the Disaster Hunter Guild and the Old Covenant Alliance being the most famous.
The Disaster Hunter Guild not only recruits Harbingers but also ordinary people.
Lu Yan chose to accept the mission, but the next moment, a pop-up appeared on his phone: "Sorry, this mission is only available to B-rank or higher Harbingers."
By the time he reached City A, Lu Yan's spiritual power threshold had reached 4000.
Later, at the Clearing Research Institute, he swallowed a box jellyfish and some Tang Xunan maple syrup. Now his spiritual power threshold was precisely at 5000.
According to the system, leveling up by eating pollution was like consuming raw herbs, while feeding on Harbingers or Perfect Evolved Beings was like taking pre-extracted pills—less harm and faster results.
The cost was that his mutation level had risen to 41. Now, after some recovery, it barely dropped to 395.
In such cases, headquarters wouldn't assign new tasks to Harbingers. However, if they wanted to take on a task themselves, there was no strict restriction. After all, 39 was far from the danger level of 70.
To be able to take on this mission, Lu Yan planned to visit the Disease Prevention and Control Center and update his employee profile.
He tied a tie in front of the mirror, attached a short knife to his leg, put on a long coat, bent down to adjust the belt buckle on his boots, and then began packing.
Xiaotian was anxious, accidentally spilling water and breaking a plate. Lu Yan couldn't stand such messes, so he always swept and cleaned.
After a few times, Xiaotian didn't dare to do it again, just lying on the side, eagerly asking, "Is Little Lu leaving?"
Tang Xunan hadn't come back yet. If he found Lu Yan missing, he would likely be upset for a while.
Lu Yan replied, "Planning to visit the Disease Prevention and Control Center."
Xiaotian wagged his tail, "Going to the Disease Prevention and Control Center, huh? That's fine. Why are you packing in the middle of the night?"
"Going to update my ID card and take on a mission."
Xiaotian asked, "What mission? Wait for Old Tang to come back and go together!"
Lu Yan answered, "He can't always be with me."
Understanding his implied meaning, Xiaotian lay down and said, "Then come back soon. I'll take care of myself at home."
Lu Yan slung his bow, opened the door, and said, "Certainly."
The Disease Prevention and Control Center had staff on duty 24 hours a day.
City A, being the heart of the Huaxia region, even had a more impressive Disease Prevention and Control Center than K City.
Lu Yan swiped his card to enter the building, and soon, dedicated staff members received him.
As long as Harbingers were willing, testing the spiritual power threshold was not difficult. It just required staying in a metal chamber for a while.
The detector gave an accurate result: 50114.
"Congratulations, Mr. Lu. You have officially become a B-rank Harbinger," the staff member's eyes sparkled. "According to records, you are the fastest-promoted Harbinger to date. In just under nine months, you've progressed from F to B-rank."
The spiritual power threshold for B-rank Harbingers ranges from 5000 to 8000, providing a wide spectrum.
"Initially, B-rank Harbingers had a range of 6000 to 8000. Headquarters wanted to conceal the issue of insufficient high-level combat power, so they adjusted the values. After all, the higher the rank, the fewer advanced Harbingers there are."
"Nowadays, there are over 80,000 Harbingers worldwide, with 20,000 emerging in the last five years. However, advanced titles, B, A, and S-rank Harbingers, total just over three hundred."
"For a Harbinger to grow, they face not only a massive amount of pollutants but also the inherent difficulties of their own mutations. This makes advanced Harbingers the winners of only 0.37%."
"If we exclude the 5000-6000 spiritual power range, this ratio might drop to just 0.01%."
Lu Yan responded, "Thank you. By the way, I've taken on a mission that requires me to go abroad."
Nationwide, unless a Harbinger has a criminal record or fails a mental check, there is no monitoring. However, going abroad requires pre-registration; otherwise, even with a visa, they can't leave unless they choose to smuggle.
The staff member was surprised, "Alright, please wait a moment. I'll check with headquarters... May I ask what mission you've taken on?"
"Mission code B306."
The Tianqi Forum is connected in real-time, and now that Lu Yan's information has been updated, he casually accepted the mission.
The forum prompt indicated that A-rank Harbinger Michael had also taken on a mission, recruiting teammates and already adding them as forum friends for private chats.
It was nighttime in China, but in Michael's timezone, it was clearly working hours.
The person named Michael quickly sent a message. The content had already been automatically translated by the forum.
Michael: Hello. Your name is strange. Are you from Huaxia?
Michael: Oooo, I remember you! You're the one who suddenly ranked first on the intermediate title list before. You're at B-rank now? Did you take the Kroman Manor pollution zone mission? Can you grant permission for me to see your talents and spiritual power threshold?
In the forum, all messages are hidden from strangers. Still, if there's an intention to cooperate, permissions can be opened.
Perhaps to show sincerity, Michael sent his information first.
[Michael]
Talents: 30 - Holy Light; 70 - Bestowal; 129 - Combat Specialization
Spiritual Power Threshold: 8368
Mutation Direction: Avian Transformation
Mental State: Good (No obvious aggression; becomes reckless and aggressive after excessive talent usage)
"What are Bestowal and Holy Light talents?" Lu Yan asked the system. Although there's a talent sequence list bought from headquarters, it only contains names, and the specifics are left to speculation.
[Michael, I'd call him a combat-type support. Talent 70 Bestowal can temporarily lend talents to others; talent 30 Holy Light weakens pollutants in the area, slows down his own mutation rate, and enhances his health bar. In other words, it buffs himself.]
Lu Yan thought for a moment and also unlocked the permissions. He was mainly curious about what his own profile said.
[Listen]
Talents: 501 - Warning; 914 - Cross-Species Communication
Spiritual Power Threshold: 50114
Mutation Direction: Mermaid Transformation
Mental State: Excellent (No obvious aggression; emotional loss after excessive talent usage)
Michael: ???
Michael: Wow, the whole group was guessing what your talents could be, and it's this???
He couldn't blame Michael for being so shocked. After all, the recently emerged batch of Harbingers showed impressive skills, and Lu Yan, ranking first among them and reaching B-rank at a record speed, should not have such... ordinary talents.
Feeling that his tone might be unfriendly, Michael quickly sent a remedy.
Michael: Sorry, it's just a bit shocking.
Michael: Want to team up?
As one of the top-ranking A-rank Harbingers, he thought leading Lu Yan wouldn't be a problem.
After all, Kroman Manor was just a B-level pollution case. If Michael hadn't been investigating the Truth Society lately, he wouldn't have taken on this mission suddenly.
Lu Yan didn't refuse and replied with a "sure."
Michael: OK, contact me after you arrive at the Sunset Peninsula. Here's my work phone.
After saying that, Michael's profile picture turned black.
The staff member in front of Lu Yan, after a series of operations, finally completed the registration.
She had a sweet smile, "Hello, Mr. Lu. We have granted you permission to travel abroad. Wish you a pleasant journey. Besides, headquarters has another announcement.
They'd like to seek Mr. Lu's opinion."
Lu Yan was somewhat surprised, "What?"
Since the staff member lacked the necessary permissions, it was Lu Yan's liaison officer who made the call.
It was tough for the liaison officer, Director Li. Despite being quite old, he had to get up at three in the morning to be on standby.
"Lord Listen," Director Li said, "wasn't the First Research Institute attacked by pollutants before? Many research projects were temporarily suspended."
"Many of the volunteers who became test subjects are now undergoing psychological counseling at various prevention and control centers."
Knowing these secrets, Director Li's stress was considerable.
"Among them is Volunteer 6, or Subject 06. After testing, his mental state is good. He voluntarily joined the Special Operations Department and wants to go on a mission... Headquarters hopes you two can team up and complete the task together."
Lu Yan was very surprised, "Number 6? What's his name?"
"Yanbei. Spiritual power threshold 6700, mutation direction is plant transformation. He has a gentle personality... Having you with him not only provides a higher spiritual power threshold for safety but also because headquarters hopes he can have more exposure to society. After all, he's been in the research institute for decades and is a bit out of touch. Rest assured, Yanbei has passed the mental test. There's no need to worry about safety."
The system added, [Among subjects 1 to 9, probably only Subject 06 can recover from injuries so quickly... probably only he will feel lost because of the closure of the research institute.]
Lu Yan, still holding the phone, asked subconsciously, "Why?"
[Because of some mental issues, his sensations of pain and pleasure are reversed... colloquially known as a masochist.]
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