Chapter 95: Accept Your Fate, Child (Cultivation)

Min Tianyou finally was irritated by Ying Duo to the breaking point, halted and asked the Ying Duo behind him.

A faint vein on his temple was already pulsing; he took the now‑dimmed Rune thin sheet from his pocket and waved it before Ying Duo.

Ying Duo's gaze instantly locked onto the sheet, nodded vigorously, showing no concealment of his yearning for that Rune.

If the player wants it, the player gets it.

Min Tianyou, looking at his demeanor, suddenly recalled some internal Supervision Bureau rumors about how Chi Jinan "obtained" the thing he coveted, and an alarm rang in his mind.

He clenched the sheet and, without hesitation, refused Ying Duo.

"This is a Supervision Bureau‑issued communicator; the communicator is bound to the holder's energy fluctuations, so anyone unbound cannot use it, let alone engage in private trade or transfer."

He deliberately phrased it rigidly, aiming to completely cut off Ying Duo's improper desire for his communicator.

However, Ying Duo's thought process didn't follow any "trade" or "request" pathway at all.

He merely tilted his head and then posed a question that almost made Min Tianyou choke.

"So, joining the Supervision Bureau would grant direct acquisition?"

Ying Duo's eyes brightened further, having found a legitimate way to obtain this "rare item".

It's not that surprising; such exclusive items that can only be earned by joining a specific organization and building reputation are commonplace in many games.

"How does one join the Supervision Bureau? Once joined, can one obtain it? Or must one first complete missions to build reputation?"

Min Tianyou: "......"

"What missions, what reputation?"

He took a deep breath, telling himself to stay calm and not argue logic with a cognitively impaired person.

Besides, Ying Duo's mind is sick; he had never before thanked the Supervision Bureau's corrupt and incompetent higher‑ups so much.

With Chi Jinan's precedent, surely no one inside the Supervision Bureau would want to become the next "madman's" guardian.

He tried to explain in a way Ying Duo might understand, yet it remained somewhat vague.

"No need to undertake specific missions, but this isn't something every Supervision Bureau member has; only a few are qualified to possess it."

For example, he, because of his unique "prophecy" ability.

The Church indeed lags behind the Dome in emerging technology, but its decades of reserves aren't merely for decoration.

For years the Church has focused on developing and applying Aberrant Arts, even releasing many Rune devices, yet only energy‑wielding Special Ability Practitioners can use them freely.

Ordinary people who wish to use these Rune devices must purchase specially refined Source Crystals, which for residents of Tianmian City is a routine expense, but for others is a luxury.

This also prevents Rune technology from widespread adoption, making the Church's tech appear lagging behind the Dome.

"So what must one do to join the Supervision Bureau?"

Ying Duo displayed an abnormal persistence on the matter, continuing to latch onto Min Tianyou with further questions.

"Sometimes the Supervision Bureau assigns simple missions to the Academy; you can then take those missions, and if you perform outstandingly, you may receive an invitation from the Supervision Bureau."

Even Su Jingchuan couldn't stand Ying Duo's relentless pestering of Min Tianyou, and proactively spoke up to draw Ying Duo's attention.

"Missions?" Seeing Ying Duo turn to Su Jingchuan for details, Min Tianyou breathed a sigh of relief and even slipped quietly toward a corner.

Communicating with Ying Duo felt more mentally taxing than contemplating those prophecies.

Min Tianyou only felt his ears finally quieted a bit, even entertaining the thought of stepping outside the barbershop for a breath of fresh air.

And at that moment, clear brake screeches and orderly footsteps echoed from outside the shop.

The real "NPC" group—the Supervision Bureau's operatives—finally arrived on the scene.

Min Tianyou, as if granted a pardon, rushed forward and completed the handover of subsequent on‑site handling and documentation.

Ying Duo's attention was temporarily drawn to these highly efficient new NPCs, and he began inspecting whether they bore any Supervision Bureau‑specific Rune gear.

Since there are joinable forces, there must be more than one that provides gear upon entry; the player must carefully assess which organization offers the best benefits.

Speaking of which, he's originally from the Dome; could he adopt multiple identities?

Su Jingchuan watched the scene and shook his head helplessly.

If he were to bring Ying Duo into the subsequent investigation...

He could already foresee how many troubles such "communication barriers" would cause in the future.

After a brief handover with the leading squad leader, Min Tianyou inquired about the above response.

He had assumed the superiors would be wary of letting Academy personnel intervene in such a sensitive smuggling case, and had even prepared a line of regret to Su Jingchuan if rejected.

To his surprise, the squad leader immediately gave a positive reply.

"The higher-ups not only approved Teacher Su Jingchuan's assistance request, but also..."

The squad leader paused, lowering his voice.

"The higher-ups have raised the investigation priority of this smuggling case and assigned Captain Yue Chengzhang to lead it personally; all our subsequent actions will follow Captain Yue's directives."

"Captain Yue?"

Min Tianyou was slightly startled by the words, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

Yue Chengzhang is renowned within the Supervision Bureau for his strong abilities and high clearance, but due to limited energy, he usually handles only cases involving major threats or far‑reaching complexity.

The squad leader simply continued to convey Yue Chengzhang's opinion:

"Captain Yue is quite curious about your investigation results on the prophecy, so let us also bring a few of us here over to rendezvous."

Min Tianyou's brows furrowed imperceptibly.

"Captain Yue takes the task directly? And readily agrees to Su Jingchuan joining?"

The only possibility is that during his investigation of the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone's flow, the Supervision Bureau made a major breakthrough elsewhere, likely involving senior members of the Undercurrent organization, escalating the severity of the situation.

Moreover, Captain Yue has always prioritized results, never bogged down by red tape, and would skip procedures to directly absorb external assistance, fitting his style.

But that would mean...

Min Tianyou's gaze subconsciously drifted to the quiet Ying Guang Lu; if Su Jingchuan joined, wouldn't that mean having to act together with this guy eyeing his communicator? ！

Min Tianyou silently expressed his full resistance, instinctively averting Ying Duo's inadvertent gaze.

And beside him, Su Jingchuan paused when he heard the name Yue Chengzhang.

His previously fairly calm expression instantly tightened, his lips pressed together, and in a short few seconds he shed his gentle, false façade.

He was silent for a moment, then in a businesslike manner said to the squad leader.

"Since that's the case, please convey my thanks to Captain Yue."

The squad leader seemed to notice Su Jingchuan's subtle emotional shift and scratched his head awkwardly.

"Teacher Su, um... you should personally thank Captain Yue; after all, you'll meet later."

Su Jingchuan frowned subconsciously, but still nodded.

"Alright, then let's go now."

His gaze swept over Min Tianyou and the still‑present 'research' staff member Ying Duo, and this 'we' included everyone present.

Min Tianyou could only sigh inwardly, knowing that Ying Duo's involvement in the investigation was already a done deal.

He glanced at Aqiang, who was about to be taken away, and realized that even if Ying Duo might hold them back, that lump of Ying Guang Lu was the reason they had to bring him along, so he resigned himself and followed the Supervision Bureau members ahead.