Chapter 136 – Fire Seed (5)
◎ Who gave you the courage? ◎
Song Ke returned somewhat disheartened.
Those seeking shade under the trees gathered around.
“How’s it, Captain?”
“Can we go in now, Song Ke’er? If not, I’ll go back to get sunscreen, it’s melting under the sun.”
“…I smell something like cooked meat.”
“Sister, do you want ice cubes?”
In the midst of the peak summer, the sun shone relentlessly, drenching everyone in sweat, and when that heat rose, the smell… truly defied description.
Song Ke glanced at her teammates in front of her, then suddenly closed her eyes, swiftly reaching out like lightning to grab Lin Youyou.
Lin Youyou: “?”
With a hint of regret, Song Ke let her go and tried again. With closed eyes, she groped forward twice and, with a casual grab, this time caught Fang Zhixu.
Others: “?”
Song Ke: “??”
She made a sound of disbelief, then for the third time, stubbornly extended her hand. Thinking she was playing a game, Xu Xing voluntarily placed his hand in Song Ke’s palm.
Song Ke: “…”
Well… maybe those people weren’t entirely wrong; randomly grabbing an S-level on the street was indeed a bit unlikely.
Everyone looked puzzled as Song Ke slowly explained the queue situation inside and the VIP channel to everyone.
“To get through this process, won’t it take three to five days?” Fang Zhixu sighed.
“Three to five days? That’s too optimistic,” Song Ke shattered his illusion. “These are the numbers I got.”
Two virtual numbers appeared on the terminal: “30—E216544, 07—Z003577.”
“The first is the number of days to wait, and the second is the number of people queued on that day.” Just in case anyone didn’t understand, Song Ke explained specifically.
Fang Zhixu slowly closed his mouth, worriedly scratching the back of his head.
“No wonder the Northern Base needs Qianzhan City; it can’t do without a buffer,” Lin Youyou fanned herself with her hand due to the heat and lifted Su Cha’s wrist. “Look, one-stop service for clothing, food, shelter, and transportation, along with various supporting services.”
While Song Ke queued inside the center, Su Cha wandered around the city but didn’t gather any useful information. Instead, he was bombarded with a bunch of forced ads.
The most frustrating part was that because he used a terminal in District C with lower permissions than District B, those ads were like rogue viruses that couldn’t be deleted. Now, whenever he opened the terminal, various flashy projections automatically popped up, such as “XX Immigration Agency (Group offering 20% off),” “XX Consulting to make your supernatural resume shine,” “Wanderfort Awakeners Hotel (Grand opening, free genetic testing provided by our store)”…
Lin Youyou took Su Cha’s terminal off, tossed it to Lu Xiaoyu, and asked him to help clean it up.
“Now, what do we do?” Song Ke shrugged.
“Wasn’t there a VIP channel?” Zhuang Qingyan said casually, “Our captain started from scratch, self-reliant, an outstanding S-level attack-type awakener. Shouldn’t we be able to walk the red carpet?”
Song Ke proudly straightened her chest, then slumped down, “That requires an appointment, and my credentials are A-level.”
She had just been mocked, called a country bumpkin with delusions.
Zhuang Qingyan tapped his wheelchair’s armrest, nonchalantly speaking, “Then let’s go public.”
Others were somewhat surprised.
Zhuang Qingyan continued, “We used to choose to remain secret because Ilya interfered, not wanting the Alliance to overly focus on Ferrara. Plus, there wasn’t a need to be high-profile. But times have changed. Since we’ve come to District B, the level becomes an important entry pass.”
“Don’t forget, what’s the highest principle of the Northern Base.”
“Strength,” Song Ke interjected. Yun Xiao had said this was a city where fists spoke.
Zhuang Qingyan nodded, “Moreover, we not only have an S-level but also four A-levels. The five of you, one S and four A. Even though the Northern Base has abundant talents, such a team configuration needs to be seriously considered, right?”
“Do you, Captain, have any objections to the decision on publicizing the levels?” Zhuang Qingyan didn’t forget to ask for Song Ke’s opinion.
“No,” Song Ke shook her head, then thought of something else, “The five of us, but what about you two?”
The only two individuals from District B within V587 had never registered as awakeners. Most had guessed they didn’t want to disclose their identities.
Zhuang Qingyan’s light-colored eyes curved behind the lenses as he confidently said, “Me? I’m a family member of an S-level.”
“Ah?” Song Ke’s expression was baffled.
“Found it.” Lu Xiaoyu lowered his head, quickly getting results.
The new recruitment notice from the Northern Base would inevitably leave data traces in District C. Lu Xiaoyu didn’t spend much effort tracing it back to the terminal used by the person “Ms. Ye.”
He swiftly edited the intrusion’s malware. Just as he was about to send it—
“Wait.” Zhuang Qingyan stopped him in time, quickly skimming through it.
[Hello, we are a very powerful team of awakeners, with one S-level and four A-level members. We’re here to join you. Queuing is bothersome, so please let us use the VIP channel immediately. Thank you.]
Though Lu Xiaoyu used “hello,” “please,” and “thank you,” the tone of this letter was completely imperative and forceful. There was a 99% chance it would be treated as a scam and tossed into the trash—no, even scammers were more polite than this.
“The elective course you failed in, “Language Socialization and Arts,” was really not an injustice to you,” Zhuang Qingyan remarked with a cold snort, clicking to select all and delete, starting the modification again.
…
Northern Base, Department of Awakeners Management.
Leaning on her chin, Ye Zimei faced four large, high-definition floating screens displaying the teams awaiting approval for the recruitment notice. The more she watched, the more fatigued she felt, slowly nodding off, stifling a yawn.
“Ding—”
The idle terminal on the desk suddenly sounded.
“Ding—Ding—Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding!!”
With no response for a long time, the terminal vibrated frantically as if it were at a disco.
Ye Zimei was fully awake now, scrambling to silence it. “What’s this? Do terminals in the lower districts have such high failure rates?”
She had purchased this terminal from the black market specifically for releasing announcements, leaving it idle after use, without adding any contacts. How could it suddenly make incessant noise?
The terminal persisted in its insistent chiming, and Ye Zimei, not knowing what she pressed, suddenly saw a letter pop up. She clicked on it in confusion:
[Forgive the intrusion. I’ve heard of the matter of high-level awakeners being lost in your district. I am Song Ke, and I’ve long admired General Ye. I’m an attack-type metal element awakener. Despite years of diligent training, my humble background has always kept me from entering District B. Fortunately, due to a recent stroke of luck, I’ve broken through to S-level. Due to certain constraints, I haven’t undergone genetic testing. Delighted as I am, recalling my past determination, I hope to serve the General.
Apart from myself, the team includes four other A-level members: two are attack type, one is a support type, and one is a healer. We’ve all reached the entry and exit center. Due to the tedious approval process and our decision not to disclose our breakthrough to the outside world, coupled with financial constraints, after lingering for a few days, we considered withdrawing.
Before our departure, I’m sending this letter to you, reluctantly, as a last resort. Hoping for a response.]
The letter was followed by high-definition images, all captured from the Throne Race, showcasing exciting moments: Song Ke single-handedly facing Mirror Lake’s Water Monster, Xu Xing’s ice needle explosion clearing the area, Greenwater City’s siege against the zombie bear, and Haimen’s coordinated kill of the Zombie King. These were provided to substantiate the authenticity of the materials.
Ye Zimei bounced up from her seat in an instant. “Ah! A wild one! An S-level attack-type awakener! And leading a team!!”
She kept jumping on her toes, joyfully spinning around, realizing that she had exceeded her KPI (Key Performance Indicators) for the year!
“Connect me to Commander He’s communication channel, and, I want to go to the entry and exit center right away!”
*
The team verification process for the recruitment notice was quite complex. While Song Ke was out for a short while, the waiting teams remained almost unchanged; they were the same people as before.
So, when she entered for the second time, she received a uniform and sharp gaze from everyone. This time, she wasn’t alone; she was accompanied by other V587 team members.
Whispers started swirling, occasionally mixed with a few assertive comments:
“Why is this country girl here again? And she brought people along?”
“Does she think this is a nursery or a rehabilitation center for the disabled? Don’t be too excessive.”
“She doesn’t really believe that the Northern Base will accept just anyone, does she?”
Song Ke paid no attention to the murmurs. This time, she didn’t even wait for the queue and confidently sat down on the sofa.
The venue was full of high-level awakeners, and her behavior clearly indicated a lack of regard for them, a provocation, a blatant challenge!
A yellow-haired awakener turned his heels, walking arrogantly towards Song Ke. Judging by the outward projection of his mental energy, he was an A-level awakener.
“Hey, let me tell you, don’t pollute the air here. Go back where you came from—”
Su Cha stood in front of Song Ke with a cold face. He wore a black T-shirt, stood at 1.9 meters tall, exuding an intimidating aura with broad and sturdy shoulders, well-defined arm muscles, a slender waist reminiscent of a powerful snow leopard. When he looked at people with narrowed eyes, there was a distant yet lethal air about him.
Before the yellow-haired guy could react, Su Cha appeared behind him like a ghost, a chilling dagger suddenly placed at his neck.
“Even among awakeners of the same level, there are significant differences in combat prowess.”
Zhuang Qingyan lazily reclined in his wheelchair, speaking with a refined yet arrogant tone, devoid of emotion, “Who gave you the courage to speak so boldly in front of our captain?”
Almost as soon as his words fell, all members of V587, whether sitting, standing, or leaning against the wall, released their awakened energy at the same time—of course, three of them slightly restrained themselves.
Powerful and majestic awakened energy collided in space, screens flickered, lights swayed, desks and windows vibrated, the terrifying pressure resembling an overwhelming tsunami made people shiver from the depths of their souls.
Some awakeners couldn’t withstand it, their knees trembling, and their feet involuntarily giving way.
“A… all A-levels?!” an incredulous shout rang out.
“Boom—”
The VIP channel’s gate burst open, and Ye Zimei, dressed in the senior uniform of the Department of Awakeners Management, hurriedly walked in. Behind her, the head of the center, sweating profusely, and dozens of staff were busy preparing the red carpet, flowers, and welcome banners.
“Where are they? Where are they?!” Ye Zimei shouted anxiously.
Spotting V587 in the recruitment area from afar, she dashed like the wind across the sky bridge, running over to grab Song Ke’s hand excitedly, holding it so tight as if she would never let go: “You… oh no, no, no, you’re the Song Ke who wrote to me? The S-level attack-type awakener!”
“Goodness, indeed dignified and extraordinary, with the bearing of a master.” Ye Zimei’s cheeks flushed with excitement. “Commander He is busy with official duties, so let me receive you first. She will come later to talk to you personally. Shall we go inside? Let’s talk inside!”
Suddenly recalling something, Ye Zimei abruptly turned around. “And everyone, the full A-level team V587! You’ve waited for a long time, please don’t leave. The Northern Base can provide everything. Please make sure to stay!”
The entire recruitment area fell silent, plunged into a deathly quiet.
Under the stunned and cheering gazes of thousands of high-level awakeners, Song Ke’s group walked towards the VIP channel paved with the red carpet, gradually disappearing from view.
“What… what’s going on… S-level attack-type awakener? That country girl?!”
“Did I hear it wrong? No, no, no, I must be deaf or blind!”
“Commander He personally receiving them, even Ken Oda didn’t get such treatment…”
The awakener who first called Song Ke “country girl” touched his neck nervously, with a lingering fear in his heart and was about to cry without tears: “Excuse me, can I still see the sun tomorrow?”
*
Ye Zimei led the seven individuals through the VIP passage of Qianzhan City, eventually arriving at a luxurious hotel suite.
“Song Ke, as per regulations, before entering the Northern Base, you all need to undergo genetic testing. It will take about a day for detailed data to come out. Please rest here for now, and if you need anything, you can tell Jia.”
A quiet artificial intelligence stood at the door, nodding politely in response to Ye Zimei’s words, impeccable in manners.
Song Ke stole several glances. Though not too obvious in appearance, Jia’s gestures and microexpressions hinted at traces of AI, quite different from the elegance displayed by Ilya in his every move.
Worried that Song Ke might misunderstand, Ye Zimei quickly added, “Occasional errors can occur in awakener tests in other regions, but we use the R-type tester. To ensure fairness and accuracy, all awakeners entering the Northern Base must undergo genetic testing again.”
Song Ke nodded. Her level tested in Ferrara wasn’t incorrect, after all.
“Then, please register your basic information,” Ye Zimei lightly tapped her pearl earring, and a holographic lens shimmered into view over her left eye. “I’ll send you the details you need to fill in.”
Song Ke lowered her head to glance at her quiet terminal and asked blankly, “How do I fill it?”
Ye Zimei glanced at her terminal and apologized, “Sorry, I forgot. You mentioned in the letter that you’re from a low-level district. I’ll send it in a different mode.”
Jia timely handed over a miniature connector. Ye Zimei took it, approached Song Ke’s terminal, and simultaneously, the holographic lens in front of her eyes emitted a glow. The District B exclusive terminal activated, facilitating the smooth transmission of data.
During the waiting interval, Ye Zimei casually asked, “Specifically, which low-level district are you from? I’m quite adept at Alliance geography; perhaps I might know.”
“District F177,” Song Ke replied.
Ye Zimei paused for a moment, her gaze visibly blank for a couple of seconds: What? District F177? Does the Alliance have such a place?
However, she quickly composed herself, pretended nonchalance, and casually touched her earring. The terminal promptly provided information, and details about the District F appeared in her mind. “Oh, District F177. Heard of it, heard of it… Hmm… In the old calendar era, it was a barren fishing village. Due to underdevelopment, it became one of the most rampant areas for illegal activities… Ahem…”
“Black household,” Song Ke looked at her innocently.
Ye Zimei chuckled awkwardly and cleverly changed the subject, “So, there are seven of you, right?”
Song Ke corrected her, “No, five.” She gestured towards her remaining four A-level teammates.
“Then, these two are…?” Ye Zimei hesitated, looking at Zhuang Qingyan and Lu Xiaoyu.
Zhuang Qingyan smiled faintly and earnestly stated, “I’m V587’s technical consultant.”
“Ah,” Ye Zimei nodded. S-levels are allowed to bring family and assistants, so she quickly accepted this explanation. “And the other one…?”
“He’s the driver,” Zhuang Qingyan replied warmly.
While Song Ke was filling out the forms, her fingers twitched, swiftly pushing back the mechanical arm Lu Xiaoyu extended.
“…” Ye Zimei stared at Lu Xiaoyu’s empty legs for a while. Her good manners prevented her from immediately questioning the term “driver,” but she asked in confusion, “Is life in the low-level districts really so diverse and colorful?”
In her impression, transportation in low-level districts remained in the early stages of machinery. Except for starships, most were manually operated. How could a person without legs become a driver and use hands to operate?
As Ye Zimei refreshed her perspective, she regained her composure and said, “Later, Jia will arrange for your genetic testing. After the results come out, Commander He will personally discuss the benefits and treatment with you. Of course, if any of you have urgent requests, feel free to mention them, and I’ll make sure to solve them for you.”
Zhuang Qingyan glanced at her without a change in expression.
Perhaps Ye Zimei hadn’t noticed herself, but the wording she used—”I”—indicated that before confirming the genetic results, He Qiuhong wouldn’t waste time meeting them. Yet, Ye Zimei easily promised to fulfill their requests. This indicated that on certain matters, she could make decisions herself without consulting higher-ups.
This suggested that Ye Zimei had considerable authority within the awakeners department, and even in the Northern Base.
“There indeed is,” Zhuang Qingyan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking up.
Ye Zimei looked slightly surprised, “Please, go on.”
“In fact, one of the reasons we came to the Northern Base,” Zhuang Qingyan’s lips parted lightly, “was to… seek refuge with acquaintances.”
Even Lu Xiaoyu was surprised this time. Zhuang Qingyan and Yin Xiao were like peacocks displaying their magnificent and competitive behavior, and he was actually seeking him out? Did the sun rise from the west?
Surprisingly, Zhuang Qingyan didn’t mention Yin Xiao.
“There’s a famous couple of cognitive psychologists at the Northern Base: Ming Gang and Lucia. If possible, I’d like to meet them,” Zhuang Qingyan added unexpectedly.
