After talking more about the coven with Emily, Zheng Yang learned that to join the Arcane Coven, he only needed to prove that he had superpowers. He wouldn't even need to register any of his personal information, which meant that he could keep his identity secret.
However, that also meant that he wouldn't be given access to the secret level of the forum.
Without said secret level access, he wouldn't be able to enjoy the online privileges of the forum and wouldn't be notified about certain activities and news within the circle, such as inside information on certain phenomena, jobs posted by those in the circle, invitations to team up, trading information, etc.
As such, some full members without secret level access, and some members with secret level access, who decided against revealing their true identities, would often hold masked meetings offline.
In fact, masked meetings were a traditional way of exchanging information in the Arcane Coven. The forum was just a new way of communication brought about by the proliferation of the internet. It was also said that the authorities shadowed over the forum, which was the main way they successfully infiltrated the coven.
The authorities had an innate advantage in monitoring the internet, after all.
"Other than the official forum, there are also certain cliques formed by the members online, and they exist in the form of hidden websites and forums, where they arrange offline meetings without revealing their identities. But, it's hard for outsiders to even know about these cliques.
"So if the information on that encrypted channel is what you're after, you have to submit your personal information to the management of the forum and get secret level access. But, the management of the forum doesn't consist of only those working for the authorities. Not only those who represent the authorities would know your identity, but also those who aren't working for the authorities. So by submitting your personal information, you'd increase your chances of having your identity leaked to the other members.
"So, you still want in on the coven?"
While she finished making lunch, Emily wore a teasing expression on her face as she asked Zheng Yang this last question.
Soon after, Eva returned home.
"What about you, Emily? Don't you have secret level access?" Zheng Yang asked another question under his breath when he found the chance.
Emily answered affirmatively, "Of course not!"
Of course not!
Zheng Yang seemed to have realized something new about the occult. It seemed to him that it was common knowledge among the members of the occult to protect their true identities, which seemed to even trump being careful about revealing one's superpowers to common folks, as doing so would probably draw metahuman enemies.
"I have safer channels to get information, but I'm not telling you about those," Emily whispered into his ear, making his heart race.
"Man, that's ridiculous!" he thought. "I've already considered you one of my own, and you actually treat me like an outsider!"
…
It was only later in the afternoon that he realized why Emily couldn't tell him about her information channels.
The trio from the SPB showed up again, and Zheng Yang still earnestly invited them onto his newly renovated sailboat.
"Hmm, finally some place to sit on."
Even when Rovnie grinned, she still emanated a cold aura, which was indicative of her personality. Without beating around the bush, she asked, "Since you're of the lineage of the demon hunters and you possess the power of fire spells, would you be interested in joining us?"
"I didn't say that I come from a line of demon hunters. That's Emily's speculation, you know," Zheng Yang thought to himself.
He pretended like he was considering it, yet he had already made up his mind to join them. All along he'd intended to get closer to Rovni, and having her take the initiative to extend the invitation saved him a lot of trouble.
He wasn't about to refuse an invitation from the authorities due to ridiculous reasons like preferring to be free and not become a dog on a leash, as he needed access to resources that the authorities had.
"I just have to remember to jump at anything worth my time, be alert, and shirk whenever danger hits. That's all there is to it," he thought.
"Being a member of the authorities still beats being just a regular civilian, no? Why else would so many try so hard to get a job in the regimes anyway?
"Besides, the SPB did come to the docks three times, and that's more than enough to speak of my importance."
As such, his silence ended shortly afterward, and he said, "Will I get an enchanted handgun of my own? Will I get reimbursed for the money I spend on gear?"
Rovni's smile this time seemed to be rather sincere as she answered, "After you join us, I can give you enchanted firearms if that's your thing. The bureau supplies all standard weaponry. As for special orders, you'll get reimbursed up to a certain amount."
"So, you're telling me that I won't be getting an enchanted gun because 'it's not my thing'?" he thought. "How ridiculous! Firing a shot up close would still be easier than cutting down something with a blade, wouldn't you think?"
Just when Zheng Yang was about to take up her offer, Rovni added, "I heard from Emily that you're looking for secret level access to the Arcane Coven's forum. We SPB have our own internal systems, with our own mission module and information module. The information module reposts some of the forum's information while sharing some other information we get from other channels, along with information only for the inner circle. It's every bit as capable as the Arcane Coven's forum."
Shut up and take my money already!
"I want it. How do I go about doing that?"
Zheng Yang agreed without saying another word, fearing that Rovni would change her mind and suddenly retract her offer.
He realized what Emily had meant when she told him about her secure channels, considering how quickly she'd told what she knew about him to Rovni.
Emily was apparently a member of the authorities and was even a member of the SPB itself. It was just that she was going about her business under a different identity.
Rovni was indeed quick to act. She immediately stood up and started walking away. "Bring your ID and follow me. We'll get all the necessary procedures done right away."
The SPB was rather far away from the harbor, and it took half an hour by car to get there.
Rovni personally got someone to get Zheng Yang's personal details and crafted a black notebook on the spot. Then, she gave him an access code to download the SPB's internal system onto his satellite phone.
"You're now on probation. You'll be made an official member if you perform exceedingly well. If you're average, you'll stay on probation for three months."
"Roger that."
Zheng Yang had become a new member of the SPB in less than an hour.
He was rather satisfied with the bureau after learning more about it.
The Special Phenomena Bureau was truly a formidable organization and was extremely large, as it was an organization founded by government metahuman organizations all across the entire European Union. Its jurisdiction and powers superseded even the ruling regimes of every european country when it came to matters of the occult.
Zheng Yang was feeling puzzled as to why Rovni would choose to recruit him just like that. His background information was as simple as it got, and the origins of his superpowers remained unclear as well.
"Gut feelings at work again, I suppose," he thought.
Zheng Yang checked his black ID over and over again before putting it securely into his pocket. He then said in a serious tone, "I need to work even during this probationary period, right? I'd like an enchanted handgun, and I'd like to be reimbursed for my intricate Damascus Steel longsword."
"Hey, boss, the kid will also need clothes like I'm wearing. I think we should make this our uniform across the board," Ricky added.
Rovni's eyebrow twitched. She ignored Ricky and said to Zheng Yang, "Sure, consider it a welcoming gift for a newcomer. But you'll need to get to work and find that blasted hellhound with Ricky."
Zheng Yang clapped his chest and said, "No problem. I'm good at finding dogs. People call me the Dog-Finding Prince!"
"…?" Rovni stared at him silently.
"…" Zheng Yang shirked, and Rovni took notice, frowning.
"What?" she asked.
"Actually, I roasted the hellhound and ate it."
"…"
All SPB personnel present at the moment, including the trio, shot very hostile looks at Zheng Yang.
After all, there was no telling just how many strands of hair they'd pulled out or how many brain cells they'd killed while looking for the dog for the last week or so.