"Night Wanderer!"
Zhang Yuanqing said calmly.
"I'm asking about your profession."
"Night Wanderer."
...
Li Dongze was stunned at first, then suddenly straightened his back, leaned forward, and stared at Zhang Yuanqing with burning eyes, "You... you're a Night Wanderer?"
"Yes." Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
"Hiss..." Li Dongze shifted in his seat, staying silent for over ten seconds to digest this news. Then he raised his voice and asked again:
"You're a Night Wanderer? I... I actually picked up a Night Wanderer?"
This was beyond his imagination. It was like casually saying, "I wish I could win five million in the lottery," and then actually winning it.
"I've struck gold..." Li Dongze put down his wine glass and repeatedly examined Zhang Yuanqing, his expression full of excitement.
Every Night Wanderer was a highly sought-after figure, a target of competition between spiritual realm traveler teams and even factions.
Li Dongze knew of a young married woman from the Hundred Flowers Society who seduced a Night Wanderer informant from the Red Fire Gang, luring him into switching allegiance and becoming a double agent.
This nearly sparked a war between the Red Fire Gang and the Hundred Flowers Society, and even the headquarters of the Five Elements League couldn't mediate the conflict.
Later, that Night Wanderer died in a spiritual realm mission, and only then did the situation calm down.
"By the way, what's your spiritual realm ID?" Li Dongze hid his excitement, trying to maintain a steady image before his future subordinate.
Zhang Yuanqing stood tall, gathered his breath, and spoke with force:
"Primordial Celestial Master!"
...
Li Dongze was silent for a few seconds, then clapped his hands. "Good name."
Hey, hey, that compliment sounded way too forced, and why do you look like you want to hit me... Zhang Yuanqing humbly replied:
"As long as the officer likes it."
At that moment, the black business car entered the Kangyang District Security Bureau and parked in a designated spot near the landscaped area.
"I'll arrange for you to complete the onboarding process now. The base salary is twenty thousand a month, with additional allowances for missions. If you make contributions, there are performance bonuses. Any issues?"
Li Dongze seemed impatient, eager to finalize the deal—securing the asset before it could slip away.
"Twenty thousand a month?" Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. "No issues!"
A twenty-thousand-monthly salary was considered high even in a metropolis like Songhai.
Zhang Yuanqing recalled that in his mother's company, management-level salaries ranged from fifty to a hundred thousand per month. Of course, that was just the base salary and didn't include bonuses, commissions, or shares.
He followed Li Dongze out of the car and walked to the back of the Security Bureau building, stopping in front of a two-story structure.
The building was constructed from large glass panels, exuding a stylish and elite atmosphere.
Upon entering the main entrance, they saw a steel staircase leading straight to the second floor.
To the left was the office area, where seven or eight women sat at their desks—some young and pretty, some mature and charming, and others composed and professional.
To the right was the living area, furnished with sofas, round tables, a refrigerator, an induction stove, a water dispenser, and other household essentials.
Some employees were focused on their work, others wore headphones while watching dramas, and a few gathered in small groups, gossiping.
When Li Dongze entered, they merely glanced up before continuing their activities, showing none of the fear or reverence typical of subordinates toward a superior.
I like this work environment... Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself.
Li Dongze didn't stop, leading Zhang Yuanqing up the steel staircase. Suddenly, he turned around and said:
"These are just regular staff members, here to serve us spiritual realm travelers. Whatever you need in your work or daily life, just tell them."
So, they're work secretaries too? Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
On the second floor, the noisy chatter diminished. The layout was simpler, with Li Dongze's personal office occupying the entire left side and nine work desks arranged on the right.
Most desks were empty, except for two that were occupied.
They belonged to the investigators who had visited his home the previous day—the long-legged sister and the disheveled, dazed-looking tech geek.
"Guan Ya, help him complete the onboarding process."
Li Dongze called out from afar, smiling. "I've recruited a new colleague for you guys."
The tech geek looked up, gave Zhang Yuanqing a slight nod, then lowered his head and continued his work.
The mixed-race beauty, however, smiled and stood up, saying:
"Looks like you completed your trial mission successfully, little boy with a thing for older sisters."
Little boy with a thing for older sisters?! Zhang Yuanqing's expression froze for a moment. Then he heard Li Dongze say:
"Guan Ya likes to joke around. You'll get used to it."
Then he reprimanded his subordinate:
"Don't say weird things in front of our young university student. He's still a kid."
The "kid" glanced at the approaching mixed-race beauty—dressed in an office-lady suit, her blouse tucked into her skirt, accentuating a slender waist and long, shapely legs wrapped in black stockings. Her softly curled hair swayed slightly as she walked.
Her face had a sharp, delicate Western contour, yet her fair skin was smooth like porcelain.
"Officer Li, I'd like to ask about the trial spiritual realm." Zhang Yuanqing hadn't forgotten his main purpose for today.
"You can ask Guan Ya anything. I have matters to handle." Li Dongze spoke warmly, like a teacher favoring a top student.
With that, he eagerly returned to his office, ready to report the successful recruitment of a Night Wanderer to his superiors.
"Did the officer eat something funny today? He's practically floating when he walks."
Guan Ya muttered before looking at Zhang Yuanqing with a smile.
"Come with me to fill out a form. Also, give me your ID."
"I didn't bring it."
"Then just give me your ID number."
She led Zhang Yuanqing to an empty desk, handed him a form, noted down his ID number, and then went downstairs.
Zhang Yuanqing took a pen from the holder, uncapped it, and examined the form.
Unlike a standard employment form, this one aligned with a spiritual realm traveler's status panel.
Besides basics like profession and level, it included a section for the trial mission's spiritual realm.
Perfect, I'll ask about Sheling Tunnel after this... Zhang Yuanqing filled out the form truthfully.
As he finished, Guan Ya returned with two contracts. She pulled up a chair next to him, her round hips sinking into the cushion.
"The officer should have given you basic training by now, right?" She leaned lazily into the chair, her pose emphasizing her ample curves.
A subtle, pleasant fragrance reached Zhang Yuanqing's nose, making him steal a glance.
"Aren't you a little too relaxed?"
"In this era, where the average level barely reaches C, an E-rank powerhouse is something to be appreciated."
"Your onboarding is done. Here's the contract and a confidentiality agreement."
Once Zhang Yuanqing signed, Guan Ya's teasing expression faded. She explained seriously:
"From today onward, your original ID is invalid. The organization will issue you a new one within three days, allowing you to buy train and plane tickets through special channels.
"You'll also receive a new phone SIM card by tomorrow."
"Why?" Zhang Yuanqing was puzzled by this procedure.
"When you named yourself, the spiritual realm should have warned you against using your real name."
Zhang Yuanqing nodded.
Guan Ya's expression turned solemn.
"There's a reason for that... We classify spiritual realm professions into two types: orderly and evil.
"Evil professions tend to be brutal, sadistic, and cruel. They share a common trait—hunting down travelers from the orderly side, meaning us. Revealing your identity in the real world is dangerous."
A faction-based conflict, like in a game? Zhang Yuanqing's expression grew serious.
No wonder last night's naming rules were strict.
"So, Li Dongze and Guan Ya aren't real names either?"
"Don't worry. We're the official organization. Normally, we're the hunters, and they're the prey."
Though Guan Ya reassured him, she still smiled charmingly.
"I like spirited young boys like you."
Zhang Yuanqing suddenly felt uncertain if she was joking or not.