Chapter 5: The Second Task!
That evening, after returning home, Yang Bo checked the local real estate prices … and then gasped.
The price differences were staggering—even communities a notch lower cost tens of thousands of credit points. Buying a house wasn't the main issue; it was the annual expenses. Property taxes, maintenance fees, and various other charges were all calculated based on the property's value. For a property valued at one million, the yearly costs would approach nearly 10%.
Next, Yang Bo searched for information on citizen rankings and genetic grades. The higher one's genetic grade, the greater the abilities one could display. For example, individuals with an A-level genotype could command tens of thousands of combat units with a space carrier—even though the carrier's central intelligence assisted them, their reaction and predictive capabilities were still nothing short of astonishing. As for S-level experts, it was all legend—rumors claimed that an S-level powerhouse could single-handedly take on an entire fleet of space battleships and win, though no one really knew the details.
The most common enhancement among genetic warriors was increased physical constitution. Only when one's body reached a certain level could they learn to operate mechs, which, in ground combat, could reach speeds up to 15 times the speed of sound—a pace that would be fatal for ordinary people. Genetic evolvers, however, exhibited a bewildering array of abilities: manipulating various elements—metal, wood, water, fire, earth—as well as magnetic forces, electricity, and more. Some even evolved skills such as X-ray vision or invisibility, while others could transform parts of their bodies into metal or wood, or even enlarge them.
"It's incredible," Yang Bo murmured. Although the memory he received was somewhat hazy, he recalled watching a video of someone manipulating flames much like a mage in a video game.
"Master, you have been online continuously for two hours; it is recommended that you take a twenty‐minute break," the virtual display warned, showing a red triangular alert, as the voice of the intelligent butler resonated in his earphones.
Yang Bo silently removed the earphones and began to stretch.
"Master, it is recommended that you replace your carpet to reduce potential hazards."
"Master, you might consider adopting a new pet—in fact, statistics show that having a pet can increase one's lifespan by 12.4%…"
"Master, you only spent five minutes showering today; extending your bathing time is advisable, according to statistical data…"
"Master, your activity frequency is too high and your pulse is accelerating; you should perform some relaxing exercises."
"Master, the food bank will have your favorite broccoli available tomorrow…"
"Master, your favorite celebrity, Li Aido, will hold a concert in Wodo City in six months. You might want to volunteer in the community, where free tickets are available…"
"Master, it has been half a year since your last physical examination; it is recommended that you schedule a check-up with a doctor…"
Though Yang Bo felt no inner turmoil, he still slowed his pace and even went for another quick shower. Yet inside, a surge of anger nearly made him slash his own hand and smash his government-issued watch. He couldn't bring himself to do it—if he damaged the watch, the consequences would be dire, and they would decide his fate.
Later that night, as Yang Bo lay in bed, his thoughts drifted to the time-traveler perks from earlier that day. He decided not to obsess over their origins, but rather to focus on their outcomes.
"System."
"Character Panel."
"Settings."
"Skills."
This time, after invoking "Skills," a piece of information flashed through his mind:
Swimming: Beginner (1/10)
Sound Wave Localization: Beginner (1/10)
Dynamic Vision: Beginner (4/10)
For a moment, Yang Bo was dumbfounded. He recalled that the last time he had called out to the system—almost as if summoning a "system dad"—nothing had happened. But now, this wasn't exactly the system; it felt more like an introspective revelation.
He forced himself to breathe evenly and calm down, lest the infernal intelligent system start spouting suggestions again. Moreover, the skills he'd mastered in his previous life weren't reflected here, nor did the original abilities of his former self appear. Could it be that this power only manifested after his time travel?
Since his home was government-provided, he couldn't modify it or disable the built-in intelligent security system. If it were his own property, he might have eliminated the smart features entirely. But if Yang Bo forcefully disabled the system, the police might break in within minutes—after all, they were always wary of any mischief.
"How exactly should I use the bat's sound wave localization?" he wondered. Testing his dynamic vision at home wasn't feasible, but this sound wave localization…
An idea struck him. Yang Bo whistled sharply!
In that instant, something extraordinary happened. The pitch-black room transformed in his mind into a three-dimensional image—a faint, monochrome wireframe that even revealed the outlines behind the walls. Yang Bo was so excited he nearly sat up; however, the ability only lasted for three seconds before the image vanished.
He whistled again, and that sensation returned—this time, he focused intently on every detail. He could even sense some of the pipes behind the finished walls, though the vision penetrated only one or two centimeters deep.
"This ability seems rather weak. Is it my own limitation, or is the power itself inherently feeble? And the whistle—it's too conspicuous," he mused.
After testing it three more times, Yang Bo felt mentally exhausted.
"It appears this power drains a lot of energy. I wonder how other genetic evolvers replenish their mental strength?" he pondered before finally going to sleep.
Early the next morning, Yang Bo woke up and, finding nothing amiss, exhaled in relief. Following the intelligent butler's advice, he tossed his duvet and sheets into the washing machine—a model equipped with its own drying system. The windows had already been opened automatically by the butler, and Yang Bo couldn't be bothered to intervene.
Yet the place felt less like a home and more like a cell under constant surveillance; staying there even an extra minute made him feel as if he were going insane.
Taking a deep breath, Yang Bo admitted to himself that he might be overthinking things.
He refrained from testing any abilities in public spaces, as these areas were riddled with energy sensors. According to federal law, genetic enhancers were prohibited from openly displaying their powers in human residential communities—whether to restrict the evolvers or to prevent envy among the lower classes, he wasn't entirely sure.
"Yang Bo, how did you sleep?"
Liu Zhijie, as usual with a warm smile, handed him a bottle of water and asked.
"No problems, boss," Yang Bo replied with a nod.
"Now, go pick up your assignment. We've got a big one today," Liu Zhijie said, patting Yang Bo on the shoulder.
"Thank you, boss," Yang Bo replied before heading out.
Watching Yang Bo's retreating figure, Liu Zhijie allowed himself a slight smile. A man who had never before harmed even the smallest creature had, just yesterday, killed a bat and several rats, yet now acted as if nothing had happened. Either his mental fortitude was extraordinarily strong, or his genes were simply laden with violent tendencies.
In this technologically advanced society, small animals held a higher status than humans. From a young age, people were taught to avoid unfamiliar small creatures—steering clear to prevent unknown, severe consequences. One also had to be extremely cautious with one's own pets, for they carried chips that allowed certain agencies to direct pet owners at any time based on transmitted data.
Yang Bo had no idea that Liu Zhijie regarded him in this light. In his previous life, he had slain countless rats, bats, chickens, ducks, geese, field mice, snakes, fish, and shrimp without any psychological burden.
"Brother Wu!"
Spotting Wu Bing, Yang Bo hurriedly called out.
"Yang Bo, perfect timing. Today, you'll be my assistant. This task isn't something someone at your level should handle on your own—I'll show you the ropes. Listen carefully to my instructions," Wu Bing said as he greeted him.
(End of Chapter)