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Having pieced together this understanding, Mu Huiyue pondered for a moment before asking, “If I become an ‘investigator,’ what will I need to do?”
“Most of the time, there’s not much to do…” Xiang Xun scratched his head, thinking before he replied. “When a secret realm phenomenon occurs within the territory, we conduct investigations as dispatched by headquarters, provide complete investigation reports to the bureau, and assist field personnel with monitoring the integration period of the secret realms.”
“Our mental stability improves when we traverse the connections to these realms… I’ll explain this in detail later, but in short, our physical constitution is more suited for entering newly appeared secret realms than that of ordinary people, or even beast tamers.”
“Like the recent emergence of a secret realm in Changning, I was assigned to assist with the mission and interact with potential ‘anchor points’—that’s my role as an investigator.”
“All investigators are directly tied to the headquarters of the Secret Realm Affairs Bureau. Besides during missions, the bureau won’t interfere much with our freedom.”
That didn’t sound like it would significantly impact her daily life…
Mu Huiyue continued, “So what are the benefits? Being an investigator directly under the headquarters must come with some decent perks, right?”
Xiang Xun seemed taken aback by her question about benefits. As the daughter of a legendary figure and a well-off high school student, it was hard to believe she would be interested in the meager compensation of an investigator.
“Well, most resources obtained during initial investigations can be kept for yourself. The bureau provides monthly stipends and also gives out rewards based on performance… but I suppose none of this appeals to you,” he said, contemplating.
After a moment of thought, Xiang Xun looked back at Mu Huiyue. “From a different angle, the latest secret realm intelligence, exploration records, and research findings on extraordinary creatures will all be available to you, including most materials under confidentiality agreements. Investigators undoubtedly have the most access to understanding secret realms, extraordinary beings… and even the truth about the world.”
As he spoke, the fatigue in Xiang Xun’s eyes faded, replaced by a glimmer of hope and certainty, as if he believed Mu Huiyue would be drawn in by his words.
Well, Mu Huiyue had to admit she was indeed intrigued.
If it were just a matter of resources and protection, Mu Huiyue would have deliberated carefully. However, Xiang Xun’s final words struck her heart like the resonant tolling of a bell.
She longed to understand secret realms and extraordinary beings, to know everything about this world.
With such a promising shortcut laid out before her, it was only natural that she felt tempted.
“…I understand. Let me become an investigator as well,” Mu Huiyue exhaled softly, replying with determination.
“Great! From now on, you are an apprentice investigator under the ‘Secret Realm Affairs Bureau’ of Dayan,” Xiang Xun said with a smile, his demeanor shifting back to that of a weary office worker, as if the light that had briefly flickered in his eyes was just her imagination. “Finally, there’s someone new to help me with the investigation tasks.”
Mu Huiyue felt a slight twinge of apprehension. An apprentice investigator? Did that mean she had been tricked? Shouldn’t she just join directly?
“After all, we need to confirm that the recruited ‘investigators’ have the capability to complete secret realm investigations, especially since we receive salaries for this position,” he explained, adjusting his scarf to hide his expression. “The task to become a full investigator isn’t complicated; it’s basically something every investigator has to do—investigate the initial secret realm they entered.”
Mu Huiyue understood; it was the secret realm of the Star Dragon Count’s estate… she never expected to have another chance to enter there.
“Of course, I’ll assist you with your initial investigation, but over the next few days…”
Xiang Xun seemed to remember something troubling and sighed deeply. “Let me prepare some things first; the corresponding investigation guide and certification wristband will be sent over by the bureau shortly. You can start doing some preliminary studies in the meantime.”
“Once I sort out my issues, we’ll accept the bureau’s investigation request and go together to the Star Dragon Count’s secret realm.”
…
Xiang Xun kept his promise, and soon the bureau sent over the materials for her certification as an apprentice investigator.
The main item was a device known as a “certification wristband.” Mu Huiyue thought it resembled a high-tech smartwatch, but its capabilities far surpassed that—projecting a 3D holographic interface above the wristband.
Inside the wristband were her investigator number and identity verification code.
With this, she could accept tasks related to secret realm investigations, gaining access to the database of the National Secret Realm Affairs Bureau and internal forums.
The wristband was equipped with the latest extraordinary creature catalog, which would automatically read and record the various extraordinary beings an investigator encountered.
If a new species not recorded in the catalog was discovered, the bureau would provide rewards based on the completeness of the recorded information.
Mu Huiyue was fascinated by the catalog feature and pointed the wristband toward Ellen. Relevant information quickly appeared.
Name: Little Skeleton
Attribute: Dark, Undead
Race Level: Low Elite
Growth Stage: Stage 5 of the juvenile phase
Talent Core: Reassembly (Undead D-Class)
Skills: Bone Club Strike (Dark E-Class), Shadow Cloak (Dark C-Class), Phosphorescence (Fire C-Class)
Normal Hidden Energy Value: 3025P
Compared to typical information, the wristband’s measurements were incredibly precise, allowing for detailed rankings within five major stages: juvenile, growth, maturity, complete, and ultimate.
Once it reached Stage 10 in the juvenile phase, the Little Skeleton would hit the critical point where it must evolve.
The race level determined the upper limit of the growth stage; the low elite race of the Little Skeleton could only reach Stage 1 in the growth phase.
Most wild Little Skeletons evolve before they reach Stage 10 in their juvenile phase, and once they evolve into a Knight-class soldier, they gain the potential to reach maturity.
The Normal Hidden Energy Value was a unique metric proposed during humanity’s exploration of extraordinary beings and secret realms.
Early researchers named the force of the secret realms—previously referred to as extraordinary power—Hidden Energy.
Using initial measurement experiments as a standard P unit, 1P of hidden energy was the minimum threshold required to cause observable extraordinary phenomena.
Extraordinary beings that emerged from secret realms and could use extraordinary powers through fixed skills could also be measured using hidden energy values.
Of course, the measurement units for the hidden energy of secret realm forces were different from those of extraordinary beings. One of the primary tasks for investigators entering newly emerged secret realms was to measure the scale of hidden energy values within, determine the realm’s level, and prepare for exploration accordingly.
Measurements for extraordinary beings were even more detailed. In most formal competitions involving extraordinary beings worldwide, hidden energy values were measured as hard data for eligibility, group standards, and rating criteria.
Mu Huiyue recalled the classification standards for hidden energy values from her high school textbooks, and the wristband also contained relevant information.
Typically, the upper limit for hidden energy values in the juvenile phase is around 10,000P.
For the growth phase, it ranges from 10,000 to 100,000P; for maturity, from 100,000 to 1,000,000P; for the complete phase, from 1,000,000 to 10,000,000P.
The differences among ultimate beings are even more pronounced. While a normal hidden energy value exceeding 10,000P qualifies as an ultimate being, the bureau’s highest record reported a value exceeding 100 million.
Constitution, skills, and racial potential can all affect these values. During battles, various state skills and beast tamers’ talents can cause the instantaneous hidden energy values to surpass the limits of their race and growth stage.
Theoretically, a juvenile with a normal hidden energy value reaching 10,000P would typically belong to high-potential races like fantasy or mythological beings.
As for the low elite race of the Little Skeleton… Mu Huiyue racked her brain and remembered that its normal hidden energy value was probably only around 500 to 1,000P.
Ellen’s evolution must have come from the two C-class skills and the pile of N- and R-class fruits she had previously fed it.
With a normal hidden energy value of 3025P, Ellen was already considered a super Little Skeleton compared to its peers, even surpassing some evolved Knight-class soldiers.
However, the normal hidden energy value is not the only determinant of victory or defeat; otherwise, all competitive matches could simply be resolved by comparing hidden energy values.
Take that first-stage evolved, late-stage juvenile Giant Gate Crocodile, for example. Mu Huiyue was 100% sure that its normal hidden energy value far exceeded Ellen’s. Yet in actual combat, it still couldn’t defeat Ellen.
Currently, Ellen was at Stage 5 of the juvenile phase, with a normal hidden energy value already on par with that of juvenile Knight-class soldiers. If Mu Huiyue could accumulate a few ten-round wins during the selection matches, she felt confident that competing in the national rankings was well within reach.
Exploring secret realms is also a crucial source of reward points in their daily tasks, which means that an investigator’s work must be taken seriously.