Chapter 13

“Yes,” Bai Wei admitted, “this also make our work difficult.”

Sometimes a careless comment or poor choice of words can put colleagues in danger.

Yun Xin asked again, “Why me?”

“In the syrup leakage accident, you took your colleagues away in advance, saving eleven people,” Bai Wei enumerated one by one.

“Before the collapse of the New World Hotel, you and your colleague Tong Jia reported it one after the other, yet she didn’t have the ability to foresee danger.”

“And recently, you went out late at night to the supermarket to buy snacks and encountered an armed robbery on your way home. You subdued the robber, who was then sent to the police station. An investigation later revealed that this person had once been seriously ill. After recovery, his strength, agility, and physique had all slightly improved. The fact that you could catch him indicates that you are not just ordinary.”

“Although,” Bai Wei glanced out the door as she spoke, “we don’t know if it surpasses a level 3.”

“I can only say that you are too low-key and don’t often use your abilities, so the data is incomplete.”

Yun Xin felt a slight headache. Superpowers were really something beyond reason. Before this, she had no idea that the robber who stopped her was also different.

“What else?” Yun Xin asked. “What else do you know?”

“Later, we checked your ancestral home and sent people there for a more in-depth investigation. We found something even more interesting,” Bai Wei handed over a stack of paper documents. “The Yun family is said to be a family of priestesses. Not only are the babies born always girls, but they also show amazing talents from a young age.”

“And you, from the day you were born, have had a strong sixth sense.”

“Every warning you’ve given from childhood to now has been correct,” Bai Wei indicated the thickness of the papers.

“No wonder why you have access to every informafion of the netizen because you’re part of the goverment. After so many years I’ve been moving to a different city, I can’t even comprehend that my old records can be dug up,” Yun Xin chuckled sarcastically.

“Anything that happened leaves traces, and those traces can be found, whether in paper records or in people’s memories,” Bai Wei said.

Then, with a solemn expression, she said, “On behalf of the government, I formally invite you to join the ‘Special Rescue Department.’ This is a newly formed special organization composed of individuals with superpowers, dedicated to rescuing ordinary citizens during disasters. After the nursing home experiment concludes, regardless of the outcome, I can recommend you for membership.”

“I refuse.” Yun Xin responded almost immediately after the invitation.

Bai Wei frowned. “But why?”

“The public wouldn’t be happy,” Yun Xin said dismissively.

 “As a law-abiding citizen who has never committed a crime, shouldn’t you respect her personal wishes?”

Bai Wei remained silent. Objectively, she knew she should respect Yun Xin’s wishes, but deep down, she wasn’t pleased.

The organization is currently very short-staffed, and she didn’t want to miss the chance to recruit someone with strong abilities.

Bai Wei straightforwardly took off her director’s uniform.

She said, “Wearing the uniform, I’m a police officer. Without it, I’m an ordinary citizen. Can we now have a conversation between two ordinary citizens?”

“Such as?” Yun Xin asked, curious.

“Information exchange,” Bai Wei said. “Because of my work, I’ve experienced many accidents and incidents, and I have some personal insights that I can share in exchange. All you need to do is tell me why you’re unwilling to join.”

“Before knowing about the existence of the Evolution Game, everyone saved people based on their own will. I believe you’re a good person and that you’re telling the truth.”

After a brief thought, Yun Xin agreed to the exchange. However, she requested, “You go first.”

“Alright,” Bai Wei agreed.

After a moment of contemplation, she slowly said, “The scope of the scenarios is much larger than anticipated. Any event involving death or the possibility of death counts as a scenario. Even if someone suffers from a severe illness, survives it, and gradually recovers, they will gain attribute points. In other words, as long as you escape death, you will be rewarded with attribute points.”

” whether the participants escape danger within a certain time frame or survive by luck, will receive attribute rewards at the end of the scenario.”

“If you can save many people before the scenario ends, you’ll receive higher evaluations and generous attribute point rewards.”

“There are three ways to obtain attribute points.”

“First, having exceptional talent. For example, you have a strong sixth sense, which means you naturally have a high ‘spirit’ attribute.”

“Second, taking part in many situations or getting high scores in them to earn attribute points.”

“Third, potential activation. People in safe environments might have hidden talents. These talents can show up in dangerous situations.”

“The first time someone faces a life-threatening situation, it is the most shocking, and they have the highest chance of gaining a lot of attribute points. When they face death a second or third time, they start to get used to it. This means that even if their hidden abilities are activated, the increase in their attribute points won’t be as large. After three times, it’s nearly impossible to gain significant attribute points from dangerous situations unless they have a very close encounter with death.”

“Yun Xin thought about Tong Jia. When they first met, Yun Xin didn’t see anything unusual or special about her. But after Tong Jia experienced her first car accident, she started to accidentally mention things that Yun Xin had been trying very hard to keep secret.”

After this detailed explanation, Bai Wei paused to drink some water, then looked at Yun Xin, waiting for response quietly.

Yun Xin felt anxious and uncertain. She wondered how she could possibly explain everything that had happened to her. It wasn’t just a simple story; it involved complex events, hidden abilities, and secrets she had tried hard to keep. She didn’t know where to start or how to make someone else understand the full depth of her situation.

After some thought, she said, “In the past, crows were called ‘death birds.’ People believed that when a crow cawed, an elderly person close to death would pass away the next day, as if the crow was bringing death.”

“Did the crow foresee death or bring death? I’ve always wondered about this.”

Bai Wei responded, “Is that why you studied philosophy in college? Does this relate to why you refuse to join the Special Rescue Department?”

“Because I want to know whether I predict death or cause it,” Yun Xin said seriously, clearly not joking. 

“This question is very important to me; it concerns whether those close to me will die just because they are near me.”

Bai Wei reminded her, “Scientific research suggests that crows are scavengers. People who are close to death give off a sour, decaying smell.”

“When a crow caws, it might not be bringing death but instead might be indicating, ‘Dinner’s ready.'”

“My grandmother also told me that the lineage of priestesses is naturally drawn to disasters and unconsciously approaches them. Guiding people to escape from disasters is the sacred duty of a priestess,” Yun Xin said in a solemn tone, then suddenly changed her tone. 

“But sometimes, I wonder if she was just deceiving me.”

“So even though you are quite wealthy, you still submitted resumes, looked for jobs, and rented a place to live?” Bai Wei muttered.

“I thought an employer had hurt you,” Bai Wei said, looking at Yun Xin’s resume and feeling like she was targeting employers.

“No,” Yun Xin replied. “I just applied for jobs and went wherever I was hired. It’s not wrong for a boss to want to make money, and it’s not wrong for me to want a job and meet people. We’re all just honest people.”

“Given everything you’ve been through, you should be able to make a judgment by now, right?” Bai Wei analyzed. 

“In the syrup leakage incident, thanks to you, your colleagues survived.”

“In the New World Hotel collapse, professional designers said that there was a problem with the design data, and the building was bound to collapse sooner or later. You happened to start working there just before the collapse and promptly notified customers to evacuate, saving most of them.”

“Looking at it this way, I did indeed fulfill my duties,” Yun Xin said, but then continued, “The accident report mentioned that the weather was abnormal that day, with a significant temperature increase. Combined with the old sugar storage tank, a series of factors led to the tragedy. If the weather hadn’t been abnormal, the old tank wouldn’t have caused any issues.”

“The same goes for the hotel collapse. Despite the flawed design and poor construction, the building was fine until I started working there. One month after I joined, the building couldn’t handle the weight, and the accident happened.”

“So, ultimately, whether I’m attracted to disasters or I bring bad luck wherever I go, there is still no answer.”

Yun Xin thought that perhaps because this issue was too important to her, even though she believed her grandmother’s words, she didn’t dare to draw a conclusion easily.

It might also be that she was willing to risk her own life a hundred times but couldn’t bring herself to risk the lives of those she cared about even once.

In any case, making the decision was already difficult, and the emergence of an uncertain factor—the Evolution Game—made the problem even more complicated.

Bai Wei began to suspect that Yun Xin was trying to confuse her with philosophical arguments to refuse her invitation. Unfortunately, Yun Xin looked genuinely serious, as if she was earnestly considering the issue.

Bai Wei couldn’t help but ask, “What if you never figure it out in your lifetime?”

“I contemplate these thoughts not to sway others, but to find solace within myself,” Yun Xin confided. “If I never fully understand them, perhaps it’s not meant to be in this lifetime.”

“My mother insisted on marrying and having children, and my father eventually passed away in an accident. This devastated my mother, and she followed him soon after,” Yun Xin continued, her voice tinged with sorrow.

“My grandmother once loved someone deeply. Upon realizing she was pregnant, she left without a word to avoid bringing bad luck to him. By the time I was old enough, she was worn out and no longer wanted to live,” Yun Xin explained, her tone reflecting the weight of these family histories.

Bai Wei fell into a reflective silence.

She had considered using the noble cause of preventing humanity’s extinction to persuade Yun Xin. However, observing the indifference towards their own lives in Yun Xin’s family, she wondered: would they truly care about the fate of others? To them, perhaps the extinction of humanity might seem akin to a family reunion.

Bai Wei was afraid and took a sip of water asked, “Anyway, have you ever harmed anyone?”

“No,” Yun Xin replied affirmatively.

“Not even indirectly?” Bai Wei stared directly at Yun Xin, as if trying to see through her deepest thoughts.

“No,” Yun Xin replied firmly.

“Good to know,” Bai Wei thought for a moment, then added, “We’ll discuss joining the Special Rescue Department later. For now, focus on your current job. The elderly could be in danger at any time, so keep a close eye with Wu Peng.”

Yun Xin suddenly realized the true intent behind her repeated trips delivering meals in the apartment building.

It wasn’t just about delivering food; it was about delivering a living person (a detector).

Thinking about it this way, everyone had it tough. Yun Xin sighed and left.

After Yun Xin left, Bai Wei took out a recording pen from her pocket — it had recorded her entire conversation with Yun Xin.

Bai Wei sent the file to her colleagues with a note, “Use ‘True Words’ to verify if she’s telling the truth, especially the part about never harming anyone.”