4: Origin, Recruitment

“It all started more than 10 years ago.”

Lin Mo recalled what he knew, and after carefully choosing his words, he said:

“In 2014, the Chang’e-5 T1 flight test vehicle captured images of Moonbay Crater on the far side of the Moon.”

“When the Space Research Institute studied the photos, they discovered what appeared to be residual spatial folding phenomena in the crater's shadow.”

“It was ultimately confirmed that the area contained unknown dimensional characteristic matter.”

“This was the origin of everything.”

“From that year on, the world began to change.”

“Shortly after the existence of unknown dimensional characteristic matter was confirmed, the first Awakened, ‘Fire Controller,’ was discovered in America. He was an illegal immigrant from America.”

“Of course, those guys in The West have no feelings.”

“Three days after the illegal immigrant was discovered, he was sent to the dissection table.”

“Scientists there found a newly grown organ inside his heart.”

“Literally translated, it means ‘fire sac,’ a place for storing flames.”

Speaking of this, he looked at Yang Dian, whose expression had clearly become more vigilant:

“Don’t worry, dissecting an Awakened is something that only happened more than 10 years ago.”

“After it was determined that the Awakened’s gene chain underwent an unknown evolution, and that none of his internal organs were compatible with others and could not be cloned, very few people would target an Awakened anymore.”

“At least in China, as long as an Awakened doesn’t break the law, even if he is unwilling to join an official organization, he can still live a stable life like an ordinary person.”

After explaining, Lin Mo continued:

“As the saying goes, when you find the first cockroach in the kitchen, it means there are already countless cockroaches hiding in the dark.”

“The same goes for the Awakened.”

“Soon after, the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh… Awakened were discovered by various countries around the world.”

“They were either recruited or captured.”

“In short, the Awakened are not a secret among the upper echelons of various countries.”

“According to known statistical data, the probability of an ordinary person Awakening is roughly one in ten thousand.”

“Besides this, the world's changes are not limited to the Awakened.”

“The climate has become abnormal since then, plants have begun to accelerate their growth, and even the diameter of our Blue Star has increased by more than 10 kilometers in these past 10-plus years.”

“According to repeated confirmations by the Academy of Sciences, the fundamental reason for this change is still because we observed that spatial folding residual image and confirmed the existence of unknown dimensional characteristic matter.”

“This action is like breaking the quantum superposition balance of a certain energy, causing that energy to affect the Blue Star, ultimately leading to this series of changes.”

“This unknown dimensional characteristic matter was ultimately named Spiritual Qi by us.”

“This is everything I know.”

After revealing everything he knew, Lin Mo added:

“Of course, we won’t keep the world’s anomalies a secret forever.”

“In March of this year, Academician Wang Xiuzhi, chief engineer of the Space Research Institute, already disclosed to the public the news that we are breaking through the quantum dimension observation barrier.”

“It’s just that the news didn’t attract much public attention.”

“Oh, besides the above information, there’s one more piece of information that might be useful to you.”

“Since the emergence of Spiritual Qi, ancient martial arts, a traditional Chinese martial art, has also been revitalized and has shown miraculous manifestations.”

“Under the influence of Spiritual Qi, many old men who constantly practiced martial arts have broken through Bottlenecks that they had no hope of Breaking through until death.”

“Some ancient Martial Artists, known as Grandmasters, can even contend with the most powerful ability users.”

“Of course, it’s not just our ancient Martial Artists who have benefited from Spiritual Qi.”

“The Knights Templar of Western Europe, the ascetics of India, the hermits of Egypt…”

“These things that should have been lost in the tide of time have all been revitalized once again.”

After listening to Lin Mo’s narration, Yang Dian subconsciously curled his fingers into claws.

‘I wonder what level my current strength ranks among the Awakened and ancient Martial Artists.’

‘And my cheat, perhaps it’s the external manifestation of my Acquired talent after Awakening?’

Suppressing the doubts in his heart, Yang Dian finally turned his gaze to He Qing, who was frozen:

“You still haven’t told me about the changes that happened to her.”

As he spoke, Yang Dian’s gaze inadvertently swept over the hand cannon held in Shi Sheng’s hand:

“Also, what’s that hand cannon-like thing in Officer Shi’s hand?”

“Freezing a living person with one shot, it doesn’t seem like a product of modern technology, does it?”

Lin Mo looked at the hand cannon in Shi Sheng’s hand, smiled, and replied:

“The hand cannon in Stone’s hand is actually not strange.”

“Awakening talents are diverse.”

“There are those who can control elements like earth, fire, wind, and water, and those who can gain immense strength. Naturally, there will also be talents that act on the brain.”

“China has a large population.”

“Even if the probability of an ordinary person Awakening is only one in ten thousand, when you add up the number of Awakened across all of China, the total number of Awakened will reach a terrifying figure of over a hundred thousand.”

“Gathering the Awakened who have Awakened brain talents, letting them interact to spark wisdom, and then customizing exclusive weapons based on the Awakened’s abilities.”

“Manufacturing a transcendent weapon is not a difficult task.”

After explaining the hand cannon, he looked at He Qing again:

“As for her, although she hasn’t undergone a detailed examination yet, it can basically be confirmed that she became like this due to an Anomalous Organism.”

“Anomalous Organism?”

Seeing Yang Dian’s curious expression, Lin Mo continued to explain:

“If humans can Awaken, animals, plants, even insects, and even some parasites and viruses, can naturally mutate.”

“We collectively refer to these mutated non-human organisms as Anomalous Organisms, or Mutants.”

Speaking of this, Lin Mo straightened his security uniform and formally extended his right hand towards Yang Dian:

“Let’s formally introduce ourselves.”

“Lin Mo, Captain of the Seventh Squad, First Brigade, Fuzhou Branch of the Minjiang Province, China Anomalous Affairs Administration.”

“My Awakening talent is Eagle Eye. Its effect is to greatly enhance my eyesight, allowing me to see the veins on a leaf a thousand meters away without any equipment.”

Yang Dian reached out and shook Lin Mo’s hand, and Shi Sheng also joined in the fun:

“I am Shi Sheng, Vice-Captain of the Seventh Squad, and my talent is controlling ice.”

As he spoke, he waved the hand cannon in his left hand:

“This hand cannon was custom-made by me for 300 merit points, and it can amplify my ice power.”

Then, he grinned at Yang Dian:

“Besides extraordinary items like the ice hand cannon, the Administration also has various ancient martial arts texts, even dedicated ancient martial arts instructors, and various training equipment.”

“What do you say, do you want to join us?”

“I’m telling you, the Administration is short on manpower right now. If you achieve even a little, you can move up…”

Before Shi Sheng could finish speaking, Yang Dian heard a crisp 'crack' sound from behind him.

His gaze shifted behind Shi Sheng, and his eyes immediately narrowed. He suddenly reached out, grabbed Shi Sheng's wrist, and pulled him to his side.

Shi Sheng, who was pulled off balance, turned around somewhat bewildered.

The next moment, he saw a pink afterimage, accompanied by a 'whoosh' sound, pierce the air and embed itself in the spot where he had originally been standing.

If not for Yang Dian's pull, he would likely have been shot in the head.