170: Chapter 170 Before the Mission

Lin Ning sped through the streets of Yanjing like a bolt of lightning for ten minutes before he finally began to calm down.

The joy of having a Yanjing household registration and a Beijing license plate slowly welled up in his heart. Ignoring the gazes of passersby, Lin Ning threw back his head and laughed, then pulled out his phone and called Jiang Yu, his tone unable to hide his lightheartedness:

"I'm coming to pick you up. I'll be there in about ten minutes."

"What's made you so happy?" Jiang Yu's voice was also tinged with an involuntary smile.

"Something great," Lin Ning laughed. "I'll tell you when I see you."

As soon as Jiang Yu came downstairs, she saw Lin Ning's beaming face. She quickened her pace, and when she reached him, Lin Ning swept her up and spun her around several times.

Then, without waiting for Jiang Yu to ask, he said, "I received a reward for my report—they approved my Yanjing household registration!"

Jiang Yu's bright eyes instantly filled with joy. She cupped Lin Ning's face in her hands. "Really? You're amazing! Hahaha..."

"Let's go, let's go! It's my treat today, we're going to celebrate properly!"

Lin Ning grinned from ear to ear and teased, "Are you trying to cement my reputation as a live-in son-in-law?"

Jiang Yu thought of what had happened in Lin Ning's hometown and immediately doubled over with laughter. "Fine, I'll support you!"

The two of them, in high spirits, held hands and went off to find something to eat.

After 10 PM, Lin Ning and Jiang Yu emerged from the Tianqiao Theatre, their faces flushed from laughing.

"That was hilarious. Seeing it live is really different."

Lin Ning nodded. "We'll definitely come back next time!"

The night was gentle. Lin Ning looked at Jiang Yu under the lights; she was dazzlingly beautiful. They would experience many more interesting things together in the future.

A whole day of relaxation allowed Lin Ning to completely shed the tension of the past few days. He knew that starting tomorrow, he would step into a brand-new battlefield, one without the smoke of gunpowder.

At 3 PM the next day, Lin Ning arrived at the Ministry of State Security building on time.

Chen Zhi was already waiting for him downstairs, his expression a bit more serious than usual. "Follow me. Don't say anything out of turn, and keep a low profile."

Lin Ning nodded and followed him through the corridor into a closed meeting room.

Seven people were already seated inside, all young men with upright postures and sharp gazes. At a glance, they were clearly well-trained and highly capable.

Lin Ning's gaze swept across the room, and he immediately spotted a familiar figure in the corner—Liu Zhao.

This guy was already starting missions after recovering from his injuries. Lin Ning was happy for him but didn't dare to greet him too enthusiastically.

Their eyes met, and they exchanged a silent greeting.

Lin Ning found an empty seat and sat down quietly.

Within two minutes, the meeting room door was pushed open. A middle-aged man in his early forties walked in; he had a lean build and a cold, stern face.

He walked to the podium and spoke. "I'm Zhou Hai, the person in charge of this operation."

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, his gaze scanned the room, pausing for a fraction of a second on Lin Ning before he turned on the projector.

A line of clear, bold characters immediately appeared on the large screen:

China-Europe Energy Joint Research Institute—Deep-sea Wind Power + Hydrogen Energy Storage Technology Project

"The total investment for this project exceeds ten billion, and its core patents involve national energy security," Captain Zhou's voice was low and powerful. "The partners are China Energy Group and two energy giants from Germany and France. There are twenty-seven core foreign personnel, covering technology, management, and legal affairs."

With a tap of his finger, a list of names and resumes filled the screen.

"We have received top-secret intelligence—at least two people in this group are problematic. They could be commercial spies or have political backgrounds. The intelligence is vague and we cannot lock onto a target, so we can only investigate slowly and increase security measures."

Captain Zhou looked sharply at everyone. "Next Wednesday night, there will be a welcome reception for the partners, and everyone will be present. The eight of you will all disguise yourselves as hotel waiters to assist security and prevent any emergencies. If anything happens, you are to take control of the scene immediately. No chaos will be tolerated."

He paused to ensure everyone understood the information. "Your primary mission is to ensure that no violent sabotage occurs during the welcome reception. Is that clear?!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Lin Ning joined in, answering loudly.

"From now on, you will undergo closed training," Captain Zhou said solemnly. "In the first stage, we will turn you into qualified waiters."

For the next few days, Lin Ning entered full "devil mode."

During the day, he and the seven investigators underwent basic training: standard standing posture, degree of smiling, tray-holding gestures, serving procedures, response scripts, clearing tables, dealing with drunk guests, and handling sudden arguments...

Every movement had to be precise, natural, and flawless.

A single tray-holding posture had to be practiced until the arm was as steady as a tripod, with not a single drop of water spilled.

At first, Lin Ning thought it was funny, but as he practiced, he realized there was a method to it—true infiltration is making everyone ignore you.

And an inconspicuous, professional waiter is the best disguise.

Besides the basic training, Chen Zhi gave Lin Ning exclusive special training. In Chen Zhi's words: "Your mission is different from theirs. Take this opportunity to train and learn properly."

Several courses truly opened Lin Ning's eyes; although painful, they were cool as hell:

1. Micro-expressions and Behavioral Profiling

The instructor would only play a few seconds of video, and from a person's blinking frequency, the direction of their toes, and small hand movements, they could judge if the person was nervous, lying, or carrying hostility. Lin Ning's observation skills were already freakish; he understood everything instantly, and his speed of progress secretly astonished the instructor.

2. Close-quarters Concealed Combat

Without using firearms, using only cutlery, towels, tables, and chairs to subdue an enemy in three seconds, silently. The strikes were fast, accurate, and ruthless, leaving no trace, perfectly fitting the "waiter" cover identity.

3. Specialized Disguise and Makeup

This wasn't the exaggerated face-changing seen in movies, but micro-adjustments: changing eyebrow shape, adjusting skin tone, changing hairstyle, adding an inconspicuous mole, and adjusting walking posture and temperament. In just a few minutes, a person could completely change their aura, making it hard even for acquaintances to recognize them at a glance.

4. Tactical Tracking and Counter-tracking

How to follow a target in a crowd without being noticed, how to determine if you are being followed, and how to easily shake someone off using buildings, crowds, and shops. Every step contained professional calculations.

5. Rapid Identification of Dangerous Items

Without a body search, relying only on observing outlines, weight, and movements, one could determine if someone was carrying knives, explosives, or hidden cameras. With the enhancement of Lin Ning's Psychic Power, he could lock onto anomalies almost at a glance.

6. Coded Communication and Hand Signals

A full set of specialized hand signals; without speaking, a single movement could convey "danger," "target spotted," "requesting backup," or "normal evacuation." Concise, lethal, and efficient.

Lin Ning grew more excited as he learned.

He had originally just been curious, but once he actually came into contact with these top-tier intelligence skills, he understood what "art on the edge of a blade" meant. He couldn't help but mutter to himself: Chen Zhi wasn't just training him for a mission; he was training him to death by the standards of a core agent.

On Wednesday, Lin Ning stood behind the hotel in casual clothes, took a deep breath, and began.