Chapter 78: Social Death by Contrast

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Social Death by Contrast

After Wu Jiahao and Liu Yue left.

All the remaining newcomers were Extraordinary Contactors.

The staff member’s gaze swept over everyone.

She slowly said,

"Most of you became Extraordinary Contactors because you encountered something Extraordinary in your daily lives."

"If any of you are in possession of a specific Extraordinary item, you should consider turning it over to the organization."

"The organization can develop and utilize these Extraordinary items far more effectively, making them much more valuable than if you were to keep them for yourselves."

"Of course, the organization won’t just take your items for nothing. We will evaluate them and provide corresponding Extraordinary Resources in return to help you progress further on your Extraordinary path."

"Everything I’ve just mentioned is completely voluntary. Please weigh the pros and cons for yourselves."

After she finished speaking, her gaze fell on Gu Qing, and her tone took on a pointedly advisory quality.

"Gu Qing, for someone so young to possess such monstrous Physical Strength, there are only two possibilities."

"Either you’ve been in constant contact with an Extraordinary item since childhood, accumulating its effects for nearly two decades."

"Or, the Extraordinary item you encountered is of an exceptionally high grade—an incredibly rare Extraordinary Treasure."

"The chances of the latter, however, are minuscule."

"Because the moment an Extraordinary Treasure appears, it’s bound to trigger a frantic struggle among Extraordinary Powerhouses from all sides. It’s impossible for one to remain unnoticed in the hands of an ordinary person, free from covetous eyes."

"But we’d have to perform an appraisal to know for sure which is the case."

"My advice is that you turn your Extraordinary item over to the organization. If it really is an incredibly rare Extraordinary Treasure, the Extraordinary Resources you’ll receive in return will be absolutely astonishing. Plus, you’ll retain priority access to use it in the future."

This advice she gave Gu Qing was genuinely for his own good and not some kind of trap.

In the hands of a newcomer, it’s difficult to develop and utilize an Extraordinary item effectively.

It would be better to turn it over to the Night Court in exchange for Extraordinary Resources that are more valuable at this current stage.

In response to her suggestion, Gu Qing just shook his head gently, his expression frank. "To this day, I still don’t know how I became an Extraordinary Contactor. For all these years, my daily life has been completely ordinary. I’ve never found any kind of Extraordinary item."

The staff member nodded. "I see. In that case, we’ll let it be."

She then addressed the group. "The recruitment test has concluded. You are now free to tour the Night Court Base. If you wish to leave early, simply register at the main gate, and a car will be arranged to take you back."

Just then, Gu Qing suddenly remembered Zhou Yuan.

He looked at the staff member and asked,

"I have a question, if you don’t mind."

"What is it?"

"It’s about a senior from my PhD program. He was recruited into the Night Court a few days ago. His name is Zhou Yuan. Do you happen to know where he is?"

"Zhou Yuan?"

The staff member thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I haven’t heard that name before."

Then she added, "But I can look him up for you."

"Thank you, I’d appreciate that."

"It’s no trouble."

The staff member took out her phone, logged into the organization’s internal app, and searched for the name "Zhou Yuan."

The search results quickly appeared.

The staff member glanced at the screen. "The R&D Department recently took on a newcomer named Zhou Yuan. That should be the senior from your PhD program."

’The R&D Department?’

’So he really was brought in to do research.’

Gu Qing wondered to himself, then asked, "Excuse me, where is the R&D Department, and how can I contact him?"

Ever since Zhou Yuan had been recruited into the R&D Department, he seemed to have stopped using his old WeChat account. Gu Qing had sent him several messages but had yet to receive a reply.

"The R&D Department is in that large building over there."

The staff member pointed to a tall building up ahead and explained patiently, "The R&D Department and the Field Operations Department have almost no professional interaction. If you want to contact him, you’ll have to wait until you’re formally employed by the Night Court and have your own internal account. Once you do, you’ll be able to send him a direct message cross-department through the app."

"I see."

Gu Qing nodded. "I understand. Thanks for explaining."

With those matters settled, the staff member quickly departed.

Gu Qing wasn’t in a hurry to return to campus.

Instead, he joined a group of his fellow new recruits and began strolling around the Night Court Base to get familiar with the layout.

They had just stepped out of the testing center and onto a footpath in the complex when a familiar, graceful figure approached.

It was Jiang Wanqiao.

The young woman who had been at the front desk earlier.

Jiang Wanqiao was off duty.

She had changed out of her work uniform—a blouse and a form-fitting skirt—and was now wearing a simple, casual, lace-trimmed dress. Thin-framed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose, highlighting her delicate, gentle features. Cradling a book in her arms, she exuded the unmistakable air of a top student.

She was like a premium version of Yang Yuntong.

In terms of education, figure, and looks, she was a clear tier above Yang Yuntong.

"Gu Qing, what a coincidence."

Jiang Wanqiao stopped and smiled at Gu Qing, asking softly, "How did the recruitment test go? I’m sure you did well."

Gu Qing replied, "It was alright. Just my usual performance."

One of the guys next to him, a natural hype man, immediately jumped in. "Brother Qing was an absolute beast during the test! He dominated those two Extraordinary Awakened from start to finish and easily took first place overall!"

’He dominated two Extraordinary Awakened?’

Jiang Wanqiao thought she must have misheard, but when Gu Qing didn’t deny it, she realized it was true. A flicker of shock crossed her face.

But she quickly composed herself, her surprise melting into a gentle smile.

"Congratulations, Gu Qing. I had no idea you were so powerful. You’ve really surprised me."

"It was alright," Gu Qing said.

Jiang Wanqiao asked, "By the way, where are you all headed now?"

The same guy from before answered, "We’re just wandering around to get familiar with the base."

Hearing this, Jiang Wanqiao volunteered, "I just got off work and don’t have anything to do. Why don’t I show you all around the base and help you get acquainted with the place?"

In truth, she did have something to do.

She was an anime-themed livestreamer. In an hour, she was scheduled to change into an elaborate Magical Girl costume, go live, and earn money by playing the part of a Magical Girl.

However, she was interested in Gu Qing and was willing to postpone her stream—and earn less money—to take this opportunity to get to know him better.

For the next while, the group strolled along the footpath, chatting as they went.

Every time they passed a building, Jiang Wanqiao would explain its function to the group.

During the tour, she kept finding ways to strike up small talk with Gu Qing, her desire to get closer to him quite obvious.

Gu Qing didn’t mind this at all.

In fact, it was exactly what he’d hoped for.

He was very interested in Jiang Wanqiao’s [Magical Girl] tag.

He also wanted to get to know the girl with the glasses as quickly as possible, which would make it easier for him to acquire Attributes from her tag in the future.

"By the way, are you a big fan of Magical Girl anime? Do you often do things related to Magical Girls?" Gu Qing asked, looking at Jiang Wanqiao.

He wanted to figure out why she, a seemingly ordinary person, had what looked like an Extraordinary tag, [Magical Girl], floating above her head.

Hearing his question, Jiang Wanqiao froze on the spot.

Her eyes filled with disbelief as shock and suspicion churned within her.

’What’s going on?’

’Why would he suddenly ask about that?’

’This is the first time we’ve ever met. We’ve never crossed paths before; we’re complete strangers.’

’Wait!’

’Could he have seen my streams on Douyin and recognized me?!’

’No, anything but that!’

’This is total social suicide!’

’I’ll die of embarrassment!’

At that moment, Jiang Wanqiao was panicking. She wanted to die.

Online, she was a lively and enthusiastic anime-themed livestreamer, frequently cosplaying various characters and interacting with her audience with a huge smile.

Her favorite thing was to cosplay as a Magical Girl, wielding a magic wand and casting all sorts of dazzling, colorful Magic with the help of her stream’s special effects.

But in real life, she always presented herself as a studious, glasses-wearing top student.

Her persona was all about being quiet, gentle, and ladylike.

She didn’t want anyone in her real life to see her enthusiastic, lively persona from her streams.

She was terrified of being seen as "that girl with the glasses" who had a shocking secret side.

She was thin-skinned and couldn’t bear the thought of people she knew gossiping about her behind her back; she’d be too mortified to ever face them again.

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