Observation

“…Therefore, after taking all the above considerations into account, we are officially establishing the [Human Alliance].”

In the auditorium, Director Jin spoke in a solemn tone from behind the long table, though his face wore a mild, springlike smile.

Behind him, a gigantic screen displayed a clear, intuitive tree diagram of the entire [Human Alliance] structure.

Zhu Yan narrowed his eyes as he studied it.

“[The Human Alliance] is divided into three departments: the Core Operations Department, the Internal Administration Department, and the External Affairs and Command Department.”

That was the first level of the organizational structure.

Zhu Yan noticed that the Core Operations Department occupied the central position among the three. Perhaps it was the most important department at this stage.

“The Core Operations Department is further divided into the Rapid Response Department and the Tactical Support Department.”

“The Rapid Response Department has only one goal: to annihilate, suppress, and destroy.”

“After these past few days of bloody lessons and tireless effort, we have discovered that forcing people with different functions to fight head-on only results in needless sacrifices and more bloody lessons.”

“We will make use of the rules to organize our most elite combat personnel and send them into high-difficulty instances, where they will confront the malice of [Madhouse Paradise] directly.”

“However, because some instances have mandatory mechanics, we are not yet capable of stopping people from entering instances that they are required to enter.”

Oh.

In Zhu Yan’s view, this department was essentially the frontline combat division.

Seen this way, the [Human Alliance] truly had no shortage of talented people.

The fact that they had managed to classify the instances into different types in such a short time—and had even found a way to forcibly send people into them—was already remarkably impressive.

As far as Zhu Yan was concerned, this was something only an organization with strict discipline could accomplish.

And what had Yang Zhanbai said?

Jin Rongxu was the captain of an action team, so he should belong to the Core Operations Department, right?

“The Tactical Resources Department oversees such divisions as Intelligence Analysis, Psychological Intervention, and Technical Engineering…”

At this point, Director Jin suddenly paused, his meaning unmistakable.

He swept his gaze across the densely packed audience below and slowly said, “The information concerning the [Hunters] we have recently been pursuing was collected and analyzed by the Tactical Resources Department.”

“Of course, we will also select some students whose abilities are suited to the department.”

“Of course, due to the special systems in place at [Xishan University] and the other three schools, these students will not need to report to the White Building.”

Zhu Yan saw that Director Jin’s gaze very clearly carried a warning—and an element of probing.

“According to the intelligence and information we have gathered, once a person becomes a [Hunter], they will be completely corrupted by [Madhouse Paradise] and transformed into monsters hiding among humanity.”

“Whether toward other players, ordinary people, or society as a whole, they represent an enormous potential threat.”

All right.

Zhu Yan showed no reaction. He carefully imitated the people around him, leaning forward slightly and adopting an interested expression.

“Therefore, we also hope that students who pass the authenticity verification test and possess suitable abilities will complete their newcomer training as soon as possible and actively join the Tactical Resources Department.”

Zhu Yan could not help thinking of what Guan En had revealed to him earlier, as well as what he himself had heard in the [Hall of Mourning].

—The [Human Alliance] possessed the ability to foresee events and could learn at least a month in advance when an important large-scale instance would descend.

Then, if these people were determined to capture the [Hunters], did they also have a way to predict which instance he would enter?

“This looks pretty cool too.” Yang Zhanbai whispered from beside him. “I want to hunt [Hunters] as well.”

Zhu Yan lowered his voice and warned him, “Be careful, or a [Hunter] will kill you.”

Yang Zhanbai chuckled. “Isn’t Brother Zhu here to protect me?”

Zhu Yan was left speechless.

Director Jin immediately passed the microphone to the slightly plump middle-aged man beside him and fell silent.

The middle-aged man was evidently one of the heads of another department.

He took the microphone and began introducing the Internal Administration Department.

Zhu Yan carefully glanced at the nameplate in front of him and committed the name “Zhang Qinhe” to memory.

Director Jin sat beside him, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

“We haven’t found any trace of anything,” a voice came through his miniature earpiece.

In a certain office at the back of the auditorium, several technicians stared intently at the surrounding screens.

The screens displayed enlarged surveillance footage, allowing every newcomer’s face to be seen clearly.

Two middle-aged men who looked almost identical sat before the screens, while Jin Rongxu stood beside them with a grim expression.

The two middle-aged men moved and reacted in perfect unison. Their brows were tightly furrowed as they stared at one particular face, and beads of sweat the size of beans covered their foreheads.

“After the upgrade, we really can lock onto and analyze their energy as long as we have video footage,” one of them said. The other naturally picked up where he left off.

“But we can’t analyze anything now. These players do have slight differences in level, but they are all definitely players. None of them shows any signs of corruption.”

Jin Rongxu was silent for a moment. “Is anyone’s level noticeably higher than the others?”

“Uh…”

One of the middle-aged men hesitated, but the other quickly jabbed him with an elbow.

“Don’t use words like ‘uh’!” he scolded. Then he turned to Jin Rongxu with a fawning smile.

“Sorry about that, Captain. What my brother meant was that there isn’t anyone.”

He pointed at the screen. “There’s only this one who’s a little unusual. But it’s not what you think…”

Jin Rongxu zoomed in on the area the man had indicated.

It was none other than Zhu Zeyu—

At that moment, he was listening to Deputy Director Zhang Qinhe’s tedious explanation of the Internal Administration Department, just like everyone else around him.

“What’s wrong with this player?”

“Captain, his aura is actually weaker than the other players’.”

That was something Jin Rongxu had not expected.

He did not know that Zhu Yan had activated [Roleplay]—and that the [Mist] he was roleplaying was only level 0.

“…And his condition is extremely fragmented.”

The middle-aged man placed a hand against the screen, sensing it carefully.

“If I had to describe it, Captain, do you know the term ‘not gathering qi’? This person seems to have suffered a severe injury. His entire state is abnormally weak.”

Jin Rongxu nodded to show that he understood.

Weak. Weak.

Of course, he knew exactly why Zhu Zeyu was weak. The man had been too reckless and had been stabbed clean through the abdomen by the [Hunter].

That knife was currently lying inside his ring.

Jin Rongxu had already examined it closely. Its shape was sleek and fluid, and it felt extremely light in his hand, yet it was extraordinarily sharp—sharp enough to pierce straight through the skull of a level-ten horror creature with ease.

It was unquestionably a level-thirteen real blade!

“Captain Jin, should we continue observing him?”

“Not for now.” A cold smile tugged at the corners of Jin Rongxu’s mouth. “Contact Guan En. After this is over, have him bring Zhu Zeyu to my office.”

Being weak was perfect.

Taking him into an instance at a time like this would ensure that he had neither the time nor the opportunity to recuperate. At the same time, it would help him replenish his abilities.

“Oh—”

Jin Rongxu walked to the door, then suddenly stopped.

“Call in the entire team. And bring along the little girl who can prophesy.”