Chapter 69: Joining The Supernatural Defense Department
Finally, inside the bedroom, Shen Yu lay quietly in Yang Jin’s embrace.
"Huff... huff..."
After a few moments, Shen Yu suddenly frowned.
"...Was someone knocking at the door just now?"
Yang Jin gently combed her fingers through his hair, smiling softly.
"I think so."
"They stopped knocking after a while."
"It sounds like they’re waiting in the living room."
"I didn’t pay much attention."
The moment Shen Yu heard that, his expression changed.
"...Oh no."
"It can’t be the officials already, can it?"
He immediately sat upright.
"Jing..."
"You should go back to the Heart Cottage for now."
"Wait until I send them away."
Yang Jin pouted slightly.
"Tch... fine."
She gathered her nurse’s uniform, gave Shen Yu one last reluctant glance, and the pink heart-shaped light above her head shimmered.
In the next instant—
She vanished.
The bedroom fell silent.
Only the slightly rumpled blankets and the faint floral fragrance lingering in the air remained as evidence that she had been there moments ago.
After getting dressed, Shen Yu surveyed the room.
"...Great."
"What am I supposed to tell them?"
He scratched his head helplessly.
"They couldn’t have warned me before showing up?"
"I definitely can’t explain everything."
"The system has to stay a secret."
Taking a deep breath, Shen Yu opened the bedroom door.
Creak.
In the living room, Ho Yong and Lu Xian immediately stood up.
Just then—
The space around Shen Yu rippled almost imperceptibly.
The bedroom behind him suddenly appeared spotless, brightly lit, and filled with exercise equipment.
Shen Yu himself was dressed in a sleeveless training shirt and athletic shorts, his body glistening with sweat as though he had just finished an intense workout.
Lu Xian blinked in surprise.
"...You were exercising?"
Shen Yu smiled awkwardly.
"Yeah."
"I usually lose track of time when I’m training."
Lu Xian coughed lightly, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed for entering without permission.
Ho Yong stepped forward, straightened his posture, and offered a crisp salute.
"Mr. Shen Yu."
"My name is Ho Yong."
"This is Lu Xian."
"We’re from the City Security Defense Department."
"Congratulations on successfully clearing Qing Shan Mental Hospital."
He extended his hand with a sincere smile.
"Shen Yu..."
"...on behalf of the City Security Defense Department, I formally invite you to join our team."
"Um... hello."
Without any obvious change in expression, Shen Yu shook Ho Yong’s hand before casually closing the bedroom door behind him.
Just moments earlier, he had activated a skill that could only be used once per day—
Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
Whether the situation had been embarrassing or not didn’t matter. He simply wanted to test the skill’s true capabilities.
The result had left even Shen Yu astonished.
The bedroom, which had moments before been in complete disarray, instantly transformed into the image everyone most expected to see—a brightly lit private gym filled with exercise equipment. Even the lingering scent in the room had changed into the smell of sweat from an intense workout.
The illusion wasn’t merely visual.
The lighting, atmosphere, and even the subtle details felt almost indistinguishable from reality.
"...Amazing."
Shen Yu couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
This skill was far more useful than he had imagined.
Ho Yong cleared his throat.
"I didn’t expect Mr. Shen Yu to enjoy working out so much."
He smiled warmly.
"Don’t worry. Once you join us, the Defense Department will arrange the best training facilities for you. If you’d like, we can even prepare living quarters with a private gym."
"Every hero who protects Joi City from dungeon incursions receives the best treatment we can offer."
Shen Yu smiled.
"That’s appreciated."
"But that’s not my biggest concern."
"I’m an orphan."
"I don’t really have many personal requests."
He looked at Ho Yong seriously.
"If I successfully stop a dungeon from descending, I’d like the government to donate ten million to an orphanage."
"I don’t think that’s asking too much."
Ho Yong answered almost immediately.
"Not at all."
"It’s a completely reasonable request."
"Anything else?"
Shen Yu nodded.
"Yes."
"My younger sister."
"She lost her eyesight years ago."
"My second condition is that she receives treatment from the best medical team available."
"I don’t care how much it costs."
"I want the specialists with the highest success rate."
"I want her to have a chance to see the world again."
For the first time since arriving, Ho Yong and Lu Xian exchanged knowing smiles.
Ho Yong chuckled.
"We already expected that request."
Shen Yu blinked.
"...You did?"
"Of course."
"We investigated your background before coming here."
"We also know how much your sister means to you."
He handed Shen Yu a sealed folder.
"We’ve already contacted the nation’s leading ophthalmologists, neurologists, and rehabilitation specialists."
"A VIP recovery suite has been reserved for her at the country’s best hospital."
"The medical team has been placed on standby."
"The moment she agrees to the transfer, treatment can begin."
"If surgery is possible, they’ll perform it."
"If rehabilitation is required, they’ll oversee it personally."
"All expenses will be covered by the Defense Department."
Lu Xian smiled gently.
"Heroes shouldn’t have to worry about the people they’re protecting."
"Your sister will receive the best care our country can provide."
For a brief moment, Shen Yu stood frozen.
His normally calm eyes trembled.
"...Thank you."
Ho Yong waved dismissively.
"You’ve already risked your life for Joi City."
"This is the least we can do."
After taking a slow breath, Shen Yu continued.
"My final request."
"I require absolute privacy in my residence."
"No one is allowed to enter my bedroom without my permission."
Ho Yong smiled.
"That’s perfectly acceptable."
"In that case..."
"Any luggage to pack?"
Shen Yu shook his head.
"No."
"Then come back to the Defense Department with us."
"I’ll explain the current situation on the way."
"Sounds good."
After exchanging a few more words, Shen Yu returned briefly to his bedroom, shut down and formatted his computer, grabbed a coat, and walked back outside.
As they headed downstairs, he noticed the woman accompanying Ho Yong had been quietly observing him the entire time.
Lu Xian.
Shen Yu had heard of her before.
She was considered the true treasure of Joi City’s Defense Department.
Her talent—
Retrospective Memory—
allowed her to reconstruct fragments of the past tied to people, places, or supernatural events.
At first glance, it seemed like an investigative ability with little combat value.
In reality, however, it was invaluable.
Against bizarre entities whose weaknesses depended on hidden histories or forgotten events, Lu Xian could instantly uncover the key information needed to solve an incident.
Her direct fighting ability wasn’t remarkable.
Her ability to resolve supernatural cases, however, ranked among the very best.
Noticing Shen Yu looking toward her, Lu Xian brushed aside her wavy hair and offered a graceful smile before extending her hand.
"You’re Shen Yu, right?"
"I watched your entire first-person broadcast."
"Honestly..."
"You’re the first person I’ve seen make such effective use of a low-ranked talent."
"I’m glad you’ve decided to join the City Defense Department."
"My name is Lu Xian."
"I’m the captain of the Action Team."
Her slender hand remained extended.
Shen Yu instinctively reached out—
Then paused.
Somehow, he could almost hear Yang Jin’s dissatisfied voice echoing in the back of his mind.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
He awkwardly withdrew his hand and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry."
"I just finished exercising."
"My hands are still sweaty."
"I don’t think it’s very polite to shake hands like this."
Lu Xian blinked before laughing softly.
"That’s understandable."
"We’ll have plenty of opportunities to shake hands in the future."
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