Chapter Twenty: The Center for Supernatural Abilities Management

In a second-floor meeting room of the Earthly Immortal Community Police Station, more than a hundred men and women in deep blue robes sat encircling the stage below.

On the podium stood Wang Meng, Zhang Wu, Chen Yang, and Hei Yu, their hands resting together on a stone tablet known as the Oath Stone. None of the four spoke; a green radiance burst forth from the stone, like a rope binding them together.

At that moment, Hei Yu felt a strange sense of belonging well up within him—a trust so profound in the three others beside him that he was almost compelled to confess his true identity, that he was not Xuan Hai, but Hei Yu. Fortunately, the system intervened in time, dampening the bond's effect on him. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The other three remained under its influence; Hei Yu watched as Chen Yang, who usually looked at him with a sour expression, now began to smile warmly at him. It was terrifying—could this thing truly change hearts? Hei Yu forced himself to smile as well, lest he give himself away.

All four on stage were soon smiling at each other, and then the three moved in, still beaming, to embrace Hei Yu. He had no choice but to put on a brave face and join in the group hug.

When the light from the stone finally faded, the four awkwardly separated. Laughter erupted from the audience below.

A deafening rumble suddenly filled the room, causing everyone to cover their ears. Kang Tiansheng emerged from the crowd, not leaning on his usual cane. He wore a T-shirt emblazoned with Saitama from "One Punch Man," the bald hero’s head mirroring his own. For a moment, Hei Yu couldn’t tell whether it was Saitama wearing a shirt with Kang Tiansheng’s image, or vice versa.

Kang Tiansheng surveyed the ability users forced to cover their ears by his thunderous applause, looking quite satisfied. With a mischievous grin, he reclaimed the Oath Stone.

He approached Hei Yu and, with a solemn air, patted him on the shoulder. “Kid, from now on, you’re one of us. Do your best!”

“I will, chief,” Hei Yu replied, nodding. The words were hollow; he had no intention of staying here long, even aside from the fact that his real identity wasn’t Xuan Hai.

Hei Yu knew his own constitution all too well. If he remained, those working alongside him would surely be plagued by misfortune. He couldn’t let his guard down. He’d once thought Uncle Liu was the exception, but looking back, he had caused Liu plenty of trouble; he’d just pretended not to notice.

That fire had made Hei Yu see himself clearly.

This police station—no, Hei Yu glanced up at the projected words above.

“Ability Management Center.”

Though housed above a police station, this wasn’t truly the police. It was a special department devoted to managing those with extraordinary powers. A branch agency, no wonder they’d take in criminals with abilities; the Oath Stone’s influence lingered—he still couldn’t harm his teammates.

Such was the stone’s power, clearly the work of a formidable being. If he didn’t have the system, its effect might have been far deeper.

This place was far too dangerous. If he were ever deemed an enemy, what methods might these people use? Hei Yu didn’t dare imagine. Once he uncovered who was behind Uncle Liu’s attempted murder, he would leave.

If luck was on his side, he could copy Zhang Wu’s abilities and use them to earn a living. Zhang Wu’s power was lucrative, albeit risky. Recently, the system hadn’t mentioned that billion-dollar task at all.

So be it! The system considered that goal a subtask of its world-ending mission anyway. Once he’d made a billion, he’d have to find a way to hoodwink the system into assigning him something else. If it got unhappy and forced him to destroy the earth, who could he complain to?

Better not to think about it. He’d rather be an ordinary person, earn a modest living, and keep his life simple, forming no deep ties with anyone.

As he pondered, he suddenly realized a crowd of a dozen or twenty people had surrounded him, all eyeing him with mischievous intent.

“What do you want?” Hei Yu’s heart skipped a beat—could one of them have read his mind? Were they about to subdue him?

“System, help me!” he shouted inwardly.

[No help for you!] came the innocent, girlish reply.

Before Hei Yu could curse the system, he was seized by the arms and legs, hoisted aloft, and tossed high into the air. Up he soared, then crashed down, only to be hurled skyward again... This cycle repeated seventy times or more; eventually, Hei Yu lost count, his head spinning, but they showed no sign of letting up.

At last, Zhang Wu intervened. Seizing the moment when Hei Yu was midair, Zhang Wu floated up and snatched him from the crowd.

Some leaped up to intercept, but Zhang Wu altered their weight, sending them crashing heavily to the ground.

Held easily in Zhang Wu’s single arm, Hei Yu—nearly two hundred pounds of solid mass—suddenly seemed oddly delicate.

Chen Yang cast him a strange, ambiguous look.

What are you staring at? Hei Yu raged inwardly, wishing he could crawl into a hole.

“Hey Zhang Wu, don’t be a spoilsport—everyone’s just having fun!” called out a tall, hulking man, even fatter than Hei Yu, resembling a sumo wrestler. He tugged at Zhang Wu, trying to take Hei Yu.

Hei Yu’s face turned green at the sight of him—the man had been the most enthusiastic participant in the tossing. He suspected that face would haunt his nightmares for a long time.

“Help me!” Hei Yu pleaded to Zhang Wu.

Zhang Wu was the strongest in their group; though he’d tailed Hei Yu home the previous day, Hei Yu felt he was the most reliable.

Zhang Wu gave Hei Yu a knowing nod, his expression reassuring.

“Old Fang, don’t make me do what I did last time,” Zhang Wu said calmly.

The fat man’s face instantly turned green. “No, no, just joking! Xuan Hai, no hard feelings, yeah?” He slunk away, crestfallen.

Hei Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the big man withdraw, the others looked a bit disappointed but soon scattered.

He’d always thought something was off about these people, but this time they’d really let loose on him. Hei Yu silently noted down everyone’s “kindness” in his mental ledger; when he left, he’d settle scores—and if possible, copy all their powers.

Assuming they had powers, that is.

Even if they didn’t, he’d dig up their secrets from their memories and expose them online!

At this moment, Hei Yu was as black-hearted as could be—he’d never suffered such humiliation.

[Demon King Skill Level 2 Unlocked]

Seven enormous characters blocked Hei Yu’s vision. He was shocked and delighted—this Demon King skill had previously required him to gather resentment. Now that it was level two, what new benefits might it bring?

Zhang Wu carried Hei Yu all the way down to the first floor before restoring his weight.

Standing on the ground again, Hei Yu’s face was twisted in rage, almost frightening to behold. Zhang Wu looked at him with concern.

“Are you alright?”

Hei Yu was still waiting for the system to explain, but it had chosen this moment to go on strike. At Zhang Wu’s words, Hei Yu snapped back to reality.

“What?”

“Those guys are just playful. Every time we welcome a newcomer, they act up. Don’t worry, at the dinner later, they won’t beat you up—probably.”

“They fight at these things?”

“Usually not. Only a couple of years ago, a new guy couldn’t take the hazing and lost his temper. Then things got physical,” Zhang Wu replied lightly.

At that moment, Hei Yu felt he’d boarded a pirate ship from which there was no escape.