Chapter Nine: The Mysterious Wanderer

“Now, please proceed to the interview hall. We have someone waiting there to conduct your interview.”

The woman’s voice echoed once more from the broadcast, pulling Qi Chen out of his reverie. He glanced down at the unfinished exam paper on his desk, confusion clouding his gaze.

Wasn’t this a bit hasty—moving directly to the interview before the written test was even finished?

He had meant to fill out every question, hoping to impress with a thorough performance.

But it seemed that opportunity was gone.

Straightening his collar, Qi Chen quickly followed the broadcast’s instructions, making his way to the interview hall.

Compared to the room where he’d taken the written exam, the interview hall was stark, simply designed—a standard office, lit by a single long incandescent tube fixed to the ceiling. A lone, somewhat aged desk stood in the center of the room.

Behind the desk sat a woman with short hair. Her features were striking: a prominent nose, sharp, spirited looks, and especially her eyes—Qi Chen knew he could never muster such experienced, penetrating expression.

“Welcome to the Supernatural Anomaly Investigation Department, Alliance City No. 3,” she began. “I am Fu Ying, the department’s chief of special operations.

“This is my identification. You may take a look.”

Qi Chen felt the tone of his interview had taken an unexpected turn. Though something had felt off from the start, after hearing this woman—who claimed some high responsibility—he was certain he’d been targeted since the moment he sat eating his noodles.

That middle-aged man who’d struck up a conversation with him, rough features and all, turned out to be scheming after all.

The overlord within him roared in protest, unease and anger stirring in Qi Chen’s heart. But then he remembered scenes from the classics he’d read in his previous life. If he didn’t cooperate, would he be met with a chilling “Bring in the executioner”?

He glanced nervously at the tightly closed door, lowered his head, and pulled the chair in front of the desk closer, taking a seat.

“Um… you don’t need to show me your ID. Please, just say what you need to say.”

Fu Ying raised an eyebrow, surprised by Qi Chen’s compliance, but her training allowed her to conceal any emotion with ease.

“Mr. Qi, I believe you’ve guessed the reason you’re sitting here.

“You must have encountered something beyond comprehension in the Hongfeng Building, correct? Don’t rush to deny it—look at my identification, and you’ll understand. We wish to have a friendly conversation with you.”

“Actually, this decision wasn’t initially approved by the City Administration Office, since we have no record of your household registration.”

Qi Chen tensed at this. His identity in this world was, without question, undocumented.

“But your actions convinced me to communicate with you in this manner.” Fu Ying offered a gentle smile. “From Security Officer Huang Xu in the building, we confirmed that you aren’t someone who requires forceful handling.”

Her words soothed Qi Chen somewhat, though he had no idea there was more to the story.

“Let me give you a brief introduction.

“Our department deals primarily with anomalous incidents—what you encountered in the Hongfeng Building.

“I’m sure you’ve heard rumors about anomalies on the streets, but now I’ll explain them systematically.”

Fu Ying spoke with deliberate rhythm, pausing to allow Qi Chen time to process and consider.

His curiosity was fully piqued now. Whether it was that lethal high-heeled anomaly in the building or the sudden emergence of the overlord within himself, he was eager for answers from this official source.

“Since the arrival of the mist, the entire world has been shrouded in a fog unlike anything in history.

“Conventional technological methods failed to clear it, and its origin was completely unknown. The mist shattered the world’s order.

“One of the greatest reasons for that collapse is a special kind of existence—anomalies.”

Qi Chen nodded in earnest, his gaze fixed on Fu Ying’s face.

“The mist changed most people—both physically and mentally.

“The mental changes were particularly pronounced. Anomalies were born from these changes. What we know is that prolonged exposure to the mist greatly increases the likelihood of mutation in ordinary people.”

Qi Chen furrowed his brow, cautiously raising his hand.

“But the anomaly in Hongfeng Building was born within the city, right? It shouldn’t have been exposed to the mist?”

Every city in the Alliance possessed unique fog-dispelling devices, which effectively cleared the mist within their range, as Qi Chen had learned recently.

“That’s an excellent question,” Fu Ying nodded, her expression growing serious. “Anomalies do not have only one method of birth, nor are they of just one type.

“Generally, we classify anomalies into three categories: those born from human mental mutation, those born naturally, and those with special origins.

“The one in Hongfeng Building was a natural anomaly.”

“Natural anomaly?” Qi Chen recalled the white-clad anomalies there—they looked little different from humans. How could they be natural, then?

Fu Ying glanced at Qi Chen’s puzzled face. “Natural birth doesn’t mean there’s no connection to humans. The cause of the Hongfeng Building anomaly is currently believed to be lingering spirits of victims and perpetrators of past crimes.

“There are many details—if you’re interested, you can read the investigation report later; it explains everything thoroughly.

“Now, let’s focus on the key point: anomalies born from human mental mutation.” At this, the chief’s demeanor grew sharp. “The mist-induced mutations are unbearable for most people.

“Once someone falls below a certain mental threshold, they become an irreversibly dangerous anomaly—a threat to society and citizens.

“But there are exceptions. Some individuals, after mental mutation, do not immediately become the anomalies we know.

“Instead, they become a special kind of being—capable of wielding anomalous powers to fight anomalies! The Alliance officially calls these individuals Mental Special Mutants.”

Qi Chen’s heart raced, tension mounting. The description matched his own situation perfectly.

To use anomalous power to fight anomalies—that was exactly how he’d escaped death with the overlord’s help!

Tap, tap!

Fu Ying suddenly rapped her knuckles on the desk, her eyes fixed on Qi Chen as she continued:

“Privately, we prefer to call these people—

“Anomaly Walkers.”

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