Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Explorer Liu Yiran

"Name?"

"Fang Tang."

"Gender, age?"

"...Male, twenty-four."

"Current area?"

"D0023z0093."

Inside the interrogation room, after the garrison's officer asked a few meaningless questions, he left, and Fang Tang sat alone, nursing a cup of hot water that had long since cooled. Silver handcuffs clasped his wrists, the timer on his arm frozen at 00:01:15:23.

Behind the observation glass, two men watched Fang Tang intently.

"Is he from the New World? It's only been a few days, and his evolution rank has already reached the third tier," said the young man on the left, smiling as he twirled a jade thumb ring between his fingers.

The stern youth beside him, expressionless, replied coldly, "We haven't had contact with people from the New World before, so the truth is uncertain. From his account, it's clear he knows nothing."

"Did your people see him emerge from a moderately distorted area?" the smiling man asked.

"Yes, but the record keeper saw him enter a lightly distorted zone," the cold youth answered.

"Could it be that regional fusion has started again? Every time the New World merges, there's always some chaos with the areas," the smiling man's grin widened. "Regardless, anyone who survives the moderate distortion zone at the second tier of evolution has proven their potential."

"I want this one. You're not going to keep him from me, are you?" He nudged the cold youth with his shoulder.

The cold youth frowned, clearly irritated by his companion's manner.

"He killed someone in the marketplace."

"That was self-defense. He's the victim here," the smiling man tilted his chin toward Fang Tang and said quietly, "You're the garrison, enforcers of the laws of the Underworld. You can't operate under the assumption that the victim is guilty."

"You've become shameless," the cold youth replied icily, his voice devoid of emotion.

The smiling man chuckled, "In our line of work, a bit of shamelessness is necessary for survival."

"I'll take him. Please handle the paperwork," he waved a hand at the cold youth and pushed open the door to the interrogation room, dropping into the interrogator's seat.

"Fang Tang?"

"What is it?" Fang Tang looked at the smiling man, feeling as if a snake had fixed its gaze upon him. He was deeply uncomfortable. This man saw him as prey.

"Allow me to introduce myself: Liu Yiran, captain of Explorer Team Three."

"What do you want with me?" Fang Tang met Liu Yiran's gaze calmly, golden subtitles unfurling before his eyes.

[People with smiling eyes are always monsters; this statement is a truth. Likewise, the person before you is a monster.

Evolution Rank: Sixth Tier, Seventh Segment. Sequence Talents: Sequence 123 Corrosion, Sequence 306 Calm and Collected, Sequence 411 Breaking Point, Sequence 656 Eagle Eye.

Does this information seem underwhelming? That's because you're too weak; I can't see more than this. Work hard to improve your strength.]

The information from his eye made little sense to Fang Tang, but he kept his face blank, betraying nothing.

Liu Yiran smiled faintly, "I'd like to invite you to join the Explorers."

"Benefits—real, tangible benefits," Fang Tang didn't refuse. Instead, he wanted to see what terms Liu Yiran would offer.

"I like your directness," Liu Yiran laughed softly. "The Explorers can't offer much; we're just a group who band together to enter the Gate of Evolution. You've already ventured into the twisted rules; you know how dangerous it is there."

Fang Tang stayed silent, thinking quietly. Since entering the Underworld, he'd gathered a few teammates. Xie Ling, Liu Xu, Ye Qing—they were both collaborators and potential squad members. Yet, their growth was painfully slow.

Xie Ling was the fastest, relying on sixth-level technological armor to achieve fourth-tier strength in the twisted rules. But it wasn't enough.

Ye Qing's sequence abilities were impressive; she was sensitive, but her strength was far too low. Fang Tang had tested it himself: within the Underworld's twisted rules, she could barely reach tier two, segment four.

Perhaps when the Underworld erupted with Fallen Ones in a few days, Ye Qing's sequence rank might rise, but to truly establish themselves within the twisted rules, it was still too slow.

Was joining the Explorers a good choice?

Fang Tang was undecided. He knew little of the Underworld's factions and couldn't judge. The fact that the Explorers' captain sought him out meant he possessed something worth their considerable effort.

The most precious thing was the All-Knowing Eye.

Fang Tang was certain—absolutely certain—that no one could know of his All-Knowing Eye. The Eye was proud; it never lied, only spoke in riddles when forced by rules. If the Eye said no one knew, then no one knew.

So what else could be attracting the Explorers' attention? Fang Tang pondered briefly, found no answer, and looked up at Liu Yiran, asking, "If there are no real benefits, what about other advantages?"

"There are plenty," Liu Yiran replied, smiling. "You can travel freely in the JKL third district, get a complimentary time-stop ring, and if you work diligently, you'll be assigned a car and a house."

"...That's not what I meant," Fang Tang said, exasperated.

Liu Yiran adopted a look of sudden understanding, "If your strength increases, the squad will even assign you a girlfriend so you won't have to fight yourself for companionship."

Fang Tang: ???

Something's off about him!

"I meant information about the Underworld," Fang Tang clarified.

Liu Yiran's expression faltered, his eyes narrowing to slits. "If that's what you want, it depends on your abilities."

Fang Tang frowned, "There's a standard?"

"All this information has been accumulated by generations of explorers—it's priceless. Only those with exceptional potential get to see it," Liu Yiran spread his hands, smiling at Fang Tang.

Fang Tang nodded and said nothing more.

Liu Yiran didn't press further. It was reasonable that Fang Tang needed time to consider. He explained, "Exploration is dangerous work, with a high mortality rate. You should think carefully before deciding."

Fang Tang glanced at Liu Yiran in surprise, wondering why he was being warned. Wouldn't it be easier to let him join the Explorers blindly? These were words more suited to discouraging someone.

Liu Yiran noticed Fang Tang's confusion, his smile fading as he grew serious. "If you join my squad, you become my team member. As captain, I have both the right and responsibility to protect my team. I don't want my teammates to be cowards—such people aren't worth protecting. In the Underworld, only true warriors survive."

Fang Tang looked deeply at Liu Yiran and nodded lightly, "What strength do I need to be assigned a girlfriend?"