Travel through time, and then establish an anomaly management bureau!

Page 52

An hour or so felt exceptionally long under the deathly silent gray sky.

He even mentally simulated the process of "writing the application report," fabricating several points that might be questioned by his "superiors," as well as arguments to "fight back on reason."

Feeling that the time was right, Zhang Su focused his mind once again.

Time slowly passed as Pieno waited anxiously.

It strikes a key every two seconds, making a sound, diligently counting, each sound hitting its invisible expectation.

at last!

"Click."

The door to the testing room was pushed open again.

The well-dressed "K" stepped out from the pure white mist outside the door, his figure becoming clear and cold again. He closed the door behind him, shutting out the unknown.

"Mr. K! You're back!" Piano's voice rang out immediately, filled with undisguised urgency and anxiety. "What was the result of the application?"

K walked back to his desk, sat down slowly, and remained silent for two seconds before speaking:

"The application process... encountered some procedural obstacles," K's voice remained calm, "but based on your low-risk Level 2 rating, your excellent cooperation, and the non-negative effects that music itself might bring in a specific environment, I argued my case for you, and ultimately..."

He paused for a moment, then emphasized how hard-won the result was.

"The higher authorities approved a proposal for special treatment."

A tense humming sound came from inside Piano's violin.

"Although you still cannot leave the jurisdiction of the Curtain Cornerstone Administration, this is an absolute red line."

K said.

"However, you will be granted limited freedom within the Administration's space. Specifically, we allow you to place yourself in one of our rooms without having to return to the void,"

Expectations for Pierre seemed to have reached their peak instantly.

“This room,” K continued, “is your accommodation; you are free to play in it.”

"Ah..." The tension and anticipation that the piano had felt before deflated quickly, like a punctured balloon.

Several seconds later, Piano's voice, filled with deep disappointment, finally rang out:

"Mr. K, thank you for your kindness and that of your superiors. But it is just a note in an empty 'room' that no one listens to, nothing more than a vibration in the void, a futile echo in a cage."

"True music needs people to resonate with it, to perceive it, and to give it meaning with a listening heart. Otherwise, it is just a carefully arranged bunch of noise."

"In this situation, it's better not to play. I'd rather be contained into nothingness again and stop thinking."

Piano's sorrow almost flowed out as tangible musical notes.

K listened quietly, and the shadow under the brim of his hat seemed to move slightly.

He paused for a moment, as if considering Piano's request, then spoke again, his voice steady, but offering a compromise:

“Your request is reasonable. Performing in a completely enclosed space does indeed contradict the core value of your existence.”

“In that case, I propose a change to the relocation plan. The main entrance hall of the Administration Bureau is currently under construction and, while spacious, is too deserted. How about placing you here?”

"The lobby?" Piano's voice betrayed a hint of surprise.

“Yes,” K affirmed. “That’s the only way for future Bureau members, visitors, and even potential containment objects to be transported. The flow of people will gradually increase. Although it’s empty now, it will surely become lively in time.”

K's tone carried a sense of certainty about the future.

“Playing there, your music will become the backdrop of this orderly place. Anyone who passes by will become your potential audience. Although you may not be able to appreciate the music as attentively as you would in the Starry Sea Hall, at least your notes will not fall into nothingness. They will be perceived by the lives that pass by.”

Piano fell silent, clearly considering the proposal seriously.

The vast hall and the solitary cell, the potential audience and the absolute silence... to it, the difference is like the boundary between heaven and hell.

After a long while, it let out a long and complex sigh, carrying a sense of resignation, yet also revealing a faint rekindling of hope:

"The entrance hall of the Authority, I see. It's definitely much better than a closed room. At least the vibrations of the strings can reach a potential audience."

Its voice struggled to rise, carrying the humble plea of ​​an artist:

“Mr. K, I can’t ask for more. Thank you for your arrangements. Please move me to the lobby. I will be waiting for my audience there.”

K nodded slightly, without saying anything more: "As you wish."

As the words fell, the space inside the assessment room began to distort slightly, and Piano, along with the platform beneath it, began to blur...

Within the cold concrete space, a flowing silver-gray energy barrier reflects the eternal, chaotic gray sky beyond the foundational realm, casting an unnatural, constant, and chilling "light" throughout the hall.

A huge logo of the Administration Bureau is etched on the wall, emitting a faint, cold light.

The concrete-core style reception desk, geometric chairs, and the alien plants with thick leaves and deep colors in the corners together create a grand, orderly yet slightly alien atmosphere.

The space distorted slightly, and the black grand piano Pieno, along with the circular platform beneath it, instantly appeared on one side of the hall, near the large window.

The unchanging gray "sunlight" shone through the barrier, softly illuminating its smooth, black lacquered piano lid.

Pieno was getting used to this new environment.

Its voice echoed in the empty hall: "Mr. K, is this your bureau's entrance hall? It's quite mysterious and spacious."

Its resonant sound echoed in the vast space, sounding particularly lonely. "It was even more desolate than I had imagined. There wasn't even a single person in sight."

The figure of the suit double "K" appeared silently not far in front of Pieno, still wearing that perfectly tailored pure black suit, with a bowler hat pulled low to cover the upper half of his face.

Hearing Piano's remark, he slightly raised his right hand, his index and middle fingers sliding very lightly along the edge of his hat brim—this was a habitual little gesture that Zhang Su had given him when he was thinking, to enrich the stand-in's character.

"There's no one here now. But there will be later."

Zhang Su felt quite embarrassed when he heard this.

"Since the establishment of the Administration Bureau, I have only been the commander-in-chief and two non-human assistants, Yuan Shu and Ji Shi. It is indeed a bit shabby... How embarrassing."

He muttered to himself.

"No, we need to get the recruitment plan on the agenda as soon as possible, otherwise this director will be a licentious position."

He continued, controlling the double, "You can stay here for now. There's plenty of space, so you can play whatever you want. And you don't need to worry about being lonely. Our bureau has many potential 'members' who don't like to show their faces. Even if you can't see them, they're always watching the bureau. They can hear your music."

“Potential members?” Piano’s voice rose a octave instantly, filled with surprise and disbelief. “Invisible…audience? Oh! Mr. K! You mean, in this seemingly empty hall, there actually exists intelligent life capable of appreciating my music! That’s wonderful.”

Piano's reaction surprised Zhang Su. He had thought that this shrewd piano would at least question the authenticity of the "potential member," but the other party believed it directly, his tone filled with pure joy and anticipation.

“It seems its desire to have its music heard outweighs any doubt,” Zhang Su thought to himself, then felt reassured: 'But I didn't lie to it either. Aren't the Source Pivot and the Foundation Stone the most core and loyal 'potential members'? Although they don't have human form, their perception is absolutely extraordinary.'

So, the stand-in K simply nodded calmly and answered affirmatively, "Yes. Your music will be appreciated."

“Excellent! This is truly…excellent!” Piano’s piano keys vibrated slightly, producing a few joyful trills. “Thank you, Mr. K! Thank you for the Bureau’s understanding. I will do my best to play the most harmonious and beautiful music! Dedicated to these invisible and esteemed listeners!”

K nodded slightly: "I hope you have a pleasant time here. Goodbye, Mr. Pierre."

As soon as he finished speaking, K's tall, black figure began to blur and become transparent, like an image with a poor signal. After flickering a few times, it completely disappeared into the cold concrete core hall.

“Goodbye, Mr. K,” Piano replied solemnly in the direction K had disappeared.

Then, it made a fine adjustment to its strings, producing a rhythmic sound.

He then announced enthusiastically into the empty hall: "Ladies and gentlemen, hello! I am Piano! As you can see, I am a rather special grand piano, an 'anomaly' that has been taken into custody by your bureau. But my most cherished identity is that of a performer and transmitter of music!"

"Although I cannot see your esteemed faces, I am deeply honored and delighted to know that you are here to listen to my music! Now, please allow me to present a piece as an introduction to myself, and also as my first gift to you, my invisible and esteemed listeners!"

After a brief pause, a series of clear, babbling notes, as bright as a stream and as cheerful as sunshine, flowed from Piano's violin case!

It was a classical piece with an ingenious structure and a brisk rhythm, its melody cheerful and lively, full of vibrant life and praise for beautiful things.

Every note was full and rounded, every phrase overflowing with pure musical passion. The joyful movement seemed to come alive, leaping, swirling, and colliding lightly in the cold, magnificent, geometrically powerful concrete hall, striving to fill the vast physical space with the warmth of its sound, to embrace those "potential," invisible listeners...

Zhang Su's consciousness completely returned to his original body, and the suit-wearing double, which was maintained by the power of the foundation and symbolized the authority of the director, also turned into an invisible flow of information and dissipated into the void, waiting to be summoned again at any time.

He leaned back in his large, comfortable director's chair, constructed from dark brown wild wood grain and a cool gray metal frame, his body relaxing and sinking into the ultimate sense of being enveloped by the high-quality leather.

“Foundation,” he commanded in his mind, “transmit the music that Piano is playing in the hall to the director’s office in real time. The volume should be moderate, as background ambient sound.”

Cornerstone replied with an OK emoji.

The next second, Pierre's cheerful, lively, and vibrant piano music flowed like a clear spring into the director's office, which was also constructed of concrete, metal, and energy.

The music, neither too loud nor too soft, surrounded Zhang Su's ears perfectly, neither overpowering nor too quiet, injecting an artistic vitality into this core space that represented the highest authority.

Zhang Su closed his eyes contentedly, resting his head on the ergonomically designed backrest, his fingers gently tapping the rhythm on the armrest to the cheerful melody. A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

"Hmm...not bad, really not bad." He muttered to himself, his face showing undisguised satisfaction and enjoyment. "Professional-level performance, the tone, the emotional expression...not much different from the live performances in top concert halls. We've gotten a top-notch pianist who never tires and has a vast repertoire for free—this is a steal!"

The melodious piano music echoed in the office, creating a subtle harmony with the ever-flowing gray sky outside the window.

As Zhang Su listened to the music and looked at the fully functional and stylish "headquarters" that he had shaped with his own will, a strong sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the future welled up within him.

“The background music is here,” he said, opening his eyes and looking around his impressive office. His gaze swept over the enormous desk, the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and the futuristic workbench, finally settling on the hazy gray outside the window. His smile widened, tinged with a smug, self-deprecating tone. “The ‘soft furnishings’ and ‘atmosphere’ for this department are pretty much in place. The momentum… well, it’s really booming!”

"Next..." he drawled, making grand promises to Yuan Shu and Ji Shi, "It's time to start a project to recruit people, to bring in a few—well, 'top talents'!"

He paused, a slightly mischievous smile appearing on his face, typical of a former corporate slave, and added in a low voice:

"Uh... no, we need to recruit a few 'like-minded' and 'highly capable' 'employees'! Only then can the framework of the Administration Bureau truly be established!"

The cheerful piano music continues to flow, playing a hopeful prelude to this lone commander's grand blueprint.

Zhang Su leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes again, and continued to tap his fingers lightly to the music. His face was full of deep expectations for becoming an "outstanding employee"... no, for the future. He already had a rough plan in mind.

Volume 2: Chapter 7: Recruitment Requirements, Gathering of the Extraordinary

Soon, Zhang Su's mind was no longer on the beautiful melody.

He leaned back in his high-backed chair, closing his eyes as he pondered the recruitment requirements for new members.

“Recruiting is urgent.” Zhang Su looked at the empty yet almost omnipotent Foundation Space and chuckled self-deprecatingly. “A commander without troops is just an empty shell, no matter how prestigious his name is. Pieno has made a good start, but it’s an ‘object,’ not a ‘person.’ The Administration needs living, breathing employees who can run errands, investigate, fight, and use their brains!”

His eyes sharpened as he mentally reviewed the recruitment criteria he had come up with.

Basic recruitment requirements for members of the Curtain Cornerstone Management Bureau:

1. Morality and responsibility: We must put "protecting the survival of humanity as a whole" first, and personal desires must be subordinate to this core mission.

According to the 'Nine Factions Classification Method', those in the Lawful Good faction will be given priority.

Its actions, guided by rules, conscience, and universal justice, form the cornerstone of a stable order.

Those who belong to the chaotic good faction are strictly excluded at this stage.

While their goals may share the same aim of protection, their extreme ideology of "just means justify justification" can easily lead to uncontrollable risks, such as unscrupulous human experimentation and the large-scale sacrifice of innocent lives. In the early stages of the Bureau, when its authority is not yet established and the Director's capabilities need to be enhanced, such members are highly susceptible to losing control or causing internal ideological conflicts, and there is even a risk of them "insubordinating" to promote their extreme ideology.

We will consider further action once the organization is stable and its strength is sufficient to suppress potential chaos.

2. A strong spirit of exploration and thirst for knowledge: A natural curiosity rather than fear of the unknown and the mysterious, possessing an intrinsic drive to actively explore, understand, and analyze unusual phenomena. This is a core quality of a qualified investigator. Those who are complacent and fear the unknown are not suited for work that involves facing what lies beyond the 'veil'.

3. Exceptional mental resilience and willpower: Effectively resists mental pollution, cognitive distortion, hallucinations, and insane whispers caused by abnormal forces. Maintains basic rationality and judgment when facing the indescribable. Even the strongest abilities become a threat to those with weak willpower.

4. Teamwork and Obedience: Understand and accept operating within the framework of the Administration, possess basic teamwork spirit, and be able to cooperate in operations or conduct investigations under instructions. We reject extreme individualists who are unable to communicate, act arbitrarily, or view their colleagues as a burden.

5. Learning Ability and Adaptability: Able to quickly understand and master new knowledge, especially knowledge related to anomalies. New skills, including but not limited to basic combat, tracking, stealth, first aid, occult knowledge, and instrument operation. And the ability to cope with rapidly changing anomalies. Those who are stuck in their ways will find it difficult to survive in the face of constantly evolving anomalies.

After the five requirements were clearly listed, Zhang Su reviewed them and nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, the standards are not low, but only those worthy of the identity of 'mysterious investigator'. Better to have none than to have something of poor quality."

He stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked out at the eternal gray sky.

"There's no time to lose, let's start looking tonight!" His eyes were firm. "Let's start with the circle of extraordinary individuals beneath the surface of Migai City. In such a mixed place, it's easiest to discover 'wild' potential talents and also the easiest to see a person's true colors."

With a thought, the solid concrete office, the flowing music, and the gray sky outside the window instantly faded away.

As consciousness returned, the familiar air of the hotel room, carrying the smell of coal smoke and old wood, filled my nostrils.

Zhang Su opened his eyes, and without pausing, got up, put on his coat, and headed out.

Before leaving, he checked his belongings—well, actually he didn't need to check them, he had thrown them all into the void space and could take them out whenever he needed them.

…2 million umbrellas ⑸ Neon blame slips away three…

The city's nights are more gloomy than its days.

The thick coal smoke almost completely obscured the starlight, with only the gas streetlights casting dim, flickering, and ghostly halos in the fog.

The cold wind, carrying the pungent smell of industrial waste and a faint dampness, seeped into the collar and cuffs of my clothes.

The streets were sparsely populated, with hurried footsteps and dark figures moving through the mist like ghosts.

Zhang Su tightened his collar and disappeared into the shadows. He clearly gave the order in his mind:

'Source Pivot, scan within a ten-kilometer radius of my current location for all gatherings of extraordinary individuals exhibiting clear supernatural auras. List them in order of straight-line distance from nearest to farthest.'

Yes, Chief. Initiate wide-area psionic fluctuation detection... filter interference... analyze cluster characteristics...