Chapter 17: The Second Day

The night gradually faded, and a faint light began to touch the sky, heralding the arrival of a new day.

Qixue slowly stirred from her slumber, opening her heavy, sleep-filled eyes. She and Xingyu shared the same bed, the distance between them so close that the slightest shift in sleep from one would be immediately sensed by the other.

Xingyu was a light sleeper; the moment Qixue sat up, she was already awake. Yet, she chose not to open her eyes, keeping them closed to rest while silently listening to the movements around her.

Rustling sounds filled the room, like the soft friction of fabric. Then, footsteps, intentionally kept light, echoed through the room, accompanied by Qixue’s low, self-muttered words, as if she were bracing herself for the coming day.

"Time for work again..." Qixue murmured, her voice laced with heavy fatigue and resignation.

The footsteps drifted toward the bedside. Xingyu could feel Qixue standing right beside her, seemingly leaning down to gaze closely at her sleeping face. Qixue’s warm breath brushed gently against Xingyu’s cheek, leaving a faint, ticklish sensation.

"I’m leaving now." She heard Qixue whisper, as if to herself, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible worry. "Come back safely."

With that, Qixue left the room on tiptoe and pulled the door shut behind her.

Only when she was certain Qixue had gone far away did Xingyu slowly open her eyes and pick up the phone from the nightstand—no, it should be called an Agent Terminal now.

The time on the screen told Xingyu she had slept for a mere five hours. Perhaps due to overthinking the night before, her sleep had been incredibly restless; the shallow slumber left her body aching, every muscle throbbing with a dull pain.

Opening her eyes, the morning sky had not yet fully brightened, and the entire district was shrouded in a thick, white fog.

The chill of the year’s end had seeped into the air. It should have been a dry, cold day, yet for some reason, such a vast expanse of mist had risen.

Morning light filtered through the fog, casting an eerie, milky-white hue. A vague sense of unease stirred within Xingyu.

After yesterday’s experiences, she had gained a deeper understanding of the "Transcendents" in this world.

Even if they possessed only the simplest unidirectional ability—a boost to a single attribute—the overall physical capacity of a Transcendent far exceeded that of an ordinary person, granting them a significant advantage in combat and survival.

Due to the various privileges they enjoyed, most Transcendents became Agents, operating under the jurisdiction of the Council. Others chose not to enter this system, opting for a more stable path, such as opening a clinic or similar trades.

In short, possessing extraordinary abilities meant living a life entirely different from that of a commoner.

"Regeneration" was, without a doubt, a unidirectional Transcendent ability.

Yet, what was stranger was that Xingyu could not fully grasp Qixue’s ability.

Whether it was her own power, or those of Hill or Quinna, she could instantly perceive the effects of their abilities. However, in Qixue’s information panel, only the name of the ability, [Regeneration], appeared, with no description of its effects.

If Qixue truly was a Transcendent, why lead such a difficult life with her? Even if she didn't want to become an Agent, with her abilities, surely there were other ways to make a living?

Or perhaps... was Qixue’s ability a form of "mutation"? Was there an even more complex secret hidden behind it?

A series of questions swirled in Xingyu’s mind, refusing to dissipate.

She rubbed her temples irritably, trying to suppress the chaotic thoughts. She was severely sleep-deprived, her brain still foggy, and she was in no state to ponder these complex issues.

Taking a deep breath, Xingyu sat up and shook her head vigorously, trying to keep herself alert.

Whatever Qixue’s secret was, it was not something she could unravel right now.

For the moment, she had more important tasks—namely, adapting to this body and integrating into this brand-new world.

...

The morning sunlight gradually brightened. Xingyu took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the Raindrop Agency.

The lock made a "click," followed by a mechanical voice broadcast.

"Week 45, Day 2, 07:40 AM. Trainee Agent Xingyu, check-in complete."

Xingyu stepped inside and found Fran already sitting behind the counter, appearing to have arrived even earlier than her. Hearing the broadcast, Fran looked up, a hint of approval on his face.

"Good morning, Trainee Agent Xingyu." Fran glanced at his watch, his tone filled with a touch of satisfaction. "I’m glad there is someone else in this agency who arrives early, just like me."

"...Morning."

"The Director told me about the issue with your surname." He adjusted his glasses. "The other Agents do not know your full name, identity, or abilities. From now on, I will use your first name, doing everything I can to help you maintain the image of a 'civilian'."

"Understood." Xingyu nodded, grateful for Fran’s thoughtful arrangements.

"You should know that, although I am not an Agent, I am fully responsible for all internal affairs at the Raindrop Agency, including contract signings, mission assignments, and salary distributions. Every contract must pass through my hands to ensure it is in our best interest. The Director is usually quite busy; if you have any questions about daily work or life, you can come to me at any time."

Xingyu listened intently, nodding occasionally to show she understood. When Fran finished, she asked, "I see. What should I do now?"

"Have you received any form of combat training?" Fran asked.

Xingyu shook her head.

"Sigh... I figured as much." Fran sighed helplessly, his expression one of expectation.

He took off his glasses and carefully wiped the lenses with his sleeve, his tone tinged with worry. "I knew it would be like this. However, since you have become an Agent, even if you choose the safest missions, you will inevitably encounter danger. I will assign mandatory tasks to all Agents daily, but you are free to choose other missions as you wish."

Xingyu nodded, signaling she understood.

She looked around; the agency was empty, save for her and Fran. The entire lobby was eerily quiet. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor.

Fran put his cleaned glasses back on, his expression turning serious. He looked directly into Xingyu’s eyes, his tone firm. "I truly hope you understand the danger involved. As a Trainee Agent, your safety is our primary concern. But since you have made your choice, you must be prepared to face the challenges ahead."

He paused, then shifted the subject. "Now, it is time to begin your first mission as an Agent."

Xingyu straightened her back slightly, a look of eagerness appearing in her eyes. "What do I need to do?"

Fran pointed toward the door leading to the inner office area and said calmly, "Go and wake up the Director who is sleeping in the back."

"...Pfft." Xingyu couldn't help but laugh. But when she saw Fran’s dead-serious expression, she realized it wasn't a joke.

She quickly suppressed her smile and replied with mock solemnity, "Understood!"

Xingyu pushed open the door to the inner office, and was greeted by a rhythm of steady snoring. Other than her and Fran, the other Agents had not yet arrived.

Hill was sprawled on the sofa, completely ungraceful, still wearing her coat and shoes, with a blanket folded into a neat rectangle draped over her.

As she drew closer, she could faintly hear Hill muttering something in her sleep, though the exact words were unclear.

She reached out, grabbed Hill’s arm through her clothing, and gave it a firm shake. However, Hill showed no signs of waking, merely frowning and mumbling incoherently, "So sleepy... don't bother me..."

Xingyu increased her strength, shook Hill’s body again, and raised her voice. "Time to wake up, Director."

This title seemed to have a magical effect.

Hill snapped her eyes open and bolted upright from the sofa. She stared wide-eyed, as if only then realizing what was happening. She glared at Xingyu, her tone filled with annoyance. "You’ve picked up bad habits! Don't call me by that stuffy title! This is only your first day as an Agent, the very first day!"

"Well done. You’re the fastest person to wake up the Director so far." The door opened from the outside. Fran poked his head in and gave Xingyu a thumbs-up. "Director, your mission today is to take Xingyu to collect the management fees. You are free to arrange your time for the rest of the day."

"What time is it?!" Hill grumbled irritably, grabbing a handful of her messy hair and throwing a cushion from the sofa at Fran. Fran quickly pulled his head back, and the cushion hit the wall instead.

"Go quickly and come back soon."

"Sigh, what a hassle..." Hill sighed helplessly, sat up, and casually tied up her long, wavy hair. She walked to the corner, yawned, effortlessly lifted a giant axe nearly as tall as Xingyu, and slung it over her shoulder.

"Let’s go, Xingyu. I’ll show you the ropes."

"Mm..." Xingyu nodded, looking a bit confused. "What are we going to do?"

"Collecting rent," Hill answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "If you live on our turf, you have to pay a little 'protection fee.' I’ll take you around today to recognize some faces; you’ll have to patrol the area regularly from now on."