A World Transformed

Before the old, dim Huai Xiang Yuan.

The figure, clad in a brown hoodie, had their face obscured by the shadows of the hood.

They stood alone before Huai Xiang Yuan, holding a small, electronic compass in their hand.

The compass was exquisitely crafted, featuring a two-inch color LCD screen. The screen displayed grayscale numbers, initially showing ’20’, which then gradually decreased, fluctuating around ’10’.

At that moment, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit ascended the steps, appearing at the same location.

He quickly strode over to the hooded man, catching his breath slightly, clearly having rushed to get there.

“Zhao Yunzhong? Is that really you!”

The suited man exclaimed, a hint of surprise in his voice.

At this, the hooded man tucked the compass into his pocket, speaking in a calm tone.

“Principal Zhang, long time no see.”

Zhao Yunzhong lowered his hood, revealing an ordinary face, and continued.

“It’s just opening a door; I didn’t expect to alarm Principal Zhang.”

Despite wearing antiquated black-rimmed glasses, Principal Zhang was, in fact, a handsome middle-aged man. He adjusted his glasses and chuckled.

“We’re old classmates, brothers from the same dorm! Just call me Zhang Hanchi. I heard you were working for the Imperial Capital National Security Department. What brings you to our small middle school?”

He then teased.

“Officer, you can rest assured. Our middle school is full of honest teachers and students; there won’t be any spies or terrorists here, haha!”

Zhao Yunzhong turned his head to look at his old classmate, speaking softly.

“I naturally trust my alma mater, and besides, I no longer work for the National Security Department.”

“Oh? What happened?”

Zhang Hanchi was slightly taken aback, assuming his old classmate had been marginalized due to some political struggle. His gaze subtly flickered away.

Having dealt with hundreds of cunning spies over the years, Zhao Yunzhong naturally didn’t miss Zhang Hanchi’s small gesture.

No matter how strong the bond, whether former brothers or classmates, in the face of time’s erosion and cruel realities, they were merely ‘then’. Some even wished that ‘then’ had never existed.

Without lingering on the impermanence of human affairs, Zhao Yunzhong spoke gravely.

“Hanchi, our world is about to change… No, it has already changed.”

Zhang Hanchi froze, momentarily thinking of a major reshuffle at the highest levels. Then, he suddenly recalled the strange compass in Zhao Yunzhong’s hand.

As the principal of Chuanbei Middle School, a ‘century-old prestigious school’, he was at least a director-general level cadre, and he had recently heard some rumors.

“Are those rumors true?!”

Zhang Hanchi’s expression was astonished as he pressed on.

“Was what you were holding just now a ‘Ghost Detector’? Has the country really established a ‘Department of Anomalies’?”

Facing Zhang Hanchi’s barrage of questions, Zhao Yunzhong merely nodded calmly.

“As you’ve heard, as you’ve seen, the person standing before you is one of the first Anomaly Investigators of the Department of Anomalies.”

“Then you’re here to…”

Zhang Hanchi looked towards the darkened Huai Xiang Yuan, an involuntary shiver running down his spine.

Zhao Yunzhong chuckled softly.

“Actually, I have a more important mission. Investigating this place is merely a matter of convenience.”

Zhang Hanchi secretly swallowed, then asked.

“So, what were your findings?”

He didn’t inquire about the more important mission Zhao Yunzhong mentioned; he felt he had no right or desire to ask. His greater concern was whether such things truly existed within his school.

This would impact the school’s enrollment for the second half of the year.

“The Anomaly Field Value is fluctuating around 10 and is still decreasing.”

Seeing Zhang Hanchi’s clear incomprehension, Zhao Yunzhong explained.

“Scientific research has found that the appearance of such entities is accompanied by strange magnetic field fluctuations. Of course, the magnetic field referred to here isn’t a magnetic field in the traditional sense.”

“I don’t fully understand the specifics myself, but the ‘Ghost Detector’ can detect it. The detection results are manifested as the ‘Anomaly Field Value’ displayed on the compass. Under normal circumstances, the Anomaly Field Value is 5.”

“If it’s greater than 5, it indicates the potential presence of such entities.”

Goosebumps rose on Zhang Hanchi’s arms as he asked.

“Does that mean it might still appear here? Do you have a way to deal with such things?”

Zhao Yunzhong took out the Ghost Detector again; the numbers on it had stabilized at 5.

“No, from my experience, here, specifically this area, had a resentful wanderer about three hours ago. But for some reason, it was eliminated.”

Zhang Hanchi fell silent, lost in thought.

Zhao Yunzhong patted Zhang Hanchi’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, the Department of Anomalies maintains absolute secrecy.”

Noticing the awkward smile on Zhang Hanchi’s face, tinged with a hint of worry, Zhao Yunzhong continued.

“My primary mission is to establish an Anomalous Affairs Team in Chuanbei and develop new Anomaly Investigators to handle anomalous incidents in this region.”

“These… these matters, you don’t have to…”

Zhang Hanchi grew nervous. The higher one’s position, the better it was to know fewer secrets.

“This isn’t classified, and besides, I need your cooperation.”

Zhao Yunzhong dispelled Zhang Hanchi’s immediate doubts, but this only made him more anxious.

“Cooperation? How can I cooperate?”

“Tomorrow… or rather, within a week, arrange for the high school students to undergo a physical examination.”

Zhao Yunzhong uttered these words so casually that Zhang Hanchi instantly understood his intentions. He even felt a surge of anger.

“They’re just children!”

Zhao Yunzhong pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to Zhang Hanchi, who, fuming, refused to take it. Zhao Yunzhong forcefully pressed it into his hand.

“Light it.”

Zhao Yunzhong lit a cigarette for himself, then offered the flame to Zhang Hanchi.

Zhang Hanchi finally lit the cigarette, taking a deep drag. The smoke tasted acrid and burned his throat. He exhaled a long breath, expelling the uncomfortable sensation from his lungs, and slowly said.

“I’ll arrange it.”

Zhao Yunzhong, however, chuckled softly.

“Don’t be so grim. Testing for aptitude is just the first step. It’s hard to say if we’ll even find anyone with the right qualifications, and even if we do…”

Zhao Yunzhong paused before continuing.

“I will give them a choice whether or not to become an Anomaly Investigator.”

Even so, Zhang Hanchi’s mood remained heavy.

The world had truly undergone a massive change, and bizarre events were unfolding.

From the anomalous incidents he had heard about, the methods by which those entities claimed lives were almost incomprehensible and unstoppable for ordinary people.

Without the Department of Anomalies, without Anomaly Investigators, how could ordinary people ensure their survival?

He looked at the calm Zhao Yunzhong, sighing inwardly.

Did they truly have a better choice?