Chapter Forty-Six: The Demon Suppression Bureau

For a fleeting moment, Zhou Shu thought he was back in the classroom—during an exam, no less.

So the method for testing mental strength was... solving problems? Was this some kind of joke?

When he was first brought into the laboratory, Zhou Shu was quite curious. With current human technology, how could one possibly measure spiritual power? On the surface, it seemed impossible, but this world wasn’t limited to the obvious; there was also the “dark side,” the hidden world that most people knew nothing about.

What if the hidden world’s technology was more advanced?

Once he stepped into the clean, tidy, and brightly-lit lab—everything white and gleaming—he felt it might be the real deal. Just like in the science fiction movies.

Then, he saw a strange apparatus, which included a seat. After he sat down, Captain Zhuang placed a helmet on his head, connected to a tangle of wires, intensifying that sci-fi feeling.

But as soon as a screen rotated into view and stopped right in front of him, all that gravitas vanished instantly.

On the screen was written: “1+1=?” Below were four answer choices: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Zhou Shu stared, bewildered: “???”

“Captain Wang, what is this?”

“It’s a test. These questions help us capture the peak values of your instantaneous mental fluctuations,” Wang Kairen replied, snapping his fingers with confidence.

“Alright,” Zhou Shu resigned himself. He’d finish this wave quickly and move on to his next plan.

“How does it work?” he asked.

Wang Kairen explained, “Just select the answer. The questions are extremely simple—single-digit addition. You don’t even need to think. It’s meant to check your ‘Slow Motion Vision’ ability.”

“The four option buttons are tiny and close together, but you only have one second to choose. If you can’t use your ability to move the mouse pointer precisely to the correct answer, you’ll probably score zero.”

“To be exact, if you can’t activate slow motion, zero will be your final test score, because ordinary people simply can’t select the answer in the given time.”

Understood. Zhou Shu moved the mouse to select “2.”

But before he could click, the next question appeared.

Again, it was “1+1=?”, but the position of the answer had shifted. He barely had time to spot the new location of “2” before the next question flashed up.

“Damn!”

Wang Kairen, watching the monitoring equipment, smiled with satisfaction, “Excellent, there’s a small spike in mental activity.”

Zhou Shu: “…”

It was just answering questions—no pressure, no strenuous activity, no threat to his life. Despite his concentration, his body didn’t cooperate; he wasn’t nervous at all. It was hard to bring out his “Slow Motion Vision.”

A real dilemma.

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After a round, Zhou Shu squinted at the score display: “0.”

It was an unpleasant feeling, reminding him of that once “extremely low” rating.

A child about to take the college entrance exam couldn’t bear to see such an evaluation!

Second round…

Third round…

Wang Kairen didn’t rush him, continuing to monitor the data screen, while Zhuang Yong’an stood beside him.

“Mental brightness is rising. This peak has surpassed 95. That’s remarkable for a high schooler—nearly catching up to you,” Wang Kairen commented, pointing to a spike on the graph for Zhuang Yong’an.

“Indeed, but he hasn’t reached 100. His ability is unstable; he can’t activate it at will,” Zhuang Yong’an replied, arms folded.

“But you know how agile mutants can be. He managed to hit both popliteal arteries—he must have used the ‘Slow Motion Vision’ he described.”

Wang Kairen nodded, “Yes. At this level, there are only three in Dongyuan City—they’re all ace snipers. Although all five demon hunters have this potential, none are good with firearms. If Zhou Shu joins us, we’ll gain another ace sniper among the aces.”

“Exactly. Humanity’s greatest strength is inventing and using tools. Right now, our most powerful tools are firearms, but those beasts are too agile—ordinary people can’t hit their vital points,” Zhuang Yong’an agreed. He glanced through the observation window at Zhou Shu, “If Zhou Shu joins and receives proper training, we’ll equip him with a precision rifle loaded with tungsten rounds. He could blow the skulls off those creatures in one shot, improving our demon-slaying efficiency and easing our workload.”

Both had high hopes for Zhou Shu.

Wang Kairen even suspected that the mysterious person who used rifles and grenades to take out the mutant that night was Zhou Shu!

The only remaining mystery was where those weapons came from.

Especially the footprints left by the two mechanical legs—some of them had crushed the concrete floor.

They’d reconstructed the battle scene from that night. Frankly… it was astonishing.

Almost unbelievable.

Because of this, their conjectures and testimonies couldn’t get Zhou Shu into the Demon Suppression Bureau.

To recruit him, they needed precise test results or irrefutable evidence.

Just then, Wang Kairen’s assistant exclaimed, “Captain Wang, look!”

Both Wang and Zhuang turned to the screen, eyes widening.

“Good heavens!”

“Peak brightness: 115?!”

“Correct answers are increasing—three, five, six…”

“Lasted a full six seconds!”

“He did it!”

Indeed, Zhou Shu felt he’d succeeded.

When he stepped down from the testing chair, he was drenched in sweat, but smiling broadly.

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This time, he’d actively used “Slow Motion Vision.”

He’d deployed this ability before, both in virtual combat and real life, but always in emergencies—either facing mortal danger or risking critical loss. It was as if some threshold or setting had to be breached, and the ability would burst forth uncontrollably.

Sometimes it wouldn’t appear at all, and he’d simply die.

This time, with no threat to his life, just ordinary problem-solving, he’d managed to force “Slow Motion Vision” out through sheer determination!

“Whew~”

Regardless of others’ opinions, he felt today had been worthwhile.

With such a promising start, things would be easier in the future.

Wang Kairen and Zhuang Yong’an rushed in, eyes shining as if they’d discovered a priceless treasure.

“Zhou Shu, since your extraordinary talent is confirmed, how about signing a contract and having a good talk with us?” Wang Kairen said.

“And all those things you want to know—we’ll tell you after you sign,” Zhuang Yong’an added.

“Of course, that’s exactly why I came,” Zhou Shu replied, accepting a towel from a lab coat-clad staffer and wiping his face. He patted his stomach, looking at Zhuang Yong’an. “Brother Zhuang, how about we chat over dinner? I’m so hungry my stomach’s pressed against my back. My ‘Alertness’ tells me my stomach is in grave danger—if I wait any longer, it’ll start digesting itself.”

Zhuang Yong’an paused, then laughed. “Ha, absolutely. I already promised to treat you tonight. Go wash up, then we’ll eat and talk in the cafeteria. I’m not exaggerating—our cafeteria food is way better than any takeout!”

“Great!”

He washed up quickly, and the three of them headed to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was just behind the main warehouse, not very large, and clearly not the main dining hall for the training center.

Wang and Zhuang ordered several dishes; they wanted Zhou Shu to choose a couple, but he wasn’t familiar, so he let them decide.

Although the contract wasn’t signed yet, Zhou Shu’s potential as a superhuman was already influential. Certain secrets remained off-limits, but semi-public information could be shared.

For instance, the official name of their organization: the Demon Suppression Bureau.

The name was quite archaic, because it had existed since ancient times.

The three chatted happily, but halfway through the meal, Wang Yong’an left for an emergency assignment.

After Zhuang Yong’an departed, Zhou Shu asked Wang Kairen, “Captain Wang, is the Demon Suppression Bureau always this busy?”

“Always busy, but it’s gotten noticeably overwhelming these past two years, which is why we desperately need talented people like you,” Wang Kairen replied earnestly.

“Zhou Shu, I hope you’ll give this serious thought. You have the makings of a super warrior.”

Hunter: [He’s absolutely right.]

Zhou Shu: “…”

PS: Thanks to Nine-Tailed Fox’s Dad for the reward~~

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