There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

New Human Evolution and Protection Security Bureau, abbreviated as New An Bureau.

Just by its name, it indeed sounds like an official organization, but in reality, it's merely a civil organization initiated by New Humans.

It is said that the founder was the first New Human, and the organization appeared two hundred years ago. After a long period of development, it now has some influence in the society and the Empire Senate.

If anything sets it apart from other grassroots organizations, it's that it also works for the Empire and has gained recognition.

"Isn't that just a lackey of the Empire?" Yin Banqian frowned. Explore more adventures at empire

"You can't exactly say that. The 'Paradise Bird' Organization you faced this time is also a civil organization initiated by New Humans."

Cheng Can explained, "But the Paradise Bird Organization has a very bad reputation in the world; they are nothing but a terrorist group made up of violent extremists.

"Most importantly, the New An Bureau and the Paradise Bird Organization have ideological conflicts. The friction and struggles between them are no less than those between ordinary people and New Humans, especially when it comes to recruiting new members—the competition is extremely fierce!"

The others pondered this.

After all, it seems to be a struggle between the conservatives and the radicals.

While listening to Cheng Can explain, Wei Ya had already picked up his Micro-end and began decoding. It stored a wealth of data, all from Cheng Can's communications with the New An Bureau.

He was so well-informed because his identity was that of an intermediary for the New An Bureau's external recruitment.

The awakening stage for New Humans is mostly during adolescence.

Although the average human lifespan has now surpassed two hundred years, and it's even possible to live longer using mechanical technology, the human growth period remains brief.

Sometime starting from when, after ordinary people's bodies mature, they have a certain chance to awaken abilities that defy common sense.

And those who are no longer ordinary humans are called New Humans.

Because the Empire fears the existence of such extraordinary abilities immeasurably, the contradictions between New Humans and ordinary people have been intentionally or unintentionally magnified in recent decades. Conflicts continue to arise, and the New Human groups that were originally hidden have almost all been exposed, including the New An Bureau and the Paradise Bird Organization.

It's worth mentioning that New Humans are still a minority chosen from among millions; according to statistics from the New An Bureau, among the Empire's forty billion population, the New Humans recorded over two hundred years are less than a thousand.

Thus, in an era where heretics are ostracized and persecuted, they naturally tend to band together with their own kind.

"A few years ago, the New An Bureau began to collaborate with official agencies. Their actions are relatively peaceful and sensible; they never initiate conflicts. It's said that the first Bureau Chief's dream was to lead his fellow New Humans to leave this planet and live elsewhere."

After extracting the damaged data, Wei Ya, through Cheng Can's Micro-end, entered a large private network to browse intelligence.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, "However, no one has ever seen that founder, not even the deputy director of the New An Bureau."

Xu Shuo suddenly grew curious, "Hasn't the Bureau Chief of the New An Bureau ever been replaced?"

"No."

"Wouldn't that make him over two hundred years old?"

"Actually, if you think deeper, if that person is still alive now, he should be more than two hundred years old," Wei Ya looked up, gazing at him seriously.

Although the history of the New An Bureau is only about two hundred years, this does not mean New Humans have only appeared for two hundred years, nor does it represent the age of that founder.

Cheng Can was amazed, "Old monster."

Wei Ya returned the Micro-end to them, "Alright, I've sent all the copied intelligence and material to the chatroom. Whatever you want to know is in there, and I won't waste my breath. The information will auto-delete after you've finished viewing it."

Yin Banqian took his own Micro-end and asked, "Although I trust your hacking skills a lot, the technology in this world is very advanced. Is this chatroom really not going to be exposed? I hope we don't inadvertently compromise our own organization after reviewing the intelligence."

Wei Ya's mouth curved up in a smile, "Then you can rest easy. In fact, when I went to copy the information just now, I found traces left by my predecessor in the New An Bureau's network."

This meant that even the network security of the New An Bureau was under her protection.

More importantly...

Wei Ya's eyes blazed as she stared at the Micro-end in his hand, "Also, my ability is 'Data Reading.'"

Cheng Can was baffled, "What?"

While he was still puzzled, he saw his Micro-end automatically pop up an electronic panel, and then a picture of a black cat yawning appeared on the screen.

Wei Ya hadn't lifted a finger, not even a glance in that direction.

After he regained his composure, Cheng Can looked at her in shock.

"This counts as a superpower, too?!"

"Mhm-hm~"

"No, shouldn't data be within the realm of science? Why is metaphysics getting involved?"

"How would I know?"

Wei Ya blinked: "The New Human ability of this character is Data Reading, ah. My spiritual power can not only roam freely inside your Micro-end, but it can even intercept signals transmitted through the air. And when you think about it carefully, isn't theology just the ultimate form of science?"

Cheng Can: "..."

She made so much sense that he was left speechless and unable to retort.

Wei Ya then turned to Yin Banqian and said, "Furthermore, a New Human's abilities aren't necessarily limited to just one type. Take 'Delta,' for instance. I saw that you have another ability recorded in your file called 'Storm.'

Yin Banqian raised an eyebrow, his face not showing much surprise or awe, just teasingly said, "No wonder when I was escaping just now, it was all sparks and lightning along the way."

Perhaps that was why he could instantly run more than twenty kilometers despite his serious injury. To be honest, when the three of them saw his speed, they were all shocked.

Cheng Can curled his lip: "So I'm the simplest, huh?"

His New Human ability was to pass through objects, and he had a strong ability to recover physically—no other special characteristics beyond that.

Wei Ya pondered the information she had seen, then nodded earnestly.

Yes, there was nothing more beyond that.

"By the way, have you found out Pianning's identity?" asked Yin Banqian right after.

"Not yet, but the headquarters of the New An Bureau seem to be just over two hundred kilometers away. Maybe we should find time to go back together."

"Once I get used to my power, maybe I can just take you all there," Xu Shuo suddenly said.

"You've rested already?" teased Yin Banqian.

Xu Shuo smiled without saying a word. That dizzy, nauseous feeling came quickly and left just as fast, leaving his brain heavy and weak as if he hadn't slept for days.

So if his spiritual power adapted, directly teleporting several people wouldn't be an issue at all, considering they hadn't even been in the game for an hour and many things were still not adjusted.

Cheng Can showed a look of sorrowful frustration. Even the novice's abilities were better than his!

He couldn't help but complain: "With such a variety of skills, we might as well form a new squad altogether, let's just call it X-Men."

Xu Shuo glanced at him abruptly, then calmly withdrew his gaze.

"My time is almost up; I can't stay out too long. I need to go back now," Xu Shuo said.

"Ah, didn't you come to take me with you?" Yin Banqian was stunned for a moment.

"So you're going with me now?" Xu Shuo also paused upon hearing that.

"Banqian should for now stay with Cheng Can instead. It's probably not very convenient inside the university; there are more restrictions than outside," Wei Ya eventually said.

"Let's go, I'll take you through walls!" Cheng Can had no objections, stood up, and patted the injured man's shoulder.

After saying goodbye, Xu Shuo's figure simply vanished from the cabin without a trace.

Watching this scene, Cheng Can was filled with envy.

Once the three of them had left, Wei Ya was the only one remaining in the shabby cabin filled with the smell of garbage. She looked around the dark room, her eyes flickering.

In fact, there was one more thing she hadn't shared with her friends.

It was mainly because she was afraid it might provoke their aversion.

Since the Micro-end system connected to human neurons, her ability could even influence the host's brain neurons through the Micro-end.

...