Hearing this, Chu Cheng instinctively thought of that iconic line: "I'm not a man anymore."
"When the infection level exceeds 100%, the infected may awaken extraordinary abilities," Chen Meiyue explained. "The manifestations vary widely. Some control the elements, some develop enhanced perception, others experience extreme physical enhancements—and there are even stranger ones we can't yet categorize."
"So... like superpowers?" Chu Cheng replied, catching on quickly.
That part he understood. Just like the superheroes in Marvel or DC—freakish powers, some mighty, some useless, but all undeniably abnormal.
He wondered idly, I bet there's at least one infected person out there who can talk to fish...
"It can be understood that way," Chen Meiyue nodded. "The raw physical power of most infected remains within controllable thresholds. Modern military-grade weapons are still effective. We haven't observed anyone capable of resisting direct firepower with their bodies alone—not yet.
But the real danger isn't brute strength. Some infected develop abilities that circumvent traditional defenses—abstractions like mental manipulation, spatial warping, or biochemical distortions. They're unpredictable. That's what makes them terrifying."
Chu Cheng understood immediately.
Right. Real-world firepower far surpasses what's depicted in movies. From a scientific perspective, no carbon-based lifeform could possibly tank missile fire or survive a napalm barrage.
But superpowers change the equation. Especially the kind that don't make sense. And when you don't know what you're up against, or even who your enemy is, it's like walking into Arkham Asylum blindfolded.
"Infected individuals can possess immense power," Meiyue continued, "and most importantly, those with infection coefficients above 100% often suffer mental instability. Not in the sense of madness, but something much worse."
She met his eyes, her tone calm yet grim. "They can still think. Strategize. Plot. They're not mindless berserkers. They're methodical."
Chu Cheng immediately grasped the danger. A madman isn't scary. A madman with a plan—that's a nightmare.
A thought surfaced in his mind—Batman. Gotham's Dark Knight had spent 80 years cleaning up Arkham's most deranged lunatics. From the Joker to Riddler, the scariest weren't the most violent—they were the ones who knew exactly what they were doing.
In fact, in Gotham, the line between genius and insanity was often blurred.
And Chu Cheng remembered well—Batman wasn't just a vigilante; he was a strategist, a manipulator, and more importantly, someone who understood that madness is a pattern.
"But not all infected go mad," Chen Meiyue added. "There are exceptions. Some people—very rare—are exposed to the infection but resist its mental influence."
She leaned forward slightly. "Their bodies change. Vitality increases, strength grows, and sometimes they awaken powers. But their minds remain stable. Clear."
"We call these individuals—'special people'."
Chu Cheng took in the information quickly.
The past few days had already made him feel like this world was off. What he had thought was a standard peaceful city setting now seemed like a masquerade.
And the mask had finally cracked.
"Special people are the best suited to eliminate the infected and contain outbreaks," Meiyue said. "The Ninth Office of the Special Affairs Bureau exists for exactly that purpose.
Our line of work comes with frequent exposure to infected creatures and zones. That's why most of our personnel are special people. Even those without awakened powers—we still recruit them for support and internal tasks."
"But there's a key difference," she said, voice lowering. "Infected people can be scanned with handheld detectors. But special people—can't. A full diagnostic and physical evaluation is required to determine infection resistance levels."
Chu Cheng suddenly recalled the full-body medical exam he underwent yesterday. He pointed at himself, hesitating: "Wait, you mean... me?"
"Exactly," Meiyue replied, smiling. "Yesterday's events already proved that you're a special person. Your infection level is below 10%. You haven't displayed active powers, but your unique resistance makes you eligible to join the Ninth Office."
She reclined into the plush seat, graceful and composed. Her posture emphasized her curves, especially next to Tang Li—who was completely absorbed with the data tablet in her hands.
Of course, Chu Cheng wasn't some hormonal teenager. He saw through her act immediately.
Classic honey trap tactic. Beautiful, confident woman—testing boundaries. Too obvious, he thought. Who do you think you're playing? I've seen enough Qiao Feng tropes to know how this works.
Seriously, which proper cadre could fall for that kind of test?
"Joining, of course, is entirely up to you," Meiyue added. "No coercion. But you need to know this: Infected and special people are like fire and gasoline—natural enemies.
Once an infected senses a special person nearby, they'll try to eliminate them immediately."
Chu Cheng's mind flashed back to the eerie, vacant-eyed students who stared him down on campus yesterday. Even now, remembering their gaze sent a chill down his spine.
So that's why they attacked me. Because I wasn't one of them.
It made sense now. Refusing to join forces with lunatics made him a target.
And Meiyue was pointing out the unspoken truth: As a special person, he would always be hunted.
Joining the organization wasn't just for noble ideals—it was shelter, structure, and security. The world had become dangerous. You needed a fortress to survive the madness.
But that wasn't all.
Chu Cheng had other reasons to consider.
There was the matter of his plug-in system—the hidden game-like mechanism he used to deploy heroes, gather points, and manipulate events behind the scenes.
The more he used it, the more exposure he risked. If the Special Affairs Bureau noticed anomalies in the field, they'd investigate.
So, the best defense?
Infiltrate from the inside.
By joining the Ninth Office, he'd be able to monitor their internal operations. Learn how close they were to the truth. Plan accordingly. The closer he was to the fire, the easier it was to manipulate the shadows.
"Oh, and one more thing," Meiyue added, her tone suddenly lighter. "This might not be the most important part, but... the organization's benefits package is solid. Full state-backed employment. Five insurances, one housing fund, and a base monthly salary of 50,000 yuan—not including bonuses."
"I'm ready to spill blood for the cause," Chu Cheng answered instantly.
Meiyue laughed softly, noting the reaction with amusement.
Didn't even blink when I leaned forward, but the moment I mentioned salary... laser focus. Definitely the type who values money over charm. Good. People with stable desires are easy to manage—so long as those desires don't spiral.
Yes, this new recruit could be handled.
Outside the window, the buildings began to fade into sparse clusters. The urban scenery gave way to industrial complexes and finally open fields.
They were leaving the city.
Chu Cheng noticed. "Wait, if you weren't sure I'd say yes... why are you taking me to headquarters? What if I said no?"
Meiyue smiled again, this time with a dangerous sweetness.
"Then we'd still bring you in. Because civilians can't be allowed to know this level of classified truth."
She said it lightly, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.
"If you refused... we'd have to erase this part of your memory."