Fisk Tower, Hero Association Headquarters, the floor where the 'Potential Assessment and Development Department' is located. The atmosphere here is not as tense as the tactical command center, nor as filled with the clamor of metal and energy as the Equipment Research Department. Instead, it carries an almost laboratory-like quietness, and a… faint scent of animal fur and hay.
The department head, a former wildlife behaviorist, Dr. Helen Xiao, stood before a one-way glass, observing the scene inside the assessment room. Beside her stood Allison Green—'Cat Speaker'—who had just returned to headquarters for mission reporting and further capability documentation.
Inside the assessment room, it was arranged like a miniature natural environment, with turf, small trees, rockeries, and a pond. Several cats of different breeds and temperaments, a rabbit with perked ears, and an African Grey Parrot perched proudly on a stand, were scattered within.
"Relax, Allison," Dr. Helen's voice came through the microphone, gentle and encouraging, "Just like you usually do. We just want to understand the boundaries of your abilities more systematically."
Allison took a deep breath and nodded. She had changed into a light green uniform provided by the Association, which was more conducive to movement, with a simple paw print emblem on her chest. Facing an official formal assessment, she was still a bit nervous, far less composed than she had been at Mrs. Fisher's doorstep.
She walked to the center of the assessment room, slowly closed her eyes, and cleared her mind. She didn't make any exaggerated movements, just gently lowered her hands, fingertips lightly touching the ground, her lips silently moving.
Almost at the same moment her ability activated, the behavior of the animals in the assessment room, which had been either lazy, wary, or curious, instantly changed.
The aloof Ragdoll cat, which had previously ignored the staff, elegantly stood up and walked with a cat-like grace to Allison's feet, affectionately rubbing against her leg. The timid rabbit, its perked ears relaxing, hopped closer, its pink nose twitching gently. The Grey Parrot on the stand tilted its head, its beady eyes fixed on Allison, and suddenly spoke in clear human language: "Hello. Pretty."
In the monitoring room, various indicators on the data panel began to fluctuate. Bioelectrical signal analysis showed that Allison was emitting an extremely faint but uniquely frequency biological field around her, which produced a harmonious resonance with the brainwaves of the animals in the room.
"It's not language translation," Dr. Helen whispered into the recording device, "It's closer to a… resonance of emotions and an intuitive transmission of information. She can transmit basic emotions like 'safety,' 'friendliness,' 'help,' and also receive simple feedback from animals, such as 'fear,' 'hunger,' 'location of pain.'"
The subsequent tests were more specific.
A staff member remotely controlled a small toy car, making noise as it rushed towards the rabbit. The rabbit was startled and instinctively tried to flee. Allison, almost simultaneously, transmitted a strong yet gentle intention of "calm" and "stillness." The rabbit's movement abruptly paused; although its body was still trembling slightly, it actually stopped in place and did not run away.
"Emotional influence test, passed. Significant effect on docile small mammals."
Afterward, the staff member placed a small piece of cat food, hidden under an opaque container, behind the rockery.
"Allison, find where the food is and instruct the Ragdoll cat to find it," Dr. Helen instructed.
Allison closed her eyes again, conveying the concepts of "search," "food," and "behind the rockery," mixed with the imagined scent of food, to the Ragdoll cat. The Ragdoll cat first looked at Allison with confusion, then its nostrils twitched, as if it had truly caught something in the air. It elegantly turned and walked directly to the rockery, accurately retrieving the cat food from behind it.
"Information transmission and guidance test, passed. Able to transmit simple, specific instructions and directional concepts."
The tests proceeded one by one. Data showed that Allison's ability worked best within a radius of about fifty meters; as the distance increased, the clarity and influence of information transmission would gradually decrease. At the same time, her ability's effectiveness would be greatly reduced when dealing with larger, fiercer, or less intelligent creatures. With the Grey Parrot, she could only stimulate its desire to mimic speech, but could not engage in effective information interaction.
"Comprehensive assessment," Dr. Helen finally concluded, entering information into Allison's file, "Ability rating: D-Class (with potential to grow to C-Class or even B-Class). Ability positioning: Special Auxiliary type. Non-combat personnel, but possesses irreplaceable value in intelligence reconnaissance (utilizing urban animal networks), search and rescue, specific environment exploration, and calming startled animals to reduce collateral damage."
The assessment ended, and the animals were taken away by staff. Allison emerged from the assessment room, fine beads of sweat on her forehead, feeling a bit mentally fatigued, but her eyes were sparkling.
"How do you feel?" Dr. Helen handed her an energy drink.
"It's... wonderful," Allison took the drink, sipping it slowly. "Before, I was just figuring things out on my own. Now I know my abilities can be categorized and applied like this."
"That's the purpose of the Association," Dr. Helen smiled. "It's not just about providing a platform, but also helping every member understand themselves, unlock their potential, and find their most suitable place. Not everyone needs to destroy monsters head-on like Sandman."
Just then, Allison's Association-issued communicator vibrated slightly. She looked down; it was a notification of mission settlement and points credited.
"Mission NY-2023-048-001 (Finding the lost cat 'tommy') completed."
"Reward settlement: Association Points x 1."
"Contribution Points: +5 (First successful mission execution, ability application verified)."
"Remarks: Mission execution process generated positive social feedback, additional reward 'Association Newcomer Encouragement Award'—can be freely exchanged for one D-Class standard equipment customization or equivalent training course."
Looking at the solitary "1" point, Allison felt no disappointment; instead, she smiled happily. For her, this 1 point represented far more than its numerical value. It represented recognition, representing that her seemingly "useless" ability could truly help others through this platform and receive a reward.
"Dr. Xiao, I want to use this encouragement award to exchange for the basic course on 'Bio-Signal Enhancement Theory'!" Allison said excitedly. She yearned to become more professional, more powerful.
"An excellent choice," Dr. Helen nodded approvingly. "Your ability largely depends on your mental strength and biofield intensity. Systematic theoretical study, combined with specialized meditation and mental strength training, can effectively expand your communication range and precision."
Allison left the assessment department, walking down the wide, bright corridors of the Association Headquarters. Occasionally, heroes in combat uniforms, exuding a formidable aura, would brush past her. Seeing the light green stripe on her uniform, representing "non-combat auxiliary personnel," and the paw print emblem, most would cast curious but friendly glances. Some even gave her a thumbs-up, clearly having seen reports about the "cat-finding mission."
This feeling was novel. In her past life, her ability to "talk to cats" was more often seen as an eccentricity, or even an ominous sign. She had been ostracized by peers and viewed with strange eyes by those who didn't understand her. But here, in this place, her "difference" was accepted, studied, and given value and direction for application.
She was no longer the "weird girl" hiding in the corner; she was the "Cat Speaker," a registered D-Class Hero of the Hero Association.
She walked to the hero bulletin board in the main hall of the headquarters, where the hero leaderboard, mission briefings, and some internal notices scrolled. At the bottom of the auxiliary personnel list, she saw her newly updated name and that paltry 1 point, a satisfied smile on her face.
She knew that compared to S-Rank and A-Rank Heroes who accumulated hundreds or thousands of points battling terrifying monsters, her starting point was insignificant. But she was not discouraged. The Association's system told her that as long as she continuously completed missions, improved her abilities, and accumulated contributions, she could move up step by step, gain more resources, help more people, and perhaps… one day, play her unique role on a larger stage.
"Hey, 'Cat Speaker'!" a cheerful voice sounded nearby.
Allison turned and saw a young man in a red and blue bodysuit, his hood in his hand, smiling at her. It was Spider-Man Peter Parker, who had just finished a patrol mission.
"I saw the news, great job!" Peter said sincerely, "Really! Sometimes, making an old lady smile again is more meaningful than beating down a big, dumb monster."
Allison smiled shyly, "Thank you, Spider-Man. I just did what I could."
"Don't mention it! Maybe someday I'll need your help dealing with the neighborhood 'informants'—I mean, those stray cats!" Peter winked at her, then waved and, with a few agile leaps, disappeared down the corridor at the end of the hall.
Allison watched the direction Peter disappeared, feeling a warmth in her heart. This Association was… more humane than she had imagined.
She clenched her fist, determined. She would study hard here, strive to improve, not just for points and rank, but to prove that even the smallest light has its value and the power to illuminate corners.
And what she didn't know was that, in the core data processing center deeper within the headquarters, all data regarding her ability test was quietly archived by the system. A new information stream, labeled "Special Talent Reserve - Animal Communication Branch," was added with a note:
"Target: Cat Speaker (Allison Green). Potential Assessment: B-Class (requires mental strengthening and expansion of communication species range). Recommendation: Include in the 'Urban Ecological Perception Network' preparatory node cultivation sequence."
Kingpin stood before the top-floor holographic map, watching the green light representing Allison move within the headquarters, his gaze profound.
"The perfection of the non-combat sequence is an indispensable part of the Association's journey towards maturity," he murmured to himself. "The order of the World needs swords, and it also needs… ears capable of listening to subtle sounds."
The 1-point mission, like the first puzzle piece dropped into the water, was quietly connecting to a larger, more diverse heroic landscape.