Chapter 32: The Mission

“Good morning.”

Jiang Ming yawned as he pushed open the bedroom door and walked into the living room.

Elvira was already sitting at the dining table. Two plates of breakfast were set out before her — fried eggs, toast, and sliced fruit. It was simple but neatly arranged. She looked up at the sound of his entrance, her long black hair draped loosely over her shoulders. Her complexion looked better than it had yesterday.

Elvira was currently wearing her Order Bureau uniform.

The dark gray fabric was sharply tailored and form-fitting, with clean lines at the shoulders and waist. It was designed to allow for easy movement while maintaining a cold, solemn sense of discipline.

A small silver badge was pinned above her left breast pocket — a shield, a sword, and intertwined olive branches, the emblem of the Order Bureau. An inconspicuous dark pattern was etched onto the cuffs, faintly appearing as the light shifted, looking like some kind of authorization or departmental marking.

“Morning, Jiang Ming,” she replied.

After the late-night thrill ride ended last night, they hadn’t returned to the hotel where Jiang Ming had been staying. Elvira had simply ridden Rocinante to a corner and stopped in front of an unremarkable old wooden door. Under Jiang Ming’s surprised gaze, she had pulled a uniquely shaped key from her pocket.

The key was dark copper, its hilt inlaid with a faintly glowing light blue crystal.

“It is an Alchemical Armament called the ‘Key of the Gateway,'” she explained. “As long as you set the coordinates in advance, you can use any door…”

As she spoke, she inserted the key into the lock of that old wooden door. The teeth of the key clearly didn’t match the lock cylinder, but the moment it touched the keyhole, it automatically adjusted and fitted itself perfectly.

“— And then, a gentle turn.”

She flicked her wrist.

The soft click of the bolt retracting was exceptionally clear in the silent alley. She pushed open the wooden door, and behind it was not the room or alley one would expect, but a bright, clean indoor corridor. It was the temporary residence the Order Bureau prepared for Field Personnel.

Jiang Ming remembered raising an eyebrow. He hadn’t asked any questions and simply followed her inside. When the door closed behind them and he looked back, the old wooden door had returned to its original state, as if everything that had just happened was a mere illusion.

And now, they were sitting in this temporary residence allocated by the Order Bureau.

Jiang Ming pulled out a chair and sat down, poking at the fried egg with his fork. The yolk was wobbly and cooked just right.

“Good cooking,” he said muffledly after taking a bite.

“The canteen delivered it,” Elvira clarified calmly, taking a sip of the hot drink in her hand. “I only heated it up.”

Jiang Ming laughed. “Well, your heating skills are good too.”

Elvira didn’t acknowledge the joke. She just lowered her head to cut her bread, but the corners of her mouth relaxed ever so slightly.

Once they finished breakfast, Elvira’s personal terminal vibrated slightly. She glanced down at the screen and then looked up.

“The Bureau just sent a message. There is something I need to attend to.” She paused, her gaze shifting to Jiang Ming, her lips curving into a smile that carried a different meaning. “Want to come along?”

“Hmm?” Jiang Ming was looking out the window. Outside was still a thick, starless night, with only the artificial light sources of the Order Bureau buildings cutting cold, hard silhouettes into the darkness.

He withdrew his gaze and asked, “What would I be doing there?”

In this pocket dimension independent of real-world time, the reversal of day and night was the least surprising thing.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to join the Order Bureau?” Elvira’s tone sounded natural, but her fingertips unconsciously brushed the dark pattern on her uniform cuff. “We can stop by and tell the Director. It’s better to get familiar with the environment early.”

What she didn’t say aloud was the little abacus clicking in her heart; she had to settle this matter quickly.

‘If he regrets it, that would be bad,’ she thought. ‘The man in front of me is smart, powerful, and decent. He’s the perfect choice for a partner.’

Jiang Ming looked at her calm red eyes, which held a faint, hidden urge, and suddenly smiled.

“Sure.” He agreed readily and stood up, stacking the empty plates. “Then… let’s go check it out together.”

Elvira let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief, and the tension in her shoulders loosened.

“Let’s go.” She walked toward the door, the hem of her dark gray uniform fluttering slightly as she moved. “I’ll brief you on the process on the way.”

Jiang Ming followed her, his gaze sweeping over the clear line of her nape beneath her tied-back black hair, then over the eternal artificial night outside the window.

Ahead lay the cold, rhythmic corridors of the Order Bureau, unknown affairs, and the brand-new daily life he was about to step into.

Jiang Ming felt that this didn’t seem bad at all.

At least he had a companion.

***

Inside the Director’s office.

Rex looked up from the pile of documents and stared at Jiang Ming, who was standing in front of his desk.

“Have you made up your mind?”

“Yes,” Jiang Ming nodded. “But I want to confirm something. After joining, can I choose my own department?”

“You can.” Rex leaned back into his chair and tapped his finger lightly on the desk. “But the scope is limited to the Field Department. After all, what we value is your ability to handle scenes.”

“Fine.” Jiang Ming met his gaze. “Then I choose the Special Operations Group. I’ll be on Elvira’s team.”

There was no surprise on Rex’s face. Instead, it was as if he had expected it, and a corner of his mouth twitched. He pulled a card from a drawer — matte black with dark silver patterns around the edges and the emblem of the Order Bureau embossed in the center — and tossed it to Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming caught it steadily. It felt cool to the touch, the material neither metal nor plastic.

“Your Pass. In the Order Bureau, this is more useful than your face.” Rex paused. “Make sure to keep it safe. The replacement process is a hassle if you lose it, and the people in the Internal Affairs Department will nag you for three months.”

Jiang Ming flipped the card over. His name and a serial number were laser-etched on the back.

“Also,” Rex’s voice pulled his attention back, “remember to read the Order Bureau Field Personnel Behavioral Code Manual and the Supernatural Event Temporary Disposal Regulations when you get back. You don’t have to memorize them, but at least know which actions will result in a pay cut and which actions…”

He raised his eyes, his gaze deep.

“…will send you straight to the Internal Trial Court.”

Outside the window, the fake starlight flickered quietly. The only sound in the office was the slight rustle of paper.

Jiang Ming put the card in his pocket, the fabric insulating the cold touch. But he didn’t turn to leave immediately.

“I have one more request,” he said.

Rex looked up from his documents. He didn’t show any impatience; instead, there was a sense of calm expectation.

People like Jiang Ming, who had talent and voluntarily stepped into the Order Bureau, always wanted something — resources, authority, protection, or something else. As long as the request wasn’t absurd, the Order Bureau could afford it.

“Speak.” Rex put down his pen.

“I want Elvira to enjoy the same treatment as I do,” Jiang Ming said after a pause. “The treatment of a formal employee, even if her current status is still outsourced.”

Elvira, standing to the side, suddenly turned her head. Her red pupils widened slightly, her face filled with shock. She clearly hadn’t expected Jiang Ming to propose this. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Rex was also stunned for a moment.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his crossed hands, and scrutinized the young man before him with a renewed gaze.

“Are you sure?” Rex spoke slowly, his voice unreadable. “Opportunities to make requests of the Order Bureau are rare. You could have fought for more for yourself — resource quotas, authority levels, or even priority for customized armaments.”

His gaze swept over Jiang Ming’s calm face and then over Elvira’s still-shocked expression.

“And you chose this.”

Jiang Ming didn’t avoid his gaze, nor did he explain. He just stood there, waiting for an answer.

Outside, the eternal artificial night of the Order Bureau Headquarters flowed silently. In the distance, the faint hum of the building’s internal machinery could be heard, like the breathing of some massive organism.

Rex leaned back into his chair and tapped his finger twice on the desk.

Then, he chuckled.

“Fine. Elvira’s outsourcing contract will be upgraded to a Special Cooperation Agreement. Her treatment and authority will be based on that of a formal field agent. The Internal Affairs Department will follow up on the relevant procedures.”

He looked at Elvira and nodded. “You have a good teammate.”

Elvira opened her mouth, but in the end, she simply took a deep breath and said softly, “…Thank you, Director.”

Then, she turned toward Jiang Ming and gave a deep bow.

Rex watched all of this without interrupting. Once Elvira stood straight again, he continued unhurriedly:

“Since that’s the case, there happens to be a task.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a thin dossier, placing it on the desk. “Originally, Elvira was going to execute this alone, but now the two of you will go together.”

A simple serial number and classification markings were printed on the cover of the dossier. The edges were slightly worn, indicating it had been accessed several times.

“Now that you’ve made your requests, get out.” Rex pushed the dossier toward them with his fingertip, his gaze scanning between the two of them. “Remember, read the materials first.”

Jiang Ming stepped forward and picked up the dossier. The paper was stiff and felt heavy in his hand.

“Yes,” he replied.

Elvira also repeated softly, “Yes.”

The two of them turned toward the door. Just as Jiang Ming gripped the handle, Rex’s voice came from behind them — not loud, but clear:

“The last page of the file has my direct contact code. If you encounter a situation outside of the contingency plans, prioritize your lives, then report.”