Chapter 49: Choice

Bai Ming certainly had his reasons; he stayed behind to join the Special Department.

Otherwise, why not just leave after resolving the phantom?

However, having witnessed the situation before him, he developed a new plan.

"I am here to join you."

Before Li Pingxia could speak, Su Yeye responded with excitement: "Great! [Wutian], I welcome you to join us."

The Special Department's primary objective was maintaining stability, so its recruitment standards were relatively relaxed.

Much like the ancient military and civilian agricultural colonies established to recruit refugees for land cultivation, although standards did exist, someone like [Wutian], who actively came forward to resolve a Ghost Domain, naturally met the criteria.

Li Pingxia spoke with solemnity: "On behalf of this department, I extend my sincere welcome to your joining."

Li Pingxia's welcome was entirely genuine. As the situation grew increasingly grim, the department's manpower was constantly stretched thin at critical moments.

Just like today, she and Su Yeye were the only ones who could be dispatched to Tangping Residential Community, while all other members were engaged in missions.

Bai Ming, however, stated: "Don't be so hasty. My method of joining is different from what you imagine."

"I hope to obtain a greater degree of freedom, such as the authorization to execute missions at any time."

Li Pingxia's expression turned abruptly cold: "Are you saying you want to enjoy the privileges without shouldering the obligations?"

Su Yeye's expression mirrored hers, losing its previous warmth.

Bai Ming shook his head: "Privileges can be earned through the fulfillment of obligations. As long as I complete my missions, I naturally deserve the corresponding privileges, don't I?"

Li Pingxia asked: "Then why not accept bounties? When the department encounters tricky supernatural incidents, it publishes bounties to recruit civilian players."

Bai Ming said indifferently: "Bounties are merely a pittance of money. What I want is more than just money."

Li Pingxia asked in a deep voice: "What do you want?"

Bai Ming answered bluntly: "It's very simple. I want the Special Department's channels for cultivating players."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Pingxia and Su Yeye fell silent simultaneously.

To bear the country's disgrace is to be the lord of the state; to bear the country's misfortune is to be the king of the realm.

In this world, there has never been a principle of enjoying rights without bearing responsibilities.

The Special Department's training channels were naturally of the highest tier, but correspondingly, these resources were given priority only to players who truly fought on the front lines.

Take Su Yeye, for example; she was only level 5, yet she was fully equipped.

As for Bai Ming, apart from a somewhat sturdy club, he possessed virtually nothing.

Not to mention Su Yeye's long sword, which was clearly enchanted and possessed special effects.

After a moment, Li Pingxia finally spoke: "Very rare. As a player with an S-rank evaluation, you meet the criteria for introducing special talent, and your request can be approved."

"But I must remind you that rights and obligations are reciprocal. If you choose to join through this channel, the benefits you enjoy will be lowered by one tier."

Bai Ming was entirely unconcerned: "No problem!"

He merely wished to borrow the Special Department's training grounds to enhance his strength. As for other benefits, he would take them if he could, and it wouldn't matter if he couldn't.

Furthermore, what might be a difficult mission for others was perhaps merely walking experience points for him.

Next came the cleanup operation of the Ghost Domain.

This had nothing to do with whether they trusted Bai Ming or not.

In any case, it was a necessary procedure.

Because the Special Department had suffered bitter lessons in the past.

Even if the system prompt indicated that a mission was complete, phantoms could still linger in place through special means.

This was not a system oversight, but rather because phantoms adopted a method akin to "reproduction" or "breeding."

The newborn ghost and the original ghost were not the same entity, and might even follow different rules.

In the system's judgment, this already constituted an entirely new incident.

That single oversight had ultimately resulted in heavy casualties and was subsequently included in the Special Department's training cases as a warning to future generations.

"[Wutian], your name is Bai Ming, right?" During the cleanup, Su Yeye took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Bai Ming. "My name is Su Yeye, you can call me Yeye."

Bai Ming was not surprised that Su Yeye knew his name; the Special Department possessed immense authority, and retrieving household registration information was merely a basic operation.

"Ye... Grandpa? Good grief, you little girl, how dare you try to take advantage of me!"

Su Yeye's height barely reached one meter fifty-eight centimeters, and she only managed to cross the one-meter-sixty threshold by wearing mid-heels.

Yet, thanks to her perfect body proportions, she looked