Welcome to Ability Store

Chapter 315 - 215: Prelude

"Wow... this place is really great!" The moment Jiang Siqi opened the hotel room door, she was captivated by the huge floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall.

Through the glass, the magnificent city skyline was fully visible. Soaring skyscrapers and laser billboards that were clear even in daylight outlined its glamorous silhouette; the neatly arranged floating vehicle fleets in the sky drew dozens of "air routes." Even though there were no roads or traffic lights in the sky, these vehicles seemed to be driving on tangible roads.

She ran to the glass wall, took out her phone, and started snapping away at this stunning scene, exclaiming excitedly all the while.

"That flying car... so cool!"

"Quick, look above the clouds, it’s like there’s something hidden there!"

"Oh my God, could that be a building in space!?"

Honglian put down her backpack, leaned on the sofa, and stretched lazily, "Remember to delete those after you take them, be careful not to violate the confidentiality agreement."

According to the mechanism’s agreement, they were not allowed to leak any information about this world, including videos and photos.

"Even if I post them, I don’t think anyone would believe it; they’d just say it’s AI-generated," Jiang Siqi said nonchalantly, "Who would have thought that passing through eroded space would bring you to a city in another future world, and that city is actually called Jiang City."

It was indeed incredible.

But Honglian had seen much more.

She had been to a medieval Europe in another world, disguised as a witch, and had fierce battles with the Wanderer. At that time, she fully believed in the mechanism’s theory, treating the intrusion point as the source of world instability, fearing that the altered history over there would contaminate the world now.

Then Lin Qing told her that it was all just natural evolution... like rain and thunder, the intrusion was also a natural phenomenon.

"This bed is unbelievably comfortable!" Jiang Siqi, after admiring the window view, rolled around on the bed, "What material is this made of? It feels like it’s almost anti-gravity lying on it."

"There are free drinks in the fridge, want to try? What’s this brand... Ice Soul? And this? Oh wow, there’s even coke in the future?"

"The bathroom is so advanced too, you can lie down to use the toilet, and the toilet even massages!"

"Oh, how wonderful would it be if I could live here forever!"

Jiang Siqi roamed around, her excited voice echoing from all directions.

Though it wasn’t their first time in this world, last time everyone except the team leader had barely entered the city. Most of the time they hid in the suburbs or disguised as thugs and beggars to source information from the city’s fringe gangs. In less than three months, Xiao Canong managed to become a distinguished guest of the city’s authorities, which is why they received such treatment today.

"Acting like this in the room is fine, but don’t seem like you’ve never seen the world when you go out, or we’d lose face," Honglian half-advised, half-joked.

After all, the Dimensional Limit Mechanism now represented the face of another world.

"Understood, Team Leader!" Jiang Siqi giggled, "But Captain Xiao is really amazing... His diplomatic skills are brilliant, and he knows how to use public opinion. I feel like ever since he arrived, the organizational atmosphere has been revitalized."

"Tch." Honglian glanced at her disdainfully, "You talk as though you’ve been in the organization for a long time. You haven’t experienced what the organization was like before, have you?"

"I haven’t, but you guys have." Jiang Siqi shrugged, "I’ve talked with Wang a lot, he said the previous Captain was a bit of a bore, just followed orders from headquarters like a mouthpiece. He was responsible enough, but the work environment was dull every day. If it wasn’t for occasional intrusions warnings from the Intelligence Team, he felt like an ordinary office worker."

Honglian was silent for a moment.

Captain Wan certainly wasn’t as adept as Xiao Canong.

Now the organization was vibrant and lively... one, because people genuinely felt the threat from ability criminals, greatly increasing demand for them; and two, because the organization became more open, even spawning star teams—though Honglian herself didn’t like being in the spotlight, she couldn’t deny she’d become a target other operatives aspired toward.

To protect this world, people were willing to remain anonymous; but if they could gain fame and fortune while protecting it, who would refuse?

People always want their efforts to be acknowledged by others.

And Xiao Canong had a knack for it. He contacted the media, exposing more star agent training plans; he understood the exchange of abilities and rights, frequently featured on the news front pages; he was willing to delegate power, giving teams greater freedom of action, unlike Captain Wan who personally supervised every move during missions. Wang Baihu had privately complained, feeling treated like an illegal ability user, having to report multiple ability usages per day.

In most operatives’ eyes, Xiao Canong was undoubtedly a capable leader, shouldering all mundane administrative tasks flawlessly, treating subordinates without reproach, aside from questionable fashion sense, a template of a good boss.

Actually, Honglian was starting to feel the same.

If not for her sudden contact with Shixin and recalling Elorie’s words.

Thinking of teammates being sold to the enemy by the team leader made her feel terrified.

As for those attendees who appeared well-dressed and charming, it was hard for ordinary people to associate them with the demons responsible for the Five Rings Machinery Factory massacre. If Lin Qing’s intel was accurate, then the current situation was entirely different—

Xiao Canong presented a sophisticated facade but was doing unspeakably evil deeds, chatting and laughing with demons at the dining table, where innocent people’s flesh was served.

"By the way, Sister Honglian, what do you think Captain Xiao’s ability might be?" Jiang Siqi hopped over and sat beside her.

"Why ask that all of a sudden?"

"Just curious. Wang said the previous Captain Wan always fought alongside you guys, but Xiao Canong... he’s never taken action."

"I don’t know," Honglian pouted, "nor am I interested."

Although that was what she said, she did have some interest—Xiao Canong didn’t seem interested in combat; not only did he stay away from the front lines, he wouldn’t even join in. During the Five Rings Factory incident, he sent the entire Execution Team over and then left it completely alone.

For the new world exploration, he was involved throughout, but whenever confrontation was needed, even if opponents were gang members, he’d stay far back behind the executing agents.

Could it be... Xiao Canong is actually very weak in combat?

But Honglian dismissed the thought; abilities were varied, and many were non-combative, but such operatives wouldn’t be chosen for the Execution Team.

And Xiao Canong was a headquarters-certified Execution Team member. In other words, when others in Jiang City’s branch sacrificed themselves, he could and must fight as an ability user.

"I guess he must be strong, otherwise, headquarters wouldn’t choose him as the captain," Jiang Siqi said, "Strong abilities, social skills among the wealthy, it’s infuriating; isn’t he the quintessential life winner?"

"Give it a rest; abilities are a gift from the heavens beyond envy."

"Not necessarily! I believe with enough luck, abilities can alter destiny afterwards~" she hummed in reply.

"Are you serious?" Honglian frowned involuntarily.

Why does it sound like Shixin’s rhetoric?

"Nothing... just kidding." Jiang Siqi quickly covered her mouth.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door outside.

"Hey, are the two ladies in?"

"Sister Honglian, I’m here to find you!"

Jiang Siqi immediately stood up, "It’s Li Xing and Little Pigeon, I’ll open the door."

As the door opened, a wave of noise poured in, the loudest clearly being Han Yuhao, "Have you settled your luggage? There’s a super luxurious buffet on the second floor; we can eat for free!"

"Really?" Jiang Siqi’s eyes sparkled.

"Yeah, I checked the room card; it covers not only three daily meals but also SPA, brain wave therapy, and a bunch of services I don’t even understand! I have to say, our boss really went all out this time!"

"Exactly, since it’s a public-funded trip, we surely shouldn’t let the organizer’s good intentions go to waste!" Little Pigeon chimed in, "Sister Honglian, let’s hurry and start, I want to try every activity!"

Duties remain duties, enjoyment remains enjoyment; it’s a motto frequently uttered by Execution Team members.

Even though she was set to find out tomorrow if Lin Qing’s accusations were true about the mechanism, her heart was simultaneously tense and tangled... The more it was like this, the less she could let others see anything amiss.

"Alright," Honglian nodded with a smile, "let’s treat this as an exploration into the future."

...