Deep in the Living
Chapter 367 - 355: In-Depth Exploration Bureau

Chapter 367: Chapter 355: In-Depth Exploration Bureau

Half an hour ago,

In front of the Investigation Bureau building.

Luo Di had been watching video programs on his wristband for over an hour, waiting for Yu Ze to come out of the building.

Despite the sunglasses, you could still see the uncomfortable expression on his face.

However, as he walked over, his expression immediately returned to normal and relaxed upon seeing Luo Di.

"Hey buddy, you didn’t take the initiative to negotiate, and I got a harsh scolding from the boss. But in the end, we got permission. We both have been allowed to submit our assessment applications to the Exploration Bureau.

However, the boss has one condition.

If you don’t pass on the first try, you’ll need to return to the Special Action Group and keep working until you’re old enough to apply again.

And I’ll have to follow your choice, if you’re sent back, I’ll come back too and keep loafing around at work.

Just hope you don’t get accepted~ Ah, I’m still young, I want to enjoy a few more years."

Luo Di had already made up his mind, "Is the application for the World Bureau Headquarters ready?"

"It’s done. Now we just need to set the time for our visit.

There’s no rush for this, right? Anyway, the boss has already let us go over. We can visit the Exploration Bureau tomorrow or the day after.

You just got out of prison today, I’ll treat you to some Northeastern cuisine in the Capital City, it’s to die for!"

"Let’s go now, I’ve rested enough in prison, and the food there was good."

Yu Ze looked helpless but eventually relented, "You’re the boss today since you got out! I’ve set the visit time for half an hour later, let me explain something to you.

The Exploration Bureau’s assessment is no child’s play; it’s basically the highest difficulty test in our Human World.

And this test isn’t purely a technological simulation setting, nor is it sending us to some dangerous Pseudo-Person settlement. Instead, it’s made using the technology derived from the Corner, combined with some special containment items.

Their assessment is not divided into areas or rounds of testing.

It’s an "entirety".

Applicants are directly thrown into a completely unknown, all-random area, where you stay for a period of time to evaluate your comprehensive qualities.

Including but not limited to [exploration ability], [fear resistance], [emergency response], etc.

Among them, [fear resistance] is extremely important.

The whole process will monitor your fear fluctuations. No matter how well you perform in other tests, even if excellent, failure in fear resistance will be deemed as assessment failure.

The final comprehensive score is also crucial, not only determining whether you can join the Exploration Bureau,

but also deciding which department you’ll go to based on your various scores."

However, compared to the so-called assessment index, Luo Di was more interested in the departments Yu Ze mentioned later.

He wanted to know the specific structure of the Exploration Bureau and the modes of exploring the Corner, as this would likely influence his exploration of the Corner, and his further contact with the Squad Leader and even the Sisterhood.

"Different types of departments? What are the specifics?"

"Ten departments,

also known as the ’Ten Exploration Departments’.

This is very different from our usual concept of departments; it’s more like a special forces group, and in some fields, even referred to as an assassin league.

If any department were used for exploring the Corner, and instead used in global warfare, no country could withstand it.

Each department’s [Director] represents the highest combat power of current humanity.

Their strength will exceed your imagination, and their use of the pituitary will overturn your current understanding of it.

Does this kind of talk interest you much?

As for what these ten departments look like, you’ll find out once you join. I’ll try to get assigned to the same department as you, Luo Di."

"Hmm."

...

World Bureau Headquarters, in front of the Exploration Bureau porch.

Two red assessment application documents have already been sent to the personnel management department of the Investigation Bureau.

Although multiple colleges are established nationwide, vigorously cultivating talents capable of countering Pseudo-Persons and exploring the Corner, very few are recommended or directly chosen by the World Bureau each year.

Usually, no more than twenty assessors are recommended in a month.

Sometimes less than ten,

and although these personnel meet the recommendation standards and belong to the elite of the Investigation Bureau or companies, at least half fail to meet the harsh standards of the Exploration Bureau.

When the two red application forms appeared from between the printers,

a man playing a handheld game quickly noticed the special text on the documents, forcing him to pause his current game.

"Yu Ze... this guy actually came,.

With his strength, there’s no need to waste resources on a simulated assessment. His experience has long met the criteria for exceptional admission. We negotiated with the Special Action Group three years ago, but unfortunately, this guy didn’t want to come over that early.

Has he figured it out now? If so, several departments might all be vying for him.

And this Luo Di, why does the name feel so familiar? And like Yu Ze, from the [Special Action Group].

Suddenly taking away two core members, plus Newton joined us some time ago, is this organization planning to disband?

However, this guy is only twenty years old, too young. And without an internal recommendation, applying on his own initiative is most likely to be rejected.

Speaking of which, this name really feels familiar."

The staff on duty immediately searched for Luo Di’s name, and the search results immediately brought his spirits up.

"I knew it felt familiar! Turns out it’s the Eclipse Killer, already processed and released? Such a good prospect, and the Special Action Group didn’t keep him, already sending him to us?

A bit strange.

Register both anyway; I’m really curious to see how a young guy like this will perform in the assessment. I hope the higher-ups won’t reject him because of his age."

...

In the gray corridor.

Luo Di and Yu Ze were waiting here for the result,

and the blonde attendant was also waiting here with them, waiting for Luo Di’s assessment application to be rejected so that she could lead him away.

It’s nearly impossible to apply for the Exploration Bureau at twenty, even if both of them are from the Investigation Bureau’s most distinctive and strongest Special Action Group.

It didn’t take long before a secret door opened in the wall beside them, corresponding to a deep red elevator.

The broadcast announced:

"≮Yu Ze from the Investigation Bureau, Investigator Luo Di, your submitted assessment application forms have been approved. Please take this elevator to the assessment floor for preliminary checks and transition work.

Please note that if you do not enter the elevator within one minute, it will be considered a forfeiture of the assessment opportunity, and you cannot apply again for two years.≯"

This notice left the blonde receptionist stunned,

though she internally wondered if the Exploration Bureau was short of people, she quickly dismissed the idea, her gaze toward Luo Di changed to genuine respect.

"I wish you both success in passing the assessment and raising the torch of exploration."

The elevator doors closed, and the deep red color of the elevator somewhat affected the vision, speeding up the blood flow, making Luo Di inevitably a bit excited.

He thought a recommendation letter from the Prison Director would be necessary to participate in the assessment, but they were granted permission directly.

From getting out of prison to arriving here, it was less than ten hours, making Luo Di feel if he was in too much of a hurry.

Ding!

Upon arriving at a floor, the elevator doors opened in both directions.

On both sides were narrow, deep gray corridors stretching endlessly.

No windows, no gaps, and even the light came only from the inside of the elevator. The red light extended just a few meters out before being swallowed by the darkness.

"≮The Exploration Bureau assessment is a solo mode to verify your ability to survive when completely alone during the exploration of the Corner. You need to separate here and choose a path each.

The assessment doesn’t start immediately,

You will receive certain guidance and preparation after stepping onto your respective paths, including effective meals, basic warm-ups, waste metabolism, and necessary checks before the assessment.

Regardless of the outcome, thank you for your efforts for humanity’s exploration career and the continuation of civilization.≯"

The mechanical voice ended.

After a simple exchange of glances, the two walked into different pitch-black corridors.

As they went further, the airtight corridor became even more oppressive, the space even lowered in height, and the air gradually thinned, with oxygen levels continuously dropping.

Luo Di had no psychological discomfort at all.

Instead, there was more excitement, an indescribable thrill, even the Crow among his clothes came out, perching on his shoulder and cawing.

The cry from the Crow Colt was dryer, sharper, and could echo continuously in such a corridor.

The sound capture devices in a certain monitoring room automatically lowered the volume upon catching the crow’s call.

In the surveillance footage showing Luo Di, besides basic explanations of various bodily functions, there was a very distinct fear gauge floating above his head.

Once it reaches the red line, the assessment would be forcibly stopped.

However,

from the time Luo Di entered the elevator to his current progress, his fear level remained zero.