As everyone stepped into the white hole, they were enveloped in a gentle, all-encompassing white light. It wasn't harsh or blinding, just soft and pervasive.
Liu Shuai shouted from within the light, "I can feel spatial fluctuations. It's similar to when I teleport."
Gradually, the white light dimmed, and they found themselves in a deep tunnel.
The scene that greeted them was unexpected.
The tunnel was packed with soldiers in special combat uniforms, armed with submachine guns. Rows upon rows of dark barrels pointed straight at Fang Xiu and the others.
Though surprised, no one panicked. With their current abilities, firearms posed little threat. For instance, Bai Qi could swiftly close the distance and take down the soldiers before they even had a chance to shoot.
"Who are you? How did you get here?" a soldier demanded.
Xiao Chuxia, noticing the insignia on the soldiers, quickly waved her hand, "Hold on, don't shoot! We're on your side. You’re from the Special Operations Unit of the headquarters, right? We're psychics here for the training."
Despite her explanation, the soldiers kept their guns trained on them, waiting for orders.
At that moment, a handsome man in a black casual outfit stepped forward, eyeing Fang Xiu and the others with a mix of seriousness and caution.
"I'm Wen Yang, an investigator from the headquarters. You’re really here for training? Then tell me the full name of the Investigation Bureau."
_'The full name?'_Hei Jiji tried to speak up but hesitated, struggling to recall the awkwardly long title.
"I got this," Yang Ming chimed in confidently. "It's the Global Specter... uh, something... Attack and Defense Investigation Bureau!"
The more he tried, the worse it got until he completely botched it. "Can any of you remember the full name?" he asked, looking at the others.
Zhao Hao and Liu Shuai exchanged glances, both at a loss. Finally, Yang Ming scratched his head and offered a sheepish smile, "Investigator Wen, can we prove it another way? Maybe call the Greenvine City Investigation Bureau?"
At that, Wen Yang burst out laughing. "Haha, I was just joking. If anyone could recite the full name in one go, that'd be suspicious. It's normal not to remember it."
Wen Yang's laughter was warm and genuine, putting them at ease.
"Joking?" Yang Ming echoed, still processing the shift in tone.
"That's right, just a joke," Wen Yang said with a chuckle. "Everyone recognizes the famous members from the Greenvine Branch: Captain Yang Ming, the world's only second-tier psychic who solved Grade-S Specter events. And Fang Xiu, the Forseer, along with all of you who've dealt with Grade-S Specter events—I've seen all your photos."
Wen Yang continued smoothly, adding, "Oh, and Miss Bai Jie*, the strongest psychic in Xihong." He made sure to acknowledge everyone. The guy was like a good toastmaster at a banquet, either recognizing all or none, never leaving anyone out.
"Bai Jie?!" Zhao Hao exclaimed, his eyes nearly popping out as he looked at the pretty Xiao Chuxia.
Xiao Chuxia flashed a playful smile, "Sorry for lying. That was our first meeting, so I didn't dare use my real name. I hope you don't mind."
"Who cares about that? I just need to know, is your real name Bai Jie? And your power is Ice and Fire?" Zhao Hao asked, his curiosity piqued.
Xiao Chuxia, now Bai Jie, smiled innocently and blinked, "Yes, my name is Bai Jie. Is there a problem with that? I think it's a nice name."
Zhao Hao grinned strangely, "It's a lovely name. I had a teacher named Bai Jie too."
"Really?" Bai Jie asked, her eyes lighting up. "What did your teacher teach?"
Zhao Hao's expression turned awkward, and he stammered, unable to answer.
Liu Shuai, grinning mischievously, jumped in, "What else? Biology, of course. You know, stuff like 'Spring is here, and it's time to—*'"
"Shut up! Would it kill you to keep your trap shut?" Zhao Hao quickly covered Liu Shuai's mouth.
Wen Yang laughed heartily, "You're getting along really well."
Then, addressing Fang Xiu, he said, "Mr. Fang, this place isn't safe for a long stay. Why don't we continue our chat in the car?"
Clearly, Wen Yang had done his homework, knowing who led the group. Fang Xiu nodded in agreement.
Wen Yang ordered the soldiers to lower their guns and led the group to a sleek black luxury minivan, fully equipped with amenities like a refrigerator and a television.
As they settled in, Wen Yang showed his credentials to everyone, confirming his identity. "There are drinks and alcohol in the fridge. I didn't know your preferences, so I stocked a bit of everything. Please, help yourselves."
"Wow, this is so nice! I'll have an iced coke," Xiao Chuxia said, acting innocently. She grabbed a can and took a sip.
But in reality, the cola vanished the moment it touched her lips, never making it to her stomach.
Xiao Chuxia, who often tricked others, was more cautious than most. She trusted no one, not even herself.
She had only confessed the truth to Fang Xiu earlier because she was about to die.
Everyone appreciated Wen Yang's thoughtful preparations. They had encountered many eccentric psychics, so meeting someone so gentle and straightforward, especially from headquarters, was a pleasant surprise.
Wen Yang began chatting with them. "If I'm not mistaken, you all just came out of a Specter Zone. The higher-ups are very concerned about you, especially Mr. Fang, so they sent me specifically to welcome you. I've been waiting at the station for three days and only saw you appear today, so I guessed you must have entered a Specter Zone."
'Three days?' Fang Xiu thought to himself.
It seemed the time on the Specter Train was different from the outside world. Or rather, the time flow in the Other Side was different from that in the human world.
The Lands Between was a space node between the human world and the Other Side, so its time was also different. He clearly remembered that they had spent less than a day on the Specter Train, yet three days had passed in the human world.