"This is Jiang Bai, currently executing Mission 002. It's the seventh day since my awakening, and I have not yet re-established contact with the organization.

On the third day after awakening, the institute was attacked by an enemy. A Blood Wolf that had lost control cut off the power, but we managed to subdue it together.

I don't believe this was a coincidence. Everything happened too conveniently, but I have no evidence, so I can only let it go for now.

The Blood Wolf is the only lead, and I need it alive.

Over the past four days, I've gone out twice with the Director and Shan Hongyi to familiarize myself with the surroundings, obtain legal identity, and gather intelligence.

Silver Sand Base covers an area of approximately 8,000 square kilometers, with a population of about 2 million. The people are of Asian descent, with black hair and eyes. The common language is Mandarin, and the writing system uses Chinese characters. Monogamy is the norm, though it exists more in name than in practice.

Due to significant changes in climate over the past millennium and alterations in celestial movements, it's impossible to determine the exact latitude and longitude. For now, I speculate this is in the original northwestern territory of our country.

Silver Sand Base has over 10,000 registered ability users, with over 100 high-level ability users, and no fewer than 10 transcendent beings.

The currency used in Silver Sand Base is the Star Coin, which is shared by more than ten surrounding defense bases. Its purchasing power is stable, with 1,000 Star Coins sufficient for a family of three's monthly living expenses.

Low-level ability users receive a monthly allowance of 3,000 Star Coins. There have been no delays in allowance distribution, but a medical examination is required when collecting the allowance to monitor the stability of ability users.

Collecting the allowance does not require ability users to make additional contributions to the base. The base distributes allowances to monitor ability users in real-time and prevent larger losses caused by ability users losing control.

Short-term goals: Acquire resources, cultivate abilities, advance to transcendent level as soon as possible, and gather more intelligence.

Long-term goal: Complete Mission 002."

"Mission 002 is still ongoing..."

After speaking, Jiang Bai pressed a button, and the red light on the voice recorder faded. His previous words had been recorded.

Sitting on a high chair, Shan Hongyi swung her short legs and asked curiously, "Brother Jiang, is it really useful to record like this every now and then?"

From Shan Hongyi's perspective, most of what Jiang Bai said was common knowledge. Even as a life summary, it seemed a bit redundant.

The Director, however, didn't think so.

He explained on Jiang Bai's behalf,

"In ancient times, during the feudal imperial system, when local officials wrote memorials to the emperor, they would ramble about many trivial matters. For example, they might mention the weather during an outing or the price of meat - things that seemed irrelevant.

The purpose of these memorials was to reflect the local situation through details, such as whether there were natural disasters or merchants hoarding goods to drive up prices. This allowed the emperor to understand the local people's livelihood and compare it with formal memorials for mutual verification.

The intelligence Jiang Bai is sharing might seem like common knowledge and useless to you and me. However, in the future, for those researching Silver Sand Base, this recording will have unique value as precious historical research material."

Listening to the Director's lengthy explanation, Shan Hongyi's eyes reflected a mix of wisdom and confusion as she nodded.

Clearly, this recording was not prepared for people in the present.

For Jiang Bai, he was striving to complete Mission 002, but human efforts have their limits. If Jiang Bai couldn't succeed, the recordings in the voice recorder would serve as a legacy, passing on this mission to future generations.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Now, Jiang Bai didn't avoid the two when recording.

However, regarding the mysterious "Mission 002," no matter how much Shan Hongyi inquired, Jiang Bai always avoided answering.

The Director was quite tactful and had never asked about it once.

After finishing breakfast, Shan Hongyi quickly cleaned up the dishes. The lights went out, and the three skillfully walked along the passage towards the ground.

In the dark passage, the Director spoke up,

"Jiang Bai, you registered as a low-level ability user earlier. The three-day observation period is over. Today you'll go to collect your allowance. Have you thought about how to spend it?"

The Director had previously educated Jiang Bai about the purchasing power of Star Coins, explaining in detail what could be bought and their effects.

Within Silver Sand Base, there were official trading markets as well as black markets.

In the official markets, prices were generally higher, but there were guarantees and official backing. There were no occurrences of forced buying and selling or robbery and murder.

In the black markets, it was a mixed bag. Transactions depended entirely on one's judgment and strength. It was possible to strike it lucky and get a bargain, but also possible to suffer heavy losses and lose everything.

Jiang Bai had a budget of 3,000 Star Coins, and he already had a plan on how to spend it:

"500 for my next month's food expenses, 1,000 to buy an ability meter, and the rest to purchase materials. I plan to break through to mid-level ability user this month..."

An ability meter could detect the current ability reserve situation, quantifying it in numerical form. It was standard equipment for every ability user and one of the greatest inventions of this era.

Just as people exercise to increase their strength but find it hard to describe precisely how much it has increased, using a barbell to quantify it makes it very clear.

The same applies to abilities.

Quantifying ability values greatly improves both cultivation and combat.

Hearing Jiang Bai's plan, the Director quickly said, "Don't worry about the food expenses!"

Although the Ninth Research Institute was poor, it wasn't to the point of charging Jiang Bai for food.

Shan Hongyi let out a cold laugh.

She laughed at how naive the Director was!

This scoundrel Jiang Bai is giving you money for no reason, and you think it's a good thing?

Sure enough, in the next second, Jiang Bai said seriously,

"Brothers should keep clear accounts. I should pay for my food, and you should pay me my salary for working at the institute!"

According to market rates, hiring a low-level ability user would cost at least 10,000 Star Coins per month.

The Director: ......

So you're saying I should take 500 from you for food and then pay you 9,500 as salary?

Shan Hongyi laughed even more happily. This was the Jiang Bai she knew!

The Director started scratching his head anxiously. The institute was so poor they could barely make ends meet. Where would he find the money to pay Jiang Bai's salary?

The thoughtful Jiang Bai had already figured out a solution. He put his arm around the Director and said,

"You don't need to give me the money. Just use it to pay off what I owe the institute. You can make a list later, detailing all the expenses for waking me up. Given our relationship, you don't need to charge interest. I'll pay the institute 10,000 each month. How's that?"

The Director let out a long sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly, "That's good, that's good!"

Shan Hongyi laughed from the side, "At this rate, I'm afraid it would take another 1,200 years to pay it all off."

The smile on Jiang Bai's face froze.

1,200 years, 120,000 per year, over 144 million Star Coins...

Was waking him up really that expensive?!

Faced with this enormous debt, the usually daring and cheerful Jiang Bai put his arm around the Director's shoulder and said enthusiastically,

"Brother, what kind of relationship do we have? You've saved my life, I've saved yours. We have a bond forged through life and death. We're like blood brothers from different parents!"

The Director was a bit confused but nodded instinctively. According to his understanding of ancient times, this should be called sworn brotherhood?

Shan Hongyi smirked from the side. This probably wasn't sworn brotherhood, but rather taking on someone else's debt.

Jiang Bai continued, "I'm a few years older than you. It's not a loss for you if I call you little brother, right?"

The honest Director quickly shook his head.

No loss, of course not.

Jiang Bai was 1,200 years older than him. Calculating at 25 years per generation, if they were on the same family tree, they would be 48 generations apart!

"We have an old saying, 'The eldest brother is like a father,' and another saying, 'The son pays the father's debts!'"

The map of Yan State ends here. Jiang Bai revealed his true intentions and said seriously,

"Little brother, why don't you pay off these debts on behalf of your father..."