CHAPTER 395: CHAPTER 395 MEMORIAL SERVICE (SEEKING SUBSCRIPTIONS)

When Pei Yan regained consciousness, it was already the evening of the next day. From Wang Wenze’s words, he learned that Xia Yu was still asleep, and when they rushed into the operating room, Ye Jiumu was no longer there. It was only later that they learned from Minister Cen that the three original entities joined forces to create an almost time-stopping space for him, placing the sealed and slumbering Ye Jiumu within.

Upon receiving this news, Pei Yan finally felt a sense of relief. Wang Wenze, seeing that his complexion had improved slightly, turned his head aside with a sorrowful voice, "The funeral for Shangxing will be held in two days."

"Hmm." Pei Yan, having calmed down from his initial grief and anger, nodded with his head lowered.

"It’s almost laughable to say, but Shangxing seems to be the least tragic among this funeral. He had no relatives, no attachments, while we could only hide the truth from the families of the others who sacrificed themselves, disguising their deaths as accidents. No one outside of us will commemorate them as heroes. Perhaps I should also think of an excuse for my death? How about ’drowned while heroically saving a drowning child’? I’ve heard that the department now has ways to disguise us like that, at least dying as a righteous martyr isn’t too bad," Wang Wenze leaned back in his chair, showing a defeated and sorrowful expression as he mocked himself.

Pei Yan, speaking as he took out a cigar box from his ring, gently rubbed the surface and said sternly, "You won’t die, and I won’t die. None of us are allowed to die until we’ve personally killed that son of a bitch for Shangxing and Jiumu!"

"You’re right! None of us has the right to die before we get revenge! Is this what Shangxing gave you? Give me one!"

Without saying much, Pei Yan pulled one out and tossed it to the awaiting hand of Wang Wenze, then took one for himself and lit it. The two sat in the swirling smoke in silence, and after a while, Pei Yan exhaled the smoke and asked, "What mission were you pulled away to carry out that night?"

"Would you believe me if I said we had been fighting continuously for several days before I came back?" Wang Wenze flicked the ash from his cigarette and said with a bitter smile.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yan was initially stunned but soon understood what Wang Wenze was suggesting. If both teams split up on the same day and Wang Wenze and his team fought continuously for several days, then there was only one possibility. Thinking of this, he blurted out, "You went to another dimension?"

Seeing Wang Wenze nodding in acknowledgment, he couldn’t help but ask, "What exactly was the mission?"

"Top secret, sorry, we were given strict orders not to disclose anything, even if you ask your sister, you’d get the same answer! Cough, cough, cough!" Wang Wenze said, coughing a few times and waving the cigar in his hand, continuing, "Still can’t get used to this thing. Pei Yan, I can’t speak about the details, but I think you will soon know the truth of the matter. Be prepared for a major battle! Our days of peace are coming to an end!"

Actually, without Wang Wenze’s reminder, Pei Yan also knew that a major battle was imminent. Knowing the truth of the matter didn’t matter much to him, but the Investigation Hall’s major actions that followed were completely unexpected for Pei Yan.

Two days later, the funeral for Shangxing and the six teammates who sacrificed themselves during this operation was officially held. Whether it was the heavens weeping for these brave warriors, or some ambiance-enhancing tricks by a department esper, a light rain started in the morning of that day.

Almost the entire Investigation Hall was present, except for those on external missions. Nearly a thousand people, including representatives from two Superpower Special Forces, stood neatly in the field. For Pei Yan, it was his first time realizing that so many people in Huaxia possessed supernatural abilities, and also his first time wearing the Investigation Hall’s uniform.

Unlike any military or police uniform in the country, the jet-black uniform was form-fitting with exquisite streamlined tailoring, paired with high leather boots, a black police hat with a sword breaking through the thorns badge, white gloves, and in front of a mirror, Pei Yan saw himself in the cloak with the buttons fixed at the chest and draped with black on the outside and red inside.

He finally understood what Hu Wenjun meant when he said no one would intentionally wear the Investigation Hall uniform. This uniform, reportedly inspired by Gu Shenghui based on the Italian National Gendarmerie outfits, was impressive if not ostentatious to an extreme.

But when he and his similarly uniformed companions stood under the light rain, blackening much of the field, he instantly understood the sense of belonging Gu Shenghui talked about. At that moment, he truly felt a sense of honor belonging to the Investigation Hall as a collective.

The entire memorial ceremony was solemn and dignified under the drizzling rain. Everyone stood ramrod straight, letting the rain slide off their hat brims and onto their cloaks. As Wang Wenze said, this was a funeral without the participation of the sacrifice’s families. Looking at the seven photos hung on the newly constructed martyr’s wall, everyone present understood that this might very well become their future home.

After the last photograph was hung on the wall, Gu Shenghui raised his arm in a standard military salute and shouted loudly, "Take responsibility, sacrifice yourself, and move forward with heavy burdens!"

"Take responsibility, sacrifice yourself, and move forward with heavy burdens!" The deafening slogan resounded instantly throughout the venue.

The day after the funeral, the Investigation Hall began major operations. The first step was to expand the Investigation Hall’s size. Pei Yan didn’t know how Cen Xiaoran managed to persuade Lin Junzhao, within herself, to agree to inform the Investigation Hall how to find those with innate supernatural abilities still unawakened. Using the method provided by Lin Junzhao, devices were crafted to screen and expand their forces nationwide.

Next, the target was the Secret Prison. The top finally approved the handling opinions regarding the prisoners there, deciding to use Divine Artifacts to extract their powers and transfer them to the elite members of the Investigation Hall and Superpower Special Forces to enhance their strength.

Upon hearing this news, Pei Yan was indeed slightly surprised. Following his own extraction of Song Mingyuan’s abilities, granted by Gu Shenghui, he knew that if he didn’t intervene, Song Mingyuan could still live as a regular person. However, from Gu Shenghui, he learned that if the Divine Artifact controlled by this Investigation Hall were to strip and transfer abilities, the stripped would face certain death.

It’s worth noting that not all those captured by the Divine Desire were individuals of heinous crimes and certain death, but the higher-ups still approved this execution plan. It seems the sacrifices and the information brought back from Wang Wenze’s mission were significantly shocking to them.

They have lost their final patience.

Pei Yan originally thought this ability transfer plan had nothing to do with him since he already possessed many abilities and didn’t need to compete for this opportunity with his colleagues until Gu Shenghui personally approached him.

"You’re saying I should also participate in this plan, but I don’t think it’s necessary, right? Counting my abilities, I already have at least five kinds!" Pei Yan said to Gu Shenghui in surprise.

"Yes, your own abilities, Song Mingyuan’s lightning, the vibration obtained from the pendant given by the original entities, along with the abilities recently gifted by Jiomu, that’s only four. So, as expected, you’ve acquired a new ability while absorbing the internal sources granted by Lin Ruxue!" Gu Shenghui said, catching Pei Yan’s flickering eyes with a sly smile.