I created the Bureau of Anomaly Control

Ma En stood outside the containment room, watching the tense young man inside. This telepath was in a state of near hysteria, with shredded paper and pillow stuffing scattered all over the floor—Ma En had specially prepared a relatively good living space for him.

[

Telepath Ⅲ-2

]

An average strength Tier Ⅲ telepathic ability. Extracting it costs 1 point of anomaly value, solidifying it costs 10 points, and each point consumed can be given to an employee of the Bureau of Anomalous Control.

Shen Zhihe stood two steps behind Ma En, observing the interior of the containment room:

"This is the only telepath I've found recently.

"Even though I brought him back myself, this power still fills me with fear."

He was referring to the Bureau of Anomalous Control.

Ma En replied:

"Our enemies will think the same.

"And if we encounter villains in the future who don't deserve to have power but don't deserve to die either, we'll have a more ethical and moral way of dealing with them than before.

"I heard that in the past, you only had two options when dealing with them—death or freedom."

Shen Zhihe nodded:

"Because imprisoning a group of criminals with anomalous abilities carries a considerable risk. If they manage to escape, they might commit crimes far more heinous than before they went to prison.

"So in the Southern Federation, we kill all anomalous criminals who have committed serious crimes, while those who have committed minor or moderate crimes simply receive some education, and we don't really do anything to them. I've heard that the coordination bureaus in the other regions have their own ways of doing things.

"It depends on the local situation. For example, the Central Federation, which has the most advanced technology, imprisons anomalous individuals through a set of laws tailored for them, because they don't have to worry about the dangers that criminals might pose if they escape.

"After all, even the laws of different states can have significant differences. In the end, we're just weighing the pros and cons. Even the same executor might give different solutions. For example, the Children of Gods and those with powerful backgrounds will be treated more leniently."

Ma En nodded:

"We're not a court, and no ruler has ever established the initial laws in the anomalous realm. The rule of law in the world where ordinary people live has been constantly advancing and retreating over the years. We live in a land beyond the law that disappeared from their sight thousands of years ago.

"I think as long as we adhere to basic morality and ethics, that's enough. Killing a serious criminal or making them spend the rest of their lives in solitude—the line between them is too blurred for us. And facing a crisis that could wipe out humanity, we don't need to nitpick.

"Here, we are pioneers and forerunners in the dark. No one has paved the way for us."

Shen Zhihe had vaguely anticipated what Ma En wanted to say:

"Have you decided how to deal with him?

"We already have three points of containment value, which is enough to extract his power.

"Lao He and I are still searching for other ability users. I don't think we'll encounter any thresholds before the value exceeds twenty, but because we can't repeatedly extract the same amount of value from similar anomalies, I estimate that the collection speed will slow down after that.

"And even if we want to deal with Tier Ⅲ ability users, we have to be cautious. If we're too eager, we might give our opponents a chance to escape or even retaliate. You can never imagine what an ability user you encounter is capable of."

There was an element of modesty in what he said. As long as they acted cautiously, there was almost no chance that two Tier Ⅳ ability users would allow a lower-tier ability user to mount an effective resistance. The more likely problem than a Tier Ⅲ ability user successfully retaliating was that the opponent was concealing their true strength.

Keeping one's information secret is the best way to survive. If that can't be done, releasing false information can achieve a similar effect.

Ma En said:

"Once you guys get enough anomaly value, we can try to form the initial team. Actually, I should be participating in the collection missions with you, but Qin Lan has given me other tasks."

Shen Zhihe asked in surprise:

"What is it?"

Ma En didn't answer directly:

"This matter carries a significant risk, so I'll temporarily be assessing whether it's suitable to become a major focus of our Salvationist Covenant's work. And before it's officially implemented, I need to send some members to carry out some very dangerous reconnaissance work.

"Given the danger and the unclear situation, I don't think it's a good decision to send our compatriots to do it."

He was watching the young man in the containment room as he spoke.

Shen Zhihe asked, seemingly out of curiosity:

"Can't you tell me now?"

Ma En said:

"The opponents we face have many telepaths, including Tier Ⅴ telepaths in the Investigation Department and among the Gods. If we don't want to be quickly dismantled, we have to emphasize basic confidentiality among our employees.

"But if this goes well, we'll discuss it in detail in a while. The team we form will likely be carrying out their first mission."

Shen Zhihe nodded slightly:

"Did Qin Lan mention the confidentiality issue to you? I never noticed she was so suitable to be a leader before."

Ma En tapped the wall a few times:

"She's the sister of a Divine Firmament Walker."

The words "Application Approved" appeared on the wall, sent by Qin Lan.

Watching Ma En's back as he walked out of the containment room, Shen Zhihe couldn't help but narrow his eyes and scrutinize him.

He didn't know when it was, perhaps when he woke up one day, but he had suddenly noticed many suspicious things about Ma En—although the explanation he gave was reasonable and could perfectly explain all his actions.

But it was just an explanation. None of the known information could prove that Ma En was without problems, and his initial suspicions could still hold true even with the existence of the Salvationist Covenant.

His acquaintance with Qin Lan could also be the result of careful planning, and there might still be unspeakable secrets in his mind.

The biggest doubt was the origin of the "Salvationist Covenant." This magical power could be explained by the existence of the Divine Firmament Walker, but it first appeared before them along with Ma En.

This forced him to have all sorts of terrible thoughts.

Therefore, Shen Zhihe tried to list all the known information in his notebook and tried to think about whether his ideas were reasonable. The conclusion he reached through pure rational thinking was:

He was overthinking things.

The existing doubts didn't support his suspicion of Ma En at all. Qin Lan had no reason to lie to them, and even if she lied about the "Salvationist Covenant," there was a more than 90% chance that it was out of good intentions.

And given the current situation, he had no reason to suspect that Ma En and Qin Lan would be detrimental to the Salvationist Covenant. Ma En had even told him that "secret mission" would be carried out by them together.

He should just wait.

These paranoid thoughts must have stemmed from the psychological shadows left by those betrayal events.

Shen Zhihe looked up at the glass of the containment room. The young man standing opposite Ma En showed an expression of hatred and anger, but before he could see any reaction from Ma En, the wall was no longer transparent.

This was a secret interrogation.

The young man looked at Ma En with eyes full of hostility:

"What have you done to me?"

Ma En didn't answer.

The young man was enraged by Ma En's dismissive attitude:

"Do you know who I am? Do you know how many friends I have who can avenge me?

"I'll make you regret locking me up here. Even if you ability users aren't afraid, you still have people you care about, and we'll make them pay for you…"

Ma En looked at him calmly.

Their eyes met.

The young man's voice stopped abruptly, and then his face began to turn red rapidly. The man reached out and scratched at the air around his throat. As his face turned completely purple, the man looked at Ma En with more pleading and fear in his eyes.

Ma En unhurriedly walked to two chairs and took a few seconds to arrange their positions before looking back at the young man whose face was already filled with despair.

Hope and entreaty rekindled on his face.

But Ma En just looked at him and continued to wait for a few seconds.

For the young man, this was almost eternity.

"Cough cough cough!" The man bent over in pain, clutching his throat tightly with both hands, his eyes timidly probing the surrounding air, as if afraid that something invisible would attack him again.

"What's your name?" Ma En asked.

The man raised his head to look at Ma En. The moment his gaze lingered on Ma En, he felt the terrifying feeling of approaching death seem to crawl back into his brain, and he instinctively showed a terrified expression:

"My name is Eddie."

Eddie felt ashamed and angry at his reaction.

If he could escape, if he could find a chance…

He would definitely repeat tortures a hundred times more terrifying than just now on all the people Ma En cared about.

Ma En sat down opposite him and said:

"You should have realized that you can't sense minds anymore, right?"

Eddie opened his mouth in confusion:

"What are you trying to say?"

Ma En said:

"We've deprived you of your telepathic ability."

Eddie chuckled nervously:

"Are you talking about mind-shielding metal or something? I've heard that the Investigation Department has this kind of thing, or is this an illusion created by other telepaths…"

"No, I mean it literally. You're an ordinary person now," Ma En's answer shattered all his previous fantasies.

Eddie's face gradually turned pale, and a few glimmers of madness appeared in his eyes as he looked at Ma En, as if he would tear him to pieces the next moment, but at the height of his emotions…

He remembered what had just happened.

All the anger cooled down in an instant, and his originally upright body slumped down.

Eddie asked in despair:

"What are you going to do to me? I don't have any abilities anymore, so at least let me leave here, right? I don't have any way to threaten you anymore."

He was nothing anymore.

"You can," Ma En nodded.

Eddie was overjoyed to hear this.

"Of course, we can give you freedom, but you still have to be judged for the crimes you've committed. From what I know about the modern judicial system, your crimes can be punishable by death in 99% of the states.

"I can let you die freely.

"Or you can choose the second option."

Eddie asked eagerly:

"What is it?"

"We just need a few volunteers to carry out a mission," Ma En said. "If you agree, sign this."

A line of text appeared in front of Eddie.

[Are you willing to become a Level 0 employee of the Salvationist Covenant?]

[Yes/No]

Employees can contact the Bureau in real time, so even if Eddie dies during the exploration, he will leave valuable information for the controllers.

Eddie asked:

"What do I have to do to survive? Carry out a suicide mission, or make some contributions?"

Ma En's answer was concise:

"You don't need to know. We don't make any promises—freedom, life, nothing. But if you sign it now, you can at least postpone your death.

"We won't force you. You're free to choose.

"After all, you're just an ordinary person."

Eddie couldn't say a word in the face of Ma En's "humiliation." He could only bite back the humiliation and swallow it into his stomach, and he knew that there was no way to struggle anymore.

As Ma En said, he was just a mortal.

And he was afraid of death.

"I'll sign," Eddie reached out and tapped it. "At least tell me who you are, right?"

Ma En stood up and turned to walk towards the exit as if he hadn't heard his question:

"I'll contact you later."

When he left the containment room, Shen Zhihe was still waiting outside.

"How was it?" he asked, looking at Ma En.

Ma En nodded:

"Very smooth.

"If possible, I may need similar expendable manpower next. When you and Tao He are collecting anomaly value, you can also keep an eye out for heinous criminals who can take on these tasks.

"Ability users aren't a necessity, but it's better to have some professional skills."

If the Federation was their ally, the Bureau of Anomalous Control might be able to directly transport criminals from prisons here to carry out suicide missions.

Shen Zhihe nodded:

"Okay, leave it to Lao He and me."

They left the Bureau of Anomalous Control after exchanging all their work.

But when Shen Zhihe stepped out, he didn't enter the familiar reality.

What came into his eyes was an endless silver desert, the only source of light in this black world.

"Welcome back," a strange female voice sounded behind him.

Shen Zhihe quickly turned around, warily floating not far behind the beautiful woman, and then he asked:

"Who are you?"

The Moon God curled her lips and smiled:

"Shen Zhihe, you are a telepath with a firm will, but even the hardest rock cannot withstand the accumulation of water. This is our third time meeting here, and in the future, we will repeat similar conversations countless times.

"But you will never remember."