Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 350 A Special Mental Imprint
After the virtual reality test, Rowan returned to the interview center. To his surprise, the interviewer didn't appear immediately. He waited in the waiting room for an hour before a woman in a black uniform finally entered.

“Mr. Rowan, I’m Lina, an examiner from the intelligence department.” The woman appeared to be in her thirties, with sharp eyes that gave her a rather intimidating presence. “Your test results are very interesting.”

"Interesting?" Rowan asked, somewhat puzzled.

Lena sat opposite Rowan: "In the virtual test, you not only completed the task but also demonstrated abilities beyond expectations. In particular, your use of mental power has reached a remarkably high level."

Rowan then realized that during the virtual test, he had unconsciously used his mental power to perceive his surroundings, which might have exposed his true level of strength.

“However, there’s one thing that needs to be confirmed,” Lina’s tone turned serious. “Your mental strength seems to be much higher than recorded in the files. Can you explain why?”

Luo Wen's heart tightened, but he quickly calmed down. He decided to tell the truth: "I've been in seclusion for the past three months, and my strength has improved significantly."

Lina nodded, but the doubt in her eyes hadn't completely disappeared: "Such a big improvement after three months of seclusion? What special cultivation method did you use?"

This question put Rowan in a difficult position. He couldn't reveal the "Void Refining God Technique" and the Soul Crystal, because it involved the secrets of the Giant Axe Arena.

"The main thing is that I found a cultivation rhythm that suits me," Luo Wen answered vaguely.

Lina stared at Rowan for a moment, then said, "Mr. Rowan, your abilities are indeed outstanding, but the intelligence department has very strict background checks on its employees. We need some time to verify your information. You will be notified of the interview results within a week."

Rowan politely said goodbye to Lina, but his heart was filled with unease. He felt that this interview might not be as simple as he had imagined.

Back at the Genius Building, Luo Wen recounted the interview to the other three. Hong frowned after listening: "A background check? This doesn't sound right. Our files at Virtual Universe Company should be very clear."

Thor analyzed, "It's probably because your strength has increased too quickly recently, attracting their attention. Intelligence agencies are inherently cautious and will be extra careful about any unusual situations."

Luo Feng reassured him, "There shouldn't be any major problems. At most, the investigation will take a little longer. Your experiences are all true, so there's nothing to worry about."

However, a week passed, and Rowan still hadn't received any notification. Meanwhile, Hong had successfully started his job in the Trade Department.

“This is very strange,” Hong said after returning from get off work. “I specifically inquired today, and the interview results for other departments are generally out within a week. Only in very rare special cases would it take this long.”

Three days later, Rowan finally couldn't hold back any longer and decided to contact the intelligence department to inquire about the situation. But when he dialed the intelligence department's contact number, the reply he received surprised him greatly.

"Mr. Rowan, after our comprehensive evaluation, your application needs to enter a special review process. The specific review time cannot be determined; please wait patiently."

"Special review procedure? What does that mean?" Rowan pressed.

"I'm sorry, I can't disclose the specific review process. Just know that this doesn't mean you've been rejected; it simply means you need approval from a higher level."

After hanging up the call, Rowan was deeply confused. He didn't understand what he had done wrong, nor did he know what this so-called "special review procedure" was.

Seeing Luo Wen's expression, Hong asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Rowan relayed the contents of the communication to everyone. Thor listened thoughtfully: "A special screening process... I think I've heard of that. It's said that this process is only initiated when an applicant's abilities or background are exceptional."

"What kind of special circumstances?" Luo Feng asked.

"For example, their strength far surpasses that of their peers, or they have certain special experiences, or..." Thor paused, "...they might be suspected of having connections with other forces."

These words silenced everyone. Although Thor spoke of a possibility, everyone knew that in this complex universe, espionage and infiltration between factions were commonplace.

Rowan smiled wryly, "It seems my experience at the Giant Axe Arena might be causing trouble. Although that operation was righteous, it did involve other forces after all."

Hong comforted him, "Don't overthink it. Virtual Universe Company has a very good relationship with Giant Axe Arena; your performance there should actually be a plus."

Luo Feng also said, "Furthermore, you received the Honorary Advisor Badge of the Giant Axe Arena, which proves that your identity is legitimate."

Despite his friends' attempts to comfort him, Rowan's unease grew stronger. He began to wonder if he had somehow revealed something he shouldn't have.
Another week passed, and Rowan still hadn't received any news. At this point, even the usually optimistic Hong began to worry.

"How about I try to find out for you?" Hong suggested. "I'm a company employee now, so I might be able to find out some inside information."

Luo Wen shook his head: "Forget it, since it's a special review, asking around might just attract more attention. I'll wait and see."

Just then, Rowan's communicator suddenly rang. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number, and the encryption level was very high.

"Hello, is this Mr. Rowan?" A steady male voice came from the phone.

"Yes, and who are you?"

"I am Samuel, Assistant Minister of Intelligence at Virtual Universe Corporation. We need to have an interview with you regarding your application."

Rowan was secretly pleased, but quickly became wary again: "A meeting? About what?"

"The specific details need to be discussed in person. Are you available tomorrow morning?"

"some."

"Okay, please come to the conference room on the 80th basement floor of headquarters at 10:00 AM tomorrow. Remember, please do not tell anyone about this meeting."

After hanging up the phone, Rowan felt conflicted. The meeting had sounded mysterious and required secrecy, which made him even more uneasy. But at the same time, it might also be an opportunity to resolve the issue. "What's wrong?" Hong noticed the change in Rowan's expression.

Rowan hesitated for a moment, then decided to comply with the other party's request: "It's nothing, just a friend's call."

The next morning, Rowan arrived at the Virtual Universe Company headquarters on the 80th basement level as scheduled. Security was much tighter here than on the 50th basement level; Rowan went through five security checks before being allowed to enter.

There were two people sitting in the conference room: Samuel, whom I had spoken to yesterday, and a man who looked very young but had extremely deep eyes.

“Mr. Rowan, please have a seat.” Samuel gestured to the chair opposite him. “This is our colleague, codenamed ‘Observer’.”

After Rowan sat down, the observer spoke: "Rowan, we know you're waiting for the interview results. Frankly, with your abilities, passing the intelligence department's interview shouldn't be a problem at all."

"Then why?"

“Because we’ve discovered something interesting,” the observer interrupted Rowan. “Your experience at the Giant Axe Arena, especially that operation that exposed the traitor, has caught our attention.”

Rowan's heart tightened: "Is there a problem?"

Samuel picked up the conversation: "No problem, quite the opposite, we think you're a very promising talent. However, we hope you'll consider a specific position."

"What position?"

The observer smiled mysteriously: "Field agent. A position specifically responsible for handling special missions."

“Field agent?” Rowan repeated the term, his brow furrowing slightly. “Could you elaborate on the job responsibilities?”

The observer and Samuel exchanged a glance, then the observer spoke: "Simply put, field agents are responsible for handling special missions that ordinary intelligence agencies cannot or are inconvenient to handle. These missions may involve infiltration by hostile forces, the acquisition of vital intelligence, or even dangerous missions requiring actual action."

Samuel added, "Unlike regular intelligence analysts, field agents need exceptional combat skills, keen insight, and the ability to adapt quickly to complex environments. Judging from your performance at the Giant Axe Arena, you fully possess these qualities."

Rowan fell into deep thought. The position certainly sounded challenging, but it also meant greater risks. However, thinking about his initial reasons for joining the Virtual Universe Company, and the unknown worlds waiting for him to explore, a flame of excitement began to ignite in his heart.

"What are the benefits like for this position?" Rowan asked a practical question.

The observer smiled and said, "Field agents are paid far more than ordinary employees. Their base salary is three times that of a regular intelligence officer, plus mission bonuses. More importantly, you'll have access to various rare resources and advanced cultivation techniques. Furthermore, field agents hold a special position within the company, granting them access to a great deal of classified information."

Samuel continued, "Furthermore, considering the special nature of field missions, the company equips each field agent with state-of-the-art equipment, including weapons, protective gear, and communication devices. The value of this equipment often exceeds the total salary of an average employee over several years."

Hearing this, Rowan was tempted. Not only because of the generous compensation, but also because the position would allow him to truly participate in various major events in the universe.

“How long do I need to think about it?” Rowan asked.

“You can decide now.” The observer’s tone turned serious. “However, I must remind you that accepting this position means you will assume greater responsibility and risks. Furthermore, the identity of a field agent must be strictly confidential; even your closest friends cannot reveal the specifics of your job.”

Luo Wen took a deep breath, thinking of Hong, Lei Shen, and Luo Feng. If he accepted the position, he wouldn't be able to share his work experience with his friends. This made him hesitate.

But he quickly made up his mind. Everyone has their own path to walk, and this position was exactly the opportunity he had been looking for.

“I accept,” Rowan said firmly.

Both the Observer and Samuel smiled with satisfaction. The Observer said, "Very good, welcome to the Virtual Universe Corporation's Field Agent Division. From now on, your codename is 'Starscar'."

"Star Mark?" Rowan found the code name quite interesting.

“Every field agent has their own codename, to protect your true identity,” Samuel explained. “The codename Starmark was chosen based on your abilities; the Starburst Skyblade left a deep impression on us.”

Next, the two explained to Rowan in detail the organizational structure and workflow of the field intelligence department. Although the field intelligence department was subordinate to the intelligence department, it had a relatively independent command system. The entire department currently had thirty-six field agents, divided into eighteen teams of two, working as partners.

“You will be assigned to Team Nine, and your partner will be a seasoned veteran,” the observer said. “She has been with this department for three years, participated in numerous important missions, and is one of our best agents.”

"Her?" Rowan was somewhat surprised. "A woman?"

Samuel nodded: "That's right, she comes from the Silverblue Empire and is a Sword Saint-level expert. Although young, her strength and experience are outstanding. Her codename is 'Silver Moon.'"

The Silverblue Empire—Rowan vaguely recognized the name. It was a nation in the universe renowned for its swordsmanship, where swordsmen were said to possess extremely high levels of skill. And the Sword Saint was one of the highest realms of swordsmanship cultivation in the Silverblue Empire.

"When can I see her?" Rowan asked.

“Now you can.” The observer stood up. “She’s waiting for you in the training room next door. But before we meet, we need to complete your onboarding process.”

Over the next hour, Rowan completed a series of onboarding procedures. He filled out various forms, underwent identity verification, and signed a confidentiality agreement. Most importantly, he received a special mental imprint, which would ensure he would not disclose the department's confidential information.

“This mental imprint won’t affect your normal thinking, but you’ll experience intense mental stress if you try to reveal classified information to outsiders,” Samuel explained. “It’s for the security of the entire department.”

After completing all the formalities, the observer led Rowan to the training room next door. It was a huge space filled with various training equipment, including gravity regulators, holographic projection systems, and various weapon racks.

In the center of the training room, a slender woman was practicing swordsmanship. She wore a silver-blue training uniform, her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she held a longsword that emitted a faint glow in her hand. Her movements were elegant and fluid, each strike carrying an indescribable rhythm, as if drawing silver flowers in the air.

(End of this chapter)