Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 128 Quick Assessment Channel
“Xu Yan… original level: Bronze III.” He reported the information, then paused, his voice noticeably fluctuating, “Because you independently and perfectly neutralized the E-level critical anomaly entity, the assessment system has automatically triggered the level reassessment process. Your privileges… have been temporarily upgraded to Bronze II. The final level requires system verification, but… this is very rare.”

He emphasized the words "perfectly harmless treatment" and "Bronze II," and looked at Xu Yan again with deep eyes, as if trying to remember his appearance.

"Thank you for your...efficient work," he finally added before turning and leaving, his steps much more hurried than when he arrived.

Chen Zhiwei held Xu Yan's arm tightly, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and whisper, "Senior brother, they seem... to be frightened."

Xu Yan nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on the endless shelves deep within the warehouse.

The first step, as expected, has already attracted the attention of the "center." The door to the rapid assessment channel seems to have cracked open.

Just then, a woman's voice with a unique rhythm came from not far away, her tone gentle yet carrying an unquestionable authority.

Xu Yan remained expressionless, as if he had already anticipated her appearance.

"The harmless disposal of a critically endangered Class E ghost is a truly surprising achievement."

Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei turned around at the same time.

A woman in a well-tailored dark gray suit stood not far away, her eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses revealing a pair of all-seeing eyes.

She has an elegant figure, and every gesture she makes exudes the unique charm of a mature woman.

Lin Lan gently pushed up her glasses, a gesture that made her look both professional and somewhat enigmatic.

Holding an electronic notebook, she first looked at Xu Yan with interest, then naturally turned to Chen Zhiwei.

In that instant, her eyes flickered slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"This must be Old Master Chen's granddaughter, right?" she suddenly asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. "She's just as radiant as Old Master Chen in his photos."

Chen Zhiwei was slightly taken aback and subconsciously tightened her grip on Xu Yan's hand.

Xu Yan keenly grasped the deeper meaning in Lin Lan's words, but showed no sign of it on his face: "Judging from what Manager Lin is saying, you know Zhiwei's grandfather?"

“More than just acquaintances.” Lin Lan adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, her gaze behind the lenses becoming distant. “Old Chen was a prominent figure in the industry back in the day; I was fortunate enough to receive his guidance several times.” She turned to Chen Zhiwei, her tone softening with genuine sincerity. “Miss Chen, please accept my deepest condolences regarding your grandfather. His passing is a loss for all of us.”

Having said that, she gracefully turned to the side and gestured for them to proceed. The hem of her suit skirt drew a clean, flowing arc with her movement.

“These are long stories,” she said, taking a step forward, her high heels clicking calmly on the floor. “I’m Lin Lan, the security supervisor for this floor. If you two don’t mind, let’s find a quieter place to talk.”

The hem of her suit skirt swayed gently with her steps, showcasing both the competence of a working woman and her feminine charm.

Chen Zhiwei followed closely beside Xu Yan and whispered, "She knows Grandpa very well."

"Mm." Xu Yan replied briefly, his gaze following Lin Lan's retreating figure.

Lin Lan did not lead them to the usual reception area, but went straight to the depths of the warehouse. As they passed a restricted area, Xu Yan's gaze suddenly froze.

Inside the transparent isolation enclosure, a tall man in protective clothing was using a shockwave device to force a clump of black gelatinous substance into a collection container.

Beside him, a young technician wearing smart glasses was rapidly operating a tablet.

"Containment of S-11 complete. Ready to transfer to Analysis Room 7," the technician reported.

Xu Yan's breath hitched slightly.

He recognized the technician; it was A-Zhe.

Chen Zhiwei keenly noticed Xu Yan's unusual behavior and gently touched his arm.

Lin Lan seemed to notice their subtle movements, glanced back, and smiled knowingly: "It seems you two are quite interested in our work here."

She led them into a panoramic observation room. Lin Lan gently placed the electronic notebook on the table, folded her hands, and gave a professional smile.

“Mr. Xu, Ms. Chen, let’s get straight to the point.” Her gaze swept over their faces, finally settling on Xu Yan. “Your performance was indeed impressive. As is customary, new contractors receive a specific trial task after completing their first contract—we internally call it ‘The Eye of Sorrow.’ Success grants a promotion; failure…”

She paused slightly, letting the unresolved consequences linger in the air.

“However,” she changed the subject, tapping the notepad screen to bring up a 3D emblem emitting a faint blue light, “given that your ‘harmless treatment’ far exceeded the standards, the center has opened another option for you—the ‘fast-track assessment channel’.”

A look of anticipation immediately flashed in Chen Zhiwei's eyes; this was precisely their goal for this trip.

Xu Yan remained composed while sitting.

He knew what the "Eye of Sorrow" was—a bizarre mission that would erode the emotional memories of its participants, and he absolutely could not let Chen Zhiwei take that risk.

He didn't immediately respond to Lin Lan's suggestion. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, placed his hands on the table, and looked at Lin Lan with a calm yet firm gaze:
“Manager Lin, thank you very much for providing this option. Before we make a decision, could you please explain the center’s ranking system to us in detail? We’ve always been curious as to why the Gold level is called ‘extraordinary,’ while the Platinum level… is almost legendary.”

Lin Lan raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly quite appreciative of the question.

Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the electronic notebook, and a set of holographic images slowly appeared.

“Bronze level,” Lin Lan said gently, her voice carrying an undeniable authority. With a light tap of her fingertip, several representative blurry symbols appeared in the holographic image.

A flowing talisman, an ancient-looking voodoo bottle, a guiding lantern, and a string of copper bells used for transporting corpses.

"It encompasses those people in the folk who possess special talents. Taoist priests draw talismans and chant incantations, shamans communicate with spirits, spirit mediums travel between the two worlds, corpse drivers command the dead... and so on." She listed them off as if they were old friends, with a hint of condescension in her tone. "Before they accept the center's commission and are incorporated into the management system, regardless of their own level of cultivation, they are all uniformly classified as bronze level in the center's definition."

"Regardless of the depth of one's cultivation?" Chen Zhiwei couldn't help but interject, her brows furrowing slightly. She thought of some of her grandfather's old friends. "If a senior has cultivated for many years and is very capable, is he only at the Bronze level?"

(End of this chapter)