I created a safe zone in the nightmare world.

Congratulations, we're colleagues now!

The assessment by the Countermeasures Bureau was simpler or quicker than expected. It only tested Shi An's mental endurance, and he passed the selection process as long as the result met the requirements.

Song Qiming said, "Don't think this test is very casual. In fact, eight or nine out of ten people will not meet the requirements."

"In addition to this core test, there are also conditions such as no criminal record within three generations. For example, when we recruit employees for the Policy Bureau, the minimum educational requirement is a high school graduate. This is because if we raise the requirement to a junior college or university, the bureau will be severely understaffed."

"Even so, a degree is very useful in our bureau. Not all clerks in the bureau can get a starting salary of 20,000. The main reason is that you, Shi'an, have a bachelor's degree. Well, not only a bachelor's degree, but also a graduate of Baijiang University. Many of our bureau's senior executives are graduates of Baijiang University. Young man, your future is bright."

Song Qiming explained with utmost care and dedication.

He wasn't too surprised that Shi An was able to pass the test.

Shi An has always remained very calm. Calm people often have a stronger ability to withstand pressure when facing the bizarre or nightmares, which is indeed the kind of talent the bureau wants.

However, as a clerk, he still had to make things clear.

Song Qiming's expression turned serious. "You will now undergo a week of special training to supplement and learn more about nightmares. During this time, if you regret your decision, you can still erase your memories and return to a normal life. But remember, once you officially start working after the training period, there will be no turning back, and it will be too late for regrets."

"No problem, it's a piece of cake."

Shi An said with certainty, "I will definitely do my best... stick to my post, and contribute my share to the great cause of fighting nightmares."

Actually, he was a little impatient.

The training is just about learning about nightmares? Isn't that exactly what he desperately wants?

Song Qiming shook his head slightly.

He could understand this sense of urgency.

After encountering nightmares, I felt deeply distressed by my own powerlessness as an ordinary person. Therefore, I wanted to engage with nightmares, understand them, and overcome them.

Many people have thought that no matter how dangerous the dreamer is, it is better than not knowing anything and then dying mysteriously one day.

But ideas are just ideas; once they actually experience it, many people will back down and regret it.

Of course, there are also those whose beliefs remain steadfast, and these people often become the backbone or even the strongest members of the countermeasures bureau.

However, there is a third possibility.

That is—people who have encountered many nightmares, yet are always ignored by them, and will never become dream sufferers.

It's hard to say whether this is lucky or unlucky.

Which type of person would you be?

……

"I think Brother Shi An has the demeanor of a strong person!"

The young man said.

His name is Zhou Luokai, but Shi An has no idea about his identity.

At this point, after completing his onboarding procedures at the Countermeasures Bureau - Anping District Branch, Song Qiming no longer needed to hold back some things.

"Let me introduce him again. Our Xiao Zhou is no ordinary person. Although he is very young and has just started high school, he is already a new generation of Dream Fallers that the Bureau, well, the General Bureau is vigorously cultivating. He has only been a Dream Faller for a short time, but he has already achieved outstanding results in the Nightmare World."

"It's all luck, luck. I just won by doing nothing."

Xiao Zhou scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

Shi An felt that Xiao Zhou looked familiar.

Not appearance.

In the real world and the nightmare world, people's appearances don't match, but some habits and actions do.

The feeling he got from Xiao Zhou, coupled with his background as a dreamer...

"Could it be that young Zhou Luokai is actually Little K?"

Very likely.

Absolutely!

The number of Dream Fallers isn't that large, and the Dream Fallers that the safe zone can currently invite are probably not too far away in reality.

I never expected that the person who delivered the water meter today would be an acquaintance of mine.

The shy newbie has become a rising star in the Countermeasures Bureau in the blink of an eye?

Is this new talent in the policy department a bit lacking?

However, what Shi An didn't know was that after the nightmare ended, the dreamer also had a "nightmare experience settlement". Most of the time, the reward for this settlement was a small amount of dream dust. However, Xi Xue, Lao Yao, and Xiao K had all completed the nightmare. Even though Xiao K contributed very little and was just a passive winner, the settlement was still based on the standard of "completing the nightmare".

This settlement often deepens the fusion process of the dreamer's natal curse item.

Although Little K hasn't yet fused with the cursed artifact, he's already become much more adept at using and developing the Cursed Candle. According to the bureau's assessment, the risk of him fusing with the Cursed Candle is very low, and he'll soon be able to advance to the Fusion Stage Dreamer.

This is also why the Countermeasures Bureau is cultivating them so vigorously.

Although many people think that K just got lucky, in the eyes of the higher-ups, luck is the most needed element for those who fall into a dream.

Mental fortitude, combat prowess, and wisdom—these are the steps that pave the way to becoming a powerful individual.

But without luck, the stairs will collapse in an instant.

……

Led by Song Qiming, Shi An toured the Anping branch of the Countermeasures Bureau.

This branch office wasn't anything special; it was just an ordinary building. On a daily basis, it dealt with minor matters like blocking nightmare information and controlling public opinion in the surrounding area. Tasks involving the real threat of nightmares were handled by headquarters; these ordinary clerks weren't even qualified to handle them.

The biggest risk for a clerk is the risk of being haunted by nightmares.

Many clerks eventually become Dream Fallers, and the disappearance rate of Dream Fallers is high, which is why the Countermeasures Bureau has always been short-staffed.

"I'll take you to visit the headquarters another time. The headquarters is quite extraordinary, but we peripheral staff rarely have the opportunity to go there."

Before leaving the branch office, Song Qiming gave Shi An a stack of basic information.

"These materials are very basic. The real training will be conducted at Baijiang University, which should start tomorrow. We will notify you then."

Song Qiming went back to his work.

He seemed to be a very senior clerk, and his colleagues all called him "brother".

Xiao Zhou left early, supposedly to go back to school.

At that moment, Shi An's reaction was: "???"

He was already quite dedicated, working as a store manager in the safe zone while also serving as a workhorse; he never expected there to be such a master.

Conquering the Nightmare World, a core operator of the Countermeasures Bureau, and also an ordinary high school student.

It's full, it's full.

He has the bearing of a strong person.

Back in his rented room, Shi An looked at the paper documents in his hand. Hmm, very ordinary; it was all information he already knew.

The real, valuable information will probably have to wait until tomorrow at Baijiang University.

Shi An began to feel a sense of anticipation.

I haven't been back to Baijiang University since graduation.

However, right now...

"Working at the Countermeasures Bureau is just a part-time job, a disguise, just a way to make a living. The real guarantee of survival in this world depends on our safe zone."

Shi An closed her eyes.

He did not enter a dream.

After contracting with Employee Number One, Little Bloodhand, he discovered that even without falling into the Sea of ​​Dreams, he could vaguely sense the situation inside the store.

A miniature version of the store in the safe zone appeared in Shi An's mind.

Employee number one, Blood Handprint, was dozing off at the bar. Seemingly noticing his boss's gaze, Blood Handprint suddenly sprang to attention and began to casually patrol the store with his short legs.

It seems to be saying: I am working, I really am working.

Shi An didn't really care about that, since no customers came to the door.

The greatest significance of the bloody handprint is that he doesn't have to watch the store all the time. This alone fully demonstrates the value of Employee Number One.

Not to mention, the bloody handprint is also the mainstay of the small shop's combat strength in the entire safe zone.