Die, Replay, Repeat

The Director’s expression turned serious, shadows of concern deepening in his eyes.

"Fang Xiu, you’d better brace yourself. The United Bureaus may not go along with this. They tend to play it safe, and if they can bury the truth, they will.

"There’s a good chance they’ll outright reject revealing the situation to the public. You’ve heard about how things are run in other countries—it’s not quite like ours. When the truth drops here in our country, Huaxia, sure, there’ll be some unrest, but our people will rally behind headquarters to stand against the Specters.

"We’ve seen unity in crises before; our history has proved that. For some other countries… well, revealing the truth there could lead to outright chaos.

"In extreme cases, it could devolve into full-blown anarchy—rioting, looting, violence, every kind of chaos imaginable. That sort of turmoil has happened before, and there’s no need to test it again. They’re likely to oppose this.”

Fang Xiu’s response was as steady as ever. “Sir, you misunderstand. I’m not going to give them a proposal, but rather an announcement.”

The Director blinked, surprised, before breaking into a hearty laugh. “Hahaha… Of course. This is about our own country and life; there’s no need to ask anyone else for permission. Whether they agree or not, we’re merely letting them know. Maybe I am getting old—looks like this world belongs to you young folks now.”

His laughter faded, and he looked back at Fang Xiu with renewed curiosity. “So, how exactly are you planning to do this?”

“It’s straightforward,” Fang Xiu said. “I’ll make the announcement to the public, explaining the existence of the headquarters, managing public perception, and using the Foreseer title to reassure them. My goal is to make them understand that even in a world threatened by Specters, there are still people holding the line—protecting them, protecting our country.”

The Director nodded thoughtfully but quickly raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You? You’re going to make the announcement yourself? And Fang Moli… from what I know of him, he won’t take this news lightly. He’d see this as a disaster in the making.”

Despite the Director’s rare attempt at humor, Fang Xiu’s expression stayed calm and unwavering. “Leave Fang Moli to me. As Chief Commander, I’ll handle him. Once the truth is out, I will organize Investigation Bureaus across the country to begin psychic training programs at universities. The current number of psychics is far too low to keep up with the Specters. By letting young people experience controlled encounters with low-risk Specters, we can start building up a new wave of trained psychics. I’m calling it the National Psychic Initiative.”

The Director’s eyes gleamed with approval. “That’s a solid plan. I considered something like it before, but at the time, I worried it was too early for younger people to confront the Specters. That’s why it was only put into effect within the military, where soldiers have stronger discipline and survival instincts. But with the current escalation in Specter incidents, now’s the time to launch the National Psychic Initiative.”

“Good. Now, how long will it take to connect the national network, major live-streaming platforms, and TV channels for a broadcast to the entire nation?”

The Director paused, calculating. “Give us three days. By then, everything should be coordinated and ready to go.”

“Perfect,” Fang Xiu said. “We’ll start the national broadcast exactly three days from now.”

The Director nodded, preparing to take his leave. “I’ll notify the United Bureau. Oh, and Fang Xiu, these just arrived.” He held out a small stack of envelopes. “Invitations from various countries. They’re mostly requests for you to visit their Investigation Bureaus—officially for diplomatic reasons, but really, they’re hoping you can help their psychics break through to the fifth tier. They’re offering all sorts of incentives, and several ambassadors are already waiting outside to speak with you.”

Fang Xiu took one look at the invitations, barely skimming through them before dropping the entire stack straight into the trash can.

“I won’t be meeting with them.”

The Director hesitated for a moment, his unease palpable. “I get it if you’re not interested in helping them break through, but you should at least meet with them. They’re from the United Bureaus, after all. It’s important to maintain some diplomatic relations.”

Fang Xiu stood firm, his resolve unshaken. “I’m not here to waste my time with irrelevant people. I won’t meet them.”

The Director’s brows furrowed, but he could see that pressing the matter further would be pointless.

So, he pivoted to a different concern. “Alright, then. But there’s another issue. You need to start thinking about your personal guard. As Chief Commander, and with your ability to help others break through to the fifth tier, you’ll have countless forces keeping a close eye on you. You’re a target, whether you like it or not. It’s time to assemble a guard to ensure your safety. Also, I’ve heard you’ve been leaving headquarters on your own pretty often. That’s dangerous. You can't afford to go out alone anymore. You need protection.”

Fang Xiu’s voice remained level, but the calmness in his tone only made his words more chilling. “Sir, I think you’ve forgotten about my abilities. With my foresight, I’ll never run into danger. If there’s ever a truly deadly situation, I’ll see it coming and avoid it in time.”

The Director paused, reflecting on Fang Xiu’s words. He realized that he’d been thinking of Fang Xiu as just another third-tier psychic—someone who needed protection. But in truth, Fang Xiu’s foresight made him virtually invincible. No ambush or trap would ever catch him off guard.

“Alright, I get it,” the Director said, nodding slowly. “Just… be careful. I’ll handle the ambassadors.”

With that, the Director turned and left, leaving Fang Xiu alone with his thoughts.

*****

Later that night…

In a secluded forest on its outskirts, Fang Xiu stood alone, far from the city lights and the prying eyes in Shangjing City.

His posture was straight, hands clasped behind his back, as he gazed into the dense darkness of the trees.

His face was unreadable, his expression distant as though his mind was somewhere else entirely.

A rustle in the shadows drew his attention, and a guy materialized from the darkness. It was Ace of Spades, his actions as silent as the night itself.

When Ace of Spades saw Fang Xiu, his emotions were a confusing blend of reverence, fear, and doubt.

He wasn’t a fool. While Fang Xiu had let him leave headquarters during the last mission, the events that followed were unclear.

But the rumors swirling about Fang Xiu’s actions left no room for uncertainty—he was the world’s top psychic, the one every Investigation Bureau was desperate to recruit.

And, of course, Ace of Spades had learned the truth about Joker’s death.

“Sir,” Ace of Spades said, his voice tinged with respect, though it faltered when he spoke again. “Why… did you kill Joker?”

Fang Xiu turned to face him, his gaze sharp and emotionless. The pale moonlight cast a cold glow over his face, giving him an almost eerie, yet undeniably captivating presence.

“Ace of Spades,” Fang Xiu’s voice was low, each word carrying an icy weight. “What makes you think I need to explain things to you now?”

The moment those words left his lips, Ace of Spades felt an icy fear rush through him. Before he could even process the situation, his legs buckled, and he found himself kneeling on the ground with a resounding thud.

“I—sir, I didn’t mean it! I was just… I was anxious. It slipped out! Please, forgive me, sir.”

Fang Xiu’s footsteps were deliberate and light as he approached. The rustle of leaves underfoot was the only sound as he closed the distance between them.

He stopped right in front of Ace of Spades, looking down at him with an almost clinical detachment.

“Have I been too lenient with you?” Fang Xiu’s tone was colder than ever. “Now a dog starts barking at his master?”

Without warning, Fang Xiu’s left hand landed lightly on Ace of Spades’ shoulder. It wasn’t an aggressive gesture, but the simple touch sent a chill racing down Ace of Spades’ spine.

In that moment, the whispers Ace of Spades had heard from others within the organization—rumors about what happened to those who crossed Fang Xiu—flashed through his mind. And the fear in his chest deepened.

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