The Undying Transmigrator

Chapter 17: External Operations Department

On his way to the External Operations Department, Mo Wen attempted to access the internet using his new augmentations. Compared to the destroyed Dreamweaver Mk.I, this device came pre-installed with some software, though it was all work-related, specifically for accessing the company network.

But Mo Wen wasn't in a hurry to adapt to corporate life. He first checked his account balance.

Balance: 25,721,515.26 credits.

Five million came from his bounty as a mercenary for eliminating enemy military-grade augmented soldiers, while over twenty million represented his first share from "selling his body."

Ren Yiyi had appraised his physical body at 7,500 trillion credits, labeling it as a new possibility on the biotechnology tree, a completely different future for humanity, a miracle from another world. But until its value could be truly realized, such an amount was obviously impossible to pay outright. Not to mention, as someone without power or influence, he couldn't possibly spend that much money anyway.

Beyond offsetting the debt from his augmentation procedures, he could mainly monitor fund flows and periodically receive a small portion of net profits, like receiving pocket money.

Though small compared to the total amount, getting free money without having to do anything—just for providing key raw materials—felt incredibly satisfying.

It had to be said, the new humans of this world were genetically encoded with traits like fairness and kindness, which was truly wonderful.

But Mo Wen hadn't forgotten his old human friends.

[Mo Wen: Where are you now? Did the company pay you?][Hawks Gang Leader (Hawks Gang - The best gang in West Outer Ring. Whether it's finding lost pets, investigating affairs, hiring hitmen for smuggling, or exacting proportional revenge, we offer the best service. / If you don't want to see this message, adjust settings accordingly): Back in the city. Helping the kids with inner ring relocation procedures and enhancement surgery appointments. Got the money too.]

[Mo Wen: What about those two gang members...]

[Hawks Gang Leader: Their deaths were worth the price.]

[Mo Wen: They died because of me. I transferred 10 million credits—consider it funding for the kids' education.]

[Hawks Gang Leader: Fine. Next time you need people to risk their lives, you can call us again.]

There probably wouldn't be a next time. Military-grade augmented soldiers only appeared in conflicts above a certain intensity level, and on such battlefields, ordinary people were mere specks of spray.

Mo Wen didn't care about the rapid decrease in his balance. The Dreamweaver series learning devices had only been developed up to Type-2 even within the company.

At internal company prices, 200,000 credits were enough to buy what he wanted most. As for other mission equipment, anything reasonable could be requested.

After ending the call with the gang leader, Mo Wen opened the software pre-installed in his augmentations and connected to the External Operations Department's forum and chat room.

[Mo Wen has entered the chatroom]

[Newcomer Notice: Change your name to Division Number-Team Number-Nickname after joining.]

[16-25-Mo Wen: Hello everyone.]

[16-25-Ren Sisi: Hi newcomer! Welcome to the Dreamweaver Entertainment family as a member of External Ops. Oh? You're actually assigned to my team! And your recommender is... my sister?! Wow, with her judgment, you must be an ultra-rare recruit.]

[16-25-Mo Wen: Greetings, senior. May I ask what exactly our work entails?]

Mo Wen had read the contract—the extremely light workload and decent benefits were why he'd joined External Ops—but the terms seemed almost too good to be true.

[Headquarters-External Ops Director: Didn't read the contract? Four-person squads. Follow superior commands during wartime. Take missions voluntarily during peacetime. Flexible hours when no missions. Also, your life is your own, so we recommend spending ample time on combat training and researching your psychic abilities. @16-25-Dragonblade Ninja, your squad leader. Talk to him about missions.]

[Headquarters-External Ops Director: Remember—all benefits exist not to make you cannon fodder or demand blind obedience, but to make you willing to fight for humanity's future and earn our right to a better tomorrow.]

[Headquarters-1-Madman: Thanks, I laughed at the director's lofty speech.]

[Headquarters-1-Madman has been muted for 5 minutes. Reason: Not-so-lofty use of admin privileges.]

[16-25-Dragonblade Ninja: A newcomer at this time? Uh, new guy, want to take today off?]

[16-25-Phantom: We've already accepted a crowd control mission. Might encounter rioters.]

[16-25-Ren Sisi: I believe the newbie can handle it. It's not like we're fighting hostile forces—just suppressing rioters without killing them. Piece of cake. Besides, since we can complete the mission ourselves, even if the newcomer just loafs around doing nothing, they can't possibly mess up.]

[16-25-Ren Sisi: @16-25-Mo Wen, right? So hurry to the helipad—we're leaving by chopper soon.]

Mo Wen wasn't short on money and could take leave, but the mission didn't seem too difficult. It wouldn't interfere with acquiring his learning device, and he could implant knowledge during transit while getting to know his teammates and understanding the company better.

[16-25-Mo Wen: On my way.]

Mo Wen opened his augmentation's built-in map, first rushing to collect his pre-ordered Dreamweaver Type-2 before sprinting to the helipad.

He wasn't entirely accustomed to this augmented body yet, and within company grounds, he didn't dare break the sound barrier and risk injuring others. But his newly awakened acceleration ability was undoubtedly first-class for rapid travel.

At the helipad, Dragonblade Ninja—who'd been explaining to Ren Sisi how difficult adapting to augmentations and psychic powers could be—suddenly turned his head.

Mo Wen also got his first look at his three teammates.

The one clad in a constantly shifting holographic cloak, with a dragon-patterned katana on his back, pure black augmentations covered in armor, and only a single crimson eye exposed—that had to be "Dragonblade Ninja."

The figure with dark-colored augmentations that blurred into the environment at the edges, his head appearing liquid and constantly shifting with indistinguishable features—that would be "Phantom."

And the last one, who looked like an ordinary young girl except for her flat chest even in a black bodysuit, wearing a coat lined with numerous instruments and an AR headset resembling an external linking device—that was "Ren Sisi."

She seemed completely different from "Ren Yiyi." And their names—11, 44? R-11, R-44? Same model or same series with different subtypes?

Mo Wen nodded at them. Ren Sisi immediately waved vigorously at him, shouting with the confidence of a social butterfly: "Hey! Your squad's over here! Hurry up!"

If she hadn't called out, he would've quietly joined them. But faced with such an extrovert, he felt reluctant to approach—yet knew she'd keep shouting persistently if he didn't.

Still, it had been a long time since Mo Wen encountered someone so infectiously energetic.

'Dragonblade Ninja,' noticing Mo Wen's hesitation, lightly rapped Ren Sisi's head, putting an end to her over-the-top greeting.