Volume 1, Chapter 19: The Second Floor is Too Competitive

The middle-aged man with the short beard smiled even more broadly upon hearing Lin Yun's reply, clearly satisfied with his honesty.

He nodded and instructed the man beside him, "Take him to the North Ward first. Let him stay there for two months; if he performs well, transfer him to the West Ward."

He then turned to Lin Yun with a smile, "I didn't expect to find someone decent among a bunch of losers. The Paranormal Guard Bureau is currently short-handed, so you've come at just the right time."

Hearing the name "Paranormal Guard Bureau," Lin Yun was momentarily stunned. Aside from the Paranormal Security Bureau and the Paranormal Special Services Bureau, this was the first time he had heard of such an organization.

He muttered to himself, "Why do I have to undergo a strength test just to work on the second level of the prison?"

What surprised him even more was that by revealing only a fraction of his strength, he had already caught the eye of the Star City Paranormal Guard Bureau.

The guard in charge of processing him led the way with great enthusiasm, acting as if Lin Yun were his own brother.

"There are four wards in total on the second level of the Paranormal Prison. The North Ward houses the most ordinary criminals; there’s nothing dangerous about it," the guard continued. "Major Chen thinks highly of you, which is why he specifically arranged for you to be here. Stay here for a month or two, and by then, you’ll be able to join our Paranormal Guard Bureau directly!"

"Once you’re in our Paranormal Guard Bureau, your status will be much higher than that of a regular prison guard!" As the guard spoke, he cast a furtive glance at Lin Yun, his eyes filled with envy. "And the stronger you are, the faster you get promoted..."

This guard was in his forties; his talent had hit a ceiling, and his paranormal level had reached its limit. Looking at Lin Yun—so young and already on equal footing with him—he knew that in a few years, Lin Yun would undoubtedly climb above him and become his superior. If he didn't butter him up now, when would he ever get the chance?

Lin Yun’s heart skipped a beat. *Oh no, did I overdo it?* A Tier 1 Intermediate Paranormal might not be much, but he had forgotten that he was only nineteen! A nineteen-year-old Intermediate Paranormal could certainly be considered a genius. Even if he wasn't a top-tier prodigy, he was still a talent. He had been... far too conspicuous.

While Lin Yun was lost in thought, the prison guard continued, "Although the North Ward is relatively safe, don't be careless. Everyone who makes it to the second level of this prison is a tough nut to crack. Even the weakest among them is a Super-level Paranormal!"

"What? A Super-level Paranormal?!" Lin Yun’s eyes lit up instantly.

Super-level! A criminal of that rank should be able to contribute at least forty experience points per hour, right? If he could record ten of them, that would be 400 points—9,600 in a single day! If he could record twenty, that would be 19,200 a day! And if... if he could record all the criminals on the second level of the Paranormal Prison into the *Codex of the Prison Master*... wouldn't he be set for life?!

Lin Yun had a question and asked the guard, "Once I enter the North Ward, am I stuck working there from now on?"

The guard rolled his eyes. "In your dreams! You'll be kept there for a comfortable stretch first. Once you join the Paranormal Guard Bureau, you'll be running your legs off between the second, third, and fourth levels!"

"That’s good, that’s good..." Lin Yun felt relieved; his biggest fear was having no work to do! Back on the first level of the prison, he was known as "Model Worker" Lin.

*It seems I have to join this Paranormal Guard Bureau,* he decided inwardly.

"We're here. Go on in!" The guard led him to a large gate. The area was much more impressive than the first level, with walls and floors built from polished, gleaming stone blocks.

The guard brought Lin Yun inside to find two men: one was sipping tea, and the other was fast asleep.

The guard who led him greeted the tea-drinker, "The new guy is here. Take good care of him!" With that, he left Lin Yun there and turned to leave.

"Take care of him? Kid, have you been scouted by the Paranormal Guard Bureau?" The tea-drinker was a wrinkled man of about sixty. He set down his cup and looked Lin Yun up and down.

The other prison guard appeared younger, perhaps in his twenties. He looked ordinary, but his eyes were sharp, and he had a handsome smile.

"New guy, what's your name?" the young guard asked.

"Lin Yun."

...

"What? Nineteen years old, an Intermediate Paranormal, and transferred from the first level of the prison?!!" The expressions of both guards changed instantly.

"Probably here for an internship! Tsk, tsk..." The young guard looked at him with a mix of envy and jealousy, bombarding Lin Yun with questions.

Lin Yun learned that the older guard’s surname was Ma—everyone called him Old Ma—and the younger one was Wu Zhiyuan. Besides these two, everyone else in the North Ward was busy training intensely.

Wu Zhiyuan winked at Lin Yun and said, "Those guys are all lunatics. They train like their lives depend on it, all trying to get promoted."

Lin Yun was taken aback. "They're that desperate? Is the second level of the prison really this cutthroat?" He remembered the guards on the first level; aside from eating, drinking, and playing around, they never touched any training. The second level was like a different world.

"Yeah, it's brutal." Old Ma stroked his beard, looking at Lin Yun with a smile. "You don't mind if I call you Little Lin, do you?"

"Please, just call me Little Lin. Don't be so formal!" Lin Yun replied quickly.

Old Ma nodded and sighed, "We have to be cutthroat! Without strength, you can't even control the criminals on the second level! If you can't control the criminals, where's the merit? And without merit, they'll dock our pay at the end of the year!"

Lin Yun was stunned—this Paranormal Prison actually had performance reviews? But Old Ma was right; without real skill, you couldn't suppress these vicious criminals. The guards on the first level would be exhausted just from moving the heavy torture equipment whenever they encountered a few troublemakers.

The second level housed dangerous felons, all of whom were Super-level Paranormals—calling them human monsters was no exaggeration. Even if their internal energy was sealed, their physical bodies were far beyond what an ordinary person could break. Without the strength to suppress them, how could they make them suffer?

"Then you two..." Lin Yun looked at Old Ma and Wu Zhiyuan, but swallowed his words.

"Is your brain missing a gear?" Wu Zhiyuan rolled his eyes. "Even if some people go to train, someone has to watch the prisoners, right?"

"Nonsense!" Old Ma glared at Wu Zhiyuan. "Can't I watch them alone? You just like to slack off; you'll regret it sooner or later!" Wu Zhiyuan didn't get angry, just laughed and listened to Old Ma’s scolding.

Upon entering, Lin Yun had secretly used his ability to probe their levels. Wu Zhiyuan was an Intermediate Paranormal at Tier 8. Old Ma was also an Intermediate Paranormal at Tier 8. However, Wu Zhiyuan’s energy intensity was clearly higher; after all, Old Ma was older, and it was normal for his stamina to be less than it once was.

The guards on the second level were so formidable, far stronger than the pathetic lot on the first level.

Lin Yun asked in confusion, "Something's not right. Since the guards on the second level are all so capable, why transfer people from the first level? Isn't that just sending them to their deaths?"