Chapter 3: The Reward for the Assessment
At this moment, Su Hao was unaware that his parents were worried about him and the doctors were anxious. The Su Hao lying on the hospital bed was no longer his own body; it was a physical manifestation created by the Cosmic Environmental Agency—his replacement avatar.
No matter how much the doctors tried to resuscitate him, it was all in vain.
Su Hao was transported to an enclosed space, shrouded in mist, with nothing visible around him.
“What place is this?”
[Contractor, your arrival here signifies your acceptance of the contract with the Cosmic Environmental Agency, thus becoming our contractor.]
The voice he heard was as melodious as celestial music, unchanged in tone, reflecting Su Hao’s mood.
“Your methods are too overbearing, like those oppressive clauses on the internet. I haven’t even seen the contract, yet you say I agreed. Can I refuse?”
Su Hao was no novice; he knew well what a contract entailed. He hadn’t seen any terms, let alone signed anything, so how could it be proven that he consented? It felt like those software downloads online—just clicking ‘agree’ and falling into a trap.
[Contractor, if you truly disagree with our contract, you may say ‘I disagree’ aloud three times. Once said, the contract will be nullified.]
The voice was emotionless.
“What consequences come with voiding the contract?” Su Hao didn’t immediately reject it; he wanted to understand the repercussions.
[You would have to repay the Cosmic Environmental Agency for over nine years of investment in you.]
“With what? I have nothing.”
[You have life.]
“I’ll remain a contractor then. Otherwise, I won’t survive.”
[Contractor, you are wise. The Cosmic Environmental Agency spent nearly half a year scouring the entire universe to find you. Next will be nearly a decade of knowledge transmission.]
The voice softened somewhat.
“The agency’s vision isn’t that great if it took them half a year just to find me, a mere flesh-and-blood body,” Su Hao quipped.
[Contractor, do not belittle yourself. You will come to understand your value. Trial timing begins.]
Su Hao said nothing more. Actually, it wasn’t speaking but rather thought transmission, or telepathy, which was more fitting.
[Contractor, first is the temperament test—one hundred questions, thirty seconds per question. Given your physical condition, you will respond via thought conduction.]
“The question is: choose your understanding of the universe.
A. The sum of time,
B. The sum of space,
C. The sum of all matter besides time and space,
D. The sum of time and space.”
“I choose D.”
…
Su Hao’s heartbeat thundered like a drum. Facing the hundred questions rapidly scrolling on the virtual interface, he took a deep breath; his thoughts leapt across the touchpad like a silent dance.
Time felt compressed like a spring, fleeting, yet he completed all answers within one-tenth of the allotted time and confidently clicked “submit.”
Instantly, a melodious tune filled the air, like celestial music penetrating every corner of his consciousness.
[Contractor, your temperament and knowledge have reached an impeccable level. Herewith, you are granted a basic reward—an increase of one point to your intelligence attribute.]
The voice was gentle yet carried undeniable authority.
Su Hao frowned slightly, a flicker of doubt rising within him:
“Attribute points? Sounds like character stats in a game,” he mused, tinged with curiosity.
The sweet voice resumed patiently explaining:
[Contractor, your intrinsic attributes: Constitution minus eighteen points, indicating eighteen fatal flaws hidden within your body; Intelligence twenty plus one, representing a latent wisdom; Agility zero, Strength zero, Luck zero, and Charisma zero.
Intelligence shines as your most brilliant light. You may choose to use this intelligence to balance other attributes, but this exchange is a one-time opportunity. Are you willing to use your intelligence points to repair your bodily defects and awaken dormant physical power?]
Su Hao pondered silently, knowing any seemingly easy trade concealed unknown costs.
He chuckled softly and responded telepathically, “I choose to keep my intelligence points; I won’t exchange.”
[Due to your outstanding performance in the assessment, you may select one of the following four items:
1. The Deathseeker Dagger, razor-sharp and fatal with a single strike;
2. The Deadly Throwing Knife, accurate from a hundred paces, never missing;
3. The Invincible Shield, impenetrable and comprehensive in defense;
4. Cosmic Particles, exceedingly rare, exchangeable for ten thousand times their value in Cosmic Credits.]
Su Hao furrowed his brow, murmuring internally: “How could my frail body wield daggers or throwing knives? As for cosmic particles, I have never heard of them before.”
He suddenly recalled how the Cosmic Environmental Agency had trained him over the years, teaching martial arts and combat skills, seemingly preparing him for this moment.
“Cosmic Environmental Agency, are you testing me?” Su Hao realized clearly that this choice marked a pivotal turning point in his fate.
[The first two are weapons, the third is armor, and the cosmic particles symbolize wealth, enabling you to roam freely across the vast universe.]
The voice gently unveiled the mystery behind each item.
Su Hao’s gaze finally fixed on the “Invincible Shield,” and he made his decision: “I choose the shield. Perhaps it will be my strongest support.”
Before he finished speaking, a streak of light tore through the void; the shield, roughly his size, seemed almost sentient as it gracefully settled into his arms.
Without limbs, he still managed to catch it steadily—this strange ability amazed even himself.
He lowered his eyes to the shield, feeling an unprecedented surge of strength and confidence.
All of this seemed to tell him that his cosmic adventure was only just beginning…
[Contractor, you stand now at the crossroads of destiny. Next, you may choose to return to the familiar yet chaotic real world or remain in this exclusive space carefully crafted by the Cosmic Environmental Agency. This place is a pure sanctuary; without your permission, not even the slightest speck of dust may disturb your peace.]
The voice flowed like a gentle stream, tender yet resolute, painting visions of the future for Su Hao.
Then the cold, emotionless voice resumed: [Contractor, should you return to the real world, you must never reveal the existence of the Cosmic Environmental Agency in any form. Violation will result in immediate termination.]
Su Hao’s eyes wandered the void, his mind stirring with countless thoughts: “Where do I go from here? How long will I remain in this unknown realm?”
[Contractor, you have two days here to relax or to roam the sea of your thoughts. Know that time here flows synchronously with Earth’s, with every second precious.]
The voice returned, like the guidance of a wise sage, answering his inner questions.
A faint smile curved Su Hao’s lips. He understood the choice he had made and grasped its significance.
His intelligence had now risen to twenty-one points—an emblem of wisdom and the source of knowledge.
Yet his constitution, representing his physical attributes, remained buried in the abyss, awaiting the light of his intellect to illuminate it.
He knew well that if he invested the surplus intelligence points into constitution, his body would undergo a revolutionary transformation—the six incomplete limbs would vanish, and he would surpass ordinary health in an unprecedented way.
Nonetheless, he was not swayed by this temptation.
“Exchanging attribute points seems simple but hides deeper mysteries,” Su Hao’s eyes glittered with insight as he swiftly weighed pros and cons, reaching the wisest conclusion: “After completing the trial, upon returning to the Cosmic Environmental Agency, my body will be repaired for free. Those three privileges are invaluable treasures not to be squandered lightly.”
He understood that his bodily flaws would bring greater challenges, but the rewards for his missions would be correspondingly richer.
The Cosmic Environmental Agency was a fair yet ruthless realm, measuring each contractor’s worth by the difficulty and completion of tasks.
Su Hao’s heart brimmed with confidence and resolve. Every choice he made was deliberate, a careful balance of gains and losses.
He believed firmly that he would never make a wrong decision—more than anyone else.
“This trial, I will seize the advantage and let everyone know that I, Su Hao, am not a mere bystander!”
Determination gleamed in Su Hao’s eyes as he envisioned his future glory and honor.
Over the next two days, Su Hao immersed himself in the depths of the mysterious Cosmic Environmental Agency, absorbing all information like a sponge.
He explored every corner of the agency, learning about its grand mission to maintain cosmic cleanliness and the responsibilities and honors he must bear as a contractor.
He discovered that each completed mission would reward him richly—precious resources, powerful equipment, or even opportunities to alter his destiny.
The upcoming assessment would be the crucial moment to prove his worth.
[The mission of the Cosmic Environmental Agency is to safeguard the vast starry skies. The cleaners’ vital task is to eliminate threats to cosmic balance—those who breach contracts.]
The voice echoed like an ancient call, stirring an inexplicable sense of duty within Su Hao.
Yet when he heard the description of his own assessment, a playful smile tugged at his lips.
“Limbless, speechless, able only to communicate through thought transmission—performing missions like this will surely be fraught with difficulties,” Su Hao chuckled inwardly.
He knew well that his differences, though seemingly his greatest weaknesses, were in fact his greatest strengths.