Astral Apostle

Chapter 500: Exploration Bureau (1)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The hover car slowly rose into the air and drove out of the light blue sensor cover that covered the Supers Academy, flying over the vast forest.

In the car, the windows all turned dark, blocking the scenery outside.

Zhou Jing and the other students sat in their seats and handed over their personal terminals while listening to Shen Xinqin explain the rules.

“The Exploration Bureau is a confidential department, and its location is not public, so personal communication equipment is not allowed on this trip. When we reach the bureau, you have to follow me. You can’t run around casually. Violators will have their GPA deducted, and their qualifications for pre-recruitment will be disqualified. If it’s serious, you will be detained for investigation…”

Everyone nodded repeatedly. Even a fierce-looking thing like Lin Kun looked obedient now.

Zhou Jing listened silently as he recalled the contents of the previous course.

The explorers of the various Interstellar Governments had a certain competitive relationship with each other, so the explorers they were training were in some way similar to agents and spies. The Exploration Bureau would also guard against information leaks, outsiders infiltration, and so on.

Usually, students who received the training of explorers would be considered part-timers. During their academy period, they would not be arranged to visit the Exploration Bureau. Only after graduation could they go to the Exploration Bureau for the first time when they were recruited and needed to serve.

Only students like them who had been hired as official members of the Exploration Bureau were qualified to visit the Exploration Bureau, their future workplace, in advance.

The reason why they were allowed to visit so quickly was also to observe the way the reserve members adhered to the code of conduct. If they violated the rules during the visit, they would no longer be hired for appointments. This was to prevent more confidential information from being leaked after entering the Exploration Bureau.

After a while, the hover car slowed down and began to descend slowly before finally stopping.

The air pressure valve hissed as the hatch opened.

Zhou Jing and the others followed Shen Xinqin off the ship. What entered their eyes was a medium-sized port with many aircraft and hover cars parked there.

As for this ship port, it was located in an enclosed space. There was no entrance or exit visible. The dome and surroundings were filled with metal walls. There were no windows, so one could not see the outside world. The place was instead illuminated by rows of white lights embedded in the walls. It gave one the impression that the location was either underground or in the mountains.

At this moment, on the tarmac of the hover car stood a man in a black uniform. When he saw everyone leave the cabin, he walked forward and nodded at Shen Xinqin.

“Hello, Captain Shen. Please follow me for a routine check.”

“I understand the rules.”

Shen Xinqin smiled indifferently and brought the students to a room at the edge of the port.

There were many staff members in the room who were unsmiling. They were scanning the group with various detectors to ensure that they were not carrying any illegal items.

Everyone cooperated.

During the inspection, it was not forbidden to speak. A student was a little nervous because of a group of serious staff members and could not help but try to find something to talk about.

“Teacher Shen, you’re a Rank 5 Super. Why is your rank only Captain…”

Everyone also looked over curiously.

Rank 5 Supers were already considered quite high-level. In various organizations, they could be considered in the upper management. However, Shen Xinqin’s military rank in the Exploration Bureau did not seem to be high. The difference was huge when compared to the other organizations.

Shen Xinqin smiled and said, “The rank of the Exploration Bureau has its own promotion system. The ratio of strength is not the main thing, but the merits calculated according to the positive results of every service. The more you serve, the better the effect. Only then can your rank be promoted.”

Since she had already started, she simply continued to explain,

“This is something you’ll learn in the future. It doesn’t matter if I explain it briefly now. The ranking of an Explorer not only represents the military achievements, but also the responsibility of the position. It’s divided into two stages. The first stage is the executive level, divided into Recruit, Private, Private First Class and the non-commissioned officers such as Sergeants. The second stage is the decision-making level, divided into the junior officers such as Lieutenants and Captains, then Colonels and finally Generals.

All newbies who are officially recruited will start at the rank of a Recruit. After completing their service and meeting some requirements, they could then be converted to privates. After that, they would be promoted to a Private First Class, but these three ranks are all considered grassroots executives and could only be selected as team members.”

“Only when one is promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major would they be qualified to form a long-term independent team and be the captain. They would head a team unit and carry out exploration missions.

At the decision-making level, you can provide a proposal for the exploration projects of different astral realms. After approval, you have the right to mobilize explorers to carry out the plan you’re in charge of. I belong to the rank of a Captain and am already a member of the decision level of our Exploration Bureau on this planet. I’m considered a higher-up.”

After everyone heard this, they came to a realization.

Meanwhile, Zhou Jing nodded to himself.

From the looks of it, no matter how powerful a newcomer was, after joining… they would start as a soldier and be chosen by others.

He did not know what kind of team would choose him in the future.

Everyone quickly finished their checks and took their assigned temporary identity cards. Then, under Shen Xinqin’s lead, they walked along the passageway.

Soon, everyone arrived at the end of the passageway and took the elevator to another floor.

This floor was like the office of some financial company, with a large number of workstations. Every workstation had a few electronic screens that displayed all kinds of information and data. The uniformed members of the Exploration Bureau constantly wrote and drew on the screen. No one spoke, only the clacking sound of keys typing could be heard.

“This is the Intelligence Analysis Department. Civilian personnel and explorers who don’t need to serve for the time being usually analyze the intelligence information of the various astral realms here and make predictions of the evolution of the world. The research classification includes but is not limited to the geography, astronomical, biological, historical, cultural, and so on of this plane. The information obtained will be handed over to the Strategic Decision Department as materials to formulate an exploration plan.”

Shen Xinqin explained from the side.

The students quickly nodded.

Hearing the commotion, many members of the Exploration Bureau turned around, but quickly turned back and continued working.

There were also some staff members who were familiar with Shen Xinqin who greeted her casually.

“Sister Shen, are you bringing the newcomers? I don’t have any secrets here. Come over here.” A bespectacled man smiled.

Shen Xinqin nodded and brought everyone to the bespectacled man’s side. She pointed at his screen and said,

“Because Plane D19 is about to converge, the focus of the Intelligence Analysis Department is now focused on this Astral Realm…”

Hearing this, Zhou Jing’s eyes flickered as he looked at the screen carefully.

The content on it was the detailed historical information of Plane D19. A few years after the Great Xia Dynasty was established, it stopped abruptly. This was the time when the last confluence period ended. The contents behind were in different fonts, and they seemed to be the analysis report of this bespectacled man.

“… According to the intelligence of the Surveying and Mapping Department, the interval between the two confluence periods in Plane D19 is between 140 to 260 years. The mainstream country is the Great Xia Dynasty. According to the development process of the feudal era and the composition of the rule, the chances of the natural evolution of this civilization deviating from the normal historical trajectory is less than 10%. In its current state, it should belong to one of the era models such as the end of the dynasty, dynasty change, secession, and foreign invasion…”

“According to the civilization development, technological development, and superpower development trends observed last time, it can be estimated that this Astral Realm will continue to be at a low martial level. The value of development and exploration will be low.”

“Simplified Interference Record: Our Explorers assisted Great Xia in establishing the country and left behind some ancient craftsmanship and farming knowledge in the territory of the Great Xia Dynasty. They also pretended to be natives and established several sect-type organizations as a disguise for convenience. The degree of interference is medium.”

“Special note: According to the intelligence personnel, the explorers of other countries are suspected to have left behind incomplete superpower knowledge on Continent No.3. The interference is higher, and the impact is unknown. It cannot be included in the prediction model for the time being.”

Zhou Jing narrowed his eyes at this note.

The interference of the explorers of the main world indeed existed, but he did not expect it to not only interfere with the Great Xia Dynasty… That’s right, the locations of the explorers were not only concentrated in one place. They could end up in every corner of this world.

He had seen the map a long time ago. There were four continents in this astral world. Great Xia was the mainstream regime of this world, and the continent they were on was marked as #1 by the main world.

In addition, there were also some scattered regimes that were insignificant. On the other hand, there were some small regimes in Continent 3 mentioned in the report that belonged to other cultural lineages.

At this moment, Shen Xinqin patted the bespectacled man’s shoulder before complaining to everyone,

“Although their job is called analysis, I’m used to treating it as spinning fluff. The predictions of these intelligence personnel always have a huge deviation from the real situation. I’ve only seen them get it right a few times.”

The bespectacled man’s tone was helpless, “We have a mission timeline as well. If we don’t give a report before the deadline, we will be fined. Of course, we have to report first. Besides, so many years have passed since the confluence of the astral realms. We don’t know what exactly happened. How can our analysis be accurate?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Shen Xinqin did not comment further.

She led everyone around the intelligence analysis department before calling everyone to leave.

Zhou Jing wanted to take a look at the reports of others, but he could not do anything now. He could only follow the group obediently.

Everyone got into the elevator and went to another floor.

This floor was even wider. There were silver-white special devices placed here, and many researchers were adjusting them here.

“These silver-white equipment are the shuttle device. All the explorers who serve will head to the other world here. We usually call this the ‘Departure Platform’…”

Everyone’s interest was piqued as they carefully sized up the shuttle device.

The base of this device was a metal round platform with a diameter of about five meters. It was covered in fine and complicated patterns, and it was obvious that it was a delicate equipment. Beside it was a mechanical pillar that was bent at a right angle. It extended upwards, and at the end were three silver-white square pillars. They looked like huge claws that hung down and covered the round platform.

“When the device is activated, these three square pillars will begin to spin. After a certain speed, the person standing on the round platform will be able to travel.” Shen Xinqin briefly introduced.

“Teacher, what does it feel like to travel?”

A student could not help but ask.

At this moment, a rough voice suddenly sounded not far away, interrupting the conversation,

“You’ll see countless illusions flash through your vision, but you won’t be able to remember any of them. When you come back to your senses, you’ll already be in an unfamiliar world. Your head will spin, and your stomach will overturn. It’s as if you’ve drunk a few barrels of wine and have been hung up for tens of thousands of rounds. You’ll be so dizzy that you’ll want to vomit out your dinner from the previous night.”

Everyone was left stunned at the overly figurative explanation and looked in the direction of the voice.

More than ten people were walking over. They were either tall or short, male or female. They were not wearing the uniform of the Exploration Bureau like ordinary staff members.

Seeing this, Shen Xinqin introduced to everyone.

“They’re the team leaders of the Explorers who came to inspect you. They’ve already seen your files. After you graduate, there’s a high chance that you’ll serve in one of the teams. One of them might be your future superior.”

Hearing this, everyone immediately became nervous and could not help but stand up straight.

Soon, the group of team leaders approached and sized up the students.

One of the tall and burly men rubbed his chin and curled his lips. He spoke in the rough voice, his tone dissatisfied.

“The quality of this batch of newcomers is very ordinary.”