Hearing Robin's words, Zhong Wanhong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. A good relationship with her, and she says he's a good person. What better reassurance could I ask for?
Only after relaxing did Zhong Wanhong continue, "What about SAM? How strong is he?"
"Very strong."
"How strong is 'very strong'?" Zhong Wanhong paused. "How does he compare to your brother?"
"Hmm..." Robin fell silent for a moment. If we're talking about Sunday in his strongest form—the Embryo of Philosophy—Firefly certainly couldn't match him. While she's powerful, she hasn't reached the level of an Emanator. She's just an 'ordinary' Pathstrider walking the Path of The Finality.
But if we're comparing her to Sunday before he summons Dominicus, in his normal state, Firefly might actually have the edge.
However, Zhong Wanhong was clearly referring to Sunday in his Embryo of Philosophy form. Robin replied, "My brother is probably stronger."
Unbeknownst to her, her brief silence during this mental comparison had thoroughly unnerved Zhong Wanhong.
Of all the powerful, named individuals from Robin's previous world, Zhong Wanhong only knew of Sunday, which is why he used him as a point of comparison.
But what was terrifying was this: why did Robin need so much time to think when comparing someone to Sunday? Even though she had said her brother was slightly stronger, the very fact that she hesitated for so long implied that the power gap between SAM and Sunday couldn't be too significant.
In that instant, Zhong Wanhong realized just what kind of colossal figure had emerged in this world.
The only good news seemed to be that SAM was quite familiar with Robin and appeared to be a decent person.
This information was of paramount importance. Unlike the Martyr's dream, where even the most outlandish experiences and Sunday's incredible power were merely fabrications of the past, SAM was real!
Just a few hours ago, he had been soaring across the Arctic Ocean!
Zhong Wanhong immediately said, "I'll notify the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations right away. Robin... you might need to make a trip to the Capital later."
As it turned out, the Dragon Nation's efficiency was remarkably high when it came to important matters. Within half an hour, Robin was on a plane, and two hours later, she arrived in the nation's capital, standing before the main entrance of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations headquarters.
A towering skyscraper, at least twenty stories high, loomed before her. A constant stream of people flowed in and out of the doors, their busy movements betraying the headquarters' nationwide jurisdiction.
"Let's go, Miss Robin," said a young woman beside her, clad in a black Bureau uniform.
Zhong Wanhong, the captain of a Special Mobile Squad, couldn't leave his post. He had seen Robin off at the airport, leaving personnel to handle her transfer. This young woman was now her escort.
Under her guidance, Robin entered the Bureau headquarters. Her curiosity led her to examine the surroundings, which resembled a luxurious hotel. A prominent reception desk occupied the center of the spacious lobby, surrounded by comfortable seating areas furnished with tables and chairs for visitors.
Behind the reception desk hung three framed photographs, reminiscent of the displays of distinguished alumni in schools or the professional credentials of medical practitioners in clinics and hospitals. The photographs featured two men and one woman. Robin quietly read the captions beneath them:
"Ji Shixian, Male, 31 years old, First Director of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, the Dragon Nation's first Evolver, and founder of the Bureau."
"Chai Xin, Female, 26 years old, Second Director of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, personally handled over a thousand Dimensional Rift Incidents, and founder of the Dragon Nation Bureau of Anomalous Research."
"Kong Zhiwang, Male, 49 years old, Third Director of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations, former Captain of the First Special Mobile Squad, Qiuniu."
It was worth noting that neither of the first two Directors had retired normally. Both had tragically passed away at such young ages due to various circumstances. The position of Director of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations was far from safe and secure; it was, in fact, highly perilous.
Robin and her companion continued deeper into the facility, soon arriving at an elevator. Coincidentally, the doors opened automatically just as they approached, and a person in a white lab coat stepped out, seemingly on their way downstairs.
The moment Robin saw him, she froze, watching helplessly as he smiled at her and walked past, heading towards the main entrance of the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations.
She only snapped out of her stupor when the Bureau agent beside her called her name.
"Miss Robin, do you know Dr. Jiang?"
"Who is he?" Robin asked, sidestepping the question.
"He's the director of the Third Research Institute at the Bureau of Research. He's quite brilliant—he's invented numerous practical devices. Even our Dragon Nation's Armor-Piercing Bullet was his creation."
The Bureau of Research, officially known as the Bureau of Anomalous Research, worked in tandem with the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations. As their names suggested, while the Investigations Bureau handled Dimensional Rift Incidents and their consequences, the Research Bureau studied the secrets of the Dimensional Rifts and developed weapons and equipment for the Investigations Bureau.
The man just addressed as Dr. Jiang was none other than Xiao, the "Owl" of the Fuguang Society, whom Robin had met briefly before.
No wonder she was so stunned. It was as if she had just run into the enemy leader in her own headquarters!
Has this organization already infiltrated the Bureau of Anomalous Investigations?
No, perhaps not, Robin thought, calming herself. How could a major nation's official organization be so incompetent? Rather than assuming the Bureau had been compromised beyond recognition, she suspected they knew Dr. Jiang's true identity but chose to employ him anyway.
As the young woman beside her had said, Xiao's abilities were exceptional. He had even developed the Armor-Piercing Bullet, a standardized weapon that was easy to use yet devastatingly powerful.
Xiao was undoubtedly a talented individual. Just from this single achievement, the benefits he could bring to the Dragon Nation were almost unimaginable.
But now, knowing he was an extreme hawk, should they arrest him or not?
Robin couldn't guess the Bureau's reasoning. If it were her decision, perhaps... keeping him in the Bureau of Research under close surveillance would be the best course of action.