Ryan Bennett rubbed his forehead. This matter gave him an even bigger headache than the aftereffects of time travel. “Again?”

The team member smiled wryly. “Knowing you’d be back around this time, he’s been waiting for half an hour.”

Ryan Bennett went to the locker room to change clothes. Sure enough, Minister Minister Clark from the Ningcheng branch had dropped all pretense and was waiting for him outside.

“Xiao Ji!” Minister Clark came up with a beaming smile and patted him on the shoulder. “Congratulations! Another mission accomplished, one step closer to your goal!”

Ryan Bennett replied politely, “Thank you, Minister Clark.”

Minister Clark got straight to the point. “Young man, you have a bright future! So, have you thought about supporting the Jiangcheng branch?”

Ryan Bennett: “I already told you last time, I’m not going.”

Minister Clark’s smile didn’t falter. “Oh, come on, why are young people so petty? You know how rumors are—by the time they go around, the story changes. There’s no need to let a rumor hold back your future.”

Ryan Bennett said calmly, “No one can feed my cats for me.”

Modern people’s obsession with cats has been a bad habit for centuries and still hasn’t changed. Ryan Bennett, a young single man, actually kept three cats at home.

The rest of the team listened in from the corner, secretly thinking that Mr. Bennett had a solid reason—what a perfect refusal!

No wonder everyone was indignant; the Jiangcheng branch really was too much!

Though both departments operated under the Sky Dome Time Management System, Jiangcheng and Ningcheng had different responsibilities.

Jiangcheng was always in charge of preventing crimes or disasters that might happen in the future. They were called “Guardians,” and when necessary, they used extreme measures to nip evil in the bud.

Ningcheng, on the other hand, was responsible for recording and restoring all sorts of historical events from the past. They were called “Recorders.”

This meant they only recorded history, never intervened, and didn’t even need to carry guns.

A week ago, a Guardian in charge of observation from a Jiangcheng team was seriously injured on a mission. Coincidentally, the team had a new mission coming up and was missing this key member.

In the Sky Dome work system, every post had its person, and no team could spare anyone on short notice. Finding a temporary observer who was qualified in every way was nearly impossible. That’s when someone up top suddenly remembered that there was such a person in the Ningcheng branch and issued a transfer order to send him to Jiangcheng.

Ryan Bennett was famous in the Sky Dome, with plenty of rumors about him.

Rumor had it he had an extraordinary memory, was a bookworm hungry for knowledge, and in this day and age, his home was still stacked wall-to-wall with paper books, so messy there was barely room to stand.

Rumor had it he had a charming face but was physically weak, a grown man who couldn’t even open a bottle cap.

Rumor had it he was timid, didn’t dare spend the night alone at the office, and had even arranged for special treatment—he was the only one in the entire Ningcheng branch who had never done a night shift.

…

And so on.

So the team leader in Jiangcheng who needed help was unhappy and refused publicly: “What’s this? Can’t they send us a real tough guy? We’re risking our lives here, we don’t need some little genius who can speed-read quantum waves!”

Word of this quickly traveled a thousand miles and reached Ryan Bennett himself.

Ryan Bennett immediately replied to the transfer order: Not going.

The leadership was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

Minister Clark said forcefully, “Hey, it’s just three cats! Bring them to the office, we’ll help you feed them! Three meals a day, different flavors of fish snacks every time!”

The people behind the door: “???”

Ryan Bennett: “I’m not used to the environment there.”

Minister Clark: “I’ll arrange a whole van of Ningcheng specialties for you! Whatever you want, you’ll have it!”

Ryan Bennett: “I’m not good with strangers.”

Minister Clark: “You just focus on the mission, no need to bother getting to know those illiterate snobs!”

Ryan Bennett’s thin lips moved: “I’m gay.”

The people behind the door: “!!!”

Minister Clark looked as if struck by lightning. “Xiao Ji, Xiao Ji, you…”

Ryan Bennett calmly played his trump card and said, “If I go somewhere with a much higher ratio of men, I’m worried I won’t be able to control my feelings, might develop some undesirable relationship, and disrupt the harmony of the Jiangcheng branch.”

Before the leader could persuade him further, the cold-hearted and resolute Ryan Bennett nodded to his superior, turned around obediently, and walked away.

Hiding his skills and reputation.

Who knew Minister Clark would speak up again: “Xiao, Xiao Ji…”

No matter what, the other party was still his boss and an old friend of his father’s.

Ryan Bennett had no choice but to stop and look back helplessly. “Minister.”

Minister Clark’s expression was odd, but worthy of a seasoned leader, he quickly regained his composure and said in a world-weary tone, “Well, that’s perfect, then you really don’t need to worry. That Captain Song… he’s extremely homophobic. And, well… the whole team is homophobic.”

Ryan Bennett: “…”

*

Ryan Bennett from Ningcheng had arrived.

The news quickly spread throughout the Jiangcheng branch, causing a stir.

In the holographic training ground, the team members involved admitted they were nervous.

“He really came?! His mental fortitude must be something else!”

“He really did! I just saw him from afar—he’s really good-looking, that face, that aura, like someone straight out of a movie.”