Everyone looked at each other in dismay—so it turned out they really did get a paper tiger.

The youngest team member tried to comfort the others, “Oh, it’s fine, as long as a few of us can fight. Worst case, we just protect him a bit, and we’ll still be able to report back.”

“Yeah, don’t say that in front of Captain Harris. Did you forget about Old Reed?”

“Is this guy the same as Old Reed?”

“At least Old Reed had special training.”

The team’s observer, Old Reed, was seriously injured and still lying unconscious in the hospital.

“Well, no need to be so pessimistic. Didn’t you all say it yourselves? At least he’s really good-looking. It’ll be easy on the eyes for us, so that’s a plus, right?”

“A plus, my ass. Do you know why he suddenly decided to come?”

“To tag along with us and get an easy win on an A-level mission, so he can get a star rating upgrade?”

“Bullshit.” Someone cut in irritably, “He doesn’t come if you say he’s got no combat ability, he doesn’t come if you call him a paper tiger, but if you say our whole team is homophobic, then he comes. Who knows if he’s here to battle us head-on, or to prove his own charm!”

Everyone gasped.

They all started cursing.

To this bunch of straightforward, rough-edged soldiers, the newcomer seemed like some kind of monster.

A crew-cut guy with small eyes looked genuinely worried, “Crap, people like that usually aren’t picky. What if he falls for me? My family’s only got one son per generation—”

Before he could finish, he got a hard knock on the back of his head.

A familiar male voice sounded behind him, “Forgot to look in the mirror before you left this morning?”

The young man who had just entered the training room had striking features, long brows that slanted into his temples, and an aura as sharp as a blade forged in ice.

He was extremely tall, the black combat uniform outlining a perfect physique, with a pair of long, powerful legs—he naturally exuded an inescapable sense of pressure.

The crew-cut guy clutched his head, face twisted in misery, “Captain Harris.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Claire Harris swept his gaze over the slacking group, his dark eyes cold as a deep pool, yet carrying an unmistakable air of a rogue.

He spoke again, lazily, “Where is he?”

Author’s note:

Hardcore “brain supplement sci-fi,” the timeline is entirely fictional, don’t overthink it.

Summary: Clearly not a serious story, just enjoy it.

Chapter 2

The person was at Sky Vault Base, currently being received by the minister in person.

Claire Harris got the news and turned to head back to the base. With his long legs, he moved like the wind, crossing the corridor in just a few steps and entering the teleportation pod.

“Captain Harris!”

“Hey, Captain Harris!”

Everyone he passed saw his usual expression, but still greeted him, all feeling as if a volcano was about to erupt beneath that domineering exterior.

Soon, the rumor spread through the internal network: Captain Harris was about to officially kick someone out.

A few minutes later, Claire Harris descended underground.

[Welcome, Claire Harris, welcome back to Sky Vault]

The pod doors slid open to both sides, the electronic female voice as gentle as ever before each mission.

Over a decade ago, the Empire’s scientific team had unlocked the secrets of time travel. Now, there was a Time Management Alliance and branches in every country, but this was still the world headquarters of Sky Vault. Two thousand meters underground, thousands of people worked here day and night. The pitch-black depths were always brightly lit, and no matter when you saw this scene, it was awe-inspiring.

Claire Harris exited the teleportation pod, walked a few more minutes, and stopped at a white wall. He pressed lightly, then suddenly pushed open a hidden door.

Bang!

Everyone inside was startled and turned to look at him.

A middle-aged female leader stood with someone at her side.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the massive, semi-circular glowing dome formed a backdrop, like a river of stars in the vast universe.

The person by the window wore an ordinary white shirt and plain black trousers, accentuating a slender waist. He stood clean and upright, reminiscent of a pine tree by a snowy lake.

Bathed in the dazzling starlight, his skin was exceptionally fair, his straight nose and luminous brows and eyes perfectly proportioned. Especially those beautifully shaped lips—a touch of vivid color on a cool face, bringing it to life in an instant.

Unforgettable at first sight.

The moment he saw him, Claire Harris inexplicably recalled what the team had said in the training room.

“He doesn’t come if you say he’s got no combat ability, he doesn’t come if you call him a paper tiger, but if you say our whole team is homophobic, then he comes. Who knows if he’s here to battle us head-on, or to prove his own charm!”

“Not knocking again!” Minister Grant scolded, “I swear, you’re the only one in all of Sky Vault who always ignores the rules!”

Claire Harris snapped out of his thoughts and strode in without a hint of self-reflection, curving his lips in a careless grin. “Heard the new teammate arrived. Minister Grant, you didn’t even let us know so we could give him a proper welcome.”

With that, Claire Harris finally fixed his gaze directly on the newcomer. “Consultant Bennett.”

The title carried a rather aggressive tone.

The man before him was from Ning City, a recorder who had only ever done B-level missions. He’d parachuted into the Guardians team with the title of Special Consultant.

Claire Harris’s disdain, harshness, and scrutiny were all laid bare.