Chapter 073

Chapter 73: The Convenience of Official Organizations

Bai Li Qing did not press for details about that other accident and did not ask more about Irene. Instead, she gave a simple outline of Alice’s Little House as she said: “Most of Alice’s Dolls operate outside the Borderland. They keep balance in other places and almost never step into the Special Affairs Bureau’s affairs. But they do have fixed ways to contact the Borderland. There is a contact point at the edge of the city. Normal people cannot find it, and the Dolls usually do not accept strangers.

“Still, I can send someone to pay a visit and ask about Irene. If there really is a Doll lost outside, they should be willing to meet you.

“But it will not be fast. The Dolls are very busy and have their own mission. The Borderland contact point is not always staffed. You may have to wait a while.”

Yu Sheng did not mind and said: “No problem. As long as the Special Affairs Bureau is willing to help, I thank you in advance on Irene’s behalf.”

Bai Li Qing answered calmly: “It is a small effort. Helping people who fall into trouble because they touched the extraordinary Domain is part of the Special Affairs Bureau’s work. If there is anything else you need, tell me.”

Yu Sheng brightened and said at once: “There really is something.”

Bai Li Qing raised an eyebrow and asked: “Oh?”

Yu Sheng spoke quickly: “Could you help me get two identification cards? If not, one is fine. It would be best if they are real.”

Bai Li Qing gave a puzzled look and Yu Sheng explained: “You know I have someone new with me. I just rescued her from the Otherworld. We do not know where her home is, and she has no legal status here. I want to ask if the Special Affairs Bureau can arrange something. Also, Irene does not have legal status either, but that one is not urgent. With her height, even if she had an identification card, she could not go out of The Door on her own.”

Bai Li Qing’s expression grew a little complicated, as if this was the first time anyone had made such a request to her in all her years as Director. Soon she nodded and said: “This is not my desk work, but I can help. If that Doll truly needs it, we can arrange one for her too. Of course, as you said, she might only keep it as a collectible. Though in some situations it could still be useful.”

Yu Sheng thanked her again and again. He was now sure that this young looking Director was truly easy to speak with and would help when needed.

So he brought up another matter as he said: “There is one more thing. It is about the person I just rescued from the Otherworld. Can the Special Affairs Bureau help find her hometown? Since you cover such a large area, you should get news faster than I can.”

Bai Li Qing did not refuse and said: “Tell me about her first. The report was short on details. I only know she is a humanoid being with beast traits. In our records there are well over a hundred races with similar traits.”

Yu Sheng was shocked and said: “That many?” He recovered quickly, then recalled what Foxy had told him about her home as he said: “She says she comes from a place where immortals and demons live side by side. From her description, the level of civilization sounds very high. She also mentioned a group called the Skyfolk, who enlightened the people living on the ground.”

He gave as many details as he could, including the messy bits. Thinking of Foxy’s state of mind when she spoke, he added a reminder as he said: “Treat what I said as a reference. She seems to have left home as a child, and because she was trapped for too long, both her memory and her thinking are a bit jumbled. There must be mistakes or exaggerations in her story.”

Bai Li Qing listened, then nodded with a trace of hesitation and said: “I understand. What you described sounds rather out of this world. I am not sure the Special Affairs Bureau archives will have a place that matches.”

She spoke gently, but Yu Sheng heard the meaning between the lines. The Bureau likely had no record that fit.

He sighed and said: “Do your best. If we cannot find it, then it cannot be helped. She has no family left and is not very attached to her homeland. Finding it is more of a wish of mine.”

Bai Li Qing gave a soft sigh of her own and said: “You seem very kind.”

Yu Sheng scratched his cheek and said: “I guess so. My kindness ends up troubling you all though.”

Bai Li Qing answered with a small smile as she said: “The Special Affairs Bureau deals with trouble all the time. Compared to that, we actually prefer to meet people like you. If the targets we contact were all like you, our work would be much easier, at least during the first contact.”

Yu Sheng raised his brows and asked: “Really?”

Bai Li Qing opened her hands and said with a weary tone: “Clear thinking, able to communicate, does not suddenly attack, and does not suddenly die. If someone meets three out of four, that is already a rare high quality client for us.”

Yu Sheng stared and said: “Is your daily work environment at the Special Affairs Bureau really that rough?” Bai Li Qing did not answer and only sighed again. Yu Sheng had never worked at the Bureau, but he understood that sigh at once, and [he did not have the heart to admit he only met three of the four.]

Soon Bai Li Qing returned to a businesslike air and said: “I have answered many of your questions. Do you have any others?”

Yu Sheng thought, adjusted his posture, and asked seriously: “Then should we move on to the registration process you mentioned?”

Bai Li Qing said: “In general, ordinary people who have touched the Otherworld need to go to a Bureau service point to register and receive basic checks and assessments, accompanied by our contact staff. But since this is a special case, I can use my Director authority a little to skip those formal steps. Before that, I want to hear what you plan to do next.”

Yu Sheng lowered his head to think, then looked up and said: “If I register as a Spirit Realm Detective or an Independent Investigator, what benefits would I get?”

Bai Li Qing did not look surprised, as if she had already expected this, and she answered with a nod: “Simply put, you would get intelligence sharing from the Special Affairs Bureau and other legal extraordinary Organizations and individuals inside the Borderland, access to many support facilities, a platform to contact other Organizations and individuals, a legal identity recognized by other forces, and most important of all, access permissions.”

Yu Sheng leaned forward without noticing and asked: “Access permissions?”

Bai Li Qing said: “The Borderland has many points that connect to faraway places, and most are under control. To activate those points or enter certain restricted areas, you need proper permissions. I guess your The Door could ignore such limits, but legal passage means better intelligence support. If you want to deal with the Otherworld, information is usually more useful than raw fighting power. Also,” she paused, then added with a sigh, “please spare those of us who work overtime at the Special Affairs Bureau. If you can swipe a card to get somewhere, do not use Door Opening.”

Yu Sheng felt awkward for a moment, then his thick skin saved him. He straightened and nodded with a serious face as he said: “I am always happy to keep order.”

Bai Li Qing let that pass as if she believed it and asked: “Any other questions?”

Yu Sheng asked: “What are the requirements to register as a Spirit Realm Detective and as an Independent Investigator?”

Bai Li Qing replied: “Independent Investigator is simple. Clear thinking, a mental readiness to face death, experience or basic knowledge of surviving in the Otherworld, and we must also confirm you are not doing this out of madness. That meets the bar. Spirit Realm Detective is a bit higher. Besides the skills needed by Investigators, you must have a lawful registered group.”

Yu Sheng thought and said: “A registered group? Oh, I get it. Like the Fairy Tale Organization behind Little Red Riding Hood.”

Bai Li Qing nodded and said: “That is a fair comparison. So most people who survive the Otherworld and want to keep dealing with the extraordinary start as Independent Investigators. It is hard to find an Organization willing to take in a new stranger. In many dangerous Otherworlds, a clumsy newbie can be riskier than an Entity. There are exceptions, like a group that went through an Otherworld together and all survived. That is rare.”

Yu Sheng asked with interest: “Are there registration limits for such Organizations?”

Bai Li Qing answered: “At least two members who qualify as Investigators, at least one member with experience fighting an Entity, a stable contact place and reliable contact method, and a name that does not include words against public order or decency or any special punctuation marks. Also a statement to operate lawfully and not harm Borderland order or safety. That is all.”

Yu Sheng blinked and said: “That is it? No other requirements?”

A trace of a smile seemed to touch Bai Li Qing’s face as she said: “This is a struggle with the Otherworld and with Entities. Surviving a meeting with what lies beyond human reason is the only standard that matters. We do not need to set any fancy thresholds. Survival is the greatest threshold.”

Yu Sheng rubbed his chin and said: “Oh. Then it sounds like this threshold is pretty low.”