The System Arrived Four Years Early, but the Anomaly Is Still a Juvenile - Chapter 117

[Warning!]

[Host is currently in an area with a high concentration of aberrations. Multiple high-tier aberrations have detected the host’s presence through their keen sense of smell! Host is advised to value their life and flee immediately!]

In front of a newly opened hot pot restaurant in the city center, a row of chairs was set up on the left for customers waiting to be called, chatting while holding their queue numbers.

On the right, a row of cages was placed for customers who had brought their pets, providing a temporary holding area.

Just as Shen Ge and Cheng Shengnan arrived at the entrance, the system’s warning flashed before his eyes, freezing his foot mid-step as he was about to ascend the stairs.

As Cheng Shengnan had predicted, enjoying a quiet meal was easier said than done.

Seeing Shen Ge’s odd behavior, Cheng Shengnan—now unfazed—adjusted her glasses and calmly said, “According to the department’s protocol, we should first report to the director or the assistant director, then notify the combat division for backup, investigation, and containment. If an aberration incident is discovered by an aberration investigator, the assigned team will take full responsibility.”

“Not bad. You haven’t even officially started, yet you’re already so well-versed in procedures. Impressive, Director Cheng. But I’m sure they didn’t tell you that I have full authority to arrange departmental tasks. For aberration incidents like this, where there are no signs of mutation yet, I just need to identify which animals are affected, take photos, and someone will handle the rest. So, this won’t interfere with our plans.”

As he spoke, Shen Ge took out his phone and began photographing the pets in the cages that emitted faint aberration energy.

Standing behind him, Cheng Shengnan remarked, “No one had to tell me. Given that I was a victim in several of those aberration incidents, I know you can see aberration energy that ordinary people can’t. When you were talking with the director, I reviewed the archives on low-tier aberration incidents. I’m familiar with your working style.”

“Then give me the length of a song to conduct my ‘investigation.’” Shen Ge flashed his badge—not from the Special Countermeasures Department, but from the Health Bureau—and approached the restaurant’s host.

“Hello, sir. We currently have a queue for tables based on party size—small, medium, and large. How many are in your group?” the host asked.

Shen Ge handed over his badge. “Health Bureau. Random inspection. Don’t mind me.”

Without waiting for a reaction, he strode inside. The flustered host quickly fetched the manager.

By the time the manager arrived, Shen Ge was already snapping pictures in the kitchen.

“Sir, sir! I’m the manager here, surnamed Li. We just opened today, and all our ingredients are fresh. Also… didn’t you just inspect us two days ago?” The manager hesitated to stop him as Shen Ge continued photographing.

Shen Ge retrieved his phone, took back his badge, and patted the manager’s shoulder. “Relax. It’s a random inspection—if we notified you in advance, we wouldn’t catch any issues. That said, your hygiene standards are excellent, and the ingredients are fresh. I’ll recommend your restaurant for commendation. That’s all for now.”

With that, he walked out, leaving the staff bewildered.

“Manager… what was that about?”

“Was he really from the Health Bureau?”

“He didn’t seem very professional.”

“I checked the badge—it was real. I even took a photo of it, just to be safe.”

“…”

Shen Ge’s visit was as swift as his departure. When he rejoined Cheng Shengnan outside, she looked surprised at how quickly he had resolved the matter.

“Done?” she asked.

Shen Ge nodded. “The restaurant’s fine. It’s the pets outside… I’ve already sent the photos back. The department will handle it soon.”

“Should we go somewhere else?”

“No need. Since this place is clean, let’s eat here. Saves us the trouble of finding issues elsewhere.”

Truthfully, Shen Ge had only detected faint aberration energy—no signs of mutation yet. Ignoring it was risky, but trying to control every animal in the city was impossible. Rats and cockroaches infested the sewers, and in the past month alone, the Special Countermeasures Department had dealt with over ten aberration incidents underground.

Exterminating rats?

The Rong City branch had already collaborated with the Agricultural Protection Bureau, but results were minimal. And even if they eliminated rats, what about cockroaches? Those things could survive on Mars.

So, when no active incidents arose, Shen Ge became a “street patrol,” using his ability to detect aberration energy to prevent outbreaks.

But he was just one man with one pair of eyes—hardly a lasting solution.

As Shen Ge and Cheng Shengnan approached the waiting area, the manager and two staff members hurried out.

“Uh, sir? Is there… something else?” the manager asked politely.

“We’d like a table for two,” Shen Ge said.

The manager’s expression turned odd.

Shen Ge added, “I’m a bit of a germaphobe. I rarely eat out unless I’ve personally inspected the place.”

“…” This guy’s insane.

The manager quickly turned to a staff member. “Get them one of the reserved couple’s booths.”

“No need for special treatment. We can wait our turn,” Shen Ge said.

“It’s no trouble. Some reservations don’t show, and I held a couple of tables for friends who might not make it,” the manager said, ushering them inside.

Seated in the most stylishly decorated couple’s booth, Shen Ge scanned the menu and proceeded to order enough food for ten people.

The manager blinked. “Sir, you’re… dining with ten?”

“Consider it a buffet. Don’t overthink it,” Shen Ge replied.

Manager: …What kind of hot pot buffet is this?

Though baffled, the manager complied, given Shen Ge’s dual status as a customer and a health inspector.

Cheng Shengnan, puzzled by the excessive order, soon understood. “You’re ordering for the team?”

“Trust me, those freeloaders will show up. Better to let them take leftovers than linger,” Shen Ge said.

Their conversation shifted to department affairs and Assistant Zhang’s duties. Thanks to Shen Ge’s “influence,” their food arrived in ten minutes instead of the usual wait.

Half an hour into their meal, a familiar voice interrupted.

“So, sneaking a date, huh?”

Wang Han grinned through the booth’s window.

“Done with the mission?” Shen Ge asked without looking up.

“Should’ve been done sooner, but one owner refused to let us take their pet. Took fifteen minutes of persuasion and triple the compensation,” Wang Han sighed. “Seriously, can’t you just focus on your date instead of boosting our workload? We’re already the top-performing branch nationwide.”

“Fine. Next time, I’ll ignore it.”

Wang Han paled. “Brother, I was joking! If the director finds out, she’ll skin me alive. Spare me—I haven’t even had dinner yet.”

“Just you?”

“Of course not.”

As if on cue, several more faces popped up outside the window—Ma Chao, Zhang Hu, Zhao Long, and other Team 1 members.

“Where’s Captain Feng?” Shen Ge asked. Normally, even for minor containment tasks, Feng Chengxiu or Yu Tiexiong would lead.

“Still waiting in line,” Wang Han said. “He didn’t want to intrude on your date. I told him ‘the missus’ wouldn’t mind—it’s not the first time.”

“I recall you used to call her ‘sister-in-law,’” Ma Chao deadpanned.

Wang Han elbowed him. “Shut it. You hungry or not? If not, go wait outside with the captain.”

Zhang Hu and Zhao Long distanced themselves, signaling they were just spectators, not moochers.

“It’s fine. Shen Ge already ordered extra hot pots for you,” Cheng Shengnan said, pointing to an untouched pot.

Wang Han beamed. “See? Brother Shen’s always got our backs. Why two pots, though? We don’t mind sharing.”

The couple’s booth, though cozy, accommodated the group after squeezing in extra chairs. Shen Ge moved beside Cheng Shengnan while the others crowded the opposite side, eventually fetching Feng Chengxiu from the queue.

The burly captain’s arrival made the space feel smaller.

“These guys… I told them to get their own table,” Feng Chengxiu said awkwardly.

Cheng Shengnan smiled. “No worries. Shen Ge ordered for all of you. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be part of the team too—no need to stand on ceremony.”

Wang Han, who’d heard about her recruitment, raised a toast in welcome and filled Feng Chengxiu in.

The meal continued in high spirits.

…..

Meanwhile, outside Shen Ge’s long-unvisited apartment, a young man in a black hoodie leaned against the wall, chewing gum as he spoke on the phone. His neck was tilted, revealing a fist-sized red pustule on his right side.

“I’m at the target location. Guy’s interesting—extra cameras at the door,” he muttered, plucking a hidden camera from a potted plant. After scrutinizing it, he blew a bubble, covered the lens, and stuffed it back.

“Dude’s paranoid. Locks and handles are tamper-proof too.”

“Alright, I’ll head in.”

The lock clicked open.

Flipping the light switch, he was met not with illumination but a jolt of electricity that sent him convulsing until a bloody arm emerged from his clothes, slapping his hand free.

“Son of a—!” A string of curses followed.

Inspection revealed the switch was rigged—deliberately wired to bypass safety measures.

“What kind of lunatic booby-traps their light switch?!”

Stepping forward, a figure dropped from the ceiling. He punched instinctively, only for his bloody limb to slam into a pillow lined with blades.

“…”

A message was stitched into the fabric:

Still alive? Lucky you. Leave now, and I’ll pretend this never happened. Or keep going—the next surprises won’t be so gentle.

“Screw this!” He tore the pillow away and stormed deeper inside, rifling through drawers and cabinets—only to trigger more traps: mouse traps, bear traps, even a bloody antique bladed weapon.

By the time he reached the bedroom, his clothes were soaked in blood.

“You bastard… When I find you, I’ll skin you alive!”

Frustration mounted as his search yielded no clues.

Finally, under the bed, he found a cardboard box. As he pulled it out, a faint click sounded—followed by an explosion that engulfed him in flames.

[Host’s meticulously laid trap has slain a Tier-2 Aberration (Trait: Two Heads, Four Arms). Reward: 100 System Points, 1 Random F-Grade Supply Item.]

Shen Ge: ?

??

???

His chopsticks froze mid-air, nearly flinging hot oil onto Wang Han’s face.

*A Tier-2 aberration? Two heads, four arms? What the—?*

Rewards didn’t just fall from the sky.

Checking his phone, he saw his home security system had been breached, cameras offline.

“We’ve got a problem.” He set his chopsticks down sharply.

The team paused, half-expecting him to complain about the food.

Wang Han, slurping duck intestine, asked lazily, “What? The tripe’s not fresh?”

“That guy who controlled aberrations during the Black Hound incident—he just broke into my apartment.” Shen Ge dialed Director Deng Yuqi’s number.

The table fell silent.