Chapter 16: My Sister’s Secret

Lin Yanyun pressed a disc, and immediately, the images of a scholar in ancient attire and a lady in ancient attire appeared above it. They were shoulder to shoulder, head to head, smiling happily at the camera.

These were Lin Yanyun and Lin Dongyun’s parents.

Lin Yanyun looked at the picture with emotion, softly telling her parents about Lin Dongyun’s current achievements, while Lin Dongyun stood beside her with his eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer.

After a while, Lin Yanyun pressed the disc to make the pictures disappear, and then Lin Dongyun spoke, “Sis, you should know why I was directly promoted to Imperial Army Second Lieutenant as soon as I enlisted, right?”

“Is it because of your status as a descendant of a war hero?” Lin Yanyun asked, frowning.

“Yes, the Empire’s compensation for the descendants of Zhengyang war heroes is that all of these descendants who join the military or government begin with an official rank. Sis, didn’t you study on your own to get a bachelor’s degree? Go take the civil service exam. As long as you pass, you’ll immediately become a ninth-rank official! Or if the civil service exam is too hard, you can apply to be an auxiliary police officer, and you’ll also become an official directly!” Lin Dongyun said excitedly to Lin Yanyun.

“Directly granting official rank, humph, why not publicize this widely? How many years has it been since the Zhengyang War?” Lin Yanyun said with disdain.

“Sis, it’s very normal for the Empire to keep this under wraps and not announce it publicly. They’re afraid that if this matter is publicized, it’ll be protested by the Great Powers. Instead of going through the trouble of being forced to back down and cancel this compensation, they might as well keep silent and handle it as an unwritten rule,” Lin Dongyun shrugged.

“…Such a weak empire, it really makes my parents’ sacrifice feel worthless…” Lin Yanyun sighed softly.

“Sis, what do you think? Can you accept this kind of compensation?” Lin Dongyun looked at his sister cautiously.

“What’s there not to accept? This is what our parents earned for us!” Lin Yanyun smiled, then pinched Lin Dongyun’s ear, “Alright, I’ll handle this matter, you go to school and explain to your teachers and the principal. They’ve been worried about you for a long time.”

“Okay, sis, I have 7 days of vacation before going to my post. You must let me know when you decide!” Lin Dongyun said quickly.

“Got it, I’ll tell you.” Lin Yanyun waved her hand casually.

With that, Lin Dongyun changed into casual clothes, left his saber behind, and left the house humming a song, feeling completely relaxed. He had been worried that his sister wouldn’t accept the compensation offered by the Empire. He didn’t expect his sister to be so decisive. But thinking about it, it was his parents who had risked their lives to earn this treatment for him and his sister. Why shouldn’t they accept it?

Thinking that his sister would no longer have to work so hard and could also have an official position, living a carefree life, Lin Dongyun couldn’t help but grin happily.

==============

Lin Yanyun leaned out the window, watching Lin Dongyun greet Shen Fei and leave the village with a few other village youths, laughing and chatting.

Turning around, she looked at the red-hilted saber in the living room, stretched out her wrist, and revealed a wristwatch that looked somewhat old.

She activated the button mode and entered a series of passwords.

Then, a dark silhouette appeared, using an electronic voice that couldn’t distinguish between male or female, “Agent 345, why the emergency contact?”

“I’m sorry, Number One, I want to leave the organization.” Lin Yanyun said calmly.

“What?! Leave the organization? Are you sure?!” The silhouette was first surprised, then said in a sinister tone.

“I joined the organization to support and protect my younger brother. Now that my brother is an Imperial Citizen, an Imperial Army Second Lieutenant, a Guangwu Army Major, and a Red-Hilted Saber Holder, he no longer needs my protection,” Lin Yanyun still said indifferently.

“Agent 345, our organization isn’t a place you can come and go as you please! Your brother…uh…” The silhouette was initially threatening, but after realizing what Lin Yanyun had said, it hesitated.

“Tch, isn’t the purpose of the organization to oppose the Empire? Why are you suddenly so timid?” Lin Yanyun said with a disdainful smile.

The silhouette didn’t care about Lin Yanyun’s tone and instead said urgently, “Your brother became an Imperial Citizen and Imperial Army Second Lieutenant at the age of 16! It must be your status as a descendant of a Zhengyang war hero that played a role! The Empire is using unwritten rules to compensate you Zhengyang war hero descendants!”

Lin Yanyun’s eyes flickered slightly, but she remained silent.

At this time, the dark silhouette suddenly changed to a middle-aged man with white hair, who spoke to Lin Yanyun kindly, “Yanyun, our organization has given you help and protection in the beginning. Without the organization, you and your brother couldn’t have grown up so peacefully to this age, you can’t deny that, can you?”

“You’re Number One? Heh, I didn’t expect Number One to look like this.” Lin Yanyun laughed, then nodded, “Indeed, I do owe the organization, but I think that debt can be repaid by my brother. But if my brother finds out that his sister is being restricted by the organization, I’m afraid he’ll throw a fit.”

“No! Yanyun, the organization is not restricting you in any way. You’ve been in the organization for so many years, you know that apart from the strict confidentiality system, there aren’t many restrictions on members. Although the organization has also benefited from your missions, you’ve also gained a lot from completing missions. We can say that it’s a mutually beneficial relationship!”

“So, we just part ways on good terms?” Lin Yanyun asked with a smile.

“No, Yanyun, listen to me, since the Empire is giving you Zhengyang war hero descendants compensation, then don’t miss out on it, this is what the Empire owes you!”

“Oh, do you mean you want me to enter the Imperial military or government to get this compensation like my brother?” Lin Yanyun asked.

“Yes, judging by your brother’s situation, the Empire’s compensation is likely to start with an official rank as soon as you join the military or government! This is an opportunity that many people want but can’t get, don’t miss out on it!” The middle-aged man with white hair said somewhat anxiously.

“Then should I choose the military or the government?” Lin Yanyun asked.

“The government! Choose a government department! After all, your brother has already joined the military. If you join the government, you can develop both military and government power, which is beneficial to both of you!” The white-haired middle-aged man suggested without hesitation.

“I’m not familiar with civil matters. I’m more familiar with fighting and killing.” Lin Yanyun said somewhat coquettishly.

“It’s okay, our organization has a large number of disgruntled individuals, and they’ll all help you! Combined with the organization’s support, you will definitely be promoted continuously in a short period of time!” The white-haired middle-aged man said confidently.

“Is this a way for the organization to continue to make me serve them after I enter the government?” Lin Yanyun’s eyes showed a hint of fierceness.

“It’s not serving, it’s just mutual benefit. We’ll help you get promoted, and you’ll help us within your authority. It’s a mutually beneficial situation. This is a very good choice, isn’t it?” The white-haired middle-aged man said with a smile.

“I need the civil service exam papers. Can you get them?” Lin Yanyun asked.

“It’s impossible to get genuine test papers, but the content isn’t a problem, because the content has been the same over the years. The main thing is the interview, we’ll help you find out who the interviewer is, and we’ll analyze their psychological preferences!” The white-haired middle-aged man nodded.

“Very good, then it depends on the organization’s sincerity.” Lin Yanyun said with a smile.

“Don’t worry, I will start to clear your information and erase all traces of your connection with our organization. From now on, only I will contact you, and you don’t need to bother with anyone else in the organization except me.” The white-haired middle-aged man said confidently.

“Then thank you.” Lin Yanyun nodded with a smile.

After the communication was cut off, Lin Yanyun gave a disdainful smile, “Number One, this guy, does he want to secretly control me, a future Imperial official? Humph…”

Then she sighed softly. Who would know how the 12-year-old her lived with her 2-year-old brother in this strange city? Perhaps, without the organization’s help, they might not have grown up to be who they are now.

Well, let’s treat it as repaying a debt.

Sigh, this rotten empire, how many mysterious organizations are there?