Returning home that evening, Yang Bo looked up the city's real estate prices... and gasped.
Property prices varied wildly. Even sub-par neighborhoods cost hundreds of thousands of Credit Points. But buying the house wasn't the main issue; the annual expenses were. Property taxes, management fees, and a slew of other charges were all calculated based on the property's value. For a one-million-credit property, the annual fees amounted to nearly ten percent.
Yang Bo then searched for information on citizen ranks and genetic levels. The higher a person's genetic level, the more powerful their abilities. An A-level Geneticist could command tens of thousands of combat units on a Space Battleship... Even with the assistance of the Space Battleship's main AI, their reaction time and predictive capabilities were staggering.
As for the S-level, there were only legends of an S-level powerhouse single-handedly taking on an entire Space Battleship Fleet and winning flawlessly. No one knew the specific details.
For Genetic Warriors, the most ordinary enhancement was an increase in constitution. Only when their physical constitution reached a certain threshold could they learn to pilot Mechas. This was because, during ground combat, a Mecha's maximum instantaneous speed could reach Mach 15. At that speed, an ordinary person would be instantly torn apart.
The abilities of Genetic Evolvers were strange and varied. They could manipulate all sorts of elements: Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, Magnetic Force, Electric Energy, and more.
Some evolved the ability to see through objects, or even Invisibility.
Others even evolved transformation abilities, allowing them to undergo Metalization, turn their body parts into wood, or enlarge themselves.
"It's amazing," Yang Bo muttered. The memories he had inherited weren't very clear on this, but watching videos of people manipulating fire like mages in a video game left him in awe.
"Master, you have been online continuously for two hours. It is recommended that you exercise for twenty minutes." Just as Yang Bo was fully engrossed, a red triangular warning appeared on the virtual projection, accompanied by the voice of the smart AI butler in his earpiece.
Yang Bo silently took off his earpiece and began to stretch.
"Master, it is recommended that you replace the carpet to reduce potential threats.
"Master, it is recommended that you apply to adopt a new pet. Statistics show that the companionship of a pet increases life expectancy by 12.4%...
"Master, you spent five minutes showering today. It is recommended that you extend the time. According to statistics...
"Master, your activity frequency is too high, and your pulse is accelerating. It is recommended that you engage in soothing exercises.
"Master, the food bank will have your favorite broccoli tomorrow...
"Master, your favorite celebrity, Li Aiduo, will hold a concert in Voddo City in half a year. It is recommended that you volunteer in the community, as they offer free admission tickets...
"Master, it has been half a year since your last physical examination. It is recommended that you make an appointment with a doctor in advance..."
Yang Bo remained completely unfazed, but he still slowed his movements and went to take a second shower.
A surge of pent-up frustration welled up inside him—one so strong he almost wanted to chop off his own hand and smash his wristband to pieces.
But he didn't dare. The wristband was issued by the government to all users. If he destroyed it, the consequences... well, they had the final say.
That night, lying in bed, Yang Bo thought about something else: his perks as a Transmigrator from earlier that day. Putting aside the origins of this thing, what were the results?
He muttered, "System.
"Character Panel.
"Settings.
"Skill."
This time, right after Yang Bo called out for a Skill, a message appeared in his mind.
Swimming: Basic (1/10)
Sound Wave Positioning: Basic (1/10)
Dynamic Field of View: Basic (4/10)
Yang Bo was dumbfounded for a moment. He had also called out for a "System Daddy" last time, but nothing had happened. However, this didn't seem like a conventional system; rather, it felt like information generated through self-perception.
He tried hard to even out his breathing and calm down. Otherwise, the damn smart system would start offering suggestions again.
Furthermore, the things he knew in his past life didn't seem to be listed, nor were the original owner's abilities. Could it be that he only acquired these abilities after his transmigration?
This was a government-provided apartment, so he couldn't modify it or shut down the so-called smart security system inside. If it were his own place, he could have stripped it of all smart devices. If Yang Bo forcibly disabled the system, the police would likely break down his door within minutes—mainly because they feared people causing trouble inside.
He wondered, "How do I use a bat's Sound Wave Positioning?" The Dynamic Field of View was hard to test since there was nothing suitable at home, but Sound Wave Positioning...
An idea struck him, and he whistled.
In an instant, Yang Bo experienced a marvelous sensation. A three-dimensional image of the pitch-black room immediately formed in his mind, and he could even vaguely see the structures inside the walls.
How to describe it? The image was like a 3D wireframe design viewed on a computer. It wasn't the Five-Colored, vibrant world seen by the naked eye; it was entirely black and white.
Yang Bo was so excited he almost sat up. However, the ability only lasted for three seconds before the image in his mind vanished.
He whistled again, and the sensation returned. This time, he focused on feeling it out carefully.
He could sense some of the piping and wiring behind the decorated walls. However, the image only penetrated a centimeter or two into the wall; anything deeper was invisible.
He wondered, "This ability seems a bit weak right now. Is it because of my own limitations, or is it the ability itself?
"Also, whistling is a bit too conspicuous."
Excited, Yang Bo tested it three more times before feeling exhausted—a deep, mental fatigue.
"It seems this ability is quite draining," Yang Bo thought before drifting off to sleep. "I wonder how other Genetic Evolvers replenish their mental strength?"
Early the next morning, Yang Bo woke up and let out a sigh of relief when he felt no lingering discomfort. Following the smart butler's suggestion, he tossed his duvet cover and bedsheets into the washing machine, which came with a built-in drying system.
The windows had already been opened by the smart butler, and Yang Bo couldn't be bothered to worry about it.
It didn't feel like a home. It felt more like a heavily monitored prison cell. Staying inside for even a minute longer made him feel like he was going crazy.
Taking a deep breath, Yang Bo acknowledged that perhaps he had some psychological issues and was overthinking the severity of his situation...
He didn't test anything on his way to work, as public areas were littered with Energy Sensors. According to Federation law, Genetic Enhancers were not allowed to casually display their abilities in residential communities. He wasn't sure if this was to restrain Genetic Evolvers or to prevent the lower classes from seeing and growing envious.
"Yang Bo, how did you sleep?" Liu Zhijie asked, smiling as usual while handing him a bottle of water.
"I slept fine, boss," Yang Bo replied with a nod.
"Go accept your tasks. We have a big order today," Liu Zhijie said, patting Yang Bo on the shoulder.
"Thanks, boss." Yang Bo nodded and walked away.
Watching Yang Bo's retreating back, a faint smile appeared on Liu Zhijie's lips. For someone who had never killed a small animal before to kill a bat and several mice yesterday, and then act as if nothing happened the next day... this meant the person either had an incredibly strong psychological fortitude or possessed a genetic predisposition for violence.
In such a technologically advanced society, small animals held a higher status than humans. Therefore, people were educated from a young age to never touch unfamiliar small animals and to stay far away from them, as doing so could bring unknown and severe consequences. Even with their own pets, people had to be extremely careful. Pets had microchips implanted in them, and certain organizations would constantly issue commands to the owners based on the data transmitted by those chips.
Little did Yang Bo know that Liu Zhijie viewed him this way. In his past life, let alone mice and bats, he had killed countless chickens, ducks, geese, voles, snakes, fish, and shrimp. Why would he feel any psychological pressure?
"Brother Wu." Catching sight of Wu Bin, Yang Bo hurriedly greeted him.
"Yang Bo, you're just in time. You'll be my assistant today. The tasks we're handling today aren't something someone of your rank usually gets to touch. I'll show you the ropes, so just make sure to follow my orders," Wu Bin said when he saw him.