Laura Howard sat down, looked around, and said with a smile:

"Since everyone is here, I'll briefly talk about our group."

"Everyone's here?" Charlotte Reed blurted out.

There are only four people?

Shouldn't a 'Security Department' team have at least twenty members?

Laura Howard was taken aback:

"What did you say?"

"He said there are too few people!" Brian Carter helpfully translated.

Laura Howard's eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled:

"We're not a combat team."

Not a combat team? Charlotte Reed felt a surge of relief.

Laura Howard glanced at Brian Carter and said:

"Our group's full name is 'Old World Destruction Cause Investigation Team,' or 'Old Investigation Team' for short.

"But, I'm not the only Old Investigation Team. Whether in the Security Department or the Board of Directors, there are other Old Investigation Teams, but we don't know each other's specific situations.

"Remember! This is important—it's confidential!

"Uh, and don't worry about duplicate investigations. Even though we don't know which other Old Investigation Teams exist or what their progress is, the higher-ups will share the latest and most valuable leads with us."

At this point, Laura Howard paused, her expression turning serious:

"Compared to ordinary combat teams, the 'Old World Destruction Cause Investigation Team' may face even more and greater dangers.

"Why are there so many micro-teams with the same mission? It's because in the past, there was only one Old Investigation Team, with many members. Then, during an external investigation, they completely disappeared—no one returned. The loss was enormous and irreparable."

Charlotte Reed's face turned pale as he listened:

"So, it's this dangerous..."

"What did you say?" Laura Howard only saw Charlotte Reed's mouth moving, barely hearing any sound.

Charlotte Reed instinctively looked at Brian Carter, only to find him looking serious and silent, with no intention of translating for him.

Charlotte Reed took a deep breath and shouted:

"This dangerous?"

After shouting, he found his emotions had actually calmed down quite a bit.

Laura Howard nodded:

"The Old Investigation Team might venture deep into the wilderness, investigate city ruins, or go to other factions to look for clues. We'll face all kinds of situations and encounter all sorts of enemies.

"You could say that even veteran employees of the Security Department aren't too willing to join the Old Investigation Team."

Charlotte Reed's face grew even paler:

"How did we get so unlucky?"

After muttering to himself, he shouted:

"How did we get so unlucky?"

Laura Howard looked around in slight confusion:

"I'm not unlucky... I wasn't assigned here. Our Old Investigation Team was actually formed because I applied for it."

She smiled and added:

"I've always believed we need to figure out the cause of the Old World's destruction. Only then can we avoid making the same mistakes, find the root of the Mindless Disease, and free all humanity from this fear.

"Also, you've probably heard the rumors: deep within the ruins of a city on the Ashlands, there's a gate to the New World. If we never go searching, we'll never enter the New World, and we'll always be stuck with famine, infection, mutation, and monsters.

"This is my dream, so I proactively applied to the Security Department leadership, hoping to establish a new Old Investigation Team.

"Heh, I also enjoy digging up the past from city ruins, observing the social conditions of other factions, and meeting people and things from different places and backgrounds."

Quietly sitting on the long sofa, Ethan White suddenly spoke up:

"I've heard people mention you. They said you're a 'sociologist,' and their goddess."

Laura Howard couldn't help but laugh:

"Ah, what did you say? I didn't catch your last words—never mind, never mind. Why don't you talk about yourself?"

Ethan White looked at Brian Carter and Charlotte Reed, her voice a bit hoarse as she said:

"I applied to join voluntarily. You might have noticed, I'm not an internal company person. I used to be a wilderness wanderer, then was recruited by the company. I don't have official employee status yet, and the Old Investigation Team can help me achieve that goal faster, raise my employee level, and then I'll be eligible to apply for genetic modification."

Laura Howard tilted her head, as if she hadn't quite heard Ethan White's words.

She smiled and asked:

"Is she talking bad about me behind my back?

"Heh, we'll definitely be operating in the wilderness a lot, so we need a guide like her who's familiar with the wilds and has dealt with multiple factions and settlements. Don't be fooled by her young age—she's got a lot of experience."

After speaking, Laura Howard looked at Brian Carter:

"I've read your file, so I can more or less guess why you applied to join the Old Investigation Team.

"Besides that matter, is there any other reason?"

"To save all of humanity!" Brian Carter said loudly.

Laura Howard's expression froze for a moment. She raised her hand and touched her ear:

"Ah, what did you say?

"Heh, no need to repeat it. Charlotte Reed, why did you join?"