This 87-style military uniform can be worn by anyone, but the epaulets, collar insignia, and cap badge are not allowed—otherwise, it would be considered impersonating a soldier, and he can't afford to mess with the government right now.

　　Even so, his officer's uniform still attracted quite a bit of attention, especially since many people had no idea what an 87-style uniform was, or what a 07-style uniform was. Seeing his resolute features and the way he walked straight ahead without glancing sideways—the military bearing he developed during three months at the hunter school still lingering—everyone assumed he was an officer.

　　Ethan Brooks went upstairs and knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside. He knocked again, still no response.

　　"Is no one here?"

　　Ethan Brooks simply stopped waiting, took out a key, and with a click, opened the door.

　　It was a two-bedroom, two-living-room rental apartment. Although not small, it definitely wasn't big either—the kind where you couldn't hide anyone. At a glance, it was clear the place was empty.

　　"Where did that girl go?"

　　Ethan Brooks gave a wry smile. All his effort to find a mall and change out of his uniform into casual clothes in the restroom was for nothing—turns out Emily Foster had run off somewhere again.

　　His phone vibrated, displaying a dense stream of information.

　　Prelude 3: A Chinese Ghost Story

　　Mission World: A Chinese Ghost Story (Origin World)

　　Mission Time: 503 hours and 31 minutes from now

　　Mission Objective: Prevent Charlotte Bennett from reincarnating

　　Initial Skills: None

　　Mission Success: Reward—1 item ability, 1 skill point, 1 physical attribute point

　　Mission Failure: Repeat execution

　　"A Chinese Ghost Story! Charlotte Bennett! Black Mountain Demon! Edward Bennett! Sword Control Technique!"

　　Ethan Brooks's eyes widened. His first reaction wasn't even to think of Charlotte Bennett, the beautiful ghost, but rather the fact that he was finally entering a world where, in some aspects, he could surpass the real world!

　　In such a world, his gains would undoubtedly be the greatest.

　　"Haha, my skill-stealing ability will finally come in handy!"

　　Only after his excitement faded did Ethan Brooks begin to examine the mission.

　　"Prevent Charlotte Bennett from reincarnating—does that mean you want Charlotte Bennett and Charles Bennett to end up together? I didn't expect you, system, to be so upright. I misjudged you!"

　　"Wait, 503 hours and 31 minutes. Let me calculate... two times two is four, two times four is eight, hmm, system, if you're a phone, act like a phone. Come on, open the calculator for me."

　　"Almost twenty-one days, that's a long time!"

　　Ethan Brooks was surprised—such a long preparation period.

　　"System, what's going on?"

　　"In the Escape from the Amazon world, the original probability of the chosen one giving up due to exhaustion was two percent; the probability of being hit by a bullet on the Devil's Road was five percent; the probability of being hit during the first anti-drug mission was thirty-one percent; during the second... In summary, the probability of the chosen one giving up the mission was two percent, the probability of withdrawing from training due to injury was sixty-five percent, and the probability of completing the mission was thirty-three percent. It is estimated that the chosen one would repeat the mission three times, but the chosen one passed in one go, saving 432 hours..."

　　"Stop, I get it. You're saying the interval before the next mission depends on how quickly the previous mission was completed?"

　　"Correct."

　　Ethan Brooks suddenly understood.

　　In the Amazon mission, as long as you were injured, you would leave the training. For him, being injured meant mission failure. In the two most dangerous real-combat missions, the first time he chose to snipe from a distance, and the second time he directly avoided the greatest danger. So, in these 503 hours, the time he saved from not having to repeat the Escape from the Amazon mission was also included.

　　"I'd better watch A Chinese Ghost Story a few more times."

　　As Ethan Brooks said this, he tossed his phone into his portable space. Just as he was about to turn on the computer, his stomach growled.

　　"Forget it, there's still more than twenty days left. I'll go out and get something to eat first."

Chapter 8: An Acquaintance

　　In the city center, inside a particularly grand building, countless staff members were busy at work.

　　Maybe they were ordinary here, sometimes even having to bow and scrape just to survive, but as soon as they walked out the building's doors, they would immediately straighten their backs and become respected high-income earners in the eyes of others.

　　A beautiful woman in professional attire was sitting at her desk. Her makeup was exquisite, with a touch of eyeliner and clear lip gloss. She wore white strappy high-heeled sandals, her long legs crossed and resting beside the chair, covered in a thin layer of sheer stockings.

　　"Knock, knock, knock."

　　A soft knocking sound came from the door.

　　Hannah Cooper propped her elbow on the desk, resting her chin in her hand, looking either bored and daydreaming or deep in thought.

　　"Come in."

　　Another woman in professional attire walked in, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor. She held a folder, which she placed on Hannah Cooper's desk.

　　"Manager, here’s the information you wanted. Hey, what are you daydreaming about again? You’ve been like this for days—are you lovesick?"

　　Only then did Hannah Cooper snap out of it, but her expression didn't change. She didn't blush like a young girl, just looked calmly at the woman.

　　"You little rascal, did you finish the schedule I asked you to do yesterday? I need to see it today."

　　"Ah! Didn't you say it was due tomorrow? I haven't finished it yet."