Since the beginning of his transmigration, when Byrne first used psychic energy to repair machinery, he had sensed another power within his body. This energy was far more potent than the psychic power he could normally mobilize. Unfortunately, aside from using his will to prevent it from leaking out, he had no way to command it. He was entirely ignorant of why this energy resided within him.
His recent conversation with Joralan at the Ironbone Cafe had provided a hint. The ability to suppress the curse in "Old Man's" body likely originated from this unknown energy.
As Byrne sat lost in thought, Marco finally opened his eyes. He placed the glass orb back on the table and looked at Byrne again. "How long have you been using psychic powers?"
Byrne replied instantly, "Nearly two years."
Marco followed up, "Have you received any systematic psychic training?"
Byrne thought for a moment and answered honestly, "No. I just stumbled upon the fact that I could move this energy. I've been figuring it out on my own. At most, it's been useful for fixing machinery."
Figuring it out on his own? And in less than two years?
Marco arched an eyebrow and remarked, "No systematic training, and in such a short time, your psychic intensity reached Early Delta level. Your talent is truly monstrous."
Early Delta?
Both Byrne and Selena were stunned. Byrne scratched his head, asking in confusion, "Captain, is reaching Early Delta level that impressive?"
Marco leaned back in his chair, returning to his previous lazy posture. "It's not just impressive; it's absurd. Even for psykers specifically trained by the Inquisition, reaching Late Lambda in two years is rare. In my years on the job, you're the first I've seen reach Early Delta so quickly."
Beside him, the look in Selena's eyes changed. It wasn't shock or jealousy, but deep concern.
Is he for real?
Byrne felt suspicious of Marco's words. Despite the Captain's high praise, his expression remained relaxed. To Byrne, it didn't sound like genuine awe; it felt more like teasing.
Seeing Byrne's skeptical expression, Marco laughed. "Don't worry, I'm telling the truth. You'll see when you meet other psykers in the Bureau. However, talent is both an asset and a liability. The stronger you are, the higher the risk of losing control. Good luck to you, kid."
He's definitely teasing, Byrne thought. His lip twitched, but he didn't respond.
In truth, Byrne didn't care much for talent. In the "shithole" world of Warhammer, he had no grand ambitions. For him, simply surviving was enough. Rather than worrying about vague futures, the unknown energy hidden in his body was his primary concern. It was like a bomb embedded inside him, liable to detonate at any moment.
After his warning—or teasing—Marco added, "Oh, right. When I examined the orb, Selena's psychic energy was pure and stable, the safest state. But in your energy fluctuations, Byrne, there seemed to be a trace of something else."
An anomaly? Dammit, it's that unknown power.
I thought I suppressed it in time. It only leaked for a second. Did he sense it that quickly?
However, Marco used the word "seemed," which suggested he wasn't certain. Byrne needed to make him believe it was an illusion.
Byrne feigned ignorance and asked, "Captain, I don't quite understand. Was I injecting the energy the wrong way? Should I try again?"
Marco waved his hand. "Forget it, no need for the trouble. Maybe it was just my imagination."
Byrne breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Thank goodness I suppressed it when I did, or that wouldn't have been so easy to explain away.
"Alright, now that the testing is over, it's time to issue your basic equipment."
Marco reached down and lifted a black leather case from the floor onto the table. He opened it and took out two small objects, tossing one to Byrne and one to Selena.
Byrne caught it and looked down. In terms of shape, it resembled the wireless earbuds from his previous life, though slightly larger, with three different colored buttons on the side.
"This is the Bureau's standard-issue communicator, one of your basic pieces of gear."
"The blue button corresponds to daily communication mode. It can only be used on the Bureau's internal encrypted channel, but it has a wide range covering all of Blackstone City. The yellow button is the one-way emergency contact mode. No matter where you are in the city, if you press this, I will find you. The red button is Silent Mode. Once activated, it shields your psychic fluctuations and blocks external energy detection. It's suitable for infiltration, but note that it only lasts for thirty minutes."
After the explanation, Selena asked, "Does it need charging?"
Marco shook his head. "No. It has a built-in micro energy core. The battery life is enough for six months. After that, just come back to the Bureau for a new one."
Next, Marco pulled two small booklets from the case. "This is the Manual for Basic Psychic Application. It contains practical techniques for psychic perception and energy containment, as well as emergency procedures for psychic overload. Especially for you, Byrne—don't get lazy. Psykers with poor foundations die from their own loss of control far more often than they die at the hands of heretics."
Byrne flipped through the manual. The descriptions were detailed, accompanied by simple energy flow diagrams. He noticed the Bureau's exclusive logo on the inner pages; clearly, this was an internal-only edition.
Finally, Marco produced a third item for each of them. It looked like a standard baseball cap, but inside the rim was a special metal ring.
"This is standard gear for field missions. The core is the psychic suppression ring inside. Wearing it helps you passively contain your psychic fluctuations to avoid detection by stronger psykers. For infiltration, combine this with the communicator's Silent Mode. Unless an Alpha-level psyker personally inspects you, it's virtually impossible to be exposed."
"Furthermore, it has a warning function. If you overexert your psychic powers and risk losing control, the metal ring will vibrate. Remember: once the warning triggers, you must stop using psychic energy immediately and prioritize stabilizing your state. Clear?"
"Clear!" Byrne and Selena replied in unison.
Marco nodded and closed the case. "Alright, basic items for rookies have been issued. Byrne, since you are at the Early Delta level, Bureau regulations allow you to receive one additional 'Emperor's Rune'."
Marco pulled three small chips from his pocket and laid them on the table. "Come, pick one."