749: Sealed Archives

While taking part in a local archaeological project, Chen Mo encounters a bizarre incident. The site is quickly sealed off, and a group of swift-moving people with specialized equipment appears: the "cleaners" of Bureau 749. Because of his keen observations or accidental contact with the residue, Chen Mo becomes a person of special interest.

Chen Mo is "invited" to an inconspicuous organization. Faced with irrefutable evidence, including surveillance records showing his unusual contact and the grand narrative of national security, as well as a mix of threats and inducements concerning his family's safety and his personal future, he is forced to sign a series of confidentiality agreements and join Bureau 749. On the surface, his role is that of an archivist.