Yang Zicang stepped out of the sub-ether channel. As he barely took in the ruined cityscape in the distance, he heard a voice behind him:
–The last one’s here too.-
He turned around and saw four figures—three men and one woman—standing beneath a few broken stone slabs.
–Hey there, you’re the new member, right? I’m Wang Dingshan.- A sturdy young man walked over and extended his hand. –These three are Qiong’an, Yu Yusheng, and that guy who goes by a code name.-
–I’m Yang Zicang.- The two shook hands.
Among the three behind, the fairest and most boyish one grinned and waved: –I’m Fengming.-
The remaining man and woman also nodded in greeting. Yang Zicang noticed that although all four had fairly smooth skin, they hadn’t fully shed the sharp, battle-hardened aura—clearly, they hadn’t joined Lost Mirage Company much longer than he had.
A voice echoed directly into the minds of the five:
{The end-of-month patrol of Area A403 has been a long-standing rule for many years. Due to its unique nature, it may at any time manifest certain special life forms.}
Everyone looked up, and a phantom scene appeared before them. The ground transformed like a mirage into a stretch of beach, where dazzling sunlight glinted off azure waves and soft sand, emitting a shimmering white phosphorescent glow.
A burly man reclining on a beach chair smiled and gazed their way.
{Greetings, everyone. I’m Fu Qiyong, leader of the First Cleanup Team of the First Action Department.}
–Team Leader Fu, hello,- several of them said.
{You’re all newcomers. Although this area has been cleaned by the steward, it’s still quite dangerous for you.}
The man in the floral shirt on the beach chair raised his iced drink, revealing a mouthful of big teeth.
{Of course, thanks to my watchful eye, that possibility is now negligible.}
Quite arrogant, indeed. The group fell silent for two seconds.
–Team Leader Fu, what do we need to do?- Yu Yusheng asked.
{Alright, you’re all pretty reserved. Let’s get down to business. The primary cleaning task is this: there are some special psychic entities here that need you to clear out. The team’s observers have already marked them for you.}
With a point of his hand, polyline light traces appeared on certain chaotic monster-like figures on the distant horizon.
{Each kill: the killer gets 4 points, the assist gets 2 points.}
{Advanced task: find a certain guy hidden here, called the Earthbound Spirit, from the destroyed City No. 11. Well, it was thrown in by me. Whoever successfully kills it gets an additional 50 excellent evaluation points for the year-end elite selection.}
–Captain, you threw it in?- Joan asked in surprise.
{Two –Black Gold Employee Cards- are about to open up. It’s already the second half of the year, so I’m giving newcomers who recently joined the company a chance to catch up.}
Fu Qiyong’s gaze swept over Joan, Fengming, and Yang Zicang. The three immediately understood that this was the team leader giving them an opportunity.
–Wow, fifty excellent points just like that.- The group was intrigued.
Her eyes sparkling with excitement, Joan pumped her fists by her shoulders and said,
–As long as you accumulate 150 excellent points in a year, you’re an elite member. This is like getting a third of the score directly.-
–I already have over ninety points. If I manage to kill it, I’ll qualify for this year’s elite member evaluation.- Wang Dingshan snickered with ill intent.
–I’m almost at 100 points too,- Yu Yusheng said coolly. –I originally thought I might not hit 150 until October, but it seems I have a chance to get it ahead of schedule.-
Wang Dingshan immediately shot a look at Yu Yusheng, who stood with arms folded, a cool expression on his face. Their gazes clashed with the intensity of welding sparks.
Feng Ming turned to look at Yang Zicang: –It seems this new friend just joined the company, right? Don’t mind them. People chosen by Group Leader Fu of the First Group all have the foundation to become elite. We might be slower, but it’s just a matter of time.-
–Thank you.-
Being seen through at a glance was only natural.
However, just this morning, he had captured a band capable of constructing a complete B-level space, which should net him 20 to 50 excellent points. Even at the minimum, that’s nearly 20 points. So he was still 130 points away from earning the Moxel line enhancement reward. If he succeeded in the kill, he would have accumulated nearly half.
Once the excitement had cooled somewhat, Fu Qiyong, seated on the beach chair within the projection, continued:
{Besides these two assessment tasks I’ve set, there’s also a long-standing special-grade mission in this area. However, this mission is not something you can accomplish. In any case, if you make any special discoveries, remember to report them, and you’ll be directly admitted as elite members upon enrollment.}
The five exchanged glances. That was too vague.
Seeing that Fu Qiyong seemed about to cut off this phantom projection, Yang Zicang quickly said, –Excuse me, Team Leader Fu, what exactly is this special-grade mission you mentioned?-
{Huh. Kid, quite ambitious. Wait a few years until your spiritual power reaches a level capable of bearing a four-ring or even five-ring bloodline. By then, even without you asking, I’ll consider letting you participate in this mission.}
The others around nodded inwardly, marveling at the profundity of this mission, while also developing a sense of awe toward this place.
–That long?- Yang Zicang was taken aback, then realized that Team Leader Fu probably hadn’t looked into his background thoroughly.
He raised his eyes, looking apologetically at the smiling Team Leader Fu, and said, –Team Leader Fu, I’m sorry, but… I’m afraid I don’t have that much time. Of course, I’m not referring to this mission—I mean, I might be leaving the group at the end of the year. I wonder if my transfer to another team will cause any trouble for your group’s personnel arrangements.-
Before Team Leader Fu could speak, the four people beside him gaped as they sized up this guy who had just joined the group today.
–Hey, are you talking in your sleep?-
Wang Dingshan crossed his arms, craned his neck, and squinted as he leaned in close to Yang Zicang’s face.
–Right, it wasn’t easy to get in—why would you still want to quit?-
–Although one less competitor is good for me, friend, I’d rather you stay here than leave like this.-
Yang Zicang looked slightly touched at these people with sincere eyes: –I only planned to stay for half a year anyway, because at the end of the year there’s the ranking assessment for my city. That assessment is quite important to our city.-
The woman behind him seemed to think of something: –I heard that two months ago, a city suddenly jumped from the bottom to around twentieth place overnight. Are you from that city?-
Upon hearing this, Feng Ming also seemed to recall something, casting a look of sudden realization: –It’s this year’s City 41, right? Are you quitting for that city’s ranking battle?-
–That’s right. I’m from City 41.-
–I see. That city… without you, it really… but it’s also too not worth it.-
–Ahem. Everyone,- Yu Yusheng interrupted them, –Group Leader Fu is still watching.-
{It’s fine. I have plenty of time to wait for your chattering—after all, I don’t want to end up like the head teacher I hated the most.}
–Haha, sorry, Group Leader.-
{As for the resignation issue, it has nothing to do with our group. What they told you before is the same throughout the entire company. But staying in the First Action Division gives you the option to choose a ‘Bloodline Statue’ in the year-end bonus. That’s something impossible to get in other groups.}
As he spoke, a cross-shaped star light flickered on Fu Qiyong’s finger, and from that light emerged the shadow of a statue.
–The chance to choose a Bloodline Statue!-
Several people looked over. Is this the bloodline statue? It looked very similar to the Resonance Statue they had obtained from the Moon Shadow-level monster before.
–As long as I successfully become an elite member, I get the chance to choose?- Yu Yusheng asked.
Team Leader Fu’s phantom nodded.
The others also wore serious and solemn expressions. If they couldn’t make it into the first group, they would have to wait until becoming an officer to obtain such a rare reward.
As expected of the First Action Department, which is most likely to face danger—the elite employee rewards they casually offered were a tier higher than those of other departments.
{Alright, it’s getting late today. It’s best to complete the area patrol task within three days. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.}
With that, Team Leader Fu’s figure, along with the coastline, vanished.
Wang Dingshan turned around and said to the others, –Let’s discuss the task allocation. Hey, where’s Joan?-
They looked over and saw that the woman in her twenties had already charged out, locked in battle with a soft mud-like figure among the rocks not far away.
Their jaws dropped. She was way too eager.
By the time the four walked over, Joan had already killed the monster.
Feng Ming stared at the soft mud monster’s already disfigured face and said softly, –Sister Joan, the part you kicked might have been its only eye-like feature.-
Joan shook her ponytail, did some stretches, and hummed a couple of times.
–That leg technique must be a secret skill.-
–That’s right! I’ve been practicing it for over a year. Looks good, huh?-
Everyone was dumbfounded as they stared at her taut thigh curves—legs that could send a grown adult flying.
Yu Yusheng said, –Then let’s split up. If you find what they call the earthbound spirit, call us if you can’t handle it. Oh, and let’s exchange contact info.-
The silver-white Moxel on Yu Yusheng’s chest flashed, its light gathering into his hand as a pass appeared. The ring on Yang Zicang’s chest flickered, and a broken line outlined a freshly obtained cleaning team employee card. The group briefly touched devices, leaving each other’s information.
With this in hand, even different Moxels could communicate with one another.
–Then I’ll head to the front right,- Yang Zicang said.
–I’ll go with you,- Wang Dingshan said, walking toward him.
–Why?- Wang Dingshan smiled. –Speaking of which, you’ll never guess where my Moxel ability comes from.-
–Huh?-
–Heh heh, ever played scratch-off tickets?-
The red Moxel on Wang Dingshan’s chest flashed, and he pulled a scratch-off ticket from inside his clothes. But unlike ordinary ones, it looked more like some dark art piece.
Seeing the other four’s gazes fixed on him, Wang Dingshan turned to the three and said,
–Want to give it a try? See how your luck is. If you win, your luck will be great for the rest of the day—except for you, Yang Zicang.-
–Why not me?-
–Heh heh, I watched your last cartridge challenge! I scratched a few times about you, and every time it showed you’d win. Especially this morning—I actually got a second prize.-
This morning… wasn’t that…
–So, after you scratch it for someone, they can’t scratch it anymore, right?-
–You could, but it won’t change anything even if you scratch it. Who goes first?-
–Oh oh oh, me!- Joan quickly scurried over with excited little steps, eagerly staring at the ‘scratch card’ Enightmare in Wang Dingshan’s hand.
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