"Guys, please. Next time I happen to cook dogs, I'll make sure to tell you all."
Zheng Yang dismissed the subject and went on to familiarize himself with the internal systems downloaded on his phone. He stumbled upon a local mission that was freshly posted under the mission module. It was titled "Search for Desmond's Hellhound." He clicked to take on the mission and then clicked on the "completed" button.
He felt like he was playing some kind of mobile game.
Many who were present at the bureau heard their phones ding from a notification and pulled their hostile gazes away from Zheng Yang to check what it was.
Swooop.
They all turned their very, very pointed gazes back to Zheng Yang mere seconds later.
The message read, "Zheng Yang has completed the 'Search for Desmond's Hellhound' mission."
The mission reward came with 300 contribution points, which would be sent to Zheng Yang automatically as soon as Rovni gave the okay.
…
Just how shameless can a person be?
Zheng Yang browsed the local missions list and asked Rovni with a puzzled look, "Isn't there a mission for killing the hellhound?"
Rovni looked like she was about to explode. She clenched her teeth, forcing a smile, and said, "I have yet to put it up, but it now seems like I no longer have to. Contribution points saved."
The SPB would actually post missions that awarded contribution points when they were really, really caught in a pinch. If the hellhound was found, then the next natural thing to do would be to kill it, which was considered a regular duty covered by one's regular pay and didn't come with contribution points.
As such, there never was a mission to kill the hellhound to begin with.
Zheng Yang simply shook his head and said exasperatedly, "Well, that's quite a shame, and you're indeed stingy."
What the f**k??
At the moment, everyone in the bureau wanted nothing more than to beat him up. Even Ricky shot looks at the others around him, seemingly suggesting that they all gang up on Zheng Yang.
Zheng Yang was still checking the missions and saw that there were only two left on the local missions list. One of them read "investigate the mysterious man behind the mosquito." He clicked on the mission and read the details. It was only then that he learned that Desmond had been spirited away by someone from the occult circle.
The other mission read "investigate the truth behind the mass slaughter of goats at Anthony's Farm." The fact that it was listed meant that it had something to do with the occult. Yet the SPB hadn't been able to uncover the truth despite having looked into the matter again and again. The goats were still being slaughtered at a rate of three to five every day. All of the dead goats had small, deep holes in their bodies and had been sucked dry by something unknown. It wasn't just blood that was drained but all bodily fluids.
Dozens of goats had been killed at Anthony's Farm within the past several days.
"I hate investigations." Zheng Yang closed the module and looked up at his new colleagues.
"When will I be getting my gun?"
"First, let's see what you're made of."
Rovni turned around and headed for the elevator. Zheng Yang followed right behind her, while Venar and Ricky tagged along behind the two, looking like they were transporting a prisoner.
All four of them went to the topmost floor and entered a training ground that had an area of nearly 1000 square meters. Under Rovni's instructions, Zheng Yang stood in front of a weird, mushroom-shaped device that was about the height of his shoulder. The top of that mushroom-shaped device went all the way to the ground, making it look like some bell.
"This thing can detect all manner of regular spirit power attributes and their levels. Cast your fire spell at it, and let's take a look," Rovni said as she pointed at the mushroom thing.
Zheng Yang pressed his hand against the "mushroom" and activated the mudra of Burning Thorn. Flames ignited from his palm with a "voom" and covered the mushroom, emanating terrifying levels of heat.
Rovni stared at a monitor next to her and said, "Pure high-temperature burning. Something that naturally comes with purification attributes. Level and quality are at the high side of level one. How do you actually go about using it?"
Zheng Yang was puzzled. "What do you mean 'go about using it'?"
"The way you're using the flames. You're not telling me that you just unleash the flames and that's all there is to it?"
"Well, more or less," Zheng Yang answered awkwardly.
Rovni crossed her arms in front of her chest and cast a cold look at Zheng Yang.
She wasn't buying it.
Zheng Yang had no choice but to come clean. "I can infuse blades with the flames," he said, "turning the weapon into a flaming sword or flaming saber or whatnot, with the flaming blade exceeding two meters in length. If this doesn't count, I don't know what would."
Rovni grunted, voicing her approval. She then walked to a wall and pressed her hand against a screen about the size of a man's head. Red and green lines went up and down her palm, scanning her handprint.
Beep, beep.
The wall parted in the middle, revealing the armory behind it. Several guns of various lengths were neatly displayed, with the lowermost rung filled with magazines of all sorts and ammunition belts.
Rovni pointed at a revolver with a long barrel about eight inches in length and then at a shiny, silver Desert Eagle and said, "There are currently only two enchanted handguns in stock. Are you more familiar with a revolver or the Desert Eagle?"
"I'll take the Desert Eagle, just like Ricky," Zheng Yang blurted.
Rovni turned around and shot a look at Ricky. The corner of her eye twitched as she recalled that the two shared the hobby of talking about looking cool. Ricky spread his hands, claiming innocence.
"Ricky's gun is chambered in .44 magnum. The magazine holds eight rounds. This one here is chambered in .50, with the magazine holding seven rounds, and comes with one spare magazine. You'll be issued a box with 30 regular rounds and seven enchanted rounds. You can apply for refills before going out on missions or after exhausting your existing supply.
"Enchanting bullets is tiring work. Don't go about wasting them.
"By the way, I don't know how good you are with a gun. You get a box of ammo to train with every seven days, with the cost of additional ammo deducted from your pay. Your current pay is 12000 pounds per month. Food and accommodations aren't covered. Medical bills are covered by the bureau."
D*mn, the pay is really that high?
Zheng Yang's mouth twitched as he recalled that his monthly pay back in his past life had only been 2700 pounds.
"Why does Ricky have two guns? I want two guns too. A Desert Eagle and that shotgun over there," Zheng Yang said as he pointed at a shotgun.
Rovni nearly choked. She took a deep breath and stared at Zheng Yang, a blank look on her face.
The storm is about to come, then?
Zheng Yang rubbed his hands and reminded her with a sheepish look on his face, "Welcome gift for the new guy, Rovni."
"You could trade 100 contribution points for that shotgun. It comes with a box with 15 regular rounds and five enchanted rounds," Rovni said with a fake smile, her eyes lighting up.
Puzzled, Zheng Yang turned to look at Ricky. "Contribution points are very important, right? A shotgun isn't worth 100 contribution points, right?"
Ricky moved closer to Zheng Yang and clapped him on the shoulder. "You're looking at it all wrong. If I had contribution points to spare, I'd do the same. Listen, mate. Contribution points are like money. You just use them on stuff."
Zheng Yang bought what Ricky said and decided to make the exchange.
Rovni continued to wear that weird grin on her face as she handed Zheng Yang his guns and enchanted rounds. Then, she had Ricky take him to the registration counter.
…
Zheng Yang finally knew why Ricky liked wearing long coats—they made it easy to carry guns. He decided he would get two, or rather three, coats just like hi