Chapter 32 The Mercenary Mission Begins

"Mr. Zhang Chu, it's a misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding!" Jin Yongsheng burst through the door, launching into a frantic apology. He could utter nothing else, only repeating that it was a misunderstanding. The two disciplinary officers were utterly bewildered. What kind of misunderstanding could this be? The evidence was ironclad—how could that be called a misunderstanding?

It wasn’t until they saw Huang Wenzhan and Qin Zaiye enter together that they realized: it truly was a misunderstanding. Both heavyweights had arrived to vouch for him. Jin Yongsheng’s desperate, humble display was practically a textbook lesson in bureaucratic survival.

"Jin Yongsheng, who gave you the nerve to slander members of my Kewei Research Institute?"
"Jin Yongsheng, I was your homeroom teacher back in the day—never did I imagine you’d become so brazenly disrespectful!"

Zhang Chu couldn't get a word in edgewise. As the head of the Exotic Beast Forestry Station, Jin Yongsheng was at least a department-level official, and a Level 6 martial artist to boot. Yet, facing the dual outbursts from Huang Wenzhan and Qin Zaiye, all he could do was hang his head like a chastened student, nodding repeatedly.

Zhang Chu sat quietly in the interrogation chair, sipping water, and only gradually did he piece together the story. Jin Yongsheng, as it turned out, was something of a senior alumnus, having graduated from Binzhou University fifteen years ago when Huang Wenzhan was his homeroom teacher. As for Qin Zaiye, that was even more astonishing—he was the director of the Kewei Research Institute, a commissioner of the Martial Management Bureau, and specifically in charge of the Exotic Beast Forestry Station. He was, without question, Jin Yongsheng’s superior.

"Old Huang, is this the kind of student you produced?"
"Old Qin, why don't you admit you failed to manage your subordinates!"

After berating Jin Yongsheng, the two old men turned on each other in the interrogation room, nearly airing every petty grievance from their youth.

Meanwhile, Jin Yongsheng kept pouring water for Zhang Chu, addressing him as ‘junior brother’ with unmistakable deference.

"Principal Huang, Director Qin, please stop arguing. I was already prepared to confess and accept my punishment. You’re making things so difficult for Director Jin—I can’t in good conscience allow that."

Only then did Zhang Chu set down his cup, satisfied. Hearing this, Jin Yongsheng nearly collapsed to his knees. Confess and accept punishment? Who would dare let him do that! On his way to the interrogation room, he’d received a call from the deputy director in charge of discipline at the Martial Management Bureau, ordering him to ensure that Huang Wenzhan and Qin Zaiye left happy.

At long last, after pacifying the two old men, Zhang Chu was now ready to confess. Why couldn't he have done so from the start? Now it was a complete fiasco—losing both face and compensation.

"Jin Yongsheng, tell us: what do you claim your junior did at the Exotic Beast Forestry Station?"
"Jin, be honest. What could the exemplary staff member Zhang Chu from my Kewei Research Institute have possibly done to warrant the intervention of the disciplinary squad?"

Huang Wenzhan and Qin Zaiye fixed their gazes on Jin Yongsheng.

With a thud, Jin Yongsheng fell to his knees on the spot: "Brother Zhang, you did nothing wrong—it was my conscience that failed; I wronged you!"

...

"Director Jin, everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is to recognize and correct them."
"I forgive you."

Half an hour later, at the entrance to the disciplinary squad, Zhang Chu gripped Jin Yongsheng’s hand with earnest gravity.
"You’re right, Mr. Zhang. I’ll definitely amend my ways!"

After Jin Yongsheng and his people made their hasty exit, Zhang Chu stretched languidly, basking in the rare sunlight. "I wonder if that takeout I ordered the other day is still edible."

Still, Zhang Chu was in good spirits. Jin Yongsheng’s apology was sincere, to say the least. With a thought, he checked the contents of his storage ring—nothing but treasures: over twenty pelts and skeletons of Level 1 exotic beasts, one core from a Level 2 beast, and five Blood Vitality Pills. These were all compensation for emotional distress and lost work, offered by both the disciplinary squad and the Forestry Station.

Just now, Jin Yongsheng had personally withdrawn the charges and publicly admitted to arresting the wrong man. Had it not been for this generous compensation, Zhang Chu might have pressed the issue—demanding to know exactly what he’d done wrong.

"Zhang Chu, how about coming to my office for some tea?" As soon as Jin Yongsheng left, Huang Wenzhan seized the chance to recruit him. Zhang Chu was now the pride of Binzhou University; if he could represent the university in the martial examination, it would cause an uproar.

"Zhang Chu, why not come to the research institute instead? Your current salary is far too low—I could offer at least fifty thousand a month, plus profit shares!" Qin Zaiye also grabbed his arm, unwilling to let go.

The success of the Blood Essence Pill depended on Zhang Chu; he was now the Kewei Research Institute’s most valuable asset. Furthermore, Qin Zaiye produced an access permit for the Exotic Beast Forestry Station. With this permit, Zhang Chu could openly enter the forest under the institute’s name, collecting beast carcasses and cores with impunity. This privilege belonged exclusively to Qin Zaiye and the institute.

"Principal Huang, Director Qin, I haven’t bathed in three days—I reek. Perhaps another time?"

Zhang Chu sniffed at his clothes; the sour stench could rival that of fermented snail noodles. Huang Wenzhan and Qin Zaiye didn’t press the issue. In fact, Qin Zaiye even had his personal driver take Zhang Chu home.

Back home, Zhang Chu didn’t bother with the three-day-old takeout and collapsed into bed, falling into a deep sleep. When he awoke, it was already the next morning.

Wandering into the living room, he noticed the remnants of the takeout. "What happened here? Did a dog get to it?" Without thinking much of it, he tossed the leftovers into the outside bin.

After a hot shower, Zhang Chu retrieved five Blood Vitality Pills and the Level 2 beast core from his storage ring and consumed them.

"Ding! Detected: host ingested one Level 2 beast core. Blood Vitality +150."
"Ding! Detected: host ingested five Grade 1 Blood Vitality Pills. Blood Vitality +75."

No white pop-up appeared; the Martial Skill Proficiency module had yet to activate. With a thought, Zhang Chu brought up his personal information panel:

Name: Zhang Chu
Level: 3
Additional Blood Vitality: 225
Total Blood Vitality: 2105/15000
Martial Skill: Skyward Cannon (Grade 1 Low)
Skill Proficiency: Advanced
Martial Skill: Iron Mountain Shield (Grade 1 Low)
Skill Proficiency: Intermediate
Martial Skill: Thirteen Blazing Swords (Grade 1 Low)
Skill Proficiency: Intermediate

After tidying up the apartment, Zhang Chu was about to head to the garage and take the Thunderbolt L1 for a spin—and maybe finally get it registered—when Zhou Chuanxiong called: "Brother Zhang, great news! The official mercenary group missions at the Warrior Center are now open. You have to come—the rewards are absolutely insane!"

It was finally happening. Zhang Chu hung up and sped off toward the Warrior Center.