Chapter 106 - Highly Valued

Residents of the City of Sin included surviving source energy users who had left the Wipers, Preservers, and even the Coalition, as well as others of unknown origin.

According to Tu Zi, these people were called source energy users because some of them weren’t affiliated with any faction and were only loyal to source energy, money, and weapons.

“Why would the Coalition let these people and this place exist?” Han Qingyu couldn’t wrap his head around it.

“Just like the normal world, our behind-the-scenes world also needs shadowy corners that accommodate the outlaws and outcasts. Not having it would just lead to greater chaos and destruction,” Tu Zi explained. “Of course, it’s not like that place is completely lawless. They have principles and codes that they need to abide by in exchange for a safe haven. Breaking them means death.”

“That can’t be. They’re offering bounties for people’s heads there. What kind of principles and codes could they possibly have?” Han Qingyu grumbled. A thought then occurred to him, and he perked up. “How much is the reward for my head?”

“Uh... let me do the conversions.” There was a brief silence on Tu Zi’s end. “Roughly three million yuan and twenty source energy cores.”

Han Qingyu reflexively gulped. Why did he suddenly feel like killing himself?

A pang of anxiety hit Tu Zi at the lack of a response. “Brother Qing, did you pass out or something? Don’t be nervous, Brother Qing. After all, you’re the guy who outran a Glowing Blue Sharpie for an hour.”

“I’m okay, I’m fine. I just didn’t expect to be worth so much.” Han Qingyu tried to compose himself, but in the end, he couldn’t resist asking, “Do they really pay out?”

Tu Zi fell briefly silent. “Mn, both the money and the energy cores have to first be turned in for safekeeping before bounty missions can be issued. That Mr. Zhu is probably afraid of being held accountable for his failed mission and is trying to make up for it. There’s also always the possibility that he just really hates you, or he has some ulterior motive toward you...”

Han Qingyu hardly paid attention to any of Tu Zi’s analyses and simply barreled on with his questions. “So when are those people coming? Have they made any attempts? How strong are they? Do we have any specific intel?”

“Intel?” Tu Zi was at a momentary loss. “So far, everyone who’s taken on these bounty missions has been one of our own.”

Han Qingyu was stunned speechless.

“Every faction actually has members in the City of Sin. Brother Qing, you understand, right? We Refusers have already deployed our own people to fill up all the available mission slots,” Tu Zi said smugly.

“Oh... so the Coalition plans to claim this bounty of money and energy cores?” Han Qingyu asked.

After mulling it over, he realized this was actually a pretty good deal, though he wasn’t sure what kind of evidence they needed to claim the reward. An overwhelming desire to go to the City of Sin welled up within Han Qingyu. It was too bad he wasn’t strong enough for it yet, and he would probably become too well-known to infiltrate in the future.

“Of course not, Brother Qing! How could we?!” Tu Zi exclaimed, a particular earnestness in his voice. “It’s just that this mission has a time limit of half a year. If our people take up the mission slots first, you’ll be relatively safe for the time being.”

“Oh... but won’t that expose them? Is it okay for them to fail the mission?”

“Failing a single mission won’t have that big of an impact. As for having their affiliations exposed... every faction has people in the City of Sin, assigned to take on bounties against their own people. Everyone’s well aware of this. That doesn’t make it any easier to pick those infiltrators out from the crowd, though. They probably also didn’t expect us to go all out this time, even making use of our best-hidden operatives to fill the mission quota,” Tu Zi explained.

Despite his childish tone, he’d actually gone to considerable lengths for this, calling on every connection he had to make it happen. He had hoped to get some recognition from Han Qingyu for his efforts.

“So what you’re saying is, even if many people take on a mission, these bounty hunters won’t usually come in teams, right?” Han Qingyu asked seriously, his tone abruptly shifting. “Most of them will be alone or in pairs? Since they’re competing for the reward, they probably distrust each other.”

This line of questioning left Tu Zi rather baffled, so he just replied simply, “Mn, that’s right.”

“I see,” Han Qingyu muttered to himself. “And what happens after this six-month deadline passes?”

“Keep having people fill the slots?”

“Is that really necessary? Maybe we can see how things go once that time comes.”

“Mn.” Tu Zi made an acknowledging sound.

At that moment, he finally realized Han Qingyu’s intentions. Brother Qing plans to hunt down the assassins from the City of Sin in the future!

“Brother Qing, you’re amazing!” The admiration in Tu Zi’s voice carried a stifling sweetness.

Han Qingyu didn’t know how to respond. Does this kid... swing this way? He kind of seems like the type, though. I’ve also heard of such situations happening in real life before...

Chills ran down his spine. This was giving him goosebumps.

Han Qingyu abruptly hung up.

After ending his call with Tu Zi, he stepped out into the hallway.

“Phone call for Han Qingyu!” the officer called for him again.

Han Qingyu picked up the phone with an irritable tension in his voice. “What do you want?! You’re not—You’re not thinking of offering yourself to me, are you? I’m not—”

“I could get on board with that.” A girl’s timid voice came through the line.

“Wobbles?”

“Mn.”

“Ah... what do you want?”

“To offer myself to you.” She giggled.

“Stop messing around. What’s this really about?”

Xin Yaoqiao had actually called to inform Han Qingyu about the same thing. When she learned that he had already received news, she repeatedly urged him to join the Gold Erasers, saying it would be safer for him there.

The second call ended.

Han Qingyu turned to look at the officer. “Can I use this phone to make an internal call?”

Since it was an internal call, the officer agreed.

After making the call and stepping out, Han Qingyu checked the number and discovered it was an extension line connected to the home of the former army commander, Shen Fengting.

***

Han Qingyu stood on the outer side of the perimeter wall that surrounded the training grounds. Gesturing at the box of source energy cores in his hand, he said, “These are mine. Ten cores. I’ll leave them with you for now. It’s our last day before we graduate, and I’m worried things will be a little chaotic. It’s not safe to leave them at the dorms.”

The armor-clad Shen Yixiu glanced up at him.

“Do you really trust me this much? I live off of source energy cores, you know.”

“That’s exactly what makes me trust you even more.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know that following me gets you what you need. I’ve already found a way to get rich in the future. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Shen Yixiu took the box with a smile and prepared to leave after only exchanging a few words. Her grandfather was home alone, and she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible before going to the front lines.

Han Qingyu told her about the recruit combat assessment event that the White Erasers were hosting and asked if she wanted to compete for the prize of two energy cores.

Although clearly tempted, she glanced down at herself and said, “I think I’ll pass. It wouldn’t be right—or fair—for me to join as a recruit. Also, I’ll make my own arrangements to join you in whatever platoon you end up choosing.”