Chapter 25: A Pleasant Surprise
Chapter 25: Chapter 25: A Pleasant Surprise
Wang Xi frowned slightly after hearing what Yu Zizi had to say.
The initial joy of receiving the prize money was somewhat diminished.
He had looked it up online; there were several prerequisites to participate in the Professional Hero assessment.
Besides the mandatory Technique Card, one also needed an amateur Hero certificate. The rank didn’t matter; it was purely to prove one’s qualifications.
In short.
You could be a lousy fighter, but you had to have the certificate.
The amateur Hero assessment was held twice a year, while the Professional Hero assessment was only once a year. Even after registering, one still had to go through a screening process and wait in a queue.
’If I miss this chance, who knows how long I’ll have to wait to become a Professional Hero...’
Wang Xi sighed to himself.
Although his physical constitution was better than an ordinary person’s, his current injuries weren’t light. It would take at least ten to fifteen days before he could move normally again.
He definitely wouldn’t make it to next week’s assessment.
A new thought occurred to Wang Xi. ’Maybe I’ll just wait for the 100,000-credit-point reward from the Security Bureau to arrive and use it to buy an Artificial Universal Card for rapid healing.’
’A Card like that is bound to be expensive, but to participate in the assessment as soon as possible, I feel like I can’t skimp on this.’
Just then, Yu Zizi pulled over a chair and sat down, addressing the young man on the bed.
"I have a suggestion, if you’d care to hear it."
"Please, Inspector Yu."
Wang Xi looked up at her.
The purple-haired inspector adjusted her glasses and said,
"You killed Park Hong, which was a contribution to Valley City. I can recommend you to the Hero Association in the name of the Security Bureau... With that qualification and honor, you’ll be able to skip the amateur Hero assessment and participate directly in this year’s Professional Hero assessment."
At this, Wang Xi’s eyebrows shot up.
’They can do that?’
Yu Zizi continued,
"The failure and death rates for the Professional Hero assessment are not low. If you hadn’t already proven your strength in this case, I wouldn’t be making this suggestion."
"If that’s the case, then that would be for the best."
Wang Xi said quickly.
"I agree to this arrangement."
"Good." The purple-haired woman stood up. "Then you should focus on recovering during this time and prepare yourself. This year’s Professional Hero assessment is next month."
"Thank you, Inspector Yu."
Wang Xi said, expressing his thanks.
Yu Zizi nodded and slowly left the hospital room.
The door clicked shut.
"Phew..."
Wang Xi let out a long breath, a smile spreading across his face.
"I guess this is a blessing in disguise, huh?"
...
...
「In the afternoon.」
Wang Xi was looking through study materials for the written exam on his phone when there was a knock at the door. Unexpectedly, the visitors were his colleagues from Cupid Housekeeping.
A whole group of them bustled in, carrying flowers and fruit baskets.
In addition to Zhu Yuhe and the others, there was an unfamiliar middle-aged woman in a well-fitted suit. After introductions, he learned she was the cleaning department’s supervisor, a woman named Yang Fu.
They had heard that Wang Xi had been in a car accident while on a field assignment and had come to visit him together, at their leader’s strong urging.
Of course, the latter was the main reason for their visit.
After some small talk, the supervisor, Yang Fu, sent the others away and remained alone in the room.
Wang Xi already had a feeling he knew what this was about.
Sure enough, the gaunt-faced supervisor put on a seemingly enthusiastic, but fake, smile and said,
"Xiao Wang, you’ve heard about what happened with Lin Zhifeng, right?"
"Yes, I heard Brother Lin was taken away by the Security Bureau."
Wang Xi nodded, feigning hesitation.
Yang Fu considered this for a moment.
"There are some unsavory things involved here, Xiao Wang, so please try not to spread it around. And don’t talk about what really happened on your assignment yesterday, either..."
As she spoke, the supervisor put on a look of regret.
"Lin Zhifeng brought this upon himself, but you only just joined and he’s caused you so much trouble. Not only were you injured, but you’ll also miss next week’s amateur Hero assessment... I’m here on behalf of the company to offer my condolences to an outstanding employee like you."
"The company has approved 100,000 Credit Points in compensation for you, plus an additional month of paid leave."
The supervisor smiled and said nothing more.
She seemed to be waiting for Wang Xi’s response.
’His other colleagues thought he had just been in a car accident, but as a high-level manager, Yang Fu surely knew the real situation.’
’A deputy department supervisor embezzling from the company, colluding with underground forces, and hiring a hitman to murder a subordinate—that would have a negative impact on Cupid Housekeeping’s reputation and public image.’
’Yang Fu’s visit was a pretense. Her real goal was to shut him, the person involved, up.’
But from Wang Xi’s perspective, this wasn’t a bad thing.
’Lin Zhifeng had been arrested, and the death penalty was his only future. The fact that I can also profit from this incident is purely a delightful surprise.’
"Manager Yang, please rest assured."
Wang Xi picked a honey peach from the fruit basket on the nightstand, wiped it casually, and took a bite, juice dripping everywhere.
"My biggest flaw is that I’m too tight-lipped."
"Heh heh." The woman in the gray suit watched the young man slurping the peach juice and covered her mouth as she chuckled. "Tight-lipped is good. That way, everyone is more comfortable, isn’t that right?"
...
...
Cupid Housekeeping was as efficient as ever.
That very evening, the 100,000 Credit Points in compensation were deposited into Wang Xi’s personal account.
"Balance: 101,400."
Wang Xi stared at his phone, grinning like an idiot.
Lying on his hospital bed, he eagerly opened the online shopping platform "Flying Hat" and immediately searched for Magic Stones.
"Today’s Magic Stone price: 104 Credit Points/gram."
The price had dropped.
It was one Credit Point lower than before.
’Buy!’
Wang Xi immediately placed an order for 500 grams of Magic Stone.
He set the delivery address to his hospital room.
A few hours later, at around ten o’clock at night, a nurse brought a package that had been delivered for him into the room.
Wang Xi thanked her.
After the nurse left, he eagerly opened the wooden box and took out the purple Stone Ingot nestled in black foam.
This piece was noticeably larger than the last one, about half the size of his palm and an inch thick.
Wang Xi silently absorbed it.
[Energy: 700]
He closed his eyes, and three orbs of light appeared in his mind: two white and one green. They were the Card Pools of the Merchant Guard "Polk" and the wanted criminal "Park Hong."
Wang Xi drew the two White Cards first.
The results were a [Poisoned Flying Knife] Artifact Card and an [Armed Longsword] Equipment Card.
Both were non-upgradable One-star White Cards.
Wang Xi couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.
He had better equipment and felt there was no need to keep these, so he crushed the two White Cards into Experience Points and fed them all to his [Randall Body Refining Technique].
During this process, an idea suddenly struck him.
He tried to crush the [Solomon Universal Gun Battery], but it didn’t work at all. Kaos had no reaction to the Card, as if in disdain.
’What a shame...’
Wang Xi sighed to himself.
’If this Card could be crushed into Experience Points, it would mean he could grind for Experience by buying up cheap Artificial Cards online in bulk, allowing for a huge leap in his power.’
But judging by the result, Kaos only recognized genuine articles.
No matter how beautiful or sweet the artificial ones were, they weren’t as special as the originals.
[Randall Body Refining Technique (Technique Card)]
[Quality: White One Star (Upgradable)]
[Experience Points: 83/100]
Two One-star White Cards had yielded 30 Experience Points.
Seeing that his Body Refining Technique was about to undergo a Star Promotion, Wang Xi was in a good mood. He immediately drew the last Green Card.
"The prey’s heart is hidden between its ribs, like a red ladybug caught in a spider’s web. Every struggle, every beat, is the toll of a death knell... I can hear you."
Park Hong’s hoarse, cold voice echoed in Wang Xi’s mind.
[Listen to Heartbeat (Skill Card)]
[Quality: Green One Star (Upgradable)]
[The killer doesn’t remember which corpse he got this from, but it has been his companion for a long time. He has grown ever more obsessed with the thrill of the hunt, for it allows him to listen to the heartbeats of his terrified prey.]
[Upon use, you will gain a special perception, allowing you to determine a target’s position by listening to their heartbeat. Each use of this Card consumes a small amount of stamina.]
Wang Xi was a little surprised.
He had seen this Card before.
After Park Hong died, it was one of the Cards that materialized from his corpse. But Wang Xi hadn’t taken it at the time, and it was eventually collected by Inspector Yu as evidence to be stored at the Security Bureau.
Now, Wang Xi had obtained it by drawing from the Card Pool.
’Does this count as making a copy?’
He thought, then chose to activate it immediately.
A green light flashed.
Wang Xi felt a new ability settle into his body. Following his instincts, he closed his eyes.
His vision went completely dark.
THUMP-THUMP, THUMP-THUMP...
Just then, a clear heartbeat reached him, and with it, a pulsating red line appeared in the darkness, only a few meters away.
But the red line didn’t move.
’It’s the patient in the next room.’
Wang Xi realized.
He tilted his head slightly, expanding the ability’s range. More and more varied heartbeats reached him.
Some were stationary, some were moving. Some were overhead, others downstairs... Within this building, whether it was a nurse or a patient, as long as they were within a twenty-meter radius of Wang Xi, he could track their movements.
’A very powerful Card.’
Wang Xi opened his eyes, a smile on his face.
This Card was more of a support type, useful for tracking, providing early warnings, and reconnaissance.
’No wonder I couldn’t shake "Black Mamba" Park Hong’s pursuit back then...’
he thought to himself.
Finally, Wang Xi took out a deep, pitch-black Card and examined it carefully.
—[Chekhov’s Gun]
A unique, unknown Card.
The back of the Card was covered in an irregular, black, crystalline pattern. On the front was a dimly lit little room, where a man in a suit sat hunched over a desk, writing with his back to the viewer.
The entire image was in black and white.
Like an old photograph.
As he stared at it, Wang Xi suddenly heard a voice quietly echo in his mind:
"Time is the best teacher; but unfortunately, it kills all of its students..."
It was a mature, gentle male voice.
Wang Xi’s pupils contracted.
He saw that on the Card in his hand, the figure hunched over the desk began to move.
The man slowly turned his head, revealing the face of someone in his thirties. His handsome, monocled features broke into a smile.
"So, young man, please do not wait for opportunities, but create them."
"Are you... the great writer, Mr. Chekhov?"
Wang Xi asked in a hushed, startled voice.
But the man shook his head.
"I am neither a great writer nor Chekhov. I am merely a pistol that wants to be a doctor. You can call me Dr. Anton."
A pistol that wants to be a doctor...
Wang Xi was left speechless.
’Besides, why would a Card have the ability to communicate? Is it a hidden effect unique to Black Cards?’
He didn’t understand.
"Young man, I see that this world is sick. You are still very weak. Death can appear at any moment and take you away..."
the man calling himself Dr. Anton said with heartfelt gravity.
"Go and create opportunities. Become stronger. When the time comes, I will help you heal this world."