Isekai: I Have A Gacha System!

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Maiden is the Spirit Medicine to Heal the Blackening

"Without my order, no one is to approach this room."

In the hallway outside, the silver-haired girl stopped and spoke to the two men in black suits behind her, her face devoid of expression.

"Yes, Section Chief Chu."

The two Overlook Bureau Elites stood ramrod straight, bowing their heads slightly as they replied with grave respect.

They immediately took up positions on either side of the door, standing motionless and staring straight ahead.

CLICK.

The girl cautiously turned the doorknob, her movements slow and gentle, as if she were afraid of making too much noise and disturbing the person inside.

Once the door was ajar, she slipped quietly inside.

But when she looked up, her eyes met those of a black-haired young man sitting up in the hospital bed.

Chu Nai froze for a second, then her aloof expression melted away as if touched by a spring breeze, blossoming into a smile as lovely as a peach flower.

"Brother Xi, you’re awake?"

She closed the door behind her and hurried to the bedside with a smile.

"Yeah. I just woke up, and here you are."

Wang Xi replied, patting the edge of the mattress and gesturing for Chu Nai to sit.

The silver-haired girl obediently sat sideways on the edge of the bed, her hands resting lightly on her lap in a picture of docility.

"Where am I?"

Wang Xi asked casually.

"The Professional Warrior Medical Division," Chu Nai said. "It’s right next to the Association’s main building. This place is specifically for treating Professional Warriors and allowing them to recuperate..."

Then, as if remembering something, the girl added another sentence:

"It’s free."

"Oh, okay." Hearing he wouldn’t have to pay, Wang Xi let out a long sigh of relief. "That’s good."

Chu Nai giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

She glanced up at the young man and said:

"You’re still the same as ever, Brother Xi. Such a penny-pincher."

"Stop hating on your big brother again. I’m not stingy with others, I’m just used to being frugal myself."

Wang Xi rolled his eyes.

"It’s tough being poor."

Hearing this, Chu Nai’s smile grew a little wistful. During her years on the Eastern Continent, she had earned numerous scholarships thanks to her outstanding talent and academic performance.

Combined with her guaranteed admission, her life at East Continent University couldn’t be called wealthy, but it was by no means difficult.

Meanwhile, Brother Xi had spent all these years in Valley City, living a hand-to-mouth existence, relying solely on his monthly subsidy to get by.

"It’s really been tough on you."

Chu Nai’s smiling eyes curved like the crescent moon outside the window.

"But the hard times are over now. You’re a Professional Warrior, and this year’s only ’Professional Four Stars’ at that. You won’t be short on money anymore."

"Hard to say." Wang Xi shrugged. "There will be plenty of expenses in the future."

Chu Nai looked away, her voice dropping a little.

"Don’t worry, I’ll help you."

"That won’t be necessary," Wang Xi said with a smile. "But thanks anyway."

They made small talk for a little longer.

Chu Nai’s expression filled with worry and concern as she said:

"After you fell unconscious, the Medical Division gave you a thorough examination, but they didn’t find any major problems. The doctor said you likely just overused your Universal Card in the Maze, and your collapse was caused by extreme exhaustion."

"Brother Xi, your health is the most important thing. Please don’t push yourself so hard in the future, okay? It makes me worry."

"Mm, I know."

Wang Xi smiled and nodded.

But inwardly, he breathed a silent sigh of relief.

’It seems even the Association’s medical equipment can’t detect the abnormality in my heart. Most likely, I’m the only one who can see the corrupted Gear Seal that came with Pinocchio’s Heart.’

"Oh, right, Brother Xi."

Chu Nai stole a glance at him and asked hesitantly:

"Those things you said during your interview... was that all true?"

She had watched the live broadcast of the interview from the conference hall that afternoon, and she couldn’t help but be puzzled when she heard Wang Xi’s answers, which were completely different from her impression of him.

And Yu Zizi and Ning Meng, who were sitting on either side of her, had both worn expressions of surprise and bewilderment.

Chu Nai didn’t understand, so she had specifically asked Inspector Yu about it.

She remembered how Yu Zizi had stared at her for a moment after hearing the question, then looked at her as if she were some kind of rare animal before leaning in to whisper an explanation.

The tips of Chu Nai’s ears had flushed red on the spot, her clear eyes filled with utter shock.

’So Brother Xi likes them big!’

"If I said it wasn’t true, would you believe me?"

Wang Xi glanced at her.

Chu Nai thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Then it’s not true," Wang Xi said with a shrug. "I didn’t want to answer any of the reporters’ questions anyway."

"Mm, I believe you."

Chu Nai said with a smile.

She also breathed a silent sigh of relief.

’Although her own figure wasn’t bad, it couldn’t compare to the exaggerated curves of Ning Meng and Yu Zizi.’

’This fact couldn’t help but make her feel a little defeated.’

’Fortunately, Brother Xi had admitted with his own mouth that everything he said in the interview was a lie.’

’Mm. He doesn’t like them big.’

...

...

"Do you have any plans for the future, Brother Xi?"

Chu Nai asked.

Wang Xi thought for a moment, then took out his professional license. He traced the four golden stars on it and said with a smile, "I guess I’ll try to get promoted to ’Professional Five Stars’ as soon as possible."

He was starting out at Four Stars, so with a bit more effort, he could reach Five Stars.

The Hero Association had a strict requirement: every Professional Warrior must earn 10 Contribution Points per month. Failure to do so would result in penalties ranging from a warning and reduced benefits to demotion or even revocation of one’s license.

The Association didn’t support freeloaders.

Contribution Points could be obtained through Association commissions, routine missions, and emergency deployments.

The public and various agencies would post requests to the Association, offering Credit Points as payment. A Professional Warrior could then accept and complete the request to earn the corresponding Contribution Points.

Routine missions generally fell into three categories: patrolling the Wilderness, clearing out Disaster Areas, and exploring Mazes. These were generally dangerous, and thus offered more Contribution Points.

Emergency deployments occurred when a disaster struck. The Overlook Bureau would issue a call to arms, and the Association would notify any Professional Warriors near the disaster site to provide emergency support and assist the Defense Team in mitigating the catastrophe. This type of activity was the most dangerous, and also offered the most Contribution Points.

Contribution Points wasn’t a lot; one could meet the quota by simply completing a couple of commissions or a single routine mission.

Of course, if one really didn’t want to do missions, they could also buy Contribution Points. The Association supported an internal exchange at a rate of ten thousand to one.

That meant one could spend 100,000 Credit Points a month and not have to do a thing.

"A Five-Star Professional Warrior, huh."

Chu Nai said with a smile.

"You need to accumulate 500 Contribution Points and complete at least one emergency deployment or ten routine missions just to be eligible."

"For most Heroes in the Federation, achieving ’Professional Five Stars’ is their ultimate lifelong goal. It’s not easy... but I’m sure you can do it, Brother Xi."

Wang Xi nodded.

He knew, of course, that becoming a Five-Star Hero was no easy feat. After all, in the eyes of the public, that rank was considered the very pinnacle for Professional Warriors.

Defense Captains, Security Bureau Inspectors, Overlook Bureau squad leaders, and the heads of security for major corporations were almost all Five-Star Heroes.

And above that...

Wang Xi didn’t know much.

It was said that only the strong, those who reached the peak of their ’Profession’ and surpassed their own limits, were granted the title of ’Upper Rank’.

For example, the president of the Valley City Association, Mr. Wei Xuan, was an Upper Rank Hero.

But for Wang Xi, that was all still too far away.

"What about you, Xiao Nai?"

Wang Xi asked.

"Have you been busy? It feels like you’re a machine that’s been wound up tight and never stops. I’ve messaged you several times, but you haven’t replied."

"Ah, I have been pretty busy..."

Chu Nai turned her head, tucking a stray lock of hair.

"Oh," she said, twirling a silver strand of hair around her fingertip and flashing him a playful smile. "Don’t worry about me, Brother Xi. My days are just filled with organizing files, taking meeting minutes, and occasionally running errands for my seniors. I’m so busy I’m constantly run off my feet."