Chapter 194 - 193: You Just Arrange the People, I’ll Kill Them
Chapter 194: Chapter 193: You Just Arrange the People, I’ll Kill Them
"Captain Li... assigned a mission to this young master?!"
"And a High-B level mission, no less!"
"..."
Hearing what Li Youtao said, the group of auxiliary guards at the door stared with wide eyes, all thinking for a moment that they must have misheard.
Their faces turned deathly pale as they sensed impending doom.
These missions were directly related to them. If Wu Chen accepted a mission, someone would naturally have to be assigned to assist him.
The Captains could use their rank as an excuse to ignore these young masters, and even the lowest-ranking Demon Suppression Guards could claim to be busy and keep their distance.
But they, the auxiliary guards who were always on call, had no such choice.
So in the end, the task of helping these young masters complete their missions would fall to them.
And they knew without even thinking what would become of them if they had to follow these weak-kneed young masters.
"This mission is neither difficult nor simple. It’s perfect for a newcomer like you to get your feet wet."
Li Youtao ignored the reactions of the auxiliary guards, offering these words casually to put Wu Chen at ease.
From their earlier exchange, he had already confirmed that Wu Chen was more than he seemed.
The man was, without a doubt, a true expert at the Perfection of the Blood Coagulation Realm. His agility was far beyond that of some pampered young master who had only strengthened his body with medicinal baths.
Moreover, based on the immense strength Wu Chen had just displayed, he estimated it would only take him three to five months to cross the threshold into the Leakless Realm.
In less than half a year, at most, he would break through that barrier and become a first-rate expert.
Li Youtao’s earlier contempt had subsided considerably.
"Captain Li, should we step out for a moment?"
Li Qi spoke unsteadily. Having been closest to the shockwave from their clash, his head was still reeling.
Although he hadn’t clearly seen who won or lost, he figured Wu Chen must have at least passed Captain Li’s test.
That was why he had vaguely heard Captain Li agree to Wu Chen’s request and decide to issue a Level B mission.
Missions of this level were usually confidential, not something a mere guard like him or the auxiliary guards at the door were allowed to overhear.
"No need. It’s not a particularly crucial mission. You all should know about this anyway."
Li Youtao shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, signaling for them to relax and not to panic.
He then turned back to Wu Chen and began to explain the details of this so-called "High-B" level mission.
"Over a month ago, the Cangwu City Demon Suppression Bureau received intelligence that three Blood Coagulation Realm barbarian spies had infiltrated Cangzhou’s territory from Qingzhou."
"After investigation, we discovered their target was Cangwu City, so we classified it as a Level A mission."
"The matter was critical, so the Demon Suppression Bureau launched a city-wide manhunt. Two of the spies hiding in the city have already been eliminated, leaving only one on the run. That’s why the mission was downgraded to ’High-B.’"
"This last one is hiding in some godforsaken corner. We’ve been searching for over a month with no trace of him. But we’re certain he hasn’t accomplished his objective yet, so he must still be in or around Cangwu City."
"Your mission is to find this person."
With that, Li Youtao finished explaining the mission. He watched Wu Chen, waiting to see if he would dare to accept it.
After all, the strength of a Blood Coagulation Realm Barbarian couldn’t be compared to an ordinary Martial Artist of the same realm. Even a Golden Eagle Captain would have to be careful when facing one.
Otherwise, they could end up dead.
This was also why the Demon Suppression Bureau had dispatched over thirty Tiger Head Captains and one Golden Eagle Captain when they first received news of the three barbarians entering the city.
"..."
Wu Chen remained silent, staring intently at Li Youtao with a strange look in his eyes.
After a long moment, he finally said, "...Are you messing with me?"
’Forget the area outside the city. Cangwu City itself has a population in the millions. How am I supposed to even begin looking for this barbarian spy?’
’And the vast mountains outside the city offer even fewer clues.’
’This feels less like a real mission and more like he doesn’t trust me, so he just made something up to send me on a wild goose chase.’
"Heh heh... HISS!"
Li Youtao knew this mission, which had been shelved for weeks, was a bit absurd. He couldn’t help but chuckle, which pulled at the fractured arm he held behind his back. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he took a breath before continuing:
"I suppose I wasn’t clear. Here, take this."
As he spoke, he pulled a flat, grayish-brown stone from his robes and tossed it to Wu Chen.
"What’s this?"
"This stone can sense barbarian bloodlines. Its range is limited to thirty zhang. If a barbarian comes within that range, this specially made sensor stone will heat up to alert you," Li Youtao explained.
"Captain Li, do you really think a detection range of thirty zhang is of any use compared to the vastness of Cangwu City and its surroundings?"
Wu Chen rubbed the stone, feeling rather exasperated.
His whole reason for joining the Demon Suppression Bureau was to use its intelligence network to get precise information on wanted criminals in the martial world.
Ideally, information so precise that the target’s location was off by no more than ten zhang, making it easy for him to go and collect their heads.
But this mission from Li Youtao to find a barbarian spy completely contradicted his original intentions.
He would have to search for clues and track the target himself.
And in a massive city of millions like Cangwu City, no less.
It was no different from finding a needle in a haystack!
"Captain Li, let me put it this way..."
He dropped the pretense and said bluntly:
"Just give me a list of people to kill. I’ll take any target below the Leakless Realm. I’ll go straight to their door and kill them. It’ll be more convenient for both of us."
"How does that sound?"
The corner of Li Youtao’s mouth twitched. The anger he had just suppressed flared up again at Wu Chen’s words.
’So arrogant! You’ll take any mission below the Leakless Realm? Who do you think you are!’
’Do you think you’re the protagonist of some storyteller’s epic?!’
It wasn’t just Li Youtao whose eyelid was twitching; everyone present felt their breath catch, wondering how this fellow could be so unbelievably arrogant.
The Perfection of the Blood Coagulation Realm might seem just a hair’s breadth from the Leakless Realm, but in reality, the chasm between the two was a thousand miles wide.
’Or perhaps,’ Li Youtao thought, ’he planned from the start to use the lives of auxiliary guards or other Demon Suppression Guards to build his own list of accomplishments?’
Li Youtao had originally thought Wu Chen’s strength was commendable, that he wasn’t just a useless braggart. But hearing such arrogant words now, his anger flared again, and his expression turned cold.
He really wanted to slap this guy again, but he gave up the idea, thinking how unseemly it would be with both his hands already behind his back.
"This is the mission. Take it or leave it. There are no others for you."
With that, Li Youtao waved his good hand dismissively, clearly showing him the door, no longer willing to waste time arguing with Wu Chen.
Having recovered from his daze, Li Qi, who was standing to the side, understood what was happening. Knowing Wu Chen’s temper, he worried their standoff would escalate into a full-blown fight.
’And in the end, I’d be the one caught in the crossfire.’
He quickly leaned in and whispered to Wu Chen:
"Brother Wu, let’s just take whatever mission they give us for now."
"I know you’re very capable, but you have to take things one step at a time, don’t you think?"
"Once you succeed, you’ll earn everyone’s respect and prove your abilities. After that, do you think they’d deny you a Level A mission?"
"Besides, this is a ’High-B’ level mission! The reward for catching this barbarian spy is sure to be substantial!"
"But if you don’t even try to find the barbarian, you’ll definitely end up with nothing!"
"And you should know, you’re not the only one in the Demon Suppression Bureau looking for this barbarian!"
Li Qi’s words were perfectly reasonable.
After a moment’s thought, Wu Chen nodded. After all, arguing further would only annoy Captain Li and make it harder for him to operate within the Demon Suppression Bureau down the line.
"Captain Li, I’ll take the mission," Wu Chen announced to the figure behind the desk.
"Then I wish Young Master Wu a swift capture of the Northern Barbarian spy and a great deal of merit."
Li Youtao nodded, breathing an inward sigh of relief.
He had been genuinely worried that Wu Chen would keep arguing. Or worse, that he might use his family background to obtain a mission elsewhere that was beyond his actual capabilities.
In Li Youtao’s eyes, Wu Chen accepting this mission was the best possible outcome.
But just then, he heard Wu Chen speak again. "Captain Li, there is one more thing."
"What is it?" Li Youtao asked.
"Assign an auxiliary guard to assist me."
"A small matter. Pick one yourself from the auxiliaries."
Li Youtao gestured with his chin toward the group of auxiliary guards at the door, whose faces were as pale as paper.
The message was clear: Wu Chen could choose whomever he liked.
The reason Li Youtao was so agreeable this time was simple.
The presence of a Northern Barbarian spy in Cangwu City was a real and well-known fact.
The sensor stone’s ability to detect a barbarian’s bloodline was also real and infallible.
And based on the strength Wu Chen had displayed, dealing with the barbarian wouldn’t be a major problem for him.
But Li Youtao highly doubted Wu Chen was lucky enough to just take a stroll outside and stumble upon this fugitive Northern Barbarian spy.
Therefore, even if an auxiliary guard was assigned to him, that guard wouldn’t be in any real danger.