Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Qin Lan emerged from Lu Xingshan’s office looking thoroughly refreshed–in spirit, at least.
Their brief meeting had settled the precise terms of the trade.
Lu Xingshan would acquire Qin Lan’s newly obtained [Public Opinion Mouthpiece] for eighty percent of the Anomaly Hunter Bureau’s purchase price.
But instead of paying Qin Lan in Bureau points, he would let Qin Lan choose one item within that value and exchange for it using Lu Xingshan’s authority.
As a 4-Star Anomaly Hunter and director of the Anomaly Hunter Bureau in Safe Zone 088, Lu Xingshan’s authority exceeded Qin Lan’s by countless levels.
Opening a single catalog category nearly blinded Qin Lan.
“This much?!” Qin Lan almost choked on his saliva. “I couldn’t browse even one-tenth of this!”
Lu Xingshan reclined leisurely on the sofa and sipped his tea.
“Of course not.”
“An Anomaly Hunter’s rank is purchased with their life and symbolizes their strength. If you could exchange for everything I can, why would I bother raising my rank?”
Qin Lan wanted to fire back, but restrained himself.
The exchange mattered. Focus on the exchange.
A 3-Star cursed artifact was worth more than twice the corpse of an anomaly at the same rank — over six hundred Bureau points.
Even at eighty percent, that left only a little over five hundred.
“That’s a difference of more than a hundred Bureau points…”
Qin Lan’s heart ached.
Lu Xingshan heard his muttering and smiled meaningfully.
“Reluctant to part with them?”
“I never verified whether your F-rank Talent was genuine. Charging a little interest for that isn’t excessive, is it?”
“Your performance during the exam gives me ample reason to suspect an error in your Talent records. I could legally order another examination.”
Qin Lan went rigid.
Lu Xingshan gently blew across his steaming tea.
“But… everyone has secrets. I’m getting old and can’t be bothered to meddle in everything.”
“As long as you don’t harm the Safe Zone’s interests, who cares about the rest?”
Qin Lan finally relaxed a little.
As expected, someone had noticed the clues left by the attribute gains from his resurrections.
But the recording and resurrection itself did not appear to have been detected. Otherwise, Lu Xingshan would not be calmly drinking tea with him.
“An error in your Talent records could be a minor matter or a major one… But the Anomaly Hunter Bureau manages your file, and I manage the Bureau in Safe Zone 088.”
“If I say there is no problem, then there is no problem.”
Lu Xingshan spoke casually, but his confidence was absolute.
Qin Lan had no complaints left.
Lu Xingshan could have used the secret of Qin Lan’s second Talent awakening to force him to surrender the [Public Opinion Mouthpiece] for nothing. Instead, he charged only a little over a hundred Bureau points in “interest.”
Once the use of his 4-Star authority was included…
Qin Lan was the one profiting enormously.
“Thank you for your support, Director.”
Qin Lan understood that Lu Xingshan was extending goodwill.
Lu Xingshan waved him off.
“Enough formalities. Pick something already.”
“You look so hungry for the catalog that you’ve gone stupid.”
Qin Lan chuckled, thanked him again, and concentrated on the exchange list.
Before long, he removed every marked item except one.
“Director, I’ve chosen.”
Lu Xingshan had been resting with his eyes closed. He looked at the selection, and his expression shifted slightly.
“Are you sure you want this?”
Qin Lan nodded solemnly.
“I’m sure.”
—
Curse Codex: [Talent Deepening]
Exchange Price: 505 Bureau points
—
At its core, a Curse Codex used the power of curses to strengthen its practitioner.
Different codices followed different paths and emphasized different aspects.
Some focused on the body, some on the mind, and others on the Talent itself.
They also divided into numerous branches based on Talent type.
The [Talent Deepening] codex Qin Lan chose devoted the power of curses entirely to stimulating the potential of a Talent.
It also had no type restrictions and was broadly compatible with every kind of Talent.
Qin Lan’s reasoning was clear.
“Whether physical or mental, my attributes can increase without limit through death.”
“I can replicate attack methods from anomalies. It only requires more time and luck.”
In the previous instance, he had accidentally obtained the excellent [Baton Secret Art: Three Strikes, Three Guards].
“In that case, I may as well choose a codex designed to enhance my Talent. Perhaps it will produce an unexpected benefit.”
Qin Lan nodded again.
“This one.”
Lu Xingshan wasted no more words. He tapped the screen, then looked at Qin Lan.
“Done. The codex will be sent to your account as a document. Check it shortly.”
“Also, as director, I need to remind you of something.”
Lu Xingshan rose, his voice turning serious.
“The next time you enter a Fallen Zone, remember that anomalies aren’t your only enemies.”
“Sometimes, humans are more vicious than ghosts.”
Qin Lan’s heart tightened. He lowered his head in acknowledgment.
After leaving the office, Qin Lan checked his communicator.
Besides Xue Chuan’s earlier message saying he had business elsewhere, there was indeed an encrypted document.
“Top-secret Anomaly Hunter Bureau material. Transmission in any form is strictly prohibited. Violators will be hunted without end by every Anomaly Hunter… That’s intimidating.”
Qin Lan licked his lips and prepared to study the [Talent Deepening] codex worth more than five hundred Bureau points.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
After hesitating for a moment, Qin Lan composed a message and sent it.
[Happy birthday.]
Su Xiaoyue’s birthday had never been a secret at school.
Even a marginal figure like Qin Lan… Well, in a sense, he had actually been rather famous, but that was beside the point.
Even he remembered the date clearly.
The Su Xiaoyue Admirers’ Alliance held a small celebration that day to honor their goddess.
Activities included, but were not limited to, sharing and displaying beautiful photographs of Su Xiaoyue, reciting newly written love letters, and other events of uncertain purpose.
Qin Lan usually preferred to call it the “Stalker Convention” or the “Clown Alliance.”
Interestingly, this so-called admirers’ alliance was exceptionally harmonious. Every member had confessed to Su Xiaoyue and been firmly rejected, so strictly speaking, they all stood on the same side.
If I cannot win her and you cannot win her, then we are all brothers.
Beep, beep.
Only three seconds later, Qin Lan received a reply.
[Are you free? Want to go out for a meal?]
He stared at the screen in astonishment for quite some time before grasping what kind of message he had received.
“Uh… If the Clown Alliance finds out, won’t they tear me limb from limb?”
“I might wake up tomorrow as the people’s minced remains scattered through the sewer outside my house.”
About half an hour later, Su Xiaoyue sat nervously beside the window of a pleasant cafe, her gaze darting uncontrollably.
Every thirty seconds, she checked her phone, then looked toward the entrance.
Today, Su Xiaoyue looked especially captivating.
A crisp white shirt beneath a simple black-and-white cardigan made her resemble an obedient, fluffy kitten.
She wore a perfectly pressed gray skirt, and even the small leather shoes on her feet had been polished to a shine.
She wore no makeup, but had clearly prepared with great care.
As she leaned against her chair, warm sunlight filtered through the window and scattered softly across her profile, making her already refined features even more exquisite.
She looked like the subject of a medieval oil painting.
Su Xiaoyue curled a finger around a lock of hair beside her ear. She had bitten deep marks into the straw in her coffee.
She was extremely nervous.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“I’ve never been downtown before, so I got a little lost.”
The awkward apology made Su Xiaoyue straighten instinctively.
“Hmm? Your hair?”
Only after pulling out a chair and sitting did Qin Lan notice her new hairstyle.
Her neat high ponytail was gone, replaced by curls cascading over her shoulders.
Su Xiaoyue gave a soft sound and avoided his eyes.
“I changed it. I thought I’d try a new style after graduating… Does it look strange?”
Qin Lan coughed.
“Not at all. It looks good… It’s just that I passed a hair salon on the way here and saw a poster outside.”
“Your hair looks a lot like the style on that poster… [Curls That Will Make Your Crush Fall Madly in Love at First Sight].”
Su Xiaoyue lowered her head without speaking and gripped the hem of her skirt.
In the sunlight, the tips of her ears looked red enough to drip blood.
After a long while, she asked resentfully,
“Has anyone ever told you that you have very low emotional intelligence?”
Qin Lan froze, then belatedly realized something.
“Oh. Is it the same hairstyle?”
Her ears turned even redder.
Qin Lan was not good at talking to girls, especially face-to-face with a very beautiful one.
He could only scratch his head and laboriously produce a statement of extraordinary emotional intelligence.
“So am I supposed to fall madly in love now, or…?”
Su Xiaoyue lowered her head even farther.
If the world’s most difficult task had to be selected, it would surely be “making a boy who cannot talk to girls converse with a girl who has rejected countless boys.”
Imagine how Qin Lan himself felt.
“This is somehow more stressful than facing the Slit-Mouthed Woman… Why?”
Across from him, Su Xiaoyue hesitated for a long time before finally summoning the courage to speak.
“Actually… I wanted to ask you–”
“What a coincidence, Su Xiaoyue. I never expected to meet you here.”
A hearty laugh interrupted her.
Qin Lan turned toward the newcomer, and his pupils contracted.
Su Xiaoyue frowned but nodded politely.
“Hello.”
The impeccably dressed young man approached with excessive familiarity, dragged over a chair, and sat down. As though Qin Lan did not exist, he smiled and began chatting with Su Xiaoyue.
“After the holiday, we’ll attend the same academy. What fate.”
“I heard of your achievements long ago. To think we would have the opportunity to become schoolmates — our connection truly runs deep.”
His voice was gentle and courteous, yet carried an uncomfortable frivolity and superiority.
Patience gradually left Su Xiaoyue’s eyes, and her tone became distant.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe the word ‘fate’ is appropriate.”
“Also, I’m speaking with a friend. Isn’t it rude to interrupt us like this?”
Only then did the young man seem to notice Qin Lan.
“I see. My apologies… Friend, allow me to introduce myself. I am–”
Qin Lan smiled harmlessly.
“Qian Youquan, young master of the Qian Group. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“I’ve also heard of your deeds for a long time. I never expected to see you alive and in person.”
Qin Lan’s smile grew brighter.
“What… fate.”