Meng Chao could not see Lu Siya’s expression under the mask.
He could only hear her say, “Do you know why I insisted on inviting you and Lin Chuan to the mine exploration?
“It was originally a three-in-one mission.
“First, I wanted to work together with the researcher from the abnormal beast research department to investigate the mystery of the Blood Flowers under Raging Waves. She’s Professor Ye, the Blood Flower specialist.
“Second, I wanted to get the first mining rights for the Red Radiance Jade mine which would gain me a higher status in my family as well as give me my own funds to recruit and launch my own operations.
“Third, this was also a recruitment mission. The abnormal beast research department is recruiting people to expand. Outstanding people like Lin Chuan could take the chance and use this golden platform to rise to the top.
“Unfortunately, he was already bewitched by an abnormal beast and became the target of my investigation… But fortunately, you were around, Meng Chao. Are you interested in joining the abnormal beast research department?”
Meng Chao cocked his eyebrows.
“There’s no need for you to be so surprised. Don’t you understand your value yet? Even if we don’t consider the mine exploration, your performance during the northern offense was already outstanding. Most importantly, you don’t belong to any force of power.
“You’re not influenced by any family either. You’re a talented person who is very worthy of being cultivated,” Lu Siya said. “We also share a relationship with the same secrets from the mission in which we gained a blessing. Your extraordinary performance has already proven your loyalty and abilities. I assure you, you will definitely be able to ride the tailwind from the abnormal beast research department and realize your ambitions.”
Meng Chao was very tempted.
The abnormal beast research department sounded really powerful.
The research of monsters hidden in Dragon City fit the progress of the war based on the memory fragments of his previous life as well. It was the key deciding whether they would lose or win.
Besides, Qin Hu might have been crass in his words, but his logic was sound. If he managed to ride Lu Siya’s coattails, he could cut down twenty years of his cultivation time…
Meng Chao narrowed his eyes and thought about it carefully.
“Will you pick my coat?” Lu Siya suddenly asked.
“What?” Meng Chao was shocked. He shook his head quickly. “No. Fine, perhaps my gaze has been focused on your coat, but your coat isn’t the coat I’m thinking about… What I’m saying is—”
“There’s no need to explain it. I heard you,” Lu Siya said airily. “If you ride on my coattails, you’ll get to cut down twenty years of your cultivation time, right?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t do something as despicable as installing a listening device on you. I didn’t eavesdrop intentionally either. It’s just that my spirit sensitivity is too high right now. Even if I wear the blocking helmet, there are all sorts of sounds that reach my ears. You and Qin Hu were in the ward next door, and you were… talking really fearlessly. Trust me, I didn’t want to hear all of your crass words.”
“…” Meng Chao sucked in a deep breath and said seriously, “Big Sis Ya, since we’re already at this point in the conversation, I have to explain myself. Honestly, I’m not familiar with Qin Hu at all. No, I can’t even say that we’re not familiar with each other. It would be better to say that we have a grudge against each other. I can’t stand sleazy and slick middle-aged men the most. I absolutely disagree with his crass words, and I’m really angry about it!
“So, you don’t have to try to preserve my dignity. If you want to teach him a lesson, do it. You can also take away two percent of the profit he will get from the first mining rights.”
Lu Siya chuckled softly under the mask and said, “Of course I believe you. But you have to believe in me as well. I’m not treating you as Lin Chuan’s replacement when I ask you to be my friend and invite you to join the abnormal beast research department.
“After all, his looks are… and you look… You understand. No one will ever talk about you two in the same vein.”
“…Oh,” Meng Chao said. “But I’m still studying!”
“That’s not a problem. The special service members of the abnormal beast research department are divided into different ranks. There are full time staff members, off-staff investigators, and temporary technicians,” Lu Siya explained. “For example, I’m still working in Sky Pillar Corporation and am even managing my own company. I don’t have to go to the frontlines twenty-four hours a day to fight.
“Due to your situation, there’s no need for you to become a publicly known investigator of the abnormal beast research department. You can still be a student and go to university, cultivate, and live your life. Just that from time to time, you will receive secret training and obtain resources. With your status, you’ll also be able to join some of the more secretive missions, which is where you will be able to maximize your value.”
Meng Chao thought about it.
An off-staff investigator sounded pretty decent.
Lu Siya continued, “You have a lot of spirit energy, and you’re much stronger than most people at the peak of Earth Realm. What you lack is the way to lawfully use your power.
“Agricultural University’s martial arts course definitely has a lot of amazing martial arts, but I can see that you have ambitions. You don’t want to become a pure martial artist or someone who is just skilled in harvesting, right?
“If you join the abnormal beast research department, you will not only be able to come in contact with a lot of core secrets, you will also learn a lot of ways to use your spirit energy. These methods are all those you could not learn from the alliance of five universities and even Dragon City University. They will help you climb to the top of the Supernatural Tower.
“We might be a small organization which has just been born, but we have the best Deity Realm fighters in Dragon City supporting us. You won’t be able to find anyone outside teaching you how to use stones to fight.
“Also, don’t you want to get to the bottom of the secret behind the three holes on the White Spirit’s spine?”
Meng Chao thought about it. “Does the abnormal beast research department know the answer?”
“Not for the time being.” Lu Siya shook her head slowly. “But the only department with the ability and responsibility to investigate this matter in Dragon City is the abnormal beast research department. I swear that I will use every bit of my ability to uncover the truth. If you want to take revenge for Lin Chuan, you should help me. Regardless of whether the being who drilled those three holes into the White Spirit’s spine is a ‘human’ or some other creature, that being is the culprit!”
Meng Chao stared at Lu Siya and said, “Not only will I take revenge for Big Brother Lin, I will also carry out his dying will. I’ll ensure that all children in Dragon City will be able to grow under the same brilliant sun and be involved in a fair competition.”
“Then, you have all the more reason to join the abnormal beast research department and climb up the ranks with everything you have. Then, you’ll be able to have more power, wealth, authority, and influence,” Lu siya said coldly.
“Right now, you’re just a puny two-star superhuman. No one will listen to you seriously and think about what you say. No matter how loud you shout, your voice will be easily intercepted, drowned out, or twisted. In the end, aside from you satisfying your cheap sense of justice, you won’t be able to change anything.
“I might not agree with Lin Chuan’s ideals completely, but there is something that he said that is true. It’s only when you climb to the top of the supernatural path will you be able to carry out your will and change the world.
“More importantly, if you act recklessly now, it’s very likely that you will alert the enemy. Lin Chuan and the White Spirit might be dead, but the real culprit remains at large. In fact, he, she, or it might be cooking up an even greater scheme.
“Your passion alone won’t be enough for you to solve all problems. You might even end up getting into trouble.
“If we work together and use the power from the abnormal beast research department, we’ll be able to fulfill Lin Chuan’s dying wish and help all the children in Dragon City bask under the same sun in the future.”
Meng Chao’s heart raced.
As an eighteen-year-old, hotblooded youth, he did not completely agree with Lu Siya’s points.
But as a dead spirit who returned from the apocalypse, he had to admit that not only was it naive of him to think that he could solve all problems with a swing of his arm just because he had a heart full of justice and passion, it was also another form of laziness, cowardice, and running away.
When it came to a fight, you could end it by not being afraid of death and just pressing onward.
But if you wanted to win, you needed a lot more things.
Meng Chao shut his eyes and tried to look for answers in his memory fragments.
The abnormal beast research department… With the number of times it was mentioned, the name gradually became more familiar. It sounded like it was some really powerful organization in the future, but…
“I need to think about this.” Meng Chao shook his head. He had not found his answer yet.
“But of course. You can go back to your ward and think about it. We still have half a day before we go back to Shattered Starlake’s base. Before we leave, tell me your decision,” Lu Siya said. “Share everything with Qin Hu as well. He’s a smart person. I believe he will understand how severe this matter is the moment he hears the abnormal beast research department’s name. He’ll know what he should and should not say when he goes back.”
Meng Chao nodded and walked to the entrance. He then remembered something and turned around.
“By the way, there is something I never got around to asking you,” Meng Chao said in puzzlement. “Back when Qin Hu and I were hiding under the cliff and eavesdropping on you, Lin Chuan, Shen Yulong, and the White Spirit, how did you know that we were around? Is it because you have heightened senses?”
This had been the deciding factor for the battle.
It completely changed their fates, decided the success of the northern offense, and changed Dragon City’s future.
Lu Siya was silent for a long time before she said airily, “It’s not entirely the case. It’s the Blood Jade Essence.”
Meng Chao was stunned.
“Do you remember the Blood Jade Essence that I asked you to give to Lin Chuan to heal his wounds?” Lu Siya said. “I got it after a lot of trouble. There were originally two of them, and they were a pair. Aside from stimulating vitality magnetic fields and increasing the speed of healing, it can also cause a subtle resonance between the vitality magnetic fields of the people who have the pair of jades if they’re within a certain distance from each other.
“Normal superhumans can’t sense it, but I’m a Spirit Senser. If Lin Chuan had it on him, I would be able to sense his breathing, heartbeat, and temperature when he was a certain distance away from me.
“I… I knew that this mission would be dangerous and a lot of people would probably die. That’s why I was concerned as to whether Lin Chuan would remain safe.
“I didn’t expect that even when I was in close contact with him, I wouldn’t be able to sense the existence of the Blood Jade Essence.
“It was only when the two mine exploration teams began fighting against each other and after he revealed his true colors that I sensed a faint ripple from the Blood Jade Essence at the edge of the cliff.
“Once I thought about it carefully, aside from him, the only other person who could possibly have the Blood Jade Essence was you.”
Meng Chao found himself feeling a little awkward.
He did not expect this to be the answer.
He quickly searched through his pockets. “Then, I’ll return it to you now.”
“Forget it. You put it on yourself before. I don’t want it.” Lu Siya sighed softly and said, “Lin Chuan is no longer around. Even if you give it to me, who am I supposed to give it to?”