Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1207: Chapter 48: Assessment Questions

In the narrow and tidy basement, the crow kept cawing relentlessly.

The young man emerged from the dim bathroom, bandages wrapped around his body… He casually tossed the towel used to wipe his sweat onto the birdcage, silencing the crow.

The young man slumped onto the sofa, his eyes still vacant, only his lips occasionally twitching… With all he had learned, he could ensure survival even when ribs were piercing his lungs, but couldn’t hasten his recovery.

After all, curse techniques lack any healing properties.

“Didn’t expect this…” 24 lay back fully on the sofa, talking to himself: “Seems it’s a bit difficult to regain certain abilities…”

“Hmm…”

He was an extremely lazy person, even thinking that pondering problems was a waste of time—choosing to sleep instead.

“After I wake up, I should move to another place…”

24 subconsciously thought as his consciousness gradually sank into dreams.

…

…

You have five missed calls.

Upon returning home, Chen Mingming turned on his phone—five missed calls were there, three from Zhou Yusheng, and two from his mother.

Additionally, there was a text message from Zhou Yusheng: Want to have a proper discussion about going abroad again.

His mother also had a text: There are things at the company that need transferring, so she might come home very late, no need to wait.

Alone at home again.

With the desk lamp on, Chen Mingming sat at the table… As he came in, a silver handgun was already placed there.

The handgun was bound to him, could be lent out but wouldn’t be lost.

It returned here naturally because Zhao Le had discarded it—after all, not everyone chooses the most extreme way.

Chen Mingming picked up the silver handgun, a complex smile appearing on his face, then made it disappear again… It could appear or vanish by his will.

Truly fascinating, something only fantasy could manifest… Chen Mingming thought to himself.

By rights… or rather correctly speaking, from the moment he received it, he shouldn’t have been so calm—he himself was unclear when his heart turned so undisturbed.

Perhaps since he encountered that figure by the riverside, seemingly quite close, yet seemingly very distant.

Perhaps even earlier.

Chen Mingming always felt since that maid sent him away, he had forgotten something… He tried to ponder whether anything was forgotten, but upon careful thought, there were no gaps in his memory.

Recalling the boss’s last words to him, Chen Mingming sat quietly.

Two rolls of goatskin were just rolled up there on the desk… If not unrolled, they would vanish with time. If unrolled, he had only five days to complete.

Chen Mingming remained silent.

Upon receiving the handgun, his heart wasn’t overly excited, just felt the wonder.

When confirming it indeed could do remote killings without leaving any trace, his heart wasn’t too stirred either, even faintly feeling reasonable.

But as numerous light and shadows drifted before his eyes, watching every moment of the world, an unprecedented soul tremor inside him, making him feel not as calm as he appeared.

He had always been decisive in actions, a trait cultivated since young.

Therefore, he opened the first roll of goatskin, carefully reading the lines of floating text emerging… The boss said this was the background material and test questions.

“Today, the city witnessed a dismemberment case, victim Wang Liang, chopped and hidden in a rental house.”

Chen Mingming instinctively frowned. The case was one of a sensation, he had learned about it online… Chen Mingming resolved to continue reading patiently.

“Meanwhile, in another place, a similar dismemberment case occurred. Victim Wu Rong, relationship with Wang Liang was that of boyfriend and girlfriend…”

The goatskin text detailed Wang Liang and Wu Rong’s relationship, Wang Liang’s entanglements with several other women—even including Zhang Xiaoqin’s attempted suicide was listed meticulously.

Chen Mingming felt the content on the goatskin was almost police information so far about these two dismemberment cases.

——Key person, Zhao Le.

This was the last text emerging on the goatskin… After waiting for a moment without new text appearing, Chen Mingming began opening the second goatskin roll—this would be the exam questions.

There were two questions.

——Request 1: Assist Zhou Yusheng in finding the true murderer.

——Request 2: Learn to cry.

The first request didn’t surprise Chen Mingming too much—judging by the content on the first goatskin roll, the request was naturally related to these two dismemberment cases.

But the second request left Chen Mingming silent for a long time… After a while, Chen Mingming picked up the phone, already having a plan in mind.

Since the first request was to assist Zhou Yusheng in solving the case, it wasn’t suitable to investigate secretly—even doing the same thing separately doesn’t guarantee increased efficiency.

The crucial part is how to persuade Zhou Yusheng to involve him in this case.

——Key person, Zhao Le…

Chen Mingming looked at the last text on the first goatskin roll, waiting for the call to connect.

“Hello? Mingming? Why call me at this hour?”

“Can I ask you for a favor…”

…

“He accepted… the test.”

You Ye was mixing a drink for Luo Qiu that was as light as water.

Luo Qiu seemed quite expectant, the directly prepared drink was slowly pushed in front of him. Luo Qiu picked up the cup, smelled it, and softly said: “Mengpo?”

“Improved a bit.” The maid chuckled lightly: “Mengpo was too sorrowful, so I added some orange juice, the taste should be much better now.”

Luo Qiu took a sip.

This was the ultimate product of the Series of Seven Wines That Dispels Worries, the prototype of Meng Po Soup… If left to its own devices, it could probably give him a nice dream, right?

Luo Qiu slowly closed his eyes.

The old phonograph in the corner also started playing at this moment.

…

…

“Is that Dong Shaofeng already asleep?”

In the middle of the night, two agents from the Management Bureau were still working overtime… Liu Minghao was writing the report on today’s battle with the mysterious young man known as 24.

How many bullets were used, what Magic was employed, the extent of damage caused, casualty figures, etc., all needed to be reported in detail—especially with recommendations for the aftermath handling.

Once the recommendations were submitted, a specialized evaluation would be conducted within the bureau. After evaluation approval, the logistics department would take charge of the process, typically completing the entire procedure within 48 hours.

In short, one of the Bureau’s main missions was to cover up the impact of the Transcendent on society as quickly as possible.

Wei Zidao brought over two cups of coffee, sat down, and casually said, “That guy, after celebrating his birthday, just went to sleep.”

“Birthday?” Liu Minghao was taken aback and paused his work.

Wei Zidao shrugged and said, “I think it was today? Just past midnight… This might be this kid’s most memorable birthday.”

Liu Minghao took a sip of coffee, seeming a bit more alert, “I didn’t expect this kid to have plans to participate in the logistics department assessment.”

Wei Zidao chuckled and said, “Brother Hao, wasn’t this your deliberate suggestion… When he asked how we would handle Zhao Le, weren’t you the one who ‘unintentionally’ mentioned a few different handling methods?”

Liu Minghao smiled, as there were some things they hadn’t really explained to Dong Shaofeng… That was the matter of the exotic energy lingering in his body.

This peculiar power, transmitted through the dagger Xiang Qiang stabbed into Dong Shaofeng, indeed partially lingered in Dong Shaofeng’s body. It was indeed sealed by Liu Minghao’s own hands—but not as Liu Minghao claimed, that it was impossible to expel.

Although this strange power was peculiar, it wasn’t something that couldn’t be expelled on the spot, as the residue was minimal… No matter how peculiar the energy, it cannot escape the laws of strength and quantity.

No matter how heavy a small iron ball is, it can’t weigh more than a truckload of cotton.

“I never expected that this residual power in Dong Shaofeng’s body would cause some peculiar changes in his physique.” Liu Minghao said with a frown, “I’ve noticed that his cell activity has greatly increased to three times the standard of a normal person… He probably doesn’t even know that his physical fitness has already surpassed some top athletes.”

“It’s a blessing in disguise.” Wei Zidao chuckled, “Under the effect of the seal, who knows how much his body will be enhanced… But no matter how much, he’s clearly no longer an ordinary person.”

Liu Minghao nodded and said, “The Bureau is currently short-staffed, and there’s been action to start selecting some talented people from the military nationwide… As for us, we also have the obligation to uncover potential talents among civilians. Hopefully, pushing Dong Shaofeng up will bring us a little surprise.”

“This kid is quite smart and calm, thinking about it, he might not be useless.” Wei Zidao laughed.

Liu Minghao sighed, then asked, “By the way, how’s the investigation on that mysterious young man going?”

Wei Zidao said seriously, “I’ve searched through the bureau’s database and found no evidence of such a person’s existence. Whether it’s his abilities, his weapons, or even his methods of attack, there’s no recorded information, not even anything for reference.”

“So… it’s all blank?” Liu Minghao frowned, his face grave, “This is troublesome… Though the world is vast, throughout the years, we’ve collected data on both China’s and foreign Transcendents and Dao Monsters…”

At this moment, Liu Minghao received an email. After glancing at it, he said, “The order from above has arrived, approving Dong Shaofeng’s participation in the assessment and the warrant for ’24’, but with a directive to capture alive as much as possible.”

“But we’re short on manpower…” Wei Zidao said with difficulty.

Liu Minghao said, “There’s also a temporary order to delay Bu Bugao’s appointment, temporarily assisting us.”

“Bu Bugao?” Wei Zidao frowned, “That kid is fine… it’s just Wang Hu I feel uneasy about. Brother Hao, no matter how you look at it, Wang Hu doesn’t seem like an ordinary little monster?”

Liu Minghao said, “I’ve checked Wang Hu’s information. He is indeed logged, but only recently added. However, his previous information is all blank… However, many monsters lurk in the mountains, or there are instances where they suddenly manifest… though usually they must undergo review, assessments, and a period of observation before they are approved as agent support for logistics.”

“No idea what method Bu Bugao used to get Wang Hu approved so quickly.” Wei Zidao shook his head, joking, “Could he have seduced the HR lady?”

“Who cares.” Liu Minghao, having served longer, had seen many peculiar things inside the bureau, “Once the files are cleared, we’ll just use them. This ’24’ with a mysterious background and not lacking in combat power, and Wang Hu’s ability to suppress him with force is undoubtedly beneficial for us.”

Wei Zidao nodded.

“Oh… right, the handling plan has also been approved.” Liu Minghao glanced at another newly arrived email on his computer, “Early tomorrow, go to the police station, visit Director Liu, and tell him that the prisoner in the detention center and Chang Xiao’s case can be closed. We’ve found the perpetrator, so let him close the case.”

“Understood!”

…

…

Early in the morning.

“Why won’t you let me in!!”

Faced with this frequent visitor of Team One from the Criminal Police Brigade and also a courier for afternoon tea, Lin Feng felt immense pressure…

“Ms. Ren, you know that this case is highly noticed from above. We can’t disclose it casually…”

Ren Ziling said dissatisfiedly, “I didn’t even visit the crime scene. It’s been almost a week since the case passed before I came! I even brought breakfast for you! Other reporters almost dig everything up, but you don’t even give me leftovers! Is this how you operate!!”

If they were any other reporter, we’d have already kicked them out, regardless of their background…

But of course, Lin Feng didn’t dare voice this, only continuing to entertain this lady with a pained expression… Though she had indeed restrained herself quite a lot, even making Officer Ma wonder if she had taken the wrong medicine and changed her temperament…

While Mammy Ren was fully revealing her true nature, Lin Feng struggled to cope, and down the hallway, a short-haired woman in a suit was slowly walking by.

Feeling that this was a sort of compensation… looking at the short-haired woman’s black long stockings, Officer Lin thought the day wasn’t too bad.

“Who is she?” Ren Ziling asked curiously.

“Oh, she’s a forensic doctor who just joined the bureau.” Lin Feng responded casually, “Her name is Nan Xiao Nan, she’s only been here a few days, you probably haven’t seen her.”

“A new forensic doctor?” Mammy Ren’s eyes twinkled, then she abruptly snatched back the breakfast bag in Lin Feng’s hand, “Alright, I’m leaving now, you can go back!”

“But… breakfast?”

“I won’t let you mooch off it, eat it yourself!”

“Is it that realistic…”

…

Just after turning the corner in the hallway, Nan Xiao Nan abruptly stopped, a look of fear on her face, muttering to herself, “This woman… actually… possesses the Protection of the Will of an entire Sub-world…”