Chapter 1 Showdown

Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to swallow his dry throat, and looked coldly at the gray-haired woman, saying:

"Put away your charm. Your behavior makes me feel hostility!"

As he spoke, transparent whirlpools appeared in his eye sockets, activating the dream realm skill. If Catherine continued to charm him, he would use Dream Leap to leave.

Of course, all of this was for show. It didn't matter if this clone died.

One bizarre dream after another surfaced.

Huh, during work hours, so many people are dozing off nearby? Zhang Yuanqing was stunned looking at the chaotic and complex dreams, then immediately cleared his mind, focusing intently on the gray-haired woman.

The gray-haired woman's eyes flowed with light as she glanced at the high-propped tent and smiled enchantingly, "It seems you're not a lust-type evil profession."

She immediately withdrew her charm, and the captivating allure instantly dissipated.

*Hoo*, she has some tolerance for me and didn't force an old eagle to eat a chick. If I were a lust-type, would she just sleep with me? Zhang Yuanqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, maintaining a cold and arrogant demeanor, raising an eyebrow, and saying:

"You know my profession?"

The gray-haired woman smiled and didn't answer, introducing herself, "Catherine Lu, Deputy President of the Hunter Guild, Level 7. As for my profession, I don't think I need to introduce it."

Zhang Yuanqing said indifferently, "Get to the point."

Catherine took out her phone from her pocket, opened a video, and handed it over.

Zhang Yuanqing didn't take it, but looked down. It was surveillance footage from Meisheng Bank showing the balding Jia Feizhang taking away the sector-shaped bronze fragment.

Catherine withdrew her phone, her light gray eyes fixed on him, saying:

"The two Star Officials you killed last night were our people. You're a smart person, I don't need to explain further, right?"

Zhang Yuanqing revealed a look of "sudden realization," then reverted to his cold demeanor, "So, the prompt on the app was just to trick me into coming here?"

He appropriately tensed his body, entering a battle-ready state.

"Don't be so nervous. The app's prompt wasn't a deception. Tongtian Jiaozhu, you've already entered our evaluation list." Catherine leaned lazily against the back of the chair, saying:

"Tongtian Jiaozhu, Level 5 Illusionist, unaffiliated cultivator, has killed several officials in a row, has a strong sense of justice, especially hates corrupt officials, suspected of having suffered unfair treatment, wanted by the authorities this August, and has been missing ever since."

"You investigated me?" Zhang Yuanqing cooperated by showing micro-expressions such as "pupil earthquake," "forced calm," and "boiling murderous intent."

Catherine smiled, "Since it's an evaluation, of course we have to find out your background. We will continue to verify your identity until we are sure there are no problems."

After a pause, she got straight to the point:

"The Hunter Guild is an absolutely neutral organization. We nurture both orderly and evil professions. Our philosophy is that there is no absolute good or evil in the world, only unchanging interests."

"Therefore, we will select good seedlings with clean backgrounds and unlimited potential from the hunters to cultivate. Your level is high enough, and your ability to complete tasks is also excellent, so congratulations, you have entered our guild's evaluation list."

Zhang Yuanqing sneered, "Is the next step to hand over the things in the bank safe?"

Catherine said:

"Don't rush, let me finish. After entering the evaluation list, you will have the following four benefits. First: your permission to accept tasks is cancelled, and all tasks on the bounty list can be accepted at will. Second: we will provide you with a dream manipulator (Zhangmengshi) stage dungeon guide. Third: all bounty amounts belong to you, and the Hunter Guild will no longer charge a commission. Fourth: you can come to me if you have any difficulties, I am your superior."

After speaking, she smiled enchantingly, "As for the fifth, it's a private offer from me to you, if you have any needs in that area, feel free to come to me."

The fifth is unnecessary. If I really sleep with you, the bronze fragment is yours, and I am yours as well. Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice, "Not bad. Tell me about the bank safe. I think this is the focus of your seeking me out."

"The things in the bank safe are indeed our target. If you are willing to sell them to us, the Hunter Guild will definitely offer you a price that satisfies you," Catherine said.

"Not selling!" Zhang Yuanqing refused directly.

Catherine was not surprised by this, and smiled:

"We have unlimited tolerance for good seedlings. First, you have to answer me one question. What is that item?"

Zhang Yuanqing said, "A sector-shaped bronze fragment. It's not complete."

*Not complete* Catherine nodded, "The Hunter Guild is determined to obtain that item. After careful consideration by the organization's higher-ups, we have decided to share the treasure with you, but you must find the second bronze fragment within ten days. This is also the organization's test for you. If you can complete it, you will officially pass the assessment and become our internal member. If you fail, then you must hand over the bronze fragment, and the organization will purchase it at a reasonable price."

After speaking, she opened her inventory and grabbed a piece of animal skin contract, "Now, you have to sign a contract with us."

If I sign the contract, I have to find the second bronze fragment within ten days and successfully infiltrate the enemy. If I fail, I will sell the bronze fragment to the Hunter Guild... I have no clues about the subsequent bronze fragment. The probability of finding the second piece within ten days is too low. How can I sign this?

If I don't sign, I'm afraid I won't be able to leave the Hunter Guild. Thinking of this, Zhang Yuanqing stubbornly replied, "What if I don't sell it?"

Catherine smiled charmingly, "Guess!"

Chinatown, townhouses.

Find Tongtian Jiaozhu? Zhang Yuanqing was stunned at first, then reacted.

After discovering that two Star Officials had been killed, the Anti-Black and White Alliance should have guessed that the enemy who "seized the treasure" had been intercepted. Then, they will definitely try to find the person who intercepted them, to test whether Tongtian Jiaozhu knows about the Pope's relic.

There's no choice.

The Anti-Black and White Alliance has some understanding of the Pope's relic. I can try to get information from them. *Eh*, this way, I can take the Hunter Guild's assessment. Being a double agent is indeed beneficial... Zhang Yuanqing pretended to ponder:

"Tongtian Jiaozhu, bounty hunter... Finding people is no problem, I'm best at finding people, but you two must tell me the reason. I won't take on tasks with unclear depths."

Tao Siming thought for a few seconds and said, "I can't tell you the reason. What you need to do is not a dangerous task, just locate him, and don't worry about anything else."

Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, "Locate him? If he is guarded by a Dominator-level expert, wouldn't I be courting death? If he is a Dominator, I'm even more likely to die. You don't tell me any information and just let me find someone?"

As he spoke, he stood up, posing as if he was about to leave, "I'm sorry, I can't agree to your request."

"Wait!"

Deng Jingguo spoke. This seemingly irritable but actually fair Thunder Mage said:

"It's okay to tell you. Do you remember the two Star Officials last night? They died. Tongtian Jiaozhu killed them. We suspect that the two Star Officials were ambushed by him."

"Being able to see spirits, and cleanly and neatly double-killing them, Tongtian Jiaozhu's profession may be a Night Wanderer or an Illusionist. As for the level, at least Level 5."

I don't want this information. What I want to know is the origin of the bronze fragment... Zhang Yuanqing revealed a look of realization and asked:

"You didn't take action last night, presumably you were held back by a Dominator-level expert. Then you should tell me what organization the two Star Officials belong to, and what they want, because those who are looking for Tongtian Jiaozhu also include them."

"If I don't know the level of the forces behind the scenes, I will make a wrong judgment and fall into danger."

Hearing this, Deng Jingguo raised his eyebrows, "Your thinking is very clear. I have more confidence in you."

He continued, "Jia Feizhang is my half-brother. The two Star Officials robbed my ancestral treasure. I don't know the organization behind them."

Zhang Yuanqing thought for a few seconds, "I need detailed information about that item to infer the background of the organization behind it."

Deng Jingguo said in a deep voice, "My ancestor was Huo Zhengkui. He was the founder of the largest gang in Chinatown. A century ago, he traveled in Europe for a few years and met the Pope of the Church. The Church was the most powerful orderly organization in the world at that time."

"Later, the Church was destroyed due to a riot, and the Pope handed something to him before his death. Now it seems that the organization that destroyed the Church has come to our door."

Deng Jingguo really doesn't know. Those who know will avoid deep discussion, but those who don't know will treat it as a legend or unofficial history, and say it without reservation. Zhang Yuanqing nodded:

"I understand. I'll take this on! But there is a request. During the investigation, I need the help of the Anti-Black and White Alliance. I hope you won't refuse."

The two Dominators relaxed slightly and nodded. Deng Jingguo added:

"You can do what you can and don't force yourself."

Asking this逍遥剑仙 (Xiaoyao Jianxian) to help is just a try, after all, one has a special skill. In terms of finding people and investigating cases, scouts are professionals.

Regarding that item, Deng Jingguo did not have the idea of having to obtain it. The Church and the Pope's relic were too far away from him. Before Jia Feizhang was killed, he didn't even know about these things.

Even now, he only has a superficial understanding of the destruction of the Church and the Pope's relic.

Zhang Yuanqing said, "Then, let's talk about the reward."

Hunter Guild.

After thinking for a long time, Zhang Yuanqing said indifferently:

"I'll take it! But I want to extend the deadline, because I will enter a dungeon within a week. How about this, I will find the second bronze fragment within half a month."

"Also, you need to give me some information related to the bronze fragment. Otherwise, I can't find it if I'm searching for a needle in a haystack."

As a double agent, of course, one should obtain as much information as possible.

Catherine hooked her lips, "No problem! It will be synchronized to your phone later. Now, let's sign the contract."

After signing the contract, Zhang Yuanqing re-searched his dream, deliberately showing off, performing Dream Leap in front of Catherine, and left the Hunter Guild.

Leaving the townhouse, Zhang Yuanqing stared at his phone, checking the information sent by the clone, revealed by the Hunter Guild.

The Hunter Guild's explanation of the bronze fragment is that it is suspected to be a Pope's relic, and the complete form is a circular bronze plate. They also talked about the existence of the Church, speaking vaguely.

Giving the impression that the Hunter Guild is just "looking for a legendary treasure."

It seems that before "Tongtian Jiaozhu" passes the assessment, they will not reveal any information about themselves.

"It's all nonsense, equivalent to saying nothing." Zhang Yuanqing muttered dissatisfiedly, "Now the only clue is Huo Zhengkui, *hmm*, the founder of the largest Chinese gang in Chinatown. Then entrust Asano Ryo to investigate. The database of Sky Punishment definitely has this character."

Thinking of this, he dialed Asano Ryo's phone.

The ringtone rang twice, and it was quickly connected. Asano Ryo said softly, "I'm working, reply with a message if you need anything."

She spoke in Japanese and hung up the phone after she finished speaking.

Zhang Yuanqing silently memorized it and then opened the translation software and translated the meaning of the sentence.

*Mmm*, there are people around, so it's inconvenient to answer the phone. There is a Dominator in the office area, so she doesn't dare to go to the toilet to make a phone call? Zhang Yuanqing then edited a text message:

"Help me investigate Huo Zhengkui."

More than ten minutes later, Asano Ryo sent Huo Zhengkui's life story.

ps: Correct typos after updating first.

(End of this chapter)