Sh…
Shepherd?
He knew him well.
An old customer.
He had his suspicions when they first met; as it turned out, he was an intermediary.
According to Wise, this commission required an Agent with exceptionally strong solo combat capabilities to enter the Outer Ring and infiltrate a rebel base to rescue a kidnapped hostage.
The commission fee was highly generous: a full 500,000 Dennies.
With this 500,000 Dennies, he would be able to unlock his third main affix slot.
He could also pull a massive round of affixes to make himself stronger.
“The Outer Ring is a lawless place, and the risk level of this commission is extremely high.
With our current resources, we won’t be able to provide you with much assistance.
Jiang Yu, do you need to think it over?” Wise reiterated the danger of the commission, giving Jiang Yu a heads-up in advance.
“No need.
Life and death are fated, and wealth is in the hands of heaven.” Jiang Yu took a sip of tea, looking utterly indifferent to the danger.
Wise gave him a meaningful look, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Combined with the incomprehensible moves he had shown in the Crate Hollow yesterday, it seemed his guess was correct: Jiang Yu was far from simple.
Wise took out his phone to contact Shepherd.
Upon hearing that a suitable Agent had been found for the commission, Shepherd began shouting with excitement on the other end.
Not long after the call ended, an incredibly urgent voice echoed from outside.
“Thank goodness!
A suitable Agent at last!
My client was practically ready to have me recruit straight from the military!” A man in glasses wearing a fedora rushed into the workshop, a briefcase in hand.
When he saw Jiang Yu, he froze for a moment, then beamed with joy.
“So it’s you!” “We meet again, Mr.
Shepherd.” Jiang Yu stood up to shake hands with Shepherd.
The two smiled at each other.
After all, having gone through that Hollow incident together, they had already built a foundation of trust.
What Shepherd didn’t expect was that in just a few days, Jiang Yu felt like a completely different person.
The first time they met, he had looked like a green intern.
Now, beneath his refined exterior, a ferocious beast seemed to slumber.
Wise and Belle were both surprised to find that these two knew each other.
“This is an emergency, so I’ll be taking Jiang Yu and heading out first.
I’m sure you two can forgive my rudeness!” Wise nodded.
“It’s fine.
The commission is of utmost importance.
My sister and I understand.” Belle playfully winked at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu noticed that Wise’s smile toward him seemed to carry a faint, murderous intent, so he abandoned any thought of winking back at Belle.
Before he could even say goodbye to the Proxy siblings, he was dragged out of the video store by the frantic Shepherd.
“Wise, what exactly is this commission?
Why couldn’t they find a suitable Agent, to the point of almost contacting the military?
To have the terrifying influence to reach high-ranking military officials, the client behind this must have an incredible background,” Belle said, analyzing Shepherd’s words and voicing her doubts.
“I don’t know the specifics either, but Jiang Yu is indeed the best candidate for this commission.
Belle, if we want to accomplish *that* matter, relying on our own strength is far from enough.
We must leverage the strength of others.
Judging by the video Eos recorded, Jiang Yu’s power is definitely far greater than what we’ve seen.” Wise rested his chin in his hand, explaining seriously.
“Fairy and I calculated Nicole’s survival probability in that death trap many times.
The chance of saving her was only 0.1%, and even that was based on everyone present—including you—sacrificing their lives.
Yet Jiang Yu did it completely unharmed.
Furthermore, judging by Jiang Yu’s performance in the first half of the battle, he didn’t show the level of strength needed to block the strongest strike of that mutated Dullahan unscathed.
And yet he did.
He even cut off its arm with a single slash when the Dullahan engaged him in close quarters.
There are too many suspicious points.
Not to mention those two defense-penetrating bullets, and that strange long sword that could cause a normal Dullahan to mutate…
For now, Jiang Yu’s living conditions are tight.
We can provide him with commissions to earn Dennies.
In return, we gain an extraordinarily powerful Agent to represent us, which will be of great help when we enter Hollow Zero in the future to find the truth.” “Belle?
Belle, are you listening?” “Huh?
What about Jiang Yu?” Wise glanced at his sister, then at the box of strawberries in her hand.
She had already devoured several of them.
Belle showed her pearly white teeth and smiled sheepishly.
“Hehe.
Wise, could you say that again?” *Great.
It turns out that guy really did come to sweet-talk her!* *If I had known, I wouldn’t have let him through the door!* Outside the video store, Howl at the newsstand barked twice at Jiang Yu as he came out of the shop.
Unfortunately, that guy seemed to have forgotten his promise to patronize the newsstand.
He got into a black sedan with a man wearing a hat and drove off.
“Howl…” Howl whined listlessly, then slumped over the counter, pondering what to have for dinner.
…
Seventh Street.
After packing his things, Jiang Yu took a bag and headed downstairs.
He didn’t bring much, only survival essentials: water and food.
In addition, he carried the pistol infused with the [Hawkeye] affix, and the Unbranded Tachi.
Jiang Yu put his things in the sedan.
Just as he was about to get in, he suddenly remembered his identity as a waiter at the Afterlife.
“Hold on.
I need to head to the shop first to ask for some time off.” “No problem.
Is the place you work far?
Do you need me to drive you there?” Shepherd asked eagerly.
Jiang Yu glanced at the adjacent building, which flashed with multicolored neon lights.
A massive promotional poster hung on its outer wall, featuring two Thiren women with busts larger than their heads striking seductive poses.
He didn’t know how to explain it.
Shepherd followed his gaze and saw the word “Afterlife” on the billboard.
His heart jolted, a look of shock flashing briefly across his face.
Immediately after, Shepherd wore an understanding smile.
“Haha, I get it!
Powerful Agents usually find an inconspicuous identity to cover themselves!” This explanation seemed quite reasonable.
*Exactly!
I, Jiang Yu, am only using my position as an Afterlife employee as a cover!* Entering the Afterlife, the night shift staff were already hard at work.
He walked through the corridors and headed straight for the elevator.
Fifth floor, manager’s office.
Jiang Yu made up a random excuse to ask for a few days off, saying he wasn’t sure when he’d be back.
He thought the graceful young woman would decline, and was already prepared to make a run for it.
To his surprise, she agreed quite readily, saying it was fine as long as he returned in one piece.
His mind was filled with the commission and the 500,000 Dennies, so he failed to notice the subtext of her words.
*As long as you return alive, it doesn’t matter how many days off you take.* Leaving the entrance of the Afterlife, he climbed into Shepherd’s sedan, and the two headed straight for the Outer Ring.
Fifth floor of the Afterlife, manager’s office.
The young woman, previously so gentle and pleasant, now seemed like a completely different person, exuding a cold and proud aura.
Her long legs clad in black stockings were crossed, a wine-red high heel dangling slightly from the tip of her toes, while her fair, slender fingers held a photograph.
On her desk lay a document folder that had just been delivered, with several large red characters printed on the cover: “Top Secret File — Jiang Yu.” And the photo in her hand captured the exact moment when Jiang Yu had grabbed Anby’s sword and sent the Dullahan flying with a single strike.
…
The boundary of the New Eridu metropolitan area.
Jiang Yu got out of the car.
The Unbranded Tachi hung at his waist, and the pistol was tucked into his waistband.
He was determined to succeed on this mission.
If he wanted to make a ton of Dennies, partnering with Proxies and taking on Hollow commissions was a brilliant path.
Although the siblings hadn’t said it out loud, he knew that: This commission was not only Wise offering an olive branch, but also a test.
After all, no Proxy wanted their Agent to be a weakling.
Shepherd walked over and handed him a photograph of the hostage.
“This is the target of the rescue.
Her safety must be guaranteed.
As for her identity…” Shepherd hesitated, letting the rest of his sentence trail off.
Jiang Yu took the photo.
It showed an innocently smiling young Fox Thiren girl wearing a high school uniform.
There had probably been another Fox Thiren in the photo, but they had been cropped out, leaving only a silhouette of a Fox Thiren with pointed ears.