Chapter 41: Chapter 41: News, Abnormal Change

Mercenary Association Headquarters, Building A, third floor!

Chen Yu followed the vice-captain to an office on the third floor. After leading Chen Yu inside, the vice-captain left.

"Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable." A smile appeared on Captain Xu’s face as he looked at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu sat down, and Captain Xu walked over to him. "So, how did you find the Crane Ridge Anomaly this time?"

Chen Yu nodded. "It was good. Very thrilling. I’d like to go again."

Captain Xu: "...?"

Thrilling?

Captain Xu’s eye twitched as he looked at Chen Yu.

’This kid isn’t scared at all!’

But he liked that.

Young people are supposed to enjoy a little excitement, after all.

’Back in my day, I was the same way.’

"I heard from Old Lin that your performance in the Abyssal Realm this time was outstanding!"

Chen Yu: "Not at all. It was just good teamwork."

Captain Xu laughed. "Still so modest, kid? I heard Old Lin singing your praises."

"You performed exceptionally well this time. With Old Lin’s recommendation, I’m sure of it. It won’t be long before you get a surprise."

Chen Yu: "?"

"What kind of surprise?"

Captain Xu sat on a nearby sofa, crossed his legs, and looked at him with a grin. "The Superpower Academy. Ever heard of it?"

Chen Yu: "..."

’Is this supposed to be a surprise?’

’All right, from a normal person’s perspective, this is definitely a surprise!’

"I have," Chen Yu nodded.

Captain Xu: "The Superpower Academy *is* the surprise. That girl, Xiaoli, said your abilities in the Anomaly Realm were extraordinary—even stronger than Cai Kun’s. Becoming a student at the Superpower Academy should be no problem for you."

Chen Yu: "..."

"I called you in today to give you a heads-up. I’m going to recommend you to my superiors. I believe you’ll be receiving an acceptance letter from the Superpower Academy soon enough."

Chen Yu lowered his head.

’Is this news... good?’

’The Superpower Academy offers systematic ability training, but my Skills...’

"You must be thrilled, right?" Captain Xu said with a chuckle, looking at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu didn’t say anything.

"Kid, if you perform well at the Superpower Academy, you’ll have a smooth path ahead of you. A much wider world will open up for you in the future."

Chen Yu nodded silently.

’That’s right. I can’t stay in one place forever.’

’I can’t just go on daily patrols. The anomalous beasts in the Qing City Safety Zone won’t just respawn endlessly.’

’Only by taking the next step can I advance faster.’

’After all, what I need is the Source of Life.’

’The number of anomalous beasts in one region is limited, but across the entire world, they’re practically infinite.’

’Besides, students at the Superpower Academy are given periodic missions: exploring Anomaly Realms and dealing with regional anomalous beast problems.’

’This seems like a pretty good option, too.’

’To obtain the Source of Life by killing anomalous beasts, there are two factors: quantity and quality.’

’One powerful anomalous beast can be enough. To win with numbers, I’d have to run into a beast tide.’

’But beast tides don’t just happen whenever you want them to.’

’Different regions, different situations!’

’It’s not like a beast tide will appear just because I want it to.’

At this thought, everything suddenly became clear to Chen Yu.

"If you go to the Superpower Academy, you’d better make us proud, kid," Captain Xu said seriously, looking at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu nodded. "Don’t worry, Captain Xu. I won’t bring shame to the Qing City Mercenary Team."

Captain Xu smiled with satisfaction. Chen Yu looked at him and couldn’t help but ask, "Captain Xu, what about my Mercenary status then...?"

Captain Xu: "You don’t have to worry about that. Once you’re accepted into the Superpower Academy, your status will be automatically transferred to their system. Your Mercenary status will be kept on file with the Association."

"What’s more, if you succeed, you’ll receive a monthly student stipend from the Association. The money will be automatically transferred to your account. Simply put, even if you go to the Superpower Academy, you won’t lose a single cent of your monthly salary."

"!!!"

’There’s a deal this good?!’

’These benefits are insane!’

’Getting an Association stipend and a full month’s salary for doing nothing... that’s more than what most people make at their jobs.’

’Are the benefits for being an Awakened really this ridiculously good...?’

"It’s one of the Association’s policies. There’s a reward system for any Awakened from the Mercenary Association who gets into the Superpower Academy. It’s a win-win situation. Graduates from the Superpower Academy are all incredibly powerful. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be my boss, kid," Captain Xu said with a grin.

"I see..."

Hearing Captain Xu’s explanation, Chen Yu understood.

’It’s like a partnership!’

’For the Mercenary Association, a partnership like this has huge benefits.’

’Nurturing a powerful Awakened will inevitably produce a top-tier expert.’

"But don’t get too happy just yet," Captain Xu said, looking at Chen Yu. "All of this depends on you actually receiving that acceptance letter from the Superpower Academy."

Chen Yu nodded.

’I’ll only get that bonus if I get into the Superpower Academy. If I don’t, it’s all for nothing.’

For Chen Yu, however, it didn’t really matter. If he got in, he got in. If not, he would just continue being a Mercenary.

As long as he was strong enough, the money would come rolling in.

That was true no matter where he was.

...

Over an hour later, Chen Yu left the office.

Gazing at the blue sky, Chen Yu let out a soft sigh.

’There’s about a seventy percent chance I’ll get into the Superpower Academy!’

Captain Xu had also mentioned that if his admission was confirmed, someone from the Superpower Academy would come to test his Ability Level. Different Ability Levels would lead to different treatment after enrolling.

The Awakened were also divided into different tiers!

Not all Awakened received the same treatment.

Only the most powerful among the Awakened could receive top-tier benefits.

Averting his gaze, Chen Yu started walking out of the Mercenary Association Headquarters.

Just as he stepped outside, Chen Yu saw Duan Feng.

"Chen Yu!"

Seeing him come out, Duan Feng immediately walked up. "How did it go? Did Boss Xu call you in about the Superpower Academy?"

"Yeah, we talked about it, but nothing’s confirmed yet," Chen Yu nodded.

Duan Feng smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "You’ll definitely get in, kid. It’s a shame, though. We won’t be able to fight side-by-side anymore."

Chen Yu looked at him. "Captain Duan, it’s not certain yet. I’ll still have to go on patrol with everyone."

Duan Feng looked at him and said, "You don’t need to go on patrol anymore. The boss just called and told me to let you know. For the next few days, just relax at home and wait for news. You’re off patrol duty."

Chen Yu: "..."

"That’s what the boss said?" Chen Yu asked, looking at Duan Feng in astonishment.

Duan Feng nodded. "Of course. Would I lie to you?"

"Sending you on patrol would be a waste of talent. If something happened to you, I couldn’t bear the responsibility."

"..."

"Alright, I’ve passed on the message. Go home and get some rest. Work hard. If you get into the Superpower Academy, then my Team 12 will finally be famous," Duan Feng said with a hearty laugh.

Chen Yu looked at him and didn’t say much else.

’If that’s the arrangement, then I guess that’s that.’

’I can also use these next few days to practice my Biological Force Field Skill.’

’I’m still a long way from my physical Evolution anyway. A few days of patrols wouldn’t have made much difference.’

’Practicing my abilities is also a form of improvement.’

—

After parting with Duan Feng, Chen Yu returned home.

Lying on the sofa with his hands in his pockets, Chen Yu suddenly felt a trace of heat coming from one of them.

Hm?

Chen Yu pulled the metal sphere out of his pocket.

A faint light emerged from the metal sphere, and the patterns on its surface seemed to have been activated.

’Don’t tell me this thing is actually a treasure?’

The thought popped into Chen Yu’s head.