Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Joining the Mercenaries

After browsing the web for a while, Chen Yu went to rest.

Life in the wilderness had left him exhausted, so resting in the safety zone was a rare comfort.

...

The next day, Chen Yu woke up early in the morning.

After getting up, washing, and eating breakfast, Chen Yu said a quick word to Xu Xiao and Ma Xiang, then headed out.

He walked out of the residential complex and used his smart watch to call a taxi, heading for his destination.

A little over ten minutes later, Chen Yu arrived.

"Locust Street, number thirteen. ’Yep, this is the place.’ Looking at the address plate, Chen Yu glanced around."

The street was quiet and mostly empty. Compared to the bustling energy of other places, it felt a little out of sync with the world.

He dialed the contact number, and Captain Li’s voice came from his watch.

"Wait a moment."

Those two simple words were followed by the call disconnecting. Chen Yu stood at the entrance and waited for a moment before the courtyard gate opened.

A tall figure appeared before him.

He was a mountain of a man, like an iron tower, standing a good seven and a half feet tall.

It was one of the team members from yesterday, nicknamed Tie Niu.

"Come in with me."

Tie Niu said, looking at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu followed him into the courtyard.

The courtyard was very ordinary, no different from any other old, worn-down yard.

But upon entering the living room, the decor inside stood in stark contrast to the exterior.

The decor was pure white. The sofa, the coffee table, the floor—almost everything was white, and spotless.

As he entered the living room, Chen Yu immediately spotted Captain Li on the sofa.

He was dressed in casual clothes.

"You’re here. Have a seat." Captain Li gestured, and Chen Yu nodded, sitting down on the sofa.

"Tie Niu, pour him some tea."

Tie Niu, who was standing nearby, grabbed a cup, poured some hot tea for Chen Yu, and placed it in front of him.

"Captain Li, what did you want to see me about?"

Chen Yu looked at Captain Li and got straight to the point.

"Do you have any relatives left in Qing City?" Captain Li asked in return.

Chen Yu: "?"

He shook his head. "No. My family was all in Crane City. They’re all..."

"My condolences." Captain Li sighed and patted his shoulder.

Chen Yu looked at him. "Captain Li, if you have something to say, just say it. I’m fine."

Captain Li watched him for a moment before speaking. "It’s nothing major. I just wanted to ask, what are your plans for the future?"

"I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. I’m just going to see how things go for now," Chen Yu replied.

"Do you want to join our Mercenary Team?"

Captain Li asked him suddenly.

Hearing this, even though Chen Yu had half-expected it, he still found it hard to believe.

"Me?"

He pointed a finger at his own nose, looking at Captain Li in astonishment.

Captain Li nodded. "That’s right."

Chen Yu lowered his head.

Joining a Mercenary Team... He’d had the thought yesterday.

The Mercenaries in this world weren’t the hired soldiers he was familiar with from the old days.

A Mercenary Team was more like an official organization tasked with protecting a safe zone.

They were governed by the Mercenary Association, a special branch of the official government.

They were an official organization!

At the same time, it was an extremely high-risk line of work.

Simply put, Mercenary Teams encountered mutated beasts far more often than ordinary people.

The mortality rate was incredibly high.

If a safe zone was attacked by a beast tide, the Mercenary Team would be the first to charge out, the first to face the mutated beasts!

"Your combat skills yesterday were very impressive. I think you have potential, so I wanted to ask you about it. Of course, it’s entirely up to you. There’s no pressure."

Captain Li said, watching the silent Chen Yu.

Chen Yu looked up at Captain Li.

"I’m honored that you think so highly of me, Captain Li. I’m willing to join the Mercenary Team."

For others, joining a Mercenary Team meant a high mortality rate, but for him, it was an opportunity.

Only by killing mutated beasts could he obtain the Source of Life.

Going into the wilderness alone was a death sentence, but joining a Mercenary Team was a different story.

As long as he could kill enough mutated beasts and grow strong enough, it wouldn’t be a danger—it would be his greatest opportunity.

’Worst case, I just die again.’

’Getting to play the game of life twice is a win in my book.’

"You’re willing?" Captain Li looked at him, somewhat surprised.

Chen Yu nodded.

"Yes. My family was killed by mutated beasts. I want revenge. I want to kill every last one of them!" Chen Yu said with a resolute expression.

"..."

"Very good. Then it’s settled. Tie Niu, take him to get his identity registered and fill him in on the basics," Captain Li ordered.

"Yes."

Tie Niu nodded from the side, and Chen Yu stood up to follow.

"Once your registration is complete, you can rest and look around. Take today off. You’ll officially start tomorrow."

Captain Li said, looking at Chen Yu.

"Yes, sir!"

"Mm, go on," Captain Li said with a smile and a nod.

Chen Yu then left with Tie Niu.

Watching the two of them leave, Captain Li sat back down.

Just then, a young man emerged from one of the rooms. He walked into the living room and sat down in front of Captain Li.

"Captain, wasn’t that a bit rash?"

the young man asked Captain Li, surprised.

"’Rash? If you’d seen him fight those mutated beasts, you’d understand. His combat skills are good, and he has potential,’ Captain Li said coolly."

"Besides, we’re short-handed and running out of time. One more strong arm might mean one more bit of security for the future."

Captain Li said.

The young team member looked at him. "Captain, what are you implying? You think the mutated beasts are going to attack Qing City?"

Captain Li shook his head. "I don’t know for sure. But whether they’re coming or not, we have to be ready. Qing City isn’t far from Crane City."

"Understood." The young man nodded.

Captain Li looked at him and said, "How about this: you take him out tomorrow. Get a good look at him. You’ll know whether he’s got what it takes or not."

"I’m taking him?" the young man asked, looking at Captain Li in astonishment.

"What’s wrong, can’t handle it? Or should I, the captain, take him while you take my job?" Captain Li shot a look at the young man and said coolly.

Hearing this, the young man gave a sheepish smile. "Captain, that’s not what I meant. I’ll take him, I’ll take him."

Captain Li glanced at him sideways. "I think you’re getting a little full of yourself. Don’t look down on people. Have you forgotten where you came from? Someone like him could surpass you any day now."

"...Captain, I will complete the mission," the young man said with a serious expression.

"’Get out of here. Go and run your checks,’ Captain Li said irritably."

"Yes, sir!"

--

"Alright, your identity is registered. From now on, you’re the tenth member of Qing City’s 12th Mercenary Team."

Chen Yu looked at the ID card and black smart watch he was handed. The process was much faster than he’d imagined, with the registration completed in just a few minutes.

"Be here tomorrow morning at 8:30 for assembly. Got it?" Tie Niu said, looking at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu: "Got it."

"Alright, you can go back. And remember this: the martial techniques and cultivation methods are for you to learn alone. You can’t teach them to outsiders. If anyone finds out, the punishment will be severe."

Tie Niu told Chen Yu with a serious expression.

"Understood."

Chen Yu nodded.

"Mm, go on and get some rest. You officially start tomorrow."

"Okay, Brother Tie."

Chen Yu nodded and then left.

...

On his way back, Chen Yu walked while looking at the black watch on his right wrist.

This black watch was his own personal Life Watch.

Unlike a normal smart watch, it could only be activated by his unique genetic signature.

And this Life Watch had far more functions than a standard smart watch.

The martial techniques and cultivation methods were all stored within this Life Watch.

He had only glanced at it briefly before. He would study it properly once he got back.