After Wan Qianhong’s “test” yesterday, she withdrew her hand with a blank expression, stating that Bai Feifei’s rank indeed needed to be reassessed as soon as possible.
Thus, following Wan Qianhong’s instructions, Bai Feifei arrived at the Inner City Scavenger Office early the next morning.
Along the way, she saw many novel things she had never encountered before. The Old-Timer was still asleep, and with no one to ask, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
Bai Feifei looked at the exquisite building before her and pushed the door open.
The interior was very spacious. She immediately spotted two women sitting behind a counter and hurried over to speak.
“Hello, I’m here to schedule a rank assessment.”
Zhao Jiaqi was painting her nails and didn't even look up. Li Li also acted as if she hadn't heard anyone speak.
Bai Feifei waited for about ten seconds before repeating herself: “Hello, I’m here to schedule a rank assessment.”
This time, Zhao Jiaqi finally raised her head.
She rolled her eyes at Bai Feifei and said impatiently, “Rank assessment? Today isn't a scheduled appointment day.”
Li Li, sitting next to her, seemed much more polite. She looked up and smiled. “Oh, you must be the one transferred from the Outer City, right?”
“Yes,” Bai Feifei nodded.
“You’re making a private appointment. Where are the special documents?” Zhao Jiaqi said dismissively.
Bai Feifei was stunned; she had never heard of this. “Documents?”
Zhao Jiaqi put down her nail polish and leaned back in her chair.
“It’s not a scheduled appointment day. Private assessments require a letter of recommendation from a Rank 4 Scavenger or higher, plus the signature of the office director. Do you have those?”
Bai Feifei remained silent for two seconds before tentatively saying, “District Head Wan didn't mention that to me. She told me to just come directly...”
Hearing the title “District Head Wan,” a flash of obvious jealousy and hatred crossed Zhao Jiaqi’s face.
They had already received the official notice, but so what?
An Outer City person trying to flaunt her connections in front of her?
What did Wan Qianhong matter? She wasn't her direct supervisor.
Regardless of your strength or background, if I say you can’t get it done today, then you won’t!
At worst, she could just claim later that she hadn't seen the notice in time. What could the girl do about it?
“What is all this nonsense!” The more Zhao Jiaqi thought about it, the angrier she got. She shouted shrilly, “We can’t do it! Go get the paperwork yourself, or go find whoever promised you this.”
“Do I make myself clear?!”
Bai Feifei stood there, completely dazed.
She didn't know what she had said wrong to provoke such a massive reaction, as if the woman was about to transform into a monster.
Zhao Jiaqi sat back down, grabbing her file folders and nail polish and slamming them onto the desk. She turned to Li Li and said:
“Some of these people from the Outer City come to the Inner City but can’t get rid of that low-class stench. They don't know the rules of how to speak or act...”
She seemed to be chatting, but her voice was loud enough for Bai Feifei to hear every word. She was clearly hurling insults through indirect remarks!
Just as Bai Feifei was wondering why the woman harbored such inexplicable malice, the sound of the Old-Timer yawning echoed in her mind.
“Ah~ You’re up early. What’s going on now?”
Bai Feifei’s heart skipped a beat. Anticipating his reaction, she quickly said, “It’s a minor issue. I’ll handle it.”
Xu Mo ignored her.
He observed through Bai Feifei’s eyes for a moment, listened to the conversation at the front desk, and suddenly laughed.
“Excellent. A pillow delivered right when I’m sleepy.”
“Time to kill! I was just wondering what excuse I could use to cause a scene.”
Bai Feifei’s heart skipped another beat. “Wait! There’s really no need for that. Their attitude is just bad, it’s not worth...”
“It is worth it!” Xu Mo’s voice was cold. “You think this is just a minor incident?”
“Look at the name tag on that round-faced woman on the right.”
Bai Feifei blinked and shifted her gaze, seeing the name “Li Li.”
Her surname was Li!
Bai Feifei immediately realized the connection, but she still hesitated. “Ah... this really isn't necessary, right? How could they use such a useless test?”
“It’s not useless. These seemingly insignificant difficulties are actually meant to suppress your momentum,” Xu Mo said.
“This is the perfect chance to tell these Inner City brats that you’ve arrived!”
With such a perfect opening, it was practically like having a cheat code. How could he possibly be timid? His playstyle was all about maximum satisfaction.
If Bai Feifei hadn't been holding him back, he would’ve found a reason to flip the table long ago.
“You must show your attitude here—no one has the right to look down on you!”
“Do you want to save Dawn City?”
“If you do, you can’t keep too low a profile. Otherwise, how will you get assigned to the missions closest to the danger in the future?”
His voice paused, and when he spoke again, it carried a hint of wicked dominance.
“Besides, I don’t believe in accidents in this world.”
“Every bad thing that happens is targeted at you. All you need to do is make them cease to exist!”
During the few seconds Bai Feifei was lost in thought, Zhao Jiaqi had been complaining to Li Li about how terrible the Outer City was.
Seeing Bai Feifei still standing there motionless, she turned her head with great annoyance.
“Can you go stand somewhere else? Haven’t you heard that a good dog doesn’t block the—”
Mid-sentence, her vitriolic expression froze. Her physical instincts told her something was wrong.
Just a moment ago, Bai Feifei clearly had the nervousness of an Outer City person entering the Inner City for the first time, her gaze somewhat lacking in confidence. Now, the girl’s gaze was confident to a fault.
Xu Mo had taken over!
Since he was operating, the rule was to act first and talk later.
He raised his hand and, without a word, slammed it violently toward the front desk!
Vroom—
An invisible protective shield suddenly rose. It was an energy screen shimmering with a pale blue light. The impact of Xu Mo’s fist created ripples across its surface.
“Heh!”
Xu Mo gave a light chuckle. He knew what this thing was; it was only meant to stop Scavengers below Rank 5.
Without pausing for a second, wisps of black energy emanated from the Heart of the World in his chest, spreading through his meridians and bones to his entire body. Then came another punch!
Boom!
The protective shield shattered like glass into countless fragments. The blue light flickered in the air for an instant before vanishing into nothingness.
“What are you doing! You’ve lost your—”
Before Zhao Jiaqi could finish her scream, Xu Mo’s foot had already arrived.
He kicked the solid wood desk of the front desk. The surface snapped in the middle, and wood splinters flew everywhere, striking the people behind it.
Zhao Jiaqi was sent flying backward by the kick, crashing through the counter and into the wall behind her.
“Has she always been this brave?” Xu Mo laughed with extreme arrogance, though it was unclear who he was talking to.
“Haven’t you heard the stories about me?”
“What a pain. It seems entering the Inner City still requires...”
Li Li’s documents were scattered all over the floor. She had dodged the moment the counter shattered and was now frozen in place, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.
How could this person be so strong? Didn't the reports say she had only just become a Scavenger?
Her hands shook violently from the shock, and the miniature camera embedded in her collar shook along with them.
This girl was definitely not simple. No wonder the upper echelons of the family wanted to target her.
Looking at Zhao Jiaqi’s pathetic state embedded in the wall, Li Li suddenly felt a surge of joy.
She had originally wanted to provoke the girl’s temper so she would make a mistake in the Inner City, giving them leverage to use against her.
Now, could this be considered... exceeding the mission requirements?
At that moment, “Bai Feifei” suddenly turned her head and locked eyes with her.
Rate on N.U.
