Chapter 40: Times Have Changed, Sir!

In the following days, Bai Pu continued leveling up in the vast Black Mist Valley.

The Superpower Group seemed to have calmed down, no longer sending other Awakened to hunt Bai Pu. Bai Pu guessed that this was probably due to Li Ling’s efforts.

Occasionally, other Awakened passed through Black Mist Valley, seeing Bai Pu clearing monsters in one go, expressed their desire to form a team, but were politely declined by Bai Pu.

Most Awakened were reasonable. They headed to other areas of Black Mist Valley to find monsters for their own battles and training.

A few stubborn Awakened, like Little Moustache, who tried to steal monsters to share experience points, were quickly dispatched by Bai Pu’s Skeleton Warriors and Bone Mages.

Finally, the Boundary Land at the Bone Mountain Range was closing.

The military’s Spiritual Camera sent a unified command, and all Awakened left the Boundary Land within a minute.

"This trip to the Bone Mountain Range was quite rewarding." Bai Pu looked up at the distant black peaks that resembled the back of a whale; that was the Level 3 area of the Bone Mountain Range.

Bai Pu didn’t explore it this time, though he wasn’t regretful, just slightly disappointed and curious.

In a flash of light, Bai Pu exited the Boundary Land.

The somewhat noisy sounds arose by his ear; Awakened soldiers were maintaining order as Awakened left the Boundary Land, lining up and flowing out through the channel exit.

Each person had to undergo inspection upon leaving and hand over their Spiritual Camera.

Bai Pu completed the inspection, handed in the camera, and was about to leave when he suddenly saw a familiar figure, the Golden Bull.

Qilin and Mad Dog were not beside the Golden Bull.

"Where is your Spiritual Camera?" The soldier in charge of records, wearing glasses, asked gently.

The Golden Bull searched left and right, eventually having to shake his head: "It’s missing, seems to be broken."

"Leave your number, name, and affiliated organization. After verification, you’ll need to pay for a replacement camera before you can leave."

The glasses-wearing soldier did not make things difficult for Golden Bull since the main control room was monitored throughout; if anyone tried anything daring, alarms would have gone off long ago.

Collecting Spiritual Cameras was just procedure now.

Golden Bull agreed, turned, and saw Bai Pu. He was slightly taken aback, squeezed out a smile, greeted Bai Pu, and then looked away.

Bai Pu sighed inwardly. With his sharp instincts, he had already guessed the whole situation.

How could Fish Intestines and Hanguang precisely locate him in the vast Black Mist Valley? It must be due to his positioning, which could only be obtained through the other three members of the Genius Camp.

Qilin and Mad Dog were not present, probably sent away early, even without time to take their Spiritual Cameras.

The Golden Bull remained in the Boundary Land, but his Spiritual Camera was missing; what does that imply?

He most likely reached a deal with Fish Intestines!

Of course, the Golden Bull could insist that his Spiritual Camera was damaged by enemies during battle.

Bai Pu said nothing, turned, and left the hall.

Outside the military base, trucks were lined up, with many colorful flags and signboards displaying company names, and quite a few formally dressed company office workers waiting by makeshift tables, creating a lively atmosphere.

As soon as Bai Pu stepped out, a fragrant breeze swept by, and a curvaceous office lady, dressed in a skirt suit, enthusiastically approached:

"Esteemed Awakened, congratulations on your plentiful gains in the Boundary Land. Do you perhaps have a lot of discarded equipment to sell? Our Hongyan Equipment Recovery Company offers very favorable recycling policies, with absolutely fair prices! Would you like to learn more?"

The office lady warmly tried to wrap Bai Pu’s left arm, a soft sensation distinctly felt through his clothing.

Bai Pu exerted a bit of force to free himself and said, "Sorry, I already made an appointment." He walked straight towards a military green jeep.

Voices still followed him: "Which company? Would you like to compare the benefits offered? We, at Hongyan Company, guarantee you won’t lose out..."

"No need, she’s with our Great Tang people." Leaning against the car door, Li Ling removed her tea-colored glasses, revealing a slightly sharp gaze.

The office lady glanced at Li Ling’s prominently puffed up white blouse and then looked down at her own evidently smaller white blouse and wisely walked away.

"Isn’t the Great Tang Group primarily in pharmaceuticals?" Bai Pu asked casually as he opened the car door.

"What era is it now? Which major force doesn’t operate across industries?"

Li Ling followed him inside, and after closing the door, got straight to the point: "This time was very dangerous, but fortunately, your strength improved rapidly, beyond my expectations."

"Actually, I was somewhat mentally prepared. The Superpower Group couldn’t hold back." Bai Pu said.

"I’ve already represented the Divine Strategy Army to hold the Superstar Alliance accountable, but the outcome might not satisfy you." Li Ling coughed slightly and revealed that Superstar Alliance had preemptively expelled Fish Intestines and Hanguang.

"Predictable. I should still thank the organization because if I was a rootless driftwood, the Superstar Alliance probably wouldn’t even bother with appearances..."

Bai Pu smiled, "No new assassins came in the following seven or eight days also because you and the organization valued this affair."

Li Ling let out a breath: "You should return to the Xicheng Branch; I have things to handle here."

Divine Strategy Army’s Xicheng Branch.

Bai Pu got off the car and entered the hall.

"Bai Pu, you’re back?" Qilin was in the hall chatting with Su Xiaoxiao. When he saw Bai Pu enter, his eyes lit up.

"Mm." Bai Pu yawned slightly, "Xiaoxiao, my Storage Space is full of unsealed discarded equipment, does the organization accept it?"

"Of course we do." Su Xiaoxiao had already happily run up to Bai Pu and patted him on the shoulder, "I heard you faced danger this time. How are you? Not injured, right?"

Qilin was slightly speechless: "As long as an Awakened isn’t killed on the spot, even serious injuries heal within these many days..."

"Mind your own business." Su Xiaoxiao gave Qilin a glare.

"Speaking of which, Bai Pu, you’re amazing, avenging me and Mad Dog." Qilin, evidently through Li Ling’s channels, learned about Bai Pu’s counterattack against Fish Intestines.

"As long as you don’t blame me." Bai Pu said.

"Initially, there was a bit of grievance. But then I thought, we’re all in the same organization, we should stick together. If I were to hold a grudge against you for this, who would help me when I have enemies? Naturally, the grievance faded." Qilin said candidly.

The reasoning was sound, but few people think this way.

Bai Pu gave Qilin a slight smile.

"Okay, Little Bai Pu, do you want to exchange your equipment for Spiritual Points or Huaxia Coin?" Su Xiaoxiao asked.

"What’s the ratio?" Bai Pu had always been curious about how much Spiritual Points were worth.

"Nowadays, major national banks offer 1 Spiritual Point for 59 Huaxia Coins, but they only accept Spiritual Points’ deposit, not withdrawal. So the official exchange rate is just for reference."

Su Xiaoxiao explained, "Spiritual Points are the currency in the Awakened World, since Enhancement of equipment consumes a vast amount of Spiritual Points, its price generally remains firm. Awakened rarely exchange Spiritual Points for money, so in private exchanges, 1 Spiritual Point for over 100 bills might happen, there’s no fixed rate."

Qilin held his face and sighed: "It’s said that early in the Spiritual Era, Spiritual Points were so valuable that exchanging 1 for 10,000 yuan was feasible, you could become a millionaire just by killing a few Mutant Beasts in the Wilderness Area. Alas, that good era is irretrievable now."

"You’re not considering how few Awakened there were early in the Spiritual Era? Look at how vast the Awakened scale is now." Su Xiaoxiao remarked dismissively, "Times have changed, sir!"