Chapter 32: Quit While You're Ahead

When Lin Jie and William quietly withdrew from the shadows of the mechanical shrine, carrying those heavy mutated brass ingots and that peculiar light-absorbing rubber hose, the "Artisan Chieftain" in the nest's core area seemed still lost in anger over losing a combat squad.It continued frantically hammering metal plates with its small hammer atop the shrine, venting its fury.

This provided perfect cover for their retreat.

"We should go," Lin Jie decisively made the call. "We've obtained far more than expected. There's no need to take greater risks just to hunt that chieftain. The nest's location is confirmed - the Association can organize larger-scale cleanup operations anytime."

This rational, clear-headed judgment immediately won William's agreement.

For an Alert-class investigation mission, their gains tonight were already absurdly generous.

If they continued fighting, they'd face siege by dozens of Gremlins and the wrath of an Artisan Chieftain whose strength likely exceeded Alert-class.

Knowing when to quit while ahead was the most essential quality of an excellent hunter.

Following their original route and with ground-level "bodyguard" Marcus providing support, the two smoothly returned from that filthy, slippery underground world to the surface.

When the morning's first rays of sunlight pierced through London's mist, illuminating their faces covered in mud and grease, all three men felt as if they'd been reborn into a new world.

They didn't linger long at the docks, instead taking a carriage directly back to the I.A.R.C. London branch beneath the British Museum.

When the three of them, particularly Lin Jie and William, appeared on the Underground City's clean, bright main thoroughfare looking as if they'd just been fished out of a mud pit, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Investigators and scholars coming and going all cast curious glances their way.

Their destination was the "Mission Settlement and Material Assessment Office" in the administrative district, a place staffed by several stern-faced appraisers and record-keepers.

The person receiving them was an elderly scholar with a rigorous demeanor, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his nameplate bearing the title "Material Appraiser - Third Level."

"Commission number L-1888-C017, investigation of cargo theft case at West India Docks. Executor: Free Hunter Lin Jie. Assistant: Fifth-Level Investigator William Keane." William stepped forward, submitting the mission report in his concise military tone.

"Mission objective confirmed. Perpetrating UMA identified as Alert-class creature 'Gremlin.' Nest located in city drainage system beneath Warehouse Number Three at West India Docks, specific coordinates mapped. Four missing Night Watch members confirmed deceased, three of them transformed into 'Mechanical Wraiths.'"

"My partner and I jointly eliminated one squad from this tribe, totaling nine Gremlins. Considering mission complexity has exceeded 'Alert-class' scope, we chose not to conduct deep cleanup, instead withdrawing with intelligence and key materials after retrieval."

William's report was objective and precise.

The third-level appraiser recorded while gesturing for them to place their retrieved materials on an assessment table made of special stone.

William first placed those "claws" and "crystal lenses" collected from Gremlin corpses onto the table.

The appraiser tested them with various instruments and quickly delivered his conclusion: "Standard Alert-class UMA biological materials, medium activity, slight 'Mechanical Curse' residue. Standard rate: each complete set exchanges for 2 Association points. Nine sets, total 18 points."

This result matched Lin Jie's expectations.

These points were just enough to buy him about three alchemical bullets - for a successful mission, this could only be considered standard returns.

Some lower-level investigators watching nearby showed understanding expressions upon hearing this assessment.

For an Alert-class mission, this was normal earnings.

However, what happened next made all the lower-level investigators present drop their jaws in astonishment.

Lin Jie took a deep breath and solemnly placed the oilcloth-wrapped mutated brass ingots obtained from the "mechanical shrine" and that roll of light-absorbing rubber hose onto the assessment table.

When the wrapping opened, the third-level appraiser's hand jerked violently, his gold-rimmed glasses nearly slipping from his nose.

"This... this is..." His voice trembled as he bypassed instruments, instead putting on white silk gloves and picking up one of the mutated brass ingots.

"This pure yet chaotic spirituality... these perfect curse runes... This isn't biological material!" The appraiser's breathing grew rapid. "This is deeply spiritually infused product! And the infusion has lasted at least ten years!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the room!

Everyone knew what "spiritual infusion" meant - it represented top-tier raw materials far more precious and rare than ordinary biological materials!

Such things were typically only found deep in powerful UMA nests that had been entrenched for decades or even centuries.

And these two men actually brought back materials of this level from the most basic "Alert-class" mission?

Their luck was simply too good!

"Yes," Lin Jie calmly responded to all the lower-level investigators' gazes. "We discovered a shrine constructed from such materials in the nest's core area. Considering the risks, we only retrieved a few samples with the strongest spirituality."

Only retrieved... a few samples?

Did that mean there was still a massive treasure trove of top-tier materials hidden deep underground?

The third-level appraiser was already so excited he became incoherent, immediately pressing an alarm bell on his desk.

Soon, a white-haired elder with a "Material Appraiser - Second Level" nameplate, clearly higher-ranked, hurried over accompanied by several assistants.

When this second-level appraiser saw the items on the assessment table, his expression mirrored the previous appraiser's - equally filled with shock.

"High-quality 'Chaos Brass' that can directly forge 'Cursebreaker' series weapons capable of disrupting enemy precision weapons! And this 'Void Rubber' - the best supplementary material for making 'Stalker' cloaks! The quality of these materials..."

After repeated testing with the most professional instruments, the second-level appraiser solemnly announced his final conclusion: "Comprehensive assessment: the rarity and spiritual purity of these materials have reached 'High-Quality Town-class' standards!"

High-Quality Town-class!

All the newcomers looked at Lin Jie with complex gazes filled with jealousy and envy.

Soon, the final settlement results were announced.

When these numbers appeared on the settlement board, Marcus let out a loud whistle.

Over eighty points - for many rookie investigators struggling through Alert-class missions, this was a huge sum that would take months or even most of a year to accumulate.

Looking at the long string of numbers newly added to his hunter's manual, Lin Jie felt a surge of excitement.

But he knew that more important than this money and points was the recognition he'd gained from the entire organization through this mission.

With one flawless tactical victory, he had demonstrated his value to everyone.

He proved that an excellent "Interpreter" and "tactical brain" could create value in a successful hunt no less than a powerful combatant.

After solemnly collecting the materials, the second-level appraiser personally walked up to Lin Jie and handed him an embossed business card.

"Mr. Lin, I'm the deputy director of London's Assessment Department. If you obtain any interesting 'materials' in the future, please contact me immediately. The Assessment Department's doors will always be open for you."

This was the most important recognition of his capabilities.