Chapter 15 A Dirty Deal

Ludie agonized, his expression strained, but ultimately decided to agree to Lu Luo's terms. Lu Luo was right—discovering important evidence and receiving a commendation would bring him far more than a mere 1,000 Alliance Currency. He pulled out a worn-out wallet from inside his coat and, after counting back and forth, produced a total of 875 Wasteland Alliance Currency in various denominations. "I didn't bring that much money with me. This is all I have, just over eight hundred. Let's just call it an even 1,000, alright?" Ludie reluctantly handed the money to Lu Luo. Lu Luo took the money, counted it carefully, and after confirming it was 875, he spoke, "Let's call it 850. You can owe me the remaining 150." Observer: "Well now, one dares to name a price, and the other dares to haggle. Did Newton teach you your math?" What, look down on Newton? He taught calculus. Lu Luo complained internally. I'm not really greedy for that 150, even though 150 is quite tempting. My main goal is to have a reason to contact Ludie in the future. Ludie, standing beside him, felt somewhat irritated. Where does one find such a troublesome student? "Damn it, are you really a student? What student is like you? I'm telling you, if you're always so nitpicky about everything, you'll lose your hair!" "It's 850, just tell me if that works for you or not!" "Fine, 850 it is. Hand over the item." "This is it." Lu Luo took a shattered reagent bottle from his coat. Though unmarked, it represented a wealth of information to Ludie, a Hunter team captain. Whether it was reagent residue, the glass bottle's production site, or its manufacturing process, he could potentially discover a great deal. When Ludie saw Lu Luo produce such an item, his eyes narrowed immediately. "This is a fragment of a reagent bottle? Where did you get this?" "From the minced flesh of an Exotic Species corpse." "You even noticed such a detail. How did you know this item was related to the incident?" "You know I study biology. This type of reagent bottle is sealed and might contain pharmaceuticals, reagents, or genetic samples. No matter what it held, its appearance on an exhibition hall employee who had transformed into a Humanoid Species was too conspicuous. So, I have two theories. First, the person carrying the reagent bottle collided with the employee, shattering the bottle. Second, someone intentionally stabbed the reagent bottle into the employee, or shattered it and quietly placed it on the employee, allowing the contents to come into contact with them. If it were the first scenario, fragments of the reagent bottle should be in a trash can. Therefore, I believe this object's presence on the Humanoid Species was very likely intentional." After hearing Lu Luo's answer, Ludie fell silent for a moment. The speculation sounded far-fetched, but upon deeper reflection, it was indeed well-reasoned. Is this kid's observational power really that strong? He shouldn't have undergone systematic training. How did he manage it? His gaze upon Lu Luo was strange, as if he had discovered something incredible. Then, he nodded. "The item is good, and your analysis makes some sense. Is there anything else?" Ludie was indeed taken aback by Lu Luo's commanding, confident presence, and his tone now carried a hint of seeking advice. Lu Luo smiled. He certainly wouldn't try to deceive Ludie now. If his previous options were limited to his brother Lu Yang and Lan Tian Technology, he now had another: Hunter Ludie. Not all Hunters were necessarily powerful experts, but the Ludie before him surely was. He must possess the advancement techniques Lu Luo wanted, and perhaps he could even take Lu Luo beyond the wall someday. "Around 2:00 p.m., a man in a cape and a black hat left in a hurry. I think this person is very suspicious. If you can find surveillance footage, or if there are surveillance devices nearby, you should be able to see the person I'm talking about." "How did you realize he was problematic?" Lu Luo pointed to his eyes, then to his head. "I have a pair of sharp eyes that can see through any fog before me. I also have a quick-thinking brain that helps me unravel the course of events." Lu Luo started to get a bit theatrical. It couldn't be helped. I can't exactly say it was the noble Grade S Sequence Observer who figured it out, can I? The Observer can represent a part of my eyes, so saying they're sharp is no problem at all. "Okay, I admit your observational skills are not bad. As for the person you mentioned, I will investigate further. And, kid, are you still a student?" Ludie, who hadn't mentored anyone in quite some time, found himself somewhat interested in Lu Luo. A smart kid like him would definitely be better to guide than those lunatics they keep forcing on me. Observer: "This man has taken an interest in you; I'm sure of it. He's interested in you. A man is interested in you. Aren't you scared?" Lu Luo scratched his head at the Observer's comment but still answered truthfully. "I've just been admitted to the Wasteland Alliance's East Ring College. I'm a biology student but haven't officially enrolled yet. Why?" "Are you interested in joining our Team 13 Hunters? High salary, high benefits, paid shopping sprees, free entry to clubs, and second-class citizenship as soon as you join. You'll become one of the elites in the Wasteland." Observer: "Good heavens, this man can certainly spin a yarn! Paid shopping sprees, free access to clubs... even I'm tempted. How about you?" Ludie's pitch was extravagant, but Lu Luo showed no reaction. "I appreciate your high regard, but I'm sorry. I have a scholarship contract with Lan Tian Biotech. The penalty for breaking it is 250,000 Alliance Currency. I simply can't afford such a high penalty. Moreover, I've only just been accepted into college and haven't completed my studies. So, for the time being, I can't join the Hunters." "Is that so!" Ludie looked at Lu Luo with a hint of regret. It had been five years since he had actively recruited anyone, so long he'd almost forgotten the process. From their initial contact to their conversation and the final transaction, Ludie had moved swiftly to try and recruit Lu Luo. This behavior might seem reckless, but Ludie's discernment was actually quite keen. He had judged from their brief encounter that Lu Luo's talent was worth a special recruitment effort. He never imagined, however, that this special recruitment attempt for a Hunter could fail. There was no way around it, as even a Hunter couldn't break the law inside the walls. Ludie moved his lips but ultimately remained silent. Lan Tian Biotech wasn't short on money, and they usually set their contract breach penalties at an absurdly high level. Even if he reported it to the bureau, they would probably not agree to spend a large sum of money to recruit a student who had just enrolled. As for paying Lu Luo's penalty out of his own pocket, that was out of the question. How could a broke guy like me afford that? I'm barely scraping by for cigarettes and alcohol as it is. What am I even thinking? Ludie suppressed his disappointment, held his head high, and tried not to let Lu Luo see his dejected expression. "Alright, even though your information was useful, you still have to come back to the Security Bureau with me. It's standard procedure." Despite saying this, Ludie discreetly took out three strands of the Sleeping Witch's hair and slipped them into Lu Luo's pocket. Looking at the strands of hair, Lu Luo felt a surge of excitement and anticipation. Finally got them. He safely tucked away the hair; it was a key component for his synthesis. Observer: "The upstanding youth of the Wasteland and the crafty old Hunter have completed a sordid, underhanded deal. The process was truly frightening! Friendly reminder: the synthesis of the Wraith Blade is still short 249 energy points and 1 gram of Dark Spirit Stone. It's a long road ahead, young one!"