Chapter 157: 151, Storage Ring (Please Subscribe for Monthly Pass)
This meal had cost Lu Lin over 80,000 Federal Coins. He had originally wanted to trick Long Qianli into paying, but he felt a little embarrassed in the end and paid the bill himself. However, as he was leaving, Lu Lin glanced at his account balance and implicitly asked Long Qianli to inquire about the Kongming White Ape reward for him. Long Qianli simply smiled, didn’t say whether he would help, and left.
This left Lu Lin feeling uneasy. He had spent too extravagantly this time. If the Star Investigation Office’s subsidy didn’t arrive in his account promptly, he might genuinely not have enough money for University. If he didn’t have the money when tuition was due, he might have to borrow money to attend. It seemed Chen Xiran, beside him, was quite a wealthy young lady.
"Team Leader, is there something wrong with my face?" Chen Xiran asked.
"No, it’s nothing. Xi Ran, I heard you’re from Hua Xia Police Officer College, right?"
"Yes, I’ll be a senior this academic year. I’ll have plenty of time for missions this year." Chen Xiran, thinking Lu Lin was worried she wouldn’t have time for team missions, offered this explanation.
"No problem, there’s no hurry with the missions," Lu Lin said. "Fang Gang, Xi Ran, are you two free this afternoon? Shall we find a place to chat?"
As the new team leader, Lu Lin naturally needed to understand his team members well—their combat abilities, fighting styles, and mental states.
"I’m free. I’d just be playing games if I went back," Fang Gang replied.
"I’m free too. My performance in the Exotic Battlefield this time was truly embarrassing," Chen Xiran added.
"Alright, come with me then." Lu Lin found a coffee shop next to Jinchao Barbecue—the kind with unlimited refills—and the three of them sat down.
"Let’s start by introducing ourselves. I’ll go first," Lu Lin began. "My name is Lu Lin, a Saturnite, graduate of Blue Star Gold Sword High School, and a freshman starting University. My Innate Attribute is Earth Element. The Star Skills I’ve currently mastered are Stone Skin, War Cry, Swamp, Earth Shattering, Wearing Armor, and Holding Shield. The Star Martial techniques I practice are Inch Step and Ten Steps Kill. Also, I’m a Star Guide. If you need any Star Skill Guidance in the future, you can come to me. We’re teammates, so there’s no charge," Lu Lin said with a smile.
Fang Gang and Chen Xiran, sitting beside him, stared at him in shock. No way, no way, is this what a genius’s life is like?
The Federal Unified College Entrance Exam was on June 1st, and all candidates underwent their Awakening. Today was June 27th. Lu Lin was at the Third Level, had mastered six Star Skills, practiced two Star Martial techniques, and had also passed the certification as a Star Guide. Any one of these accomplishments would take an ordinary person two or three years, yet Lu Lin had achieved them all in less than a month.
Chen Xiran and Fang Gang were thoroughly impressed. With someone like him as their team leader, their mission completion rate and personal safety would surely be very high in the future.
"Then it’s my turn," Fang Gang said. "My name is Fang Gang, from Mars. I just graduated from East China Traditional Chinese Medicine University with a degree in elixir studies, and I’m currently an Official Star Pharmacist. My Innate Attribute is Water Attribute. I’m also currently at Level 3 Peak. The Star Skills I’ve mastered are Water Therapy, Water Softness, Water Escape, Angry Wave, and Undercurrent—five in total. I’ve only cultivated one Star Martial technique, Water Wave Slash, but it hasn’t reached the minor accomplishment stage yet. Additionally, I have a small elixir research workshop where I usually conduct some research. In the future, I can take care of our team’s elixirs."
CLAP. CLAP. CLAP. Lu Lin and Chen Xiran applauded together. Now the team had a Star Guide and a Star Pharmacist. No wonder Long Qianli put them in the same team. If they could also get a Star Array Master and a Star Device Master, they would have all four major professions and could survive independently in the Exotic Battlefield for a long time.
Hearing how outstanding both their team leader and Fang Gang were, Chen Xiran felt a bit embarrassed. "My name is Chen Xiran. I’m from Chongnuo City on an alien planet. My Innate Attribute is Fire System, and I’m currently at Level 3 Peak. The Star Skills I’ve mastered are Rock Burn, Scorching, Volcano, Explosion, Flame Dragon, Fire Snake, and Star Explosion—seven in total. I... I don’t have any special skills... Um... does singing count?" Chen Xiran asked, somewhat sheepishly.
For some reason, ever since Lu Lin had corrected her once, Chen Xiran’s personality had changed significantly. The former carefree Chen Xiran, who looked down on everyone, was gone. Instead, she had become someone who was cautiously mindful of others’ thoughts. Perhaps this was her true self, and her usual demeanor was just a facade.
"Of course, it counts! I have another question, Xi Ran. Do you have any hobbies?"
"Me? Does liking to cook count? Team Leader, my birthday is next month. I’d like to invite you and Fang Gang to my home. How about I cook some of my specialties for you?"
"No problem!" Lu Lin and Fang Gang agreed immediately.
Then, the three of them chatted about their University days. For instance, Fang Gang recounted how, when he first dissected an exotic beast, he held the knife backward and cut his own hand. Chen Xiran mentioned being an unbeatable fighter at school, only to be scared to tears twice upon entering the Exotic Battlefield. Lu Lin also shared his story about going to Linbei City on Saturn to provide Star Skill Guidance, and how he ended up bringing back dozens of local specialty white chickens.
After chatting for a while, they went their separate ways. The Star Investigation Office wasn’t particularly strict in managing its members; when there were no missions, everyone did their own thing, gathering only when a mission arose.
On the way back, Lu Lin reflected. The three of them in the team were somewhat familiar with each other now, but that was the extent of it. If they wanted to coordinate seamlessly in combat and on missions, they needed much more practice and familiarity. Among the three, one shouldn’t assume Chen Xiran had the strongest attack just because she had a Fire System Innate Attribute. Her attack power was demonstrated in safe environments without real danger. If her performance during actual missions was the same as it had been in the Exotic Battlefield, both he and Fang Gang would be doomed because of her. Then there was Fang Gang. Although he was at Level 3 Peak, his actual combat strength wasn’t that high. His role in the team should primarily be logistical support, focusing on healing. He had some combat ability, but only enough for self-defense. After all, you couldn’t expect a medic to fight on the front lines like a regular soldier. Among the three of them—a medic who could barely protect himself and a fire mage with unstable output—apart from Lu Lin himself, who could rise to the occasion, the other two seemed somewhat unreliable. It looked like during this period without missions, he would need to put them through some special training. Missions from the Star Investigation Office could come at any time; they had to be prepared.
Just as he was thinking this, Long Qianli called him.
"Lu, the reward from Headquarters has arrived," Long Qianli said without preamble, directly showing Lu Lin an image. "However, this time it’s a choice of rewards. Take a look."
"First option: 1.2 billion Federal Coins. Just say the word, and it will be transferred directly to your account."
"Second option: The Director will personally take you to Kongming Mountain to return the little monkey."
"Third option: A Storage Ring, less than 50 cubic meters in capacity."
"Which one do you want?"
Lu Lin was stunned. He really wanted to tell Long Qianli that only children make choices; adults want it all. But he didn’t dare. Long Qianli’s power was far greater than his own. In Lu Lin’s Perception, Long Qianli was not even inferior to Zhao Lei before his breakthrough—at the peak of the Level 9 Unblemished Realm. But if he had to choose among these three options, Lu Lin honestly didn’t know which one to pick.
The 1.2 billion Federal Coins would best address his immediate financial needs. However, compared to the other two options, this was the first one Lu Lin would discard. Money? It was just money. Although Lu Lin was short on cash, it was mainly for living expenses. If he truly wanted to make money, he wouldn’t have refused the Star Skill Guidance fee from the Feibei City Investigation Bureau the previous day. Lu Lin was clear-headed when it came to such important matters. So, the 1.2 billion Federal Coins were eliminated first.
The second option was to go to the Exotic Battlefield with the Director and escort the young white ape home. To Lu Lin, this seemed like a rare opportunity for training and a chance to make a good impression on the boss. Lu Lin had always been curious about the Exotic Battlefield. If he could go with such strong support and gain experience, imagine how many good things he could obtain! Moreover, for personally escorting the young white ape home, the Kongming White Ape Clan would surely offer a substantial reward. Helping return a lost child—at the very least, receiving some local wild fruits wouldn’t be too much to ask, right? The Kongming White Ape Clan had several Titled Kings; surely they wouldn’t offer just some rotten persimmons and spoiled bananas. For a Titled King of the Human Race visiting and offering help, serving only ordinary items would be far too shabby.
However, after some thought, Lu Lin felt he still couldn’t go. Returning the young white ape was indeed a kindness. But if Lu Lin went, that gratitude and the existing resentment would be intertwined, and who knew if they would cancel each other out. Besides, from Lu Lin’s perspective, that young white ape didn’t have many years left to live anyway. If Lu Lin went, it wouldn’t be seen as bestowing a favor but as mockery. So, he had no choice but to give up the second option.
Then... that only left the Storage Ring. Although it was the last option remaining after elimination, Lu Lin definitely didn’t underestimate the Storage Ring. This was an indispensable item for those who lived a life of adventure, often skirting the edges of the law. Nowadays, if you went out without a Storage Ring on your hand, you’d be too embarrassed to even greet people.
However, Lu Lin knew that the Federation had obtained very few Storage Rings during its thousand years in the Exotic Battlefield. In fact, before Bukong King was promoted to Titled King, the Human Race had no ability to create Storage Rings themselves. Now, although Bukong King could make them, who would dare ask the only King of the Human Race to do such labor? It was said that Bukong King dedicated about a week each year to crafting Storage Rings. For this, she had even specifically learned the forging methods for Star Devices.
Encountering a Storage Ring at this time was an incredibly rare opportunity.
"Director Long, I’ve decided," Lu Lin said. "I want the Storage Ring."
"Alright. I’ll send the reply immediately. The Storage Ring will be delivered to Hua Qing Water Yard by tomorrow at the earliest. You can pick it up then. Also, be prepared when you come tomorrow. A researcher from Headquarters will be there as well; they want to discuss some things with you."
Lu Lin’s heart skipped a beat.