CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 80 NO FEELING

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

Chapter 80: No Feelings Left

As undercurrents stirred the world, Ren Suo stood before You Jilong, who wore a distinct scowl.

"Why aren’t you at work?"

"I’m working with Tactical Team Two."

"Tactical Team Two hasn’t assigned you any tasks!" You Jilong’s mouth twitched.

"No tasks *is* the task," Ren Suo said earnestly. "As someone who entered the construction site, Tactical Team Two might want me to remain on standby to lure out those who create anomalous creatures..."

You Jilong was speechless. "If that girl Wei Shaojun hadn’t had a crisis of conscience and returned to work, I wouldn’t even have known you were still on holiday, acting like a tax thief..."

"How can it be called stealing when it concerns a civil servant?" Ren Suo glanced at Wei Shaojun nearby, a look of grievance on his face.

You have leave, yet you come back to work? Are you thick or something? And here I thought our shared dream was to never work a day in our lives!

Wei Shaojun seemed to notice his gaze. She smiled back at him, then turned her head and continued her work towards building a harmonious society.

You Jilong couldn’t be bothered to say more to Ren Suo; after all, Ren Suo could indeed be considered to have been helping Tactical Team Two during this period. He had even personally said so before, promising to report on his work on Friday.

But You Jilong had already blacklisted Ren Suo in his mind, planning to nominate him for any future overtime.

"However, your report wasn’t bad," You Jilong’s tone softened. "You’ve at least been watching those TV dramas quite diligently these past few days."

Ren Suo didn’t know if You Jilong was being sarcastic or complimentary, so he just gave a bashful smile. "Being diligent has always been my strong suit."

"Although there’s nothing particularly special about it, your analysis of the Demons is quite comprehensive. It’s clear you’ve put effort into it," You Jilong said. "With your report, Tactical Team Three finally managed to submit their work. They even received Deputy Director Yu’s praise, and it’s being used as a model analysis for Lianjiang City—apparently, the others are too busy with actual work to have as much free time to watch TV dramas as you do."

Ren Suo finally understood You Jilong’s implication. "Thank you for the compliment, Captain!"

That was a meticulously edited version he had spent an hour trimming and refining; the analysis was well-founded, comprehensive, and detailed. Even if it couldn’t compare to scholars specializing in this field, it was still far better than what others could produce. Is this even a compliment?

You Jilong waved his hand. "Deputy Director Yu said you should go see him when you get back to the bureau. After you return, I’ll think about what tasks to assign you..."

"Alright, I’ll head over now."

Ren Suo walked swiftly out of Tactical Team Three’s office, only to be stopped by an acquaintance just outside.

"You... are you feeling better?" Ren Suo was somewhat surprised to see Qiao Muyi.

That day, Qiao Muyi had been struggling to breathe for over an hour, as if possessed by a Ghost, before he managed to get her to the suburban hospital for treatment. She had looked like she was at death’s door. How could she be up and about in just a few days?

"I was discharged two days ago, but the bureau gave me leave," said Qiao Muyi, dressed in her Black Body Armor. "But idling at home isn’t really my thing, so I just slept in a bit and then came to work."

Great, all of you are pillars of society, which only makes me look more like a tax thief who only loves playing games.

"I saw you talking with the captain outside and decided to wait until you were done," Qiao Muyi said with a smile. "I haven’t even properly thanked you yet. I’ve been wanting to see you to express my gratitude, but I didn’t expect you to delay coming back to work until now..."

"Ahem, there’s no need for thanks. It was my duty," Ren Suo quickly changed the subject.

"How about I treat you to dinner tonight? You saved my life, after all. Surely my life is worth at least a meal, right?"

With Qiao Muyi putting it like that, Ren Suo had no way of refusing. "Alright, you decide where we eat. I’m going to see Deputy Director Yu now."

Qiao Muyi patted her chest. "Rest assured, benefactor, I’ll make sure you’re completely satisfied!"

Ren Suo watched Qiao Muyi enter the office and sighed softly before turning and walking down to the second floor.

He knew that his relationship with Qiao Muyi could now be considered a friendship. If Ren Suo were to make the request, "I hope you sleep," Qiao Muyi probably wouldn’t refuse.

However, the feeling was gone now.

In other words, Qiao Muyi no longer possessed the Key Ren Suo needed.

This realization made Ren Suo feel as if all his previous efforts had been in vain; ultimately, he had obtained Qiao Muyi’s Key due to a single supernatural incident.

It was like meticulously navigating a maze to its very exit, only for a bug to suddenly occur, causing the reward from the maze’s Treasure Box to appear directly in front of him.

Although he had still achieved his goal, there was a subtle sense of frustration...

But can a Key only be obtained once from each person?

Ren Suo recalled that after he obtained a Key from any Key-bearer, that thrilling ’Key Sense’ would immediately vanish.

Qiao Muyi was the first Key-bearer he had seen again after several days, and the ’Key Sense’ still hadn’t returned.

If a Key can only be obtained once from each person, then Keys will definitely be in short supply in the future. Either Keys can be bought with Merit Points, or there must be other hidden mechanics. Otherwise, the reward Treasure Boxes after clearing stages would definitely not provide enough Keys in the future...

Mulling this over, Ren Suo arrived at Deputy Director Yu’s office and knocked on the door. "Deputy Director Yu, it’s Ren Suo from Tactical Team Three."

"Come in."

Yu Kuangtu looked to be in good spirits, a smile appearing on his face as soon as he saw Ren Suo. "Take a seat."

Ren Suo sat down obediently. Yu Kuangtu asked, "How is your awakening technique coming along?"

"Huh?" Ren Suo was taken aback. "How is it...? Isn’t it still the same?"

"Hmm?" Yu Kuangtu was slightly startled. "Didn’t your Awakening only occur on the day you saved that person?"

Ren Suo noticed the surprise in Yu Kuangtu’s eyes, and his mind raced.

He thinks my awakening technique will change. He thinks my Awakening only occurred on the day I saved someone. That day was a Saturday, and today is Friday—six days have passed. A change should occur within six days... This means, according to Yu Kuangtu’s information, awakening techniques are supposed to change after the initial Awakening! That’s why he’s asking.

As for my awakening technique, it’s purely a Skill loaded from the game console. Naturally, it wouldn’t undergo the kinds of changes typical of actual awakening techniques.

Quickly deducing the situation, Ren Suo spoke calmly, "Well, recently, I’ve felt that using my awakening technique has become much easier. It’s as effortless as picking my nose."

Yu Kuangtu’s expression faltered for a moment. Hearing Ren Suo’s peculiar analogy, he indeed didn’t bring up the topic of awakening techniques again. "By the way, is your hometown Fufeng?"

Ren Suo blinked, thinking the moment had finally arrived, and nodded briskly. "Yes, that’s right."

"Hmm... Well... Forget it. I won’t beat around the bush."

Yu Kuangtu took a document out from his drawer. "Take a look at this first, then we’ll talk."