Multiple Tests

The Hunters of Longcheng aren't all trained from childhood; many are latecomers. It's not uncommon for some to gain special powers after certain experiences, or even for escaped experimental subjects from labs to decide to become Hunters and eliminate societal threats due to the "warm care" they received from certain people.

Ignoring those who already possess high combat power or physical fitness, for most latecomer Hunters looking to improve themselves, nothing is faster than preparing two firearms.

Want a bigger and faster improvement? Spend more money to buy more powerful weapons.

This is the improvement strategy for most low-to-mid-tier Hunters. It's effective and easy to understand. Hunter income isn't bad either. It might be tense at first, but after dealing with some low-level anomalies, one's courage and habits develop, making everything seem easier.

"...Thank you very much." Zheng Yichen found the strengthening strategies provided by the three veterans to be down-to-earth, very reasonable, and practical to implement.

"Let's continue playing cards." Lewis steered the conversation back. He was about to win, so why waste time with so many useless words?

The next day, they were assigned patrol locations.

Zheng Yichen also saw other Hunters. Some of them, like Lewis and the others, appeared very natural and accustomed to the environment. Others were curious babies, looking around, likely newcomers like himself.

He was still on Lewis's team. The research institute's security personnel hadn't made any additional assignments in this regard; everything depended on their own choices.

"We're being monitored by surveillance cameras the entire time," Lewis said to Zheng Yichen as they walked, holding his weapon. "This place is called a patrol area, but it's actually more like a testing ground. Generally, the first two days are safe, but some research institutes will orchestrate 'accidents' on the very first day."

"Here, they can test not only anomalous experimental subjects but also the security mechanisms," Lewis, as a veteran, shared his experience without much concern.

These were things one could figure out after experiencing them a few times. Telling Zheng Yichen now was also a way to curry favor.

As for lending guns, that was impossible. None of the three people sharing a room dared to lend their firearms to someone who hadn't used them much. They might end up harming their own teammates instead of hitting the enemy.

Besides, Zheng Yichen himself possessed a certain level of combat ability. When they were playing cards and introducing themselves yesterday, they each showed off a bit. Zheng Yichen displayed his most proficient skill: precise stabbing.

Within his attack range, he could hit wherever he aimed, and his attack speed was also good. Using a polearm gave him a significant advantage. The area they were patrolling wasn't particularly spacious, so someone like Zheng Yichen was actually quite suitable.

The vast majority of anomalous creatures had conventional vital points. As long as one could penetrate their defenses and hit a vital spot, killing them with a gun or a cold weapon made no difference.

Of course, the safest and most reliable method was to maintain distance and shoot those anomalous beings.

"Hey, besides these things, some research institutes will also issue their own unique weapons," Jamie said after Lewis finished speaking, chuckling as he recalled his own experiences. "When you encounter that situation, you need to be extra careful. The research institute issuing special weapons means the escaped experimental subjects are more dangerous and require specialized weapons to eliminate."

"I've had the good fortune to participate in two such commissions. Although they were dangerous, I must say the weapons developed by those research institutes are truly amazing!"

While chatting, they passed by an experimental site and vaguely heard piercing roars. Unfortunately, the experimental site was sealed, and the windows were opaque, so they couldn't see any useful information.

Lewis, however, nodded thoughtfully. "It seems we'll be dealing with a relatively large anomalous experimental subject this time."

"Is this information deliberately revealed to us by the research institute?" Zheng Yichen learned something new again. It could be like this?

"Of course. We are hired security personnel, but in reality, we are test subjects. If it were a sudden, unannounced test, it would be mentioned in the contract," Jamie said with a smile. A daily wage of two thousand was quite standard for this type of mission.

He had experienced double that amount, but that was even more dangerous.

"The research institute just wants some non-staff combat power for testing; they don't want to kill us. They generally won't orchestrate overly dire situations."

"Most of the time, the 'critical' incidents we need to resolve won't exceed three. But even so, we still have to wait for the time stipulated in the protocol to end. During this period, we can't be idle and still need to patrol certain areas."

Jamie clicked his tongue as he said this, ending the idle chat.

In the monitoring room, a researcher watched the surveillance footage. He paid no mind to the idle chatter of the Hunters during their patrol; it was the warm-up phase.

As long as these Hunters performed when needed, they wouldn't be at a loss. The experimental subjects that were researched needed to undergo combat testing.

Before combat testing, there would be other types of tests. Those tests were conducted because the institute had accepted other commissions.

These usually involved testing tools provided by others, such as equipment to repel anomalous creatures, equipment to control anomalous creatures, and equipment to resist attacks from anomalous creatures, and so on.

Each institute had different main projects, so such cooperation was very frequent. The Nefita Institute mainly researched anomalous creatures. They also researched technologies targeting anomalous creatures, but these were focused on genetic targeting and drug targeting.

Rather than weapons or other technological equipment.

These technological devices were first used to test the anomalous creatures that would undergo combat testing. After obtaining sufficient data, they would be released to engage in combat with the Hunters. Data would then be collected on their performance. The feedback from battles between anomalous creatures facing machines and facing humans was different.

"His body temperature is a bit unusual. Pay more attention to him during the combat test later," the researcher said, looking at Zheng Yichen on the monitor. The monitoring equipment they had installed, in addition to normal surveillance, had some additional detection functions.

This was naturally to better collect some data and other information.

"If he gets injured during the fight, remember to collect his blood promptly." After saying this, the researcher left the monitoring room. He had only come to check the scanning situation of these Hunters.

Based on the data captured by the surveillance, they were sufficient to deal with the experimental subjects they would face later. However, while looking at this information, there was an unexpected bonus. Whether Zheng Yichen himself was an anomaly remained to be determined later.