From Igniting Talent to Becoming a Demon God - Section 40

A fruit platter sat on the marble table, the arc of the crystal chandelier reflecting off its surface.

Lu Chao did not hide anything. Just as he had told Zheng Wu, he explained his plans for the future.

"The Patrol Bureau..."

Chen Junhao's eyes flickered slightly. He exhaled a mouthful of smoke and thought, As expected.

"The Patrol Bureau isn't bad. Even if you're only a Level 3 Patrol Officer, you still have the right to freely enter and leave the Inner Ring City."

"The benefits aren't worse than some small and mid-sized companies, and there are resource channels inside too. Exchanging for potions and such is quite cost-effective..."

Chen Junhao nodded lightly, approving of his choice.

"But."

His tone shifted, and he exhaled another mouthful of smoke, saying with a half-smile, "Are you really willing to just watch others move faster than you?"

There was meaning behind his words. Lu Chao looked puzzled, not quite understanding.

"The resource costs required for Combat Grade are nothing like before. You should have heard a thing or two about that at the Martial Arts Hall."

Chen Junhao pointed at the apples on the platter on the table and gestured. "The Patrol Bureau's treatment is certainly good."

"But if you rely only on the resources from that job, breaking through to Professional Grade will probably take you forever."

Lu Chao knew this was true, but for the moment, he had no clear idea what to do.

Most security companies would not accept part-time workers. Once he joined the Patrol Bureau, it would be very hard for him to hold a position at another company.

As for sponsorship, he had also heard other senior brothers mention it. Not everyone could obtain it; usually, only those with a certain level of talent and potential had a chance.

For example, Shen Tianchen was rumored to have been valued by [Hengjia Security], which had provided him with a great deal of resource sponsorship. That was why even after entering Combat Grade, his progress had still been extremely fast.

As for himself, after all, it had taken him nearly three months to break through...

"Heh."

As if seeing his difficulty, Chen Junhao smiled. Then he pointed at a golden orange in the fruit platter, picked it up, and tossed it over.

"I have a boxing club under my name. It's completely clean and has nothing whatsoever to do with Hongyi Society."

With a smile on his face, Chen Junhao said in an earnest tone, "I can sponsor you in the club's name. One low-grade Vitality Potion each month, plus a forty-kilogram quota of Exotic Beast Meat. Normally, you won't need to do anything. You'll just hold the place down at critical moments."

"If you break through to Professional Grade in the future, the resources will be doubled. In any case, it's thirty percent higher than what other fighters on the market get."

This...

Lu Chao's expression tightened, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.

He had never expected Brother Hao to actually be willing to sponsor him. After all, he had already owed him quite a few favors all this time.

"Ah Chao, the treatment Brother Hao is offering you isn't low. It's even better than what some veteran Combat Grade fighters get."

Zhou Qiang, who had been standing in the room the whole time, spoke up at the right moment and advised him, "As for the Patrol Bureau, don't worry. They know exactly how things work. It's just a matter of turning a blind eye. How many people inside have clean hands?"

"There are plenty of people who cozy up to the Mega-Corporations. This has long since become an unspoken rule. Besides, the club is completely independent from the gang. Even if they investigate it, they won't be able to find fault with it."

Chen Junhao did not interrupt. He simply sat quietly on the sofa opposite them, smoking and exhaling mist.

Some things had to be made clear from the very beginning. He also did not want to fall out with a junior he admired over some trivial matter.

For a moment, the atmosphere went still. Only the breathing of the three people remained in the room.

Lu Chao glanced at the golden orange in his hand. It felt slightly cool to the touch.

He was not sure whether Brother Hao had some other purpose. After all, this sponsorship had come far too timely, and it was also highly beneficial to him.

But.

Thinking of the goodwill shown to him over these days, from the help with renting a place when he had first left the Welfare Institute, to the security work afterward, and the condolence money deliberately given to him earlier...

A warm current flowed and settled deep in his heart.

Lu Chao thought it over again and again, and finally made his decision.

"Thank you, Brother Hao!"

On the second floor of the bar, Lu Chao walked out of the office.

The clamor once again came from the first-floor hall. The women with swaying dance moves were still at the center of the dance floor, stirring up light and shadow.

Standing by the patterned ceramic-tile railing on the second floor, Lu Chao realized that this was the first time he had stood here with a different state of mind and taken in the entire bar.

"Just relax. How could Brother Hao possibly set you up?"

"Speaking of which, you really are impressive, kid. You became one without making a sound."

Zhou Qiang stood beside him, feeling somewhat emotional. He could be considered someone who had watched Lu Chao get to this point.

In three months, he had gone from a thin, bewildered-looking young man to a fighter whose muscles and bones were beginning to show, his gaze steady and heavy.

This change was like an iron blade that had undergone quenching.

"It's all thanks to Brother Hao."

"If it hadn't been for that security job back then, I would've had a hard time holding on until now."

Lu Chao smiled, his tone calm and open.

Earlier, in the office, he had ultimately accepted the sponsorship.

Judge actions, not intentions. At the very least, Brother Hao had helped him several times before and had never asked for anything in return.

Besides, one basic Vitality Potion and several dozen kilograms of Exotic Beast Meat every month would be a great help to him. As for the corresponding price, he could always repay it once he became stronger in the future.

"You're a pretty good guy."

Seeing his sincere expression and hearing that his words of thanks toward Brother Hao did not seem fake, Zhou Qiang nodded approvingly.

No one disliked making friends with people who valued loyalty and gratitude.

Wasn't that exactly why Brother Hao had been willing to sponsor him?

The two of them walked slowly along the corridor on the second floor, talking as they went.

In the end, Lu Chao only made it as far as the stairwell before parting ways with him.

During that time, he did not see Xiao Yang again. He walked out of the bar's front doors and merged into the night.

The clamor faded, leaving only gusts of night wind blowing past.

Click!

Nine o'clock at night.

In Building Three on Engineering Street, Lu Chao closed the door and returned to the shared apartment.

He changed into slippers by the shoe cabinet and walked into the living room.

He looked toward the other bedroom across from his. It was pitch-black beneath the crack of the door, without the slightest movement.

"Still at the repair shop, huh?"

His gaze flickered slightly as Lu Chao thought of a few things Zhao Yuanqing had said before.

The repair shop had recently taken on several big orders. Zhao Yuanqing had been leaving early and returning late, unusually busy.

Aside from that...

He turned his head to look at the coffee table in the living room and saw a lot of miscellaneous items piled on it.

Basic Mechanical Knowledge, Basic Prosthetic Component Theory... old books with eye-catching titles were stacked together, along with several pocket-sized mechanical prosthetic models.

Most of them had been bought secondhand by Zhao Yuanqing. At the corner of the table sat a half-open black toolbox, and inside, he could see a small Pressure Gauge Probe, a faint-blue Electrode Blade, and other tools.

"Mechanical repairman..."

Thinking of that profession, Lu Chao's brow relaxed, and he shook his head helplessly.

Perhaps he had been motivated by him, or perhaps he had been provoked by the words of Lin Ze and the others.

At some point, Zhao Yuanqing had begun to change. He worked hard, trying to become a professional mechanical repairman specializing in prosthetics.

While working at the repair shop, he used the parts there to practice. In private, he came back and crammed theory, staying up late to study.

Clearly, everyone wanted to change their own fate, not just him.

Thinking of this, and then looking again at that pile of yellowed old books on prosthetic theory, Lu Chao stood in place and, in the end, temporarily suppressed that thought in his heart.

He had originally planned to tell Zhao Yuanqing tonight that he had broken through to Combat Grade.

But the five-thousand-yuan debt still had no solution. It would be better to wait until tomorrow, settle things with the Patrol Bureau, and talk after he had received an advance on his salary.

When the time came, he should treat Yuanqing to a proper meal too, as both a celebration and thanks.

Tap, tap!