Just Like Anger

They had completely taken the bait. Yang Yu understood exactly what they wanted, so he had deliberately disguised himself and Bai Jin as two down-and-out adventurers doing illegal work.

Yang Yu's extensive gaming experience went without saying, and Bai Jin played her part well too. To prepare for this day, Yang Yu had taught Bai Jin plenty of the finer points of acting, including every trick of undercover work.

With the two accomplished actors putting on a flawless performance, Slarat firmly believed that Yang Yu and Bai Jin were helpless adventurers with nowhere to turn. As long as they passed the test, they would have completed the first step of their plan.

Naturally, they could not conduct the test in the underground agency. The uncle who ran the agency opened a hidden passage and led them into an underground facility.

Some employers occasionally doubted the abilities of illegal workers. To boost business, the uncle from the agency had people build that basement.

After the magical lamps were lit, dim light illuminated the basement. The gray floor stretched onward until a wall of piled, jagged stones blocked the way. The place was empty, save for the marks left behind by countless battles.

Standing in the center of the arena, Slarat drew his sword. "Both of you, come at me together."

[Slarat Lianzi LV26 Silver Orchid Merchant Guild Deputy Minister of Human Resources

HP: 512/512 MP: 360/360

Attributes: Strength 141, Defense 75, Intelligence 101, Magic Defense 104, Agility 85, Endurance 62]

His attributes were average, slightly worse than Seka Mens's. Once the Source Extermination mission was settled and the free attribute points he had earned were distributed evenly, Yang Yu figured his own stats would be about the same.

Smiling confidently, Yang Yu waved a hand. "My little sister hasn't been feeling well lately, and having two people fight you at once would seem a little disrespectful. I'll go alone. If I pass the test, please spare my sister. Well—if you don't trust her abilities, she can show you her magic afterward."

Slarat did not know whether Yang Yu was favoring his sister because she was not actually good at fighting, but it did not matter either way. As long as the people he recruited were not too clumsy, that was enough.

"Since you're so confident, we'll do as you say. As long as you pass the test, your sister won't need to be tested."

"You're really easy to talk to. As expected, people become generous once they have money. Don't misunderstand me—I don't mean to insult you. Having money is a good thing." Yang Yu picked up his staff and lowered his stance. "Then I won't hold back. I'll make the first move."

"Come at me."

Slarat was extremely confident. As a member of the Lianzi Family, he had earned his position as deputy minister of human resources through his own skills.

After exchanging a few blows with him, most applicants ended up at a disadvantage. This time would be no different.

Facing Yang Yu as he charged in with his staff raised, Slarat held his sword horizontally and blocked Yang Yu's strike. Yang Yu continued swinging his staff, launching attack after attack.

The force behind them was weak, even lighter than Slarat had imagined. There was no technique to the staff swings either. Yang Yu did not look like a qualified adventurer at all.

Slarat's impression of Yang Yu worsened.

Just then, Yang Yu sighed. "Sure enough, without lunch, I can't put any strength into it. I talked too big. You should attack instead, sir. Dodging is much easier than attacking. You said that if we could withstand your attacks for ten minutes, we'd pass."

"Then let me see what you can do." Slarat said no more and swung his sword at Yang Yu.

He did not use any skills. This was only a simple probe. If Yang Yu could not even dodge or block this attack, he would have to find someone else.

Yang Yu did not disappoint him. With a single step backward, he made Slarat's sword swing completely miss.

"Sir, I know that wasn't even half your full strength. Since this is a test, there's no need to hold back too much. This concerns my life. Show me with your strength whether I'm fit for this job."

He could actually tell that my last attack used less than half my strength. Hmm, he can be considered qualified.

"Then be careful."

Slarat quickened his movements. At first, Yang Yu handled them with ease, but as Slarat's sword swings grew faster and faster, Yang Yu gradually began to look strained.

Yeah, right.

It was all an act. Yang Yu had no choice but to pretend. When he and Tella had discussed their strategy, Tella had warned him that the deputy minister of human resources was particularly petty. If Yang Yu wanted to catch his eye but remain unnoticed after entering the factory, the best approach was to appear mediocre in every respect.

Clang—

As the sound of weapons colliding faded through the empty basement, the battle came to an end. Yang Yu had blocked many of Slarat's attacks with his staff, but he had also deliberately exposed plenty of openings, allowing the sword to slash his clothes and leave a few superficial wounds.

"Time's up." Slarat sheathed his sword, unable to hide his satisfaction. "You do indeed possess the strength we need. I believe you will do a fine job protecting our factory."

"Not at all. I just didn't eat enough today. You know how it is—my spendthrift wife blew all our meal money, so lately we can only eat enough to barely fill our stomachs." Yang Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face full of flattery. He did not forget to glare at Bai Jin, making the act seem more convincing. "My sister has always liked making medicine, and since you run a pharmaceutical factory, perhaps someone at the factory could teach her a thing or two someday. You're in the big city, while we're out in the countryside. How about we make money together?"

Hmph, what a money-grubbing man.

But I like that.

Slarat immediately became haughty. "That is not under my jurisdiction. If you can get along with the others, I will not interfere. But I must still advise you: do your assigned work properly and obey orders. Only then will the money be yours."

Yang Yu continued fawning. "Understood. You're right, sir. So, when are we leaving?"

"Look at how impatient you are. When can you leave?" Slarat asked in return.

"We can leave anytime. We have little luggage, and we always carry it with us."

"Then let me inspect it. If there's no problem, we'll leave."

"Alright, alright."

After the test was over, the group returned to the agency. Yang Yu and Bai Jin opened the luggage they had stored there for Slarat to inspect. Slarat carefully checked Yang Yu's belongings, which contained nothing but old, worn-out clothes. He truly seemed to own nothing.

As for Bai Jin, he only gave her things a cursory glance.

For one thing, Bai Jin had no charm whatsoever. Just like how boys discussing gentlemanly topics in class only cared about pretty girls and never paid attention to girls who were plain or obviously unattractive, he had no interest in Bai Jin's personal clothing.

For another, Slarat spotted a large jar of blue liquid in Bai Jin's bag. Bai Jin told him it was a magic potion she had developed, then asked him breathlessly whether he wanted to try some.

When he opened it for inspection, the potion was like Slime—thick, sticky, and carrying a strange smell. It was just like anger. To keep Bai Jin from pulling out any more strange potions and asking him to try them, Slarat could only give the rest a quick scan.

After confirming that neither of them carried anything for recording purposes or any weapons of mass destruction, Slarat paid the agency fee at the front desk and left the agency with them.