Welcome Party

Xu Jiang's first night after joining Team 17 was destined to be lively.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Mo was also too heartbroken to sleep.

Mo Wushan, a manager at the Martial Arts Association, had been a towering figure in his youth. After retirement, he helped the Martial Arts Association train newcomers, with disciples spread far and wide.

Unfortunately, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy had slipped away right before his eyes. The moment he returned to the Martial Arts Association, he flew into a rage and ordered someone to investigate Xu Jiang's background immediately.

The result was...

"Xu Jiang has a trash B-rank talent?" Mo Wushan grabbed the file and flung it straight onto the floor.

The subordinate making the report did not understand why he was angry and could only force a smile. "It really is the B-rank talent Mech Overload. Didn't you make the rule yourself? There's no need to recruit Mech-type users with explosive B-rank talents."

"I..." Mo Wushan wanted to curse, yet the words would not come out.

He had indeed made that rule, but Xu Jiang was definitely far more than a mere B-rank talent!

The receptionist in charge of registration had clearly seen Xu Jiang's ID card. That thing could not be faked.

The only possible explanation was that he had hidden some information.

Many class-changers did not want others to see their trump cards, so hiding their information was nothing unusual.

But Xu Jiang had been clever about it. He had hidden only half of it, making the receptionist believe it was real. That was why no recruitment offer had been made, allowing Grandpa Lei to stumble into such incredible luck.

A peerless genius with dual talents was gone just like that. The more Mo Wushan thought about it, the angrier he became, until his face turned red and his subordinate trembled in fear.

"Manager, is there something wrong with Xu Jiang? Should we send people to find him?"

"No need. Bring me all of his files, and erase every record as well."

Though furious, as an old friend, Mo Wushan's first thought was still to help Xu Jiang erase his traces.

For a prodigy like this, it was best to keep him hidden for as long as possible. The chaos within Yong'an City was hardly any safer than the Wild Beasts outside.

Looking at the file in his hand, Mo Wushan still could not swallow his anger and dialed a number.

"Hello, you old bastard Lei! Bring out that good wine you've been hoarding. I want a jar to quench my thirst."

"What? You won't give it to me? Hmph! I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm threatening you."

"You old bastard, you wouldn't want the whole world finding out about your disciple, would you?"

Grandpa Lei was an idiot!

Xu Jiang sat in an unregistered black van, constantly mocking Grandpa Lei's intelligence in his heart.

Harmony? Friendship? What the hell did either of those have to do with Team 17?!

Couldn't he have looked into them before recommending Xu Jiang? Team 17 was completely different from what Grandpa Lei had described.

Baozi, who was driving, hummed a tune without a care in the world. Inside the vehicle, the four of them stared intently at a map, studying their strategy.

Ying Xiaoxiao, who had been sweet and gentle just moments ago, was now completely absorbed in the business of robbery.

Staring at the map, she spoke first. "This time, the target is a shipment in a gang hideout. The bounty is pretty high, so let's treat it as a welcome party for Xu Jiang."

It was obvious that this team leader had done this more than once. She was remarkably experienced.

Where was the gentle big sister I was promised? How had she turned into a bandit? Could I refuse this party?

And there's even a little girl sitting here! Was it really appropriate to openly discuss robbery in front of her?

"No problem. Sister Ying can decide. I'll cover everyone," Xiao Zhen said, completely unconcerned about the robbery.

In Grandpa Lei's eyes, the obedient little girl who worked and studied every day now emanated a ghostly blue aura.

She was definitely not a beginner who had just started out. The power of the mysterious type had already condensed into physical form! A chubby little ghost lay on Xiao Zhen's shoulder, waving at Xu Jiang.

Grandpa Lei! Come take a look! Are you even going to manage Team 17 anymore?!

Sha Tu, standing nearby, smiled elegantly. "Xu Jiang, you just got here, so you might not be used to this. Don't worry. We're very familiar with Old Lei, and we'll definitely take good care of you."

He really had the nerve to say that. If anyone in this group was the strangest, it had to be him.

And he says he knows Grandpa Lei well. Grandpa Lei told me he was a fighter, so what was this? He was clearly a mechanic! Familiar my ass!

Sha Tu's skills really were in his legs, but they were not a fighter's leg techniques. They were a mechanic's prosthetic limbs.

He rolled up his pant legs and peeled back the synthetic skin, revealing a pair of precision prosthetic limbs.

Since there might be fighting later, Sha Tu had even installed two canisters of energy potion into them. They looked tremendously powerful.

Xu Jiang rubbed his brow with a headache and asked, "Are we really not going on patrol? Do we have to go rob someone?"

"This is to celebrate you joining us. Patrols are so boring. Don't worry, the target this time is a group of villains too. The Public Security Bureau assigned this mission to me."

Ying Xiaoxiao's answer confirmed the rumors about Team 17.

No wonder their mission completion rate was low. No wonder their casualty rate was high. It turned out they kept making trouble for themselves by taking private jobs.

After thinking for a few seconds, Xu Jiang decided not to get out of the car after all. He would just go along with Team 17's madness.

In this chaotic world, following the rules was impossible. Hadn't Ying Xiaoxiao said that the Public Security Bureau had issued this mission? Sometimes, the light itself was darkness.

Though it was rather abrupt, on his very first day in the team, he had already experienced the darkness of the world.

"What do you need me to do?" Xu Jiang asked.

"You've just joined, and you don't have much combat experience. You probably won't need to fight. Don't worry, I'll do my best to keep you from dying," Ying Xiaoxiao said, patting his shoulder reassuringly.

Yet that reassurance sounded even more terrifying.

"Everyone, we're almost there. Get ready," Baozi, who was driving, reminded them. The others quickly began gearing up.

This mission had come from the Public Security Bureau, an official organization. If anything really happened, the Public Security Bureau would never care whether they lived or died. Instead, it would do everything possible to distance itself from them.

So before doing bad things, they still needed some disguises.

Xiao Zhen completely shrouded herself in mysterious power, raising her hands before her chest. She looked like an adorable little ghost.

Ying Xiaoxiao's transformation was even more impressive. As her power surged forth, her entire aura became seductive and sinister.

Her light-blue hair turned purple, while her white floral dress became a black leather battle dress.

Wearing leather boots and carrying a vicious-looking spear, the faint smile at the corner of her lips revealed a trace of bloodlust.

Those two superpowered users had it easy. The remaining three were a bit more makeshift.

"These are the night-vision goggles I made. I specialize in prosthetic technology, so their functions are fairly basic, but they're more than enough for hiding your identity."

Sha Tu handed him a metal visor thirty centimeters wide. A red laser strip ran across the eye area, giving it a strong technological feel.

Tactical Goggles

Quality: Blue

Attribute: Increases shooting accuracy by 10%

Trait: Adjustable viewing distance, night vision, thermal detection

...

Blue-quality Tactical Goggles, and those were only considered basic?

Telescopic vision, night vision, and thermal imaging—every one of those traits was highly practical. They even increased shooting accuracy. Even Qianji would be tempted by them.

"Excellent, General. With these goggles, our nighttime training can become even more efficient."

"Yes. Ever since I joined the mech race, I have never considered resting."

What terrifying self-discipline. They could see a pair of goggles and immediately think of training.

With their preparations complete, Team 17's first battle since Xu Jiang joined was about to begin.