Collecting the Rewards

Cheng Tian and the others took out the Poké Balls they had prepared beforehand and tossed them one by one at the fainted Poochyena and Mightyena.

With almost no resistance, a string of "ding-" sounds signaling successful captures rang out.

Cheng Tian declared that this was definitely one of the sweetest sounds in the world.

In this battle, Chimchar and Pachirisu had both gained one level. Aron had also gained a full level after defeating the Mightyena leader despite the considerable level gap, reaching level 12.

It was still early, so they got into the car with their Poké Balls and went to the Pokémon Center to have their Pokémon treated. Then they headed to Bingzhou's Stray Pokémon Center and handed over all the Mightyena and Poochyena.

The Stray Pokémon Center specialized in managing the city's stray Pokémon and also offered a Poké Ball buyback service. As long as the balls were undamaged, the center would buy them back at their original price. That was why they had been willing to pool their money to buy Poké Balls.

Once everything was handled, Cheng Tian suddenly said, "Hey, how about we head back to school?" Bai Yun looked at him as though he were an idiot. "Are you all right? Why would we go back for no reason?"

"It's only four in the afternoon. Since we've finished the mission, we might as well go back and turn it in. If we collect our rewards now, we won't have to make another trip later, right?" Cheng Tian said.

Su Han nodded. "Cheng Tian has a point. Let's make the trip now."

So they got back into the car and returned to Bingzhou No. 1 High School. Meanwhile, in the lobby of the school's administration building, Teacher Zhou was cracking sunflower seeds and watching a drama.

"Hey, Teacher Zhou, how do you still have time to sit here eating sunflower seeds? Aren't you worried something might happen to those kids in your class?" A PE teacher from another class was eating sunflower seeds with him.

Teacher Zhou rolled his eyes. If you're worried, go follow them! Why are you here stealing my sunflower seeds?

"Hey, Zhou, are those caramel-flavored or plain? Let me try one." Another PE teacher came over to ask for some seeds. Teacher Zhou was reaching the end of his patience.

"Seriously, I only brought one bag of sunflower seeds to work, and you two are eating them all." The other teachers couldn't have cared less. "Come on, we're all friends. Don't sweat the small stuff. Here, here, I've got some good stuff to show you."

Teacher Zhou: ?

"Ah, no, I mean I've got something good to drink." Seeing the PE teacher's shifty expression, Teacher Zhou couldn't resist leaning over for a look. The man slowly produced three cans of Snow Beer.

"Holy sh*t, Liu, you're practically begging for a criminal sentence! You actually brought booze to work!" Teacher Zhou exclaimed in surprise. The PE teacher called Liu hurriedly gestured for him to keep quiet.

"Keep your voice down. I only brought three cans, one for each of us. If you get any louder and someone reports us, our year-end bonuses are toast." Only then did Teacher Zhou realize he had spoken a little too loudly, and he quickly nodded.

The other PE teacher looked a little nervous. "Isn't this a bad idea?" Teacher Zhou rolled his eyes. "If you're too chicken, don't drink. I'll drink yours for you."

"Who's chicken? I'm just following my heart, understand?" the PE teacher retorted.

"Yeah, sure, sure," the other two chorused.

Despite all his talk of being worried, once the beers were actually opened, those concerns vanished. The three grown men clinked their cans and began gulping them down.

"Seriously, those little brats aren't going to cause trouble for us out there, are they?" asked the PE teacher who had worried about drinking earlier. "What's there to worry about? The school leadership set up these weekly practical sessions. If anything happens, the higher-ups will cover it," said the teacher who had brought the beer.

"Exactly. From now on, we even get an extra half-day off every Wednesday afternoon." Teacher Zhou cracked another sunflower seed. "What a beautiful thing it is to slack off."

Just as the PE teachers were happily loafing around, the lobby doors were suddenly pushed open.

"Teacher! Teacher! We finished our mission!" Cheng Tian and Bai Yun burst in, both shouting at the top of their lungs.

"Pffft-" All three teachers jumped and simultaneously sprayed out the beer in their mouths.

"Uh..." Bai Yun looked a little embarrassed. "Did we come at a bad time?" Cheng Tian grabbed Bai Yun's hand. "Um, Teacher, we've still got something to do, so we'll be going now."

"Cough, cough, cough..." Teacher Zhou coughed a few times, then immediately shouted, "Don't leave! Stop right there!" The two boys froze, awkward smiles on their faces, and slowly turned around.

"Teacher, we really didn't see anything just now," Cheng Tian said. Bai Yun hurriedly nodded beside him.

"Ahem. Why didn't you two knock before coming in?" Teacher Zhou pretended to be angry. "Wait, who knocks before entering a lobby?" Bai Yun asked, baffled.

Teacher Zhou instantly felt embarrassed, but forced himself to press on through the awkwardness. "Didn't I tell you to go straight home? What did you come back to school for?"

"Hehehe, we finished the mission we took, so we thought we'd drop by and collect the rewards." Cheng Tian scratched his head.

"Huh? You finished it that quickly?" Teacher Zhou looked stunned. "Yeah. Look, Teacher, we even have video evidence." As he spoke, Bai Yun took out his phone and showed Teacher Zhou footage of them handing over the Mightyena and Poochyena. Only then did Teacher Zhou believe them, though he was still astonished.

These kids were far too efficient. In just over two hours, they had cleared out the Poochyena pack that had plagued Jingxi Street's residents for so long.

"All right, then. Come here, and I'll settle your points." The two obediently walked to the front desk, trying not to look at the other two PE teachers glaring at them from the side, and dutifully swiped their cards to collect their points.

"All done. Your deposited points and mission reward points have been settled in full. Since you took a team mission, all four of you have met this week's requirement," Teacher Zhou said.

"Hehe, thanks, Teacher Zhou. We'll get going, then," Cheng Tian said. "Wait." Teacher Zhou suddenly stopped the pair as they were about to make their escape, making their hearts lurch. Then, unexpectedly, he lowered his voice.

"I just gave you an extra hundred points. As for what happened this afternoon..."

The two instantly caught on. "No problem, no problem. We only came to collect our points this afternoon, then left. We don't know anything else," Bai Yun immediately said.

Only then did Teacher Zhou nod in satisfaction and let them leave. Watching their retreating backs, the three PE teachers finally breathed sighs of relief.

"Whew, that scared me to death. Good thing they were just students," one PE teacher said in relief. "Come on, sit down. Let's keep drinking." Just as Teacher Zhou sat back down and the three grown men resumed drinking, a stout middle-aged man pushed open the doors and walked in, talking on the phone.

The three PE teachers spat out their beer again at the sight of him and hurriedly began clearing everything away. "Hello, Director Yan!"

Director Yan was still on the phone. Seeing three PE teachers drinking during work hours, he froze on the spot, even forgetting to respond to the person on the other end.

"All right, just do as I said." Director Yan hung up and put on a beaming smile.

"You three seem to be having quite a feast," Director Yan said. "I wonder if you gentlemen would care to join me for some tea in my office?"

The three PE teachers' hearts instantly went cold. They were done for now...

After leaving the school gates, Cheng Tian and Bai Yun got back into the car, where the two girls were smiling. "How did it go, Yun? Did you get the points?" Bai Yun nodded happily. "We got them."

"And an extra hundred points, too~" Cheng Tian said excitedly. "Huh? Why did you get an extra hundred points?" Su Han asked curiously.

The two boys promptly forgot every last word of their promise to Teacher Zhou and talked over each other as they recounted what had just happened.

The two girls' mouths fell slightly open. They had never expected Teacher Zhou to have this side to him.

"Hehe, anyway, now that the mission's finished, how about we treat ourselves to a meal?" Bai Yun suggested. "Yes, yes! Let's eat out!" Lin Lin said happily.

"What about you, team leader? Are you coming?" Bai Yun asked. "Sure. I suppose this counts as team building, too." Su Han smiled and nodded.

"Hehehe." Bai Yun hooked an arm around Cheng Tian's neck and told the driver, "Let's go to the First-Class Pavilion!"

Cheng Tian patted the arm around his neck. "Hey, hey, you haven't asked what I think!" Bai Yun chuckled. "Your opinion always matches mine. No need for further discussion. Let's move!"

The black sedan slowly began to roll forward.

Today's second update is ready. Please bookmark and comment.

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