That'll Cost Extra

Fang Xiu nodded. "That's right. The more powerful an ability is, the greater the price you have to pay. Every time I use Future Prediction, a flood of jumbled information pours into my mind. It deals a considerable blow to my psyche, increasing the risk of my Spirituality going out of control.

"And Future Prediction has major limitations. Right now, I can't predict the distant future. It can be as little as a few seconds or as much as a few days, but nothing beyond that."

Seeing how serious he was, Wang Dehai's expression grew solemn as well. "How far ahead you can predict should depend on your own Spirituality. You've only just become a Spirit Tamer, so it's perfectly normal that you can't see very far ahead. I imagine your ability will improve once you reach the second tier.

"But there's one thing I don't quite understand, Mr. Fang. If predicting the future increases the risk of your Spirituality going out of control, why do you keep doing it?"

"Because of Spirit Incense."

"You want the Investigation Bureau's Spirit Incense?"

"That's right. The reason I've been demonstrating my ability so frequently is to get your Investigation Bureau's attention, so I can join and obtain Spirit Incense to stabilize my Spirituality."

At that, everything fell into place in Wang Dehai's mind. It perfectly explained everything Fang Xiu had done so far, and now he understood his goal.

So he was after Spirit Incense?

Although Spirit Incense was precious, Wang Dehai had no intention of being stingy with it. A Spirit Tamer who could predict the future had to be recruited, no matter the price.

"Mr. Fang, if I were to invite you to join the Investigation Bureau, what compensation would you require?"

"I want the same pay and benefits as a Second-Tier Spirit Tamer, plus one stick of Spirit Incense every month. In addition, I need relatively flexible working hours and the right to refuse unreasonable work demands.

"Also, if an incident requires the use of my ability, I must receive appropriate compensation afterward. In other words... that'll cost extra."

Before Wang Dehai could respond to this string of demands, Shen Lingxue, who was sitting beside him, could no longer hold back.

"Fang Xiu, are you kidding me? You mean you won't do any work normally, but the Investigation Bureau still has to support you with a Second-Tier Spirit Tamer's pay and Spirit Incense? And whenever we actually need you to work, we have to pay you extra?"

Fang Xiu nodded. "Excellent reading comprehension."

"You!" Shen Lingxue glared at him, then turned to Wang Dehai. "Director Wang, you can't agree to his demands. This goes against the rules. He's only a newly awakened Spirit Tamer. If we meet his demands, his compensation would practically match a captain's. Besides, we haven't even confirmed that he can really predict the future."

Wang Dehai ignored Shen Lingxue. After a moment's consideration, he said, "Mr. Fang, if the lottery results confirm that you really can predict the future, I can agree to your pay and benefits, as well as one stick of Spirit Incense each month. But paying extra every time we need your ability, I'm afraid that..."

"Director Wang, it seems you still haven't realized the value of my ability. But you will soon," Fang Xiu interrupted.

"Mr. Fang, what do you mean by that?" Wang Dehai frowned slightly.

"I made a point of bringing the Investigation Bureau a generous gift on my way here. Once you see it, I'm sure you'll agree to my terms."

"What gift?" Perhaps he had watched too many movies, but the moment Wang Dehai heard the word "gift," he instinctively felt it couldn't be anything good.

Fang Xiu smiled faintly. "A human life."

Wang Dehai's expression grew somewhat grave. "Whose?"

"Bai Qi's."

"Fang Xiu, what exactly do you mean? Are you trying to threaten me with Bai Qi's life?"

"It's not a threat. It's a gift. If you don't believe me, you can call Bai Qi right now."

Fang Xiu's demeanor, coupled with his words, was all too easy to misinterpret. He looked just like a movie villain who had victory in the bag and was threatening the hero with someone's life.

Wang Dehai didn't make the call immediately. Instead, he first gave Shen Lingxue a meaningful look.

Shen Lingxue understood at once. She stood up and walked over to Fang Xiu.

Clearly, she intended to attack at the first sign of trouble.

Fang Xiu remained unmoved. After all, he was saving someone, not killing him.

Soon, Wang Dehai took out his phone and dialed Bai Qi's number.

Ring, ring, ring...

"The number you have dialed is switched off."

Wang Dehai's face darkened instantly. Staring straight at Fang Xiu, he said, "Bai Qi carries a specially issued encrypted phone from the Investigation Bureau. That phone is kept on twenty-four hours a day, but now it's switched off. Mr. Fang, should I take this as the gift you brought?"

Whoosh!

A bright, searing flame appeared over Shen Lingxue's delicate, fair hand. The threat on her face spoke for itself.

"Talk! What did you do to Vice-Captain Bai?"

Fang Xiu frowned slightly. Had Yang Ming failed?

Just then, a shrill ringtone shattered the tense atmosphere in the room.

Wang Dehai glanced at his phone's screen. The caller ID showed Yang Ming.

Without much hesitation, he answered.

"Hello..."

He had barely uttered a word before Yang Ming's roar came through the phone.

"Director Wang! Is there someone named Fang Xiu at the Investigation Bureau?"

Hearing Yang Ming's agitated, unsettled tone, Wang Dehai instinctively assumed the worst.

"How do you know about Fang Xiu? And where's Bai Qi? Didn't he go with you to track down the Head Ghost? What happened to him?" he asked urgently.

"Bai Qi? Bai Qi's badly injured. Where's Fang Xiu? Did you..."

"What? Bai Qi's badly injured?" Wang Dehai cut Yang Ming off in alarm. He sprang to his feet, staring fixedly at the utterly calm Fang Xiu before him.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in that instant. Fang Xiu had actually managed to gravely injure the strongest Spirit Tamer in Green Vine City. The power backing him was simply unimaginable. Who could it be? Not only were they that powerful, they were so brazen that they dared to come to the Investigation Bureau and provoke them after injuring one of their men.

Shen Lingxue lost her composure as well. The flame in her hand instantly swelled as she demanded furiously, "Fang Xiu! Who exactly are you? Who sent you? How dare the organization behind you attack Bai Qi!"

Faced with their pressure, Fang Xiu merely said calmly, "I suggest you let Yang Ming finish."

Wang Dehai narrowed his eyes slightly, but he didn't give the order to attack. After all, if Fang Xiu could gravely injure Bai Qi and still act so fearless, he must have something to rely on.

"Yang Ming, what exactly happened? Tell me everything!"

"Is Fang Xiu right beside you?" Yang Ming asked.

Wang Dehai nodded gravely. "Yes. He's in my office right now. He just told me he'd brought me a generous gift, and then I got your call saying Bai Qi was badly injured. What a generous gift indeed."