The Night Watchers' Invitation

Xu Le hid in the corner, shaking his head in mild surprise before chuckling again.

"To think it was her."

Xu Le had wondered why he could never find Madam Juya in the original owner's memories. It turned out she wasn't in those memories at all.

She was someone from his own memories.

That plainly dressed, middle-aged woman in the Gundo Mother Tree Realm.

Back then, she had looked as ordinary as a middle-aged housewife.

No matter how he tried, he couldn't reconcile her with the elegantly dressed Madam Juya before him.

"She recognized me!"

Xu Le was certain Madam Juya had noticed him too. This wasn't merely a matter of memories.

It was a collision of Guyinduo Fate in the real world!

Once they noticed each other, they would inevitably recognize each other.

"Come to think of it, in a way, we share the same fate. So why am I a little scared to see her? What a strange feeling."

Xu Le had no intention of acknowledging Madam Juya, much less seeking her out.

He was just an insignificant nobody, and a nobody should live like one.

Find a job and live a decent life.

As a civil servant, perhaps?

The Night Watchers branch in the Lower City's B2 District.

After leaving the black cat atop the wall outside and telling it not to wander off, Xu Le entered the Night Watchers branch, took an inquiry ticket, and sat patiently in a corner.

Everyone here was extremely busy because of the Black Tide.

Still, things were manageable for the Night Watchers now. Their main duties were investigation, exploration, and combat.

The situation had already entered the cleanup stage, and most of the work would be handed over to the Lighthouse Guards.

"Xu Le."

"Here."

"Come in."

Following the voice, Xu Le entered the Guards' office.

"What are you reporting? Or are you canceling a household registration?"

The administrator sitting behind the desk looked busy. Most people visiting the district office today were there for one of those two things.

Reporting incidents after the Black Tide, or canceling the household registrations of deceased family members.

"I'm not here to report anything or cancel a registration. I'm here to see Miss Bai Jing, captain of the Night Watchers' Sixth Squad in B2 District. She asked me to come. I already explained that when I checked in at the entrance."

Only after Xu Le finished did the administrator slowly raise his head and stare at him.

He seemed to be trying to determine whether Xu Le was lying by looking him in the eye.

"You're saying Captain Bai Jing told you to come see her?"

"Yes, that's right. Captain Bai Jing told me herself, and she also asked Mr. Wang Shu to pass the message on again."

Wang Shu? He had never heard of him.

But the administrator had certainly heard of Bai Jing.

The captain of B2-6, a real old hand!

"You're sure Captain Bai Jing told you to come?"

"I'm sure."

"All right, then. Wait a moment."

The administrator finally put down the paperwork and household registration files he had been sorting nonstop.

He picked up the Moonstone Communicator beside him and dialed the number for the Night Watchers' Sixth Branch.

"Hello, is this Captain Bai Jing?"

"This is Bai Jing. What is it?"

"There's someone here who says you asked him to come. His name is... hey, kid, what was your name again?"

Hearing the question, Xu Le hurriedly sat up straight.

"Xu Le. My name is Xu Le."

An hour later, Xu Le sat rather stiffly in a little dark room.

"Little dark room" wasn't a figure of speech. It really was a small room without any light.

Guyinduo Secret Language swirled through the room, lending the darkness an extra touch of menace.

[The room's light intensity is 3. It is currently dark. A level 1 Oddity will appear in 5 hours, 40 minutes, and 45 seconds.]

[The room is subject to special energy interference. Interference from the Red Moon and Guyinduo has been interrupted. Oddity countdown paused.]

These notifications kept repeating, but they still made Xu Le's scalp prickle.

Could these Night Watchers really live in the dark?

But they had left him here for almost twenty minutes now. What exactly were they trying to do?

"Excuse me, is anyone there?"

Xu Le actually had a few more things he wanted to say:

Is anyone there? I've been in this room for twenty minutes. I'm terrified an Oddity might suddenly spawn. Could someone please come?

But he figured that would be too embarrassing, so he left out the rest.

Click!

The room's light came on.

Bai Jing strolled in wearing casual clothes, an ice pop in her hand.

"You don't seem particularly frightened. That's interesting. It's very much in keeping with what we look for in the Night Watchers."

Hearing Bai Jing say that, Xu Le hurriedly waved his hands.

"Uh, please don't joke, Captain Bai Jing. I'm a timid guy who's afraid of trouble. How could I possibly meet the Night Watchers' standards?"

"Heh. The way you acted during the Black Tide wasn't nearly as cowardly as you make yourself sound."

"I was just saving myself. People only show what they're capable of when they're forced into it."

Bai Jing frowned slightly. She felt there was something ambiguous about Xu Le's phrasing. Never mind; perhaps she was overthinking it.

"I heard you used the Ritual Method during the Black Tide to become a Red Moon Warlock-a Medium. Is that true?"

Xu Le knew perfectly well that after the night before last, the Night Watchers had probably dug up everything about him, right down to his underwear.

Did they really need to confirm something like this?

Well, if you want to put on an act, I'll play along. Xu Le scratched his head with a somewhat guileless look.

"Yes. You even know about that? You really are well informed, Captain."

Bai Jing raised her chin slightly without speaking.

Gu Beichen curled his lip and said disdainfully:

"A Warlock who shows so little regard for his own conduct simply won't do. Only by staying true to your original purpose can you see things through. The future of Team 6's Warlocks still rests with me."

Bai Jing ignored him and turned straight to Wang Shu beside her.

"What about you, Shu? What do you think?"

"His acting is superficial. I can only give him five points."

"Out of how many?" Bai Jing asked.

"A hundred."

"Not bad. At least he can lie with a straight face, and he can cook the books. Pretty sharp. Bring him out."

"Understood."

Xu Le hadn't heard the three of them talking. After getting Bai Jing's approval, Wang Shu led him out of the little dark room.

"Shu, where are we going now?"

"The captain's office."

"What for?"

"You'll find out when we get there."

Even after reaching Bai Jing's office, Xu Le still felt awkward. Wang Shu and Gu Beichen, both Night Watchers, stood beside him while he sat.

It made him look like someone of great rank and status. How embarrassing!

"Xu Le, twenty years old. Enrolled at Lighthouse University two and a half years ago. Completed all required credits in two years and received a Warlock advancement manual. Began working toward becoming a supernatural. In February of that same year, began going out with Zhou Ke to gather resources. A good record, and quite capable too. In light of your performance during the Black Tide, Lighthouse ought to give you a reward."

Xu Le smiled and rubbed his hands together.

"I only did what I should, what I should. Uh, what exactly is the reward?"

"You have two choices. First, a cash reward of three thousand, along with a bachelor's degree from Lighthouse University without taking the exams. Second, joining Lighthouse's public service system."

Xu Le looked at Bai Jing. He automatically dismissed the first option. He had no intention of pursuing an academic career in Lighthouse.

The second option was certainly tempting, but he still didn't agree rashly.

"By Lighthouse's public service system, do you mean joining the Night Watchers?"

"Yes. If you agree, I can process your hiring paperwork right away."

"Could you give me a few minutes to think it over?"

Bai Jing hadn't expected Xu Le to hesitate at this point.

Wasn't joining the Night Watchers something every young man in Lighthouse dreamed of?

"Of course. We'll step outside for a smoke. Take your time thinking."

Once Bai Jing and the other two went out, Xu Le immediately expended some of his accumulated emotions to enter the Tranquil State.

He knew his own capabilities very well. Becoming a Warlock certainly hadn't made him smug, inflated his ego, or blinded him.

As a Warlock, apart from Medium Summoning, the one ability he had intuitively grasped after advancing,

he knew none of the skills a normal Warlock possessed. Nor did he understand Warlock knowledge. He lacked an understanding of the supernatural, and he lacked knowledge of dangers and Oddities.

His wilderness skills were practically nonexistent. His survival methods consisted entirely of summoning, clinging to someone stronger, and cheering them on.

Under those circumstances, joining the Night Watchers and working out in the wilderness would be far too dangerous.

Although every Night Watcher was a supernatural, their death rate was anything but low.

Xu Le knew his own potential very well.

He had tremendous room to grow in the future. Before he had developed that potential, he shouldn't take such risks.

Outside the room, Bai Jing and the other two exchanged glances.

Wang Shu spoke first.

"He'll turn us down."

"Turn us down? I refuse to believe anyone in this world could be so lacking in ambition." Gu Beichen looked contemptuous.

"It's not that he lacks ambition. He values his life."

Bai Jing lit a cigarette, letting the smoke conceal her face.

"Captain, what do you think?"

"He's already in my office. You think I'd let him get away?"

After putting out her cigarette, the three returned to the office. Bai Jing looked at Xu Le with a smile.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Sorry. I think my abilities are limited, and I wouldn't be able to handle a Night Watcher's duties. I'm better suited to less dangerous office work, like administration, finance, or records management."

So he really did turn us down!

Bai Jing narrowed her eyes and stared at Xu Le without speaking, making his skin crawl.

"Captain Bai Jing, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Xu Le, the Night Watchers offer very good pay and benefits. Once you join, you'll earn a salary of two hundred and fifty a month."

Trying to tempt me with money? No chance. Absolutely no chance.

Xu Le waved his hands and said firmly:

"Captain Bai, this isn't a question of pay and benefits."

Bai Jing smiled softly.

"I know you're concerned about your safety. But I can tell you with certainty that the Night Watchers have clerical positions too. You can start with office work to get used to things."

The Night Watchers have clerical positions too? That sounds pretty good. But could this be a trap to lure me in?

Let's see what terms they're offering first!

"Captain Bai, I think..."

Bai Jing cut Xu Le off.

"Gu Beichen, tell him about the Night Watchers' benefits."

The corner of Gu Beichen's mouth twitched. Then he spoke in his signature haughty tone:

"Every month, you receive a benefits allowance equal to sixty percent of your salary. You can also study Lighthouse's supernatural techniques and knowledge for free, pay to study more advanced material, and apply to study high-level material."

Knowledge? That's it?

Do they take me for a pushover?

What a joke. I'm a transmigrator. How could I possibly abandon my original plans over something like that?

Seeing that Xu Le remained unmoved, Gu Beichen continued:

"Besides that, we Night Watchers don't have to salute government officials, we get free visits to clubs, paid toilet breaks, and so on."

Xu Le quietly raised his head and looked at Gu Beichen with a serious expression.

"Beichen, tell me more!"