Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Right now, Lu Shu’s only wish was to stand by his magical stones and protect them from harm…
Kawayoshi drew a deep breath. In fact, his true motive was to use Lu Shu as his work assistant so that he could be more focused on his training towards Class C.
But now his plan was toast. Kawayoshi mumbled scornfully, “Good luck staying up there then…”
Lu Shu chided him with a shrug, “Shallow people like you will never understand me. All you care about is fame and fortune.”
Kawayoshi tried hard to fight back his urge to refute. How dare you talk to me this way!
“From Nagaya Kawayoshi’s distress, +666!”
At the moment, Lu Shu could not wait to return to the surface. But he must not behave suspiciously in any case.
Just when they exited from the Department of Internal Affairs, Kawayoshi almost jumped in excitement. In the futuristic corridor, Kawayoshi waved hi at a tall woman, his eyes glimmering. “Haha, Miss Miyazaki. Fancy meeting you here. What a coincidence, don’t you agree?”
Lu Shu studied the beauty. She was wearing a normal combat training suit and her face was pretty. But she ignored Kawayoshi totally, which made him rather embarrassed.
“Who’s that?” Lu Shu asked curiously.
“Lord Takashima’s underling,” Kawayoshi replied, “A Class C. She will surely like me when I advance to Class C and I will make Miss Miyazaki my wife!”
Lu Shu was amused. I didn’t know you were so loyal to her since you keep messing around with other girls all day! He tried to comfort Kawayoshi. “Although she seems uninterested in you…”
Kawayoshi froze and prompted him to continue. “Eh? Then?”
It felt like someone was willing to give him advice in times of need, even if the advice might not be helpful.
Lu Shu smiled. “She must have spoken ill of you behind your back.”
“From Nagaya Kawayoshi’s distress, +888…”
Kawayoshi’s face darkened at once. “Yamada, I admire your unique way of comforting…”
The next day, Lu Shu changed into his Collection of Gods uniform and took the elevator up happily. Meanwhile, in Kuriyama’s office, Kuriyama laid down the document in his hand on the giant wooden table and gazed up at Kawayoshi. “You said that he proposed to go to the surface himself?”
“Yes. Sorry for troubling you to help him. Not only was he not grateful, he also scolded me for being obsessed with fame and fortune,” Kawayoshi replied jeeringly.
“So unperceptive.” Kuriyama sneered. “Then let him waste his time with those commoners. This is his second chance and I will not give a third.”
“You are right, Lord Kuriyama,” Kawayoshi said respectfully, “In fact, given his low capabilities, he would not be of much help to you. We may let him perish by himself. I was wondering, his monthly stipend of magical stones…”
Kuriyama shot him a glance. “You may keep it. You don’t need to give to him.”
Kawayoshi was overjoyed. “Thank you, Lord Kuriyama!”
…
On his way up, Lu Shu had been paying attention to the locations of surveillance cameras with his peripheral vision. The security of the entire underground base was strictly managed, with cameras installed at almost every crossing, let alone in the elevators.
Once he reached the surface, he went to report to the Department of Safety and Security first. To his consternation, what he was in charge of was not a specific region. Instead, he was assigned the surface security job of the whole base with 120 Class E Collection of Gods Practitioners working for him…
Even Kawayoshi was not aware of that. Actually the first door in the outside wall of the base had one of the highest security standards, guarded by three Class C’s and some others. Underground, there were ten Class C’s, while Kawayoshi was the only Class D among the “Heads of Department”.
Thus, Lu Shu’s duty was to manage the commoners, not defense against external enemies!
It was Lu Shu’s first job as an officer, and surprisingly he was a Collection of Gods officer…
Undeniably, casting his identity aside, the Collection of Gods had been a really good friend to him, for providing both distress points and a job…
When Lu Shu started his tenure, he was pleased with the compliance of the 120 Class E’s. Having his office directly opposite to the warehouse, Lu Shu enjoyed the peace of guarding his magical stones. But how could he find the chance of taking the stones away?!
At this moment, a Class E carefully knocked on his glass door. Surprised, Lu Shu called him in.
The Class E walked in with an ingratiating smile on his face. “Lord Yamada, I am a diligent worker and a competent Practitioner. The previous Acting Head of Department can prove it. It has always been my dream to become the captain, but the Acting Head has left. He said he would speak to you about this before he left…”
Lu Shu shot him a brief glimpse. “He didn’t tell me anything. If he has promised you anything, go find him, not me.”
Lu Shu could not be bothered. He came for the magical stones, not some promotion issues.
“From Tomosaka Toshi’s distress, +555…”
Then, Tomosaka clenched his teeth and passed a box to Lu Shu. “I think you must be tired due to the heavy workload on your shoulders. As your subordinate, I am concerned about your health and here is something for you.”
Lu Shu was surprised. He peeked inside the box to see stacks of 10,000 yen notes. In total that should be close to one million yuan.
Was bribery so commonplace in the Collection of Gods? But the source of the money was uncertain and it could be from the exploitation of those commoners outside. Or maybe, they had appropriated public funds for personal use. In any case, there were records of deficiency on the stock.
“Well.” Lu Shu kicked the box under his table. “I see. Go back to work.”
Tomosaka was overjoyed. Accepting his money meant that his request had been approved!
But Lu Shu was not the least concerned. After two days of anxious waiting, Tomosaka whispered to Lu Shu on the third day morning when the latter just arrived on the surface, “Lord Yamada, my money is not easy money…”
Lu Shu raised his brows. “But mine is.”
With that, he left, leaving Tomosaka petrified on the spot.
“From Tomosaka Toshi’s distress, +999!”
…
