Stronger with More Jobs

Chapter 697 - 295: Bartender Fang Qingyu Is Online!

The morning light filtered through the dusty window.

It cast several mottled beams on the cement floor of the humble dormitory.

Fang Qingyu opened his eyes and sat up from the hard bed.

Though the conditions were basic, they were what he was used to.

Loud yawns came from Chu Kuanglan’s bed next to his.

And also Lu Jiuyuan’s voice.

"Be content, at least we aren’t out in the wind and snow like on the front lines."

Soon, everyone, full of energy, stepped out of the gray self-built house.

The cold air carried a chill, but compared to the bone-chilling winds of the Arctic Front, this was considered mild.

In the streets and alleys, ordinary residents had already begun their day’s bustle.

Vendors pushed creaky carts, children chased each other on the muddy ground, life was vibrant.

The dilapidated minibus had long been parked downstairs, its engine roaring.

Liu San had a cigarette butt hanging from his mouth, leaning against the driver’s side door. When he saw everyone come out, he immediately broke into a warm smile, stubbed out the cigarette, and greeted, "You guys are really on time! Get in, I’ll take you to the city center to have a look around and sort out the work stuff."

As usual, Chu Kuanglan rushed ahead and plopped into the front passenger seat, grinning at Liu San, "Brother Liu, thanks for driving us again today!"

"Ah, it’s my duty!"

Liu San started the vehicle, and the worn-out minibus bounced along on the cracked road. As he carefully avoided pedestrians and debris, he glanced at the back seats in the rearview mirror and asked, "Right, yesterday you guys mentioned looking for some decent work, right? What kind of jobs are you interested in? I know a lot of people around, I can give some recommendations, help arrange something for you."

Chu Kuanglan perked up instantly, slapping his thigh and raising his voice, "Do we even have to ask? It’s definitely hunting Life Ghosts, quick money."

"Screech—!"

Liu San slammed on the brakes.

The minibus lurched violently, nearly tossing Qi Hao out of his seat.

"Whoa, damn it, Brother Liu, take it easy!" Chu Kuanglan quickly grabbed the handgrip.

Liu San turned his head, his face looking as though he’d seen a ghost, eyes wide in disbelief as he looked at Chu Kuanglan, then scanned the other calm-faced people like Fang Qingyu in the back, voice rising, "Brothers, are you serious?! How desperate are you guys for cash?! Are you nuts?!"

Chu Kuanglan was taken aback by Liu San’s reaction and reflexively asked, "Huh? Hunting Life Ghosts, what’s wrong with that? It’s not unusual work, right? Isn’t that how things are out in the Federation?"

"Unusual my ass."

Liu San’s voice was filled with concern and urgency, re-engaging the gear, explaining rapidly, "Brother Chu, you just came from outside, you don’t understand the situation here! In our City of Injustice, the Life Ghosts here are not the same as those outside!"

"Outside in the Federation, you have detectors, intelligence, you know roughly what Level the Ghost den is, how many people to send. Here? We have nothing!!"

Liu San’s voice carried deep dread: "Those Life Ghost readings, they’re like damn blind boxes, Tier One turning into Tier Two Life Ghosts, Tier Two to Tier Three Life Ghosts, it’s a common occurrence here."

"Total wipeouts, I’ve seen it too many times, whole Cleaner Teams, a dozen people, go in and not a sound, not even bone fragments left behind."

Liu San smacked the steering wheel, spittle flying.

"In our gang fights, if we can’t win, we can run, we can negotiate, but with a Life Ghost, can you negotiate with it? It only wants to eat you, is it worth risking your life for money? Listen to me, don’t go, that money burns! You’ll make it alive but won’t live to spend it!"

The compartment fell silent instantly.

Only the engine’s roar and the street’s clamor outside remained.

Fang Qingyu subtly furrowed his brow, glancing at Su Wanqing beside him.

Su Wanqing nodded gently, with a hint of apology in her eyes, and whispered only for the two of them to hear, "Forgot about this, my oversight. The internal rules of Mirage are special, Life Ghost fluctuations indeed can’t be conventionally detected or classified, the risk is unknown."

Fang Qingyu understood.

No wonder Liu San reacted so strongly.

In the City of Injustice, hunting Life Ghosts isn’t conventional work but a real deadly gamble where the return doesn’t match the risk, a path only desperate desperados or those with special purposes would choose.

Chu Kuanglan instinctively looked back at Fang Qingyu.

Fang Qingyu’s fingers lightly tapped on his knee, nodding imperceptibly.

Chu Kuanglan immediately understood, his expression collecting instantly, swapping to a belatedly enlightened look, and slapped his forehead hard: "Look at my brain, forgot about that, been outside too long, inertia thinking, thanks for the reminder! Thank you, thank you! That stuff sure can’t be touched!"

He rubbed his hands, a smile spreading on his face: "Then... Brother Liu, look at us, we don’t even have money to buy cigarettes right now. Please help us find a decent job, safer even if it’s slow earning? Best if it lets us meet people, get to know the city."

Liu San, seeing Chu Kuanglan so amenable, obviously breathed a sigh of relief, flashing a smile again: "That’s the right way to go about it! Brother Chu! That’s the right way! Hope is in staying alive! There are plenty of ways to make money, why snatch food from those reckless lunatics?"

He drove while patting his chest in assurance: "Don’t worry, leave it to me."

After speaking, Liu San seemed to remember something else, adding: "Oh right, just about those Life Ghosts, despite the fluctuations being blind boxes, there’s one thing that’s certain."