I Am Also An Extraordinary Creature
Chapter 90 - 88: The Advantage of Consolidated Injury_1

Chapter 90: Chapter 88: The Advantage of Consolidated Injury_1

Under what circumstances does someone else’s weapon become your own? Naturally, it’s when the person who possesses the weapon is taken down and the weapon becomes the spoils of war.

Arno casually tossed the dagger in his hand, "One cannot deny the power of such weapons, and they’re definitely handy if you know how to use them. The problem is that being handy doesn’t necessarily mean practical. In some situations, they’re easy to use, but in others, these things can only serve as ordinary daggers."

"Technological weapons are another story entirely. Technological weapons might be affected by certain environments, but their power is essentially fixed, they require less specific conditions for use, and they can maintain their effectiveness across various types of environments."

Zheng Yichen understood that with magic tools like Flying Swords and demonic swords, people who possess power from that system would have no problem using them. However, without that power or the knowledge of the specific techniques, it would be difficult to wield their full strength.

They would only be as good as cold weapons, whereas firearms and other technological weapons were different. Whether one practices Immortality Cultivation or is an ordinary person, once they’ve grasped aiming, reloading, and pulling the trigger, they can use them freely, and such weapons have a fixed power with a low rate of environmental impact...

So what’s faster, spending a lot of time mastering the techniques of a specialized weapon you’re not familiar with, or spending a little time learning to use an awesome piece of technological weaponry?

"Because of this, those impressive technological weapons are still quite popular, and those who get them usually keep them for themselves. Although technological weapons are good, they’re only an aid. In many environments, they can be the main output force, but when you encounter high-level environments, technological weapons can’t keep up, and they become less useful."

"That’s why, although technological weapons hold their value, for people like us, it’s still necessary to master some skills to enhance our own strength."

"In low-tech environments, everyone’s more or less on a level playing field, and the advantages of technological weapons are significant. In high-level environments, it’s really a chaotic battle of deities."

"How much for this dagger?" After chatting so much with Arno, Zheng Yichen felt it only proper to buy something.

"This thing doesn’t cost money; it costs merit points, just one will do."

"What?" Zheng Yichen blinked, a bit perplexed.

"Haha, I’m talking about performance. There’s such a thing as performance when working for Dusk Cathedral, and since it’s performance, there must be a way to record it, which is these merit points."

"...Damn, the Prioress didn’t tell me that!"

"That’s pretty normal. You’ll know after you complete your first job. Just think of it as if you’re still in the interview stage," Hunter Arno shook his head. "Merit points are very important. For example, if you want to perform some special modifications on a weapon, that’s not just repairs. Without enough merit points, you simply can’t enjoy those services... What’s wrong?"

You simply can’t enjoy those services without enough merit points? Zheng Yichen suddenly remembered something Prioress Tia had said. While quoting a price, she had also told Zheng Yichen that the opportunity only comes once. He had ignored those words at the time, but now that Arno mentioned it, he immediately understood the meaning of her words.

Suddenly felt like he missed out on a billion!

"Sigh—It’s just a pity about some things," Zheng Yichen exhaled and continued chatting with Arno for a while, buying many odds and ends from him. Not many were related to combat, but they were quite useful for survival in the wilderness.

At the same time, he gained additional understanding about the Zero Point marketplace of Dusk Cathedral. As for large-scale shopping, that would have to wait for next time; right now, he genuinely didn’t have that much cash on hand.

After going home and sleeping until noon, he arrived at Night Banquet Bar, where the bartender, noticing Zheng Yichen’s preoccupied look, showed a smile: "Is there anything I can help you with? Of course... the consultation fee won’t be low."

"I want to get some protective gear that’s pretty affordable and handy."

"Oh—what kind do you mean?" the bartender asked with his usual smile.

"The type for combat, not just a simple bulletproof vest, but a modern battle suit, that sort of gear."

The bartender nodded, "That kind of thing isn’t easy to come by."

Modern battle suits were akin to the armor of ancient times. Although they weren’t always strictly made privately, such things basically didn’t circulate on the open market. It’s easy to buy guns, a bit harder to get bulletproof vests, but not impossible. Modern battle suits outperform bulletproof vests and offer better results in combat.

Many police departments in Hazy City didn’t have such gear, not to mention the average Hunter. It rarely surfaces on the black market and even then, it depends on who is buying—there’s always a risk of running into a sting operation.

"So, there’s a way then?"

"I know of one, but you should think it through. The most basic battle suit starts at three hundred thousand."

"..." Zheng Yichen felt that even if such gear circulated in the open market, the vast majority of people wouldn’t consider it.

"On top of that, a series of registrations is required. In short, if you want to buy a battle suit, the process will take at least four days. It might be a bit troublesome, but this method is safe. Once you get it, you can even wear it every day on the streets, and if the police stop you, you can show them the certificate."

"The time is too long," Zheng Yichen shook his head, he simply couldn’t wait for four days. And then there’s the money; after selling the little gold he had at home, he couldn’t possibly spend all of it, right?

He would definitely need to leave some at home. Those two witches aren’t burning through cash now, but who knows about the future.

"Then let’s go with a regular bulletproof combat suit. I know a few good sellers, and although registration is required, just half a day is enough. We still have time," he said.

"Let it be," Zheng Yichen agreed with some regret.

After he left the Night Banquet Bar, a short-haired woman approached the bartender’s location: "I’ve been keeping an eye on him recently."

"Oh? Does Miss Ahn Seven have thoughts of finding a partner? As far as I know, he has a girlfriend," the bartender said as he placed a drink in front of Ahn Seven.

"That’s not for me to decide," Ahn Seven’s eyes narrowed slightly: "He disappeared for a few months, and now he’s surfaced again."

"I feel like that’s something I shouldn’t hear," the bartender gestured to end the topic. He was just a bartender in the Night Banquet Bar... well, and also the owner. He no longer paid much attention to the special incidents hunters encountered outside.

Ahn Seven glanced at the bartender, not wanting to speak if he didn’t want to listen. Had she not overheard the topic he was discussing, she wouldn’t have come here on her own initiative.

The connections mentioned by the bartender naturally referred to the business of her family. Her family possessed several research institutes with quite a broad range of business, including the development of modern battle suits.

The bartender happened to be someone with the qualifications to buy from her family. Of course, he could recommend certain individuals. The bartender didn’t share this with Zheng Yichen. Yet, other aspects posed no problem. The four-day processing time was already less than usual, and the battle suits obtained afterward would be legitimate.

Of course, since several procedures and registrations were followed, if someone engaged in illegal activities wearing such a battle suit, they would immediately be investigated and wouldn’t be able to run. The explanations such as the battle suits being stolen were useless; there were guarantees related to this in the procedures.

The issue of the battle suits was secondary; the main interest was in the person Zheng Yichen. The Ahn family had people stationed in camps in the southern forest, including parking lots. Parking lots were an important way to gather intelligence. The motorcycle that Zheng Yichen parked there had been safe for several months.

It was inseparably linked to her family’s arrangements. The Ahn family didn’t care for ordinary motorcycles. The parking lot had a high turnover rate of vehicles, so one extra would not take up much space. Of course, this would differ if the time exceeded half a year.

Cheaper vehicles would be processed first, with more expensive ones held a little longer. After two years, regardless of the vehicle type, all would be processed under the assumption the owner had merely disappeared, not confirmed dead.

That was why Ahn Seven began paying attention to Zheng Yichen. Subsequent investigations didn’t require her involvement. Once she issued a request, intelligence department personnel would investigate based on existing records, and the final results would be delivered to her for careful review.

This matter was connected to the hunter squad that was wiped out several months ago by an alien phenomenon. It couldn’t be definitely linked to Zheng Yichen, but there was a significant possibility that he was involved. She didn’t mean to target Zheng Yichen specifically but was interested in the likelihoods regarding him.

She and her family, along with other forces from the Old Capital, were always looking to find and recruit such individuals. This meant finding those who could withstand the pressure of an anomaly and adapt to enter it.

Not to mention, Zheng Yichen was one of those who had entered an anomaly, got stranded in a different world, and made it back. The chances were slim, but she wouldn’t rule them out.

A report showed that Zheng Yichen’s comings and goings in the southern forest were questionable.

Hazy City was a modernized city, naturally equipped with many standard surveillance systems. There were only so many roads leading to the southern forest. Not to mention the small paths; the main roads were few, and all were under surveillance. The inconsistencies in Zheng Yichen’s whereabouts emerged from here.

Ordinary people couldn’t check that surveillance, but it wasn’t difficult for her family’s power to obtain the relevant surveillance footage.

While there were many hunters with anomaly adaptability, those who returned after the anomaly vanished were few. The randomness was just too great.

There was also the bartender at the Night Banquet Bar. Ahn Seven was aware of some stories about him. It was said that he used to hunt anomalies before he stopped. Aside from himself, no one knew why.

Considering the bartender seemed quite young, not even middle-aged, and many hunters were still active in their middle ages, it wouldn’t be due to disability.

"If you run into some other troubles, stay in the Dusk Cathedral for a while, and wait for my return."

"How long will you be gone this time?" Katrina looked at Zheng Yichen reluctantly, knowing from her encounters with the Dusk Cathedral that what Zheng Yichen faced wasn’t easy to deal with.

"I don’t know, but I’ll come back as soon as I can. The Cathedral’s depository can receive and dispatch items; if needed, I’ll use it to send some information back to you. If I have other requirements, I’ll also use the depository to send messages. Any other questions?"

Katrina shook her head vigorously, clutching Zheng Yichen with reluctance: "I’ll go there every day!"