บท 32: Chapter 24 Again Captured
Ji Tianqi had always received a salary from the Abnormal Human Research Center.
After all, from the beginning, it was he who had actively sought official help/cooperation.
Thinking of this, Bai Xiuchu curiously asked, "What were you thinking at the time, reporting to the police that you could cross into an otherworldly realm?"
"Otherworldly places are very dangerous, and I didn't know any martial arts at the time, nor did I have any combat capability,"
Ji Tianqi simply and naturally explained.
"So, I wanted the officials to get me a GROZA as my main gun, and an AWM as my sidearm. To grow and strengthen! Create splendor!"
"..."
[You think this is a game! So, Ji Tianqi is a self-interested individualist from the Order Camp?]
As Bai Xiuchu thought, she began to answer Ji Tianqi's recent question.
"You now have three sources of salary, one from the research center, initially twelve thousand a month, but since you've been promoted from Single Soldier Level to Tactical Level, it has risen to thirty thousand per month.
One from the Hero Association, because your Tactical Level assessment hasn't been done yet, so you're paid according to the Single Soldier Level, three thousand a month. However, this job requires you to regularly report your status and accept some mission tasks.
One from the Shen City Security Administration, news came today that they are hiring you as a special consultant. The term is tentatively set for three months, six thousand per month, but during this period you cannot leave Shen City, and you must be ready to execute tasks at any time.
Well, the reward for the missions is calculated separately."
After summarizing, Bai Xiuchu added, "But I haven't agreed to the last one yet, because only you can make that decision."
[Sensible.]
Ji Tianqi was increasingly satisfied with Bai Xiuchu. He actually didn't have much feeling about this woman's appearance because he was face-blind.
"You can agree, since I can't leave the research center anyway."
Ji Tianqi's tone was calm, carrying the feel of a casual chat. But while the speaker may be unintentional, the listener must pay attention.
Bai Xiuchu suddenly felt that Ji Tianqi was getting a bit bored with his year-round life at the research center—even though he had gone from being researched to participating in research.
Because, fundamentally, Ji Tianqi was still the primary subject of research.
"Okay, I'll confirm with them now."
About this matter, Bai Xiuchu had already been authorized by the research center—Ji Tianqi could be released temporarily.
So, the corresponding interfacing tasks were her responsibility—in the event of Ji Tianqi's agreement.
She was multitasking as she replied to the messages.
"In terms of expenditures, there are currently no fixed items. I've prepared several requests and sent them to your email; you can take a look. Or would you prefer I just tell you?"
"Just tell me."
"The first expenditure is for your hero uniform. The style and such are flexible, but as your combat power increases, so will that of the criminals you encounter, which means the uniform can be easily damaged. This leads to a high cost of production and is a long-term expense."
Ji Tianqi, eager to become a hero, naturally desired his own hero uniform.
He was about to make some suggestions on this when he suddenly remembered the first criminal he had caught, who had surrendered out of the blue.
"I don't care about the others; you know what I mean, you make the arrangements. I have just one requirement: the uniform must be the hospital gown from the Shen City First Mental Hospital. Ah, and the name tag needs to be very conspicuous."
"????"
Bai Xiuchu looked at Ji Tianqi, completely at a loss with his train of thought.
"You don't understand, this is deterrence."
Ji Tianqi didn't explain much, but Bai Xiuchu understood—the domineering fear the rash, the rash fear the desperate, but no matter which kind, all fear the mentally ill.
"Alright," she brushed past the topic and continued.
"The second fixed expense is the instructor team's fee."
"Hm? Wasn't it supposed to be just one instructor? How did it turn into a team?"
"A team is more effective, providing more comprehensive training," Bai Xiuchu cautiously inquired, "If you think the expense is too great, or if you feel it's unnecessary, we can..."
"No, no, no, I need it, I definitely need it."
Ji Tianqi was very self-aware; he would not assume that just because he knew martial arts or had experienced adventures, he could neglect this training.
He reminded her, "Within my financial capacity, hire the best instructor team for me. If there isn't enough money, then we'll take it step by step."
"Okay, that's what I was thinking, so I made it a fixed cost."
Bai Xiuchu nodded, "The third item is the cost of equipment and gear. For instance, necessities for survival like a field water purifier, compressed biscuits, and so on. Like, firearms-related expenses."
"I can buy guns now?" Ji Tianqi was extremely surprised.
"Yes," Bai Xiuchu gently reminded, "You are different from the heroes from the Hero Association; you have the identity of a researcher under the Abnormal Human Research Center affiliated with the Science Academy. But for the time being, any firearms you purchase can only be used in otherworldly realms."
"Excellent, very good," Ji Tianqi happily gave Bai Xiuchu a thumbs-up.
Bai Xiuchu smiled and continued explaining.
Basically, all were routine expenses, all within the range of what Ji Tianqi could accept.
Moreover, Ji Tianqi liked these expense items, as they signified that he had a greater degree of autonomy—emotionally speaking, it was the freedom he had once given up in order to become stronger!
After Bai Xiuchu finished introducing the expenses, Ji Tianqi suddenly asked, "What about your salary?"
"Our salaries as Guardians are handled by the Guardian Headquarters."
"I'll handle it," Ji Tianqi declared with a grand wave of his hand, "We need to ease the nation's burden."
"..."
Although Bai Xiuchu really wanted to say that this wasn't allowed, it truly wasn't easy to outright refuse Ji Tianqi when their relationship was steadily progressing.
And after all, crystal-clear waters harbor no fish.
The Guardians who followed Superpower Users every day indeed could develop resentment or even envy due to the significant income disparity.
Thus, Bai Xiuchu decided to accept the unspoken rules laid down by Ji Tianqi.
"Okay. Thank you, captain."
"Don't mention it."
Ji Tianqi was pleased and then asked, "What about their salaries?"
"???"
[What are you trying to do?]
After mulling over it for three seconds, Bai Xiuchu cautiously reminded him, "Currently, there are seventeen people in the research team. If you combine the salaries and related benefits, it's six hundred thousand per month."
Compared to a regular psychiatric hospital, these wages indeed are somewhat high. But after all, this isn't a normal psychiatric hospital—it's the Abnormal Human Research Center.
"Hahaha..." Ji Tianqi laughed loudly twice, then his expression suddenly became serious, "Forget I asked."
Speaking of money one has to talk about the cost of living.
Six hundred thousand in a small city like Shen City could outright buy a house in the suburbs. In the city center, an old and run-down place would cost roughly the same amount.
However, in the city centers of those seven tier-one cities, that amount might only afford a toilet—if toilets were sold separately.
This was also one of the reasons why the Research Center chose to locate in Shen City.
Relieved, Bai Xiuchu spoke seriously about urgent matters.
"Captain, is your next Otherworldly crossing aimed at assassinating Niu Chunqiu?"
"Correct."
"Would you like to practice some aggressive martial arts first?" Bai Xiuchu's eyes and tone both carried a hint of excitement.
"Why would I need martial arts when I have a sniper rifle?" Ji Tianqi looked at Bai Xiuchu with the Research Center's most common gaze, "You don't think that beyond seven steps, the gun is faster than the man, and within seven steps, the man is faster than the gun, do you?"
"..." Bai Xiuchu, recalling Ji Tianqi's recent qinggong demonstration, countered, "Isn't that the case for you, captain?"
"Of course not." Ji Tianqi patiently explained, "I'm just faster than the person firing the gun, not the bullet itself. Or to put it another way, I currently don't have bullet speed."
That made sense.
As a professional Guardian, Bai Xiuchu was familiar with the performance parameters of various firearms.
Not to mention sniper rifles, even regular service pistols have initial bullet velocities that reach the speed of sound.
Li Yuanhong, classified at the tactical level as an Enforcer, has the superpower 'Bullet Speed,' but can only achieve one-third the speed of sound, that is, 113 meters per second—sound travels at about 340 m/s under the conditions of 1 standard atmosphere of pressure and a temperature of 15°C.
This was clearly not as fast as a bullet.
Before Ji Tianqi had learned the qinggong technique Stepping without Trace, his straight-line speed wasn't even comparable to Li Yuanhong's; he needed about three seconds to cover one hundred meters.
Considering Ji Tianqi's mention of not currently being faster than a bullet.
Bai Xiuchu had an idea.
[Ji Tianqi's Otherworldly adventures, or rather, the superpower of Fantasy Materialization encounters, must have entered a cooldown period. That's why there's no urgent pursuit of new adventures.]
This was actually good news for her and the research team.
Because such a Ji Tianqi would need their help more than ever, and they could increase their significance to Ji Tianqi by offering that help—a win-win situation is a crucial premise for cooperation.
"Shall we start the firearms training now?"
"I have no objections."
The instructor team had partially arrived during the past three days, and coincidently it included instructors with gun skill expertise, so training could start immediately.
The Research Center had its own indoor range, provided for the security team—It's well-known that both guns and gun skills require regular use. Even the best gunman, if not practicing for a long time, will have trouble controlling the weapon suddenly.
It was during the period when Ji Tianqi began his training in gun skills, and with his strong physical control abilities was making progress at an almost unbelievable rate.
The professionals from the Shen City Security Administration Bureau finally tracked down the whereabouts of Zhan Yuchao's accomplices.
Of course, that's putting it politely.
To phrase it less kindly—Zhan Yuchao was rescued by his accomplices.
And there was more.
Upon receiving the call for help, Ji Tianqi was utterly astonished.
"Although I mentioned I wanted to experiment with the Orchid Acupoint Skill on him, you didn't have to take that quite so literally, did you?"
"Not at all." Bai Xiuchu quickly explained, "Please believe that we really do remember what you said."
Ji Tianqi remained skeptical.
"Then explain this, how come this person named Li Yuanhong has been kidnapped again?"
"..."
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