Chapter 197 - Rank A Mission

Beijing University.

In a room on the fourth floor of the Student Union Office Building.

Zhang Yanyan’s eyes were red and swollen. She sobbed as she narrated the entire process intermittently.

“Although it was a little broken, I roughly understood it.” Chen Yu leaned against a chair and summarized, “Because the mission that you wanted to complete was more difficult, your Class 4 borrowed our credits and went to purchase a lot of equipment. However, in the end, you still rolled over.”

“Right.” Zhang Yanyan covered her face in pain. “That mission actually had a Level 4 enemy. If it wasn’t for the safety officer, we would have all died inside.”

“When we finally escaped, you lost your class’s female teammate. Is that right?” Chen Yu asked.

“Yes…”

“That’s why you gave the mission name of ‘saving the female Martial Artist who lost her footing’?” Duan Ye raised his eyebrows. “We don’t know if our teammate is alive or dead, and you’re still playing tricks.”

“No.” Zhang Yanyan shook her head, “I just thought that such a name could attract more attention. It’s been 3 days, we don’t have enough time.”

“You did the right thing.” Chen Yu nodded as he pointed at Duan Ye. “You successfully attracted the attention of an LSP.”

Zhang Yanyan didn’t answer him; instead, she just looked at Chen Yu with a pleading look. “Please… Accept this mission.”

“No.” Zhang Tie flatly refused, “This task involves Level 4 fighters. It’s definitely an A-Class task. You should find a stronger class.”

“We can’t find it…” Zhang Yanyan took a deep breath while trembling, “We don’t have the money to pay for the rest of the Rank A task.”

Hearing this, Chen Yu, Bahuang Yao, and Duan Ye looked at each other, “What do you mean?”

“The two of us from the same class, together with the money from our family, only have enough money to issue a Grade B mission with more than 500 points. A Grade A mission will cost at least 1000 credits.”

“But you guys got Grade A.”

“Yes.” Zhang Yanyan lowered her head. “Because we also accepted this mission.”

“I see.” Chen Yu came to a sudden realization. “For a mission with 1000 credits, your Class 4 accepted it. If another class accepts it, it will be considered a cooperative mission. The credits will be divided into half each. Thus, with only 500 credits, you issued a Grade A mission…”

Duan Ye couldn’t help but give a thumbs up. “Great…”

“We have no other choice.” Zhang Yanyan sobbed.

“Who would be willing to take 500 credits for 1000 credits?” Chen Yu spread out his hands.

“Our Class 4 can also help.” The girl wiped away her tears. “This is a cooperative task. However, we don’t want the other half of the credits.”

“How many people are left in your class?” Zhang Tie suddenly asked.

“Me… and the safety officer.”

“What?” Duan Ye became confused. “Didn’t your class lose one member? There should be one teammate left.”

“The other teammate was seriously injured and is still being treated.”

“Therefore, only the safety officer and you are left in your Class 4.”

“I’m sorry…” Zhang Yanyan lowered her head once again. “I have… No other way.”

“Brother Yu, what should we do?” Duan Ye looked at Chen Yu.

“No.” Before Chen Yu opened his mouth, Zhang Tie had already shook his head. “A-Rank missions are too dangerous. Even if there are two security guards, the risk is too great.”

“The main reason is that the cost-effectiveness ratio is too low.” Chen Yu spread his hands, “A-Rank missions are equivalent to 500 credits after fighting a new battle in Tang City. It’s not worth it.”

“But…” Bahuang Yao pinched the corner of her clothes and glanced at the sobbing Zhang Yanyan. “If we don’t go, no one will go. Her teammates… are dead.”

Chen Yu said calmly, “There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“…” Bahuang Yao wanted to say something but stopped herself. In the end, she shut her mouth.

She was not familiar with that Zhang Yanyan. It was just a one-time encounter.

However, she could empathize with Zhang Yanyan’s experience.

She was thinking about what she would do if her two teammates disappeared and were severely injured…

What would she do…

After a long silence, Bahuang Yao asked, “Elder Brother Tie, does the school not care about this?”

“How?” Zhang Tie crossed his arms, “If the school rescues all the students in danger, all the missions will be suspended.”

“…”

“On the first day of enrollment, the president of the student union, Bahuang Yi, had said that after entering the university, you would no longer be students but warriors. Therefore, it’s normal for warriors to sacrifice themselves.”

“…”

Bahuang Yao was speechless as she lowered her head silently.

Chen Yu and Duan Ye were also speechless.

The three first-year students once again felt the cruelty of the Martial Arts world.

They had already tried their best to survive.

From a certain perspective, commoners might be more ‘lucky’ in their lives…

“Let’s go.” Chen Yu sighed before turning around and leaving. “We can’t accept this task.”

Zhang Yanyan lowered her head as she quivered all over. She didn’t say anything; instead, she just sobbed.

Zhang Tie and Duan Ye followed them away.

Only Bahuang Yao remained where she was. Biting her lip, she patted Zhang Yanyan’s quivering shoulder. “Sorry.”

…

Class 2 returned to the lobby on the 3rd floor.

Standing side by side under the big screen, the 4 people raised their heads and watched the words on the screen.

Except for Zhang Tie, the other 3 people could not stand it anymore.

All of a sudden, the bloody words became more eye-catching than before.

Chen Yu, Duan Ye, and Bahuang Yao couldn’t open their eyes anymore.

“This task is short-distance transportation of medicament. B-Rank.” Zhang Tie found a suitable commission.

“Not good.” Chen Yu shook his head.

“I don’t think so either.” Duan Ye shook his head.

“Those on the other side, coordinate with the 5th Artillery Battalion to station on alert. B-Rank.”

“Not good.”

“Not good.”

“They’re also B-Rank when they go to the exotic land of Ice City to collect resources.”

“Not good.”

“Still not good.”

“…” Zhang Tie shut his mouth as he let out a bitter sigh. He then took a step forward and stood in front of the three people as he sorted out his words in his mind. He then said, “I understand how you feel. You’ve been young since you were born. Even though Zhang Yanyan is your friend, the survival of the fittest. The world is so cruel.”

The three became silent.

“You have to learn to adapt to this society. One day, when you don’t feel emotional about the life and death of any fighter, you will grow up.”

The three remained silent.

Patting Chen Yu’s shoulder, Zhang Tie said, “Any fighter has to learn the lesson of indifference. Today, you are not in a good state to accept a commission. Go back.”

“That’s not growth.”

“What?” Zhang Tie became stunned.

“I said, that’s not growth.” Chen Yu calmly looked at Zhang Tie. “When one day, we will no longer be affected by the life and death of others, that’s not growth. It’s… numbness and sinking.”

Zhang Tie slowly widened his eyes.

“I don’t remember who said that.” Chen Yu moved Zhang Tie’s hand away from his shoulder. “Everything in this world starts with being forced and ends with self-sinking.”

“I’m not a great person.”

“I don’t want to be a hypocritical example.”

“I’m neither selfish nor merciful.”

“I don’t want to live in such a gloomy environment. I have to say, ‘that’s it’.”

After saying that, Chen Yu pointed at himself, “Elder Brother Tie, do you know what’s the most precious thing about a person?”

“…What?”

“The one who hasn’t bent his knees yet.”

“…”

“I can reject Zhang Yanyan’s request for a thousand reasons. It’s not worth it, it’s too dangerous, it’s not pleasing to the eye, and I’m even too lazy to move. It’s all fine.”

Chen Yu pointed at his own head. “But, it doesn’t include… numbness.”

After saying that, he stretched out his hand. “Which one of you has a pen and paper?”

“I… I have one here!” Duan Ye’s spirit jolted, and he hurriedly took out a pen and paper from his backpack.

Pa.

Chen Yu bit open the pen cap and wrote an IOU for ‘usury’ on the paper. He tore it off and handed it to Bahuang Yao. “Go ask that small fry if she’s willing to bear the debt of 800 credits after completing this cooperation mission and adding the debt she owed last time.”

“Alright!” The young girl’s eyes seemed to glow. She took the IOU, turned around, and left like a flash of lightning.

“A total of 1,300 credits. Two Level 4 security personnel will go on stage and complete an A-Rank mission together. It’s not a loss, right?”

“Not a loss!” Duan Ye was excited. “It’s more than a loss! It’s a bloody profit!”

“Of course it’s a bloody profit.”

Returning the pen and paper, Chen Yu looked at the words ‘Save the female Martial Artist who lost her footing’ on the screen.

“And you can earn ‘more’…”