Chapter 35

35 Tactical Formation 1.1

After sincerely giving the Black Goat a thumbs-up, Li Ang silently assessed its condition and realized the beast’s title of “Great Demon” was no exaggeration.

Right now, the Black Goat—or rather, the 【Demon’s Horn】—had only revived to five percent, yet its contamination value was already 0.4.

So when the 【Demon’s Horn】’s revival progress reaches one hundred percent, its contamination value will likely soar directly to 8, one point higher than the Red-haired Woman’s 【Love Without Memory】.

And if all seven anomalous items could be gathered to form the complete “Demon Set,” that would be seven times eight—a total of fifty-six contamination points!

The 【Love Without Memory】, with merely seven contamination points, could erase the memories of tens of thousands when used properly—how powerful would the “Demon Set,” with fifty-six contamination points, be?

“If the chance arises, I’ll try to look for them.”

Whether a promise to the Black Goat or a reminder to himself, after committing to find the “Demon Set,” Li Ang checked the time, waved his hand, and ended the conversation.

Then he took out the shopping bag he’d requested when buying Gao Te cigarettes at the department store, skillfully stuffed the Black Goat inside, picked up the broom floating nearby, and cautiously gripped the broomstick with both hands before swinging one leg over.

“Peng.”

With a barely perceptible rush of air, Li Ang’s buttocks didn’t land on the hard broom handle but touched an invisible current, lifting him gently upward, while a hazy air barrier quietly formed twenty to thirty centimeters around his body.

At that moment, Li Ang faintly sensed the air barrier was an extension of his will, capable of shifting shape with his thoughts—beyond shielding him from wind during flight, it might have other uses, such as…

“Peng!”

A short, sharp burst of air erupted; under Li Ang’s deliberate control, the smooth air shield trembled violently and exploded outward, unleashing chaotic gales that whipped through the small office, sending everything loose flying everywhere.

After observing the effects of the air burst, Li Ang nodded in satisfaction.

Flight, air shielding, minor air manipulation…

The badge's evaluation was correct—the director had indeed secured him an extremely practical anomalous item; combined with the Goat Head's early warning, his survivability was nearly maxed out.

In future missions, if danger arose, he could raise his hand to blast air into an enemy’s face, then instantly mount the broom and flee under the protection of the air shield—even later, from high altitude, set up a sniper position and turn the tables to hunt them down.

He didn’t worry about poor aim during high-altitude movement—if he flew high enough, the accuracy bonus from 【Materialist Soul】 would stack up; he could just fire one shot at a time, slowly wearing them down until he finally landed a hit.

After all, with the nail gun's destructive power, unless the target was a physical enhancement type, one hit would pretty much end them.

Though this variant kite tactic sounded oddly sleazy, even slightly cheap, he didn't have Emma's senior's immortality—why risk close combat and hand over his head when he could safely kite from afar?

After a brief mental calculation to confirm his primary tactical approach for the coming period, Li Ang suppressed the urge to fly right away, tied the shopping bag containing the Goat Head to the broom handle.

Then he wrapped the Witch’s Broom in a long cloth strip, “carried” the bundled broom, and hurried out of the Cleanup Bureau, heading

……

As the largest of the six hydroelectric companies in the capital, Char Hydroelectric’s operations extended beyond urban water supply to include manufacturing gas storage tanks under contract with the Nongye Force, assisting the Road Administration in flood control, drainage, and river dredging projects,

as well as maintaining sewage pipes and sewage rivers and more.

This enterprise, funded by Char Department Store and backed by numerous titled nobles, closely partnered with several key municipal departments of the kingdom—it far exceeded the concept of an ordinary company and even assumed partial municipal functions, making it unquestionably a giant corporation.

Such a large corporation would never be built in some remote wilderness; instead, it was constructed on a small plain upstream of the Bofeng River, occupying one of the two most spacious and accessible locations, complete with its own private dock and ferry terminal.

As one of the three main rivers flowing through the capital, the Bofeng River served not only as the primary source of water but also as the most vital transport route, its banks lined with countless docks, ferry terminals, and warehouses, while steamships bearing massive chimneys plied the waters without cease.

These mechanical titans of the industrial age consumed vast quantities of coal and whale oil daily, belching thick clouds of acrid white smoke from their chimneys as they transported goods and passengers alike, only ceasing operations deep into the night…

After paying the exorbitant fare of three copper wheels, Li Ang carried his broom and goat head, bending low to enter the lowest deck of the three-tier passenger ship, standing for over an hour in the budget cabin reeking of sweat and mildew, lit only by a dim steam lamp, before finally reaching Char Hydroelectric’s private ferry terminal.

“You’re really… we’ve never met anyone as stingy as you!”

After leaving the crush of the ferry terminal, where the crowd thinned slightly, the black goat, reeling from the stench, couldn’t help but complain:

“This is fucking unbearable! That bastard next to you took off his stinking shoes! Damn it! My nose is full of rot now!

I’m begging you—really—this lower deck is way too stinky! When we return after the investigation, can you at least sit higher up?”

“Upper decks are too expensive.”

“Expensive, my ass!”

Seeing Li Ang remained so stubborn, the black goat snapped:

“I’m not asking you to book a silver-wheel first-class cabin! I just want you to take the standard mid-deck cabin! Mid-deck tickets are only five copper wheels!

Think about it! Just two more copper wheels, and you get a seat plus ventilation—doesn’t that beat rotting in that lower-deck salted fish can?”

“…”

Hearing the black goat’s rebuke, Li Ang sniffed the foul odor clinging to his own body and hesitated briefly—but then he thought of the coffee stall owner bearing the same name as Char Company, and of that morning’s cup of coffee that had warmed him from within—and finally shook his head.

“Forget it. A little stink won’t kill me. Two copper wheels could buy me two days’ breakfast, with an extra slice of fried ham.”

“We’re gonna eat you like ham! Eat yourself to death, you bastard! AHH!!!”

Seeing Li Ang had made up his mind to take the damned lower deck again, the black goat blew his nose hard against the lingering stench, then stared into the distance with utter despair, swearing:

“Damn it! Wait till I get my strength back!

Then I’ll patrol this stinking river every day, capsize every damn ship that passes, and kill every bastard who takes off his shoes onboard!”