Chapter 438: Tactical Formation 10

After giving the Black Goat a sincere thumbs-up, Li Ang silently calculated 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】—has only revived to five percent, yet its contamination value is already 0. .

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

And if all seven anomalous items are gathered to form the complete "Demon Set," that would be seven times eight—a total contamination value of 56!

The 【Love Without Memory】, with just seven points of contamination, can erase the memories of tens of thousands at once—how powerful would the "Demon Set," with a total of 56 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 finding 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 beside him, 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 broomstick but touched an invisible current, lifting him gently upward, while a faint, misty air barrier quietly formed twenty to thirty centimeters around his body.

At this moment, Li Ang faintly felt that this air barrier seemed an extension of his will, capable of changing shape with his thoughts—useful not only for shielding wind during flight, but possibly for other purposes too, such as…

"Peng!"

A short, sharp burst of air erupted; under Li Ang's conscious control, the smooth air shield trembled violently and exploded outward, unleashing chaotic gales that whipped everything loose in the small office into chaotic flight.

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

Flight, air shielding, minor air manipulation…

The badge's evaluation was correct—the Director had truly secured him an exceptionally practical anomalous item. Combined with the Goat's 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 his opponent's face, then instantly mount the broom and flee under the protection of the air shield, or even later set up a sniper position from high altitude to turn the tables and hunt them down.

He wasn't worried about poor aim during aerial movement—if he flew high enough, the accuracy bonus from 【Materialist Soul】 would stack up; he could just fire slowly, one shot at a time, and eventually land a hit.

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

Though this variant kite tactic sounded oddly sleazy and borderline cheating, 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 briefly considering and finalizing his primary tactical approach for the coming period, Li Ang suppressed the urge to fly right away, tied the shopping bag containing the Goat's head to the broomstick.

Then he wrapped the Witch's Broom in a long cloth strip, "carried" the bundled broom, and hurried out of the Cleanup Bureau, heading toward the Old District docks as originally planned.

…

As the largest of the six water companies in the royal capital, Char Water Company's business extended far beyond urban water supply—it also manufactured pressurized gas tanks using hydropower, collaborated with the Nongye Force on irrigation projects, assisted the Road Administration in flood control and river dredging, and maintained sewage pipes and sewage rivers, among other tasks.

This enterprise, funded by Char Department Store, backed by numerous noble families with hereditary titles, and closely partnered with several key municipal departments, far exceeded the concept of an ordinary company—it even assumed partial municipal functions and was unquestionably a giant corporation. Such a massive firm would never be built in some remote wilderness; instead, it occupied one of the two most open and accessible locations on a small plain upstream of the Bangke River, complete with its own private dock and ferry terminal.

As one of the three main rivers flowing through the royal capital, the Bangke River served not only as the primary water source but also as the most vital transportation route, its banks lined with countless docks, ferry terminals, and warehouses, while steamships with massive chimneys constantly plied its waters.

These mechanical titans of the industrial age consumed vast quantities of coal and whale oil daily, belching thick, acrid white smoke from their chimneys as they transported goods and passengers until late into the night.

After paying the exorbitant fare of three copper wheels, Li Ang, carrying the broom and the Goat's head, ducked into the lowest deck of the three-tier passenger ship, stood for over an hour in the cheap cabin reeking of sweat and mildew under a single dim steam lamp, before finally reaching Char Water Company's private dock.

"You're really… we've never met anyone as cheap as you!"

After leaving the crush of the dock, where pedestrians thinned slightly, the Black Goat, still reeling from the stench, couldn't help complaining:

"God damn, it's suffocating! That bastard next to you even took off his stinking shoes! Fuck! My nose is full of rotten stink now!"

I'm begging you—really—down there's way too stinky! When we return after the investigation, can you at least sit higher up?"

"Up there's too expensive."

"Expensive my ass!"

Seeing Li Ang remained stubbornly unmoved, the Black Goat snapped:

"I'm not asking you to book a silver-wheel VIP cabin! I just want you to take the standard middle deck—those tickets are only five copper wheels!"

Think about it! Just two extra copper wheels gets you a seat and ventilation—wouldn't that be better than rotting in that salted fish can down there?"

"…"

Hearing the Black Goat's accusation, Li Ang sniffed the foul odor clinging to himself and hesitated—but then he thought of the coffee shop owner sharing the Char Company's name, and that morning's coffee that 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, plus a slice of fried ham."

"I swear to God, you look like a ham! Eat! Eat yourself to death! Aaaah!!!"

Seeing Li Ang was determined to ride the stinking lower deck again, the Black Goat blew its nose hard against the lingering stench, then declared with utter despair:

"Damn it! Wait till I regain my strength!"

"Then I'll grip this stinking river and capsize every damn ship that passes—kill every bastard who takes off his shoes in the cabin!"

(End of Chapter)