Chapter 75: Doubt × Departure

At the top of the inventory list was a vial emitting a blue glow.

That blue glow resembled the radiance of a blue diamond, brilliantly luminous.

The inventory list read as follows.

【Human Gene Enhancement Serum】

Origin: Paradise of Reincarnation, Macas Human Gene Research Institute.

Quality: Blue

Type: Potion.

Effect: After consumption, Strength +4, Power +2. (Effects are permanent.)

Stock Quantity: 1

Exchange Requirement: 15,000 CCG Contribution Points, Assistant Special-Class Investigator Rank.

Description: This serum can be consumed only once per person; repeated consumption has no effect.

……

【Shatter Sprite (Premium)】

Origin: Tokyo Ghoul.

Quality: Green

Attack Power: 6~20. (Attack power is calculated based on destructive force, firearm potency, and weapon comprehensive evaluation.)

Category: Quinque (Large Pistol)

Magazine Capacity: 6. (Quinque-type firearms auto-reload; cooldown time: 2 minutes.)

Durability: 35/35

Equipment Requirement: Strength 12, Agility 10.

Equipment Effect: Gaze Shot (Active) — Upon activation, the user must lock eyes on the target for 5 seconds, during which movement speed is reduced by 50%. After 5 seconds, the weapon rapidly fires all six rounds in an instant.

Tip: After activating Gaze Shot, the target is locked; bullets fired are homing ammunition.

Tip: Using Gaze Shot consumes 50 Mana Points.

Tip: Gaze Shot (Active) has a 24-hour cooldown.

Rating: 30 (Note: Green equipment ratings range from 1 to 30; green equipment rated 30 is labeled “Premium” and gains special attributes.)

Description: My shooting is terrible, but I can stare at you — once I lock onto you, there’s only one outcome: death, unless~~ you have a lot of obstacles in front of you.

Price: 3,800 Paradise Coins.

Stock Quantity: 1

Exchange Requirement: 13,000 CCG Contribution Points, Assistant Special-Class Investigator Rank.

……

【C-Type Field Injector】

Origin: Tokyo Ghoul.

Quality: Green.

Type: Potion.

Effect: After injection, restores 30% of maximum HP and rapidly heals injuries.

Stock Quantity: 1

Exchange Requirement: 8,000 CCG Contribution Points, Assistant Special-Class Investigator Rank.

Description: A life-saving remedy — result of CCG human trials.

……

Below these three items were numerous other potions, Quinque, and gear.

But aside from these three, Su Xiao had no interest in exchanging for the rest — their prices were inflated.

More precisely, Su Xiao most wanted to exchange for the 【Human Gene Enhancement Serum】 — it grants +4 Strength and +2 Power.

Moreover, it was the first blue-quality item he had ever seen.

Blue-quality items are extremely rare, and rarity brings higher value.

This 【Human Gene Enhancement Serum】 was not from the Ghoul World — it originated from Paradise of Reincarnation.

This suggested Zone 24 was a special zone; otherwise, such an exchange function would not exist.

Other CCG branches — at least Zones 14 and 20 — had no such function.

Perhaps Zone 24 was dangerous? Or perhaps its location was unique? Su Xiao did not know.

All he needed to do now was enter Zone 24, slay Ghouls, and explore its unknown regions.

Exploring unknown regions of Zone 24 could also yield CCG Contribution Points — provided those regions held value to CCG.

If, after exchanging for the 【Human Gene Enhancement Serum】, he still had surplus Contribution Points, he might consider the 【Shatter Sprite】 — a powerful pistol.

Su Xiao operated alone, with no teammates, so he needed some ranged capability; if he encountered special enemies without ranged options, he might be kited to death.

Developing ranged capability was not simple — it required heavy investment.

The skill attached to the 【Shatter Sprite】 showed Su Xiao a path to rapidly build ranged combat ability.

The 【Shatter Sprite】’s active ability locks targets and then fires six rapid shots.

What interested Su Xiao most was the note specifying “homing bullets.”

His shooting was poor, but the 【Shatter Sprite】’s skill required no shooting skill — an excellent choice.

As for the final 【C-Type Field Injector】, it too was a life-saving item.

He wanted all three items, but after seeing his current Contribution Points, he could only sigh in regret.

【Senior Investigator, Contribution Points: 2,053/10,000.】

First, he needed to reach Assistant Special-Class Investigator rank to exchange for these items; second, he needed massive CCG Contribution Points.

With 12 days of automatic action time remaining, he needed to earn 33,947 CCG Contribution Points — a long and arduous road.

But Zone 24 was notoriously dangerous; Ghoul numbers should be high, and he could also earn Contribution Points by submitting Kakuja capsules and exploring unknown regions.

In that case, acquiring so many Contribution Points wasn’t impossible.

That afternoon, Su Xiao, Ma Gui, and Yuna regrouped.

“Check your supplies — our explorations in Zone 24 aren’t just one or two days long.”

Ma Gui carried a large pack, held a Quinque in each hand, and wore a white trench coat.

This white trench coat was exclusive to Zero Team — now Su Xiao wore one too; it fit snugly and was ideal for combat.

Yuna dressed the same, her backpack filled with food, fresh water, and other survival supplies.

Su Xiao carried nothing in his hands — all his gear was stored in his Storage Space.

His Storage Space was two cubic meters — not large, but capable of holding many survival items.

Over two-thirds of the Storage Space was filled with food and fresh water — enough to last him a long time.

The remaining space held combat equipment and recovery foods.

“I’m ready — we can leave anytime.”

Yuna looked at Su Xiao strangely.

“What do you fight with?”

Zhan Long Shan appeared in his hand; Su Xiao lifted the hilt.

“With this.”

“Pfft~.”

Yuna scoffed, pointing at the Zhan Long Shan in his hand.

“That’s just ordinary metal — can it even pierce a Ghoul’s membrane?”

Clearly, Yuna doubted Su Xiao’s strength.

“Zheng!”

A flash of cold light — several strands of black hair fell to the ground; Zhan Long Shan now rested against Yuna’s neck.

“Gulping.”

Yuna stared at Su Xiao in disbelief.

“So fast!”

Not just Yuna — Ma Gui beside her also glanced sharply at Su Xiao.

“Now, do you think it can cut through a Ghoul’s membrane?”

Yuna pressed her finger against the blade’s edge and drew it lightly — a streak of blood appeared on her slender finger.

She placed the finger in her mouth and sucked the blood.

“With this sharpness, there won’t be a problem.”

Zhan Long Shan returned to its sheath — Su Xiao wielded it smoothly, but its quality was too low, merely white-tier equipment.

Had its rating not been as high as 10, it would have long since become obsolete.

Even so, during his battle with the Queen, Zhan Long Shan had shown signs of weakness.

Replacing the weapon was inevitable — but Su Xiao was troubled by the prospect.

Frequently switching weapons was not a good idea; he needed a weapon capable of growth.

Unfortunately, such weapons were extremely hard to obtain — with his current strength, acquiring one was a fantasy.

“Departure — 108th Exploration of Zone 24.”

Ma Gui stepped out of the temporary branch first; Su Xiao and Yuna followed behind him.

Soon, the three arrived before the pitch-black cave entrance, which led straight underground; the wailing sound of “ghosts weeping” echoed from within, as if some monster lurked inside.