Chapter 76: I Like Tradition

Leaving the Mayor’s house, Wu Chang headed toward the police station.

Passing by the cathedral, he saw Ling Hu sweeping fallen leaves again.

Compared to yesterday, Ling Hu’s mood was more stable, and he didn't seem as dejected.

When Ling Hu saw him, his spirits clearly lifted, and he trotted over toward him.

"You look much better."

Ling Hu smiled and said, "Thanks to you, I’ve calmed down. You were right; as long as we do what we are supposed to do, everything will get better."

Ling Hu’s profession is a nun, and his hidden side quest is to find the Saintess; if the Saintess had ever appeared in Brifer, she would definitely have stayed at the cathedral.

Right now, Ling Hu seemed to have no defenses against him and held an inexplicable trust in him, which was the perfect opportunity to fish for information.

Wait, something didn't feel quite right; he felt like he should be doing something else, but never mind, now was not the time to be distracted.

Wu Chang shook his head, casting the strange sense of incongruity out of his mind, and asked, "How are you doing at the cathedral?"

Hearing Wu Chang ask about him, a smile appeared on Ling Hu’s face.

"Everyone in the church is very friendly, much easier to get along with than those people in the workplace, especially the priest, who takes us to pray together after dinner. After praying, my heart feels much calmer, and I can even gain 0.5 temporary Willpower."

Wu Chang was a bit surprised; other professions’ work would lower attributes, so how could a nun’s work actually increase temporary attributes?

He really wanted to ask if the church was still short of people and if they accepted part-time workers.

Ling Hu continued, "The only strange thing is that the Bishop is a bit odd. He sewed his eyes shut with rough wire. Every time I see him, I always have the feeling of being watched by something dangerous."

Wu Chang nodded, noted down the Bishop with the sewn-shut eyes, and then asked, "Why didn't you tell Jianxing about this information last night?"

Ling Hu whispered, "I was worried he would make me go test the Bishop."

"Then you can safely tell me?"

"You wouldn't do that."

Wu Chang shrugged; he didn't even think he was that reliable, and he didn't know why Ling Hu had such confidence in him.

"By the way, how are you doing?" Ling Hu paused for a moment, as if gathering the courage to ask.

"I'm doing well. I'm on my way to deliver a package to the Sheriff now," Wu Chang said, then waved at Ling Hu and continued walking toward the police station.

Seeing Wu Chang respond perfunctorily and hurry away as soon as he got the information, Ling Hu looked disappointed. "In such a rush..."

Halfway there, Wu Chang remembered something. He expected to have a significant harvest today and might need the church knowledge Ling Hu had learned, so he turned back and shouted:

"I'll come to see you again tomorrow. Remember to wait for me."

Ling Hu smiled and replied, "Okay!"

Arriving at the police station, Wu Chang didn't see Mo Leina in the lobby, so he asked the Hamster who was mopping the floor:

"Where is the Sheriff?"

The Hamster pointed to the closed Sheriff’s office and whispered, "As soon as the Sheriff arrived today, she locked herself in her room and won't open it for anyone who knocks. Her condition is strange; be careful."

"Understood." Wu Chang made an OK gesture and walked toward the Sheriff’s office.

Knock, knock.

"Sheriff Mo Leina."

A hoarse voice, trembling slightly, sounded from behind the door: "What is it."

Wu Chang: "You have mail."

"Leave it at the door."

"There is one more thing I need to trouble you with. Mayor Harrison gave me a letter of recommendation, and I would like to ask you to sign it."

Creak—the door to the Sheriff’s office opened a crack.

Wu Chang thought he was supposed to slide the letter through the crack, but as soon as he got close, Mo Leina suddenly reached out and dragged him into the room.

Just as the Hamster said, Mo Leina was not in a good state.

She was curled up in her office chair. Her healthy, wheat-colored skin was now deathly pale. She was sweating profusely, and her white shirt was soaked through, revealing the black undergarments beneath.

One hand clutched her leg, desperately trying to stop her body from trembling, while the other hand let go of Wu Chang, brushed her messy red hair aside, and then she curled her index finger and bit it lightly.

Wu Chang frowned; Mo Leina’s state looked very much like some kind of withdrawal reaction.

Mo Leina bit her finger and looked up at him. "Harrison wants you to join the Town Council?"

"Yes, I would like to ask you to be my recommender." "What a lucky guy; you don't know what kind of miracle you are about to enjoy," Mo Leina muttered softly.

Mo Leina seemed to think of something, stood up from the chair, and walked in front of Wu Chang.

The two were very close, so close that Wu Chang could feel Mo Leina’s breathing and smell the scent on her.

Isn't it said that a beautiful girl's sweat smells like strawberries? Why did the sweat on Mo Leina have a faint fishy smell? Did she spray fish-mint scented perfume?

Mo Leina pressed close to Wu Chang and said, "It's not impossible to let you join, but it depends on your performance."

Wu Chang curled his lips and said somewhat reluctantly, "Sheriff, I sell my skills, not my body."

Of course, if Mo Leina insisted, holding his nose wouldn't be impossible.

Mo Leina spoke in a hungry tone, saying something very disappointing.

"I don't want your body, at least not now. I want half of what you obtain tonight. If you agree, I'll sign!"

Wu Chang asked doubtfully, "What will I obtain?"

"A miracle!"

"Can a miracle be cut in half?"

"Yes!"

Wu Chang shrugged. "Then it's a deal."

He wasn't prepared to haggle back and forth with Mo Leina over something he hadn't even obtained yet.

If the thing he got was truly extraordinary, he could just go back on his word then.

Having obtained Mo Leina’s signature, only Ma Di remained.

According to the agreement that night, Wu Chang waited until four in the afternoon, after the grocery store closed, and entered through the back door.

Ma Di was right; the back door of the grocery store was very secluded, surrounded by weeds and bushes, and no one would notice anyone entering from here.

Inside the grocery store, only Ma Di was home. Wu Chang checked the place in his spirit form, and there was no one else inside.

After scouting the location, he coughed and shook the bell placed at the back door entrance.

Soon, heavy footsteps came from the wooden floor.

As the footsteps approached, the giant-bear-like Ma Di squeezed out of the narrow hallway.

Seeing the package in Wu Chang’s hand, he became so excited his face turned red. He took the package and then gave Wu Chang a death-grip bear hug.

"Brother Xiao En, it is truly a pity you didn't come to town sooner. I swear to the Great Mother, you are absolutely the most professional guy I have ever met."

Wu Chang struggled out of Ma Di’s death hug, rubbed his ribs which were aching from the squeeze, and then took out the letter of recommendation.

"Mr. Ma Di, I would like to ask you to be my recommender."

"No problem! This is what you deserve!"

Ma Di signed his name on the letter of recommendation on the spot.

"Brother Xiao En, do you know that ever since the Town Council was established, the number of councilors has always remained at twenty-one, never more, never less."

"Your appearance has broken this precedent!"

Ma Di handed the letter of recommendation, now filled with three signatures, to Wu Chang.

"Congratulations on becoming the twenty-second town councilor. To be honest, I have always hated those nonsensical traditions. Traditions should be broken for excellent talent, especially for someone as excellent as you!"

Wu Chang showed a humble smile. "I am very happy to have gained everyone’s recognition. I will continue to work hard."

Ma Di: "I believe in you!"

Leaving from the back door, Wu Chang put the letter of recommendation into his personal space and turned to look at the grocery store.

Unlike Ma Di, he liked traditions, especially those with a sense of ritual.

He tilted his head slightly and looked at the messy bushes. His True Self clone in a black robe walked out from behind the bushes and walked silently toward the back door of the grocery store.

The Town Council has always had only twenty-one members; what a good tradition.

When a new person takes a seat, an old person should be out.

Wouldn't you agree?

(End of chapter)