Chapter 37: Technical Talent Settlement Zone 2

Danika's squad, including herself, had five members, and right now Li Ang and Hall were seated surrounded by three of the team members.

Compared to Hall, who trembled beside him, Li Ang appeared remarkably calm.

Looking at Danika, who sat in the passenger seat and showed only the back of her head, he opened his mouth to ask about their destination: "Young Lady."

"Call me Captain," Danika interrupted without turning around, then answered the question he hadn't yet asked: "We're heading to Technical Talent Settlement Zone 2—or rather, we just came from there."

"Understood, Captain."

Li Ang complied readily; though he had no desire to join this so-called Public Security Bureau, obtaining a legal identity through this route wasn't unacceptable.

Thinking of this, Li Ang prepared to ask further about the status of "extralegal citizens."

But before he could speak, he saw Danika lean back against her seat, her breathing gradually deepening.

'Fallen asleep?'

Li Ang turned to glance at the three team members beside him; they seemed utterly unfazed, so he fell silent.

Soon, the blue-and-white-painted medium transport vehicle arrived at their destination, carrying the Public Security Bureau agents and Li Ang.

A vast area dotted with numerous buildings resembling dormitories, though many of them had already collapsed.

Danika opened her eyes, yawning as she pushed open the vehicle door and stepped out.

"Here we are. Get out."

After stepping out, Li Ang noticed that many Public Security Bureau agents had already gathered in this "Technical Talent Settlement Zone 2."

Leaving the group where they stood, Danika walked straight toward a burly man whose entire skin was a deep red.

"Chief Marcus, we caught one."

She nodded her chin toward Li Ang, a short distance away.

The red-skinned man called Chief Marcus glanced at Li Ang with mild surprise: "There really are practitioners? What crime did he commit? What's his strength level?"

"Smuggling. Strength unknown. He's been cooperative—didn't attack us."

"?" Upon hearing Li Ang's crime, Marcus's expression turned peculiar: "Do people actually try to smuggle themselves into this dump? Whatever. Just a regular Level One practitioner. Do as you wish—we're short-staffed in the Bureau anyway."

"Yes."

Li Ang, standing beside the vehicle, had also noticed Danika conversing with a male creature who looked like a demon lord.

He could tell the non-human creature was almost certainly the leader.

At that moment, Hall, standing beside him, seemed to be making up for his earlier behavior and whispered: "That's Chief Marcus, the Public Security Bureau head—human-demon hybrid."

Before Li Ang could ask what "demon" meant, he saw Danika finish her report to the leader and begin walking toward him.

The tall, weary woman stopped before him and told one of the team members: "Give him a set of gear."

Taking the issued uniform from the team member, Li Ang stepped into the vehicle to change.

Not long after, he was dressed.

Though called "gear," Li Ang found no weapons—only clothing and basic equipment: a communication device with no signal, an imaging device, and similar items.

He understood, though; Danika's squad was naturally wary of him. If he were in their place, he wouldn't hand weapons to a suspicious outsider either.

Danika then began outlining the mission: "I won't waste time with details. There are still people left behind in that zone—probably plenty of bugs inside."

"Our mission is rescue. You know these technicians aren't like us—they have no self-defense capability."

"Alright. Let's move."

Following behind Danika, Li Ang recalled the information he'd seen on the communication device.

Technical Talent Settlement Zone 2 housed extralegal citizens who had immigrated from other planets; most residents here were technicians—such as Engineers—while Doctors and Researchers lived in Zone 1.

That was why the Public Security Bureau had only now arrived to rescue them—Zone 1's talent was more valuable.

As Li Ang pondered whether he should also take up a technical profession, the group entered the first dormitory building.

He immediately put on the issued imaging device.

Instantly, the pitch-black corridor became clearly visible.

"Stay alert. These bugs are different from the ones we've faced before."

Danika stretched her shoulders and neck, then gestured for Li Ang to walk at the front.

As she'd said at the start, she needed to test his strength.

The crisp clack of her high heels echoed through the silent corridor; Danika showed no concern that the sound might attract lurking bugs.

Or perhaps that was precisely her intent.

Li Ang had no objection—he wouldn't hide his abilities indefinitely. Demonstrating competence would help him integrate better into this world.

Soon, a bug took the bait.

Seeing the deep red figure suddenly appear on the imaging device, Li Ang felt no panic.

With his prior experience killing three bugs, he exerted barely any effort and added another unremarkable kill to his record.

【Using Reverse Birth: Three Layers in combat, skill experience +5】.

Behind him, Danika raised an eyebrow, silently evaluating Li Ang.

'Strength is decent—barely meets the average for Level One.'

'As for his profession...'

Danika's mind flashed back to Li Ang's pale, glowing appearance moments earlier; she couldn't quite place it.

His performance clearly suggested physical enhancement—but she sensed it wasn't that simple.

'Let's see more.'

Unfortunately, after eliminating the first bug, Li Ang encountered no others, and Danika had no further chance to assess his abilities.

Until the group reached the top floor.

A nauseating stench of blood slammed into their nostrils; Danika stepped forward, blocking the group's path.

For the first time, her previously languid face now bore a rare seriousness: "On guard."

"Ke'er, go downstairs and notify Director Ma Kusi that there's an anomalous situation over here."

The team member whose name had been called did not hesitate in the slightest, turning and running toward the stairs.

Nor could one blame the group for being so tense, because what now lay before their eyes was a scene resembling purgatory itself.

The deep, gloomy corridor was smeared everywhere with blood-red stains, and the severed limbs of humanoid creatures were strewn about haphazardly.

Seeing this, Li Ang quietly raised his vigilance to the utmost.

It was obvious that there was a bug up here on the top floor whose strength was worlds apart from those previous pushovers.