"What's the good stuff?"
Curious, the members of the Blood Staff Mercenary Group crowded around.
Brother Xuan waved his hand dismissively. "Shoo, shoo! It's for the boss. What does it have to do with you lot? Go wait on the side!"
The crew burst into laughter and banter, but not a single person budged an inch.
They all knew full well that since the old man was presenting it to their boss right to his face, he was definitely showing it off and wouldn't mind an audience.
The old man stepped forward, broke the seal on the long box in his hands, drew out its contents, and offered it up before Puppet with both hands. In a solemn voice, he said:
"Back when the laboratory was conducting research, we found a branch of an aberrant plant in the Confluence. This thing is quite extraordinary. We tried many methods, but couldn't detach even a sliver as a sample. I thought presenting it to you would be most fitting."
Everyone craned their necks to look, unable to hold back clicks of wonder.
Without any artificial trimming, this branch had grown remarkably straight by nature. It looked pleasing to the eye and was of an ideal length—plainly an exceptional walking cane. If one spotted such a branch along the roadside, one couldn't resist picking it up and gleefully giving it a few practice swings.
Puppet cast his eyes downward. With just a single glance, he felt that this item suited him perfectly.
In truth, after becoming a martial artist, his original cane would never have been able to withstand his power even if it hadn't snapped in battle. It was indeed time for a replacement.
He reached out, taking the branch directly into his grasp, and gave it a gentle flick. A sharp, whistling sonic boom tore through the air.
He discovered that while the material was exceedingly tough, his own mutated tissue easily permeated inward. It seemed naturally attuned to him.
As the mutated tissue seeped deeper, the staff quickly took on a faint rhythm of life. Immediately after, he made another discovery.
Originally, the staff had felt rather light, but as his spirit linked with it, it instantly gained substantial heft until the weight felt just right.
After swinging it a few more times, it felt completely natural in his hand, as if it had been custom-made for him by nature itself.
The mercenary crew watched with keen interest. To them, it wasn't much of a big deal—as long as the boss liked it, they were happy. If the boss called it good, they would chime in that it was good; if the boss called it bad, they would agree it was bad.
Yet as he swung it, they suddenly saw a deep crimson glow ripple across the shaft of the staff, like a haze of bloodlight swirling around it.
"Blood Staff..." one member gasped involuntarily.
This truly was a blood staff, in name and reality!
The crew members grew excited. Exactly! How could the Blood Staff Mercenary Group not have an actual blood staff? Only with this did they truly live up to the name!
Puppet pondered for a moment, then tapped toward the side. The tip of his staff lightly struck a stone bollard that served as a roadblock.
Instantly, it shattered into uniformly sized granules of stone, clattering to the ground in a loose heap.
"Boss is mighty!"
The crew members shouted their approval one after another.
The old man spoke up then. "Mr. Blood Staff, are you satisfied with this gift?"
Puppet nodded, giving a rare response. "I like it very much."
The old man broke into a broad grin. Handing this over paid back a bit of the favor he owed. It wasn't enough yet, but that was fine—he would repay it slowly, and he would definitely clear the debt.
The outpost supervisor had been waiting nearby the entire time. Seeing that their conversation was finished, he stepped forward. "Mr. Blood Staff, we received word in advance that your esteemed group has completed the commission. Per your request, half the payment has been converted into high-energy nutrients, and half has been deposited as gold drafts into Wansheng Financial Firm. The nutrients are stored right here at the outpost; you may collect them at any time."
He paused, then added, "Regarding the next commission, we would like to discuss the details with you, if you have the time."
Puppet signaled his assent.
Having commissions was a good thing. As for whether to take them and how to do them, it was now largely their choice, rather than letting the laboratory dictate terms as before, where whatever was issued had to be accepted.
The supervisor ushered Puppet and his key personnel into the post, introducing a middle-aged man waiting inside. "Mr. Blood Staff, this is Mr. Abner, the head of our Shell Laboratory."
Abner had evidently undergone facial modification through implants, bearing the sharp, polished appearance of a commercial elite. However, his voice was distinctive, possessing a rhythmic cadence that left a deep impression.
He was polite and courteous, carrying himself with great deference, yet he understood Puppet's temperament. After a brief greeting, he got straight to the point: "Mr. Blood Staff, the next commission concerns both of us, in a manner of speaking. Earlier, you killed the martial artist hired by Hesse Laboratory. Hesse Laboratory is currently in utter turmoil, besieged by its competitors.
"We recently obtained intelligence that they had previously captured an overlimit creature of immense research value. To prevent accidents, they established their laboratory outpost directly inside the Confluence.
"Every time, that martial artist had to go in person to subdue it with his spiritual power, which was why he only left at regular intervals. This time, he failed to return, and Hesse Laboratory has had its hands full just trying to survive, allowing the creature to escape.
"We have now learned of its whereabouts, so we would like to ask you to step in and capture it for us." As he spoke, he transmitted a file via his cochlear worm.
The bald woman reviewed the data, arms crossed. "Is Hesse Laboratory really so overwhelmed that it can't manage?"
Though many laboratories along the West Coast ran illegal experiments, those capable of establishing a firm foothold certainly had mega-corporations backing them.
Hesse Laboratory operated on such a large scale; according to her understanding, Titan Plant Company stood behind it. Could a Federation mega-enterprise truly let a valuable laboratory fall so easily?
Abner said, "That is the information we currently have." He continued earnestly, "Please trust us. Our laboratory has spared no effort to gather intelligence, though naturally no one can guarantee information with one hundred percent certainty."
He added, "Of course, if you are not interested in this commission, we have another."
He tapped his cochlear worm. A light screen projected down, displaying text and images of a bizarre flower with purplish-red stamens.
"According to our intelligence, this is a newly discovered species. The fruit it bears holds an immense attraction for certain aberrant creatures and possesses high research value. Currently, various laboratories are attempting to track down this kind of plant, and we do not wish to miss this opportunity either. However, it grows deep within the Confluence, in an area reachable only by a martial artist.
"If you are interested, Mr. Blood Staff, we would also like to commission you to retrieve some samples."
Seeing that Puppet remained silent, he added courteously, "You may take your time to consider, Mr. Blood Staff. If neither appeals to you, we will do our best to offer alternative commissions. We sincerely hope to maintain a long-term partnership with you."
He meant every word. Aside from Puppet's formidable strength, the Blood Staff Mercenary Group possessed an excellent track record of reliability and an extraordinarily high mission completion rate. Powerful fighters were hard to find, but those who adhered strictly to rules and agreements were even rarer.
"In that case, I shall take my leave."
He gave Puppet a slight nod, then exited alongside the supervisor.
Puppet continued staring at the light screen. On the display, the plant suddenly moved. Its stamens split open, revealing mouthparts lined with razor-sharp teeth. While it appeared roughly the size of an ordinary blossom on screen, the creature in reality spanned fifteen to sixteen meters in length, clearly possessing immense danger.
He said, "This one."
"Boss, why do I feel like this is a massive pit? Are we really going?"
One of the members spoke up. His name was Xiao Zhuang, a man of Eastern Continent descent. While his strength was average, his spirit was extraordinary, endowed with keen intuition. He rarely spoke, but when he did, he was almost always right. Previously, the ordinary members of the team had relied on him to steer clear of many troubles.
Brother Xuan glanced at Puppet and saw him still staring at the screen.
He slapped Xiao Zhuang on the shoulder. "When has the boss ever backed out of an accepted mission? Besides, what are you afraid of? There's never been a mission the boss couldn't finish. When the time comes, we'll just stand back and make sure we don't get in his way."
The bald woman glanced over the details and said, "The data only provides a rough location and a contact who holds the specific details. Much of the intelligence is in his hands alone. We need to speak with him in person first to obtain more information."
Puppet said, "Rest for a day. We move out tomorrow."
"Understood!"
Their previous commission hadn't been difficult—mostly just traveling—so the mercenary group's excitement hadn't faded yet. Upon receiving the order, everyone went off to rest and check their gear.
The next day, Puppet set out with his crew, re-entering the Confluence. On the day after their entry, they found the contact waiting for them.
He was a Federation man in his fifties, short and stout, sporting a bowler hat and a handlebar mustache. He held himself with an air of authority, flanked by an expressionless, fierce-looking armed guard.
After meeting and confirming each other's identities, the man handed over the detailed dossier he had gathered to the mercenaries. Once the bald woman verified it, they didn't linger; they boarded their vehicles and departed, parting ways with him.
After they left, several individuals wearing protective suits and dark protective goggles emerged. They said to the man, "Mr. Pading, you cooperated well. The Covert Operations Directorate appreciates your contribution."
Pading bowed respectfully in haste.
The other party had no intention of chatting further, merely providing a contact method and instructing him to assist with intelligence when needed. Then they departed, heading in the exact same direction the Blood Staff Mercenary Group had gone.
The armed guard behind Pading watched them recede into the distance and said, "Uncle, the laboratory has actually cooperated quite well with us all along. If they find out we sold out the intelligence to the Directorate—"
Pading scoffed, "That Blood Staff Mercenary Group is full of wanted Federation criminals, and Blood Staff himself is a wanted martial artist! They pose an extreme hazard to the Federation, so there's no need for any pity. We're just helping the Federation take out the trash.
"As for the laboratory?"
Contempt spread across his face. "Hah! They were just a fringe laboratory to begin with. Without this Blood Staff, how much longer could they possibly last? Besides, they're already in the crosshairs of the Covert Operations Directorate. Just watch—it won't be long before we stop hearing anything about them at all. They won't have the ability to come after us."
Chapter 1240