Chapter 171
Chapter 171: Career Distribution, Performance Competition
“You stupid fool of a performer—the prop I just gave you, and it's already broken?”
The Sage let out a cold snort. Though those eyes shrouded in grey cloth could not see, they sensed the shards on the ground.
His eagle-claw fingers picked up the cracked 【Soul-Shell Membrane】, his tone brimming with displeasure and reproach.
“Oh my, oh my—you really can't blame me for this one~ Sage, sir.”
The Joker spread both hands open. “After all, someone unexpected showed up here.”
“Unexpected?”
The Sage's brow furrowed slightly. “To break through the Soul-Shell Membrane I refined from thousands of living souls head-on...”
“Looking across the entire world, only the Extraordinary Ones of the Judgment Sequence bloodline could do it.”
“What is it—Huaxia's 【Interrogator】, or the Su Nation's 【Executor】?”
The Joker took the opportunity to sit atop a crumbled wall beside the Sage, both hands cupping his chin.
“It's the Interrogator, Yue Tian.”
“What terrible luck today!”
“If it weren't for your Soul-Shell Membrane concealing me, that little secret of mine would've been cracked open and exposed by him in an instant~”
“Yue Tian...”
The Sage fell silent for a moment, then warned in an icy voice, “In the upcoming Groom Selection, you'd best keep your distance from him.”
“This is the last Soul-Shell Membrane I have—I have no spare to squander on you.”
As he spoke, the Sage reached into his breast and produced a wooden box. Inside it lay a single membrane.
The Joker took it and, with practiced ease, snapped it into his eyeball, then rolled his eye around.
“Rest assured, I'll do my best to avoid him.”
“Of course, if the chance arises, I'll make sure to do away with him in the town entirely.”
“After all... the Judgment Sequence is far too much of a counter to my abilities.”
“That feeling of being seen through to the bone at a single glance—it's truly revolting!”
“Good that you know.”
The Sage waved a hand. “Also, keep your eye on the Eagle Nation squad's captain. That one's no pushover either.”
“The Phoenix Sovereign will make her formal appearance at the Grand Final of the Groom Selection—that is, on the 10th day of the Global Crossing.”
“And before that, there are still 2 phases.”
“You'd better not slip up in the 1st phase—the Business Performance competition—otherwise the plan falls apart.”
“And that person will have no hope of resurrection.”
“As for the butcher's daughter—I've already temporarily suppressed her on your behalf.”
“She won't be able to stir up any waves in the short term. That disguise of yours won't be exposed either.”
“As you wish, Sage, sir.”
The Joker gave an elegant gentleman's bow. “I look forward to this grand wedding more than anyone—and I take it more seriously than anyone.”
“After all... someone is waiting for me.”
With that, his figure twisted and distorted, and in the blink of an eye he had taken on the appearance of Tang Sirui.
He flipped out through the inn window and slipped through the crowd, his hands moving with breathtaking speed.
In no more than a moment, several silver banknotes had already been tucked into his pockets.
“This kind of life, so full of human warmth—it really does make one nostalgic...”
Just as he sighed, the corner of his eye suddenly caught a sound slicing through the air!
Whoosh!
A short-handled axe came hurtling through the wind, driving straight for the back of his head.
The Joker twisted his body in an uncanny motion; the axe grazed past his ear and buried itself into a wooden pillar nearby.
“Who's there?!”
He cried out in alarm, putting on a startled expression.
A dark figure dropped to the ground, and the 2 exchanged 3 moves in an instant.
Fists and palms colliding produced a dull, meaty thud; then both pulled back simultaneously, and with a tacit understanding they knocked fists together.
Then pulled each other into a great big hug.
“Long time no see, pal! How've you been lately?”
The newcomer let out a hearty laugh—it was the Eagle Nation squad's gunner.
Allen Dick.
The Joker instantly switched into Tang Sirui mode and cursed with a grin.
“Almost got sent off by an axe to the head! I'm not bad—how about you? How was business today?”
“Don't even mention it.”
Allen Dick shook his head and pointed to the constable's token at his waist.
“Counting you, I've only nabbed 4 today.”
“All small-time drifters, thieves and pickpockets—not even enough to fill a gap in my teeth.”
“A constable?”
The Joker feigned surprise. “Now that's a dignified profession!”
“I'm doing alright myself—already scraped together today's 5 taels of silver banknotes.”
“Oh right, my teammates just arrived. Want to get together tonight?”
“At your captain Arielia's tavern.”
“Oh! That'd be great, I love a good gathering!”
Allen Dick's eyes lit up. “Once I finish my work I'll go notify the captain—try to nab a few more criminals and swap them for silver banknotes.”
“Alright. You take the north end of town, I'll take the south. Let's make sure we don't accidentally hit each other again.”
The Joker replied.
“Sounds good, pal—I was thinking the same thing.”
The 2 parted ways. The Joker watched Allen Dick's retreating figure, and the smile at the corner of his mouth gradually took on a look of amusement.
He didn't go to the north end of town as agreed.
Instead, he wound through several turns in the alleyways of the south end, confirmed no one was following, then reversed direction and headed for The Assignment Office.
When he arrived, he spotted Zhao Yan and Shadow crouching at the base of a wall from a distance, both faces heavy with gloom.
Xin An was leaning against a pillar nearby, expression still relatively calm.
Yue Tian sat on the steps with his eyes closed in rest.
As for Liu Ruyan.
“This is outrageous!!!”
A furious roar—a few pieces of roof-tile dust shook loose from the eaves.
The Joker pulled his neck back and sidled over.
“Hey, everyone—how'd the lot draw go?”
Xin An was the first to hold up the bamboo sign in her hand. 2 characters were carved on it.
【Merchant】
“Normal enough.”
She shrugged, a trace of relief in her voice.
“Have to sell 20 taels' worth of goods every day—but they gave a starting fund of 100 taels.”
“Pressure's not small, but at least there's money to be made.”
Yue Tian also opened his eyes and tossed the bamboo sign in his hand casually onto the steps.
【Prison Guard】
“Standing watch over prisoners.”
His voice was flat.
“No performance requirement—just serve a full 8 periods of guard duty each day and you're off.”
The Joker let out a wow, the envy on his face nearly overflowing.
“Your professions are way too good!”
“Unlike me—having to run myself ragged stealing things all over the place every day, and one wrong move and I get chased and beaten by fellow thieves.”
His gaze turned toward Zhao Yan and Shadow crouching at the wall's base.
“Grandpa Zhao, Shadow, what did you two draw?”
Zhao Yan's face was black as the bottom of a pot. He grudgingly held up his bamboo sign.
【Odd-Job Worker】
Shadow's gesture was about the same, the bamboo sign in her hand carved with those same 2 characters.
“Every day you have to go do odd jobs, and you can only rest once you've earned 10 taels of silver banknotes.”
Zhao Yan gritted his teeth.
“Isn't this just being the lowest of the low?”
“Being the lowest of the low is great—being the lowest of the low is wonderful.”
The Joker sidled over with a wicked grin, patting Zhao Yan on the shoulder.
“Old man, with that physique of yours—if not you doing odd jobs, who? “
“By then, serving dishes, washing bowls, sweeping streets, carrying palanquins—every single one is your specialty.”
“What did you just say?!”
Zhao Yan shot to his feet, grabbed the Joker by the collar with one hand.
“Say that again, you little punk?!”
“Hey hey hey, mercy! I was wrong! I really was wrong!”
The Joker was being throttled till his eyes nearly rolled back; he frantically slapped at Zhao Yan's arm.
“I was just joking! You're a magnanimous man, Grandpa Zhao—don't stoop to my level!”
“Too late!”
Zhao Yan pinned him to the ground and gave him a thorough pounding, fist after fist landing with solid impact, beating the Joker until he howled.
“That's for your loose mouth! And that too!”
Xin An beside them choked back a laugh and turned her head away.
Shadow couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.
Yue Tian on the steps watched this scene in silence. Those eyes hidden behind the mask lingered on the Joker for a long, long time.
A very long time.
Only after Zhao Yan had worn himself out and released his grip did he look away.
His suspicions had lessened somewhat.
But were far from gone.
And just at this moment...
“I refuse!!!”
A shriek nearly burst everyone's eardrums.
Liu Ruyan held up her bamboo sign with both hands as though hoisting a lump of filth.
2 characters were carved on the sign.
【Thief】
“I am not becoming a thief!!!”
Her face flushed red as she slammed the bamboo sign to the ground and stamped on it twice.
“I am Liu Ruyan, the Sword Emperor! You want me to go steal things?!”
“Then what do you want to do?”
Zhao Yan rubbed the fist he'd used for the beating, unamused.
Liu Ruyan was stunned for 2 seconds, and then...
“I want to draw again! This rotten sign doesn't count!”
She spun around and made to charge toward The Assignment Office.
Shadow, quick-eyed and fast-handed, snatched her back by the scruff of the neck.
“Stop making a scene—rules are rules.”
“Let go of me! I don't care! I'd rather die than be a thief!”
Liu Ruyan struggled.
The Joker clambered up from the ground, rubbing his aching back, and sidled over with an air of perfect innocence.
“Ruyan, the thief profession's actually pretty good.”
“Get lost!”
Liu Ruyan swung a kick at him.
The Joker sidestepped nimbly and continued adding insult to injury.
“Look at you—that build, that bearing, born to be a thief if ever I saw one.”
“And you can fly!”
“By the time you've stolen your way through Soul-Return Town unrivaled, how magnificent would that be.”
“Tang! Si! Rui!”
Liu Ruyan was so furious her hair was nearly standing on end.
Zhao Yan pressed a hand down on her head.
“Alright, alright—what's all this noise about.”
“It's just being a thief for a few days. It's not like it'll cost you any flesh.”
“Then why don't you go do it!”
“I drew Odd-Job Worker, didn't I?”
Zhao Yan was perfectly self-righteous.
Liu Ruyan was so thoroughly blocked she couldn't find a word to say, and could only grit her teeth and glare at the bamboo sign on the ground.
Yue Tian stood up and brushed the dust from his robe.
“Everyone settle down.”
“The signs have been drawn—rules are rules.”
“Before we get a clear read on this Soul-Return Town, don't go causing unnecessary complications.”
He swept a glance at Liu Ruyan.
“Thief is thief. Put your heart into it—it might not be a bad thing.”
Liu Ruyan puffed out her cheeks and said nothing.
The Joker crouched off to one side, watching this farce unfold, the smile on his face perfectly calibrated.
A trace of gloating, a trace of blithe unconcern—the very image of that despised-by-all yet ever-grinning Magic Orb.
But beneath that smile, his peripheral gaze had never once left Yue Tian.
Not once.