Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

When Sage Yu arrived on the aircraft, he fell silent as he looked at the Chaos heads piled up like a small mountain. After a while, he awkwardly chuckled, "The City Guardian of New Hangzhou underestimated the number of heads. I assure you, in the name of a sage, the rewards for these heads will be tripled, and if New Hangzhou’s brood stock is insufficient, New Azura can supply five thousand more piglets."

"Thanks to Sage Yu." Malin never misjudged New Hangzhou’s officials—if it were him, he wouldn’t believe that such a small Dark Zone could contain nearly six thousand Chaos heads.

All these Chaos came through the rifts, and Malin, through Salis, could confirm that about seven lucky ones had escaped. But in the Dark Zone, Chaos is not at the top of the food chain, with far too many beings capable of putting them to death. Moreover, Malin instructed Shen Wansan to order that each lucky one would have a corresponding hunting squad responsible, and the top four would get extra portions.

Within the Awakeners, extra portions work far better than money.

This time, when Sage Yu came, Malin specifically took him to revisit the city. To describe it as ever-changing might be an exaggeration, but it’s always impressive to Sage Yu after a short absence.

"I don’t know if we can have that old lady teach the orphans of New Hangzhou." Sage Yu, looking at the situation of the old director in the courtyard, muttered to himself and then sighed afterward, "Let me take that back. This is the opportunity for the Awakeners, not for us."

"No, I think you can try, but I hope you can add a comparison target." Malin gestured for Sage Yu to follow him.

"What do you mean, Mr. Malin?" Sage Yu followed Malin out of the courtyard.

"What I mean is, for humans, bring two groups of children, one group of normal orphans and one group of intellectually disabled. I know this damned world; the latter rarely makes it, but I think in a vast place like Thainan, we can find some. I want to know if my old director... can treat them equally." To Malin, it was remarkable that the old director could enlighten mutated biohumans, and it would be a great thing if he could enlighten these defectives.

"Leave it to me, but I’ll need at least a week." Sage Yu expressed no objections.

Malin naturally expressed his understanding, simultaneously taking him to the infirmary to meet that unlucky group of Adventurers—information from Zhang Minghe, already sent back by Malin, revealed that the seemingly youthful captain was an Awakener of elven bloodline. Despite appearances, the man was already eighty-five, possessing the Transcendent abilities of a Sword Dancer.

Unfortunately, he encountered a Chaos squad; a Sword Dance and double fists were no match for hundreds of weapons. Leading the team out of the encirclement was already his best effort.