Hunter of Mysterious Creature

The overlord's movements suddenly slowed down. He struggled desperately, trying to shake off those serpent-like streams of water, but it was to no avail.

Soon, one of the serpent-like water streams crawled onto his face and drilled into his mouth.

The overlord's body froze, and then, as if he had been electrocuted, he began to convulse violently—this state lasted for about ten seconds before his towering figure crashed down, raising a large cloud of dust.

"Is he dead?"

"No, he's just frozen." Candle Dragon glanced at Sun Hang, "Cold? Do you need me to lend you my scarf?"

Sun Hang glanced at the thick wool scarf, a thin layer of frost had already formed on the fabric, and the cold it emitted was far more intense than the surrounding air... Wrapping this thing around his neck would probably only have the opposite effect.

"Forget it, a man lending a scarf to another man always feels a bit awkward." Sun Hang directly refused.

"Haha, true." Candle Dragon laughed heartily—despite his ability of a chilling attribute, his own personality was quite cheerful and sunny.

The two chatted for a short while before the special forces of the Dubhe Tower hurriedly arrived. Dozens of black-clad, black-armored soldiers flooded into the alley and cordoned off the scene. Immediately after, a helicopter descended from the sky, and two soldiers in heavy power armor stuffed the immobile overlord into a coffin-like container and loaded it onto the helicopter.

An unkempt researcher in a lab coat that obviously hadn't been washed for several weeks hurried over. After scanning the scene, he locked his gaze on Sun Hang and Candle Dragon.

"You must be Sun Hang, the registered Hunter of Tianfu City?" the researcher asked as he walked over.

"That's me." Sun Hang nodded.

"Well, due to this unexpected incident, Dubhe Tower has decided to temporarily suspend the first phase of the trial ascension." The researcher said, "However, the trial will not be canceled, with its resumption tentatively set for three days later. During these three days, you are free to act, and your wanted notice will be temporarily shelved, but your personal account will remain frozen until the trial is over. If you need anything during this period, you can directly contact us or the Dubhe Tower branches set up in each district, no problem, right?"

"There's a problem," Sun Hang said seriously.

"Uh, what problem?"

"My account is frozen, so I have no money for food or a place to stay. If it were just me, it'd be fine, but I also have to take care of a girl. I can't just let her scavenge for trash and sleep on the street with me, can I?" Sun Hang said.

"Dubhe Tower will provide you with temporary accommodation and daily necessities. As for the Puppet Master, we will take her back..."

"No way, she's my hostage. Even if the trial is suspended, I won't give her back to you." Sun Hang firmly refused, "Unless you can guarantee that when the trial resumes, you'll return her to me?"

"Well... That's impossible," the researcher said awkwardly, "The Puppet Master belongs to Research Institute No. 1, for her transfer, we need to communicate with them..."

This guy was clearly just a messenger, without decision-making power.

"Stop with the rambling; I know perfectly well that once I hand her over, you'll have a thousand excuses not to give her back." Sun Hang said, "I also know you don't have the authority to decide anything, so here's the deal, I don't even need you to provide me temporary housing or daily necessities, just give me some cash, this money you can get reimbursed from the Federation Government anyway."

"Ah?"

"Hurry up, how much money do you have on you, take it all out and give it to me!" Sun Hang said fiercely, like a bandit demanding money on the road.

"Well..." The researcher rummaged through the pockets of his lab coat, but only found two ballpoint pens and a small piece of chocolate that had been left in the pocket for so long that it had melted and deformed, "I... I don't usually carry cash."

"Why are you so rigid?" Sun Hang couldn't help but scold, "Has doing research made you dumb? Haven't you noticed that the street is full of shops? Just find one, scan a payment code, let the owner give you some change, can't you?"

"Umm... I... I didn't bring my phone." The researcher said awkwardly.

"Use facial recognition, buddy!" Sun Hang pointed to his face, "What era is this? You haven't even activated facial payment feature?"

"Forget it, don't make it difficult for him." Candle Dragon smiled and came over to mediate, "The Dubhe Tower researchers have a special identity, and they have to sign confidentiality agreements before joining. Their personal information, especially facial recognition data, is considered a federal secret, and general civilian financial institutions are not allowed to register it, even if you let him use facial recognition, it wouldn't work."

"Is that so?" Sun Hang frowned, "Then, who's going to cover the living expenses I lack?"

"I'll cover you." Candle Dragon laughed heartily, pulling out a wallet from his pocket and taking out a thick wad of cash to hand to Sun Hang, "I was actually on vacation, and I withdrew this money to spend, but since you need it, you can use it first."

"Thanks a lot." Sun Hang accepted the fresh wad of cash without ceremony and stuffed it into his pocket.

While he didn't count how many bills there were, judging by the thickness, there should be seven or eight thousand.

"The incident has come to an end," Candle Dragon looked at the soldiers who were busy clearing the scene, "there's nothing more for us to do here. How about I invite you both to a nearby tavern for a drink, would you do me the honor?"

"I don't drink." The Puppet Master said softly.

"The tavern has non-alcoholic beverages too," Candle Dragon said, "and besides, their Japanese-style grilled chicken, which they serve with drinks, is quite special. I recommend you try it."

"No problem, up to you," Sun Hang turned to look at the Puppet Master.

The Puppet Master nodded.

"Oh right, one more thing, wait for me a moment,"

Sun Hang said, quickly running back to the convenience store, taking out four bills from the wad, and handing them to the trembling cashier hiding behind the counter.

"For the damages to the store, the Federation Government should compensate, and here's the money for that bottle of cola," Sun Hang said.

"Uh? Oh... What?" The cashier, holding four hundred-yuan bills, looked at Sun Hang in confusion—the events of the past few minutes were so impactful for an ordinary person that his brain hadn't caught up yet.

"It's nothing. Anyway, when your boss asks, just blame it all on the Federation Government."