"Since you've become a Hunter, your debt with the Federation is naturally cleared," Yang Qi said. "Besides, every Hunter receives a generous monthly subsidy, which includes not only money, but also items that money can't buy."
"Like what?"
"Firearms and ammunition, restricted medicines... and some of the latest achievements from research institutes."
"Will you restrict my freedom? Hunters being such 'dangerous individuals', you wouldn't let them roam freely in the city, would you?" Sun Hang asked.
"No, we won't restrict the freedom of Hunters," Yang Qi smiled. "We encourage Hunters to integrate into human society, to strengthen their sense of belonging to humanity. Of course, we will place a tracker on you to always pinpoint your coordinates."
"This thing doesn't come with eavesdropping features, does it?"
"No, aside from tracking, its only function is to send an alert to the Investigation Bureau and the Research Institute if a Hunter's abnormality level exceeds a dangerous threshold," Yang Qi shook her head. "We won't excessively interfere with the private life of Hunters, and you can enjoy life like an ordinary Federation citizen when there's no task."
"Do I need to check in every day for work?"
"No need."
"Are tasks mandatory?" Sun Hang asked again.
"In principle, we don't force Hunters to perform tasks, but Hunters have annual task indicators. If they can't meet the indicators, their benefits could be reduced or even canceled," Yang Qi said.
"If I can make ends meet by working, can I just slack off?" Sun Hang shrugged. "You know, tightening screws on an assembly line is much safer than confronting monstrous entities."
"In the past, slacking off might have been fine, but things are different now," Yang Qi said. "We lost eleven Hunters during the Taotie avatar attack. Including you, there are only two active Hunters in Celestial City... if you refuse to perform tasks, the monstrous entities will invade the residential area, and you won't be able to stay out of it."
"Celestial City only has two Hunters now? So besides me, the other one is that 'humanoid mother lizard'?"
Sun Hang couldn't help but recall that day's scene—the scales, bone spikes, and wings growing from beneath the woman's skin, her brute force tearing off thorns and roots, and the huge blue-white Fireball that nearly evaporated the entire blood pool...
In Sun Hang's eyes, the "tastiness" of this woman even surpassed Bloody Mary... unfortunately, his appetite for her lasted less than half a second before a stronger wave of nausea overwhelmed it.
Sun Hang found it hard to describe that feeling. If he had to make a comparison, the woman was akin to a top-notch dish, but before it was served, the chef sprinkled a lethal amount of cilantro on it.
And Sun Hang just happened to be a diner who loathed cilantro immensely.
Sun Hang tried to erase the nausea from his memory, but then he noticed Yang Qi staring at him with a curious expression.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Sun Hang asked.
"No... I'm just curious how you know her nickname..."
"Nickname?" Sun Hang was taken aback. "You mean the mother li..."
"Shh." Yang Qi interrupted Sun Hang, making a silencing gesture with her finger on her lips. "Never mention this nickname in front of her. To maintain her human form, she needs to inject a large amount of suppressant daily, and the most obvious side effect is making her extremely irritable..."
"What should I call her then?"
"Celestial City Registered Hunter Number 115, codename 'Night Slayer,'" Yang Qi said. "You can call her by her codename or her real name, but take note, when calling her real name, always use both her first and last name, don't omit her surname for familiarity's sake."
"Why? What's her real name?" Sun Hang couldn't help but be curious.
"Wang Xiyi."
"Huh? Isn't that still a lizard?"
"It's Wang Xiyi, not Wang Xizhi." Yang Qi took a tablet from the side and wrote the three characters on the screen.
"Oh, now I get it." Sun Hang nodded. "By the way, what are her abilities? What kind of monstrous entity infected her?"
"I don't know," Yang Qi said bluntly. "The detailed information of every Hunter is classified, and won't be disclosed until they lose control or die. Only my teacher, the direct supervisor of said Hunter, and the top figures in the Federation and military can access it. I'm not qualified yet."
"Then who's my direct supervisor..."
"Me," Yang Qi said. "The relationship between a Hunter and their direct supervisor is similar to that between a celebrity and their agent. If you have any questions, come directly to me. Don't worry about bothering me; it's my job."
"And that lizar... Wang Xiyi, who is her supervisor?"
"My teacher, the director of the Celestial City Mysterious Creature Research Institute," Yang Qi said. "She has been employed for seven years and has completed a total of thirty-three tasks, making her our top Hunter in Celestial City."
"Seven years, thirty-three tasks... which averages to about one task every two and a half months," Sun Hang calculated in his mind. "This suggests that the frequency of monstrous invasion is quite high... especially now that it's just her and me left as Hunters in Celestial City, the task density will only increase..."
"I have one more question," Sun Hang said.
"Go ahead, as long as it's within what I'm allowed to disclose, I'll answer it," Yang Qi generously offered.
"Celestial City is considered a border region of the Federation, right? Can a big city like this, located on the border, really hold out with only two Hunters?"
"Oh, so that's what you're worried about... Don't worry, a Hunter reinforcement request has been submitted, and the reinforcements from the Federation will arrive in Celestial City in no more than two months; as long as these two..."
"Stop." This time Sun Hang interrupted Yang Qi, "If you keep saying that, something is bound to go wrong."
"Uh?" Yang Qi was momentarily stunned, then after two seconds, she chuckled, "You believe in that kind of thing?"
"Better safe than sorry," Sun Hang said. "I must say, you have a pretty smile."
"Should I take that as you flirting with me?" Yang Qi's smile had a hint of playfulness.
"I'm just comparing you to someone who always has a stern face, and the two of you look a lot alike," Sun Hang shook his head.
"That's my sister, Yang Lian. She works at the Anomaly Investigation Bureau."