"Li Xiang, capturing an A-class wanted criminal this time wasn't easy for you. Since you're not part of the police system, you're eligible to receive the bounty, and our office is actively helping you apply for it. We hope you can continue your excellent work."
In the director's office, Li Xiang sat upright opposite Zhao Jianguo, listening to his guidance.
"Do you have any thoughts?"
"Director Zhao, someone needs this reward more than I do. I want to..."
"You want to donate it all to the child's family?"
Zhao was slightly surprised. This was three hundred thousand, not thirty thousand or three thousand, and it wasn't taxable. Was he just willing to give it up?
"Yes, I visited the hospital. Their family isn't well-off, and the later rehabilitation treatments will require money. This amount might not even be enough."
"It's enough. After the media reported on this, many kind-hearted people in society organized donations."
"That's great. There's strength in numbers. I hope the child recovers soon!"
"Are you still going to donate?"
"Yes, if unconnected people can show their love and concern, then I, the person directly involved, who was broke anyway, suddenly receiving this windfall wouldn't sit well with me if I spent it."
Li Xiang smiled happily. Donating the money gave him peace of mind.
"Alright, the organization is aware of your thoughts. You may leave now!"
Watching Li Xiang's back, Zhao Jianguo suddenly felt a bit of admiration for the young man in front of him.
He was living on a meager salary, staying in a cheap rental house. By chance, he managed to catch an A-class wanted criminal, with a reward as high as three hundred thousand.
Yet without blinking, he donated it all. If it were him, he might also donate but would keep some to improve his own life before doing so.
And even doing that, no one would say anything!
But this young man just did it!
"Young people today are truly remarkable!"
Zhao Jianguo sighed and began drafting a report, highlighting Li Xiang's idea of voluntarily giving up the reward of three hundred thousand and donating it all to the injured child's family.
-----------------
That night, Li Xiang returned to his rental and first fed Coal Ball, who was hungry, and then cleaned up its mess before sitting down and taking out his phone.
Aside from the reasons above, the most important reason he wasn't concerned about the three hundred thousand was this game.
The game was his foundation for survival. As long as he could clear the instances inside, he could learn many skills, and he truly wasn't worried about external possessions.
Entering the game, Li Xiang saw the information for the second instance:
[Use 2000 diamonds to unlock the second stage, "Turning the Tables"?]
"Unlock!"
[Ding, the second stage, "Turning the Tables," has been unlocked.]
[Instance description: Royal Number One is a well-known money pit in the area, with a huge protective umbrella behind it. The owner entertains both political and commercial figures, making it untouchable by both underworld and law enforcers. As a grassroots police officer, you don't want to compromise, and when you learn that the anti-gang squad will be coming to guide the work, you work with an informant to obtain critical evidence and hand it over to the anti-gang squad.]
[Start the instance? Yes/No]
"Start!"
As Li Xiang clicked confirm, the surrounding Virtual Space was once again covered by some tangible objects. High-rise buildings sprang up in a blink of an eye, forming a neon city full of charm before his eyes.
The next moment, time accelerated, and the vehicles on the road began to move, flowing endlessly.
Li Xiang lowered his head to start checking his equipment. With the experience from the first stage, the system would always prepare some things for him at the beginning.
Opening his pocket, aside from a small amount of cash, there was only a phone for contact. Simultaneously, concealed within his sleeve was a single-edged blade.
It seemed the system was quite user-friendly, knowing he had the skill Fingertip Blade, so it equipped him with a weapon.
Judging from the name of the instance and the system's thoughtful preparation of weapons, this instance's difficulty wouldn't be small. He hoped that he could complete the mission smoothly.
With this thought in mind, he hurriedly checked the task details:
[Instance: Turning the Tables]
[Main task: Connect with the informant inside Royal Number One, acquire the critical evidence in their possession, and hand it over to the anti-gang squad.]
[The mission reward will be settled based on task completion rate. Less than 60% means mission failure.]
[Note: The instance can be opened for free only once daily.]
"Connect with the informant?"
Li Xiang took out his phone only to discover that his contact list was empty. How was he supposed to connect?
While pondering, his phone suddenly lit up with a call from an unknown number.
He guessed that it must be his informant on the other side.
"Hello~"
"Damn, catch him, don't let that woman escape!"
"Chase her, she can't get away."
"Five thousand to whoever catches her first."
There came a burst of noise from the other end of the call, causing Li Xiang's heart to sink, especially after hearing those sounds.
Sure enough, the system wouldn't grant him skills for free.
His informant was now being pursued.
"Hurry~ Run, I've been spotted. Don't worry about me, just take care of my father for me..."
Heavy breathing came from the other end; it was a woman.
His informant was a woman, and she was in danger at the moment.
"Where are you? I'll come to save you!"
Li Xiang shouted into the phone. If the woman were dead, he wouldn't get the evidence, and the mission couldn't be completed. So no matter what, he had to find her.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, there was a cry of pain from the phone, followed by nothing but static.
Something had gone wrong!
Li Xiang was extremely anxious and unsure of what to do.
Just then, he saw a woman stumble out from a corner of the street.
She was barefoot, running forward, constantly looking back.
Her clothing was disheveled, hair messy, and blood streamed down from a wound on her knee.
After turning the corner, she noticed Li Xiang, shook her head at him from afar, and then sped up, running towards the left front of Li Xiang, clearly intending to divert the pursuers away, not wanting to involve Li Xiang.
"Chase her! That woman is right ahead."
"Don't let her get away!"
"You cowardly fools can't even catch a woman, get her!"
About twenty men emerged behind the woman, waving short clubs and boasting as they chased her.
After some encouragement from their leader, the pursuers moved even faster and quickly caught up to the woman. One of them wielding a club struck her directly in the back, knocking her to the ground.
The group immediately swarmed, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks on the grounded woman.
"Damn, caught you running!"
"I'll cripple your legs!"
The woman lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.
Although Li Xiang did not know what his informant looked like, his exchange of glances with the woman affirmed his belief that she was the informant he was seeking, and the mission item was now with her.
He now faced a choice: the other party had over twenty people armed with clubs, while he was alone. Rescue her or not?