Chapter 62: Issuing Certificates

Lin Qiu transformed into a human, allowing him to stand firmly on the ground. At the same time, his respiratory system shifted as well, enabling him to breathe the air above, which explained this change.

“Oh, System, I praise you!”
Lin Qiu’s voice was filled with devout sincerity as he began to extol, “You are the lighthouse that guides my way, illuminating the path ahead of me.”

The few people in the courtyard stared at Lin Qiu in astonishment as he suddenly pressed his palms together, a look of reverence upon his face.

What is this guy up to?

“Very well, I agree to join!”
Lin Qiu looked at Xu Half-City, a brilliant smile lighting up his face.

Xu Half-City’s eyes lit up. Though he had looked down on Lin Qiu, this was the first time he had ever encountered a beast of legend. Now that Lin Qiu had agreed, a sense of joy welled up within him.

“However…”
Lin Qiu’s expression grew serious. “The ancient overlord bloodline of the ocean, once it unites the seas, will inevitably march upon the land. You must be prepared.”

“This is the defense plan I’ve designed. Take a look.”
Lin Qiu pulled a sheepskin scroll from his pocket and handed it to Xu Half-City. Naturally, the System had supplied him with this as well.

Xu Half-City took the scroll with some suspicion, but as he unrolled it, his brow furrowed deeply.

“This is nearly impossible.”
That was the first thing he said after taking in the contents of the scroll.

“I know the difficulties are immense, but if we succeed, before the ocean overlords unite, we can still shield the land from harm.”

“But the cost is far too great!”
Xu Half-City’s heart pounded in terror.

The scroll Lin Qiu handed him outlined a colossal project: to build a two-hundred-meter-high wall along every coastline.

Two hundred meters—in the Eastern Continent, constructing such a wall would consume untold resources and manpower.

Seeing the severity etched into Xu Half-City’s features, Lin Qiu let out a cold chuckle. “These civilizations surpass humanity’s by countless eras.”

“This wall will only hold off ordinary aquatic beings for a short time.”

“If those overlords unite the seas, their weaponry will render these walls useless.”

“For now, this is our only chance to buy a little time, to give humanity a window for evolution.”

Lin Qiu’s words weighed heavily on Xu Half-City’s mind.

“I’ll submit this proposal to my superiors. What happens next is no longer within my power.”

Xu Half-City decided to hand over the plan, then turned to Lin Qiu. “Since you’ve agreed to join the Bureau of Beast Management, come with me and get acquainted with the place.”

Having spoken, Xu Half-City strode away.

“I’ll come too!”
Xu Bing hurried after them, following the two out.

“My dragon scales…”
Feng Baobao’s eyes were still a little dazed. Only after Xu Bing left did he come to his senses, curling his delicate finger and calling, “Bingbing, wait for me!”

The Bureau of Beast Management was disguised as a convenience store.
On the street, such stores were a common sight—utterly inconspicuous. Only upon entering did one discover the world hidden within.

“This was arranged from above, to avoid disrupting the normal order of things,” Xu Half-City explained as he walked.

“This will be our future workplace.”
He gestured at the two-hundred-square-meter space, already fully renovated and equipped with all necessary facilities.

“This area will be used to confine rare beasts.”

Xu Half-City led Lin Qiu and the others down a corridor, opening a heavy alloy door to reveal a row of isolated cells—much like a prison.

The facility was vast, built beneath the convenience store and completely soundproofed. Even an explosion below would be inaudible at street level.

“From now on, I am the director of this bureau, and you and Bingbing are our only two members.”

In the office, Xu Half-City took a seat, swiveling a computer monitor toward Lin Qiu as he spoke.

“This is the satellite map of Wudu, marking all life forms with infrared technology.”

“We still don’t know if these mutated creatures are hostile to humanity, so we must remain vigilant.”

“If there’s any disturbance, we must arrest them immediately.”

“Here’s your ID.”
Xu Half-City opened a drawer, producing two identification cards.

The cards read: Bureau of Beast Management, Enforcer—Lin Qiu!

“So you’d planned this all along?”
Lin Qiu took the card, narrowing his eyes at the sight of his own name, and regarded Xu Half-City.

“I had the idea ever since you and Bingbing formed your contract.”
Xu Half-City nodded straightforwardly, with not a hint of evasion.

“You truly are a cunning villain!”
Lin Qiu offered his assessment.

“Thank you!”
Xu Half-City showed no anger, accepting the remark as praise.

“These are standard issue from above, for use during capture missions.”
Xu Half-City opened the drawer again, taking out two rods about ten centimeters long.

“These are multifunctional electric batons—they can light up, start fires, be used as weapons, or even serve as umbrellas and deploy a net.”

“They carry a charge of a hundred thousand volts—enough to vaporize anything.”

“No matter how fierce a beast may be, under one hundred thousand volts and the meteoric iron net, it will be reduced to dust.”

A trace of coldness flickered in Xu Half-City’s eyes.

Lin Qiu felt a chill as he listened.
He hadn’t expected humanity to have such weapons at their disposal.

He silently asked the System, “Can I withstand a hundred thousand volts?”

“The host is welcome to try, but a word of friendly advice: after such an attempt, the System will be unbound and free to seek another chosen one.”

“Perhaps I’ll pass on that…”
Lin Qiu broke out in a cold sweat at the System’s words.

He was now a third-tier beast. After his bloodline transformed him into a dragon whale, he could tear apart fourth-tier beasts with his bare hands, even without using his abilities. With his combat skills, he could contend with fifth-tier beasts.

Yet even with his strength, a hundred thousand volts would obliterate him.

“Brother-in-law, what about me?”
Just as Lin Qiu was feeling uneasy, an effeminate voice piped up.

Turning, he saw Feng Baobao, fingers curled in a delicate pose, wearing a sycophantic smile as he looked at Xu Half-City.

Xu Half-City frowned, while Xu Bing smacked him across the face.

“If you keep taking advantage of me, I’ll make you a real woman.”

Xu Bing was furious.
This scoundrel didn’t know his place at all—a toad lusting after a swan.

“Baobao, you’re still an ordinary person. Once Changfeng acquires more genetic serums for you, you can join us after your injection.”