Chapter 114: Hiring Help

Qi Chen and Warm Man disarmed the Master of Silver Claws and escorted him back toward the Mayor’s building. They did not remain idle on the way, questioning him while keeping him under control.

Warm Man was initially curious about how the man had jumped from the roof without sustaining a single injury, and the answer both he and Qi Chen found eye-opening. This individual was also capable of using a strange ability that granted self-awareness to parts of his own body. The moment he struck the ground, his adipose tissue had autonomously shifted to the side of impact, relying on that buffer to avoid injury.

Those who walk the Mist alone, whether they are common Mist-travelers or the rarer Anomalous Walkers, possess at least a few hidden trump cards. The versatility of the Silver Claw Master’s ability was actually quite limited; killing someone purely through his anomalous power took time, unless the victim was so unlucky that their own internal organs decided to commit suicide. Otherwise, there was always a sufficient window for reaction. Yet, he had managed to develop several uses for his power, even applying it to himself to enhance his physical prowess.

However, self-taught methods cannot compare to systematic training. Even though the Silver Claw Master had been an Anomalous Walker for much longer than Qi Chen, his understanding of other practitioners was shallow. In the Mist, when Anomalous Walkers encounter one another without knowing the other’s background, the most likely outcome is a tacit agreement to keep their distance. Such is the rule of the Mist: no one provokes a strong enemy without cause, much like how a predator typically does not easily attack another predator of equal weight class. While this rule ensures safety, it prevents solo Anomalous Walkers from establishing a systematic understanding of their craft. When pitted against "System" Anomalous Walkers like Qi Chen and Warm Man, who were backed by a major power like City Three, the flaws exposed in combat would be fatal.

According to the guidelines of the Anomaly Handling Department, capturing an enemy alive is never the primary option unless one possesses a specific ability to do so easily. In all other cases, it is recommended to use one’s abilities and information asymmetry to completely incapacitate the enemy as quickly as possible.

"Speak honestly, why did you target the Mayor?" Warm Man produced the identification Yan Yan had obtained from the Mayor and continued to interrogate the Silver Claw Master under the guise of being the Mayor’s confidant.

The latter, looking miserable, believed Warm Man’s ruse. He knew that Stone Town had its own Anomalous Walkers, but he hadn't expected to be tracked down and captured so quickly.

"If I talk, can you keep me alive?" he asked weakly. His voice was listless, and with several teeth knocked out, he whistled when he spoke.

"Of course," Qi Chen and Warm Man exchanged a glance and gave a firm reply. "But only on the condition that you provide information useful to us."

"I... I was hired!" The Silver Claw Master grabbed onto this lifeline, nodding frantically like a mortar and pestle. "A red-haired man found me and told me to use my ability to influence the Mayor. He said it would be best if I could also influence the big shot from City Three who is staying in Stone Town!"

It was as Qi Chen and Warm Man had suspected; after successfully taking down the Silver Claw Master, they had sensed a presence behind him. This man was a very ordinary solo Anomalous Walker with no motive of his own to target the Mayor of Stone Town. Unless... someone had offered him a price too rich to refuse.

"How did he verify whether you completed the mission?" Warm Man posed a critical question. There must be a channel of communication between the employer and the employee. Otherwise, if the Silver Claw Master lied about completing the mission, how would his employer know the truth?

"It... it's the Silver Claw." The Silver Claw Master had completely let go of his resistance. Since he had already said so much, he had to be more candid to have a better chance of saving his life. Those who walk the Mist know that only by proving one's value can one avoid being discarded like trash.

"The Silver Claw is not an ordinary Mist Beast. A companion of that red-haired man must have placed an anomalous ability on it. Someone is controlling the Silver Claw’s consciousness."

Beast-taming? Or consciousness possession? The abilities of Anomalous Walkers are bizarre and varied. It was not surprising that such an ability existed, as even humans could be controlled, let alone beasts with far less intelligence. According to the Silver Claw Master, the ability on the beast was not as simple as controlling a marionette; rather, an Anomalous Walker had fully taken over the creature’s intelligence. In other words, the Silver Claw by the master's side was essentially an Anomalous Walker wearing the skin of a Mist Beast!

This explained the intelligence and behavior the Silver Claw had displayed in the arena, which far exceeded that of a normal Mist Beast! Poor Scar-Eye had not been fighting a fellow beast at all; he had been toyed with by a higher intelligence from the very start.

"An ultra-long-range anomalous ability," Warm Man said with a grave expression. "But even if his projection range is quite high, it shouldn't exceed one kilometer from Stone Town. According to the Research Institute's current statistics, the longest range we have recorded for such an Anomalous Walker is three kilometers." This was the total historical data; it was unlikely they would encounter a random walker who could break that record.

"Let's head back to the arena first and capture the Silver Claw!" Qi Chen said in a deep voice. Since the Silver Claw was a member of the employer's camp, they were bound to extract more information from it!

"Right! That red-haired man told me before that after completing the mission, I should go to Alliance City Two to collect the rest of the payment!"

Qi Chen and Warm Man understood. They rushed toward the arena with the Silver Claw Master in tow.

Upon arrival, they headed straight to the storage area for the Mist Beasts. However, as soon as they stepped into the warehouse, they were hit by a thick, pungent smell of blood.

"Be careful!" Warm Man sensed something was wrong and warned.

Qi Chen had already summoned Overlord to guard his side, peering through the surroundings with the aid of his night vision. The cages that should have held the Mist Beasts were completely empty, showing only traces of blood that were beginning to dry.

"Where was the Silver Claw kept?" Qi Chen turned to ask the Silver Claw Master.

Before the latter could answer, a腥 stench suddenly lunged at them!

"Overlord!" "Enthusiast!"

Two shouts rang out. A grey-white figure and a crimson-orange figure roared as they charged toward the two dark shadows pouncing on their respective masters! They were the two Mist Beasts that should have been locked in their cages!

"Ah!"

The Silver Claw Master’s scream rang out simultaneously with the howl of a Mist Beast. Qi Chen and Warm Man turned quickly, only to see a white phantom take advantage of the moment Overlord and Enthusiast had launched their attack to quietly pounce on the Silver Claw Master, sinking its sharp teeth deep into his throat!

It was the Silver Claw!

Blood sprayed from the torn throat, and the Silver Claw Master’s eyes were filled with horror. At that moment, a purple phantom, no larger than a thumb, surged out from the Silver Claw’s body and darted away.

"It’s that guy's anomaly!"

"Chase!"