Chapter 89: The Level Two Profession Team Contract and the Mystery of the Abandoned Mine Shaft

A burly young man with short hair sat naturally in a large leather chair, crossing one leg over the other, his hands spread flat on the armrests, expressionless as he stared at Ren Zhong.

His body language was casual and relaxed; though seated low in the chair, he exuded an air of looking down on everyone else.

Ren Zhong returned his gaze.

The man was young, held high rank and power, and had a robust build.

Though his square, straightforward-looking face gave an impression of honesty, his eyes lacked any warmth; they looked down with contempt upon everything visible—the people and objects in this office besides himself, and even the entire Spark Town.

A gentle smile played on his lips, but Ren Zhong knew it was merely a habitual facade of approachability.

In his eyes, Ren Zhong wasn’t even truly human.

From his attire and posture, Ren Zhong could not discern Yang Bingzhong’s professional inclination or his occupational level.

He could only speculate that for this man to be the owner of Spark Resources, he must be either genuinely formidable or simply lucky.

“Ren Zhong, you’re not simple—you have a background, but I’m not interested in probing it. Where you came from, your former identity, your previous employment—it’s all irrelevant. What matters is who you will be from now on, where you will live, and whom you will serve.”

Ren Zhong nodded. “I am a scavenger in Spark Town, naturally serving President Yang.”

“Hm, you’re clear-headed. You know that if you want to root yourself in Spark Town and live well again, you have no choice but to rely on me. You show greater potential than Lin Wang did when he first rose, and you’re better at dealing with people and talking. I have high hopes for you.”

Ren Zhong said, “Thank you for your recognition, President Yang.”

“According to my rules, as long as a scavenger team can reliably hunt level-four Ru beasts, they can sign a professional contract with the company. You’ve come out alive from the abandoned mine and consecutively hunted two level-four Ru beasts, proving your ability.”

“But now you belong to Lin Wang. You can choose to continue cooperating with him—I’ll have him reduce your share proportion appropriately—or you can break away and sign a level-two professional contract directly with the company. Under the level-two contract, your sales commission is reduced to 10%, but you cannot affiliate with any semi-professional teams. Understand?”

“Understood.”

“Hmm? Which do you choose?”

Yang Bingzhong spoke slowly.

Throughout the conversation, he stared intently at Ren Zhong, observing his subtle expressions.

He seemed to want to gauge whether Ren Zhong harbored ambition and could be controlled.

Ren Zhong’s face showed hesitation and struggle. “Well… Captain Lin might object.”

“Of course he will,” Yang Bingzhong smiled faintly but did not promise to mediate.

He admired Ren Zhong but had no desire to be a babysitter.

His habit was to breed hostility.

Anyone who could stand firmly before him was a good tool.

He only cared that the tool was effective; whose it was or how many other tools it bit and destroyed along the way didn’t matter.

A conflicted expression reappeared on Ren Zhong’s face.

But this was only superficial; inwardly, he was analyzing the situation with extreme calm.

The team had demonstrated the strength to hunt high-level Ru beasts, so Lin Wang would certainly discover that Ren Zhong had been concealing his true power.

Concealment was deception, and a purposeful one at that.

Knowing Lin Wang’s suspicious and selfish nature, he would strike immediately upon his return.

There was no doubt about it.

Ren Zhong was mentally prepared.

Since further peaceful coexistence was impossible, it was indeed time to turn hostile.

Even as a level-two professional team under Yang Bingzhong, they could still be ambushed by Lin Wang outside the town, but at least they had an extra layer of protection.

Lin Wang would have to think twice before acting.

Seeing Ren Zhong’s troubled and anxious look, a slight curve appeared on Yang Bingzhong’s lips, as if he already understood Ren Zhong’s character and current predicament.

Very good. Though once a citizen, he was now truly down and out.

He was talented and ambitious but also somewhat timid and indecisive—unable to act without a firm promise.

He had heard Ren Zhong was quite lustful, which was a very good trait.

Such a man had desires but lacked decisiveness and firmness of will.

Thus, he was very controllable.

“Forget it, I won’t make things difficult for you. I have a compromise solution.”

“Please, President Yang.”

“Lin Wang is currently out at the newly opening mine at the border between Spark Town and Chongyi County. He is tasked with clearing out some level-four Ru beasts underground there. The pay is high, and he’s expected to be gone for about half a month.”

Ren Zhong nodded calmly. “The new mine in Chongyi County… half a month? That’s quite a long time.”

“Sign the contract with the company today. When Lin Wang returns, I will personally mediate. You’ll give him the commission he’s due for the half month he’s away, so he keeps both face and benefit.”

Ren Zhong: “Sounds like a very good arrangement!”

“From now on, you will be colleagues. For my sake, he won’t easily harm you. How about it?”

Ren Zhong beamed. “Thank you, President Yang! I will never forget your kindness!”

Finally, a smile appeared on Yang Bingzhong’s face. “Alright, go sign the contract next door. Work hard with me, and I won’t shortchange you. Your life won’t be trapped in this tiny Spark Town. The vast sky awaits you. With your ability, you could become a citizen again within five or six years. Go.”

“Thank you, President Yang!”

After leaving the room, Ren Zhong paused briefly, then glanced back at the closed door of Yang Bingzhong’s office with eyes full of gratitude before heading next door.

There was a show in that glance.

Is this what the powerful call the way to manage subordinates?

It’s really quite simple.

If Yang Bingzhong’s mediation works, then it’s good.

At least he still had half a month’s breathing room.

Ren Zhong clenched his fist slightly.

No matter what, this reckless move wasn’t in vain; everything was moving in a positive direction.

Fifteen minutes later, Ren Zhong stood shoulder to shoulder with Zheng Tian in front of the sales platform’s control panel, watching the diligent female staff enter prices one by one, her eyes growing wider and wider.

There were many onlookers here, so Ren Zhong hadn’t told Zheng Tian about the new level-two professional team contract yet, only reminding the staff to use his account.

Setting aside the level-four Ru beasts for a moment, let’s consider the level-two and level-three ones.

Normally, a level-two Ru beast’s chip could fetch between 15 and 30 points.

This time, the team brought back 42 chips, totaling 1218 points, averaging 29 points each—135.33 points more than usual.

A 10% difference doesn’t seem significant day to day, but when tallying the total, it becomes clear how much has silently been lost.

For the level-three Ru beasts, the gap was even larger.

Twenty-one level-three chips sold for 1911 points, earning 212.33 points extra.

In addition, three level-three crystallized pangolin carcasses fetched a price that stunned the two of them.

Previously, a normal level-three Ru beast carcass was worth 40 points.

But this time, Spark Resources offered 150 points each, totaling 450. After a 10% tax, they netted 405 points.

The level-four crystallized pangolin carcass price had decreased somewhat: 600 points for the carcass, 1200 for the chips, totaling 1800 points, with 1620 points after tax.

When the prices for the Dreamweaver Labyrinth bug were finally revealed, Zheng Tian was completely stunned.

The chips and carcass each bought at 1500 points, a total of 3000 points, with 2700 points after tax.

The team’s total daily income was a staggering 7854 points—roughly what Zheng Tian’s team had earned in over half a year before.

Even after deducting all costs, there was still 6600 points profit.

Zheng Tian’s lips trembled in shock, her head pounding, completely blank.

Ren Zhong’s reaction was much calmer—after all, he had once been a “wealthy god” with thirty thousand in cash.

A few thousand points was nothing to fuss over.

He even chatted with the female staff, puzzled: “I know level-four Ru beasts vary in grade and price, but why are crystallized pangolins and Dreamweaver bugs priced so much higher than ordinary level-four Ru beasts?”

The woman, already familiar with Ren Zhong and now even more enthusiastic about his elevated status, smiled and explained:

“That’s what makes the abandoned mine special. Though there are no valuable rich ores left, the soil and rocks still contain many ionic metals and elements. These affect the Ru beasts. The beasts bred in the mines, even if their grade is similar, have stronger bodies and better chip performance than those outside.”

Ren Zhong: “Is that the only reason?”

“Of course! What else could it be? Take the crystallized pangolin: its shell, internal circulation system, the toughness and flexibility of its tongue—all are superior to normal ones outside. The Dreamweaver Labyrinth bug is a mine specialty. See the toxin sac at its rear? It produces and releases microparticles that interfere with human brain activity. That’s a genuine specialty found only here. Could it be worthless?”

Ren Zhong nodded. “Understood, thanks for the explanation.”

In truth, he thought to himself that people always know the what but not the why when it comes to things they don’t understand.

Everyone only needed to know that Ru beasts in the mine were stronger and more valuable due to residual metals.

But no one cared about how these metals caused such effects.

Five minutes later, Zheng Tian couldn’t even remember how Ren Zhong had pulled her away.

When the thundercar drove out of the courtyard, Zheng Tian nearly crashed into a wall, driving drowsily.

She slammed on the brakes, snapped back to reality, and exclaimed, “Brother Ren! We’ve struck it rich!”

Ren Zhong smiled and nodded. “Not bad.”

“Seven thousand eight hundred fifty-four points in one day! Could it really be like this? I never imagined in my life!”

Ren Zhong’s smile grew broader.

He was pleased not just about the money, but because Lin Wang’s commission was at least 872 points less.

Weakening the enemy meant strengthening oneself.

Even if he might have to give it back in half a month, what if he spent it all beforehand?

Couldn’t I just write an IOU? Being in debt is also a kind of protection.

“Wait, something feels off. Even if pangolins and bugs are valuable, the price shouldn’t be this high.”

Ren Zhong patted Zheng Tian’s shoulder. “Realize it now?”

“Yes, our tax rate dropped by 10%.”

Ren Zhong recounted his conversation with Yang Bingzhong, picking out the important parts for her.

“In short, I’ve signed a level-two professional team contract with Spark Resources. No longer affiliated with Lin Wang’s account, we can trade directly with the company, paying only 10% tax.”

“Oh my God!”

Overjoyed, Zheng Tian threw down the steering wheel, leapt from her seat, and lunged at Ren Zhong, hugging him tightly while babbling excitedly and shaking as if seized by epilepsy.

Ren Zhong struggled a moment before gently pushing her back into the driver’s seat.

“Calm down! Calm down! This is just the beginning. Lin Wang and the others will be back in half a month. The good days haven’t truly arrived.”

While scolding her, he rubbed his face.

Damn, Zheng Tian looked small but packed a punch—his nose was sore from her rubbing.

Blushing, Zheng Tian forced herself to calm down. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”

“Good. Here’s the distribution: I take 70%, you share 30%. No objections?”

“No objections, that’s already a lot—too much!”

“Your task now is to do everything possible to improve quickly. I already possess the combat power of a level-three mecha warrior and will continue to improve. I expect you all to reach mid-level-two professionals within half a month. Then we’ll buy some over-standard equipment from Manager Ju so you can rival level-three professionals. With enough money, none of this is fantasy. We want to be able to take down level-four professionals head-on!”

Hearing this, Zheng Tian finally calmed down.

She hesitated, “Since President Yang said he would mediate, Lin Wang might not harm us anymore, right?”

Ren Zhong shook his head. “Always prepare for the worst. Don’t put your life in the hands of others’ mercy or hesitation.”

“Understood.”

“Zip up your jacket, or Ouyang Ning will think there’s something going on between us.”

Zheng Tian gasped and quickly zipped her combat suit up to her neck, carefully smoothing the folds at her chest, pressing them down to avoid any revealing creases.

“All right, let’s go. That’s enough.”

“Mm.”

After driving a while, Zheng Tian nervously muttered, “Brother Ren, actually, we’re not entirely helpless.”

She didn’t wait for a response. The car was so quiet it felt like a ghost town.

Zheng Tian glanced at Ren Zhong and saw him resting his elbow on the passenger window, fingers supporting his chin, brows furrowed deeply in thought.

He hadn’t heard a word.

Disappointed, she sighed silently. Well, take it slow.

Ren Zhong was indeed thinking.

He had completely lost the guidance of the Time Spiral’s power.

Every extra second he lived, every step forward, was into an entirely unknown world.

But losing his foresight did not leave him lost or panicked; instead, he returned to his former scholarly state, relentlessly burning brainpower, deploying meticulous analysis, sharp reasoning, perfect planning, and keen observation.

He would not overlook a single key factor.

He was pondering why the crystallized pangolin and the Dreamweaver Labyrinth bug were so different.

When faced with an “unsolved mystery,” science does not allow shortcuts.

He rejected the staff’s superficial explanation.

Why did level-four Ru beasts appear in the upper layers?

And why precisely in those two spots?

The breeding of offspring could explain the pangolin’s movement to the upper layer, but not why it chose that particular pit.

How did the metal elements in the abandoned mine cause these specialty beasts to be stronger and more valuable than ordinary ones?

These questions troubled him as much as the project difficulties he faced when writing his paper published in SCE years ago.

He knew clearly that once he cracked this challenge, a new world would open before him.

Many advances in human theoretical science come from sudden insights born of curiosity or unexpected experimental results.