Travel through time, and then establish an anomaly management bureau!

Page 67

He assumed that Zhang Su's invitation was a formal acceptance.

Zhang Su smiled and said, "You're already a prospective member. But the organization has strict procedures, and an interview is a necessary step. Just treat it as a formality. Don't worry, you won't fail."

Reg understood, carefully tucked the invitation away from his body, and nodded solemnly: "Okay! I understand."

Their conversation was like a thunderclap, exploding in Terry's ears as he watched.

From the moment Zhang Su uttered the words "extraordinary organization" and "sequence potion," Terry's face turned deathly pale, his body stiffened like a stone, and he even held his breath, fearing that he had overheard some earth-shattering secret he shouldn't have heard.

Only when Zhang Su seemed about to leave did he suddenly snap back to reality, his voice trembling sharply with extreme tension: "Mr. Zhang Su! These...these things...I heard them too...Is this really okay?! What if I accidentally let it slip...Won't...won't I be hunted down and silenced by your organization?!" He thought of the legendary methods of superhumans, his face filled with fear.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Su turned around with a gentle smile on his face and reassured him, "Don't worry, Terry."

He took two steps closer and patted Terry's tense shoulder. "Didn't I just say? Our organization is a lawful good organization. We don't do things like murder to cover up wrongdoing."

However, the moment he finished speaking, his smile remained unchanged, but his eyes suddenly became deep and cold, like a cold abyss, piercing straight into Terry's eyes, making the boy feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Unless," Zhang Su's voice remained calm, even carrying a hint of a smile, but every word struck Terry's heart like an ice bead, "the other party's actions have caused significant and irreparable damage to the organization."

Terry shuddered, feeling as if his blood was freezing! He immediately raised his right hand, pointed to the sky, and swore in a tearful voice, "Gods above! I, Terry, swear! I will not utter a single word of everything I heard today! I... I will forget it all when I wake up tomorrow! Really! Please believe me!"

Seeing the boy terrified, the coldness on Zhang Su's face vanished instantly, replaced by a cheerful expression. He laughed heartily and vigorously ruffled Terry's hair: "Alright, alright, little guy, don't be afraid. I was just kidding. The little thing you heard, not many people would believe it; they'd just think it's some slum kid bragging. Besides—"

Zhang Su's tone was filled with strong confidence: "Don't you still have your older brother? Once he joins our organization and becomes a superhuman, no one will dare to lay a finger on you."

“Yes.” Reg nodded at this moment. “Yes, I will protect you, because you are all my family.”

Feeling the warmth and strength coming from both shoulders, and seeing Zhang Su's gentle expression return, Terry's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled back into his stomach. He let out a long sigh of relief. His legs were still a little weak, but he was no longer so scared.

Having calmed Terry down, Zhang Su said to the two, "Alright, I should go now. Remember, Reg, await the instructions from the invitation. Also, in the next few days, if those Bloodfinger Gang bastards dare to harass you again..."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Tell Terry to find me at the only hotel near the block where you met me that day, room 301. I'll take care of things for you."

Reg did not refuse, knowing full well that he and the youth group alone were no match for the Blood Finger Gang, which possessed superhuman abilities. He nodded solemnly, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Mr. Zhang Su."

"It was no trouble at all. I'll be going now, no need to see me off." Zhang Su waved his hand, turned around, and his figure quickly disappeared into the shadows of the slum's intricate, dark, and damp alleyways.

Reg and Terry stood there, watching him leave.

Reg's hand unconsciously pressed against his chest, where the mysterious gray-blue invitation lay close to his body; beneath its cold touch, it seemed to contain a temperature that could change his destiny.

Terry patted his chest, muttering with lingering fear, "That scared me to death... But, Brother Reg, you're going to become a superhuman? Does that mean you'll be able to punch that giant Charon away with one punch?"

Reg looked at the boy's bright eyes, smiled slightly, and without answering, patted him hard on the back: "Let's go, go back and see the brothers."

……

After walking a distance, Zhang Su identified the direction to leave the slum, and his leg muscles instantly bulged!

call out--!

His figure moved swiftly through the narrow, complex alleyways like a ghost.

His enhanced body granted him speed, agility, and reflexes far exceeding those of ordinary people. He precisely avoided puddles on the ground, clotheslines overhead, piles of debris, and bewildered pedestrians, each step landing on the optimal point of leverage.

The muddy alleyways and low shacks flashed by like scenes from a fast-forwarded movie.

The slum maze, which would normally take a long time to traverse, was left behind by him in just a few minutes.

When the filthy mud beneath his feet was finally replaced by a relatively smooth, though still dusty, stone-paved road, and the heavy smell of decay and coal smoke in the air was gone, Zhang Su stopped at a relatively decent street corner.

He was slightly out of breath, not because he had exhausted much of his strength, but because the energy from the brief burst of speed he had just experienced, combined with the energy he had expended maintaining his Stand's existence and controlling it in the exquisite battle at the mine entrance, was now surging back into his body like a tidal wave—a strong, empty feeling of hunger suddenly struck him.

Glug glug—!

My stomach emitted a loud and clear protest.

"Tsk, summoning two substitutes to show off just now really took a toll on my stamina. I need to eat quickly." Zhang Su rubbed his stomach and glanced at both sides of the street.

Soon, a small restaurant that looked fairly clean and had a wooden sign hanging at the door came into view – “Old Joey’s Restaurant”.

He couldn't wait to push the door open and go inside.

The restaurant was small, filled with the warm aroma of stewed meat and toasted bread.

It was late afternoon, almost dinnertime, and there were only a few tables of customers in the shop, mostly craftsmen or small shop owners from the neighborhood.

Zhang Su's arrival and the understated yet clearly high-quality coat he was wearing immediately attracted attention. He walked straight to an empty table and sat down.

A stocky middle-aged waiter wearing an apron approached: "Good afternoon, sir. What would you like to order?"

Zhang Su's gaze swept quickly across the menu written in chalk on the wall, and he spoke at an extremely fast pace:

"A beef stew with mashed potatoes, two bacon platters, a whole roast chicken, two loaves of farmer's bread, a large vegetable salad, and a large beer. Hmm... that's it, please hurry, I'm starving."

The waiter quickly jotted down notes on the wooden board. When he heard "whole roast chicken" and "two sausages," his pen paused. He subconsciously looked up and gave Zhang Su's slightly thin frame a second glance, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he still nodded: "No problem, sir! Coming right away!"

I thought to myself, this rare gentleman has quite the appetite.

The food was quickly served one after another. When the waiter placed the whole, golden-brown, glistening chicken in front of Zhang Su, the eyes of the guests at several tables were drawn to it.

Zhang Su ignored the stares around him; hunger drove him to act immediately.

He skillfully cut the chicken with a knife and fork, his movements elegant and swift, and then—it was gone in a flash!

He ate with basic manners, not rudely, but at an astonishing speed.

Large chunks of chicken disappeared quickly, sausages were precisely sliced ​​and put into mouths, stewed beef and mashed potatoes were scooped up and swallowed, thick slices of bread dipped in meat juices vanished in the blink of an eye, and vegetable salads were swept away like autumn leaves in the wind.

His chewing and swallowing movements were incredibly efficient, like a pre-programmed eating machine.

Glug glug—! He downed the ice-cold beer in one gulp, then gestured to the waiter, "Another one, please!"

The waiter, dumbfounded, brought over another large glass of beer.

The restaurant fell silent, save for the sounds of Zhang Su's knife and fork clattering against plates and his rapid chewing and swallowing. The other diners forgot to eat, watching with surprise, curiosity, and even a touch of awe as this slender, rare gentleman devoured the mountain of food before him with incredible speed and appetite.

"My God... he, he ate so much by himself?"

"How many plates of meat are there now? That chicken is almost gone!"

"Judging from his appearance, he seems quite relaxed? His stomach isn't even bulging..."

"Tsk tsk, no wonder they're rare people! I heard they all have mysterious magic that allows them to eat a lot without gaining weight! That's for sure!"

"Yes, yes, yes! I've heard that too! Their stomachs must be made of magic, right?"

The whispers of the guests reached Zhang Su's ears clearly.

He chuckled to himself: "It seems the nickname 'Big Eater Ryoko' has quite a market in this world." He completely ignored it and continued to focus on replenishing his energy.

After a frenzied meal, only bare plates and bone fragments remained on the table. Zhang Su let out a satisfied sigh; his hunger had finally subsided, and his expended strength and energy had been fully replenished.

"Check, please." He waved.

侍者连忙跑过来，看着空荡荡的盘子，表情不可思议道：“先生，一共是……炖牛肉配土豆泥：1索拉又6芬尼；两份熏肉香肠拼盘，每份1索拉：2索拉；整只烤鸡：1索拉又8芬尼；两份农夫面包每份5芬尼：10芬尼；大份蔬菜沙拉：8芬尼；两大杯啤酒，每杯6芬尼：12芬尼。总计……5索拉又20芬尼。”

It is approximately equal to 0.27 gold pounds.

This price is an extremely luxurious meal for the average person, roughly equivalent to more than a week's worth of food expenses for a skilled worker.

But for Zhang Su, it was nothing at all.

He readily paid 2 solas in silver and 20 pennies in copper, exactly 5 solas and 20 pennies, and calmly got up and left amidst the gazes of the restaurant owner, waiters, and all the diners watching the "extraordinary man" depart.

With plenty of energy, it's time to get some tools for the upcoming "adventure".

Zhang Su quickly flagged down a fairly clean public carriage on the street.

"Sir, where to?" the driver asked.

"Go to the nearest and best prospecting and exploration equipment store," Zhang Su said succinctly.

"Alright! Hold on tight!" The driver cracked his whip.

The carriage traveled for about twenty minutes on the city's cobblestone streets before stopping in front of a rather impressive shop.

The shop has a sturdy oak door and a display window showcasing samples of pickaxes, miners' lamps, and ropes. The signboard is made of brass with three-dimensional relief lettering: "Rock Prospectors' Workshop".

"Sir, we've arrived. Rock Workshop, the best prospecting equipment in the city is all here. The fare is 1 sola," the driver said.

Zhang Su paid the fare and pushed open the door to enter the workshop.

A distinctive smell, a mixture of leather, metal, grease, and rock dust, wafted through the air. The shop was spacious, with shelves neatly arranged with a wide variety of professional equipment: from pickaxes, geological hammers, and chisels of various sizes, to various models of miners' lamps, windproof lanterns, battery boxes, steampunk-style small steam or chemical batteries, to bundles of ropes, pulleys, rock bolts, safety belts, safety glasses, work gloves, sturdy canvas backpacks, waterproof tarpaulins, compasses, altimeters, and more—a truly dazzling array. Further inside, there appeared to be a repair workbench.

Behind the counter stood a burly, middle-aged man with a thick beard, wiping a copper steam lamp shade with a cloth.

He looked up and saw Zhang Su, giving him a professional smile: "Welcome to Pan Yan Workshop. What would you like?"

Zhang Su walked straight to the counter and got straight to the point: "Boss, I need a set of prospecting equipment. The prospecting target is the ice cave mine in Rustwater Ditch."

The bearded boss, Old Buck, suddenly stopped wiping the lampshade.

He raised his head and scrutinized Zhang Su from head to toe with sharp eyes. His brows furrowed, and the professional smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.

"Rusty Ditch, the Ice Cave Mine?" Old Buck's voice lowered, carrying a hint of dissuasion. "Sir... allow me to say something, you're the 30th customer this month to inquire about equipment from that hellhole. Out of humanitarian concern and for your precious personal safety, I sincerely advise you: give up! Life is long, temporary setbacks and difficulties mean nothing. There's really no need to risk your life in that icy, man-eating cave for that elusive legendary treasure! That place is incredibly sinister; most people who go in never come out! And those who survive are all frozen to death!"

Old Buck's words were earnest; he had clearly seen too many pitiful people who had gone down the path of no return, clinging to dreams of getting rich.

Zhang Su remained calm and shook his head: "Thank you for the reminder, boss. But my mind is made up, I have to go down there. Could you please recommend a set of equipment for me according to professional standards? Money is not an issue."

Old Buck stared at Zhang Su for a few seconds, seemingly trying to glean some clue from his face.

Finally, he sighed heavily and shook his head helplessly: "Sigh... Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I can only fulfill my professional responsibility as an equipment supplier."

He lowered the lampshade, bent down, and took out a thick notebook with the Rocky Workshop logo on the cover and a charcoal pencil from the counter drawer. He turned to a brand new page and began to explain clearly and skillfully, listing out the details:

"Alright, sir. Let's go through them one by one, in the order of what's most important. Remember, in places like that, equipment is like a second life; we can't skimp on money!"

1. Lighting: Of paramount importance!

"Main lighting: Wilson III steam core miner's lamp. High-strength brass body, shockproof and waterproof, independently pressurized fuel tank, steam core driven, stable light intensity, continuous lighting time up to 48 hours (with three standard fuel blocks). Price: 8 Sola. Backup lamp? Absolutely! Backup: 'Firefly' chemical fluorescent lantern. Compact and reliable, no steam required, lights up with a shake, lasts approximately 6 hours, for emergency backup. Price: 3 Sola."

"Backup light source: windproof candles/cool light sticks (a dozen). A last resort in extreme situations. The former is cheaper but requires a fire source and produces smoke, while the latter is more expensive but safer and longer-lasting (about 1 hour/stick). The latter is recommended. Price: A dozen cool light sticks - 1 sola and 8 pfennigs."

2. Warmth and Protection: Combat Deadly Cold!

"Close-fitting layer: Salamander oil ointment. Premium product! Contains trace amounts of salamander blood extract (don't ask where it's from). Applying it to exposed skin (especially the face and neck) significantly improves tolerance to extreme low temperatures and prevents frostbite. Effects last approximately 8 hours. Price: 7 sola per small jar. (Expensive, but a lifesaver!)"

"Outer layer: Heavy-duty waterproof and cold-proof cloak (with hood). Special thick canvas lining with thermal cotton, oil-impregnated outer layer for waterproofing, elasticated collar and cuffs, hood with face flap. Price: 4 Sola."

"Warm gloves (thick leather, wool lining): at least two pairs. Price: 1 sola per pair - 2 sola total."

"Sturdy miner's boots with steel toe and anti-slip: Thick lining required! Must be waterproof! Price: 3 Sola 6 Finney".

3. Ropes and Climbing: For tackling complex terrain!

"Main rope: High-strength nylon static rope (50 meters). Bearing capacity of at least 500 kg, abrasion-resistant and waterproof treatment. Price: 6 sola."

"Support rope (20 meters): for backup or as an auxiliary rope. Price: 2 sola."

"Full-body harness + figure-eight descender + two carabiners + four quickdraws: Professional climbing and rappelling kit, essential for survival! The harness must fit properly! Price: Full set - 12 sola."

"Rock spikes (one dozen) + rock hammer: Used to secure anchor points. Price: one dozen rock spikes - 1 Sola; rock hammer - 1 Sola and 8 Finnies."

4. Excavation and road clearing:

"Solid Geological Hammer (Claw Hammer Type): Multi-purpose for hammering, prying, and digging. Price: 1 Sola 8 Finnies."

"One-handed pickaxe (pointed & flat): Lightweight for traversing. Price: 1 [unclear text - possibly a typo, should be 1] ...

"Folding shovel: Emergency digging and clearing. Price: 10 pfennigs."

5. Supply and Support:

"Large waterproof canvas backpack: fits all of the above. Price: 1 Sola 6 Finnies."

"High-energy compressed dry food (7-day supply for one person): hard biscuits, jerky, nut chunks, candy. High in calories, portable and long-lasting. Price: 3 Sola."

"Water bag (insulated type) + water purification tablets (one small bottle): Ensure drinking water supply. Price: Water bag 1 Sola; Tablets 6 Fenni."

"First aid kit (basic): tourniquet, bandages, disinfectant, frostbite ointment, etc. Price: 1 Sola."

"Durable work clothes set (thick canvas): Bring an extra set as a spare. Price: 1 Sola and 6 Finnies per set - 3 Sola in total."

"Compass + Waterproof Notebook & Charcoal Pen: Direction Recording. Price: Compass 10 pfennigs; Notebook 6 pfennigs."

As he spoke, Old Buck quickly drew up a list on his notebook, clearly marking the price after each item.

He finished writing the last item, put down the charcoal pencil, and pushed the list in front of Zhang Su with a serious expression:

"Sir, this is the core equipment list I believe is essential for descending into that icy mine. It's configured to the highest safety and durability standards. I must emphasize again that the environment there is extremely harsh and dangerous, far exceeding that of ordinary mines! This equipment will greatly increase your chances of survival, but it's by no means foolproof. Please think carefully!"

Zhang Su took the list, his eyes quickly scanning the long list of items and total amount:

总计：8+3+1.8+7+4+2+3.6+6+2+12+1+1.8+1.8+1+0.1+1.6+3+1+0.6+1+1+0.1+3+0.1+0.06=64.86索拉。

That translates to nearly 3 gold pounds plus 4 solas and 86 pennies.