Afterlife Department

Chapter 496 – Award

As Wallace Daune said, the battle royale isn't a suspense since Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shou Ji and Shi Jiu have successfully, and even brilliantly, passed the elimination stage as everyone have expected, like Gu Xingfeng, Hao Baiyun, Wallace Daune and Emily Daune after seeing the data of them four. As for the other forty-six participants that have passed with them, most of them have A and B physique, mental strength and spiritual strength and only some have S physique, mental strength and spiritual strength.

Although Shou Ji has just B spiritual strength, but his S physique and S mental strength is no joke. He eclipsed the other winners aside from Yi Bing and Huo Ling who have SS physique and SS mental strength, and S physique and SS mental strength. Shi Jiu may have S spiritual strength, but he is one rank below Shou Ji in terms of mental strength and physique. And for a beta, B spiritual strength is already great.

Usually, the betas would only have C spiritual strength and below, and A and B spiritual strength is the best result that they have that was recorded in the history. Thus, everyone is in awe of Shou Ji. Of course, Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu who are also 'betas' and have higher results than Shou Ji… in short, these four 'betas' are monsters! Well, technically, they aren't wrong…

Also, most that have passed are alphas and, including Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shou Ji and Shi Jiu, there are twenty betas who passed. Two is to three… two betas in terms of three alphas… this result shows how good the alphas are.

After the battle royale ended, many participants were disappointed, of course, since only fifty were chosen.. Not to mention that four places were already 'reserved' for those four monsters… ehem, Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shou Ji and Shi Jiu, the one thousand nine hundred and ninety-six participants have to compete for the remaining forty-six places. It is really hard…

"It's the short awarding ceremony." Huo Ling spoke when it was dusk.

Although many of participants have left, but most of them including the audience haven't left yet after the elimination stage since they still want to see the short awarding ceremony for the fifty qualified people.

"What's wrong?" Yi Bing asked as they stood together with the other forty-six participants who will be awarded with them for winning the elimination stage.

Huo Ling and Shi Jiu turned and looked at Shou Ji who looked jittery.

"Chief, are you nervous? But, this is just a small event…" Shi Jiu spoke.

"That's not it!" Shou Ji answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Then, why do you look restless?" Huo Ling asked.

"That…" Shou Ji muttered before he took a deep breath to suppress his emotions. "I think Wei Shi is here." He answered.

"Huh? That guy who ran away?" Shi Jiu asked in surprise.

As soon as his voice fell, they saw Shou Ji's face darkened.

"Oops…" Shi Jiu muttered and immediately zipped his mouth. He forgot again that Shou Ji is mad at his adjutant who went missing.

"If he is here, then shouldn't you be angry instead of restless?" Huo Ling asked.

Shou Ji pinched the space between his brows when he felt his head ached. "… actually, there's this strange feeling…" he muttered and heaved a sigh as he decided to tell them. "I actually can't explain it, but I have been feeling this strange aura since earlier…" he told them.

"Huh? Strange aura?" they asked.

Shou Ji nodded. "I don't know what is it." He frowned. "Then, for some reason, I link this strange aura to Wei Shi." He said and then paused. "I don't know why it is him." His brows knitted.

"You can feel a strange aura. And then it is related to Wei Shi?" Yi Bing summarized.

"Yes." Shou Ji affirmed.

"What could this strange aura be…?" Huo Ling muttered. "And is related to Wei Shi?" he frowned. "Is it his mental strength or spiritual strength?" he asked when he remembered that aside from pheromones that can affect others physiologically, the mental strength and spiritual strength can also affect the others physiologically, as well as psychologically.

"No. I am familiar with Wei Shi's mental strength and physical strength, and this strange aura isn't these two." Shou Ji answered with his voice filled with conviction.

"Then, could it be pheromones?" Shi Jiu guessed.

Shou Ji fell silent. "… actually, if one's mental strength and spiritual strength is too strong, he can control many people and produce a large-scale chaos." He spoke. "The same can be said with pheromones. So, it can't be these three." He told them.

"Then… what could this strange aura be…?" they muttered, feeling puzzled.

Shou Ji grimaced. "Unfortunately, although I can feel that he is around, but I can't exactly point his location." He said as his face darkened.

At this juncture, the host spoke is announcing the list of winners and is calling their names one by one to go to the stage and receive a certificate. Meanwhile, the audience's attention suddenly caught by something when they noticed it.

"The Daune Tech's representative is Miss Emily?" they spoke when they were surprised seeing Emily on the stage. "Where is Mr. Wallace? Wasn't he here earlier?" they asked as they searched for his figure. But, they are doomed to fail in finding him since Wallace is inside the VIP room reserved for him while he heavily sweats because his body suddenly felt strange.

Hot… cold… his whole body is uncontrollably shaking and is bathed in his sweat. The surroundings were also vacated because his mental strength and spiritual strength is suddenly fluctuating and Emily warned the staff to not let anyone near the area or they might be harmed. Fortunately, Wallace Daune's pheromones didn't riot. But, it was also unfortunate since it is his mental strength and spiritual strength. This never happened before, and Emily felt nervous for him since neither of them knows what might be the result of this strange happening to her brother. Since her brother is unavailable, and although she felt worried, but she suppressed her emotions and forced a smile as she handed the certificates to the winners.

"You… congratulations." Emily sincerely said when Shou Ji stood before her.

"Hello, Miss Emily." Shou Ji politely spoke. "I apologize if I have offended you yesterday… I really didn't recognize you." He explained.

"It's alright." Emily smiled. "Good luck with the competition!" she told him.

"Thank you." Shou Ji answered and slightly nodded at her before he left the stage.

"Congratulations." Emily spoke as she handed the certificate to Shi Jiu, Huo Ling, and then Yi Bing after. She sighed in relief when the ceremony ended and she immediately rushed to the VIP room where her brother is.

Meanwhile, Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shi Jiu and Shou Ji are about to leave when a familiar voice called them.

"Mr. James." Gu Xingfeng called. "Mr. Glace. Mr. Jackson and Mr. June." He added as he and Hao Baiyun approached the four 'people' together with their bodyguards.

Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shi Jiu and Shou Ji turned. Actually, they already have seen the two since earlier and have expected them to stop them. Yi Bing wanted to immediately leave but since they have a task in this world and Gu Xingfeng is related to their task, which involves the military world, he placed his responsibility before his personal problem.

Such a dedicated and responsible, hardworking grim reaper. Truly a model figure!

Shou Ji smiled. "Lieutenant colonel Gu. Mr. Hao. Good evening." He greeted.

"Mr. James… the four of you are Chinese, right?" Gu Xingfeng asked before he made a pause. "I didn't mean anything in my question." He added.

"We weren't offended." Shou Ji spoke. "Yes. We are fellow Chinese." He answered. "My real name is 'Shou Ji'." He said.

"Yi Bing." Yi Bing spoke.

"Huo Ling." Huo Ling said.

"My name's 'Shi Jiu'." Shi Jiu grinned.

Gu Xingfeng nodded. "Then, it is better to call you by these names, right?" he asked.

"Lieutenant colonel Gu is welcome. Mr. Hao, too." Shou Ji answered.

"Thanks." Gu Xingfeng heaved a sigh of relief before he turned to Hao Baiyun.

Hao Baiyun slightly nodded at them. "Hello. I am Hao Baiyun. Gu Xingfeng's… legal husband." he introduced himself.

His short pause didn't escape Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu while Shou Ji remained smiling. This confirmed that what Shou Ji said is true. That this pair of seemingly perfect couple actually has a problem. But, it isn't their problem.

"I am also the person you saved yesterday." Hao Baiyun continued. "In order to express my sincere gratitude, I want to invite you to dinner. Can you lend me some of your time?" he asked in a gentle voice and a mild tone, neither servile nor overbearing.

The four of them have a good impression of him, actually. "If it is fine with Mr. Hao." Shou Ji answered on behalf of their group.