CHAPTER 34: CH 21 - WELCOME TO THE GARBAGE CREW PART 1

I was still holding that white card, spinning it between my fingers, when I heard it —

that voice I’d know anywhere.

"Well, well, look who finally found his calling."

Didn’t even have to turn.

His voice was enough.

I sighed and turned anyway.

Bai Shou stood there, hands in pockets, chest puffed out like he was some prince on a white horse who’d just saved a princess from a tower guarded by a dragon.

Too bad the only thing he ever saved was himself.

He had that same stupid grin — wide, shiny, confident, like he’d just walked off that damn white horse.

Was he waiting for me to clap or something?

"Guide Division, huh?" Bai Shou said, smirk still glued to his face. "Guess even trash has its uses. Someone’s gotta clean the dumps."

Chi Yan laughed a few seconds late, too loud, like his brain needed time to load the joke. "Yeah, maybe you can guide real hunters to the bathroom. You’re used to being stepped on anyway, right?"

They high-fived like it was the greatest joke ever told.

I just stared at them.

Of course they had to talk. They always did.

Guess they can’t breathe unless someone looks smaller.

Inside, I was calm. Too calm.

Then my fingers twitched — just a little — my body remembering before my mind did.

"Bai Shou. Chi Yan," I muttered.

Names written down somewhere in my head.

Not for now.

A small smile crept up.

"Yeah... two more names on the list."

They kept going, voices raised just enough so I couldn’t miss a word.

"We’ll be off to the top universities soon, Shen Yan. Some of us were born for greatness," Bai Shou said, grinning so wide it looked painful.

Chi Yan chuckled. "Maybe if you’re lucky, you can polish our boots when we visit the Zone. I’ll even tip you, trash."

Bai Shou added, "Don’t forget to salute when you see us, little guide. Wouldn’t want the garbage forgetting manners."

They laughed like it was the funniest thing in history.

I didn’t answer. Didn’t need to.

Just smiled — quiet, calm.

Two more names on the list.

They kept laughing as they walked off, already sure they’d won again.

I didn’t bother looking at them again.

What’s the point?

Money, ranks, fancy degrees — all that crap people cry over like it’ll save them someday.

But when you’re lying face-down in the dirt with your throat open, none of that means a damn thing.

Out there, nobody helps you. They strip your body, take your gear and your core, then leave like you never existed.

That’s the real world.

No medals. No clapping. No do-overs.

...Well, maybe medals.

Yeah, they’ll pin a few shiny medals on you, call you brave, call you a hero. But you can’t eat a medal. You can’t sell it.

And it sure as hell won’t stop you from dying the next time.

That’s the truth.

The only truth that matters.

I smiled, small and quiet. "So go ahead. Get rich. Get strong. I’ll be there when it’s time to collect what’s left."

I slipped the white card into my pocket, the smile still there but colder.

"Enjoy it while you can," I whispered. "Next time we meet, I’ll be the one digging your graves, not showing the path."

I walked up to the FRPC office like it was another school exam I didn’t study for.

Big board right on top — Field Recon and Passage Corps, Sector 17 Branch.

I stepped inside and all I could smell was coffee.

They sure do love coffee here.

One guy at the counter looked like he hadn’t slept in a week.

Another was just staring at the wall.

I squinted. "What’s he doing? Waiting for a reply? Do walls talk here now?"

Oh, and that one — yeah, that one’s definitely questioning life choices.

Whole place looked like an exhibit called ’People Who Gave Up.’

Yeah... this place had energy.

Made me want to lie down and question my life choices right there on the floor.

The woman at the desk looked up once, then down again, like eye contact wasn’t part of the job.

Her gaze slid over me, stopping at the white card I was holding.

Without a word, she took the card and slid it through the scanner.

Beep.

Yeah. Just one little beep.

"Shen Yan?" she said, still not looking at me. "Guide recruit. Training starts tomorrow."

All I could see were people with dead eyes — yeah, those were the guides, easy to spot. Looked like they hadn’t smiled since oxygen was invented.

And then there were the shiny ones — bright smiles, fancy gear, standing around like NPCs waiting for someone to press "Start Mission."

What an obvious setup.

The pay-to-win noobs huddled together, flexing their gold gear like the shine adds damage.

The free-to-play ones? Just standing there with empty hands and hope. Brave... or stupid. Probably both.

I stretched my arms, yawned big.

"Yep," I muttered, "half of them won’t even make it to the checkpoint. What a fun group."

Then the whispers started. Always do.

"Look who joined the garbage crew," some idiot near the coffee pot said, loud enough for me to hear.

"Trash finally got a job that fits."

A woman with a scar snorted as she passed. "Guide? Please. He’ll be gone before the month’s out."

Then the big guy at the counter — scar cutting down his cheek like lightning — leaned on his elbow, grinning.

"Hey, trash! First lesson — don’t show your back to anything that can bite."

I blinked.

Wait... how the hell did they even know I’m trash?

Did I miss something? Is it written on my forehead or what?

I rubbed my cheek just to be sure. Nope. No "Hi, I’m Trash" tattoo.

Then I saw it — a glowing screen near the board.

Names, bloodlines, ranks, grades... all lined up like some leaderboard for humiliation.

And there I was. Top of the list.

Shen Yan — Rank F-2, Bloodline: Rockhide Ape, Grade: Common.

I sighed. "Oh. Perfect. Public announcement of shame. Nice touch."

I pointed at it with one finger and muttered, "Guess they really wanted everyone to know I joined. Great marketing, guys."

A few people laughed again. I gave them a small wave.

I didn’t even bother to blink. Let them talk. Let them fill the air with noise.

I’ve been called worse that all their talk.

Still, I remembered their faces.

I kept quiet. Smiled when I had to. Finished the registration papers, took the field guide — Intro to Zone Topography.

Practical, boring, perfect.