CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 46: CONSECUTIVE LEVEL-UPS!

Green-themed bungalow, this is the treatment room.

Liuyun lay in a large capsule-like chamber, frowning as if enduring great pain, with sweat trickling down her forehead and cheeks.

Outside the capsule chamber, several medical staff were watching a display screen discussing her condition.

Although it’s common for the frontline Supernatural Handling Squad to experience dismemberment, the case of turning a leg into a plastic model was unheard of.

"Captain He, it seems we’ll have to ask Director Li to perform surgery on her. Liuyun has already agreed to accept the prosthetic assembly," a nurse exited the emergency room to inform the Awakened waiting outside.

He Zhan wasn’t surprised to hear this and just nodded, saying, "Then I’ll trouble Director Li."

As the nurse returned to the emergency room to prepare for the surgery, he turned back to explain to Wu Ming behind him, "Director Li is an Awakened among the medical staff; she can forcibly connect non-human material to nerves to form limbs."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Cannon walked up to Wu Liang, directly extending his forefinger in front of him, upon closer inspection, a faint metallic sheen could be seen.

He then said in his rough voice, "Brother Wu, see, this finger was attached by Director Li, using titanium alloy."

This scene left Wu Liang marveling repeatedly.

Unexpectedly, the official medical department employs Awakening treatment methods.

Transforming foreign objects into limbs seems practical, carrying a cyberpunk aesthetic.

Wondering if a flashing light could also be installed...

"Ahem, went too far, went too far, Cannon, why are you calling me Brother Wu? I should be younger than you, right?" Wu Liang was somewhat puzzled.

Looking at Cannon’s burly appearance, he couldn’t be just in his twenties, could he?

Hearing this, Cannon grinned foolishly, saying, "I’m just a crude fellow without much education, but since you’re more capable than me and even saved us during the supernatural incident, I’ll call you Brother Wu. Age doesn’t matter at all."

"Alright, alright, let me announce that from today, Wu Ming officially joins our squad, codenamed Shadow," He Zhan came over to introduce the crowd.

"I don’t need to introduce Cannon and Priest to you; that long-haired beauty over there is called Rose, her Awakened Ability is plant control."

Following the direction of He Zhan’s gesture, a mature woman in a dark long dress with straight black hair nodded slightly, the tear mole under her eye adding a unique charm to her urban elegance.

After hearing He Zhan’s introduction of her, Rose gracefully extended her palm toward Wu Liang.

As her palm gradually woodenized, a brown seed visibly grew.

"Shadow, welcome aboard; this is the squad’s emergency communication method. Just crush it when in danger, and all squad members will sense it."

Wu Liang took the seed, curiously observing it.

He had always wondered how the officials would handle situations where electronic communication devices failed due to supernatural lockdown during large-scale supernatural incidents.

Unexpectedly, this too could be resolved through Awakening methods.

As Wu Liang reviewed Captain He’s Supernatural Handling Team II, he noticed the presence of Cannon and Liuyun for offensive capabilities, Priest and Rose for control and communication, and He Zhan for overall leadership.

This squad, in a way, was pretty comprehensive in configuration, no wonder they were active on the frontline.

"There are two more members not currently in Chengyang City; they’ve gone to Jing City for further training. They’ll be introduced to you face-to-face when they return," He Zhan patted Wu Ming’s shoulder.

"How about we have a good meal after Liuyun’s treatment recovery, Captain, you have to treat!"

"Yeah! A street stall won’t do, haha!"

Priest and Cannon playfully tried to squeeze some hospitality out of Captain He’s wallet, while Rose silently watched them, smiling.

This harmonious squad atmosphere brought back memories of their concern for Liuyun during the Puppet Ghost incident.

Wu Liang suddenly felt a sense of discomfort, not quite fitting in.

He instinctively took a step back, feeling like an outsider in this group.

Speaking of which... he had been solitary for a long, long time.

His parents, both archaeologists, were frequently absent, and even when they had an accident five years ago, he wasn’t informed immediately; it was two days later when the police came knocking.

Before that, he was already an outcast, whether at school or among peers in the community.

Moreover, after being taken in by his aunt’s family following his parents’ accident, he was often despised and cursed.

In college, he managed to offend more people, from students to teachers, rarely encountering kind faces.

The atmosphere of such a big family seemed somewhat unsuitable for him... maybe, in time, they too would distance themselves from him like others have.

Perhaps he should leave now and head home to rest...

"Shadow, why don’t you give us your opinion, where should we gather for the meal?"

Before Wu Liang could leave, Rose, smiling, walked up and, pulling his hand, brought him back from the outskirts of the group where he had stepped back.

Like a wandering lamb being herded back into the team by a shepherd dog.

"Um, I haven’t been to many good places, why don’t you all decide, just let me know. I’m a bit worried about my brother’s situation, so I’ll go check on him first!" Wu Liang replied with a smile.

He chose to step away, leaving only an image of himself rushing off with a plastic bag in hand.

Nobody said much, since the meal wasn’t urgent, and assumed he genuinely had somewhere to be.

Priest glanced at Rose, still watching Wu Ming’s departing back, teasingly said, "Rose, we don’t usually see you being so warm to us. Are you interested in him?"

"Shadow is only in his twenties, while you’re already a thirty-year-old single woman. Isn’t an ’older woman with younger man’ a bit too much?"

However, Rose ignored his teasing, only watching Wu Ming leave with concern.

She sensed a strong loneliness from the seed she gave Wu Ming, an overwhelming emotion that even made her feel sad.

Yet he always behaved with an optimistic and positive demeanor.

This puzzled Rose greatly.

"He seems... to be very troubled?"

......

Leaving the official base, Wu Liang walked alone on the way home, the discomfort from the team atmosphere dissipating considerably.

"I guess I’m still suited to living alone."

With a touch of self-mockery, he glanced around, seeing no pedestrians, and took out the Ghost Compendium, placing the black bag before the ghosts.

As the Fierce Ghost Minions ravenously consumed and assimilated, Wu Liang felt the abilities they provided subtly changing.

The three Fierce Ghost Abilities - Shelter, Deep Dream Realm, and Breaking Blade - simultaneously began upgrading with additional effects!

"Oh? This effect is quite interesting..."