42: 30,000 contribution points! I'm going to soak in the Thunder Pool!

The valley could no longer be called a valley.

A massive basin, over five hundred meters in diameter, with edges as smooth as glazed glass, appeared before everyone's eyes.

The center of the basin was scorched black.

The strange black stone, the monarch-level demonic claw, and the heart-palpitating abyssal origin—all were erased from this world in that pure white light.

So completely, it was as if they had never existed.

Captain Qin Zhan, Su Wanqing, and Lin Yuan cautiously walked to the very center of the basin.

"..."

Captain Qin Zhan silently reached out and touched the ground, feeling the lingering warmth of the energy.

He looked up at Lin Yuan.

After a long pause.

He squeezed two words through his teeth.

"Monster."

Lin Yuan merely grinned at his words.

But his heart was bleeding.

"I should have known not to use the 'Purification' warhead."

"This thing is too clean!"

"Not even a single hair is left!"

He had originally hoped that even if the monarch-level monster was blown to death, it would at least leave some remains.

Like a "monarch-level core" or "abyssal origin."

Those were all strategic materials of B-rank, or even A-rank!

But in the end... it vanished into thin air!

Not even a speck of dust remained!

Lin Yuan's heart was utterly cold.

"Sigh, another wasted effort."

...Subsequent support troops quickly moved into Black Stone Town.

A large number of Logistics Department personnel and aftermath specialists began their work.

All ordinary people caught up in the incident were gathered for a collective "psychological counseling."

Memories of the "Mountain God Festival," "Black Stone Sect's demise," and "streaks of light across the sky" were erased by a technology called "cognitive overlay."

In their place, a brand new memory was implanted.

"Due to the detection of major safety hazards in the underground natural gas pipeline, the entire town underwent an emergency evacuation and safety drill."

Everything gradually returned to "normal."

On the "Night Owl" class optical stealth assault craft.

Lin Yuan and Su Wanqing sat in the cabin returning to the Dragon Shield Bureau in Jiangcheng.

The hum of the engine was blocked by soundproofing materials.

The cabin was very quiet.

Su Wanqing sat opposite Lin Yuan.

Since boarding the plane, she had been looking at Lin Yuan like this.

Not speaking.

Not moving.

Just with a very complex gaze.

She opened her mouth several times.

Seemingly wanting to ask something.

But when the words reached her lips, she didn't know where to begin.

Because all of this was too absurd.

So absurd it exceeded the understanding she had built over twenty-plus years.

In the end, she didn't ask anything.

She just watched in silence.

Lin Yuan felt a chill run down his spine from her gaze, and could only force a dry laugh.

"Uh... Beauty Su, do I have flowers on my face?"

Su Wanqing didn't answer.

She just silently turned her head and looked at the clouds outside the window... Jiangcheng Dragon Shield Bureau Headquarters.

Director's office.

Brightly lit.

Director Zhou was sitting behind his desk, leisurely brewing tea.

Boiling water poured into the zisha teapot, and the rich aroma of tea filled the entire room.

He seemed not at all surprised, having already calculated the return time of the two meritorious individuals.

"Thump-thump."

A knock sounded.

"Come in."

Lin Yuan and Su Wanqing pushed the door open and entered.

"Director Zhou."

Both stood at attention.

"You're back?"

Director Zhou looked up, a gentle smile on his face.

"Have a seat, I just brewed some Dahongpao, try it."

He pointed to the sofa opposite him.

"I just received Captain Qin Zhan's encrypted communication report; I know the whole story."

Director Zhou looked at the two, his eyes full of approval.

"You both did very well in this mission."

His gaze finally fell on Lin Yuan.

"Especially you, Lin Yuan."

"At such a critical juncture, you were not constrained by the B-rank commander's judgment, dared to activate the highest authority, and dared to bear that responsibility and risk."

"This courage and decisiveness are very rare."

Su Wanqing's body stiffened slightly upon hearing this.

Lin Yuan, on the other hand, chuckled and scratched his head.

"Mainly, I was just lucky and guessed right."

Director Zhou smiled, not exposing his modesty.

He lightly tapped his finger on the virtual screen on the desk.

A light curtain projected in front of the two.

It was a red-headed document.

[Reward Notice Regarding the "Black Stone Town Abyssal Cult B-rank Eradication Mission"]

"In view of the significant importance of this mission and the successful prevention of a monarch-level disaster during the operation."

"Upon resolution by the Capital Headquarters, the mission level is finally assessed as: B-rank."

"Special rewards are hereby given to C-rank Special Agent Su Wanqing and D-rank Probationary Agent Lin Yuan, who participated in the core decision-making of the mission..."

Director Zhou paused, then read out the final number.

"Each person, twenty thousand contribution points!"

"Hiss—"

Su Wanqing gasped sharply on the spot.

Twenty thousand points!

With these twenty thousand points, she could exchange for several rare resources needed to break through to C-rank Peak!

She could even lay a solid foundation for a future breakthrough to B-rank!

However.

Lin Yuan, beside her, reacted even more dramatically.

After hearing the number twenty thousand points, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

He didn't even listen to Director Zhou's subsequent words, immediately pulled out his terminal, and eagerly opened the Dragon Shield Bureau's internal exchange list.

His fingers slid rapidly across the screen, muttering to himself, saliva almost dripping.

"Let me see, let me see..."

"Got it!"

His gaze was fixed on one option.

[A-rank Authority · High-Energy Lightning Pool Cultivation Room (10 minutes / 5000 contribution points)]

Lin Yuan's fingers were trembling slightly.

He originally had ten thousand points in his account, and now, he had an additional twenty thousand!

A total of thirty thousand points!

"Thirty thousand points... five thousand for ten minutes..."

"I can soak for an hour!"

Lin Yuan looked up, his eyes shining as he stared at Director Zhou, his expression like a hungry wolf spotting a drumstick.

Director Zhou was amused by his look and nodded with a smile.

"That's right, with your current contribution points, it's enough to make a reservation."

He picked up a pen, quickly wrote a few words on a memo, and then stamped it with his seal.

"I'll write you a note."

He handed the memo to Lin Yuan.

"The Logistics Department can arrange it for you tonight."

"Thank you, Director Zhou!"

Lin Yuan dashed forward, taking the memo with both hands as if it were some peerless treasure.

Mission accomplished, rewards in hand, and able to immediately go for an "extra meal."

Lin Yuan felt his life had reached its peak.

"Alright, you two have been tired for days, go back and rest early," Director Zhou waved his hand.

"Yes!"

The two stood up, saluted, and turned to leave.

Just as Su Wanqing walked out of the office door.

Lin Yuan seemed to suddenly remember something.

He stopped, turned back, and gave Director Zhou a smile.

He lowered his voice, so only he and Director Zhou could hear.

"Oh, by the way, Director Zhou."

"The guy named Shi Tai, the people you sent, they should have caught him by now, right?"

"Don't let him die easily."

"I have a feeling he knows a lot about the 'Abyssal Cult.'"

After speaking.

Without waiting for Director Zhou's reply, he waved to the astonished Director, turned, and walked out of the office with a flourish.

Leaving only Director Zhou stunned in place.

The smile on Director Zhou's face slowly solidified.

He looked at the closed door and let out a wry laugh.

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"An interesting fellow..."

"What else does he... know?"