15: Chapter 15 He's Different

The official car on the return journey traveled smoothly on the country road, the fields and distant mountains outside the window dyed with a warm golden edge under the sunlight.

Zhang Zhi held the steering wheel, his gaze on the road ahead, but his mind uncontrollably replayed the scenes from the forest clearing just now.

Clear and concise commands, swift and precise combos, and a battle settled within just one minute.

Flowing like water, he was calm to the point of not looking like a rookie Beast Tamer who had just touched combat; instead, it made Zhang Zhi, who took three minutes to finish his battle, look like a greenhorn.

He finally couldn't hold back, and during a gap while waiting for a red light, he turned to look at Lin Chen in the passenger seat:

"I say, A-Chen, did you really just become a Beast Tamer the day before yesterday?"

Lin Chen met Zhang Zhi's probing gaze and nodded: "Really, I'm a complete novice."

Zhang Zhi opened his mouth, subconsciously glancing through the rearview mirror at the Flame Claw Beast in the back seat, which was constantly pawing at its seatbelt.

He had seen it clearly earlier; this Flame Claw Beast was just like its Beast Tamer, showing none of the nervousness or fear of a first battle, but was instead exceptionally excited.

After dealing with the Velvet-Tusk Boar cub, it even rushed forward excitedly, wanting to get involved in the fight between the Velvet-Tusk Boar and the Qinglan Hunting Dog.

This Flame Claw Beast was incredibly brave.

The little fellow noticed the gaze, looked up, waved its claws, its eyes full of ferocity.

Zhang Zhi withdrew his gaze and let out a silent sigh.

He looked at Lin Chen again, his tone much more serious: "To be honest, your performance doesn't look like a complete newcomer's."

Before Lin Chen could answer, Zhang Zhi's eyes were burning as he continued:

"A single battle, especially the first actual combat, can reveal too much."

"The grasp of command timing, the instantaneous reading of the battlefield, the psychological quality on the spot, and that almost instinctive chemistry with the pet."

"Many Beast Tamers might not reach your current level even after practicing for a month or two. I've seen too many newly awakened rookies in this position."

He paused, seemingly remembering some scenes that made him not know whether to laugh or cry, and shook his head:

"Facing a wild pet's charge, some have weak legs, some shout and give blind commands, and some are so scared they recall their pet to the beast space and run away themselves... it's not like they don't exist."

"But you are different."

Lin Chen smiled slightly: "Brother Zhang, I can't take such praise. I still have a lot to learn from you."

"You can."

Zhang Zhi waved his hand, suddenly thought of something, and asked: "By the way, which beast-taming academy did you get into?"

"Qiming Beast-Taming Academy," Lin Chen replied.

"Qiming Beast-Taming Academy..."

Hearing the answer, Zhang Zhi leaned his head back slightly, his tone complex: "That's one of the top beast-taming academies in our Donghuang. The worst graduates are Advanced Beast Tamers."

Lin Chen was noncommittal.

Zhang Zhi looked at the time, then turned the steering wheel: "Let's go, I'll take our future Advanced Beast Tamer to taste the specialty barbecue of Qingyang Town."

"Gagu!"

The Flame Claw Beast in the back seat couldn't understand their conversation, but it keenly caught the most critical word: barbecue.

The Flame Claw Beast struggled to stand up under the restraint of the seatbelt, its pointed head almost squeezing into the front row, staring unblinkingly at Zhang Zhi who offered the treat, while extending its claws.

Zhang Zhi's peripheral vision noticed the sharp claws resting on his shoulder. He quietly swallowed and comforted it softly: "Calm down, calm down."

He had a strong intuition that if he shook his head and refused now, the outcome would definitely be miserable.

Very, very miserable.

It was already 4 PM when they returned to the Beast Control Bureau.

Zhang Zhi took Lin Chen directly to Director Li Haotian's office to report the situation.

"...That's the general situation, Director Li."

Zhang Zhi briefly recounted the Northern Suburbs Farmland incident and the handling process: "Those two Velvet-Tusk Boars have left the scene after being driven away and returned to the Duanshan Mountains."

"We've also made a preliminary record and damage assessment for the farmer Wang Fugui's losses. He can apply for compensation following the procedure later."

After finishing the report, Zhang Zhi paused, a trace of hesitation appearing on his face. He looked at Director Li Haotian's calm expression and added, choosing his words carefully:

"Director Li, there's a detail I find a bit strange."

"Even after being defeated and when we clearly signaled them to leave, they seemed a bit hesitant, even fearful, and were reluctant to return to the Duanshan Mountains."

"It felt like they were afraid of something in the mountains and didn't quite dare to go back?"

Director Li Haotian's hand holding the teacup paused imperceptibly for half a second. His eyelids lowered slightly as he looked at the floating tea leaves in the cup, his eyes flickering, but he quickly regained his composure.

He nodded, his tone normal: "Mm, I'm aware of this situation. Good job, it was handled cleanly."

"I'll keep an eye on the regular patrol reports for the edge of the Duanshan Mountains later. You've worked hard."

Then, Director Li Haotian turned his gaze to Lin Chen, who had been standing quietly behind and to the side of Zhang Zhi, a warm smile appearing on his face, a world away from his seriousness while listening to the report:

"Xiao Chen, it's your first day on the job. How do you feel? Are you adjusting well?"

Lin Chen took half a step forward and answered seriously: "Uncle Li, it feels great. I've learned a lot. Brother Zhang also took great care of me and taught me many practical things."

A smile appeared on Zhang Zhi's face at the right moment.

Director Li Haotian nodded slightly.

Having Zhang Zhi lead Lin Chen was an arrangement he had made after careful consideration.

Zhang Zhi had good talent and was a key prospect the bureau was cultivating, with hopes of pushing for Advanced Beast Tamer within a few years.

He was upright yet flexible. Letting him lead Lin Chen would ensure safety while allowing Lin Chen to come into contact with relatively standardized and high-level practical work.

Now it seemed that this arrangement had worked well.

For instance, in today's situation, the report said Lin Chen defeated the Velvet-Tusk Boar cub alone, but Director Li Haotian knew this definitely couldn't have happened without Zhang Zhi's care and guidance.

For a rookie Beast Tamer, the difficulty and pressure of battling wild pets were far higher than with domestic ones.

"By the way."

Director Li Haotian suddenly remembered something and smiled: "Tomorrow my boy is also coming to the bureau. That kid is impetuous, so keep an eye on him."

Lin Chen's eyes lit up.

Uncle Li's son, Li Heng, was the same age as him. They had grown up together and were very close.

"You young people can exchange ideas then."

Director Li Haotian smiled and waved his hand:

"Alright, you must be tired today. Go back and rest early."

"Yes, Director."

Zhang Zhi responded and left the office with Lin Chen.

Back at the second-floor public office area, Zhang Zhi flopped back into his workstation and sighed in relief. Seeing it wasn't yet time to get off work, Lin Chen headed straight for the training room.

Old Liu, a veteran employee, poked his head over with a slightly teasing smile:

"Xiao Zhang, how does it feel to lead a newcomer?"

In the eyes of most veteran employees, leading a newcomer was definitely a thankless task.

Newcomers have shallow experience, low awareness, and weak strength. If they are obedient, it's fine, but the fear is they are highly self-aware and opinionated without knowing it, causing a bunch of trouble during missions and leaving the veterans to clean up the mess.

Lin Chen's first time at the bureau coincided with wild pets harassing a farmer, and since Zhang Zhi himself wasn't a veteran, the resolution process for the two was likely not smooth.

Hearing this, Zhang Zhi leaned against the back of his chair and gave a long stretch, then grinned at Old Liu, revealing a row of white teeth:

"Brother Liu, he is different."

"How is he different?" Old Liu grew interested and leaned forward slightly.

Zhang Zhi recounted the previous battle process completely to Old Liu, leaving out no details.

Old Liu squeezed the teacup in his hand and took a small sip. Only when the steam fogged up his reading glasses did he slowly speak:

"To be able to achieve this level in the first battle, he indeed has a lot of talent."

After a slight pause, his tone shifted: "But such geniuses are not uncommon every year; it's just that they are hard to come by in our security bureau."

Zhang Zhi shook his head and emphasized again: "No, he really is different."

"Oh?" Old Liu put down his teacup and looked at Zhang Zhi with interest.

Zhang Zhi's eyes flickered as he phrased his words: "Brother Liu, you used to play games, right?"

"I played when I was young," Old Liu nodded.

"Then do you know how players view the monsters in a game?" Zhang Zhi asked.

"Hmm?"

Old Liu frowned slightly, clearly not expecting Zhang Zhi to suddenly ask an irrelevant question. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his tone somewhat uncertain:

"How they view monsters? Naturally, they treat them as NPCs, trying every means to defeat them to get rewards and then level up."

Zhang Zhi nodded, his tone unfathomable: "I feel like he's like a player, and that Velvet-Tusk Boar is like a monster in a game."

"He was too relaxed, so relaxed it was like he was playing a game of killing monsters to level up."

"Have you ever seen any rookie Beast Tamer with this kind of mindset?"

At this point, he shrugged: "Of course, he's not a player, and that Velvet-Tusk Boar isn't a monster in a game."

"It's just..."

He paused, his eyes burning: "I have a strong premonition that he really is different."