Chapter 849: Assessment tasks (two in one)

It’s already been half a year… Qiao Sang subconsciously started to ponder.

Before the plane took off, she had specifically searched for information. The destination was Changqing City, located in Mu Tian Province in the central region, and Mu Tian Province had a total of 11 prefecture-level cities.

Completing 11 assessments in half a year means an average of about 16 days per assessment. Subtracting travel time, it’s roughly half a month to complete one prefecture-level city’s assessment.

Hmm, it shouldn’t be a big problem… Qiao Sang put away her identity card and pet tamer badge, thanked them, and turned to leave.

Her calm expression and elegant turn instantly sparked an excited discussion between the two Staff.

“Did you see that?”

“I saw it!”

“Oh my god, I’ve never seen anyone with three General-level Pets before they’re even 18!”

“Just now, when I said there was only half a year, look at her disdainful expression. She didn’t seem to think the time was too short at all. She looked so confident.”

“If I had that kind of strength at her age, I’d definitely be more confident than her.”

“Do you think we’ll see her in this year’s Regional Competition?”

“That’s hard to say. If she had registered for the assessment within the first month of registration, there would definitely be no problem. But now there’s only half a year, so it’s uncertain. You know, some cities’ assessments are particularly annoying. A Yu Beast Master blogger I follow recently posted a video saying that the Judge in Tian Ti City asked him to get 10 catties of wood gland grass. One tael of that stuff costs 10,000 alliance coins. If you don’t buy it, you have to go to Secret Realm No. 39 to collect it. Secret Realm No. 39 only opens for one month a year. When he took on this task, the Secret Realm happened to be open, but there was only one day left. That Judge was clearly making things difficult for him.”

“What you said is still relatively simple; at least it can be solved with money. I know one…” The Staff at Window 19 was about to share some gossip.

At this moment, the person standing at the window waiting to conduct business couldn’t help but say, “Are you two done chatting?”

The Staff quickly switched to work mode, showing a standard smile:

“Hello, how may I help you?”

…

Yu Beast Center.

Third floor.

At the door of the Judge’s office, specifically responsible for assessment matters, Qiao Sang knocked twice.

The Judges responsible for assessments in each prefecture-level city have their offices in the Yu Beast Center of their respective cities. No prior appointment is needed; one can simply walk in. As long as it’s within working hours, the Judges are usually there.

“Come in.” The person inside said.

Qiao Sang pushed the door open and saw a Middle-aged Man with an ordinary appearance, a potbelly, and no memorable features.

“Hello, I am a Yu Beast Master who has registered for this year’s Regional Competition, and I’m here to pick up my assessment task.” Qiao Sang walked forward, handed over her identity card, and got straight to the point.

Why does she look like a child… The Middle-aged Man was startled by the young appearance of the black-haired girl in front of him.

It’s important to know that the age limit for participating in the Regional Competition is 40. People in their twenties coming for assessment are already considered young, but someone this young was the first he had seen since becoming a Judge.

He took the identity card and verified her identity.

“Hiss…” The Middle-aged Man looked at the computer screen, remaining silent for a full ten seconds to process the somewhat unbelievable information before him.

I am a Judge, I must be steady, be steady… He took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and began to search for a suitable task among the assessment tasks.

The assessment tasks for each city are not actually made up on a whim by the Judge, but rather chosen from matters listed as pending by the government and various institutional centers, or from long-unclaimed tasks, to be completed by Yu Beast Masters who wish to participate in the Regional Competition.

If there are urgent matters that need to be handled, they are prioritized as assessment tasks.

Otherwise, it depends on the Judge’s own discretion.

The Middle-aged Man carefully browsed the assessment tasks, finally focusing on a particular line. He picked up the identity card, handed it back to Qiao Sang, and said:

“One of the warehouses at our city’s Pet Item Center has recently experienced theft of items. You can either assist the police with their investigation or act independently. Whichever method you choose, as long as you catch the thief, your assessment will be complete.”

“Later, I will send the contact information for the warehouse manager and the police officer in charge of this case to the backend of your Yu Beast Center app. You can contact them directly then.”

Catching thieves… Qiao Sang pondered for a moment and then asked:

“How long ago did this case happen?”

If anyone else had asked this question, the Middle-aged Man would have directly and mercilessly replied: Don’t you know to ask the manager and the police officer yourself?

But the one asking was an unparalleled genius who was not yet 18 and possessed three General-level Pets.

He didn’t even think twice, lowered his head to look at the computer screen, and checked the detailed information.

After about half a minute, the Middle-aged Man looked up and said:

“The first theft occurred a month ago, and there have been two more incidents since then. This task was registered about a week ago, and there are no further records after that. However, the fact that this assessment task is still available indicates that the thief has not yet been caught.”

He told everything he knew and offered an analysis.

Who said the Judge was difficult? Isn’t he speaking quite well… Qiao Sang nodded:

“I understand.”

When she left the office and arrived on the first floor, she immediately saw Teacher Mi Jiala.

“Have you registered?” Ya Bao’s fiery wings were too conspicuous, and Mi Jiala also noticed Qiao Sang immediately through Ya Bao. She walked over and asked.

“Yes.” Qiao Sang nodded.

“What about the assessment task?” Mi Jiala asked.

“I’ve received it too.” Qiao Sang said, “It’s to catch a thief.”

Upon hearing this, Mi Jiala calmly said, “The fact that this kind of task is released as an assessment indicates that the police here haven’t caught the thief yet. This thief must have some capability.”

After a pause, she changed her tone and said considerately:

“We just arrived in Dragon Country. You should rest well and do the task tomorrow.”

Having rushed over right after getting off the plane, and then registering and receiving the assessment task, she certainly didn’t want to exhaust this genius, whom she might not encounter again for many years.

“I won’t rest.” Qiao Sang said seriously, “There’s only half a year until the Regional Competition begins. I’m already half a year behind others, so I need to complete the task quickly.”

Mi Jiala was silent for a moment, her tone softening considerably as she tried to dissuade her:

“You’re still in a developmental stage; rest is very important.”

Qiao Sang still had a serious expression:

“It’s fine, my Lu Bao has Healing Light.”

Mi Jiala: “…”

…

5:22 PM.

In the high sky.

Qiao Sang sat on Ya Bao’s back, heading towards the item warehouse.

Just now, she had contacted the warehouse manager, who sent her the address.

Qiao Sang held her phone and began to contact the police officer in charge of the case.

After two “beep-boop” sounds, the call connected, and a man’s voice came from the speaker:

“Who is it?”

“Hello, I picked up the assessment task for the item center warehouse theft at the Yu Beast Center. I was wondering if we could meet to get a general understanding of the case details.” Qiao Sang said.

“Don’t you look at what time it is now.” The man said rather impatiently, “I’m about to get off work. If you want to understand the case, contact me tomorrow when I’m back on duty.”

After speaking, he hung up the phone.

Qiao Sang: “…”

So unenthusiastic about solving cases, no wonder this case appeared as an assessment task… Qiao Sang couldn’t help but complain inwardly, stroking Ya Bao’s fur, and said:

“It seems tonight, we can only rely on ourselves.”

“Ya!”

Ya Bao let out an excited cry and sped up its running.

…

Changqing City, suburbs.

Half an hour later, Qiao Sang arrived at the item warehouse.

There were many warehouses belonging to the Pet Item Center, and the one where the incident occurred was in the relatively remote suburbs.

As Qiao Sang dismounted from Ya Bao, she saw a Staff member in a work uniform and a bipedal crocodile-type Pet, also in a work uniform, waiting at the entrance.

“Excuse me, are you Miss Qiao?” The Staff felt a sense of calm upon seeing Ya Bao’s powerful and magnificent appearance, ignoring Qiao Sang’s slightly youthful looks, and quickly walked over.

“That’s me.” Qiao Sang didn’t intend to waste time and got straight to the point: “I need to know when the most recent warehouse theft occurred.”

“It was yesterday night at 9:05 PM.” The Staff said while leading the way into the warehouse, “I was on duty last night, but I didn’t hear any movement inside at all, and the surveillance cameras didn’t capture any trace of anyone or any Pet.”

“Then how do you know it was stolen at 9:05 PM?” Qiao Sang asked.

“Because when I checked the surveillance later, the item was still there at 9:04 PM, but it was gone at 9:05 PM.” The Staff replied clearly.

Soon, the two arrived and stopped in front of a shelf.

The Staff pointed to an empty spot: “It was here.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but complain, “We reported it a month ago, but the items stored in this warehouse are all defective, so the headquarters doesn’t take it seriously, and neither do the police…”

While the Staff was talking, Qiao Sang picked up the now smaller Ya Bao and placed it in front of the empty shelf.

“Ya Ya.”

Ya Bao closed its eyes and placed its paw on the empty spot.

The Staff was momentarily stunned and asked, “Are you planning to have your Pet smell the thief’s lingering scent here?”

Ya Bao’s paw is on it, not its nose… Qiao Sang didn’t answer him, but instead closed her eyes in sync with Ya Bao.

During the month on the starship, Ya Bao couldn’t train skills related to attack power, only skills like Meditation and Touch Sense. It had already successfully trained its Touch Sense to the Profound Level on the way here.

Recalling what happened last night was completely effortless.

Seeing this, the Staff also understood what skill this unfamiliar Pet was performing. He instantly shut his mouth and no longer disturbed them.

The scene before them changed; the shelf in this position was no longer empty, but instead held a purple cylindrical item.

Then, the cylindrical item suddenly moved.

Immediately after, it disappeared.

Qiao Sang and Ya Bao opened their eyes at the same time.

“Did you find anything?” The Staff quickly asked.

“It should be a Ghost-type Pet.” Qiao Sang said.

The Staff couldn’t understand: “Ghost-type Pets can be invisible, but how did it make the item disappear all at once?”

You actually don’t even know this… Qiao Sang was a little surprised, and suddenly understood how the Vice Principal must have felt when she asked those seemingly foolish questions.

Soon, she realized that ever since she became a Yu Beast Master, she had been dealing with the best among her peers. After arriving at Super Dormant Star, the people around her were all geniuses several years older than her. Her knowledge and experience were already on a different level from ordinary Yu Beast Masters.

Living in that environment for a long time, she naturally didn’t feel any problems, even feeling that she wasn’t studying enough every day. But in reality, she had already accumulated a vast amount of knowledge that ordinary Yu Beast Masters did not possess.

“When a Ghost-type Pet’s invisibility reaches B-rank, it can make objects it touches invisible as well.” Qiao Sang explained.

Both the Staff and the crocodile-type Pet simultaneously showed expressions of sudden realization.

“But Ghost-type Pets can pass through walls and are invisible, so we can’t deal with them at all. I should contact the police and tell them this news so they can send someone over.” The Staff said, pulling out his phone, ready to dial the emergency number.

Qiao Sang recalled the attitude of the police officer in charge of the case and said:

“Let’s contact them tomorrow morning. Right now, we only know it’s a Ghost-type Pet, and there’s no trace of it. The police won’t come just because they know the Pet’s type. I’ll investigate it myself.”

The Staff put down his phone: “How do you plan to investigate?”

Qiao Sang smiled slightly: “Once it’s confirmed to be a Ghost-type Pet and that it indeed came last night, the rest is simple.”

After speaking, she looked at the Staff:

“Where are the blind spots in your wall surveillance?”

A Ghost-type Pet must have passed through the wall. She has Xiao Xunbao and understands the habits of Ghost-type Pets very well. Most Ghost-type Pets will involuntarily reveal themselves when passing through a wall, observe the surroundings, and then become invisible again.

The surveillance footage didn’t capture anything, meaning this Ghost-type Pet must have entered through a blind spot in the surveillance.

Without another word, the Staff immediately led Qiao Sang to the surveillance blind spot, pointed to the corner of the wall, and said, “It’s right here.”

Qiao Sang nodded at Ya Bao.

“Ya!”

Ya Bao instantly understood its Yu Beast Master’s meaning, extended its paw to the wall, and closed its eyes.

Qiao Sang closed her eyes simultaneously.

The scene before them changed, becoming pitch black, with only a sliver of moonlight filtering through the iron-barred window above.

Not long after, a Pet, almost entirely purple and gaseous, appeared out of thin air by the wall.

It glanced around and then disappeared.

This Pet is… Qiao Sang suddenly realized another problem.

That is, she had a good understanding of the Pets on Super Dormant Star and the rare Pets on various planets, but she wasn’t very clear about the common Pets on Blue Star outside of the Yuhua region.

It seems during this period, I still need to learn about the Pets in the central region. After all, in competitions in the central region, most of the contestants are from this area, and the Pets they send out are basically local Pets… Qiao Sang reined in her thoughts, looked at the empty space beside her, and said:

“Go to the other side of the wall.”

“Xiao Xunbao~”

To the Staff’s bewildered expression, Xiao Xunbao appeared, its eyes glowing blue.

The next second, Qiao Sang and Ya Bao vanished from their original spot, appearing outside the building.

The Staff stared blankly at where Qiao Sang had been, not reacting for a moment.

At the same time, on the other side of the wall, outside.

Ya Bao placed its paw on it and closed its eyes.

Most Ghost-type Pets will subconsciously reveal themselves for observation when passing through a wall; this is true when entering, and also true when exiting.

The scene changed, quickly arriving at last night.

Under the moonlight, there was no movement around the wall.

Qiao Sang, with her eyes closed, said, “Let’s see the flow of time until today.”

“Ya.”

Ya Bao closed its eyes and let out a cry.

The scene before them changed from night to day, and then back to night. Qiao Sang saw herself, Ya Bao, and Xiao Xunbao appearing out of thin air there.

Everything came to an abrupt halt.

Qiao Sang suddenly opened her eyes, a thought flashing through her mind:

That Ghost-type Pet might still be inside… (End of this chapter)