Chapter 398

Chapter 398: Occupying the High Ground of Education

“… Okay, but I can only ensure the report; I can’t guarantee he will agree to meet you.”

After hesitating for a few seconds, the young man nodded earnestly.

Their leader wasn’t as enigmatic as people thought; anyone with a reasonable request could actually meet him.

Moreover, the only difference now compared to usual was that the person fulfilling their wish was himself. He believed the boss wouldn’t mind such details.

He was a very, very young boy, so young that some people speculated that the scruffy man often standing behind him was actually the true leader of the Ashes.

But that didn’t diminish the silver-haired boy’s charisma; after all, his formidable abilities were undeniable. Even if he was just a knife in the real leader’s hand, it was an incredibly sharp knife, and they dared not try to challenge its edge.

“He will meet me.”

The hoarse voice from under the hood carried a hint of certainty:

“He needs someone like me.”

The young man scrutinized the hooded man, unable to discern his background, and boldly asked,

“What kind of person are you? What skills do you have? Tell me first, so I can report it to the boss, to increase your chances of seeing him.”

“I went to college,” the man said lightly from under the hood.

“Oh, impressive!”

—

Fifty minutes later, the young man arrived at an illegal building in the inner city.

Walking into the nicely decorated lobby, he immediately spotted the table at the very back of the hall.

At that moment, two middle-aged men flanked a boy in the center, and the three were pointing and gesturing at a thick book, seemingly engaged in some sort of dispute.

The skinny young man’s level of education was low, just like most people in the gang, so he didn’t know what their leader, the second in command called Daoge, and the third in command with a shiny head were arguing about. However, he still politely interrupted the three and reported his recent experience truthfully.

“What?!” (×3)

When the young man finished recounting everything that had just happened, the silver-haired boy opposite him let out a shocked exclamation.

Alongside him were the startled cries from Daoge and the third in command.

As the young man processed the three leaders’ shock, three faces were already close to his own.

Except for the leader’s face, which might be considered delicate, the other two had rough features and unkempt facial hair that almost caused the young man substantial distress.

“He said he went to college?”

El’s eyes sparkled with an indescribable light, like people in the dark seeing a lighthouse.

“Did he say what his major was?”

“Boss, what’s a major?”

“…”

El felt helpless for what felt like the hundredth time. After calming his heartbeat, he still addressed the young man in front of him:

“Even if he studied how to live in the sewers, we must secure this talent!”

He patted the young man’s shoulder:

“Did you bring the person?”

“I did. He said you would definitely agree to see him.”

“Bring him in.”

The young man excitedly left the spacious room where the boss entertained guests and hurried outside to find the disheveled man.

“The boss has agreed to see you, right now.”

“Alright.”

Though the voice was hoarse, the young man could still detect a hint of excitement in the other’s words, as if he had already regarded the man before him as a comrade. He instinctively offered a kind warning,

“Don’t provoke the boss and the others.”

The man turned around, and a gaze seemed to flicker from beneath the hood over the young man’s nervous face:

“Don’t worry, I know how to handle an interview.”

With that, he turned and walked into the headquarters now occupied by the Ashen Gang, leaving the young man, who had curled up against the cold December wind, muttering in confusion:

“What’s an interview?”

—

The hooded strong man stepped into a room he had never been in before.

The spacious room was meticulously arranged; despite its vast size, it was sparsely lit, with the few light sources casting the surrounding walls into shadow, creating an illusion of boundlessness.

In this dimly lit space, the light from above illuminated the heads of the three people, shrouding their expressions in darkness.

At that moment, the three sat on chairs, their gazes seemingly assessing the newcomer, while a slightly smaller chair was placed opposite them. The strong man casually sat down and looked at the three people:

“If you have any questions, I will answer them truthfully.”

The boy in the middle was the first to speak:

“Please give us a brief introduction of yourself.”

This common question was actually the result of El’s careful deliberation.

Although for most interviewers this was a routine question, for this group of less-educated individuals at Ashen Security Company, it represented a significant step forward.

After all, El’s level was relatively high among them, while Li Rui and the shiny-headed third in command were quite inexperienced in this regard. At that moment, the two were merely there to fill the space, likely unable to pose even a single question.

Upon hearing this, the strong man paused for a few seconds before replying:

“Gentlemen…”

He had intended to say "interviewers," but found it awkward, so he rephrased his response:

“Greetings, leaders of Ashen…”

Though the term “leaders” carried a slightly derogatory tone, the three, due to their limited education, completely missed it and instead felt that the man before them was quite refined.

In fact, there were many educated people in Hope City, but few were willing to abandon their registrations to become unregistered residents and join a gang. After all, if anyone had another option, they wouldn’t choose this path…

The hooded strong man’s self-introduction quickly concluded. El nodded with feigned approval and glanced at the two people beside him.

Li Rui looked somewhat drowsy at that moment, while the shiny-headed leader nervously stared at the hooded figure, seemingly afraid of being seen through.

El crossed his hands in front of him and asked with authority:

“That was a good self-introduction. Now for the next question: why did you choose to join us? After all, joining a gang means becoming an unregistered resident, which isn’t an easy decision for someone with a college education.”

El’s question actually touched on a common concept—sunk cost—but unfortunately, he had no idea such a term existed. He could only explain it in his own way.

“I’ve offended certain people and hope to join the gang for refuge,” the hooded figure stated simply.

“And your Ashen Gang…”

“Ashen Security Company.”

“…Right, Ashen Company is a newly emerging organization with a good reputation in the inner city…”

El struggled to keep up with the man’s train of thought, nodding continuously until he finally asked the last question:

“Would you mind showing us your face?”

The hooded figure didn’t respond but instead removed his hood and mask, revealing a rather youthful face.

El stared at the man before him, deep in thought—

It seemed he really had studied how to live in the sewers.