Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Wanted List

Once everyone had arrived, one of the black-robed figures standing on the high platform stepped forward.

He began to recite from a tattered and incomplete holy scripture.

Then, he made the sign of the cross over his chest and said, “May the Lord bless us.”

Everyone in the church closed their eyes, clasped their hands before their chests, and began to pray.

After a long hour, Jiang Qin thought the service was over, but it wasn’t.

Next, another black-robed figure stepped forward, bringing out a Half-beastman who was bound.

“This is a traitor to God. He enjoyed the Lord’s care, yet he was disrespectful. So, after deliberation, we have decided to execute him by fire tomorrow. He will go before God to repent and seek His forgiveness.”

Jiang Qin didn’t know what crime the man had committed, so she didn’t get involved.

The people next to her, however, were quite indignant.

“These bastards are so ungrateful! If it weren’t for God’s protection, would they even have the right to live such stable lives in the city? And yet they dare to betray God!”

“I heard it’s because Lord Xi wanted his sister to serve God, but he refused and tried to run away with her in secret.”

“Serving God is a great thing! You get to stay in the church all day, do nothing, and have plenty of food and drink.”

“Exactly. If we had any young children, we’d want to send them to serve God too. He doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

’As everyone knows, this kind of “serving God” business is never anything good.’

So, Jiang Qin guessed it was definitely not a good thing. It couldn’t be as simple as people said—just living in the church and reciting scriptures in the morning and evening.

’If it were really that good, why would that male Half-beastman on the stage have needed to run away with his sister?’

After the service ended, Jiang Qin returned to her rented room.

It was true she didn’t have any Star Coins or a Light Computer to use, but she did have valuable things.

Even just a few of her beautiful, ornate outfits could be exchanged for some money.

So, after entering the city, she had sold a necklace in exchange for a sum of money.

It wasn’t much, just enough for her rent and daily expenses.

This was a residential area for Beastmen; only Beastmen were qualified to live here. The Half-beastmen, on the other hand, lived in shacks built on the fringes.

As for the “deformed,” they were outside the city altogether, with no right to even wander around inside.

Even so, they were content enough.

At least they could live near the city, survive by scavenging in the nearby junkyard, and occasionally enter the city to sell scrap or buy supplies without being driven away.

***

Jiang Qin ended up staying for five days.

She had no channels for news and didn’t know what the situation was like outside, so she could only stay in the city and avoid going out as much as possible.

Occasionally, she would go outside the city to pay some of the scavengers and ask them for unimportant news about the city.

For instance, who was in the city’s management, what their power levels were, and things like that.

Or if there was any news about wanted posters.

The reason Jiang Qin gave for asking was that she was preparing to take on a mission and leave Red Leaf City, so she needed to inquire about available tasks.

Hearing this, Xiaojie was a little disappointed. For the past few days, he had been relying on Jiang Qin and had earned several tubes of ordinary, low-level nutrient liquid.

If Jiang Qin left, he would never again meet a Beastman so generous and easy to talk to.

However, he didn’t dare lie to Jiang Qin, so he honestly relayed the information he had gathered.

“A new person was added to the wanted list today. I heard it’s an S-level Black Dragon Beastman. He attacked a research institute, killed several Beastmen, and escaped with injuries.”

“The bounty on him is currently the second-highest on the list. The first is still the person codenamed ’Singer’.”

’A Black Dragon Beastman?’

The first person Jiang Qin thought of was Long Hao.

He wasn’t the only Black Dragon in the Interstellar, but a Beastman attacking a research institute at this time and in this place was very likely him.

’But… why would he attack a research institute?’

’It was a bit shameless to think, but Jiang Qin just had a feeling he was probably looking for her.’

’Could it be that he doesn’t know I’ve already escaped?’

Though worried, she kept her expression calm and asked, “Did they say which direction on the planet he might be in?”

After all, the planet was huge. If she wanted to find him, she had to at least get a general direction, lest they both head the wrong way.

Xiaojie shook his head. “I don’t know. The higher-ups in the city didn’t say.”

Xiaojie had a sister who worked at a bar in the city, so he went to help her with small tasks every evening.

The bar owner simply let him be, since he was free labor.

After all, he didn’t cost anything and helped serve customers faster.

But Xiaojie didn’t just hang around there for nothing. Having grown up in Red Leaf City, he was long accustomed to searching for useful information in such a motley place.

Whenever new people arrived in the city, he would first choose to observe them.

Once he was sure they weren’t the type to kill for no reason, he would approach them and ask if they needed to buy information about Red Leaf City.

This was also how Jiang Qin had connected with him.

She wasn’t just interested in news about Red Leaf City; she was interested in any information, so Xiaojie would deliberately collect it for her.

Lately, the most discussed topic in the bar was the wanted list, which happened to be something Jiang Qin was interested in.

“Keep a close eye on news about that Black Dragon Beastman for the next two days. I’m thinking of trying to take on this mission.”

“Yes, milady.” Xiaojie’s attitude was incredibly respectful.

’After all, Jiang Qin dared to go after an S-level Black Dragon Beastman. Her strength must be formidable.’

…..

Jiang Qin didn’t place all her hopes on Xiaojie, either.

When night fell, she disguised herself and went alone to the only bar in the city.

Unlike the proper bars in the Federation, this place was thick with vice.

There were people gambling in groups, others using illicit drugs, and some who had brought female and male slaves with them.

In short, it was chaotic.

The Inhibitors sold in the bar were also very expensive. And not only were they expensive, but they were also the most common flavor and were about to expire.

Jiang Qin only pretended to take a sip and didn’t touch it again.

She had deliberately chosen a booth in a crowded, loud, and rowdy area, and was now openly eavesdropping.

“Brothers, are you planning to take the research institute’s mission?”

The one asking was a handsome male Half-beastman with a pair of fox ears on his head.

“Of course we want a piece of the pie. That’s why we wanted you to help us analyze where he’s likely to have fled.”

The Fox Ear youth didn’t refuse. After all, as a Half-beastman, the only reason he could run with this gang of vicious thugs was his brain.

“There are 71 cities here in total. Thirty of them are the main bases for various factions and never accept outsiders, so we can rule them out.”

“The remaining 41 cities are scattered in every direction, but the one that the Black Dragon Beastman is most likely to force his way into is Mengxia City.”

“Why is that?” asked a rough-looking man from the group.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep