Chapter 24 Shooting

Chapter 24 Shooting

During Li Nianchuan's hospital stay, he spent his time browsing forums where threads about Zhu Ning were trending. Everyone was discussing a fifth-class citizen with a mental value of 1,200.

An S-level mental value for a fifth-class citizen was such a stark contrast that it made Zhu Ning the talk of the town. Even if her physical condition was poor, her exceptionally high mental value meant no one would question her choice to join the War Section.

Whether Zhu Ning would choose the War Section or the Cleaning Department became a mystery. Before she made her decision, some people even placed bets.

No one expected that instead of choosing the more prestigious and better-paying job as a demon hunter, she opted to clean up trash and continued to work with Xu Meng's team.

Xu Meng felt both honored and overwhelmed, having to accept Zhu Ning as a "treasure" under everyone's watchful eyes.

Zhu Ning said, "I'm too scared to be a demon hunter."

Xu Meng: "..."

Li Nianchuan: "..."

Zhu Ning and Li Nianchuan's video had been circulating on the forum, and Xu Meng had watched it countless times. Based on the video, you don't seem to be easily scared.

Not only was she not scared, but she could be considered bold and fearless. It was rare to see someone display such composure during their first encounter with contaminants.

Under their skeptical gazes, Zhu Ning slowly explained, "I fear death."

She couldn't very well admit that she wanted to take it easy, could she? Zhu Ning had analyzed her options. While cleaning up trash allowed her to interact with contaminants, demon hunters were always at the forefront of danger.

Each job had its own requirements, and although she preferred a laid-back approach, she didn't shirk responsibilities. Demon hunters had to charge into danger, and Zhu Ning couldn't hide when needed; she had to face it head-on. Working in logistics minimized most risks, which was why she chose this dream job.

Cleaning up trash met Zhu Ning's multiple needs:

1. She could collect contaminated spores and earn purification points.

2. She wouldn't have to face direct danger but could still interact with contaminants.

3. The salary wasn't low, sufficient for her to afford gene injections.

Xu Meng nodded, finding the reason quite reasonable. As a defective individual, Zhu Ning probably wasn't suited for frontline combat anyway.

On the forums, some discussed that defective individuals were inherently flawed, even with high mental values.

Zhu Ning said, "I love cleaning up trash."

Li Nianchuan: "..."

Do all powerful figures have such unique preferences?

Li Nianchuan exclaimed, "When you said you loved your job, I didn't believe you, but now I do!"

He struggled to find words to describe Zhu Ning's spirit. "You're amazing! You have backbone!"

Becoming a demon hunter was a precious opportunity, yet Zhu Ning had turned it down, suggesting she didn't place much value on money.

Zhu Ning: "..."

That wasn't entirely true.

Unable to explain herself, she changed the subject. "By the way, what's the content of our employee training?"

Xu Meng replied, "Shooting, combat, physical training, theoretical basics, and how to hunt contaminants. Five courses in total."

Wait a moment, Zhu Ning thought something was off. This sounded like a demon hunter's curriculum.

As Xu Meng led them to the training room on the 45th floor, he explained, "Because of you, the 103 District Cleaning Center has undergone significant reforms. From my perspective, they're quite major."

Zhu Ning: "Ah?"

Xu Meng: "Previously, only demon hunters received weapons and physical training. Cleaners had a different type of training, you know, the kind that's pretty lax."

Zhu Ning knew this to be true; she had seen Li Nianchuan shoot, and his aim was terrible.

Xu Meng continued, "Now we receive the same weapons and physical training as demon hunters. After the incident with you and Li Nianchuan, the center wants to increase the survival rate of cleaners in extreme situations."

This was the result of meetings among department heads.

Xu Meng added, "This training is different from traditional ones. Cleaners and demon hunters train together, hoping that demon hunters can inspire our combat skills. Of course, demon hunters will also learn cleaner tasks, so they can help contain contaminated spores and clean up the scene when necessary."

Zhu Ning: "..."

It was said that new employees shouldn't attract too much attention. Zhu Ning was now drawing too much of it. Her arrival had made demon hunters, who previously looked down on cleaners, learn to clean up trash.

Moreover, mixing cleaners and demon hunters in training could lead to cleaners being beaten up badly during combat classes.

Cleaners naturally had inferior physical abilities compared to demon hunters. Originally, the logistics team just needed to focus on cleaning up trash, but now they had to learn to eliminate contaminants.

No wonder Zhu Ning felt several intense gazes upon entering. She thought they were looking at something else, but they were actually glaring at her, blaming her for causing all this trouble.

Zhu Ning whispered, "Are they hating me right now?"

Li Nianchuan, holding a bouquet of roses, was already eager to run away. "Do they hate me too?"

"Not really," Xu Meng said. "Li Nianchuan is a victim. Most discussions revolve around Zhu Ning."

Xu Meng, being honest and straightforward, told Zhu Ning, "Yes, some people are cursing you."

Zhu Ning: "..."

So she had attracted all the criticism. Heaven knows she didn't mean to.

Zhu Ning steeled herself and walked into the 45th floor training ground, suspecting she might be assassinated.

Xu Meng was completely unaware of the pressure her words put on Zhu Ning and explained dutifully, "The training is based on credits. You just need to complete the required credits."

"Today, Zhu Ning will start first. Li Nianchuan has just been discharged from the hospital, so he'll observe the process for now," Xu Meng said to Zhu Ning. "I remember your shooting skills are excellent."

She had seen Zhu Ning shoot before, and her marksmanship was impeccable—there was no need to worry. The shooting room was bustling with people training, and as Zhu Ning entered, she once again faced a wave of hostile stares.

If only Zhu Ning were bound to a purification system instead of a grudge system; with her current level of resentment, she could have saved the world.

The shooting room was noisy, filled with the sounds of gunfire and falling shell casings. Zhu Ning was very familiar with this environment and silently observed their training for a while.

The ammunition used for training was not airsoft; it had more power and stronger recoil. The assessment wasn't just about accuracy but also your ability to reload and react.

The guns looked similar to those in Zhu Ning's original world, suggesting that thermal weapons had limited room for improvement.

Xu Meng asked, "Do you want to train first or go straight to the assessment?"

Zhu Ning replied, "Let's go straight to the assessment." She felt it wouldn't be too difficult and didn't want to waste time training.

"Alright," Xu Meng tapped a panel beside her. "You're up next."

There were three types of assessments: stationary targets, moving targets, and simulation rooms.

As soon as Zhu Ning arrived, everyone nearby stopped training and turned to watch.

There was no helping it; Zhu Ning was too famous. They all wanted to see how well this defective individual with a spirit value of 1200 performed. Was the video on the forum real or fake?

Zhu Ning walked over expressionlessly and picked up a gun. The moment she held it, she felt an overwhelming sense of relaxation—a natural ease that only came from familiarity. The gun was her "old friend," one that would never betray her.

In front of her was a stationary target twenty meters away. Zhu Ning aimed, took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger.

Bang—

The bullet spun out and hit dead center.

"Ten points," the instructor called out.

"You need to fire three shots," Xu Meng reminded her.

Zhu Ning remained silent. She aimed at the target and fired again.

"Ten points."

"Ten points," the instructor calmly announced.

The spectators fell silent. One shot could be luck, but three consecutive bullseyes were undeniable skill.

Li Nianchuan stood in the crowd holding flowers, looking like Zhu Ning's cheerleader captain. He glanced around; the crowd was growing, and most people would feel the pressure of being watched.

But Zhu Ning seemed unaffected. She simply focused, aimed, fired, and hit the bullseye. Truly, she was Zhu Ning.

"Is this new recruit really that good?" someone commented.

"This level of marksmanship isn't uncommon," another person remarked. Many present were demon hunters who had undergone professional training, and hitting three bullseyes wasn't too difficult. The challenge lay in the next two assessments.

"Don't rush; let's see how she does in the other tests," a tall man with his arms crossed said.

Even Li Nianchuan felt the pressure. If Zhu Ning faltered in the next two assessments, it could be troublesome. Given her current popularity, she would likely face harsh criticism on the forums, with headlines like:

"A Spirit Value of 1200 Is Nothing Special—Defective Indeed."

Zhu Ning paid no attention to the spectators' gazes, lost in her own world. She often ignored her surroundings when she held a gun.

The second test involved moving targets.

Technically, the targets weren't just targets but robots. Unlike mechanical beings, which had consciousness and could feel pain, these robots were mere tools.

The robot target sprinted rapidly across the field, hiding behind various obstacles. Zhu Ning needed to hit the robot, with different scores awarded for different hit locations.

Several obstacles were placed in the center of the field, and they even dimmed the lights for realism.

"Begin," the shooting instructor ordered.

Everyone fell silent, watching Zhu Ning intently. A figure darted past quickly.

Zhu Ning raised her gun but didn't fire, watching the robot run to the opposite cover.

Some people grew restless. She could have shot earlier; why didn't she? Was it because the robot resembled a human too closely?

Yet in the video, Zhu Ning had no trouble shooting fish people, making this explanation unlikely.

Zhu Ning maintained her shooting stance, waiting. This was a handgun without a scope, so she relied on her eyesight to aim.

Suddenly, the robot moved. It was programmed to run continuously across the field for shooting practice.

As soon as it appeared, Zhu Ning fired.

Bang—

The bullet pierced the robot's forehead, and it fell backward.

"One-shot headshot," the instructor announced. "Ten points."

It made sense. Zhu Ning could have hit the robot earlier, but aiming for the head ensured a higher score. Those who initially thought Zhu Ning was average changed their minds. This girl knew how to calculate her scores.

I'm not sure if someone passed on the message, but now not only are people from the shooting room watching, but others from different training rooms have come as well.

In no time, the shooting room is packed, with only Zhu Ning's area being slightly less crowded. Li Nianchuan feels immense pressure, as if he isn't Zhu Ning's colleague but rather an assistant to a star athlete.

The third assessment, in the simulation room.

Zhu Ning needs to switch to a sniper rifle and put on a helmet, transforming the venue into a holographic projection—a more advanced and realistic training environment.

The targets become various types of pollutants. The rules of the simulation room state that within five minutes, the more pollutants you hit, the higher your score.

To Zhu Ning, it feels a bit like playing a game, making it even simpler.

After five minutes.

Zhu Ning puts down her gun, just in time to hear the shooting instructor announce the score: "Five minutes, 19 pollutants eliminated, tying the training room record."

Tied the record? That easy?

Before Zhu Ning can react, Li Nianchuan beside her is even more excited, "Zhu Ning! You tied the record!"

People around her keep whistling and clapping.

"Amazing!"

"Sharpshooter!"

Zhu Ning looks bewildered. She knew there were people around, but didn't expect so many. What's going on? A mini sports event?

"A mental value of 1200 is indeed impressive."

"I heard shooting requires stable mental focus; turns out it's true."

Zhu Ning listens and finds it reasonable. Athletes need strong hearts and stable minds. This explains why her mental value is so high.

"Such a promising talent, why isn't she a demon hunter? Otherwise, she'd be my junior sister."

"I hate!" A muscular man nearby clasps his heart.

After working for so long, Li Nianchuan feels a strange sense of pride for the first time. This is their cleaner! Zhu Ning really makes one feel at ease when she shoots.

"Excuse us," Li Nianchuan protects Zhu Ning as they move out, "we're heading to the next training room."

Zhu Ning walks out of the training room with a cold expression, but inside, she is confused. Just half an hour ago, everyone looked resentful; now they look happy, all because they watched her compete?

The people at the Cleaning Center are truly abnormal.

Once they exit the training room, Li Nianchuan's smile hasn't faded as he says, "Your shooting skills are really good."

Why did he assume Zhu Ning couldn't shoot when they first met?

Zhu Ning responds with an "Oh," casually saying, "I used to be a professional shooter."

The kind who would bring glory to the country.

Li Nianchuan: "?! "