Lu Ze froze for a second upon hearing Dunn's invitation to join the team.
"Are you… inviting me to become a Nighthawk?" He suspected he had misheard and asked again to confirm.
"That's right."
"But you said before that my Pathway was very dangerous. Is it really appropriate for me to join your team?"
"As long as it's properly controlled, danger can be avoided." Dunn's eyes flickered. "Or do you actually prefer a life of being supervised?"
"Not at all."
Lu Ze shook his head decisively. "I just feel it's too sudden, and I'm a bit… at a loss."
"Haha, so that's it."
Dunn chuckled upon hearing this. "There are two main reasons for inviting you to join the team. The first is pure sympathy for your situation and Cecilia's; I hope you two can have a better life. The second is that your abilities and Sequence are very useful to us. Currently, Secrets Supplicants on our side are extremely rare. Especially since your performance last night was very impressive. It could be said that if it weren't for you, we would have lost two team members. Inviting you to join our Nighthawks is also my way of expressing gratitude."
That seemed to make sense.
Lu Ze nodded and looked at Cecilia. "Sister, what do you think?"
"I'll listen to you," Cecilia said. "Either choice is fine, as long as we're not separated."
Sister, you should think about it too.
Lu Ze was a bit helpless and could only ponder the pros and cons.
The two choices Dunn offered each had their advantages and disadvantages.
If he chose to be protected and supervised, the benefit would be higher safety, and he might live a stable life. However, he would likely bid farewell to freedom in the future. He had originally thought of being a copywriter, which would certainly not be allowed under such circumstances. Not only that, he had already witnessed how insane those cultists were. In the most extreme case, those protecting him might not be able to keep them safe.
As for becoming a Nighthawk, the advantages were greater freedom, official backing, and more opportunities to learn about the mystical world—perhaps even finding a way to return. Moreover, he would receive a stable salary. Although he didn't know the exact amount, seeing how well-dressed and rosy-cheeked the Nighthawks were, they were at least free from worries about food and clothing.
As for the disadvantages… it would involve encountering danger. For example, like last night, running into frenzied and out-of-control cultists, or other unforeseen accidents.
But the first option also carried dangers. If he became a Nighthawk, at least he would have teammates to rely on. Furthermore, Lu Ze also had that ethereal, unknown entity that could protect his spirit, making him much safer than an ordinary Secrets Supplicant.
Thinking of this, he looked up.
"Any other questions?"
Dunn asked.
"I'd like to ask, if I join the team, what will my main daily work be, and what are the salary and benefits?"
Lu Ze asked frankly.
"Nighthawks are mainly responsible for handling Beyonder cases related to the Goddess's followers. Specifically for our Nighthawks team in Tingen City, there are usually one to two cases each month. And these cases are relatively simple; what you encountered yesterday was a very rare situation."
"If you join the team, you will serve as an auxiliary member among the official team members, participating in work. You won't need to actively engage in combat but will provide services such as divination, spiritualism, and various rituals for the team. Haha, of course, this part will involve professional training for you."
"As for the salary, I can give you a reference. Klein Moretti, whom you met, just started a few weeks ago. He is a Sequence 9 auxiliary member. Currently, his weekly salary totals around 6 pounds, and it will gradually increase each year."
6 pounds a week?
Lu Ze raised an eyebrow. This was much higher than he had imagined. An ordinary worker in Tingen City, working a full week, would earn no more than one pound. This Nighthawk salary was equivalent to earning fifteen or sixteen thousand in a city where the average income was three or four thousand. However, considering the potential dangers of the job, this salary seemed very reasonable.
But no matter what, with this money, he would be able to support his sister and live a prosperous life.
"That's pretty much all I can tell you for now; other details will have to wait until you join the team," Dunn added. "I'm not forcing you to agree. You can consider it and then give me your final answer. After all, once you join the team, your future life might take a completely different path."
After speaking, his gray eyes calmly looked at Lu Ze, without any hint of urgency.
Lu Ze thought for a moment, then turned his head to Cecilia. "How much do you earn for gluing a basket of matchboxes?"
Cecilia paused, then replied, "It used to be two and a quarter pence, but I haven't done any piecework recently, so I don't know the latest price."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ze was silent for a few seconds before smiling. "Throw away that brush, we won't need it anymore."
With that, he stood up and extended his hand to Dunn. "I wish to join the Nighthawks team."
"Welcome."
Dunn also smiled and shook his hand.
His palm was warm and strong.
— — — —
Two days later, in the morning, Narcissus Street 6.
Lu Ze, in a brand-new suit, stood in his newly rented house, looking at himself in the mirror.
Having shed his usual restrictive clothes, his handsome face, coupled with well-tailored garments, made him exceptionally attractive. However, there still seemed to be a hint of gloom and sickliness in his brows, adding a peculiar temperament to him.
A bit too eye-catching, he thought.
Lu Ze thought to himself.
After deciding to join the team that day, Dunn had Mrs. Orianna, the team's accountant, advance him two weeks' salary as a settling-in allowance. Lu Ze didn't decline; after all, the two siblings currently only possessed a single broken suitcase, and he urgently needed money to settle his sister and himself.
So, for the next two days, he rented a house, bought clothes for himself and his sister, and acquired necessary items. It wasn't until today that everything was sorted out, and he had time to report to the team.
Lu Ze took a top hat from the coat rack and placed it on his head, then called upstairs, "Are you ready?"
A timid figure appeared at the top of the stairs; it was Cecilia, wearing a new dress, carrying a book bag in her hand.
"Do we really have to go?"
She was a bit uneasy.
"I've already paid your tuition, how can you not go?" Lu Ze said with a smile, patting Cecilia's shoulder. "Just pay attention in class, my sister is so smart, it'll definitely be fine."
That's right, starting today, Cecilia was going to school.
Before the family's misfortune, his sister had been attending middle school at the Goddess's church school, with excellent grades. If she could graduate successfully, she would likely find a good job. However, to take care of Lu Ze, she had to drop out and return, confined to the small room in their apartment.
As a Celestial Empire native, Lu Ze's emphasis on education was ingrained in him. Now that conditions allowed, he had to arrange everything for his sister; no matter what, she had to finish her studies. So, with Dunn's connections, Cecilia easily regained her student status and officially returned to school.
"But Lu Ze, do you really not need me to take care of you anymore?"
Cecilia was quite happy to return to school but was still somewhat hesitant, worried about Lu Ze having an episode.
"My illness is cured, haven't you seen it? It hasn't recurred for so long." Lu Ze confidently patted his chest. "Alright, let's go quickly, you don't want to be late on your first day of school, do you?"
Cecilia then happily left the house.
After seeing his sister off, it was time for Lu Ze to report to the team.
Back to work today, so the update is late, hope everyone understands.
Damn it! Why isn't there a job that pays without working!
patreon.com/Itsdragonking for more chapters if you join you will get chapter up to chaper 40 titled God's Chosen