014: Promoted to Private Second Class, do to me again what you did last time.

After discovering that he could farm collection tasks through the system, Li Cha uncovered a new feature: appraisal.

Everything he owned could be sold to the system.

The system calculated prices through a rather unscrupulous logic, leaving Li Cha to decide whether to sell or not.

For instance, Li Cha’s stamina was worthless, taking two whole hours to earn a single copper coin.

Mary’s time, on the other hand, was quite valuable—twelve copper coins per hour.

So far, Li Cha’s most profitable transaction had been selling Freya’s time.

Clearly, the stronger and more important the “item,” the better the price it could fetch.

Therefore, among the large amounts of intelligence priced at zero copper coins, the few valuable pieces were guaranteed to be authentic.

Li Cha asked, “Who is Mirach?”

Mary replied, “A knight of the Saint An Knight Order, which also falls under Military Intelligence Department Six.”

[The List Provided by Falken #23]: Mirach, a comrade of Hutton, valued at one silver coin.

…

A knight could barely be considered nobility.

But at the lowest tier—without land, no hereditary rights—it was merely a title without substance.

So valuing his name at one silver coin made sense.

However, Li Cha believed, "Mirach isn’t the biggest fish yet."

Earlier, the statement “Hutton did not betray Military Intelligence Department Six” was valued at five silver coins.

Logically, values should increase down this line.

If it goes down instead, it means Mirach is just peripheral on this thread.

“How did you know? How did you figure it out?!”

With no point in playing dumb anymore, the traitorous dwarf Hutton roared.

Li Cha adopted a devout pose and said, “I told you, it’s the guidance of Her Majesty the Goddess.”

Falken stepped forward. “I’ll go secure Mirach first. That bastard used to pilfer petty things, but I turned a blind eye since he worked hard. Yet he dared to betray Military Intelligence Department Six!”

Mary said, “We can leave now too.”

Li Cha nodded.

The traitor Hutton shouted, “Come back!”

Li Cha didn’t even glance at him, casually waving his hand in dismissal.

…

In the dim underground passage, a man and a woman walked side by side.

Mary asked, “How did you do it?”

Li Cha replied, “Was it difficult?”

Mary said, “You can start by taking your hands off my waist before answering.”

“Oh, got a little carried away—please don’t mind, Officer Mary.”

After leaving the cell, Li Cha naturally wrapped his arm around Mary’s soft waist again.

“This is my ability, Officer.”

“Let go.”

“Alright.”

This time Li Cha truly released her, silently giving himself a mental thumbs-up.

Everything is tradable.

His understanding of this phrase deepened.

Transactions could be linked to commission tasks.

This gave Li Cha a plan to survive the early weak stages.

Trading could also connect to interrogation.

Thus, Li Cha could become a professional interrogator within Military Intelligence Department Six.

This was good news.

After all, intelligence agents rarely had happy endings.

He was happily pondering this when everything went black again.

That familiar sensation, that familiar hood—Li Cha was being taken out of the secret prison.

…

One hour later.

Li Cha arrived at the office of the owner of Maple Leaf Detective Agency.

Mary escorted him in and then quietly closed the door.

Major Freya from Military Intelligence Department Six was working diligently at her desk.

With a single command, “Sit,”

On the coffee table beside the sofa lay a freshly brewed cup of calming flower tea, a commission document, and a palm-sized personal ID stamped with the Seal of the Redwood Empire.

[Name: Li Cha.
Age: 20.
Place of Origin: Snowforest City.
Position: Second-Class Investigator, Military Intelligence Department Six, Imperial Tribunal.]

…

Li Cha had been promoted.

At the same time, his personal stats showed his attack power increased by 10.

Grasping his beginner’s sword, Li Cha’s total attack power reached 37 points!

Wasn’t this more satisfying than leveling up by slaying monsters?

It also resolved the problem of his identity and origins.

Li Cha had inexplicably transmigrated.

If someone with ill intent targeted him, it would be easy to track him down.

Now, with the backing of Military Intelligence Department Six, as long as he didn’t overreach, no one would exploit this.

“Thank you, Officer!”

Li Cha expressed his gratitude.

Behind the rectangular desk, Freya put down her pen and said, “You earned this.”

Beside Freya was also a cup of calming flower tea. She took a sip without changing her expression.

Under the desk, one long leg crossed over the other as she continued, “Li Cha.”

“Yes!”

Li Cha stood and saluted.

Freya said, “Where did you learn that military salute? Go back and have Mary teach you properly.”

Li Cha slowly lowered his right arm.

“Our first meeting might have been somewhat unpleasant, but you should understand that for an ordinary adventurer, joining Military Intelligence Department Six is no easy feat.”

Freya briefly explained the military rank system within the forces.

From the lowest Private, after the rookie period, one automatically becomes Third-Class Private.

Then Second-Class Private, First-Class Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel...

“You performed excellently during the interrogation of the traitor Hutton, so you are now a Second-Class Private.

Your monthly salary is eight silver coins. If you want to continue living at the Old Shock Tavern, your accommodation is free. Otherwise, the Sixth Department will cover half your rent.”

A monthly salary of eight silver coins equaled 800 copper coins.

For a level-three rookie like Li Cha, this was a fortune.

Even with his taste for quality, 200 copper coins was enough for rent alone.

With half covered by Military Intelligence Department Six, Li Cha had a full 700 copper coins of discretionary income every month.

This was better than most residents in the outer city; Li Cha had no complaints.

Freya said, “Knight Mirach of the Knight Order has also been arrested. You will continue to handle the Hutton case; strive to root out all the toxins within the Sixth Department.”

Li Cha: “Yes.”

“Oh, you said Hutton had a patron within the Sixth Department, right?”

Freya pulled out her notebook, displaying a blank page with five names written on it.

“Take a look. Which one do you think is Hutton’s patron?”

*Ding dong*~

Notification: Tradable items have been refreshed. Please pay attention promptly.

…

Li Cha silently opened the system and scanned from left to right.

Five names, three with zero value.

Of the remaining two, one was worth three silver coins, the other thirty silver coins!

Then Li Cha pointed at them respectively: “This person probably has some connection to Hutton in the dungeon, but if we’re talking about a patron, it’s likely the one in the middle.”

“Good, I understand.”

Freya tore off the paper with the names. “You haven’t seen these names before, nor have you discussed them with me.”

Li Cha: “Understood.”

The more you know, the faster you die.

A simple truth.

“Do to me what you did last time, once more.”

Li Cha: “What?”

Freya said, “After a good night’s sleep, I’m feeling better.”