Chapter 48 Business trip?
The thank-you reward Luze finally received was an extraordinary item, the white bone flute in Azik's hand.
"Infuse the flute with spiritual energy, blow it, and you'll summon a random undead creature for your command," Azik said. "It contains my blood, and you can use it freely the first three times. But after the third time, the spiritual energy in the blood will be exhausted. After that, the undead summoned will likely not obey your command unless you are stronger than them."
"How strong does it have to be to be able to use it at will?"
Lu Ze asked curiously.
"At least it's going to be mid-level."
Azik said, handing him the bone flute.
Lu Ze thanked him and took it. The bone-cutting flute felt very cold to the touch, a lustrous white with a hint of bright red running through it. That was probably Azik's blood.
After chatting with Azik for a few more words, Lu Ze stood up to say goodbye. He had come out under the pretext of practicing shooting at the shooting range, and if he stayed too long, it would be bad if they found him slacking off during work hours.
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Lu Ze took the public carriage back to Zouteland Street, got off early at the intersection, and walked a little further to dissipate the cigar smoke. When he walked into the Blackthorn Security Company, he found that everyone was there, and everyone's face was full of joy.
What's going on?
"Did anything good happen?"
He curiously asked Luo Shan at the front desk.
"It's payday today!"
Luo Shan said to Lu Ze in disbelief, "I can't believe it! Lu Ze, you can actually forget even such a day. Go to the accountant, Mrs. Aureliana, to collect your share."
Oh, it's the weekly paycheck.
Lu Ze suddenly realized that today was Friday, the day when the Night Watchmen received their weekly pay. He hadn't received a paycheck in the past two weeks because he needed money to settle in when he joined the team. He had received two weeks' salary in advance, which meant that this was his first official paycheck.
"Then I'll go over."
He said with a smile, walking quickly behind the partition.
Mrs. Orianna, the team accountant, was in the first office on the right. She was a fashionable woman in her thirties, wearing a long, green ruffled dress that exuded an intellectual elegance that perfectly matched her gentle demeanor. When she glanced at Lu Ze, a friendly smile appeared in her emerald eyes.
"Good afternoon, ma'am."
Lu Ze had met her before when he got his salary advance. "I'm here to collect this week's salary."
"Okay, now it's just you and Dunn who are missing."
She took out a salary confirmation form, and sure enough, everyone else's position on it had been stamped, except for his and Captain Dunn's.
"Isn't the captain here?"
Lu Ze took out a seal from his wallet, dipped it in ink and stamped it, and asked.
"It seems he went to the church. The bishop wanted to discuss something with him."
Mrs. Orianna said, taking out a brass key, opening the safe in the room, and taking out two banknotes. "Lu Ze, I heard that you've been doing a lot of big things recently. At this rate, your salary may be increasing soon."
"May the goddess bless you, and I hope your blessing will take effect."
Lu Ze smiled.
The Nighthawks have a salary increase mechanism. Merits are recorded based on their contributions. When a certain amount is accumulated, salary increases are granted, and promotion opportunities are prioritized. Furthermore, the higher the Nighthawk's rank, the higher the base salary. Lu Ze currently earns the base salary of 6 pounds, but due to his recent outstanding performance, a raise is likely on the horizon.
Especially since he is not allowed to be promoted, the salary increase will be higher as compensation.
Luze took the salary from Mrs. Orianna, a total of two notes, one for 5 pounds and one for 1 pound. The 5-pound note had a portrait of Henry I printed on it, and the 1-pound note had a portrait of William VI printed on it. Both had similar faces, serious expressions, and thick beards.
Well, I've seen it several times, and I don't feel excited anymore.
Lu Ze put the two banknotes into his wallet and said to himself.
The salaries of the Night Hunters in Tingen City are paid equally by the Goddess Church and the Ahowa County Police Department. The Police Department also provides them with corresponding police identification. For example, Lu Ze currently has a trainee inspector uniform, which he can wear when investigating cases and makes it easier to question the public.
What's more, the wonderful thing about being a Night Watchman is that they don't have to pay taxes on their wages, and they get exactly what they deserve.
Lu Ze put his salary away and took a look at his wallet.
His previous salary advance had been almost entirely spent on rent, formal clothing for himself and his sister, and tuition. Fortunately, the house he later received from Old Neil not only covered the weekly rent but also left him with a surplus of 6 soli. Add to that the 50 pounds he received directly from the Lanevus case, and his financial situation improved significantly.
Lu Ze saved half of the money, kept the rest for himself, and gave about 3 pounds to his sister as pocket money. The little girl didn't know how to spend the money, and she was confused just looking at the banknotes.
But according to my colleagues, a Sequence 8 potion might cost upwards of 400 pounds, so I'd have to sell my house to afford it. Oh, by the way, I still have two magical items. The bell isn't very useful, so when the time comes to really need to spend money on potions, I might consider selling it.
Lu Ze calculated his assets while walking out of the partition.
As soon as he walked out of the partition, he heard a happy female voice, "Well done, you helped me vent my anger!"
Following the sound, he saw the plump Mrs. Pound sitting in the hall, beaming with joy as she praised the Blackthorn Security Company's outstanding capabilities. Leonard, sitting opposite her, smiled awkwardly and made a perfunctory remark.
"Okay, I won't disturb you from working anymore. Here, this is the rest of your commission, plus my extra tip."
Mrs. Pound generously took out the remaining balance of 7 pounds and a 5-pound note from her wallet.
"Ma'am, your generosity is impressive."
Leonard praised, his tone becoming much more sincere.
When Mrs. Pound heard him say this, she couldn't help but smile even more brightly.
"Hahahaha! That's because I suddenly got a huge sum of money. My idiot husband committed suicide in prison because he felt ashamed! Not only did I get the entire inheritance, but I also received a large pension from the company. This little tip I gave you is nothing!"
She laughed a few more times, and suddenly felt something was wrong, because Leonard and Lu Ze's expressions were too serious.
"You mean, Mr. Pound, dead?"
Leonard asked, forcing a hard smile.
"Yeah, I heard from the police that the idiot made a rope out of a bed sheet and hanged himself in prison." Mrs. Pound had no sympathy for her husband. "He deserved it! I'm going to spend all his money and use his wallet to support my gigolo."
After sending Mrs. Pound out of the security company, Leonard and Lu Ze looked at each other.
"Do you believe that Mr. Pound committed suicide?"
"How is that possible?"
No matter how you look at it, he was silenced.
At this moment, the company door was opened again and Dunn Smith hurried in.
"team leader."
The two men approached, and Leonard said, "Mr. Pound has been silenced."
"I already know."
Dunn nodded and said, "Not only him, but other senior executives in the company who knew about the incident also committed suicide that same night."
Just as the two were shocked by each other's reckless actions, Lu Ze saw Dunn shift his gaze to him.
"Lu Ze, are you interested in a business trip?"
He asked.