NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: 13: Strength Questioned – You Two Can Come Together
"Bei Feng? Are you up yet? Do you remember I told you the leader wanted to see us?"
Wang Hai's rough voice came from outside the door. Bei Feng quickly tidied himself up and stepped out.
"Of course, I remember. I don't want to stay in this lousy rental any longer, and I definitely don't want to stay in the patrol squad either."
Bei Feng shook his head helplessly, complaining a little. Wang Hai looked at Bei Feng with a trace of envy in his eyes.
"Awakening such a powerful ability… If the higher-ups still keep you in the patrol squad, that would truly be a waste of talent."
Wang Hai seemed to have more to say, but in the end, he held back.
Together, they traveled for half an hour before arriving at the district's council hall.
As soon as they entered, they saw eight squad captains seated evenly on both sides of the hall, with the chief of District 175 sitting at the center.
Bei Feng was originally just a patrol member of the third squad in District 175—a low-ranking, dangerous, and poorly paid position. If not for that, he wouldn't have taken up video editing to make ends meet.
"Chief! I've brought my brother here to meet you. He's the one—he single-handedly killed a whole group of B-rank demons and awakened an incredibly strong ability!"
As Bei Feng's close friend, Wang Hai made sure to say everything on his behalf, knowing Bei Feng wasn't good at handling such situations.
"A whole group of B-rank demons? I had all the demon corpses counted. There were exactly forty-six B-rank demons and twenty-three C-rank demons."
The captain of the second squad spoke with a sarcastic tone that made Bei Feng uncomfortable.
"What?! Just him? That's impossible! Don't joke around!"
The first squad captain burst into laughter, unable to contain himself. He had never heard such a ridiculous statement in his life.
A mere ordinary person, who had just awakened an ability, achieving such an unbelievable feat?
Single-handedly slaying forty-six B-rank demons and twenty-three C-rank demons?
Even in dreams, that would be too exaggerated.
Bei Feng understood their reaction. After all, he had been in the patrol squad for three years. The label of an "ordinary person" was deeply ingrained in their minds.
Aside from the captains of the first and second squads, who frequently fought demons, the others remained silent.
The district chief's expression remained unchanged. The claim was simply too absurd.
Typically, an A-rank ability user could hold their ground against three B-rank demons at most. Killing them? That was nearly impossible.
And now, Bei Feng, who had only just awakened his ability, had slain forty-six B-rank demons and twenty-three C-rank demons alone?
Not just the district chief—this was something even the minister of the Eastern Division had never heard of. No, perhaps the entire Human Alliance had never encountered such an event.
Even the district chief himself couldn't accomplish such a feat.
For Bei Feng's newly awakened ability to reach S-rank…
Only an S-rank ability user could massacre B-rank demons with ease.
The gap between S-rank and B-rank was an insurmountable divide.
Such powerful individuals were rare, even within the Human Alliance.
"Bei Feng, my young friend, truly a hero in his youth! What an impressive feat! May I see your ability?"
Although the district chief harbored great doubts, he maintained a respectful demeanor.
Ignoring the hostile gazes from some of the captains, Bei Feng calmly drew a black blade from his back and held it across his chest.
"This black blade is my ability. You may call it 'Anime Manifestation.' For now, this is the only weapon I can summon."
Only then did the others shift their attention from Bei Feng to the unassuming yet heavy-looking black blade.
"This blade doesn't look simple at all."
Curious, the district chief stood up and approached Bei Feng, extending his withered hand to touch the blade's surface.
The moment his fingers made contact—
A surge of overwhelming murderous intent flooded his mind, as if a vast ocean of blood had erupted before him.
What terrifying hostility!
The district chief's heart trembled, his gaze toward Bei Feng filled with newfound mystery.
As an A-rank ability user who had fought in the Eastern Division for decades, he had slain over a thousand demons.
Yet, the bloodlust emanating from this black blade was ten thousand times greater than anything he had ever experienced.
By his estimation, this blade had existed for centuries, perhaps even millennia, and had claimed countless lives.
Swallowing instinctively, the district chief's composed facade crumbled.
Bei Feng simply smiled. This reaction was within his expectations.
The strongest black blade in the One Piece world—how could it be just an empty name?
Before Bei Feng could speak, the first squad captain sneered once again.
"I refuse to accept this! Why should he represent our district in the competition? Haven't my brother and I contributed enough over the years?"
"Chief, you're too gullible! How could this kid possibly slaughter B-rank demons? Just because of this worthless blade?"
The second squad captain slammed the table, glaring at the district chief and muttering under his breath:
"Senile fool!"
The other captains remained silent, as if they had anticipated this confrontation.
Competition?
What competition?
Bei Feng looked at the district chief in confusion. He had no idea what they were talking about.
"Chief, what competition? Why don't I know anything about this?"
"Damn! Chief, you didn't even tell him?!"
The second squad captain cursed outright, his frustration peaking. The first squad captain smirked and shook his head.
"Our district already lacks resources. If we don't secure a good ranking in the Eastern Division's competition, our district will eventually be overrun by demons. Chief, you're being too reckless."
Bei Feng took a deep breath. From the beginning, these two captains hadn't looked at him seriously even once. Their blatant disdain made him extremely uncomfortable.
"Captains, are you questioning my strength?"
Bei Feng's cold tone instantly dropped the temperature of the council hall to freezing. The room fell into dead silence—even Wang Hai didn't step in.
He knew his brother's temper too well.
"We're only considering the district's resources. After all, you just awakened your ability…"
Before the first squad captain could finish, the short-tempered second squad captain shoved him aside and spoke disdainfully.
"That's right! We don't believe in your strength! I don't know how you deceived the chief, but you won't fool us!"
The district chief, who had been silent, finally chuckled. Placing his hands behind his back, he gently shook his head.
"Since that's the case, why don't you have a match? But remember—hold back a little."
The first and second squad captains exchanged delighted glances.
"Don't worry, Chief. We know our limits. If we break him, there won't be anyone left to patrol."
Little did they know, the chief's words weren't meant for them—but for Bei Feng.
Bei Feng calmly looked at the two captains, who were brimming with excitement. His right hand gripped the black blade's hilt tightly.
"You two can come together. It'll save me the trouble of swinging my blade twice."