Chapter 158: Heroes’ Discount Policy

That day, all four of them encountered attacks from anomalies, but thankfully, none of them were seriously affected. They managed to handle the situation smoothly.

In the afternoon, the group met up, grabbed something to eat, and then found a nearby inn to stay for the night.

It was then that Shi Ji learned something important. During special periods like this, when heroes were actively on duty, the public had an obligation to cooperate with them. A public announcement had been made stating that, during such periods, heroes were entitled to significant discounts. Not only were their food and drink covered, but all hotels and inns were required to offer free accommodations to any hero.

Free lodging—this was music to Shi Ji’s ears. It meant saving even more money, which, for him, was fantastic news.

However, as they went to book their rooms, an awkward issue came up.

“I’m sorry, sir, but I couldn’t find any hero information for you in the Star Alliance’s system. We won’t be able to process a free room for you. Could you please double-check?” the receptionist said politely.

It was like a bolt of lightning struck Shi Ji’s brain. The realization hit him hard—he wasn’t registered as a hero.

“Could we possibly make an exception? He’s with us and has helped take down quite a few Yilei,” Lin Xinyan tried to help, speaking on Shi Ji’s behalf.

The receptionist, however, shook her head apologetically. 

“I’m terribly sorry, Miss Lin Xinyan. I’m just a staff member and have to follow the rules. I hope you understand.”

Standing off to the side, Shi Ji felt a surge of frustration. Since when did heroes get this kind of treatment? He had no idea.

“Never mind, I’ll just pay for a room. How much is it?”

“Our rates start at 200 yuan per night and go up to 1,000, depending on the room type. Which would you prefer?”

Ugh!

Shi Ji felt like coughing up blood. 

Two hundred yuan for a single night? This was daylight robbery! Even with the few thousand yuan he had on hand, he wouldn’t last long at these rates.

Everyone knew Shi Ji was strapped for cash. His poverty wasn’t exactly a secret.

Seeing his dilemma, Lin Xinyan stepped in. “Just get one room.”

She even pulled out her gold card to cover the cost.​

Shi Ji froze for a moment. “Xinyan, actually, you—”

“What are you thinking?” Xinyan interrupted him before he could finish. “You’ll still have to pay me back later.”

She knew Shi Ji would refuse her help, so she put it that way to make it easier for him to accept.

In the end, Shi Ji finally agreed, promising to pay Xinyan back as soon as possible. Xinyan just smiled without saying anything.

On the way to his room, room key in hand, Shi Ji couldn’t help but ask about the hero discounts. He felt like paying 200 yuan for a room was too much of a rip-off.

“Wait, so heroes get this good of a deal now? How come the room I paid 200 yuan for is worse than the free rooms you guys get? Regular rooms versus high-end ones? That’s just too much!”

The more Shi Ji thought about it, the more upset he got. The four of them came together, yet he was the only one paying for a room—and it wasn’t even a nice one. Not only was he stuck in the standard section, but his room wasn’t even close to Xinyan and the others, who were in a different, more luxurious part of the hotel. It just felt unfair.

There wasn’t much to be done about it, though. Lin Xinyan had initially wanted to book Shi Ji a nicer room, but he had firmly refused. He just didn’t have the budget for it.

“Heroes represent justice and are constantly facing danger. Their safety is tied to the safety of the public. That’s why the authorities take supporting heroes very seriously. Look at how hero academies waive tuition, room, and board. That’s already a big deal. The free hotel rooms during special periods are just a small part of the benefits,” Lin Xinyan explained.

Chi Yang nodded and added, “Yeah, I’ve heard that next month they’re going to implement more reforms. Some new perks will be rolled out, and I heard they’re even raising hero salaries.”

As soon as Chi Yang finished speaking, Shi Ji’s hand clamped down on his shoulder, pressing down with some force.

Turning to look, Chi Yang saw Shi Ji staring in disbelief.

“Wait… salary? Heroes get a salary?” Shi Ji was dumbfounded.

Xing Yuxiu, standing nearby, scoffed, “Of course! Being a hero means fighting evil and risking your life. Without a salary, you’d starve to death. You really didn’t know?”

Shi Ji, still in shock, shook his head with a bitter smile. “Nope. I had no idea.”