Chapter 6: B-Rank Hero

The anomaly destroyed the elevated highway ahead, causing the bus to slow down.

The bus was now in chaos, with everyone shouting at the driver to get to the rear control room and quickly reverse direction, away from the anomaly.

People were panicking, terrified they might die any second. Among them were those who had lived through the world war, making them even more appreciative of their lives.

Amid the commotion, the bus’s PA system made an announcement.

“Dear passengers, please remain calm. The anomaly ahead is approximately of Spirit level. A hero has already been dispatched. The bus is making an emergency stop and will reverse direction shortly. Please rest assured.”

Anomalies were classified based on the energy response of their bodies. Detection devices had been installed worldwide, from high-rise buildings to ordinary vehicles. While not always accurate, these devices were generally reliable.

Anomalies were classified into six levels: God, Demon, Spirit, Nether, Monster, and Human. Correspondingly, heroes are ranked O, X, S, A, B, C. The hero and anomaly levels were aligned, serving as a baseline for heroes handling anomalies. 

Generally, it was not recommended to fight anomalies of a higher level unless necessary.

Hearing that an A-rank hero was on the way to handle the anomaly, the previously panicked crowd fell into a brief silence.

Suddenly, the panic disappeared, and the crowd began to cheer. They were excited and thrilled.

In times of danger, nothing brought more joy than the knowledge that a hero was coming to save them.

“Haha! A hero is here to save us! Go, hero!”

“Wow! I can’t believe I’m on the same bus as a hero! What an honor!”

“Where’s the hero? I must get a photo with them!”

The previous panic had turned into jubilation. The contrast was striking.

Shi Ji sat on the side, listening to the voices, and laughed mockingly. People these days were truly strange.

To Shi Ji, being a professional hero meant being in the spotlight and receiving admiration. Many heroes exploited this for their own gain. While Shi Ji needed money, he would never resort to such things. Being a hero had its benefits but also brought some troubles. For some, being revered was elevating. For others, being surrounded by people was a nuisance, especially for someone who enjoyed peace and quiet.

Whenever heroes were mentioned, Shi Ji thought of the girl who had disappeared from beside him. He had taken a few extra looks at her because she was a special Star Hero, not just because of her beauty.

The announcement mentioned that a hero had already gone to deal with the anomaly. It might be her.

“I didn’t expect an anomaly close to Spirit level to appear here. Quite surprising. But relying on her alone might not be enough. Maybe I should go take a look?”

With that, Shi Ji stood up and headed towards the door with his belongings.

At the door, a bus attendant stood. Seeing Shi Ji approach, she asked, “Sir, is there anything I can help you with?”

Her attitude was very polite.

Shi Ji got straight to the point, “Please open the door. I need to go out.”

The attendant was taken aback, “Sir, it’s dangerous outside. The bus will soon reverse direction. You should stay inside.”

She found Shi Ji’s request bizarre, especially given the current situation, and had no time for further questions.

Seeing her reaction, Shi Ji understood she wouldn’t open the door. Without saying another word, he kicked the door.