Labeled a Faker while Reporting
There were many monsters in this realm. However, Cui Xuefeng avoided them all by blurring perception, scent, and mana, and using his senses to avoid them directly. In his whole journey, he never resolved to fight a single monster. It wasn't because he was unable to. It was simply to avoid trouble. It was also to save his mana. He still needed a lot of it when he left.
When he reached the invisible crack he stepped through it just as he came in. However, the moment he stepped through he twisted his mana and shot it out around him. There was a particular little 'gift' in the storm. When he stepped through the crack collapsed behind him.
He didn't have the mana capacity right now to heal it properly, but that wouldn't be a problem soon.
Cui Xuefeng had already put back on his pants and shoes. His underwear, shirt, and hair were slightly singed. While at the volcano, some of the heat passed through his shield. However, he didn't add more mana to block against it. This much was still tolerable. Instead, he saved it to close the portal. When he closed the portal he had only 10% of his mana left. It really made him uncomfortable. He had already recovered a bit while inside the realm. On Earth, the recovery speed dropped because he needed to filter most of it out.
The monster stopped howling when the crack collapsed. He carried it away and went to the nearest cafe. He put the monster under the table as he sat down.
A waiter came up to him while staring at the cage, "What can I get for you?" He spoke to Cui Xuefeng but his eyes watched the tentacles through the bars.
Cui Xuefeng ignored the waiter's distraction. He looked at the menu to check for something within the price range he still had. There were only a couple hundred yuan left. "Double chocolate shake and your special."
The waiter was only surprised for a moment. He quickly took the order and hurried off. When he came to hand over the food he kept his feet a distance away and didn't step right up to the table to set it down. The monster also got some attention from others in the restaurant, but it wasn't an unusual sight nowadays.
He took his time eating. An hour later his stomach was satiated and he'd recovered some mana. He paid and took the cage to leave. He walked towards a business building. Most businesses now catered to Novus. That meant adventurers could go there for business. Like the shop he borrowed the monster from. It was now a sticker on the door along with whether they take debit or credit cards. However, the shop he went to earlier was just an electronics shop. This one was for official documentation.
There was a long line inside. He lined up for 40 minutes before he finally reached the counter.
The man at the desk looked him over and said, "Sir, you cannot have this here." He motioned to the monster.
"I'm here to make a report. They need the monster to confirm the records, right?"
"No, just show them your monster's certificate and fill in your information."
"I borrowed it from a shop. Also-"
"The shops' information and monster number will be fine." He interrupted. "Please come back without the monster." He tried to lead him off.
"I was told portals needed to be reported as soon as possible, no matter what?" Cui Xuefeng didn't move.
The man frowned and looked him up and down. "Portal? Are you sure?" He didn't believe him.
Cui Xuefeng reached into his bag and pulled out a fist-sized Orange Roze Obsidian, a pumice stone, and an unusual leafy plant. "She was howling for the whole time I was inside. If this is not the proper place to make a report, please point me in the right direction."
The man looked carefully at what Cui Xuefeng brought out. Then he looked at him again, Cui Xuefeng's shirt looked a lot like the material had started to melt. He'd taken it for a decoration or an odd stain before. Then he stood up and looked at his pants. He frowned. He looked at the Orange Rose Obsidian again. He was more open to believing that this was someone who wanted to fake it to get the rewards than believing an idiot who went to his counter would have come across a portal using a borrowed, low-quality mana-recording monster. But looking at his face, he didn't seem to be seeking glory. It would be easier for him to be a model or something if he wanted attention.
The man gave up. Whatever the case, it wasn't his problem. He picked up the office phone and dialed a speed dial. He told the situation to the other side and hung up. Then he looked back up at the boy and pointed him down the hall, "Wait in the meeting room three doors down. Someone will come for you."
Cui Xuefeng thanked him and calmly walked away. As usual, he ignored the stares and chatter that followed him.
Half an hour later a bulky man showed up. He threw open the door.. His eyes settled on the calm young man sitting at the table. Cui Xuefeng put away his phone and stood up. He had been studying languages. He turned and nodded to the man.
Seeing his intimidation tactic having no effect, the man looked him over more closely. He quickly caught the melting spot on the polyester shirt and the rubber at the bottom of his shoes. He reached out to shake his hand, "I'm Clay Wallace. You're the one who found the portal?"
Cui Xuefeng returned the handshake. When their hands touched, Clay pushed mana out of the palm of his hand. It didn't have any element, it was just mana. He was testing to see whether Cui Xuefeng was an awakener. Through the barriers and habit, there was no response from the man's detection.
"It's against regulations to leave the portal site before calling it in." The large man stood and folded his arms.
Cui Xuefeng didn't respond. It was only regulation when the portal was still open. The finder was to leave to a safe distance and keep an eye on it, warning those who tried to come near. However, this wasn't used much as the authorities usually arrive within the minute when a portal is called in. Easily found portals are dangerous. Cracks like the portal Cui Xuefeng entered were all over the city. He found this out when he sent out mana initially to search the area. Cracks aren't dangerous as long as whatever is inside doesn't stumble into them. However, this man had already decided that Cui Xuefeng wasn't an awakener. If Cui Xuefeng insisted he had closed the portal on his own, then the man would truly take him as an idiot trying to trick the system. He may leave directly at that point. Or even slap some cuffs on him.