Awakening The Weakest Talent: Only I Level Up

Zhao Qingya and Lu Yu made their way to the office area in the city center. A designated section housed staff for the hunting team.

Two armored guards stood guard at the entrance, their eyes scanning their surroundings vigilantly.

"Hey, Old Zhao," the guard on the left addressed his partner. "What's for dinner after work? Kebabs sound good, don't they?"

The other guard replied curtly, "Let's discuss that later. The city's been on edge lately. Keep your eyes peeled, and don't let any troublemakers slip in!"

"Dedicated, aren't we? But what's the point with the Black Gold City hunting team lacking a leader?"

"Word on the street is the mayor's arriving soon."

"Yeah, right. She's never set foot in the Black Gold City hunting team. This ain't her turf; it's the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce's playground. There's no way she'll show up."

"Except..." the guard trailed off, gesturing towards Zhao Qingya approaching in the distance.

Zhao Qingya quickened her pace. The two guards instantly dropped to a half-kneel, their voices filled with respect.

"Greetings, Mayor Zhao! Welcome back to Black Gold City!"

"Brief me on the recent situation in the city," Zhao Qingya instructed the guards.

"Things aren't looking good," one replied. "External threats have caused the city's economy to plummet, leading to a rise in criminal activity. We've apprehended five or six thieves attempting to sneak in and steal just in the last two days."

Zhao Qingya acknowledged their report with a slight nod. "I understand. The situation appears bleak. I'm here to address these issues."

With that, she entered the courtyard briskly. The guards rose, a hint of unease lingering in their eyes.

"The mayor herself in Black Gold City? It looks like something big is brewing outside the city walls!"

…...

Inside, Zhao Qingya wasted no time requesting an audience with the chief manager.

"There should be a chief steward overseeing the various departments within the hunting team. I only need to see him."

She then turned to Lu Yu. "I'll be listening to work reports for a while. Care to join?"

With nothing pressing on his schedule and the lateness of the hour, Lu Yu readily agreed.

"Lead the way, then."

As they reached the office building, the chief steward, a man clad in a black coat and white shirt, emerged. He wasn't particularly tall, possessing a lean build that conveyed a sense of vigor in his energetic gait.

"Lord Mayor Zhao! You actually came!" He exclaimed, a delighted smile spreading across his face.

"Drop the honorific," Zhao Qingya quipped in.

"No problem at all, Mayor Zhao. Are you here for a work inspection? We haven't seen you in a while. How long do you plan to stay for this visit?" He inquired obsequiously.

"Haven't you figured out why I'm here yet?" Zhao Qingya shot back, a hint of impatience in her voice.

The person faltered. "Uh... could it be... is it about the incident with the public funds I used to buy a house a while back?" He darted a nervous glance at Zhao Qingya, a sheen of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"Of course not! The rampaging dragons outside the city are my primary concern."

"Oh, so there's more to this conversation," Zhao Qingya continued. "Did you or did you not embezzle public funds?"

The chief steward instantly crumbled. "Forgive me, Lord Mayor! I was wrong, terribly wrong! I'll rectify my mistakes this instant! Please, have mercy!"

"Dealing with you is a waste of time. I have bigger issues at hand," Zhao Qingya dismissed dismissively.

"These 'bigger issues' involve the rampaging dragons outside the city, correct? Shouldn't the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce handle that?" The steward inquired, regaining his composure slightly. "It's none of our concern."

"They're failing miserably!"

"Failing miserably? Then can we handle it?" The steward grew serious. "We have the capability, of course."

"Oh! You must have brought substantial backup with you then. Did you bring the hunting team's elite imperial team?"

Zhao Qingya shook her head slightly. "Just one person accompanies me."

"One person? That's not even enough to plug the gaps between the dragon's teeth!" The steward sputtered, his gaze landing on Lu Yu. "Is he the one you mentioned?"

A small nod from Zhao Qingya confirmed his suspicion. "Yes, and he alone is more than enough to overpower your entire Royal Team!"

"Heavens! You must be out of your mind! Do you even know his background?" The steward sputtered, disbelief lacing his voice.

"Explanations are unnecessary. You only need to know two things: he's the new deputy mayor, and your superior!"

Zhao Qingya's pronouncement nearly sent the steward into a frenzy. He stumbled back a few steps, eyes wide, as he looked at Lu Yu.

"Deputy Mayor? Why wasn't I informed? Why the sudden change?"

Lu Yu, unimpressed, retorted, "Do you think you deserve to be informed?"

"Of course not..." The steward stammered. "Understood. My name is Zhang Kai, the chief steward here, number one in command!"

He extended a hand towards Lu Yu, a forced smile plastered on his face.

"Lu Yu, the new deputy mayor. You'll answer to both Mayor Zhao's orders and mine."

"Yes sir! Absolutely clear." Zhang Kai straightened, his voice laced with newfound respect.

"Now, we require a work report. Briefly outline the current situation here."

Lu Yu cut him off before he could launch into a lengthy explanation. "Skip the details. Give us the gist."

Zhang Kai, clearly flustered, stammered, "The gist... Well, our men encountered a dragon outside the city on their patrol. They were scared back, that's all."

He stole a glance at Zhao Qingya, unsure if that was sufficient.

"Is that all?" she inquired, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

"Pretty much… The Black Gold Chamber of Commerce handles everything else, you see."

Zhao Qingya waved a dismissive hand. "Then tell us about the city's situation. Focus on Yi Tianjing, the Chamber of Commerce president, and his rival, Boss Han."

"Certainly. Everyone knows Yi Tianjing. He leads the Chamber of Commerce, a powerful family with numerous experts. They've even tamed several ferocious dragons! The Yi family reigns supreme in Black Gold City; that's undeniable."

"As for Boss Han, his real name is Han Qun. He might not be the strongest, but he's a master at accumulating wealth. His connections with major forces across various cities make him untouchable by Yi Tianjing."

"These two have been locked in a bitter rivalry for years. It's a constant dance of love and hate, a fight that never truly erupts."

Zhao Qingya nodded in understanding. "So, the city seems relatively stable. We can concentrate on the dragons outside."

"Indeed. We should devise a plan to confront them. Each member should take on at least one dragon, but that's still not enough manpower," Zhang Kai lamented, spreading his hands helplessly.

"What do you mean?" Lu Yu questioned. "Is there a need to split the dragons?"