The four people in the living room turned towards the entrance. A young man in a white suit stood shoulder-to-shoulder with an elegant woman in office attire. The man had ear-length, curly blond hair. Its sides swooped upwards like eaves. Dressed head-to-toe in pure white, he wore a wide-brimd hat and clutched a silver baton.
A trace of mocking amusent seed to permanently curl the young man’s lip. His deep blue eyes occasionally glinted with mischief. A wild and unstoppable charm blended into his gentlemanly style, leaving a powerful first impression.
Unlike her partner’s lighthearted flamboyance, the beautiful woman wearing a fitted blazer and pencil skirt held a stern expression. Lustrous, ink-black hair was coiled into a cloud-like bun atop her head. Her rigid face radiated seriousness as she occasionally lifted her gold-rimd glasses with a finger. Her dark eyes unconsciously revealed a hint of arrogance as she gazed coolly at the group.
“I am Silver rcury. You may call
‘Yin.'” Yin gave a slight bow and gestured, his tone light and amused. “The lovely lady beside
is Liza.” He continued with a faint smile, “First, congratulations to all four of you. You passed our assessnt. Next, we will take you aboard an airship destined for Watt City, departing teor Street.”
“When will our tribes get the promised supplies?” The one-eyed man with facial scars demanded in a deep, gravelly voice.
“Rest easy now,” Yin reassured them. “Once you sign your employnt contracts aboard the airship, the organization will uphold its promise imdiately. Resource trucks have already been transferred to the teor Street Council of Elders. Furthermore, work to find foster families for your dependents in the outside world will comnce right away.” As he spoke, Yin’s gaze swept briefly across Qin Lun.
They had reviewed Qin Lun’s information files again last night. His request regarding Xiaonan’s and Xiaoya’s immigration evidently eradicated any remaining doubts about him. The very existence of these two small “dependents” had produced an effect Qin Lun himself hadn’t anticipated.
After this brief conversation, the group had no further questions. They followed Yin and Liza out of the villa.
Yin drove a large RV out of the villa’s garage. Armor plates protected its sides, and an air filtration system made it entirely enclosed, clearly designed to shield against the toxic dust storms common on the outskirts of teor Street.
Inside, the space was surprisingly spacious. Original bed fixtures were stripped out, replaced by a small bar at the back and a compact sitting area in the middle.
“Drinks and pastries here are yours to enjoy,” Yin instructed. “Avoid causing disruptions while we’re driving, if possible.” Then he moved forward and focused on driving, leaving the four teor Street ruffians to stare blankly at each other.
Qin Lun glanced dismissively at the two examiners up front, gave a quiet snort, then headed to the bar. He opened a bottle of red wine, swirled a glass pensively, and lost himself in thought. The other three exchanged confused glances before eventually following his lead, settling into silence.
The drive from the villa to the airship parked at teor Street’s outskirts wasn’t long. Roughly an hour later, Yin parked and summoned everyone to exit.
The mont the door slid open, a fierce, raging dragon-like gale slamd into them. Sand-laden wind violently whipped their clothing.
Qin Lun felt a surge of surprise internally. He’d heard Gutou ntion the toxic sandstorms surrounding teor Street before, but he hadn’t expected the wind to be this powerful. It was hardly a wonder teor Street had stood isolated for millennia like an island, cut off from the civilized world. Any ordinary traveller attempting passage here would truly face an impassable natural barrier.
Qin Lun automatically raised his sleeve to cover his mouth and nose. However, the others seed entirely accustod to the sandstorm, forging ahead without changing expression as they headed towards their distant destination.
Ahead, within the murky gray storm, the outline of a great presence slowly erged. It was a massive airship roughly one hundred and fifty ters long and over thirty ters wide. Hanging below its bulging fra was an eighty-ter long, twenty-ter wide sealed gondola.
As Qin Lun and his group approached, a tal shutter door at the bottom of the gondola rolled up. A simple set of folding steps lowered from below. The group quickened their pace and boarded the airship.
The interior of the airship gondola felt surprisingly compact. Beyond the doorway stood a broad common area with circular windows offering potential views of the city later during flight. Ahead lay the off-limits cockpit. Towards the rear were living quarters and a lounge area.
Once on board the airship, Yin and Liza visibly relaxed, exchanging joking comnts with several crew mbers in spotless white uniforms. Then they led the four newly recruited fighters towards the resting area.
Instead of imdiately sending them to their rooms, the two guides took them into a small conference room. Following so detailed explanations, they had each person sign an employnt contract.
This contract ticulously outlined the assigned jobs and compensation for the new recruits. Though their job descriptions vaguely positioned them within “security duties,” the true nature promised greater complications. Details concerning wages and bonuses were clearly stated, specifying employee levels and their corresponding perks.
By signing this contract alongside the three proper teor Street natives, Qin Lun essentially beca a new recruit to the life and duties of Mafia muscle. Naturally, he ranked at the very bottom as a newbie for the foreseeable future.
None of the four offered objections to these terms. The three genuine teor Street warriors possessed only partial, foggy understanding. Qin Lun just didn’t care. Any agreent short of a Soul Contract proved aningless to him. Simple paper docunts had no true hold. Silver rcury Yin and Liza exchanged a glance of subtle approval as they collected the signed contracts. The signed papers effectively tied these four loosely to them. With ti, barring severe mistakes, they stood poised to beco companions on the organization roster soti ahead. “Alright, you’ve done your part. Relax,” Yin announced. “The airship is well underway. Danger lies behind us. Unless marked off-limits, free reign belongs to you across passenger areas. Feel free to explore common spaces or return to your quarters.”
For the first ti, Liza offered them a small, sincere smile which left them montarily stunned. None except Yin and Qin Lun had recognized earlier that the dignified woman in smart professional clothes had actually served as their maid serving refreshnts yesterday.
“One last matter before I dismiss you all—a friendly warning,” Yin added mischievously just before leaving the room. “Bear in mind, please avoid provoking conflicts aboard this flight. It carries participants bound for the Hunter Exam, specifically nominated by the Council. We currently soar far above the clouds. Even minor friction could cause deadly falls.” His lips curved knowingly, a twinkle flashing across his eyes.
Upon leaving the conference room together, the relaxed deanor swiftly vanished from Yin’s and Liza’s expressions.
Silver rcury Yin sighed heavily. “Fewer than half completed assignnts t… Only four successful recruits?” he complained bitterly. “That bunch of scheming old fools running the Council tid the recruitnt period deliberately amidst the Hunter Exam activities! Clearly intended to complicate our work further!”
Undisguised distaste crept onto Liza’s face as she pushed her glasses higher. A frosty expression settled over her features. “They struggle under poverty’s burden,” she sneered coolly. “Their motivations stand terribly obvious—they seek free passage aboard our Mafia airship! By organizing the timing jointly, candidates destined for Hunter Exam receive sponsored transport through syndicate resources, saving precious funds otherwise wasted externally.” She swiftly concluded. “Let’s move elsewhere. Since all candidates remain confined aboard the airship, it grants us pri opportunity to scout actively elsewhere among hopeful recruits and complete our assigned roster.”
…
Qin Lun sat quietly absorbing Yin’s departing remark monts earlier. “tropolis Street hopefuls headed for the Hunter Exam journey on the sa skyline vessel alongside us?” This unexpected piece of information struck Qin Lun as uniquely valuable.
Based on recent observations, he possessed reasonably accurate profiles detailing his three companions aboard this vessel. Although they demonstrated extraordinary vigilance honed by constant survival struggles and considerable raw fighting instincts ford on violent streets, distinct gaps remained. Formal combat training eluded them entirely. Their roots likely lay exclusively in gritty street warfare scenarios.
Yes, individually each might possess basic Nen Ability. Yet as matters stood, theoretical understanding of the principles likely remained shallow. They possessed little information worth extracting, matching Qin Lun’s own vague grasp perfectly. Confronting Yin and Liza felt equally pointless; both Mafia agents assigned critical assessnt roles clearly held elevated intellect. Mishandled interactions posed risks. One wrong step could arouse needless suspicion and undermine future goals bound to the Main Quest.
Thinking this, Qin Lun stood decisively and exited the conference chamber without delay. Pausing montarily on the narrow hallway outside the closed door, he glanced downward suddenly. His brow arched sharply upwards as realization flashed imdiately. He remained outfitted exclusively in the poor, ragged clothing “Shattered Starry Sky” granted upon assignnt here: stained canvas pants and a ripped sweatshirt barely keeping together.
Their compartnt aboard this sleek Mafia airship belonged to the privileged core section reserved for managent employees. Several hallways spread beyond this conference space connecting private guest suites and a modest cocktail lounge manned by uniformly dressed young waitresses maintaining high standards throughout.
Qin Lun smoothly blocked the path of one passing attendant with a friendly wave. He flashed his most charming smile. “Is there perhaps an outfitter onboard?”
“Right this way, sir!” The attendant responded professionally without missing a single beat. Politeness smoothed over any discomfort arising from Qin Lun’s scruffy condition. Her gaze never betrayed any thought about attire. She simply smiled politely and promptly took charge as escort forward, clearly handling similar requests regularly.
A short while later—perhaps fifteen minutes—Qin Lun reappeared on the airship’s forward observation deck, sporting sharply pressed formal wear. An impressive oily, shiny combback graced his head. Elegant black tails flowed over tailored trousers completing this fresh attire. Gracefully holding delicate crystal with red liquid swirling inside delicately, he stood observing. Only well-bred gentlen carry themselves this way.
Disappointnt struck swiftly, however. Scarcely anyone populated this deck. Scanning revealed just a handful of official crew mbers in regulation uniforms scattered across its expanse. His plan to locate the mysterious “Hunter Exam” mbers seemingly evaporated into thin air instantly.
Falling prey to oversight, Qin Lun had forgotten montarily: the genuine teor Street candidates taking the Hunter Exam arrived aboard under vastly different circumstances. They’d endured vicious conflicts re nights before boarding. Exhaustion undoubtedly lingered heavily. Neither energy nor inclination existed presently for wandering idly aboard an airship like himself currently desired.
Ti flowed smoothly as the airship traversed further eastward, escaping ever farther from the perpetual sandstorm choking teor Street. Beams of dazzling sunlight suddenly pierced the bulletproof window panels brightly. Owing perhaps to the glass’s exterior temperature compared to the atmosphere within, moisture accumulated oddly not on the cold outside but against the inner pane inside—a layer covering parts as hazy fog droplets.
Pulling an elegant pocket handkerchief easily from within his formal jacket, Qin Lun wiped away the gathered condensation across one viewport panel. His eyesight peered through reinforced thick glass downwards toward the landscape fading far below.
At this extre height, teor Street revealed its true nature: resembling violently stirred porridge bubbling viciously under a translucent yellow film of toxic fus. Perhaps due to significant concentrations of tallic elents suspended amidst its constant dust storms, the sunlight striking its borders produced a visual phenonon of magnificent scale—an imnse multicolored band arcing gracefully high overhead. This brilliant rainbow pierced its permanent haze beautifully.
Sothing stirred behind him then—perhaps footsteps suddenly approaching soft as they were. A familiar voice suddenly comnted appreciatively: “Quite extraordinary, wouldn’t you say? Such stunning beauty gracing this land forgotten entirely by the civilized world…”
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