Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Wind-Grade Hunter, Efilia

By 9 p.m., Mo Ying and her group had finished their meal and walked out of the tavern.

After another long discussion, Mo Ying ultimately decided to enter the Dreamscape Forest with Lina.

Liushu felt that Mo Ying had yet to witness true cruelty—she might simply be treating this as a trip.

"This might actually be good for her,"

Qili said, "Let her experience the harshness of this world sooner."

"I don't really care either way,"

Shuang Yun and Xiya had already returned to school, while Liushu, Lina, and Mo Ying set off to hire a Hunter.

Since Mo Ying would also be entering the Dreamscape Forest, she accompanied them as well.

The three walked along the shopping street. Even though it was late, the place was brightly lit and packed with people.

Mo Ying felt that the road was somewhat familiar.

She remembered there was indeed a Hunter Association at the end of this street.

Had she been here before...? Chapters fırst released on novel[f]ire.net

Could it be... that place?

Mo Ying came up with a possibility.

As it turned out, her guess was correct.

Liushu led them to a rundown Hunter Association.

From the dilapidated sign hanging at the door, one could barely make out the name of this association.

"Job's here, folks, why turn off the lights so late? Don't tell me everyone's asleep—hell, let's get hyped!"

Liushu kicked open the association's main door.

Lina only let out a wry smile.

"Hey, what's all the noise? You think electricity's free?"

Efilia came over carrying a candle, emerging from the dim, shabby room like a female ghost.

"We haven't paid the electric bill for too long, so they cut off the power,"

Frigginy also appeared, holding a candle.

"Had too many sleep mushrooms. She's lying in bed right now,"

"Told you not to eat random things... Well, it's fine if she isn't here. I have a job,"

Liushu changed the subject.

Liushu explained the situation with the Dreamscape Forest.

"Now that you mention it, there've been quite a few similar cases lately,"

Efilia said, peeling away a chunk of wall to reveal intertwined plant vines inside.

Even this place had been affected by the Dreamscape Forest's interference.

"This assignment isn't just decent pay; we might even get some intelligence about the hunting grounds,"

After hearing the overall situation, frigginy looked to Efilia.

Mo Ying found this odd. For such a dangerous job, shouldn't as many people go as possible?

But judging by the conversation, it seemed only one of them intended to take the job.

"I'll take it. If I stay here any longer, spiders will be able to settle on me,"

Efilia stepped forward.

"Long time no see, miss Efilia,"

"I'm no longer a 'Miss'—just a broke D-class Hunter who can't pay the electric bill."

D-class Hunters were as feeble as a breeze, so they were also known as Wind-Grade Hunters—the bottom rung of all Hunters.

"I'll name my price first. This assignment is dangerous, with many unstable factors. Since it's also a hunting grounds mission, my fee is 100,500 Naye. If things inside Dreamscape Forest turn out to be more dangerous than expected, I'll ask for extra compensation."

A hundred thousand. The average person earned about four thousand Naye per month—forty-eight thousand a year.

Efilia had asked for two years' salary in one go.

"Why the extra five hundred?"

"That's for the door you just kicked in."

Liushu was speechless.

Lina agreed without bargaining.

As the head of a knight order, she probably didn't lack money.

"Then let's sign a ZL contract,"

Efilia produced a contract pen.

Lina stepped forward.

"Hunter contract, begin,"

Efilia declared. The contract pen lit up, and the Contract Queen, meiyas, appeared.

"This is just an illusion formed by the magic within the contract pen. The Meiyas you saw in Fairyland was her true form,"

Anlusi appeared and explained to Mo Ying.

Mo Ying had just been surprised to see Meiyas appear here.

Now, another thing occurred to Mo Ying—

When others signed a contract, bystanders couldn't see the contents of the contract.

"Hunter contract, successfully signed,"

"Each party, please submit 200 Naye as processing fees."

Meiyas extended a hand.

Lina produced her Sky Crystal Id and paid the fees for both parties—she probably knew Efilia couldn't afford the 200 Naye.

"Give me tomorrow to prepare—let's set out at 7 a.m. the day after."

Efilia winked cutely and flashed an OK gesture.

"With a hundred thousand Naye, we can finally renovate this place and maybe even buy some beds,"

"Do you know what it feels like to sleep on the floor and stare at rats every night?"

"Actually, rat meat's texture isn't that—"

"Stop! I can't handle this,"

Efilia clearly had her limits.

"First pay the back rent, then refurbish the place, buy some usable furniture, stock up some food... Not much left after all that..."

Frigginy was already calculating how to spend the money.

It seemed they fully expected to earn this reward.

"This is a great deal! Makes me want to quit and become a Hunter myself!"

Liushu was tempted at the prospect of earning a hundred thousand in one go.

"Why the hell did I become a teacher? I regret it,"

"Why are you saying that like it's my fault?"

Lina shot Liushu a glance.

"I'm just joking! I do job, haha..."

Liushu laughed awkwardly.

"With business concluded, we'd better get going. If we're any later, the school gates will be locked,"

Liushu checked the time; it was almost 10 p.m.

Still lost in thought, Mo Ying quickly followed behind Liushu.

A gentle breeze, tinged with a hint of floral fragrance, drifted into the night sky.

But under the present circumstances, that scent made people feel nothing but fear.