Jiang Fan nodded.
"Perfect timing. I happen to have a few questions to ask Martial Association President!"
Martial Association President was slightly surprised.
"Oh? Little brother, what questions do you have? Go ahead and ask!"
"As long as I know it, I'll tell you everything I know!"
The two chatted as they walked toward the corridor.
As soon as they reached outside, they saw Team Leader Wang hurrying over.
"Martial Association President, the president is looking for you!"
"He told you to hurry over, and bring Young Master Li!"
Only when Martial Association President saw Li Yutang beside Team Leader Wang did he remember that he had dragged Jiang Fan away to get his badge and had actually left Li Yutang behind in the examination room. His face immediately turned awkward.
He looked at Jiang Fan, then at Team Leader Wang, hesitating for a moment.
"Team Leader Wang, answer Little Brother Jiang's questions and get him settled."
"I'll go upstairs for a moment!"
With that, he turned and smiled at Jiang Fan.
"Little Brother Jiang, excuse me for a moment!"
Jiang Fan nodded slightly.
Team Leader Wang acknowledged him and came over to Jiang Fan.
"Little Brother Jiang, this way, please. What questions do you have?"
"They're nothing major. I mainly wanted to learn about the benefits after becoming a Martial Artist!"
The two walked and talked, heading into the distance.
Martial Association President watched their retreating figures, slightly lost in thought. After standing there and thinking for a while, he turned around and smiled at Li Yutang.
"Yutang, come with me!"
Li Yutang's originally unpleasant expression instantly blossomed into a smile.
"All right, Uncle Wu!"
The two followed the stairs straight to the outside of an office at the very back of the second floor.
Martial Association President hesitated.
"Yutang, wait here for me first."
"I'll call you in a moment. Come in with me then."
Li Yutang wore a radiant smile.
"All right, Uncle Wu!"
After Martial Association President knocked and entered, Li Yutang's expression instantly darkened again.
A reception hall somewhere on the first floor.
Team Leader Wang showed Jiang Fan to a seat, then brought over tea.
"Little Brother Jiang, your questions are fairly basic!"
"I'll explain them to you slowly!"
"The benefits offered by the Martial Arts Association are comprehensive. They mainly cover several areas!"
"First, all Martial Artists who successfully receive certification from the Jiang City Martial Arts Association will receive a fixed monthly subsidy according to their Martial Artist level. A First-level Martial Artist receives around ten thousand Blue Star Coins per month. Since you're a Level Two Martial Artist, you can receive a monthly subsidy of fifty thousand Blue Star Coins!"
"Second, we provide different additional benefits according to the certified Martial Artist's level. Take a Level Two Martial Artist, for example. The Jiang City Martial Arts Association will provide Level Two Martial Artists with eligibility to purchase a home in the Inner City. Of course, the Martial Artist has to pay for it themselves. Once they reach Level Three or above, the Martial Arts Association will cover the cost!"
"Third, once someone reaches Level Two, we'll provide one job opportunity for their family members. Upon reaching Level Three, that number will increase to two positions. This is also mainly to ensure the stability of our members..."
"Fourth..."
Team Leader Wang knew these rules by heart, so he explained them with ease and great fluency.
Before long, he had gone over all the benefits available to a Level Two Martial Artist with Jiang Fan.
However, he only explained the relevant points, focusing mainly on the benefits for Level Two and Level Three Martial Artists.
After all, Jiang Fan had only just reached Level Two. The others were still too far away, while Level Three was at least within reach.
Jiang Fan nodded slightly after listening to Team Leader Wang.
What he had mentioned was more or less the same as what Yu Jun had told him.
Only...
Jiang Fan fell into thought.
The benefits are this good, so the responsibilities must be considerable too, right?
"Team Leader Wang, may I ask what obligations I'll have to fulfill after joining the Martial Arts Association?"
Team Leader Wang gave him a light flattery.
"Little Brother Jiang, the fact that you've thought of this proves you're a very responsible person. Your character is absolutely top-notch!"
As he spoke, he raised his thumb.
"Unlike some people, who only think about gaining things and never consider what they have to give!"
Jiang Fan automatically filtered out the fluff in his words.
"So, what exactly do I have to do?"
Originally, he hadn't thought much of it. After all, once one reached the Martial Artist level, registering with the Martial Arts Association was only natural. Everyone did it.
So when he heard Yu Jun mention the benefits, he had come to register without giving it much thought.
But after hearing Team Leader Wang's words, he honestly felt a little uneasy. It seemed he had overlooked something.
Team Leader Wang smiled faintly.
"Actually, there aren't any mandatory responsibilities you have to fulfill!"
"You only need to offer your support when the Martial Arts Association needs it. Normally, we won't restrict our members' freedom in any way!"
Jiang Fan's heart stirred slightly at his words.
"What kind of support would that mainly involve?"
Team Leader Wang answered,
"The most common situation is accepting missions issued by the Martial Arts Association when exotic beasts run amok!"
"You know that the area under River City's jurisdiction is quite large. Nothing usually happens in our main city, but some refugee settlements within the region are frequently harassed by exotic beasts!"
"Some places are far from the main city, beyond the reach of patrol teams, and not important enough to justify sending the army. So we issue missions and offer rewards for Martial Artists to deal with them!"
"It's somewhat similar to the missions in those exotic-beast trading markets in the Outer City!"
At this point, Team Leader Wang smiled.
"Of course, you're the Genius of our River City Martial Arts Association. You may also have to represent the River City Martial Arts Association in certain competitions!"
Something clicked in Jiang Fan's heart, and he instantly understood the key point.
No wonder Martial Association President was so enthusiastic toward me just now. I was still guessing at his purpose.
Now it seems he wants me to represent the River City Martial Arts Association in the competition, doesn't he?
Seeing Jiang Fan deep in thought, Team Leader Wang assumed he had concerns and smiled.
"But you don't need to worry. We won't force you to do anything!"
"These are merely missions from the Martial Arts Association. Participation is entirely voluntary!"
Jiang Fan nodded.
What he said should be true. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so furious at those people who refused to accept missions after joining the association!
The two chatted for a while, and Jiang Fan gained a rough understanding of everything he wanted to know.
He glanced at the sky outside.
"Thank you for answering my questions, Team Leader Wang!"
"It's getting late today, so I'll head back first. If I need to buy a house or arrange work for my family later, I'll come back!"
Team Leader Wang said kindly,
"All right, all right! Little Brother Jiang, it's clear that Martial Association President values you greatly. In all my years of conducting tests, you're the most promising Genius I've ever seen. You should keep in close contact with the association in the future!"
Jiang Fan nodded.
"No problem!"
Less than ten minutes after Jiang Fan left, Martial Association President hurried down from upstairs.
When he saw Team Leader Wang, he was slightly stunned.
"Where's Jiang Fan?"
Team Leader Wang blinked.
"He just left!"
Martial Association President's voice instantly rose an octave, echoing through the entire hall.
"He left?"
"Who told you to let him leave?"
"I told you to get him settled, not to let him leave!"
He had only just proposed to the president that they change the candidate for the Genius Competition, and the president had just agreed.
He hadn't even had time to tell Jiang Fan, and Team Leader Wang had already let him go!
Was this how he handled things?
He suddenly regretted not taking Jiang Fan directly to meet the president just now.
But when he thought of the relationship between Li Yutang and the president, he shook his head.
I didn't do anything wrong!
Li Yutang was the person the president had appointed. If he wanted to replace him, he still had to obtain the president's approval first!
The one who had truly made a mistake was Team Leader Wang!
Thinking of this, he glared fiercely at Team Leader Wang.
"Go get Jiang Fan's information. We'll go find him!"
Before you continue