Getting a Promotion Quest

The moment Su Mo left the side hall, his eyes darted to the yellow exclamation mark, and he clicked it with lightning speed!

The mission details immediately popped up.

[Lin Moyin]: Imperial Guard Centurion

[Mission]: Apprehend Heavenly Mother Cultists

[Requirements]: Assist Lin Moyin in apprehending Heavenly Mother Cultists

[Hint]: The case of the mummified corpses at the Locust God Temple in Changping County has led Lin Moyin to determine that this is a Heavenly Mother Cult plot to summon a locust plague!

Next, the mummified corpse case is highly likely to appear at the City God Temple and the Dragon King Temple!

Within seven days, investigate Dragon Gate Cave in Taihe County, where you might find something.

[Hint]: Do not overestimate your own strength!

[Reward]: Imperial Guard Colonel/Red-Robed Colonel/Squad Leader; Favorability +10-30%

[Reward]: To be determined

The mummified corpse case at the Locust God Temple indeed had a follow-up!

It was just like playing an online game and completing a series of hidden quests.

Looking at the mission prompt, Su Mo couldn't help but swallow.

Two clear rewards and one pending reward!

The range was quite wide, from Colonel to Squad Leader!

Clearly, it would be based on mission contribution!

But it was astonishing enough.

His third uncle, who longed to be an official, only dared to hope for a minor, insignificant auxiliary military officer!

If he completed this mission, he could jump directly from Strongman to Squad Leader?

Strongman wasn't an official position, just a soldier.

A Squad Leader was a legitimate official appointed by the court!

An official of the seventh rank, subordinate!

This wasn't even a three-level jump!

It was a complete transformation, like a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate!

The vast majority of Imperial Guard soldiers could only be Strongmen or Colonels their entire lives. Those who were lucky might become a higher-ranking Red-Robed Colonel.

But within the Imperial Guard system, these were all soldiers, with no fundamental difference!

It was like the difference between the Six Offices' Subordinate Clerks, the Three Guards' Bailiffs, and the Magistrate's Clerk in the yamen system!

Su Mo stared intently at the rewards!

Gao Xin, an ordinary Strongman, could already make Dong Yangrong and others tremble with fear.

Then what about a seventh-rank Imperial Guard Squad Leader?

He reluctantly shifted his gaze from the rewards to the two hints.

The first hint.

Go to Dragon Gate Cave in Taihe County within seven days.

The second hint.

Do not overestimate your own strength!

The implication was that he should know his own limits and not think about hogging this great achievement.

He should honestly help the Female Captain complete the mission!

Su Mo didn't know the origins of the Heavenly Mother Cult.

When Lin Moyin had suddenly asked him if he was part of the Heavenly Mother Cult earlier, it was clear she had been investigating this matter.

For an Imperial Guard Centurion to take it so seriously, their background must be considerable.

Su Mo pondered in his mind.

Even as a shut-in, he understood that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

High returns meant high risks.

If the Heavenly Mother Cult, which troubled the Imperial Guard, held a grudge against him, and he didn't have the Female Captain's skills, wouldn't he be doomed?

Forget it, he still had time.

He'd go back first and try to find out about the Heavenly Mother Cult's origins before making any plans.

At worst, he wouldn't go to Dragon Gate Cave.

Passing the information to Lin Moyin in secret should count as helping her complete her mission.

Even if the reward is a little less, it's safer this way.

Lin Moyin pointed a finger. Although she was trying to scare Su Mo, she also made him understand a truth.

In this world, there are no laws or regulations to speak of.

You need to get promoted and cultivate immortality!

Only then can you live comfortably and freely!

And not worry about a delicate young widow being coveted by others!

To achieve his goals, Su Mo must cling tightly to the Female Captain's long legs!

It would be best if he could trick her into revealing an Immortal Cultivation Method!

Su Mo turned out from behind the screen, deep in thought.

He couldn't help but glance at the "Tiger Descending the Mountain" again.

As expected of a career-minded pillar of the imperial court, an elite!

The pattern on the screen was special enough; it was practically screaming that the person inside was a tigress!

Su Mo had no doubt that if he hadn't answered correctly earlier.

The tigress would have really killed him!

Serving a ruler is like accompanying a tiger!

Accompanying a Captain is the same!

He wondered which unlucky guy would marry her in the future and live in constant fear.

Turning around the screen, he walked out into the open, no, out of the side hall.

Gao Xin was still waiting outside.

Seeing Su Mo emerge, he clearly showed a look of shock.

The Female Captain was extremely busy and always highly efficient. She rarely summoned her subordinates for more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Su Mo had stayed inside for two cups of tea!

As expected of someone trusted by the Captain!

If it had been any longer, Gao Xin might have suspected something else!

His tone became much more polite: "Brother Su is out. I'll take you out now!"

Su Mo smiled: "Thank you!"

"Hmm..."

He suddenly remembered something and showed his identification token to Gao Xin: "Brother, Captain Lin just made me an Imperial Guard Strongman earlier."

"Can I come here directly from now on?"

Su Mo had to clarify this point.

If something really happened, it would be troublesome if he couldn't find the quest NPC.

Besides.

His uncle had also said that moving around was the way to deepen connections.

If he couldn't even see the quest NPC, how could he build favor?

Seeing Su Mo take out his token.

Gao Xin's eyes widened in shock!

"You became a Strongman?!"

Su Mo blinked: "Yeah, what's wrong?"

It's just an Imperial Guard Strongman, isn't it?

Looking at the token number, it was already approaching a thousand.

Outsiders might be shocked.

But since he himself was an Imperial Guard Strongman, why was he so surprised?

Gao Xin let out a long sigh and lowered his voice: "Could it be that Brother doesn't know that our Hundred Households office hasn't had any new recruits in a full year?"

He couldn't hide his envy: "The Captain truly cherishes you... truly sees you in a different light!"

Su Mo became curious: "Why haven't there been any new recruits for a year?"

Gao Xin said as they walked: "The Captain has high standards!"

His expression turned bitter as he continued: "Not only have there been no new recruits, but many brothers have also left!"

"The current Hundred Households office has over eight hundred people on paper, but less than six hundred in reality. The pressure on the brothers is immense!"

Su Mo was already one of the brothers in the garrison, and these were common knowledge, so there was no need to hide it from him.

He's a trusted confidant of the Captain.

If I can build a good relationship, maybe I won't have to worry about getting fired every day!

Su Mo understood immediately.

An ambitious leader, streamlining the organization!

Just like the end-of-term elimination system companies implement in later generations.

Working under such a leader would naturally be extremely stressful.

No wonder Lin Moyin had specifically told him before, it didn't matter if they were street vendors or great bandits, as long as they had ability!

Those without ability should honestly get lost!

I still need to find a way to level up to Squad Leader quickly.

Squad Leaders have official court positions; a Captain can't just fire them!

However, Su Mo had previously thought the Captain's office only had a hundred Imperial Guards, but now he knew there were several hundred people!

Gao Xin was introducing Su Mo to the conditions of the garrison, and they unknowingly walked into the large courtyard.

"Brother, if you come to the garrison in the future, just show your identification token!"

"Once we're familiar, the token won't be necessary."

Then, Gao Xin chuckled again, "I still have duties to attend to, I can only escort you this far!"

Su Mo also smiled, "I wouldn't dare trouble you, Brother Gao, I can find my own way back!"

Gao Xin waved his hand, "And don't keep calling me 'Brother Gao' all the time!"

"If you don't mind, just call me Gao Xiong!"

He patted Su Mo's shoulder forcefully, "We're all working in the same garrison, no need for formalities."

"Who knows, maybe one day I'll need your help!"

As he spoke, he smacked his forehead, "Ah!"

"Look at me, I almost forgot!"

"Let me take you to get your uniform and weapons!"

The uniform for the Imperial Guard's Strongmen wasn't the Flying Fish Robe Su Mo was familiar with.

It was just a simple, ordinary blue cotton robe.

The saber, however, was the same straight saber used by other Imperial Guards!

He learned from Gao Xin that Flying Fish Robes weren't unavailable.

They were the true official uniforms of the Imperial Guards, and only Captains and above could be bestowed them.

They represented honor and the Empress's sacred favor!

They were usually only worn on formal occasions.

Captain Lin had a set of silver-white Flying Fish Robes personally bestowed by the Empress, which looked very imposing!

After receiving his robe, Su Mo asked again, "Gao Xiong, do I need to come to the garrison to sign in every day from now on?"

Gao Xin smiled, "It depends on the specific job."

"Those on duty naturally need to sign in, but how can brothers out on official business come back every day!"

He paused, then couldn't help but ask, "Has the Captain assigned you a job?"

Su Mo thought for a moment, then shook his head, "It doesn't seem like it."

"He just told me to go back and be a yamen runner."

Gao Xin was envious again!

As expected of the Captain's confidant!

Dark Guards were indeed good!

Becoming an Imperial Guard and still being able to hang around the yamen!

The benefits there were far more than those of a Strongman guarding the garrison!

Fearing Su Mo wouldn't understand the importance, he kindly reminded him, "There's a hidden character on the identification token."

"It indicates that you are a Dark Guard, so keep your identity as secret as possible!"

"Although there are no regulations in the garrison for punishing exposed Dark Guards, if your identity is leaked, many things will become inconvenient in the future, and it will be difficult to complete espionage missions!"

Su Mo quickly cupped his fists towards Gao Xin, "Thank you for the reminder, Gao Xiong!"

"It's getting late, and I have guests at home, so I can't stay long. I'll take my leave for now!"