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Orlando and Changhe City were like two different worlds.

The wide stone-paved streets were swept clean, wide enough for four carriages to pass abreast.

The streets were lined with countless shops and residences, their architectural styles varied, from ancient Gothic buildings with spires and intricate stone carvings to new-style houses painted in bright colors with wide balconies.

The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread, the smell of fish from the harbor district, and the mingled scents of perfume and sweat from countless pedestrians.

Traffic was heavy, and the streets bustled with noise.

Dwarves drove carts laden with ore, elves in elegant robes strode with light steps, Halflings pushed carts selling pies and hawked them along the street, and more numerous still were the hurried humans.

Patrolling city guards, clad in gleaming armor, their long swords clanking with each step, maintained order with stern expressions.

In the distance, at the heart of the city, a white tower, piercing the clouds like a sharp sword, loomed hazily. That was the renowned Orlando Mage Tower, a holy land yearned for by countless seekers of knowledge and ambitious souls.

"Tsk, tsk, as expected of the provincial capital," Xia Lin marveled at the bustling scene, "Sera, see? This is a place fit for people! When I make it big, I'll show you the good spots in Orlando!"

He seemed to have returned to his days as the extravagant young master Toremo, excitedly pointing things out: "See that tavern with the 'Drunken Dragon's Lair' sign? They have the strongest ale in the whole city! And over there, the 'Moulin Rouge,' the dancers' skirts are thinner than cicada wings! I guarantee you'll be mesmerized! If you're looking for some excitement, the 'Lucky Goddess's Skirt' casino will give you a heart-stopping thrill..."

Sera crossed her arms, her dark red eyes, hidden behind her veil, quietly watching Xia Lin. Her gaze was like that of a child showing off his glass marbles to someone who didn't care.

"Taverns, dance halls, casinos..." she interrupted Xia Lin's "guided tour," her tone laced with undisguised mockery, "These are your 'good places,' human? Money-burning dens where you get drunk, waste time, and squander your fortune?"

"Uh..." Xia Lin was taken aback, feeling like a nouveau riche showing off his wealth only to find the other party utterly disdainful. He felt a bit embarrassed.

"Relax, relax!" he insisted, trying to save face, "Adventurers risk life and limb. When we earn money, of course, we should enjoy ourselves! It's called work-life balance, understand? Besides, getting to know these places is an important way to understand a city. Who knows, we might even pick up some useful information!"

"Heh," Sera let out a soft, ambiguous chuckle and stopped arguing with him, "Information? I'm only interested in when our 'severance pay' will arrive. Let's go, to the Adventurer's Guild."

The Orlando Adventurer's Guild headquarters was located in one of the city's most prosperous commercial districts.

Unlike the dilapidated branch in Changhe City, which looked more like a large warehouse, this place could only be described as "magnificent."

The main doors were made of polished white oak, inlaid with brass carvings. In front of the doors were wide steps and two lifelike griffon stone sculptures.

Stepping inside, one's feet met a marble floor as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the soft light from the crystal magic chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

The hall was so spacious it could accommodate a horse race. The walls were adorned with the massive heads of slain magical beasts, exquisite tapestries depicting kingdom maps, and banners embroidered with the crests of famous adventurer teams in gold and silver thread.

The air lacked the stench of sweat and cheap liquor, carrying only the faint scent of incense and ink on paper.

The adventurers coming and going also appeared more "professional," their equipment excellent, their expressions arrogant, and their movements brisk, clearly on missions.

The notice board was no longer crowded; mission information seemed to scroll by through some magical device, with dedicated clerks nearby to answer questions and register tasks.

The entire guild hall, rather than being a gathering place for adventurers, felt more like a large, efficiently run commercial institution, filled with order, wealth, and a cold sense of rules.

Xia Lin walked up to a vacant counter. The receptionist was no longer the sleepy middle-aged man from Changhe City, but a lady who was truly "radiant."

She had soft facial features, fair skin that seemed to glow, and long golden hair that flowed down like molten gold.

Most striking was a faint, almost invisible golden holy rune flickering on her forehead, shrouding her entire being in a divine aura.

Asima, or rather, a Divine Descendant.

A descendant of the Heavenly Bloodline, born with a divine mark.

"Hello, how may I help you?" the Divine Descendant asked with a smile, her voice like a flowing spring, putting everyone at ease.

Her gaze fell upon Xia Lin, carrying professional politeness and scrutiny.

Sera stood a few steps behind Xia Lin, seemingly avoiding the counter's light. Her eyes behind the veil were cold, with an almost unconcealable disgust.

The Divine Descendant seemed to notice Sera's emotions, but her smile and professional demeanor remained unchanged. She refocused her gaze on Xia Lin.

"Hello," Xia Lin steadied himself, trying his best not to look like a bumpkin who had just crawled out of a stable, "I'm here to submit mission credentials for escorting the 'Golden Wheat Ear' merchant caravan to Orlando."

He handed over the crumpled mission voucher.

The Divine Descendant took the voucher and quickly tapped a few times on the magic crystal board beside her with her slender fingers, bringing up the relevant information.

As she browsed the information, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Mr. Xia Lin Toremo, is that correct?" she looked up, her face still wearing a polite smile, but her tone carried regret, "I'm very sorry, but according to the records, the escort mission for the 'Golden Wheat Ear' merchant caravan was already completed by Captain Leon Chris. You did not safely escort the caravan to its destination as required, so, according to guild regulations, this mission is deemed a failure."

"Failure?!" Xia Lin's eyes widened, "What a joke! We were attacked by damned Orcs on the way! So many people died! If we hadn't fought back with all our might..."

"Mr. Toremo, please calm down," the Divine Descendant's voice remained gentle but carried an undeniable professionalism, "The guild's records are very clear. The main cargo and the principal person, Mr. Master Bolin, were safely brought back to Orlando by Captain Leon and his team. The mission completer is registered as Captain Leon. As for the accident you encountered, the guild expresses its deepest sympathy, but it does not meet the criteria for mission completion."

"Then... we made such a great sacrifice! Why can't it be considered a completed mission?" Xia Lin tried to argue.

"Captain Leon's submitted report states that you two were 'survivors' encountered after an Orc attack, and were rescued and brought back by them," the Divine Descendant patiently explained the loophole in the rules, or rather, the rules themselves.

"This damned..." Xia Lin was so angry he almost swore out loud.

Rules! These damned rules again! He finally understood. This guild was a place that favored people over justice! Whatever the high-level big shots said was law. No one cared about the lives and deaths of lowly cannon fodder like them!

"See, human?" Sera's cold voice came from behind, full of mockery, "This is 'order' and 'rules.' They always serve those who make them."

Xia Lin gritted his teeth, swallowing the curse that rose to his lips. He could only grumble resentfully, "Damn it, the guild is full of vampires... That guy, looking so respectable, but he didn't hesitate to snatch the credit..."

"Exactly, a hypocrite in golden skin..." Sera chimed in softly.

Just then, the Divine Descendant seemed to discover something on the magic crystal board. She confirmed Xia Lin's name again.

"Wait... Mr. Xia Lin Toremo?" her tone was surprised, "There's another record about you in the system."

"Hm?" Xia Lin looked up.

The Divine Descendant looked at him, her face showing sincere admiration and praise. The faint halo around her seemed to brighten a bit. "Records show that Captain Leon personally submitted a supplementary report detailing your heroic performance when you encountered the Orc elite assault team. The report states that despite heavy casualties among your teammates, you remained fearless in the face of danger, and with extraordinary courage and wisdom, successfully slew the Orc leader, buying precious time for subsequent rescue efforts and preventing greater losses."

She looked into Xia Lin's eyes, her tone solemn. "Captain Leon has praised you as 'commendable for your courage and extraordinary potential,' and has specifically applied for merit for you in clearing out the Orc assault team. After evaluation by the Guild, it has been decided to award you a special bounty of 1 gold coin!"

She took a heavy, gleaming gold coin from the cash box under the counter and placed it on the counter.

You know, Leon has always been my brother.