"Are you happy, Xilin?" Seeing Xilin's puzzled look, Shaun explained, "Mr. Aifulan only wants you to pretend to be his son. He didn't ask you to be his bodyguard, and you won't have any chance to get involved in his family's business. So, to make the most of your time, I suggested that you receive a higher education. Mr. Aifulan chose Seven Luminaries Academy."
Education in the Star System was generally divided into three levels: primary, secondary, and higher education. At the Four Great Hunter Groups, many Hunters had received higher education. As long as they met the age requirements, their group would fund their studies. The Four Great Hunter Groups never skimped on developing talent, which was one reason they outperformed other Hunter groups.
Most Hunters, however, received their higher education in the D-M Star Zone. It was rare for someone like Xilin to have the opportunity to study in the Shining Three Stars Zone.
This was also an investment Shaun was making in the Sixth Team's future—and the team wouldn't even have to pay for it. It was an excellent opportunity. Shaun was sure that, even though Xilin was only pretending to be Aifulan's son, Aifulan would choose a prestigious school to protect the Daongs Family's reputation.
Xilin wasn't a fool. Back on Brown Earth Star in the X Star Zone, he hadn't even received a proper primary education. He'd only ever been taught personally by Yuanye. Why would he pass up an opportunity like this?
"I'd be happy to take it."
Aifulan nodded. "Everyone knows what Seven Luminaries Academy is like. I chose it not only to protect the Daongs Family's reputation, but also because it's in the B Star Zone. The major families have limited influence there. Even if someone wants to make a move against you, they'll have to think twice. That's good for both you and me."
That was true. If Xilin went to Seven Luminaries Academy, Aifulan wouldn't have to spend additional manpower handling any unexpected incidents.
Aifulan took several more documents from the butler, who had arranged them, and handed them over. "Sign if everything looks good. As agreed, you'll get a hundred thousand upfront. Based on Star Calendar time, fifty thousand will be transferred to Xilin's account every ten days. Once the mission is complete, the remaining ten million will be paid."
"Galactic Coins?" Shaun asked.
"Galactic Coins!" Aifulan sounded displeased by Shaun's doubt. Would someone from the Daongs Family really pay in Star Zone Coins?
The exchange rate between Galactic Coins and Star Zone Coins in the Lagging Thirteenth District was one hundred to one. In Trade District 10, it was ten to one. The bounty Xilin had earned from "hunting" had been paid in Star Zone Coins. The few million he'd spent on a blank identity certificate and a Savings Card had only been in Lagging Thirteenth District Star Zone Coins. Three years of hunting bounties amounted to just ten days' pay for this mission.
Hearing Aifulan's displeasure, Shaun smiled and joked, "Xilin's a real talent. If we let him go, where would we find another Hunter like him? Besides, after he's done pretending to be your son, he can always be your bodyguard. Of course, that'd cost extra."
Xilin rolled his eyes. This was when it became clear that Shaun and Dias really were brothers. They even had the exact same way of joking around.
"And the goods we brought..." Shaun began.
"I'll buy them at the price you quoted," Aifulan replied decisively.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
"Pleasure doing business with you."
Both sides were straightforward. They were all shrewd people and needed no further explanations.
Once they'd reached an agreement, the three of them signed all the necessary documents. They drew up a three-party contract for Xilin's mission, and no one but the three signatories knew its contents.
Aifulan wouldn't be staying long in the Lagging Thirteenth District, so he gave Xilin an address and told him to go there in two days. Someone would be waiting for him.
Shaun left the hotel in high spirits and told Xilin to return to the team first. With a mask on, Xilin couldn't move around freely.
Now that everything had been taken care of, the gloom that had hung over Shaun for days lifted. He had the Sixth Team bring the goods over and hand them to Aifulan's people. Then, for once, the team leader went on a shopping spree with the money in his Savings Card, hoping to improve life for the Sixth Team.
Back aboard the fleet's ship, Shaun even made a point of squeezing Xilin's arm.
This... was really flesh. But whenever Shaun remembered Xilin slamming that A-class gene bodyguard into a wall, he couldn't help shuddering. How could someone with a B-class gene be that strong? He was practically a human armored vehicle!
Meanwhile, after Xilin and Shaun had left the hotel, Aifulan sat quietly in his chair, eyes lowered, fingers interlaced on his knees, as if deep in thought...
After a long while, Aifulan looked up. "Suofu, send the 'Slaughter Sprite' back for upgrades and modifications. If they can't fix that flaw, discontinue it. Hurry things along with Seven Luminaries; the time is almost here. And start making arrangements for Xilin."
"Understood."
Aifulan's instructions were brief, but as an old butler, Suofu understood exactly what he meant.
The "Slaughter Sprite" was the model of gun Aifulan's bodyguard had used. It was also a new firearm developed by the Daongs Family. The weapon was small and easy to conceal, with many components simplified. But that was precisely why Xilin had been able to hit its "weak spot" with a needle. If they couldn't fix the flaw, Aifulan would rather abandon the model than take a risk.
The second matter concerned Seven Luminaries. The new enrollment period at Seven Luminaries Academy had already passed, but classes hadn't started yet, so they still needed to complete the necessary paperwork. With the Daongs Family's influence, that wouldn't be difficult.
The last matter was Xilin, his "son." In a few days, the outside world would learn about Aifulan's "son," who had been lost to him for years. They had to start making arrangements now.
After returning to the fleet, Xilin went to find Bifur. As a technician, Bifur was authorized to use some of the Sixth Team's equipment.
"An Enchanted Bone Crystal?" Bifur looked at the pendant Xilin had taken out. "It's possible, but you know it takes quite a bit of money to charge one."
"How much?" Xilin asked.
Bifur thought it over and calculated the cost. "At least thirty thousand. In Galactic Coins, that is."
"No problem." The hundred thousand Galactic Coins Aifulan had given him would be enough.
Bifur's eyes widened. This kid had only been here a few days, and he was already rich? But Bifur didn't ask. Dias had told him not to pry too much into Xilin's affairs for now. "Come with me."
A bone crystal was a solid crystal formed by compressing a person's ashes after cremation under extreme pressure and processing them in several other ways. Turning ashes into a bone crystal cost nearly ten thousand Galactic Coins. Back then, Xilin had spent most of his hunting bounty on it.
An hour later, Bifur handed the charged bone crystal back to Xilin. It had shrunk a little, but it was sturdier and clearer. Held up to the light, it revealed the faint image of a person inside.
"An ex-girlfriend?" Bifur asked. The figure inside the crystal didn't look at all like Xilin, so she couldn't be a relative.
"Yeah." Xilin hung the crystal back around his neck.
Bifur patted Xilin on the shoulder. He'd seen plenty of people in situations like Xilin's. "You've got a long road ahead."
Maybe one day, Xilin would meet a decent girl who could help ease the sorrow of the past.
During the two days after Xilin returned to the ship, no one saw him except Bifur, Shaun, and a few deputy team leaders. The Sixth Team was good at keeping secrets. Shaun had already told Xilin everything he needed to know. From then on, it was up to Xilin to make the most of his opportunities.
Two days later, Xilin put on his mask and went to the place Aifulan had mentioned to receive his new identity.
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