After undergoing what could only be called a "baptism" of equipment registration with the neurotic craftsman Arthur Conan, Lin Jie's identity verification as an I.A.R.C.-contracted hunter finally reached its last step.
Barton led him to the Administrative District of the Underground City, a place of strict rules and order.
There, a stern-looking female clerk wearing a monocle took a daguerreotype of Lin Jie for his identity file.
In the photograph, his gaze was calm and deep. He looked nothing like the vagrant who had once wandered the Whitechapel District.
Afterward, he received a palm-sized Free Hunter Manual with a cover of hard black leather.
The manual detailed the Association's basic rules, point-redemption system, and the process for accepting commissions.
More importantly, he also received some "start-up capital"—ten heavy British pounds.
At the time, that fortune could have supported an ordinary working-class family for a year. Now, it was merely Lin Jie's first investment in the Underworld.
Being trusted unconditionally and given resources by a vast organization made Lin Jie feel, for the first time, the full weight behind the words "the value of talent."
"All right, Mr. Lin." Barton watched as Lin Jie carefully put away the coins and the manual, then gave him a formal smile. "Your identity verification is complete. From now on, you're free to accept any commissions that interest you from the Mission Board over there. My work as your guide ends here. Good luck."
Barton's meaning was clear: the initial guidance and investment were done. How far Lin Jie went in this world from here on depended entirely on his own ability.
Lin Jie nodded. He understood the efficiency and ruthlessness of a professional organization like this.
Without wasting words, he walked straight toward the massive Mission Board he had only glanced at from afar before.
Only when he stood before the wall did he feel the strange, dangerous air wafting toward him from all corners of the world.
The hundreds of commissions pinned to it each represented a mysterious incident concealed beneath the Surface World. Behind every place name, a UMA that preyed on humans might be lurking.
He saw a commission from Egypt claiming that mummies guarding a pharaoh's tomb deep inside a pyramid had attacked an expedition team. Another, from New Jersey, USA, complained that a two-legged, hoofed flying creature had been spotted in an old cemetery in the Southern Pine Barrens.
Stories that once appeared only in cheap pulp fiction or tales of the supernatural had become clearly priced "jobs" here.
Lin Jie knew his limits.
He ignored the high-risk commissions marked "Town Rank" and above. With his current strength, seeking those things out would be tantamount to suicide. If Marcus and the others hadn't arrived in time, Mist Walker might not have survived.
His gaze carefully searched the entry-level task section at the bottom, marked "Caution Rank."
He needed a case that was safe enough to let him test his abilities and learn the hunters' procedures—and, ideally, one that played to his strength as a "tactical mind."
Before long, a recently posted commission caught his eye. The ink had barely dried.
[Commission No.: L-1888-C017]
[Commission Rank: Caution]
[Commission Location: West India Docks, London, Britain]
[Incident Summary: Over the past month, goods have frequently gone missing from Warehouse No. 3, owned by the United Spice and Textile Company in the West India Docks. The stolen items are varied and include, but are not limited to, brass ingots, high-purity rubber sheets, industrial lubricant, and small quantities of mercury.
In addition, three Night Watchers responsible for the warehouse's night shift have mysteriously disappeared. No trace of them has been found, dead or alive. Scotland Yard has opened an investigation but made no progress. It has currently classified the case as an ordinary theft and missing-persons investigation and is preparing to close it.]
[Mission Objectives: 1. Uncover the truth behind the thefts and disappearances. 2. Determine whether the incidents are connected to a UMA. 3. If a UMA is involved, assess its threat level and, if possible, drive it off or hunt it down. 4. Find out what happened to the missing personnel, if possible.]
[Commission Reward: Base bounty of 15 pounds, 20 points. Additional rewards may be granted based on mission completion and the value of submitted evidence.]
This was the one.
Without hesitation, Lin Jie took the commission from the board.
He had three reasons for choosing it.
First, the location was in London. That spared him a long journey and let him work in relatively familiar surroundings.
Second, this was a typical investigation. The heart of the case was "solving a mystery," not "fighting," which suited his "tactical mind" perfectly. He was confident that he had an unmatched advantage in gathering clues and analyzing patterns.
Third, and most importantly, the phrase "the stolen items are varied" sparked a keen association in his mind. Brass, rubber, lubricant... Individually, they seemed unremarkable, but together, they sounded like parts and supplies for some kind of mechanical device.
It reminded him of a UMA mentioned in the Cartographer's journal, a little creature with a peculiar fondness for human industrial creations.
Holding the commission, Lin Jie returned to the service counter in the Administrative District.
The stern female clerk used a special stamp to mark his Free Hunter Manual with an "Accepted" seal, then handed him a more detailed file containing all of Scotland Yard's public reports on the case.
"As a newly inducted hunter taking on his first mission, the Association recommends that you team up with an experienced investigator," the clerk reminded him in a flat, emotionless tone. "If you wish, I can show you the list of available 'assistants.'"
"Not for now, thank you," Lin Jie politely declined.
It wasn't arrogance; he had a deeper reason.
He needed a hunt that he could lead entirely on his own, to fully test his abilities.
Besides, many of his ways of thinking and investigative methods came from another world. He didn't want to reveal them to some unfamiliar "observer" before he understood how the organization operated.
As Lin Jie prepared to leave the Underground City with the file and begin his first hunter assignment, Barton called after him.
"Wait a moment, Mr. Lin." Barton came over, his expression a mix of official business and mild concern. "I just looked over the commission you accepted. United Spice and Textile Company... One of its shareholders is an 'outside sponsor' of the Association."
"So Headquarters is paying extra attention to this case. Although you turned down a team, the Association can't let a newcomer face a completely unknown situation alone, for safety reasons."
Lin Jie furrowed his brow. He sensed that the situation wasn't as simple as he'd thought.
Barton noticed his doubt and explained, "Don't misunderstand. This isn't surveillance; it's a necessary precaution. The Association will assign an investigator to accompany you to the scene in a 'non-cooperative' capacity."
"He won't interfere with any of your investigative plans or actions. His only task is to pull you out if your life is in danger and the situation gets completely out of control."
"You can think of him as a 'safety line' trailing behind you. Of course, if you complete the mission on your own, all the bounty and credit will still go to you."
The arrangement sounded reasonable enough that Lin Jie couldn't refuse.
It preserved his right to lead the investigation, provided him with a safety net, and met the Association's dual obligations to protect newcomers and look after its sponsors.
"I understand. So, who is this 'Mr. Safety Line'?" Lin Jie asked.
Barton's mouth twitched despite himself.
He beckoned to the burly man standing not far away, as silent and motionless as a statue.
"Marcus, looks like you've got a new job."
At that, Marcus, who had been silent all along, wore an extraordinarily expressive look.
His face showed a mixture of shock—"Why me?"—disdain—"I don't want to deal with this trivial matter with some rookie"—and the constipated frustration of "But it's an order, and I can't refuse."
In the end, he trudged over to Lin Jie, his heavy steps carrying him right up to him. He gave a low grunt through his nose as a greeting.
Lin Jie looked at the man before him, two heads taller than himself and built like a bear—the "temporary bodyguard" who had tried to drag him back for questioning just a few days ago. An amused smile tugged at his lips.
His first official commission was sure to be anything but boring.
Before you continue