Galloping Mare Tavern

The northern Columbia Federation was home to a world-renowned high-tech development zone, where the headquarters of companies such as Blacksteel International and Rhine Lab were also located.

In recent years, the Columbia government had continuously shifted its economic center northward, increasing its policy and financial support for technology companies like Rhine Lab. The once-desolate northern district had gradually grown prosperous.

After passing the Oripathy screening, Bai Ye and Texas arrived in a city in the northern Columbia Federation.

"You know... I've never traveled far from home before. This is my first time."

Because he had been frail and sickly in the past, Bai Ye's range of activity had been very limited. Most of the time, he stayed in his room. Only when the weather was nice would he go out into the courtyard to bask in the sun.

Texas nodded slightly, then took out the wallet she kept close to her body.

"Less than three thousand left..." Texas counted the remaining Lungmen Dollars, leaving Bai Ye feeling rather strange.

In the past, promoting an Elite 2 Operator cost 180,000 Lungmen Dollars at a time, money flowing away like water. Now, he could only rely on Texas's pitiful three thousand Lungmen Dollars to maintain the most basic standard of living.

"First, rent a place. Then register as bounty hunters."

Bai Ye showed no awareness whatsoever of being supported by Texas—everything he ate, wore, and used seemed to come from her. Interestingly, Texas herself did not seem to realize this either, as if it were only natural.

Bai Ye and Texas quickly found a house available for rent. As non-Infected, their negotiations with the landlord went smoothly.

The old man, who claimed he was going to Victoria to travel, was willing to temporarily entrust the house to the two of them. In exchange, they needed to pay two thousand Lungmen Dollars in rent.

"There shouldn't be any enemies here, right...?"

It was a two-story building facing the street. Standing on the second-floor balcony, Bai Ye activated the Eagle Eye skill.

An invisible psychic force swept across the area, and the world turned translucent gray in Bai Ye's vision.

"No red."

Bai Ye nodded in satisfaction, then immediately deactivated the skill. It was rather embarrassing to say, but his psychic power was currently incapable of sustaining Eagle Eye for long.

"They don't know we've already left the city."

Texas came over to Bai Ye while wiping her damp hair. Her hair had returned to its original color, and the breeze stirred it, carrying a fresh fragrance.

"We've finally settled down..." Bai Ye said with a smile, leaning against the railing as he looked toward the street in the distance.

"Someday, I'll definitely go back."

Texas gazed into the distance, her eyes resolute.

Bai Ye sighed. As her companion, he knew exactly what Texas carried on her shoulders.

"Thank you," Texas suddenly said, turning to Bai Ye.

Bai Ye gently rubbed the wooden holy emblem in his left hand and smiled faintly.

"You've helped me a lot too... at least I have clothes to wear."

Texas was briefly stunned. Then the corners of her lips rose, forming a faint smile.

This was the first time Bai Ye had seen Texas smile, and it caught the boy somewhat by surprise.

However, Texas's smile was fleeting. Soon, she returned to her usual expressionless state.

"What is it?"

Seeing Bai Ye staring blankly at her, Texas could not help asking.

Bai Ye shook his head. It seemed Miss Texas had no idea just how beautiful she looked when she smiled.

"I was just thinking... maybe I need to borrow a little money from you..." The boy's voice grew softer and softer, until it was nearly inaudible. After all, Bai Ye was a thin-skinned boy, and asking to borrow money was inevitably embarrassing.

"Here—"

Texas did not hesitate in the slightest. She went back into the room and took out her black wallet.

Bai Ye needed to buy clothes and daily necessities. At the moment, he only had one set of bulletproof suit clothes on him. As for the pajamas he had been wearing before crossing over? Sorry, they had already turned to ashes alongside the Texas Family's last safehouse under the devastation of high-activity Originium explosives.

The mobile city Texas and Bai Ye had chosen was quite prosperous, forming a stark contrast with the city where Texas Manor had been located.

They did not even need to go out and buy things themselves. As long as they ordered what they needed online, a logistics company would naturally deliver it.

In the end, Texas did not register as a bounty hunter, since her identity was far too sensitive. Even in the north of the Columbia Federation, news of the Texas Family's destruction had caused an enormous uproar among the upper class.

In the end, Texas chose to register as a—driver, while Bai Ye earned money by becoming a bounty hunter.

Of course, Miss Texas would also help Bai Ye complete commissions. After all, Texas was far more capable in a fight than Bai Ye now.

So, after taking a bath and finishing dinner, Bai Ye headed alone toward the bustling downtown district.

Vehicles constantly passed along the road. The noisy streets and flashing neon lights made Bai Ye feel as though he had returned to Earth. But this was a planet vastly different from his homeland, and the greatest difference was—animal-eared girls everywhere.

A wooden sign hung from a pole extending beneath the eaves. After confirming the location, Bai Ye turned inside and forcefully pushed open the equally wooden door.

This was the Galloping Mare Tavern, located in the center of this mobile city, and home to a branch of the Bounty Hunter Guild.

The Bounty Hunter Guild was a worldwide organization whose predecessor had been the Mercenary Guild. It was a massive organization hidden beneath the surface, yet present everywhere.

The nature of a bounty hunter's work was extremely complex. Aside from capturing fugitives, anything from the simplest treasure-hunting commission to assassination operations could fall within a bounty hunter's scope of work.

Of course, cleaners who tidied up environments, couriers who delivered goods and letters, temporary teachers, security personnel, and even nannies could all be included among their services.

It was said that a certain gold-ranked bounty hunter could even provide golf sparring services, though in most cases, she only needed to swing her club to whip up a gale powerful enough to tear apart the turf.

The wooden door seemed somewhat old. Bai Ye pushed it open and slowly walked inside. The holy emblem was in his left pocket, while he carried an umbrella in his right hand. Bai Ye could be considered fully armed.

The thin wooden door was far sturdier than it looked, and its soundproofing was excellent. The tavern felt like another world. Noisy conversations and the clinking of glasses as people drank intertwined, rumbling in Bai Ye's ears.

"Four."

Bai Ye's gaze narrowed slightly. Perhaps he was overly sensitive, but he had been keeping watch on his surroundings. The moment he entered the tavern, at least four pairs of eyes had settled on him.