Bounty Hunter

"I want to register as a bounty hunter."

Bai Ye ignored the gazes fixed on him and walked up to the tavern counter.

A middle-aged man stood behind the bar, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a black butler's uniform. The ears on his head identified him as a Feline.

Hearing Bai Ye's words, the middle-aged man set down the glass he had been polishing, adjusted his glasses, and gave Bai Ye a surprised look.

The people seated at the tables around the bar also turned to look at Bai Ye, making him somewhat uncomfortable.

This feeling reminds me of the looks those boys at my new school gave me after I transferred...

Bai Ye sighed and asked again:

"What steps do I need to take to become a bounty hunter?"

The middle-aged man studied Bai Ye deeply, then turned on the computer atop the bar and took out a sheet of high-quality paper.

"First, you need to pay 200 Lungmen Dollars. Then you just need to fill out the form."

Bai Ye took out the Lungmen Dollars he had prepared beforehand and accepted the paper from the man.

Becoming a bounty hunter did not require any complicated procedures. He did not even need to provide a photograph. The only information that had to be filled in truthfully was his codename and contact information.

I'll just write Bai Ye... It was not as though Bai Ye had never considered choosing a codename, but all the ones he came up with on short notice were strange—like Alice Megatron and the like...

Bai Ye did not leave his terminal number, since he did not have one at all... Fortunately, contact information was useless at this stage anyway—no one would entrust a job to a rookie with no record, would they?

"Bai... Ye. That's quite an uncommon codename..."

The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes as he entered Bai Ye's information into the computer, then retrieved a printed card from the printer on the other side.

"A bounty hunter's identification can directly serve as identification in any mobile city of the Columbia Federation, provided that you complete three commissions."

As he spoke, the man placed the card in Bai Ye's hand and continued:

"The Bounty Hunter Association has reached agreements with governments across various countries and can accept government commissions, including cracking down on criminals, apprehending criminals, transporting goods, and delivering information. Some commissions can only be disclosed after signing a confidentiality agreement."

Bai Ye raised an eyebrow. He said nothing, merely slipping the card into his pocket before looking at the man.

"Can I see what commissions are available now?"

The middle-aged man in the butler's uniform smiled faintly.

"By bounty hunter custom, you need to order a drink before asking to see the commission list."

"Ha ha ha—"

The tavern patrons at the surrounding tables, who had been listening intently, burst into laughter. A few even began whistling.

Bai Ye ignored them and said expressionlessly:

"A glass of milk, please."

"As you wish."

A smile appeared on the middle-aged man's lips once more. Even though Bai Ye's request was rather—strange—he remained as elegant and gentlemanly as a butler serving Victoria's old aristocracy, putting on a white glove from beside him before taking out a glass to pour the milk.

"Ha ha ha—"

"Drinking milk in a bar? Little miss, are you trying to be funny?"

The nearby patrons laughed even harder, adding all sorts of unpleasant remarks.

Bai Ye's gaze turned unfriendly. He might look very much like a girl, but he did not like being treated this way—if you smiled and called Bai Ye a little girl, he would definitely swing those slender arms and break an arm thicker than his thigh.

"Sir, your milk."

Just as Bai Ye was considering how to teach the loudest one a lesson, the still-unnamed middle-aged man brought him a glass of milk.

"Thank you." Bai Ye let out a long breath and accepted the milk.

"Here is the commission list."

The middle-aged man brought up another screen, displaying a long list of tasks.

Bai Ye first took out his holy emblem and cast the divine spell Detect Poison, then raised the cup and took a sip.

"Mmm—"

The youth then narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. It had to be said that the milk provided by the middle-aged man was exceptionally delicious—not only rich and creamy, but also at the perfect temperature. Bai Ye enjoyed it immensely.

That was right. Compared to other drinks, Bai Ye preferred milk, which had much to do with his former "frail and sickly" constitution.

While enjoying his milk, Bai Ye browsed the list. After deliberating repeatedly, he pointed at one of the commissions and asked:

"Can I take this commission?"

The middle-aged man glanced at it, then nodded.

"Of course, but are you sure you want to accept it? You should know that failing a mission requires paying a massive penalty."

Bounty hunters had no formal ranking system, nor were missions graded. A newly registered bounty hunter could naturally accept a commission to hunt a Subsonic Originium Slug.

However, to prevent bounty hunters from overestimating themselves and accepting commissions recklessly, a bounty hunter who failed a commission had to pay the penalty stipulated by the client. This mechanism effectively stopped many hotheaded rookies from trying to wrestle with Subsonic Originium Slugs.

Bai Ye drained the milk in one gulp, then nodded.

"That's right. I'll take this commission."

The middle-aged man sighed, took out a device, and gestured for Bai Ye to remove his card and scan it. He then turned around, found a file bag among rows of cabinets, and handed it to Bai Ye.

"You have one week to complete this commission. Good luck, little miss who likes milk."

Bai Ye's gaze softened, but for the sake of the milk, he decided to let the middle-aged man off this time.

Taking back his card and file bag, Bai Ye turned and left the Galloping Mare Tavern. As he opened the tavern door, however, his lips moved faintly.

At the same time, a soft whisper sounded beside the middle-aged man's ear.

"Thank you for the milk. Also, I'm a boy."

The middle-aged man looked up in surprise, only to find no one before him. Even the whisper at his ear seemed like an illusion.

Smiling faintly, he removed his glasses and began wiping them as he muttered to himself:

"I misjudged this one."

The final divine spell Bai Ye had used was a priestly spell known as Prestidigitation, similar to the arcane trick employed by spellcasters.

This kind of divine spell used for putting on a mystical act is unexpectedly useful sometimes.

Bai Ye smiled as he tossed the bounty hunter identification card in his hand, then tucked it back into the breast pocket of his suit.

The commission Bai Ye had accepted had been jointly issued by the governments of Victoria and Columbia. Its specific content was to capture a transnational smuggler who had fled into the Columbia Federation.