Middletown
Middletown was the hub of all the hunters, it was a central place for the Guilds and their headquarters.
It was a place surrounded by the thick lush green forest. Tall and leafy trees gave the aura of richness and vitality to the whole region.
There was a total of nine exit and situated around the Middletown. This was due to the fact that the town usually felt over crowded because of the continuous stream of the hunters here.
Hunters entered this town all the time to visit their guild, pick up a quest; buy supplies and similar activities. Those that wanted to rest would have to report before going back to their downtown place.
It was widely known now that the whole continent survived on hunting and fields related to it.
No one knew who founded the Middle Town but it slowly became a center for Guild headquarters. It was located in the upper vast mountains and only stronger hunters could take full view from the above to admire how beautiful this middle Town appeared.
Almost every single guild, big or small, famous or not had built their headquarters here. Those that could not qualify to build here were even considered second rate Guilds.
And as the population and economy increased and improve in this city, a need for rules appeared. And therefore, the strongest hunters came together to enforce certain rules and regulations that would maintain order. It mainly prevented the strong from bullying the weak openly.
But the rules were limited to the Middle Town. When in the vast forest or the upper and lower edges, the hunters only followed the law of strongest.
There were also some rumors about a High Town which was also called esteemed Townhouse but anyone lower than level six was not qualified to learn about it.
All because it was located at the highest mountains. Far from the reach of common and low-level hunters.
With such a divide in geography and economy it was safe to say that hunters were ruling this continent in all aspects.
Qiao, who had just survived an ordeal was currently in the lower edges of the vast forest, the level one or lower chasers were assigned quests in this area. Once the quest was assigned the hunter or the chaser was no more responsibility of the Guild.
Though they would be provided necessary information no extra help was provided in anyway.
It was up to hunters to plan how they would be able to complete the quest and return back alive. Purchasing proper equipment, having the necessary skills. All of it was a hunter's responsibility.
In a similar way, the spoils received were solely assets belonging to the parties who joined hand and hunted the monster. The Guilds did not take an extra cut from it.
They could trade the treasures with money or weapons. The prices of all types of weapons were already mentioned in the short book, which could be bought from the information areas. Every Guild built an open chamber for the free information, and it was strictly ordered that no matter which Guild a hunter or chaser belong, all general information was right to ask from any chamber.
There were some sudden and hidden quests too and anyone could enroll in it on his own consent. But their safety nevertheless was not guaranteed by the Guild.
These quests were opened when a rare monster appear and the Guilds wanted to take the initiative in hunting down.
Rare monsters were frightening, and they could destroy whole towns in a single attack. It was always alarming for the human population as well as middle Town. So, they should be hunting before the towns get destroyed and the humans got killed. Which is why rare monster quests were prioritized a lot. But as the name suggests, they were rare.
The rare and huge monsters always like to wander in the various parts of the continent and brought trouble for common population.
....
Qiao could feel that his wounds were healing itself, it was because of the points which he earned. For zeroes these points were equal to treasure as long as no one suddenly tried to jeopardize you.
He started walking again after that encounter with the red crystal thieves. He kept his temporary weapon in his hand, raising his alertness in case he met the bullies again.
For others, this weapon was a useless shredded skin of the weird monster but actually, it was shredded at the time when the monster reached level three in his anger so it was a good weapon against any level one or two monsters.
Another aspect was that, someone unaware of its properties would not consider it a weapon. What more about a treasured weapon. Its unassuming look prevented anyone from having thoughts about stealing it from him. Right now, he was in no condition to deal with any hunter.
"I better find a place soon," Qiao wiped his sweat, the bright day and less greenery around him made him look for some shade. Zeroes were still affected by the weather and environment like common humans.
With every rising level, a hunter was slowly breaking from his shackles of being a human. That's why they were called hunters and were stronger than common. They transformed slowly to become stronger physically and mentally.
At that moment,
Qiao felt someone approaching him, he hurriedly tightened his grip on the weapon and looked around.
He did not feel a threat but still it would be wise to remain alert.
"Haha, I am amazed that you could feel my presence despite being a zero," someone chuckled and walked out from behind the big, bald trunk of a tree nearby.
He was hiding and observing the youth to make sure that the youth was also a zero like him.
And sure enough, despite being ready for action, Qiao did not show any overwhelming strength.
Only a zero was harmless in this stranger's eyes, so he thought to ask for the company of one, since it was dangerous to travel alone toward the Middle Town.
Though the periphery of the Middle Town was safe but the forest itself was not safe.