"Similarly, missions are also divided like a mercenary's ranking and further into -, neutral, and +. Except that instead of ranks, they go by levels.
"When you take on missions, you can only take on ones that are up to two levels higher than your own and of course missions that are on your level..." Again, she went on and on about missions, how to level up and take up higher leveled missions, and other things any new member would need to know.
Finally, she ended with a consolation as she saw that they were only just children, much younger than she was, "....Don't fret, everyone that joins the Mercenary Guild starts at the bottom of the ladder and make their way up with their own ability. Also, you are not restricted from joining any other guilds, association, etc. just because you are registered as a member of the Mercenary Guild." She smiled professionally.
After that, Xing Liyun and Ying went to the Mission Boards to check out the missions available.
Xing Liyun wanted to start soon, so why not pick a suitable mission to get things started on the same day?
He wants to take his time to test out the difficulty levels of the missions according to their level, though he can only choose missions up to Level D for now to gauge.
Earning money so that he and the four teens won't have to continue sponging off of Ying is important, there's no way Xing Liyun would take advantage of someone like that, especially Ying who had been so helpful to him ever since day one. Besides, he still needs to repay him the money he "borrowed" from him for the purchase of Xiao Zi.
Scanning briefly across the many missions on the walls, Xing Liyun realized that all the missions were already assorted into different areas on the board according to their level. This made it easier for the mercenaries to find suitable missions for their rank.
Another thing Xing Liyun noticed was that the missions available on the ground floor were only up to Level D. He assumed that missions on the level of C and above are on the upper floors.
Looking around, Xing Liyun's eyes suddenly flashed. He walked toward a certain section on the wall board and picked up a mission sheet.
Then glancing at Ying, he gestured, "Come." They both went back to the counter where they were registered.
This time when they came up to the counter, the staff lady that had helped them before was busy with other mercenaries coming to get approval for their missions so they went up to another staff worker of this Mercenary Guild office. This time, a man.
"Hellos, sirs. How may I help you?" The staff asked and addressed both Xing Liyun and Ying together because they had obviously come together.
Receiving the mission sheet Xing Liyun passed over, he thought aloud, "Here for mission approval? Okay." Then he proceeded to scan the mission sheet on something like a computer scanner to Xing Liyun.
It resembled a computer scanner but also not. It was not made of the same materials as the one Xing Liyun knows of, instead, it was actually made of a type of... crystal? It was translucent and had a somewhat pretty misted orange color along with a mysterious powerful feel to it that Xing Liyun couldn't get a handle on. Moreover, Xing Liyun had also never seen this kind of crystal before and was wondering what it could be to have such a powerful aura when it was just a crystal.
The male staff had placed the mission sheet face down on top of the flat and 3 centimeters tall orange crystal and closed the top part onto the bottom part. Next, he wrote something onto the device attacked to the front of the scanner; a device that looked similar to a lineless notepad screen. Then he pressed 'enter.' Some minutes later, the notepad screen blinked and the word "Approved" with the Mercenary Guild symbol on the background appeared.
And surprisingly, out of the side of the scanner came out a card that was 9 centimeters wide and 11 centimeters in length filled with words.
Taking the 1-millimeter thick card out from the side and discarding the mission sheet elsewhere, the staff extended the card out to Xing Liyun with a professional polite smile, one similar to the previous lady's, and told him. "This card contains all the exact information that was on the mission sheet. If you successfully accomplish the mission, you will hand this card that proves you're the one who undertook the mission to one of the Mercenary Guild's offices along with the evidence of your completion to get the rewards. Also, this is where your badge comes into play. You have to hand over your badge along with the card so the badge can record the completed mission in its records. In order to move up the ranks, you must also do missions above your current rank, but, of course, you can also go up if you complete numerous amounts of mission at your rank level but that will be harder and more arduous because it will take longer, but as long as you fulfill the quota required it's doable..." Then he babbled some more need-to-know information to Xing Liyun and Ying, making them both think that this guy talked more than the lady who helped them register.
Finally, he ended with, "... 10% of what you earn will belong to the Mercenary Guild. And as you take on more difficult---higher leveled---missions, you will also earn more." Subsequently, he smiled.
He was most definitely a chatterbox. ---A conclusion has been reached.
Xing Liyun took the card and read the information on it as the chatterbox was rambling on. Although he seemed like he wasn't paying any attention to what the man was saying, he was actually listening as he read what was on the card. It was true, this card has the exact same information as on the mission sheet Xing Liyun picked.
After that, Xing Liyun and Ying bide good-bye and the staff guy politely waved them out. After they left, he went to deal with other approaching mercenaries coming to get their mission approval.
"Oh? Here to get your mission approval as well? Ok!" The guy cheerfully and seemingly mechanically raved.
Hearing the phrase "mission approval" again, Xing Liyun asked Ying what it was and why it was so important.
"Oh that? Mission approval just means that information of what missions are taken and has to be taken down the Mission Board are sent to all the other Mercenary Guild offices to prevent confusion over who's actually doing the mission and getting the rewards. As well as to prevent someone from stealing another person's mission. When a mission is 'approved,' it means that all the same missions have been taken down. It is to also prevent a mix up; missions that has already been finished yet was taken again," Ying explained in a clear-cut manner.
'Is this information supposed to be known publicly?'
Xing Liyun now was somewhat amazed by Ying. His ability to answer any and all of his questions whenever, the moment he asks, was exceptional. It was like he knew everything in the world there is to know. There is no question he could not answer. To Xing Liyun it felt as if he had a computer next to him that can tell him all he wants to know as long as he searched it up!
Coming out of the Mercenary Guild's subbranch office, Xing Liyun did not expect the surprise waiting for him when he came out.
When they came out, they were suddenly greeted with a big commotion. The previously perfectly fine, standing streets stalls were knocked over, the laid-out cloths on the ground and the products on them were thrown everywhere on the streets, and the people were hiding in shops watching what was happening.
Some streets over was an ongoing fight. Five against four.
A bunch of 19-year-olds were winning with a great advantage over their younger opponents. Well, actually, only one of them had the upper hand. And it could be clearly seen by the mysterious green glow on the hands of that leading 19-year-old.
Mana. It was mana. The other side was winning simply because they had a mana user.
And the losing side couldn't defeat the one that was a mana user at all. They were in a great bind, but more importantly, they were in danger as it seemed like their older opponents do not intend to let them off with just mere wounds.
If it was just a fight between some random kids Xing Liyun wouldn't have bothered with it. He could care less even if one side was in it with the intention to kill. However, he would never let his own people be bullied or killed, especially right in front of his eyes.
At this, Xing Liyun was angered.
He wasn't angered when he was plotted against and murdered by his enemies.
He wasn't angered when he was suddenly thrown into a world he knew nothing about in the middle of a dangerous forest.
He wasn't angered when he was targeted by the four teens in the alleyway.
He wasn't angered when he was picked on because he seemed weak in that person's eyes.
He wasn't even angered when he was kicked out of the inn merely because of his identity as an assassin.
However, when his people, the ones he cared about, are in danger, there's no way he can stay calm.
Suddenly, Xing Liyun started running. He ran so fast he was like the wind and appeared at the site of the fight in almost an instant.
When he reached them, without any hesitation at all, he jumped forward with a flying kick taking advantage of his speed and momentum to add in more force. He precisely and accurately attacked the other on the head, without holding any of his strength back.
"Boss!" Robby exclaimed in shock as his eyes, along with the rest of his gang's, opened wide in astonishment and reverence.
It was Robby and his friends who were the ones in a pickle.
And that's exactly why Xing Liyun cut in.