The task grading system was something he had recently implemented, with levels determined by the impact of the mission.
It began with the lowest rank, F, and extended up to S. Tasks beyond S were not within their reach, so they were left ungraded.
F rank was the simplest, designed for newcomers to accumulate experience. The difficulty increased exponentially with each higher rank. E rank was for tasks that only elite individuals could complete, followed by D rank, which required individuals at the peak of human strength to undertake. Then came C, B, A, and finally S rank.
Each security personnel, upon completing a task, submitted task documentation for re-evaluation. Should they inadvertently exceed the designated rank, they would be rewarded with additional bonuses.
The most skilled employee in the security firm he operated was his assistant, Baloo, who barely reached C rank. As for Hodar, despite receiving aid from the spring water provided by Zhao Lun and enduring perilous missions, he barely managed to reach B rank.
The task of finding Anton Vanko was not difficult. However, it was rated S rank due to the immense importance of Anton Vanko himself.
Acquiring his technology would drastically alter the global landscape. His significance was enough to merit an S-rank task. Completing this task was not reliant on raw strength, but rather on patience, information, confidence, and luck.
The following morning, Zhao Lun received the prepared food, which was then packaged and sent by his owl to the person he intended to invite—Hagrid.
One could not help but marvel at the owl's abilities. With Zhao Lun's spring water, it was able to carry the large package without breaking a sweat. In less than two hours, the owl returned, bringing with it Hagrid's letter of thanks and his gift—Rockskin Biscuits.
The biscuits were incredibly hard, enough to chip one's teeth if not careful. Zhao Lun managed to take a bite but quickly gave up. The Rockskin Biscuits were practically as hard as stone—only a giant like Hagrid could consume them as food.
Setting aside the biscuits, Zhao Lun resumed refining his task classification system.
Could the tasks set for the security firm be expanded?
He was considering forming a Bounty Hunter Guild, where missions could be posted globally, and anyone who completed them would be rewarded.
Of course, the guild's core mission was to ensure the safety of Earth and to contribute to the construction of a better future.
With this goal in mind, Zhao Lun gathered a great deal of information, implemented plans, and worked on refining them to prevent the guild from being exploited by evil forces.
The weather outside changed abruptly. It had been sunny in the morning, but by noon, dark clouds covered the sky. In the afternoon, a loud crack of thunder heralded a torrential downpour.
"Finally, it's raining," Zhao Lun murmured.
The rain brought relief, as the oppressive, stifling heat of the past days finally eased.
Sitting by the window, Zhao Lun gazed at the heavy rain outside, the wind carrying with it a sweet, earthy scent.
"Boss, here is the knowledge disc you requested," Monica said, entering with a package.
"Oh, did they complete the task?" Zhao Lun asked eagerly, eyeing the disc.
"Not likely in such a short time," Monica replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Alright, the task continues. Just input these into Athena's knowledge base," Zhao Lun said indifferently, handing the disc back to her.
Recently, Zhao Lun had realized that documenting knowledge alone was an enormous waste of time. He had made a rookie mistake: there was simply too much knowledge in the world for him to document it all by himself in a short period of time.
Thus, the task was born—transforming paper-based knowledge into digital form. By converting all printed knowledge into electronic format, the collective effort of many would far exceed the speed of one individual.
The thunderstorm arrived suddenly and departed just as quickly. In less than half an hour, the rain stopped, and the skies cleared.
Maria, riding her flying broomstick, went out to play with her pet. The young girl, excited with her new toy, couldn't sit still.
Two days later, at noon.
Nicole and Angela were about to return, and Monica went to the airport to pick them up. They would be back by the afternoon.
The seaside castle was never completed, instead transformed into a modern villa.
The materials used were cutting-edge, with large expanses of glass. The structure appeared almost entirely transparent. Zhao Lun spared no expense, ensuring the glass was incredibly sturdy—impervious to even artillery fire. The transparency inside could be controlled by Athena, the smart housekeeper, with walls that could display holograms or serve as surveillance, ensuring that no intruder could hide.
The basement was separated from the seawater by ultra-thick fiberglass, and the nearby seabed had been altered, with fine sand covering it, allowing for clear views of the sea floor through the pristine water.
The old house had a cozy atmosphere, but this new villa had a more futuristic feel while also being more comfortable—an excellent summer retreat for the season.
The villa had three floors, with a retractable roof. At that moment, Zhao Lun had turned the surrounding area into a semi-open terrace. Sitting with a book in one hand, enjoying the sea breeze and the sound of the waves, he munched on fruit. When tired, he played with his pet or flew around outside with Maria.
For lunch, they had seafood and refreshing vegetarian dishes. After a short nap, the awaited guests had arrived, and they all moved into the villa to relax together.
"Boss."
Upon meeting, Nicole gave both Zhao Lun and Maria a warm hug, nearly suffocating Zhao Lun.
Angela was more reserved, merely giving their cheeks a quick peck before handing them a special gift—an Erhu for Zhao Lun and a traditional Chinese guqin for Maria. Both were handcrafted by a master musician Angela had found. The two instruments were exquisite and elegant, and they were much appreciated.
Although Zhao Lun was not a professional musician, he had always enjoyed music and had a habit of collecting instruments. Maria, following his lead, shared the same interest.
Ada, the one responsible for protecting them, crossed her arms, a smile on her face, but showed no interest in joining. No one had forgotten her, and Maria ran over, leaping into her arms, showering her face with kisses.
"Maria, stop putting your saliva on my face," Ada said disdainfully, setting Maria down and wiping her face with a tissue.
Nicole, Angela, and the others looked on with mischievous smiles, their admiration for Maria's antics evident.
"Nicole, Nicole, Maria can fly now! Maria can fly!"
"Ada, Maria can fly now!"
"Angela, Maria can fly now!"
Maria, having released Ada, produced a small flying broomstick, which she had thought was hidden. She mounted it and soared into the air, laughing triumphantly as she showed off from above.
"Oh, God!" The three women, who had never seen Maria fly before, were utterly amazed. Their eyes widened, and their hands covered their mouths in awe, looking incredibly cute. Monica, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle, recalling her own first reaction when she saw Maria fly.
Zhao Lun found it amusing. Using his neural interface and the nearby cameras, he recorded the entire spectacle greedily.
As Zhao Lun would say, beautiful memories should be preserved, and this amusing event had to be documented.
Maria, wearing a witch's robe and hat, resembled a legendary sorceress. Her flying performance made the women truly realize the power of witches.
The women, too excited to even finish their delayed lunch, began chasing after Maria, eager to learn more. Maria, seizing the opportunity to show off, proudly continued to flaunt her newfound skill. Her delight grew as she saw their envious expressions.
The group of women gathered together, chatting excitedly. Even Monica, who had already known, joined in the conversation.
The evening was drawing near.
Zhao Lun, in a good mood, went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
His cooking skills had been honed through practice, and now, with the assistance of his neural interface, he was able to follow recipes and virtual simulations to ensure his dishes rivaled those of top chefs. When cooking, he often incorporated ingredients from the Divine Kingdom, elevating the taste of the food to a new level, turning it into a true delicacy.
The scent of the food wafted through the air even before the meal was ready, drawing the women, still discussing magic, into the kitchen.
"Wow! It smells amazing."
"Boss's cooking has improved again."
"I'll try a bite."
"Hey! Wash your hands before grabbing anything!"
Their arrival made the kitchen lively, and the rhythm of Zhao Lun's cooking sped up as everyone joined in the fun. Half an hour later, the meal was ready, and the table was filled with food—mostly vegetarian dishes, with only a small amount of meat.
The vegetables were primarily for beauty and skincare, as they promoted smooth, delicate skin. The meat dishes, however, were intended for Zhao Lun's personal consumption to aid in his growth. To ensure the women remained beautiful, they mostly ate the vegetables. Zhao Lun had prepared a wide variety of them, along with pizza as the main dish, and finished off with a small bowl of tomato and egg soup.
"You're all tired. Go rest now," Zhao Lun said.
After their long flight, their biological clocks had been disrupted. After playing around with Maria, they were exhausted. Now, after eating, they all felt more relaxed. Angela and Nicole, clearly drowsy, slumped on the couch, their heads drooping, ready for a nap. Ada, as usual, seemed unaffected, and went to rest on her own.
"Alright, boss."
The women went to their respective rooms, leaving only Zhao Lun and Monica in the living room.
"Huh? Where's Maria?" Zhao Lun asked.
"She's sleeping here," Monica replied.
Maria was lying under a blanket on one of the beds, fast asleep.
"Hmm, I'm tired too," Zhao Lun said, yawning.
It was getting late, and the sky had darkened. Zhao Lun, accustomed to sleeping on time, felt sleepy as well.