"I'm from Songhai," Zhang Yuanqing replied, "it's mentioned in the documents." The landlady nodded and pointed to the sofa. "Sit down first." Then, turning to the little boy, she gave him a solid slap on the head, shouted, "You're always glued to your cartoons, just like your sister—no real accomplishments at all! Go fetch the tea." She picked up the remote from the coffee table and turned off the TV. The boy, used to being slapped, straightened up, slid off the sofa, and ran to the water dispenser to serve two cups of water to Zhang Yuanqing and Anne, then hurried into the bedroom and closed the door behind him. The pressure is immense—whether as a landlord or as a mother... Zhang Yuanqing took a slow sip of water. The landlady smoothed her sleep dress and sat down across from them, like an HR representative from a global Fortune 500 company, observing carefully as she said: "Honestly, seeing you with a foreign woman, I simply wouldn't rent this house." "I'm not being discriminatory—I'm just dealing with differences in lifestyle and culture. Those differences often create complications. I'd rather rent the house to a native from the same region." Zhang Yuanqing sensed her emotional tone. When she said, "I'm not being discriminatory," there was clearly a sense of resistance and prejudice. That's exactly what people call it—the kind of person who dislikes both racial discriminators and Nicko? Zhang Yuanqing quietly remarked under his breath. Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "Honestly, this is the first time I've been in the Free Federation. Seeing black and white chocolates everywhere on the streets, I felt physically uncomfortable. Only here, do I feel at ease—like I've finally come home." Upon saying this, he sensed her previously agitated emotions ease and a deep sense of resonance. The landlord's attitude indeed improved. She said, "How about this—I'll ask you a few questions, and then decide whether to rent the house to you." Zhang Yuanqing nodded, "Please go ahead." Zhang Yuanqing fully understood the landlady’s caution, as Anne had already briefed him on some of the local customs and traditions of New Covenant County. The county’s laws strongly protect tenants, making them a vulnerable group—hence, the prevalence of "room-borrowers" and "room-stealers." For a landlady like this, the primary concern is room-borrowers who pay a month’s rent and then stay put, refusing to move out. When the landlord wants to evict them, it becomes quite troublesome. Therefore, landlords are very rigorous in their screening process, typically renting only to high-quality tenants—ideally those with solid incomes, stable employment, and freedom of federal nationality, since such tenants have credit constraints. Foreign tenants, on the other hand, face no such limitations and can simply remain until their visas expire and then leave the Free Federation freely. The landlady asked, “Given your age, aren’t you here for studies?” "No, I've already graduated. I'm here in New Covenant County with my girlfriend, visiting for a while and also looking for a job. We won't stay long—minimum six months, maximum a year." Zhang Yuanqing turned to the blonde beauty by his side and said, "This is my girlfriend, Anne. She's a foreign language teacher at our university and has been living in China for years. She's originally from Wind City, and while she's settled here, she doesn't have many friends in New Covenant County. We don't usually host parties, so please don't worry about having unexpected guests coming over." If Anne were considered just an assistant, that would be quite an exaggeration. He didn't want the landlord's wife asking too many questions—telling stories would be a hassle. The landlord's wife nodded without comment. "Which university did you graduate from?" "Shonghai University!" Zhang Yuanqing replied. "Shonghai University, ah..." The landlord's wife immediately smiled, clearly pleased with the tenant's educational background. She then asked, "What about your family—what do they do?" Zhang Yuanqing said, "My ancestors on both sides have all been part of the public security system." The property manager nodded continuously, confirming that this was a qualified, high-value tenant, and added, "I'm good with that. You can move in, but there are a few rules to go over first. First, please keep the noise level low after 10 p.m., as my daughter is taking the university entrance exam next year. Second, you may invite friends over to visit, but they must leave by 10 p.m. Third, all furniture and appliances in the house are already in place. If you'd like to add any furniture—especially large installations—you must apply to me and have my approval. In case any appliances are damaged, simply let me know, and I'll take care of it." Zhang Yuanqing smiled and said, "No problem!" The property manager then produced the standard lease agreement, which both signed. Zhang Yuanqing paid the rent for six months upfront, along with a three-month security deposit. — It's worth noting that in the New Covenant District, the law requires rent to be paid monthly, with a security deposit capped at one month's rent. Currently, Zhang Yuanqing's top priority is to establish stability and reassure his landlord, so he has chosen to make a slight concession. After receiving the payment, the landlord's wife led them to Room 403, which features a living room, a dining area near the balcony with ample natural light, a master bedroom, a guest room, a study, and two separate bathrooms. The kitchen is open-plan and located adjacent to the living room. The furnishings and appliances are fully equipped, making the space both warm and comfortable for two people to live in, with excellent sound insulation. "You're responsible for your own household items. The bedrooms come with clean bed linens, blankets, and pillowcases—feel free to use them or purchase new ones. Just let me know if you have any issues," the landlord's wife said, handing over the keys to Anne and then walking away. Zhang Yuanqing then crossed the dining area to the balcony, soaking in the sunlight and gazing out at this unfamiliar city. Annie began making the bed and arranging toiletries, then sat on the sofa in the living room, compiling her shopping list. The boss's daily necessities included pajamas, fresh bed linens, pillowcases, razors, toothpaste, skincare products, condoms, and so on. After finishing the list, she said, "Master, I'd like to take a shower first, then go out shopping. In the afternoon, we'll register at the Hunter's Guild." "Go ahead," Zhang Yuanqing replied. He entered the master bedroom, opened the window, lay down on the bed, and then launched the chat app, changing his ID to "The Supreme Master." [The Supreme Master: I've arrived in the New Covenant County. Everything is going smoothly.] [Sun Miaomiao: Oh, you've changed your name?] [Xia Hou Aotian: I just saw Guan Ya leading a mission today—why haven't you two gone abroad together?] [Hong Jiguo: How can you enjoy foreign women if you're taking your girlfriend abroad? Hahaha!] Hong Jiguo's one sentence offended three ladies in the group. Guan Ya had originally intended to come along, following the saying "when married to a chicken, one follows the chicken." However, Zhang Yuanqing declined. On one hand, Fu Qingyang was establishing the Investigation Department and the Judicial Department and needed high-caliber talent to support him. Guan Ya, as a Level 5 Saint, was considered an elite. On the other hand, this overseas trip wasn't just for sightseeing—it was meant to be a career-driven endeavor, and having her as a girlfriend actually became a burden and a psychological weight. For the same reasons, Xiao Yuan, Xie Lingxi, and the Queen were also not brought along. [The Supreme Master: @Sun Miaomiao, what's the point of not changing my name? Should I call myself Yuan Shi Tian Zun abroad?] [Xiao Yuan: Stay safe and avoid official organizations overseas—you've got no allies now.] After a brief chat, he exited the guild group and opened the "Three-Eyed Magician Child" cartoon avatar. 【The Celestial Master: Magi-Eyed King, I'm off to clean up the overseas realms (dog head).】 The Magi-Eyed King returned a string of question marks and then said: 【Staying abroad for a while sounds like a solid plan—I'll arrange a disguise item and make a trip overseas myself.】 After a few pleasantries, Zhang Yuanqing updated Fu Qingyang on their itinerary, accommodation address, and the sponsor's mission. Fu Qingyang replied succinctly: 【Just stay alert.】 At the current level of Yuan Shi, no one below him poses a serious threat, and those who hold such high status are rare among the spiritual realm practitioners. As long as Yuan Shi doesn't make a fatal move—such as directly attacking the headquarters of the Sea God Church, the Heaven's Punishment Division, or the gathering grounds of the evil factions—there will be little danger. In the morning, Anne and Zhang Yuanqing left the rental apartment. Wearing a short wool coat, dark jeans, and low-heeled shoes, Anne covered her exquisite face with sunglasses and a mask, her golden wavy hair neatly tied into a neat ponytail. Unlike Zhang Yuanqing's imagined "chaotic bar" or "dusky underground castle," the address of the Hunter's Guild's branch in the New Covenant County is located on the 48th floor of a building named "Mort" in the Queens district. The walls are clad in marble, the floors gleam under bright lighting, and there's a lovely, brown-haired, brown-eyed receptionist in a well-tailored outfit, along with neatly dressed security personnel. It appears to be a refined, highly private upscale lounge. Anne, walking with her black low-heeled shoes, makes a crisp tapping sound as she approaches the reception desk and says, "We're here to register for Hunter's Guild membership—no referral from an existing member." The tall receptionist immediately rises and smiles, "Please follow me!" The two proceed with the female receptionist in a professional OL-style dress into a beautifully furnished lounge. After serving them two cups of coffee, she says, "Just a moment—I'll go fetch the client manager." She bows gracefully, then exits the lounge. Within three minutes, a middle-aged man in a suit, with a neatly combed hairstyle and a slender face, knocked on the glass door. In a gentle tone, he introduced himself: "I'm Hal Joseph, responsible for member registration and outreach. Would you like to register together, or would one of you prefer to register separately?" Anne said, "This is my boss. He'd like to become a bounty hunter. Joseph, we have other commitments in the afternoon, so let's make this efficient." Joseph nodded, pulled out a chair, and sat down, saying, "First, I'd like to verify your identities." He pulled out a grip tester from his pocket and said, "Mr. If you're in a physically strong profession, please use this test. For those in mental or special-abilities fields, a live demonstration would be appreciated." Zhang Yuanqing thought for a moment—using his skills might reveal his profession—so he opted for the grip test. He immediately picked up the tester from the table, held it in his hands, and gently applied pressure. The reading on this specially designed grip monitor instantly surged to 500 kg—well beyond human limits. Joseph smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go prepare the forms." He stood up and left, returning half a minute later with the relevant application documents. Joseph handed the forms to Zhang Yuanqing and said, "The spiritual realm ID, profession, and level can be filled in as you wish—the guild doesn't care about these details. Our annual registration fee is 20,000 federal credits. If you have a member referral, we offer a 50% discount. If you don't have the funds, you may choose to complete three bronze-level tasks for the guild, which will offset your membership fee. As for commissions, the guild takes a percentage from each task completed by members: 30% for bronze hunters, 20% for silver hunters, and 10% for gold hunters." After listening to Anne's translation, Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Do we have to pay taxes?" "Of course we do!" "Joseph shrugged, saying, 'On the territory of the Free Federation, whether you're a drug lord, a weapons dealer, a crime syndicate, or any other kind of villain, you have to pay taxes—or the Federation Tax Authority will show you what justice really means.'" Anne translated softly and added, "The Department of Divine Judgment handles liaison with the Federation Tax Authority, specifically dealing with tax matters for the Realm-Walkers." This makes perfect sense... Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. "Don't worry about taxes—we'll handle the payments on your behalf before disbursing your commissions," Joseph said. "The Guild has a dedicated app. Download it, register, and once you're set up, I'll give you your personal code. Then you simply log in to the app and take on tasks from your phone." You don't have to go out of your way, thank you! I actually really want to challenge the Federation Tax Authority myself! Zhang Yuanqing nodded while mentally muttering. Joseph continued, "Also, I'd like to explain the points system for bounty hunters. To upgrade from Bronze to Silver, you need 100 points; to advance from Silver to Gold, you need 1,000 points. This system is independent of your rank—whether you're an extraordinary, a sage, or even a sovereign, you must consistently accumulate points. Bronze-level missions are divided into three tiers: missions earning points up to 10 are considered basic, those up to 20 are intermediate, and those up to 30 are advanced. Each Bronze mission can earn a maximum of 30 points. For the points systems of Silver and Gold levels, you can find detailed information on the app. Additionally, new members cannot actively select missions at registration. We will push missions to you within three days, and you must successfully complete the trial missions in order to officially become a Bronze Hunter." Regarding the payment of commissions, we have a designated bank partner through which commissions are promptly transferred directly to your bank card. You can withdraw cash using the bank card issued by the guild, without needing to complete identity verification—just enter your PIN. If you prefer not to use a bank card, you may collect cash directly from the guild, but you'll need to make an appointment. The speaker's pace was too fast, and I didn't fully catch what was said. Could you please speak more slowly?... Zhang Yuanqing pretended to listen seriously. Annie leaned in close and whispered the translation. The forms can be filled out freely without requiring identity verification. The bank cards are also issued by the guild, offering strong confidentiality—indeed, even evil profession members can register. However, this means that the guild holds complete control over the cards and can freeze them at any time. Hmm, there's always a trade-off, isn't there? Zhang Yuanqing said, "Annie, here's the membership fee." At 11 a.m., they completed the registration and had lunch at a fine restaurant. Then Annie took him to the supermarket to purchase the items on the list. By 4 PM, I took a taxi back to the Chinesetown area. Zhang Yuanqing had just taken a shower, changed into clothes, and pulled out the new smartphone bought by Anne. He opened the Hunter Guild app. The app interface was entirely in English, and although his spoken English wasn't strong, as a top student at Songhai University, his reading comprehension was solid. The app itself was very simple, featuring three rankings: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Zhang Yuanqing tapped on the Gold leaderboard and saw a task listed: "Kill the CEO of the Divine Judgment, Borias." Most of the top ten tasks were equally absurd. The price was also outrageous—999 billion federal credits. Note: Tasks on the leaderboard remain valid for three months; if not completed within that period, they are automatically canceled. "Well, killing a half-god would ensure a lifetime of financial comfort, yet it seems people who can actually kill a half-god don't struggle with money. These tasks appear to be completely pointless," he remarked. At that moment, the doorbell rang.