Task

After wandering around Baili Town for a while, the three finally arrived at the local branch of the Beast master Guild.

It was a grand and opulent hall, even more extravagant than the city lord's mansion, making it impossible not to notice.

Beard, who had clearly scouted the place in advance, led Leon and Petty to report to a designated official. Then, instead of heading to the main task hall, they were ushered into a small side room.

The tasks displayed in the main hall were usually respectable jobs with decent contribution points.

Those missions were reserved for the Guild's disciples and free Beast masters. For criminals like Leon and his group, there were only two types of tasks to choose from:

The first type was dirty, grueling work that other Beast masters avoided—thankless tasks with low contribution points.

The second type was extremely dangerous, where a slight misstep could lead not only to injuries for their beasts but also to death for the Beast master.

But Leon and his group had no choice.

Strictly speaking, they were still criminals, and criminals had no right to choose.

"Let's search together and see if we can find a suitable task," Leon suggested. The three split up and began searching the walls for tasks.

The tasks were engraved on wooden plaques hanging on the walls. If they found a suitable one, they could simply take the plaque to the main hall to register.

Leon's eyes scanned task after task, and a few black lines appeared on his forehead.

[Eliminate Skunk Pack – 100 Contribution Points]

[Exterminate Mutated Dung Beetles – 100 Contribution Points]

[Eradicate Horsehead Fly Swarm – 200 Contribution Points]

…

Why are they all so disgusting?

Leon gritted his teeth.

A single skunk was already revolting, and they wanted a whole pack exterminated? For just 100 points?

And what's with "Mutated Dung Beetles"? Just call them what they are—filthy dung beetles!

Horsehead Fly Swarm... a swarm of flies with heads the size of horses…

Leon felt an overwhelming urge to vomit.

No wonder no one wanted these jobs!

He shook his head and braced himself against the wall, taking a couple of deep breaths. Then he turned to Petty and Beard. "Have you found anything suitable?"

"I found one." Beard, with his golden spirit monkey in one hand, pointed to a wooden plaque on the wall with the other. "It's an escort mission..."

"Forget escort missions. They take too long, don't offer many points, and if we fail, we can't afford the loss," Leon shook his head slightly.

He had glanced at a few escort missions earlier—usually traveling twenty or thirty miles through beast-filled wilderness.

In such cases, the safest approach was to light a signal and have a public courier bird transport the goods, like Leon used to do.

The reason these missions existed was simply that public courier bird services were expensive, especially for transporting goods rather than people. Task issuers wanted to save money.

Come on, I'm already dirt poor, and now I have to work to help others save money?

By that logic, helping them save money is like losing my own!

"I found one: eliminating two injured Tier-2 spirit beasts," Petty's voice drew Leon and Beard over.

[Eliminate Two Severely Injured Demon Bears – 600 Contribution Points]

This seemed promising…

Leon's eyes flickered with interest.

He had just asked and learned that earning true freedom required 5,000 contribution points.

If he completed tasks worth only 100 points each, it would take at least 50 missions. Even if he took on a couple of extra missions per month, he'd still be stuck until next year. High-point tasks could speed things up and reduce the total number of missions.

After all, the trips back and forth to Baili Town weren't cheap.

"Demon bears are relatively slow and strong, but if they're injured, their strength should be reduced. Plus, as wild spirit beasts without Beast masters, they won't have many battle techniques. With illusions assisting us, we should be able to take them down. What do you think?"

Leon turned to Petty and Beard.

"Your metal spirit will be the main force for this one. If you think it'll work, I'm in," Beard nodded.

He was well aware of his golden spirit monkey's weakness and knew he needed to rely on Leon's strength.

Since he was committed to following Leon, supporting all his decisions was the right move.

The task had been spotted by Petty, so with both Leon and Beard agreeing, she had no objections.

The three of them took the wooden plaque to register the task and then left the Beast master Guild.

The Ironfeather public courier bird only flew twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Since nighttime wasn't ideal for combat, Leon suggested they rest overnight and take the morning flight to Tashi Village.

But Beard had other plans.

The big guy, chanting slogans about completing tasks early to clear their crimes sooner, led Leon and Petty to the Guild's aviary. There, he hired a private raptor to take them directly to Tashi Village.

The raptor was only a Tier-3 spirit beast, not as large as the Ironfeather, but… it was far more expensive—ten spirit stones.

The reason?

The Ironfeather followed fixed routes and ran like a bus, offering cheap tickets but relying on volume.

The hired raptor, on the other hand, was like a private taxi—fewer passengers, less power, but available anytime and providing direct service, which justified its higher price!

Beard generously announced he would cover the cost.

Leon, while halfheartedly protesting the expense, climbed onto the bird's back, his resolve about Beard solidifying.

A foolish, wealthy man—perfect material for a lifelong buddy!

"Beard, you really stay at the most expensive inn in Baili Town?"

As they soared through the sky, Leon couldn't hold back his curiosity and glanced at Beard.

"Yeah, the Transforming Dragon Inn," Beard replied casually.

"That must be quite costly," Petty chimed in.

"Not really." Beard waved dismissively. "My family owns the inn."

…

Leon and Petty exchanged glances, their expressions strange.

Why did his casual tone make me feel so envious?

Damn it, he got us again!

The two of them lowered their heads, silent for the rest of the journey.

…

"Second Chief, look, they're here!"

At the gates of Tashi Village, Morse, the Second Chief, was on lookout. His subordinate's loud exclamation startled him, but before he could reprimand, he spotted the approaching raptor and the figures riding on its back.

"Reinforcements?"

Morse's spirits lifted.

A few days ago, two demon bears had appeared outside the village. Powerful and aggressive, they'd wreaked havoc. The Chief had fought them with his Tier-3 stone spirit but returned gravely injured, while the bears suffered only minor wounds.

Now, the Chief lay unconscious, and Morse, having just bonded with a Tier-1 metal spirit, didn't dare confront the bears alone. He had spent spirit stones to request aid from the Beast master Guild.

He hadn't expected help to arrive so quickly.

Morse's eyes lit up.

He recognized the raptor—a ten-spirit-stone ride.

Anyone willing to pay that much for direct transport must be at least a Tier-3 Beast master!