The waitress at the counter, upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu and Robin arrive, quickly reacted with professional poise, offering a sweet smile and softly inquiring, "How may I be of service to you gentlemen?"
"I'm here to check the completion status of a posted mission," Zhong Shenxiu stated calmly. Now, however, he carried himself like a young man of importance, possessing an irresistible aura in every gesture, especially towards the opposite sex.
The waitress paused again, then hastily and flusteredly replied, "R-right, please present your mission token!"
Zhong Shenxiu promptly produced the small plaque he was given when posting the mission—the token that marked the mission number. This was the so-called "mission token," designed for anti-counterfeiting and differentiation from other tasks.
When the waitress saw the "Mission Token Number," she froze once more. Heavens, could this be the mission that had been posted continuously for five years, long lauded by mercenaries as the "Gift of the Gods"?
It was a mission virtually every mercenary knew about; it was simply too famous!
One reason for its fame was the simplicity of the task: one only needed to locate the specified items, with no limit on quantity or type. Even finding a tiny fragment qualified one for a reward. Of course, the commission earned was directly proportional to the amount found!
The second reason was the extraordinarily generous reward. Though nominally a 'C'-rank mission, the commission exceeded that of many 'B'-rank endeavors. Numerous mercenary groups struck it rich solely because of this mission, eventually leading to the formation of guilds dedicated entirely to completing this single task!
The third reason was its unprecedented duration—five continuous years, with massive funds disbursed daily. Such a mission was virtually a divine blessing upon the mercenary corps!
It was precisely under the influence of this mission that many emerging mercenary groups were spurred into existence, catapulting the mercenary world into unprecedented fervor!
To think the one who posted this mission was this very handsome young man! Good heavens, this mission was posted five years ago; how old was he then?
Realizing this, the waitress looked at Zhong Shenxiu with even greater astonishment, as if staring at an alien species! Despite her good composure, encountering something of this magnitude would leave even the President of the "Mercenary Association" speechless for quite a while!
"Is there an issue?" Zhong Shenxiu asked with a smile. Even his manner of questioning showed how much he had changed; in the past, he would have invariably addressed women with a sharp, "Woman!"
"S-sorry, please wait a moment! Ah, no, please follow me!" The waitress became completely flustered, her words tumbling out incoherently.
Zhong Shenxiu merely offered a faint smile, paying the confusion no mind.
Under the waitress's trembling guidance, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were led to the most exclusive reception suite. "P-please wait here; our President will be with you momentarily," the waitress said, her voice still laced with nervousness. A figure as significant as Zhong Shenxiu required informing the Association's head immediately!
"Very well, I hope I won't have to wait long!" Zhong Shenxiu smiled again, possessing a captivating charm that could easily bewitch onlookers.
The waitress hastily replied, "N-no," and fled as if chased by demons!
With nothing pressing to do, Zhong Shenxiu appeared to be examining the reception room's decor, but in reality, his spiritual waves had already extended outward.
Listening to the mercenaries outside discussing him and Robin, the corners of Zhong Shenxiu's mouth curved upward again, though he was soon captivated by the conversation concerning "Battle Personnel" and "Magic Insects!"
Though the snippets were fragmented, he grasped the general meaning! He hadn't realized so many interesting things had transpired over the past five years, and a smile reappeared on his face.
In just a short while, the door opened, and a middle-aged man entered—tall, about 1.8 meters, with a square jaw and a thick beard!
"Hello, I am the President here; my name is Dan Wei," the middle-aged man introduced himself briefly and kindly.
"I am here to review the status of the mission I posted," Zhong Shenxiu said, placing the "mission token" on the coffee table.
Although Dan Wei had been informed by the waitress, he was still astonished when he saw Zhong Shenxiu's "mission token."
Following that, Dan Wei respectfully detailed the situation of the mission Zhong Shenxiu had issued, presenting a thick stack of detailed ledgers.
These ledgers meticulously categorized all the materials Zhong Shenxiu required, bound in different styles of notebooks.
"This is only a fraction of it," Dan Wei added as Zhong Shenxiu flipped through the lists. "The quantity is so immense that compiling a precise total is difficult."
Zhong Shenxiu merely nodded slightly, not responding to Dan Wei's remark. He wasn't looking at the sheer volume of the lists; he was verifying whether all the materials he had requested had been found!
Finally, Zhong Shenxiu sighed. Indeed, five types of materials were still missing, and these five were the hardest to find—items not easily sourced from surface trade.
Aside from those five, the quantity of other recovered materials was staggering enough to make Zhong Shenxiu gape; it would likely take several warehouses to store them all!
Perhaps some might wonder if Zhong Shenxiu was being extravagant, spending so much money on materials when just enough would suffice for Paji's body reconstruction. Wouldn't that be enough?
In truth, Zhong Shenxiu stood to lose nothing. While the materials might exceed what was needed for reconstruction, everyone must remember these were all rare celestial treasures whose utility extended far beyond just reforming a body. For Zhong Shenxiu, they held immense value for both artifact refining and alchemy!
"Um... do you wish to cancel this mission?" Dan Wei asked hesitantly after Zhong Shenxiu had absorbed all the information.
"No need," Zhong Shenxiu replied curtly. That sum of money, a figure astronomical to others, was but a single drop in the ocean to him. Since he wasn't losing out, why cancel it? Let it stand.
Dan Wei blinked again at Zhong Shenxiu's answer, thinking inwardly: What a wealthy man. This is true wealth!
After a brief silence, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly asked, "Could you perhaps introduce me to the 'Forest of No Return'?"
He had overheard the mercenaries discussing this 'Forest of No Return,' which sounded perilous yet continued to draw endless adventurers.
Dan Wei paused, uncertain why Zhong Shenxiu suddenly inquired about this, but respectfully replied, "Within the Winter Moon Empire, the 'Forest of No Return' is considered one of the three great danger zones, grouped with the 'Illusory Forest' and the 'Labyrinthine Forest' into the 'Death Triangle.' Not only does it harbor all manner of ferocious magical beasts, but the terrain itself is profoundly bizarre. Many who enter find it impossible to leave."
After a pause, Dan Wei's tone deepened, becoming somewhat mysterious. "Recently, although rumors speak of vast quantities of gold and crystals appearing in the 'Forest of No Return,' there are also whispers of extremely malevolent creatures surfacing there."
"Extremely malevolent creatures?" Zhong Shenxiu fixed his gaze directly on Dan Wei; this topic held his distinct interest.
"They are gigantic insect-like monsters of immense power, and recent reports claim these evil creatures in the 'Forest of No Return' are increasing in number!" Dan Wei described, adopting a look of tension. Oh? Zhong Shenxiu's eyes lit up; a decision was already forming in his mind. His 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' had just concluded their seclusion and were in dire need of a proving ground. This 'Forest of No Return' perfectly presented that opportunity.
Dan Wei could never know Zhong Shenxiu's thoughts, or he would surely be stunned into silence. The President continued his detailed introduction, exhibiting a rather gossipy flair.
"And what about the 'Battle Personnel'?" Zhong Shenxiu switched topics.
Even Dan Wei didn't know about the 'Battle Personnel'? That was the hottest topic of discussion in recent years!
After further explanation from Dan Wei, Zhong Shenxiu gained a comprehensive understanding of the 'Battle Personnel,' and the light in his eyes brightened further!
"May I see the missions related to the 'Forest of No Return'?" Zhong Shenxiu's sudden request interrupted Dan Wei's narrative.
Seeing Dan Wei's look of astonishment and confusion, Zhong Shenxiu added an explanation: "Actually, I am a mercenary!"
Upon hearing this, Dan Wei nearly fainted on the spot. Good heavens, a mercenary? That was impossible! Someone with so much money still operating as a mercenary? And there was never any record of such a young mercenary!
"Y-you are a mercenary?" Dan Wei's eyes nearly popped out, his voice stuttering for the first time.
Zhong Shenxiu gave a sly smile, offering no verbal reply, but instead extending his hand to present the badge and certificate symbolizing his identity.
When Dan Wei took them and looked, he almost fell straight onto the floor!
Heavens above, was he seeing things? He... he was actually a Guild Leader?!
Emerging from the "Mercenary Association," Zhong Shenxiu was in high spirits, already knowing his next course of action!
That evening, Zhong Shenxiu gathered all members of the "Ethereal Mercenary Group" and officially announced that they would advance into the "Forest of No Return" in half a month. Until then, everyone was free to arrange their time as they wished—essentially a vacation.
"Young Master, I wish to return home for a visit!" Cherie suddenly raised her hand and said.
"Approved!" Zhong Shenxiu agreed readily.
Subsequently, including Charlotte, members like Maxin and Elena also requested leave to see their families, having been away for five years. Zhong Shenxiu granted every request, with only one condition: they must return on time!
What awaited Zhong Shenxiu and his group in the "Forest of No Return?"