Leaving Zinogre and the Basarios under tinkatuff's care, Bai Chen made his way alone toward the Starship.
After half a month of relentless hunts, his rank had finally risen—
from a Four-Star Hunter to Five-Star.
There were only nine days and fifteen hours left before his next transference.
In that short span, he had to slay the Lagiacrus and prepare a coming-of-age gift for Lillie.
Time was pressing.
He had barely set foot on the Starship before he was surrounded.
Hunters swarmed him like moths to a lantern—everyone wanted to see that ball, to hear about that dragon.
After a string of perfunctory replies and polite smiles, he finally slipped away toward the counter.
Ira was already waiting for him. She knew why he'd come, and while he'd been deflecting the mob, she'd quietly finished all the paperwork for him.
All that remained was his signature.
She handed him the form with a triumphant grin, taking a sip of recovery potion as if to celebrate.
"Lord Bai, you'd better thank me properly this time! Do you know how much trouble it was to keep this commission from being taken?"
Bai Chen chuckled, signed his name, and reached into his pouch.
"Then let me show my gratitude properly."
He pushed forward a small, thumb-sized pink crystal.
Ira blinked.
"This is…?"
"Wyvern Tear"
Her eyes widened.
She knew what that meant — rarer than gold, priceless among collectors. A gem like that could fetch eight thousand gold pieces, and in times of scarcity, even ten thousand.
She immediately tried to give it back.
"Lord Bai, I was only joking! I can't accept something this valuable."
But Bai Chen pushed it toward her again.
"Take it. You went against guild protocol to leak the Lagiacrus mission, and even held it for me. Coins would be too small a gesture."
The truth was, to him, Wyvern Tears were no longer rare.
All it took was making the big guy cry a little.
With Zinogre and Nergigante around, even the "training" sessions could be outsourced.
Still, Ira hesitated, recalling that thirty-meter monster and his molten hide.
"Are you sure I can…?"
Bai Chen raised an eyebrow, feigning annoyance.
"If you don't take it, I'll just find another receptionist to handle my quests next time."
That did it. She hesitated a few seconds more, then accepted it with both hands, cheeks slightly flushed.
"It's the most beautiful gem I've ever seen. Truly… thank you."
She tucked it carefully away, still glowing with delight.
With the paperwork complete, Bai Chen turned to leave—
But paused when he noticed two figures waiting quietly by the doorway.
The surrounding hunters had fallen uncharacteristically silent, watching the three with unreadable expressions.
They were two hunters Bai Chen recognized immediately.
"Raymond? Rob?" he said, surprised. "You two made it back?"
These were the men he'd saved from the jaws of the Anjanath nearly two weeks prior.
Raymond smiled faintly.
"A few days before you, actually. Just got back to camp."
"Good. It's safer here than any outpost."
Bai Chen gave them both a quick look-over.
Raymond still wore light bandages, but seemed on the mend.
As for Rob—
He leaned on two crutches, one leg gone below the knee.
Bai Chen's expression softened.
"How's the recovery? Feeling alright?"
Rob grinned, ever the joker.
"Better than ever! Look, now I've got three legs. Makes me faster than you, doesn't it?"
Bai Chen laughed.
"You're impossible."
He admired the man's spirit — most would drown in despair after such an injury. But Rob? He'd made peace with it.
In this world, losing a limb wasn't the end.
With their advanced prosthetics, a determined hunter could return to the field again — even stronger than before.
Raymond chuckled too, shaking his head.
"Still running his mouth. Hey, Bai Chen — got time for a drink?"
"Of course," Bai Chen replied without hesitation.
He'd promised as much before, after all.
He pointed toward a quieter corner.
"There. Let's grab that table."
The three sat down together. Ira returned, this time with a menu in hand — her duties as receptionist didn't spare her from occasional waiter work.
Bai Chen didn't drink often and knew little about alcohol, so he let Raymond handle the ordering.
The man didn't hold back — three barrels of ale.
Bai Chen raised an eyebrow.
"You two sure you can drink that much in your condition?"
Rob pounded his chest.
"Please. Back before this, I'd drink twice that just to warm up!"
Seeing their insistence, Bai Chen gave up arguing.
"Fine then. Let's make it a proper night."
Alongside the ale, he ordered grilled meat, fruit, and snacks — a full table's worth.
As the food arrived, Rob spoke up, his tone suddenly more genuine.
He thanked Bai Chen — sincerely, this time.
Had Bai Chen and the Sword Master not intervened that day, both he and Raymond would've been corpses in the Ancient Forest.
Bai Chen waved it off lightly.
"No need for that. We'll be working together for a long time yet. For all you know, I might be the one needing rescue next."
The words made both men pause.
They looked at each other, silent for a long moment.
Bai Chen tilted his head.
"What? What's wrong?"
Raymond took a deep breath and spoke quietly.
"We didn't want to burden you, but… we've decided to head back to the Old Continent. I'll be returning to my home village — Kamura."
"Going back?" Bai Chen blinked. "Rob, I can understand, but you too? Don't tell me you're going home to get married."
Raymond didn't answer. He just lifted his right hand.
It was trembling.
Even as he tried to steady it, the faint quiver never stopped.
Bai Chen's smile faded.
If you want to read more, join my Patreon/kazama677
60+ advanced chapters available.
I will drop 1 bonus chapter for every 30 Power Stones.
Bonus chapter for every 20 reviews/comments