By this point, the receptionist's emotions had gone numb.
She silently sorted through the mountain of small-monster materials Bai Chen had brought back, her motions mechanical but flawless. Despite staying awake all night, her work showed no hint of error.
When the final count was done, she spoke with the weary calm of someone who had seen too much:
"All checked. Your missions are confirmed completed. The payouts and deposits will be processed together tomorrow. As for the materials you're selling, the Resource Office will need an extra day to appraise them — you'll receive that payment the day after tomorrow."
"No rush," Bai Chen said with a wave.
He sold off ninety percent of the materials, keeping only a small portion for his little forge partner.
She'd need plenty of practice metal if she was ever to craft something on the level of the Peerless Twin Heaven Blade.
That weapon… was truly divine.
Bai Chen slung the now-empty pack over his shoulder.
"I'd like to register for new quests. Could you help me out?"
The receptionist blinked, barely processing his words.
"But… you've already completed every two-star hunt."
"Then I'll take three-stars," Bai Chen replied easily.
"I've finished ten two-star quests in a row — that should qualify me for the next rank, right?"
The receptionist froze, eyes unfocused. It took her a moment to realize what that meant.
He hadn't just broken the record for the fastest promotion in the New World's history — he'd shattered it.
At this point, even records seemed meaningless around this man.
"Y-Yes, of course," she said, quickly regaining her composure.
"Your strength easily meets the requirements. Please follow me to the Gathering Hub, and I'll register the new quests for you."
They ascended the Starship platform, the highest deck of Astera.
At this early hour, it was empty — the tavern lamps dim, the benches vacant.
Hunters rarely appeared before nine in the morning; most came near dusk, when the air filled with laughter, boasting, and the smell of roasted wyvern meat.
A month ago, Bai Chen had been one of those hunters — an ordinary face in the crowd.
Now, the quiet hub felt like a private stage awaiting his return.
The receptionist guided him to the counter, setting a thick folder before him.
"Here are the three-star quests. Please choose carefully — these monsters are much more dangerous. Prioritize your safety above all else."
She spoke professionally while simultaneously processing his rank advancement papers.
Bai Chen nodded, flipping through the quest sheets.
Three-star hunts were another world entirely.
There were twenty-six in total — a bestiary of vicious names:
Pukei-Pukei — the poisonous wyvern of the forest.
Tobi-Kadachi — the thunder-striped fanged beast.
Anjanath — the relentless tyrant of flame.
Jyuratodus, Barroth… and others that ruled the Wildspire Wastes.
Each page reeked of challenge.
He glanced at the danger ratings in his system log.
The Guild's star rank was based on ecosystem difficulty.
But the system's danger rating — that was pure combat potential.
Some monsters rated "Danger Level 4" under his system were only two-starred in the Guild's eyes.
Just last night, he'd faced a Level 45 Great Jagras, danger level four — armed with two master-level skills and a dozen expert techniques. It wasn't remotely the same beast as the low-level Jagras from his early days.
And that Level 42 Anjanath he'd stumbled into? Also, danger level five.
Stronger, meaner — proof that even within one species, power could vary wildly.
"Looks like these three-star quests pit me against level 4 dangers," Bai Chen murmured.
Compared to the two-star monsters from before — weak, predictable, crushed within minutes — these would be serious battles.
"I can handle danger level 3 without issue. With Nergigante guarding the field, I won't lose. But danger 4… that might get messy."
He glanced up.
"Are all of these on a three-day limit?"
"Not all," the receptionist said. "Some have five-day limits, and one — the capture mission for Tobi-Kadachi — allows seven."
She separated eleven sheets from the pile.
"These ten are near-four-star difficulty, so they've been given five days. This one here — the Tobi-Kadachi capture — is technically three-star, but it's almost classified as four, so you'll have seven days."
Bai Chen did a quick mental calculation.
Fifteen quests in three days.
Ten near-four-stars in the next two.
One high-end Tobi-Kadachi hunt to close it out.
Tight? Definitely.
Impossible? Not for him.
He stacked all twenty-six papers neatly together and handed them back.
"Please register all of these."
The receptionist stared at the tower of parchment.
So many thoughts crowded her mind — none she dared say aloud.
Did he not sleep? Did he secretly clone himself?
But she swallowed it all and smiled weakly.
"Honestly, anyone who cleared eighteen quests in one night doesn't need my advice."
"Very well, Sir Bai Chen. Please wait a moment."
While she recorded his new missions, Bai Chen rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Ah — about the deposits. Could I… maybe pay them tomorrow? Just deduct them from my next reward."
The receptionist blinked.
"That… doesn't align with Guild policy."
Technically, no hunter could borrow from the Guild — rules were rules.
Seeing his awkward grin, though, she sighed.
"The Guild can't, but I can. I'll lend you the gold personally. When your reward comes in tomorrow, I'll deduct it then."
Bai Chen's eyes lit up.
"You're a lifesaver! And, uh… would you mind lending me a little extra? I need to buy 30 tranquilizer bombs"."
Capturing always paid better — and it was far safer than killing.
The receptionist chuckled softly.
"Of course. I don't mind helping a living legend."
She quickly finished the forms and handed him his supplies — another full kit of potions, rations, and a small pouch of 1,000 gold coins.
Bai Chen packed everything carefully, then pulled one of the emergency potions from his satchel and tossed it to her.
"For you. It helps with fatigue — trust me."
The receptionist fumbled but caught it just in time.
She watched him step into the elevator, blue armor gleaming in the morning light.
Only when the chains began to rise did she exhale.
"He's gone…"
She uncorked the potion, gulped it down, and leaned back in her chair.
A soft sigh escaped her lips — equal parts exhaustion and acceptance.
"Why do I even bother being shocked anymore? It's not like I'm the one fighting those monsters."
She stretched, smiling faintly as the warmth of the potion settled through her limbs.
"Mmm~ not bad. Guess I'll nap for a couple of hours. By then, I'll probably see another green flare in the sky anyway."
She chuckled, eyes already closing.
"Huh… the potion actually does help with sleep deprivation. Not bad at all."
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