Start With Contracting Sprites

White Cloud City, Exploration Hall.

After buying the map, a research team of eight people found the person in charge of the hall.

"We want to hire guards to head to the Sky Lake in the north."

The leader of the research team, an old man with slightly gray hair at his temples, said, as he took out the proof of their team.

-- A fixed team with official certification which had participated in multiple large-scale studies.

Similar teams were usually the predecessors of individual laboratories. They could only be formed with the identity of advanced Sprite Cultivators, so they could directly find the person in charge of the hall too.

When the person in charge heard that, he immediately took out the tablet he carried with him and started to operate it before handing it to the old man.

"The first twenty pages are all Sprite Trainers with high credibility. Mr. Qian can choose for himself. Of course, after choosing, it also depends on the other party's intentions. Only when both parties agree can the contract be signed."

"In addition…" The person in charge added," The Sky Lake is very far from White Cloud City. We may encounter powerful wild sprites on the way. So, I suggest that Mr. Qian hire a master-level Sprite Trainer. "

"Master-level…"

Beside the old man, a young man in his thirties opened his mouth and said softly, "Teacher, isn't hiring a master-level too…"

He gestured, meaning that it was too expensive.

Although the road to the Sky Lake was very far, there were often teams passing by. The possibility of encountering extraordinary-level sprites on the way was not high.

Extraordinary level was not like cabbages!

Wouldn't it be better to leave the cost of hiring a master-level guard as research funds?

The young man thought.

Old Mr. Qian shook his head at him, and then looked at the person in charge. "We should hire a master-level Sprite Trainer. Safety is the most important thing while we're outside… Does Manager Guo have anyone to recommend?"

"Master-level, and a Sprite Trainer with high credibility. Currently, there are only three such people who are listed as explorers in White Cloud City."

The person in charge added that there was naturally more than this number of master-level Sprite Trainers in White Cloud City.

Some had no plans to go on missions, while others didn't have enough credibility.

If they issued missions only for investigations or collections of precious materials, the credibility value of the person who received the mission didn't need to be that high. But if it was a protective mission, the credibility level would be very important.

As there was no signal or law in the wild, the research team, as the disadvantaged party, needed to verify the guards one by one.

Old Mr. Qian looked at the three people displayed on the tablet.

The first one was called Shao Zhenghao. He had completed 19 protective missions without fail. His customer evaluation was very high.

The second one was called Li Keke. Her mission completion level was also very high, and she had saved many people in the wild.

The third one…

Seeing how this face was much younger than the previous two, Qian Wenshi was stunned, especially since… The mission record of the third person was empty.

He was still thinking when the young man beside him, Yi Jiarong, couldn't help but ask, "This person named Su Hao clearly doesn't have a mission record, how can his credibility score be so high? Your system can't be wrong, right?"

"Xiao Yi!" Old Mr. Qian shouted. He then checked the other information about the third person. Apart from his gender, his age was a question mark, and they were also not authorized for the rest of his information.

Qian Wenshi understood.

Other than the mission record, other resumes and identities were also very important in deciding the credibility score— the initial credibility of an official Sprite Trainer and a social Sprite Trainer was different.

The third person on the tablet looked young. It was highly likely that he was a top student from a prestigious school and the heir of a Sprite Trainer family. There was no need for them, nor was it possible for them to use threats to achieve a high credibility score.

The person in charge said, "The person I'm recommending is Su Hao. Old Mr. Qian, he may be young, but in terms of strength, he's definitely not weaker than the other two. Moreover, the sprites he contracted are very comprehensive and can deal with all kinds of crises."

He then went on to talk about his other merits. Qian Wenshi nodded slightly when he heard them.

Although there was some form of marketing involved, the credits given by the exploration department couldn't be wrong. And also, Su Hao's credits were higher than the other two.

Thinking about the tight budget, Old Qian nodded.

...

In a private room inside the coffee shop.

A Big Fat Bear sat on the ground. Su Hao leaned against the soft fur of the Big Fat Bear, picked up his drink and took a few sips.

Beside him, Butterfly was studying the "Transformation Bead". Its little face frowned and realized from time to time, as if it was about to go crazy.

Su Hao thought about it. Should he let it play games for a few days… or a few minutes to relax?

At this moment.

"Ding-dong~!"

His Sprite Commandeering wristband rang. He opened it and took a look.

"Manager Guo is so efficient? Let me see, a research team heading to the Research Station at the Sky Lake is offering 8 million yuan, together with the purified lake water from the Sky Lake."

"Ugh…"

8 million was clearly not worth the value of a master-level Sprite Trainer. The mission to the Sky Lake couldn't be completed in a day or two.

The estimated time was ten days to half a month.

But he also told Manager Guo that he didn't care much about the remuneration. If he really cared, it was normal that he couldn't accept any mission for a month or two.

"The purified lake water from the Sky Lake is also quite interesting… Is this team here to develop equipment?"

He tapped on his wristband, indicating that he accepted the mission.

...

That day, Su Hao signed the contract at the Explorer Building.

Early the next morning.

"Neighhh~!"

Su Hao rode the Dumb Unicorn towards the north gate of White Cloud City. That was the agreed meeting point.

The mount maintained a speed of 20 kilometers per hour and jogged slowly along the streets of the city. The Big Fat Bear carried two boxes of goods in its hands and followed behind with its head drooped.

Butterfly was still lying on top of his head while tapping on the "Transformation Pearl".

White Cloud City wasn't big. After riding for eight to nine minutes, he arrived at the northern city gate. He swept his gaze across and saw Old Mr Qian Wenshi whom he had signed the contract with yesterday.

There were seven people around Old Mr. Qian, who were most likely Sprite Cultivators too, or probably surveyors, or mechanical engineers. They were members of the research team. They were also Sprite Trainers who had entered the level, but they exuded a weak aura from head to toe.

The other three were each accompanied by two sprites. All of the sprites were in their final evolved forms, but their power… was barely enough.

They were probably guards as well.

"Old Mr. Qian."

"Mr. Su Hao."

Old Mr. Qian strode forward to welcome him.

The three elite Sprite Trainers in the team were very surprised.

"He's that master-level?" They knew that the research team had hired a master-level Sprite Trainer. Otherwise, the risk was too high, and they might not necessarily accept the mission.

But when they saw who he was, they only had two feelings.

Apart from being handsome, he was just too young.

Did he really have an extraordinary-level sprite?

Was it that horse? It didn't look like it.

Was it that bear? It looked very strong, and based on their senses, it shouldn't be weak, but…

Seeing how it was carrying two boxes in its hands and looked so pitiful, it couldn't be associated with an extraordinary no matter what.

Then…

They glanced at the top of Su Hao's head. There was a sprite sprawled on his head. It was a… Reverie Butterfly. It was a first-stage evolution type so it was even more impossible.

Butterfly, which had transformed itself into a "Reverie Butterfly", looked up and took a peek, then lowered its head and continued to study the pearl in its hand.

"Teacher, you didn't hire the wrong person, right? I don't think he's worth 8 million…"

Yi Jiarong, who was dressed like a Sprite Cultivator, couldn't help but raise his concern.

No matter how he looked at Su Hao, he felt that apart from being handsome, he didn't look like those powerful master-level Sprite Trainers at all.

He was really too young! The photo wasn't taken early, he was really too young!

He hadn't even graduated from university, right?

Could the information be fake?

Qian Wenshi glared at him, a student with no EQ at all. Just as when he was about to say something, he heard…

"Squawk--"

A loud cry came from above.

A gust of wind blew over. Everyone couldn't help but close their eyes. When they opened them again, an awe-inspiring Flaming Spiritcrow with circles of redness circulating all over its body swooped down abruptly, lowered its head, and showed a tame look.

But the few elite-level sprites around it were so scared that their hair stood on ends as they let out low growls.

The weaker ones even collapsed onto the ground or hid behind their Sprite Trainers, letting out weak and pitiful whimpers.

That Flaming Spiritcrow was undoubtedly extraordinary!

Yi Jiarong, who previously wanted to question Su Hao, froze when his eyes met those burning eyes.