With Little Cosmog's teleportation, Bai Chen returned straight to his home.
Nothing in the room had changed.
Everything looked exactly the same as it had a month ago.
He released Indeedee from her Poké Ball.
│ "Fuu~?"
Indeedee blinked as she looked around the room.
│ "So this will be everyone's home from now on?"
Bai Chen nodded.
│ "For now. This is only a second-class cabin.
│ Once our Hunter Rank goes up, we'll be able to move into something much better."
He handed Little Cosmog to her.
│ "The lines I taught you earlier — you still remember all of it, right?"
Indeedee nodded repeatedly.
Good. The act needed to be airtight.
│ "Then let's head to Command."
Since Indeedee and Little Cosmog were officially "joining" the team, Bai Chen needed a proper explanation for the Commander.
Unless he wanted them hidden away like Nergigante — only appearing in the wild — he had to make their existence reasonable.
He thought things through
and decided to push everything onto Little Nebula.
His official explanation would be:
Little Cosmog could cross worlds.
Indeedee came from another world through Cosmog's ability.
She encountered Tinkatuff while traveling and chose to join Bai Chen's group afterward.
Which wasn't even a full lie.
Little Cosmog could open Ultra Wormholes and traverse worlds.
Between "a local hunter somehow teleporting between worlds" and
"a mysterious world-hopping creature doing it,"
The latter was far easier for others to accept.
And if one day Bai Chen "accidentally" appeared in another world?
Well, he could conveniently blame Little Cosmog.
As for whether anyone would try to steal Cosmog?
Bai Chen wasn't worried.
With Nergigante and Zinogre around, who could hold onto Cosmog long enough to matter?
And if nobles got ideas…
Cosmog could simply teleport away at will.
No chains could hold him.
Walking through the outpost, Bai Chen greeted passing Hunters warmly.
But their reactions were… bizarre.
Faces stiffened instantly, as if they'd just seen a ghost.
Some Hunters with weaker willpower outright screeched and sprinted toward the airship.
Bai Chen overheard muttering:
"Weren't we supposed to be notified when Bai Chen got back!?
How is he already inside the outpost!?"
Another corner—
"Should we grab a quest now…?"
"Relax! There are tons of 4★ quests. He can't clear them all."
"…What if he does?"
"…Let's go… get at least one… just in case…"
Bai Chen finally understood.
│ "Ah. That explains why everyone looks like I came to collect debts."
He ignored the panic and walked into Command.
The Commander had already guessed who caused the commotion, judging from the noise.
Seeing Bai Chen, the Commander — usually stern — even smiled.
Only Bai Chen could single-handedly pressure the entire outpost into working overtime.
"Commander. Swordmaster."
Bai Chen bowed respectfully.
"Good to see you return safely. How did the mission go?" the Commander asked.
"Mission accomplished."
Bai Chen handed over the investigation documents gathered from the Ancient Wyverians.
One glance told the Commander everything — the report was far beyond expectations.
"Excellent work."
Then he turned to Indeedee and Cosmog.
"And these two?"
Bai Chen launched into the pre-prepared explanation.
He covered every possible loophole.
Possible doubts.
Possible follow-up questions.
When words weren't enough, Cosmog demonstrated Teleport on the spot.
That alone erased all doubts.
"So your month-long expedition yielded two new reliable companions," the Commander said, genuinely pleased.
With that settled, Bai Chen moved to the real topic:
│ "Commander, regarding Zorah Magdaros…
│ Has the investigation team confirmed its movement?"
"We have."
The Commander tapped the map with his baton.
"We found its trail in the Wildspire Wastes.
And more importantly—we've confirmed its route."
"When?"
"Ten days from now, the official capture operation begins."
Bai Chen's eyes sharpened.
│ "So it finally starts."
Until now, he had never faced a wild Elder Dragon.
This would be his first.
What level of power did an Elder Dragon truly possess…?
He was eager to find out.
But with Zorah Magdaros came another danger:
Nergigante, who always followed its trail.
The Commander continued:
"Three days from now, we will issue a major preparation assignment.
All manpower will be tight."
Bai Chen immediately understood.
│ "…You want me to clear out the quest backlog, right?"
"Precisely."
The Commander never doubted Bai Chen's efficiency.
Instead of heading to the airship, Bai Chen walked to the dining area.
Dozens of Hunters were eating quickly before departing on quests.
He headed straight toward the counter of the Meowscular Chef.
"Chef."
The Felyne Chef looked over, expecting a food order.
"Same as always? The 'Big 'n Hearty' platter?"
"Yeah. One for now."
He and Indeedee sat across from the cooking station — the perfect spot to watch the chef work.
Bai Chen had been wanting to copy the Chef's cooking skill forever, but until now, he wasn't strong enough to get near him cleanly.
Now that he had Indeedee, the team needed professional food buffs, and she needed to learn from an expert.
Indeedee watched intensely, fully aware that this was her new responsibility.
A massive, steaming platter landed in front of them — three to four times the size of a normal meal.
Bai Chen pushed the food toward his two companions.
│ "Try it. This outpost's top chef."
Even Little Cosmog— who usually only liked croquettes — ate happily.
When they finished, Bai Chen finally asked:
│ "Chef, I have a favor to ask.
│ Could you teach my partner here how to prepare monster ingredients?"
The Chef blinked.
Then he unexpectedly shook his head.
"Not because I refuse.
I simply don't qualify to take an apprentice.
I'm still only a trainee."
He explained:
Real elite Felyne Chefs — the top masters — were on an entirely different level.
"But if you want her to learn properly, I can write you a recommendation letter."
He paused.
"My master — the retired Grand Chef — is currently helping the Third Fleet at the Great Ravine."
Bai Chen nodded slowly.
He knew exactly who that was — the legendary Felyne Chef who would later run the kitchen in Seliana.
"Is that really alright?"
"Of course. If anyone should teach you, it's her."
He wrote a short recommendation, stamped it with a paw print, and handed it over.
Bai Chen tucked it away carefully.
One major problem solved.
Next stop: the Quest Hub — the Gathering Hub (Astera's Canteen).
Even before reaching the fourth floor, Bai Chen heard the panic.
As soon as he stepped onto the deck—
Silence.
Dozens of Hunters inhaled sharply at the same time.
Then—
"TAKE ALL THE QUESTS!! QUICK!! QUICK!!"
Every Hunter sprinted to the quest board like starving animals.
Those who were already in line clutched their quest slips with trembling hands.
Meanwhile, Bai Chen calmly walked to the back of the line.
Everyone in front of him visibly relaxed.
Everyone behind him looked like their souls had left their bodies.
To them, Bai Chen's return meant all low-rank quests would be wiped out…
Tonight.
Indeedee sensed the emotional chaos.
│ "Fuu…?"
She looked at Bai Chen.
│ "What did you do to these people?"
Bai Chen only smiled.
Half an hour later, it was finally his turn.
"Welcome back, Sir Bai," Ira said sweetly.
"Are you here to take quests?
There are still three 4★ hunts left, five 4★ regular tasks, and six 5★ hunts."
Bai Chen handed her his report first.
│ "Check these in for completion.
│ And I'll look through the quests myself."
While Ira processed the submissions, Bai Chen reviewed the stack.
They were all low-rank tasks:
1–5★ = Low Rank
6–8★ = High Rank
G-Rank = Master Rank (Elder Dragon-tier enemies)
He skimmed through.
3★ and 4★ quests? Zero difficulty now.
5★ quests varied:
Some he could solo
Some required Zinogre or Nergigante
Some required all three
Soon, Ira returned.
"Sir Bai, all your previous assignments have been registered.
Have you decided which quests you want?"
And then Bai Chen shocked the whole room.
He handed everything back.
│ "I won't accept anything today.
│ I plan to rest tonight.
│ I'll choose tomorrow."
Silence.
Ira blinked.
The Hunters listening nearby froze.
After all that panic…
He wasn't taking any quests!?
She bowed politely.
"Of course. Whenever you're ready, please come to me."
Bai Chen nodded and walked away.
The moment he left the deck—
Every Hunter collapsed with relief.
"He's not grinding!? Not today!?"
"Praise the Legiana!"
"I can breathe again!"
A few embarrassed Hunters approached Ila:
"…Um… c-can we cancel the quests we accepted earlier?
I only took them out of fear. I… wanted to rest today…"
Ila calmly sipped her potion.
"According to Guild regulations~~ no cancellations ♥
Please do your best."
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