"Girls, first we need to register at the Clear Sky private Hunter agency. Without that, they won't let Ling Ling play outside with us." I tried inserting into their accelerating chatter.
They were telling Ling Ling about me and trash-talking me. Women are scary—they bonded fast.
"So we'll be Hunters now? And get badges?!" Tutu's eyes sparkled like stars. No trace of her earlier funk.
"I'm not against it. My family already okayed training with you. They especially liked that you're investing in my growth—they save big." Mu Nujiao twitched her mouth corner. Guess she doesn't love her family elders much.
"Let's go register right now. I gave my statement, and the hall's full of witnesses—we're not needed here." I beckoned the girls and headed for the exit.
"But I'm so tiiiiired! Let's go tomorrow?" Tutu whined, hugging my arm and giving me Puss-in-Boots-from-Shrek eyes. Outside battle, her pushy personality vanishes, replaced by the old playful one.
"Today just registration. Then a week off. I need to order artifacts for your safety. And good cultivation vessels wouldn't hurt." I hugged Tutu's arm back and dragged her out.
Mu Nujiao wanted to refuse my generosity—custom artifacts would be pricey—but stayed quiet. She valued safety over pride. And we're not strangers anymore. Practically friends, if not besties.
"I don't need artifacts. Since I haven't awakened magic yet, I can't power magical artifacts. My grandpa already stuffed my spiritual world with max self-charging artifacts for safety—no room left." Ling Ling shared.
"You have such a caring grandpa..." Ai Tutu started praising the old man, and the girls' chat continued without me much.
The Clear Sky private Hunter agency was near the university. Well-known in Hunter circles, since the Hunter King—Ling Ling's dad—was once a member.
Even now, post his death, it had many strong Hunters, though not at his level. They were mostly out on missions, taking them remotely, so HQ felt empty.
Outside, the building looked cozy: white brick walls for calm vibes, wooden doors and Clear Sky sign evoking a snug teahouse... which it actually was.
Inside like a regular teahouse, with visitor tables and Ling Ling's grandpa—Song Qiming—behind the counter, eyeing our group curiously. Shelves behind held big jars of various teas.
Song Qiming, or simply Old Bao, was one of China's few Curse mages, in the rare Chaos element. He looked like a typical old codger: bald pate, gray sideburns, little sage beard. Young, he'd been a Holy Court cleric.
Since it was really Clear Sky HQ, not a teahouse, no visitors meant no eavesdroppers.
"Grandpa! Mission done! Had to recruit a Hunter mid-way, but we pulled it off. Agency rep intact." The cute loli reported to the old man and hugged him.
How she spun it. Now they hadn't nearly botched it but brilliantly recruited a new Hunter and aced the mission. Never doubted her brains—tomorrow all papers would list me as their agency member. Sly, but I don't mind adding "promising Hunter" to my titles.
"Good job, kiddo. Where's Mo Fan? Had to find a new partner 'cause the last one croaked?" Old Bao asked, studying me and the girls.
"Ahem, he's still frolicking with the girls at uni." Ling Ling fibbed a bit and blushed to her ears. Not from Mo Fan's horniness—just forgot the guy plain.
"Sigh, kids these days." The old man shook his head reproachfully.
"Maybe introduce your companions?" He shifted to what interested him.
"Yes, this is the recently famous Mu Bai. Next to him is the one with light hair, Ai Tutu, and the second is Mu Nujiao. I recruited them into our agency because they performed well in the battle against the Scaled demons. Mu Bai even made the decisive contribution by neutralizing the Queen," the girl introduced us.
"Nice to meet you, young people. If everything is as my granddaughter described, then I'll be glad to welcome you to our modest agency," the old man's gaze warmed toward me when he heard my name.
I suspect it's because of my connection to Tang Yue. After all, she's the best friend of his eldest granddaughter, Leng Qing. But I don't know for sure; maybe he sensed my totem pendant—who knows what these old smart ones can do.
Registering the girls as Hunters didn't take much time. For me, since I already had the badge, I just needed to officially become a member of their agency, which was settled with one form's signature. And so, three new members of Clear Sky were ready for future missions... after a week of rest.
As soon as we registered, we headed home, leaving Ling Ling to fill out the report on today's mission and contact the client, since his wife, who had previously been the Queen of the Scaled monsters, was now safe but currently under observation by the Hunters who arrived at the concert hall. At least, she was alive and well.
When we finally got home, the very tired Mu Nujiao quickly slipped into her room. I suspect after a warm relaxing bath, she'll crash into bed and sleep like a log. Tomorrow's training is definitely off.
Tutu and I went to our bedroom, where I, as a gentleman, let her shower first. I offered her a relaxing bath, but she wanted to talk to me after the water procedures were done.
After she showered, I went in next and rinsed off quickly. I was just too curious about what my girl wanted to discuss.
"Mu Bai, what artifacts are you going to order for me? And isn't it bad to rely on artifacts in battle? I don't want to depend on them," the intrigued and worried girl finally asked me... in just a towel. I need to wrap this conversation up quick; we clearly have more important things now.
"Yeah, all standard stuff. Protective armor, Shield, quick movement artifact, magical wings, and something offensive. I also promised to order you one artifact for summoning magic, but you need to break through to Intermediate Tier in the summoning element first. And you'll need a good vessel for cultivation; I have ideas on what would suit you," I listed the full set for her.
"Relying on artifacts is indeed harmful, but it's stupid not to use them. So you need to hone their proper use. Don't worry about depending on them. I've accounted for that in my training plan," I answered the girl's questions briefly, satisfying her curiosity and calming her.
Now, time to get to more important nighttime business.