Chapter 28: Encounter Difficulties

Adventuring in the Star Realm, teaming up is mainstream.

The recruitment center is where teams recruit members. It’s run by the ADC’s Extrahuman Guild with a neutral political stance, not favoring any country.

The largest recruitment center is on Earth and operates in a virtual network space.

Most hunting parties and Star Realm exploration groups post their notices at the recruitment center.

Extrahumans can also register and edit their profiles like public resumes, hoping to be spotted by big companies and groups to unearth potential and sign training contracts.

However, this process is mostly completed on Earth.

Olympia lacks the convenience and efficiency of the internet, but it has hundreds of recruitment centers, generally used by teams in urgent need of members. Besides recruitment centers, inns, hotels and bars where extrahumans gather sometimes serve as recruitment spots too.

Additionally, some teams involved in illegal activities or underground missions that don’t want to leave traces online also recruit people in Olympia.

Ji Xinghuo belongs to extrahumans with rather problematic identities.

He cannot sign formal contracts, so he misses out on teams formed by companies and large groups.

This recruitment center is like a bar and restaurant.

Ji Xinghuo walks into the hall, scans the room quickly. Dozens of tables are neatly arranged, nearly half of them occupied. Extrahumans sit around eating, drinking and chatting in a lively atmosphere.

On the walls around the hall, there are whiteboards with marker pen writings in various sizes, but all follow a certain format.

“Urgently hiring a Metal Guard, senior level or above, temporary task, loot divided by principle plus an extra 100,000 in allowances. Inquire at table 20.”

“Seeking a Marksman, long-term cooperation, requires at least intermediate level, table 17.”

“Recruiting a plant witch, medium-term, table 8.”

“Need a Super Stepper, terms negotiable, inquire at the lobby manager.”

“Recruiting a White Knight…”

The whiteboard text varies in length but lists key information like job template, rank, whether it’s a temporary or long-term cooperation, salary, and contact method.

Ji Xinghuo sits at an empty table.

He orders a special meal from Olympia City, slowly reads the whiteboard content and listens to the chats around him.

Recruitment info is largely similar.

Ji Xinghuo soon notices the most in-demand professions.

Healers like White Knights, plant witches, and Black Bishop are one category; marksmen, rangers, and hunters common, as are mechanics with steam rifles known for strong long-range attacks.

Both categories of extrahumans are rare but indispensable in teams.

However…

Ji Xinghuo feels a bit helpless as nearly every whiteboard demands at least an intermediate rank, which is the minimum requirement.

He’s only a beginner.

Although he considers his skills not inferior to mid-level extrahumans and has even killed a super extrahuman, others don’t know this and it can’t be mentioned.

The waiter delivers his meal.

Ji Xinghuo eats while continuing to read the recruitment notices.

In addition to team notices, some extrahumans post their professions, abilities, and combat histories hoping teams will approach them.

Such extrahumans are either very strong, at least senior level, or are in rare professions, very sought-after.

By the time Ji Xinghuo finishes his meal, he has checked all the recruitment boards.

Yet, not one met his qualifications.

“It seems I have to volunteer myself.” Ji Xinghuo isn’t surprised, understanding that his beginner status is somewhat lacking.

He stands and walks to a table nearby where four people sit, three men and a woman.

During his meal, Ji Xinghuo had noticed them; their recruitment notice on the wall required a marksman, intermediate level required.

“Hello.”

As Ji Xinghuo approaches, a distinctly muscular man stands up.

He carries a heavy two-handed battle sword, wears a fiber combat suit instead of armor, his smile friendly but his gaze piercing, causing an inexplicable pressure.

Before approaching, Ji Xinghuo noticed this man is a senior Black Bishop.

Black Bishops not only heal injuries but are also formidable in strength, their combat prowess comparable to great generals.

“Hello,” the man asks smilingly, “are you here to apply?”

The three other extrahumans watch.

“Yes,” Ji Xinghuo nods, introducing himself, “I’m a Ranger, I should meet your recruitment needs.”

The Black Bishop sizes him up briefly, frowning slightly, “What rank are you?”

“Beginner,” Ji Xinghuo answers honestly then quickly adds, “My skills are no less than any intermediate Ranger, you can test…”

He couldn’t finish as the Black Bishop cuts him off.

“Young man, our team requires marksmen of at least intermediate level, that’s the basic requirement,” the Black Bishop states indifferently, clearly uninterested in further discussion. He sits back down, turning away.

His teammates shake their heads, unwilling to discuss further.

“Excuse the disturbance.”

Ji Xinghuo has to turn away, just two steps later, he hears a scornful laugh behind him.

He pretends not to hear.

Next, Ji Xinghuo approaches several teams needing a marksman, but without exception, they refuse upon learning he’s a beginner extrahuman.

Even as Ji Xinghuo repeatedly states his strength surpasses that of an average beginner, no team is willing to give him a chance.

Instead, he faces several mockeries.

Ji Xinghuo clearly understands the issue.

Besides his low rank, his equipment is too new, lacking any battle scars, easily outing him as a novice.

A rookie and just a beginner extrahuman.

Joining a team would not only hold them back but might cost his life, affecting the whole team.

Ji Xinghuo leaves this recruitment center for another.

Throughout the starry night, he switches between five different recruitment centers and a few inns and bars, constantly facing rejection, with no team willing to accept him.

Yet, Ji Xinghuo is not discouraged.

Next day.

Ji Xinghuo leaves home at dawn, and after thirty some hours through more than a dozen recruitment centers, still with no result.

His past days of self-promotion are widely known as a joke in the neighboring blocks.

Sometimes he’s rejected before he even speaks.

Exiting a recruitment center, Ji Xinghuo checks his mechanical watch, two hours till the starry night ends, entering darkness.

“Food first.”

He could have dined at the recruitment center, but the mocking glances from others really put him off his appetite.

Entering a nearby restaurant, Ji Xinghuo sits down, watching the starlight outside, sighs deeply.

“Should I become a lone extrahuman?”

The idea begins to take hold.

Indeed, while rare, lone extrahumans who dare to venture and hunt solo in the Star Realm are among the elite, significantly stronger than their peers.

The stronger an extrahuman, the more they prefer to operate alone.

However, in the early stages, when their strength is still minimal, it’s better for extrahumans to operate in teams. Even the powerful ones joined teams when they first entered the Star Realm. Those who started alone mostly perished.

Ji Xinghuo is confident in himself.

As long as he remains cautious, doesn’t stray too far from human-developed areas or enter high-risk zones, there shouldn’t be any issues.

But there’s always a risk of the unknown.

He has watched many videos on Earth, learning a lot about outdoor survival skills, Star Realm geography, camp selection, identifying animals and plants, hunting techniques and details, customs of different Star Realm tribes, gathering of different species, and mastered three Star Realm languages. He’s watched and learned everything necessary.

But that’s just theory.

Actual practice will undoubtedly present various unexpected and unknown situations.

Having an experienced mentor and supportive teammates would not only accelerate his progress but also ensure greater safety.

Ji Xinghuo doesn’t want to die young.

“Now I have two options.”

As he eats, Ji Xinghuo thinks, “Tomorrow, continue searching for a team but move to another district of the city. If after ten days, still no team wants me, then I won’t venture out. I’ll just train in Olympia and advance to an intermediate extrahuman.”

“Or, pay to hire a team to hunt in relatively safe areas around Olympia, gather enough experience, then venture alone.”

“Decide after ten days…”

Suddenly, Ji Xinghuo senses something, turns towards the door.

A figure enters from the restaurant entrance, her sleek, agile figure indicative of a female.

She’s about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a common female combat uniform, a loose shirt over a tight undergarment, obscuring her curves, her pants partially covered by a short-front, long-back cutaway tailcoat, and combat boots that reveal her long legs.

Her head is covered with a fabric hat, edges draped with a fine mesh covering the left, right, and back, only open at the front.

But Ji Xinghuo can’t see her full face.

Her face is covered by a blue scarf, concealing most of it and tightly wrapping around her neck, revealing only her eyes.

Such attire is not uncommon in Olympia; many people, especially female extrahumans, prefer not to reveal their faces to reduce trouble.

However, Ji Xinghuo is instantly captivated by a mere glance at her eyes.

Eyes are the windows to the soul.

They can convey emotions far beyond what sight can offer, sometimes speaking louder than words.

Ji Xinghuo also notices a peach blossom on her forehead.

Five pink petals surround a blue pistil, vividly complementing those beautiful eyes with a hint of charm.

“This must be the manifestation of some kind of ability.”

Ji Xinghuo speculates, thinking, “She must be stunningly beautiful. Of course, she might not look good, just as ordinary people sometimes appear more attractive wearing masks; the ‘partial information effect’ probably makes me imagine.”

His gaze returns almost immediately.

Firstly, because it’s impolite.

Secondly, a sense of magnetic field perception tells him this woman is extremely powerful, definitely a super extrahuman.

Moreover, she’s much stronger than any super extrahuman he has encountered these past days.

Someone not to be trifled with.

Ji Xinghuo turns back to continue eating, but suddenly realizes she seems to be heading towards him.

He pauses, watching as she sits across him, her scarf muffling a mellifluous voice: “Mr. Ji, are you looking for a team?”