Jiang Baimian played with the badge, placing her left index finger against a certain spot on the chip.
Faintly, there seemed to be tiny, imperceptible flickers of electricity.
After a few seconds, Jiang Baimian retracted her finger and smiled, saying:
“Still a ‘Formal Hunter.’”
“Formal Hunter” is a term used internally by the Hunter's Guild, originating from their classification of relic hunters.
This classification, at least on the surface, has nothing to do with strength and relies on so-called credit points. After all, the Hunter's Guild was founded to help everyone better exchange information and resources, not to provide a channel for advancement.
In transactions, credit is more important than strength.
Therefore, the first president of the Hunter's Guild was inspired by some materials from the Old World and designed a credit point system:
After joining the guild, relic hunters can earn varying amounts of credit points by completing commissions, trading with others, and providing reliable information to the guild. This does not conflict with the rewards they receive; the two run parallel to each other.
Once the credit points accumulate to 100, a "Newbie Hunter" can become a "Formal Hunter." Above "Formal Hunter" are "Intermediate Hunter," "Experienced Hunter," "Advanced Hunter," and "Master Hunter," all of which are earned through one mission and one transaction after another. Of course, if your level is not high enough and you don't have enough credit points, you won't be able to accept many tasks, and you won't be able to participate in many transactions. No one will believe you unless you can find one or more high-credit hunters to vouch for you.
Therefore, it is not unacceptable for the strength of a "Newbie Hunter" to be stronger than that of an "Advanced Hunter" or "Master Hunter," but from another perspective, being able to complete so many missions and transactions and still be alive on the dangerous graylands, accumulating enough credit points, says a lot—those "Advanced Hunters" and "Master Hunters" excel in terms of strength, team power, and resources.
In other words, those with low credit points are not necessarily weak, but those with high credit points are definitely strong, at least in some aspect.
Based on the importance of credit points, the Hunter's Guild has always strictly cracked down on breaches of contract, violations, fraud, and dishonest transactions. Once discovered, the corresponding credit points will be deducted immediately, and the specific details of the untrustworthy behavior will be marked in the badge chip. If the problem is serious, the guild will even expel the target's membership, putting them on blacklists in various places—this is generally referred to as a "Dark Hunter." Of course, because there is no communication network covering the graylands, it may take months or even longer for the blacklist to be spread to all branches.
As for whether relic hunters also moonlight as robbers or have killed people, as long as it is unrelated to missions and transactions, the guild will not care at all.
In addition to these, the Hunter's Guild also has a title called "Chief Hunter."
This is an honor and depends more on seniority. Each regional hunter branch can only have one.
These were all things Shang Jianyao learned in class and during training, so he wasn't curious at all about the term "Formal Hunter," but he still looked at Jiang Baimian, looked at her carefully, and said nothing.
Jiang Baimian looked down at herself and suddenly chuckled:
"Are you wondering why I can read the contents of the Hunter's badge chip?"
This can only be read with special machines at various branch offices.
Shang Jianyao nodded immediately, without concealment.
Jiang Baimian raised her left arm and said:
"Since it's an electric eel-type bionic limb, it's perfectly reasonable to install a simple chip that requires electricity, as well as sensors and data transmission lines.
"It's not too difficult to read the contents of the chip. Erasing and rewriting it is very difficult. This is a special chip and special machine purchased by the Hunter's Guild from 'Mechanical Paradise'. The technology is not low."
Shang Jianyao suddenly understood and then asked curiously:
"Do current bionic limbs all come with electronic and mechanical components?"
"Our philosophy is, whatever works. Moreover, the intersection of biology, electronics, and mechanics is also a key research area. Many large forces are trying to combine exoskeletons and bionic intelligent armor to create truly practical powered armor." Jiang Baimian explained casually.
Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Oops."
Shang Jianyao's hand immediately went to the handle of "Ice Moss."
"Haha, I squatted for too long, my legs are a little numb." Jiang Baimian stood up a little embarrassed, stretching her legs. Her ponytail shook behind her.
When Shang Jianyao also got up, she said:
"This mission is a little strange. Collecting information about a specific person in the Black Marsh Wilderness is like throwing a net into the ocean and trying to catch a specific fish."
Shang Jianyao quickly responded:
"Have you seen the ocean?"
"...That's not the point." Jiang Baimian spat. "At least I've seen real lakes. The ocean should be much wider than that."
Shang Jianyao ignored Jiang Baimian's answer and picked up the previous topic:
"Maybe this mission wasn't just given to one hunter."
"That's right, spread the net wide." Jiang Baimian agreed.
After speaking, she and Shang Jianyao exclaimed in unison:
"So rich!"
To be able to reward everyone who provides valid information, they definitely need to prepare more than a ton of flour.
Jiang Baimian turned her gaze to the depths of the Great Marsh, north of Yue Lu Station, and muttered to herself in confusion:
"What's that guy's background?
"Worth so much attention..."
At this time, Bai Chen finished the repairs and sat in the driver's seat, trying to start the jeep.
A noisy sound rang out, and even Shang Jianyao could tell that it wasn't very normal.
Bai Chen stuck her head out of the window and said loudly to Jiang Baimian:
"The back is also damaged, many places are damaged. It can barely run now, but the speed can't go up, and I'm not sure when it will break down completely."
"Can't you fix it?" Jiang Baimian asked seriously.
Bai Chen shook her head:
"No, but it's missing key parts.
"Team Leader, I remember there's a wilderness wanderer settlement not far from here. It only takes two or three hours to get there. Why don't we take a detour and see if we can trade for the things we need?
"Even if the jeep breaks down halfway, I can ride that motorcycle over there and back."
She pointed to a heavy motorcycle that was still in good condition.
The other one had been destroyed in the previous explosion, leaving only a pile of scrap metal.
Jiang Baimian thought for two seconds:
"Okay."
Bai Chen and Shang Jianyao immediately checked the remaining two corpses, eventually obtaining:
A slightly damaged heavy motorcycle, two submachine guns, some submachine gun bullets, some useful parts from the motorcycle wreckage, half a loaf of bread, and a few cigarettes made by directly wrapping roasted tobacco leaves.
From the middle-aged man, they also got a "Rainstorm" submachine gun.
Long Yuehong, wearing the exoskeleton, brought back the light machine gun.
"These three submachine guns use 9mm bullets, a common type. We have prepared a lot!" Jiang Baimian said happily after a little identification.
Then, she looked at the light machine gun and sighed regretfully:
"7.92mm bullets, which can't be used for the time being.
"Let's put it in the car first. We can trade it off later, or take it back to the company."
"If we put this in the trunk, there won't be room for the exoskeleton." Bai Chen frowned slightly.
Their trunk was full of canned food, biscuits, bullets, filter chips, and all sorts of things.
"Put the exoskeleton in the passenger seat. Everyone can take turns riding the heavy motorcycle. Besides, three people can squeeze into the back seat. It's spacious." Jiang Baimian said casually.
Bai Chen hummed:
"That heavy motorcycle needs fuel. We may not be able to replenish it. Let's try to trade it off if we can."
Jiang Baimian didn't respond directly and looked around:
"Okay, everyone spread out and pick up any bullet casings you see. This is a strategic resource.
"Long Yuehong, you can take off the exoskeleton and save some power. We only brought one spare high-performance battery this time, so we have to be careful."
As for the solar charging panel on the roof, it can only charge the jeep once a day.
"Yes, Team Leader!" Long Yuehong had just finished answering when he suddenly remembered something, turned around, and pointed to the side of the road. "What about it?"
He was referring to the huge corpse of the Black Marsh Iron Serpent.
Jiang Baimian's handsome, heroic eyebrows twisted:
"We can't move that...
"Don't take the meat. These mutated creatures caused by pollution, even if there's really nothing to eat, it's best not to eat their meat.
"Don't take the poison sac in its mouth either. We don't have a sealing device, and the liquid inside is volatile. The Black Marsh Iron Serpent will successfully take revenge without us even realizing it.
"Peel off its skin. We should be able to take that away. Fold it up and tie it to the roof. This is excellent biological material. The 'Research Department' will definitely like it. They've been working on similar bionic armor before.
"Long Yuehong, go over there and handle it wearing the exoskeleton. Its helmet has anti-virus effects, and if I remember correctly, it should have a high-temperature cutting auxiliary function. Remember, start from the eyes and mouth."
After a quarter of an hour of busy work, Long Yuehong, with the help of Shang Jianyao wearing a gas mask, peeled off the skin of the mutated python.
This thing was first folded once, then wrapped up and tied to the roof of the jeep, secured with ropes and the solar panel's fasteners.
"Whew, done." Jiang Baimian clapped her hands, watching Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao put the exoskeleton in the passenger seat.
"How do we deal with these?" She pointed to the three corpses not far away. "Should we strip off their clothes?"
This was also hard currency on the graylands, second only to food and arms.
Before Bai Chen and Long Yuehong could give their opinions, Shang Jianyao spoke first, his expression serious:
"Let's sink them into the swamp."
Jiang Baimian nodded thoughtfully:
"Okay."
ps: Asking for recommendation tickets ~