c50: The Bounty Bar
After Harvey left, the other guards gathered around Damm.
"Dam, that guy doesn't look like an ordinary person."
"I've seen so many people with that air of authority, but
only two in all my years as a guard." "And you all know who those two are, they're figures we must show absolute respect to within the Nova Corps hierarchy."
"You might need his help someday."
"Why didn't I go ask him earlier? That opportunity might have been mine."
The guards started discussing amongst themselves. The
big shots they were talking about were Irani Rael, the Nova Prime who commands the Nova Corps,
and Rhomann Dey, a respected Nova Centurion and veteran officer—both figures they respected and looked up to.
"Past glories can be destroyed in a single night, but rebuilding them
isn't just about getting money through bounty missions. "
"For someone like him, he was probably the one issuing bounties, not the one accepting them."
"People like him are already deeply affected by such upheavals, and I inadvertently touched a nerve." "
So I just said a few words of encouragement to make amends."
Damm didn't seem to care at all, watching Harvey's figure disappear from sight, and slowly said,
"If he hadn't fallen from grace, what I just said to you might have been a turning point in your life."
"What a pity."
The other guards, hearing Damm's words, offered their condolences.
"I'd like to, but if he hadn't fallen from grace, he probably wouldn't be here now,"
Damm said somewhat irritably.
"Haha, that makes sense."
"Whether it's useful or not, just remember his name. What if that day ever comes?"
"His name is Kassadin, isn't it?"
"Yes, Kassadin."
"A rather strange name." "
So what if it's strange? That's precisely why he's not an ordinary person."
The guards chatted amongst themselves.
Most of them were citizens recruited into auxiliary duty, and their daily work consisted of registration and reporting. As long as there were no external threats, they wouldn't encounter any danger.
It was just routine inspections, casual conversations, and shifts that passed without incident.
In terms of status, these lowest-ranking gatekeepers weren't much higher than ordinary civilians. At most, they had better benefits and access to Nova Corps systems, but they didn't possess the full authority or power of active Nova officers.
They couldn't compare to those officially inducted into the Nova Corps, who wielded Nova Force energy, wore advanced Nova helmets, and piloted starships to enforce interstellar law across Xandar's domain.
They also hoped to one day join the Nova Corps, pilot starships and war vessels, patrol the galaxy, achieve great merit, and rise through the ranks.
However, joining the Nova Corps requires not only physical and mental compatibility with the Nova Force, but also strict selection standards. Without exceptional ability or recommendation, advancement was extremely difficult.
Having strong backing or recognition within the Corps could make the path smoother, a reality that existed even in an advanced interstellar civilization like Xandar.
Meanwhile, after learning the information, Harvey walked through the passageway towards the city.
Harvey wasn't in a hurry, instead observing the surrounding scenery and local customs.
The cities of Xandar were incredibly advanced and prosperous, far surpassing modern Earth technology.
There were all sorts of advanced technologies Harvey had never seen before: hovering platforms that allowed individuals to glide through the air, and scanning devices capable of long-range environmental and biological analysis.
Every now and then, Nova Corps patrol craft—sleek, star-shaped vessels—flew overhead, yet they produced minimal sound.
It was unclear whether this was due to advanced propulsion systems or sound-dampening fields integrated into their design.
On the bustling streets, Harvey's attire attracted some attention, but no one approached him.
Because most citizens knew that individuals dressed in unusual ways were often off-world visitors.
And these visitors were usually travelers, refugees displaced by interstellar conflicts, or independent operators such as bounty hunters—groups that ordinary civilians preferred not to get involved with.
On his way to the bounty bar, Harvey discovered he could only understand some spoken languages, not all.
Clearly, not every being relied on standardized translation technology, and dialect variations across the galaxy were far more complex than expected.
Harvey's purpose in coming to Xandar wasn't to cause destruction, but to locate bounty missions and use them as a starting point to accumulate resources and establish the foundation of the Void's influence.
To gain a foothold in the universe and build a large organization, his reputation couldn't begin with chaos or hostility.
Harvey leisurely observed his surroundings, spending over twenty minutes arriving at the approximate location Damm had mentioned.
Just as Harvey was about to begin searching, he realized he couldn't recognize any of the signs or symbols displayed on the buildings.
However, he didn't care; his eyes turned gold, and in just a few seconds he located a relatively lively bar.
This bar was only a kilometer away from where he was.
Harvey moved swiftly, appearing at the bar entrance in less than two seconds and walking straight inside.
As soon as he entered, he heard loud music and saw several scantily clad dancers swaying under colorful lights, a scene common in many interstellar hubs across systems like Xandar, where travelers, mercenaries, and bounty hunters gathered.
A group of aliens of various appearances were happily clinking glasses, enjoying the company and indulgence brought by their recent earnings.
Bounty hunting is a very lucrative profession, especially for those with the skills.
However, it's always a dangerous and risky business, so most of them squander their earnings without batting an eye, a behavior frequently observed among independent operators beyond the structured authority of organizations like the Nova Corps.
Harvey's arrival only drew a few glances before their attention quickly returned to the dancers in front of them or the women in their arms.
Harvey pushed through the crowd and arrived at a bar.
At the bar was a blonde, blue-eyed beauty dressed as a bunny girl.
She became interested in Harvey's mysterious, composed aura and somewhat unusual attire, which resembled neither standard Nova Corps uniforms nor common mercenary gear.
She immediately took out a transparent screen and scanned Harvey, only seeing Kassadin, origin classified as C53, and nothing more.
"Sir, are you here to issue a contract or to accept one?"
After realizing she couldn't retrieve any additional data from the scan, the bunny girl smiled charmingly.
"Where do I go to find the bounty listings?"
Harvey, realizing he could understand the standard interstellar language directly through his Void-enhanced cognition, didn't waste any words and asked.
"Mr. Kassadin, it seems this is your first time taking on a bounty."
"You can head over to the bounty board on the left."
"Looking forward to your return, perhaps we can share a drink."
The bunny girl looked at Harvey with slightly teasing eyes, her tone smooth and inviting without being overly forward.
Before she had found any deeper information, she knew that this Kassadin wasn't a known bounty hunter within the Nova network, but rather a newcomer attempting to enter the profession.
But there was nothing wrong with being a newcomer; as long as he returned alive, he could bring back a significant reward. Then, a drink and some pleasant company would be enough for her to earn quite a bit from the interaction.
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