Chapter 50: The Bounty Tavern
After Harvey left, the other guards gathered around Darm.
“Darm, that guy didn’t look like an ordinary person in his past, did he?”
“I’ve seen plenty of people with the air of someone from the upper echelons in all my years of guarding.”
“There are only two others I’ve ever seen like that, and you all know who I mean. Both are figures we ought to revere.”
“Maybe you’ll need his help one day.”
“I should’ve gone over and talked to him just now—otherwise, the chance might’ve been mine.”
The guards began to chatter among themselves.
The important figures they referred to were Dana Sahl, a senior officer in the Nova Corps, and Ilani Rail, the supreme commander of the Nova Corps—both people they had to look up to with awe.
“The glory of the past can be erased in a single night, but to build glory anew…”
“It takes more than earning some money from bounty missions.”
“For someone like him, he was probably on the side issuing bounties, not taking them.”
“People like him, when they suffer a great upheaval, are struck hard in spirit. I accidentally touched a sore spot just now.”
“So I said a few encouraging words, just to make up for it.”
Darm spoke calmly, watching Harvey disappear from view, unmoved by the others’ comments.
“If he hadn’t fallen from grace, just a single word from you might have changed your life.”
“What a pity.”
The other guards, hearing Darm’s words, tried to comfort him.
“I’d like to, but if he hadn’t fallen, he wouldn’t be here now.”
Darm replied with a hint of exasperation.
“Haha, fair point.”
“Whether it’s useful or not, just remember his name. Who knows? That day might come for you.”
“His name was… Kassadin, right?”
“Yes, Kassadin.”
“That’s quite an odd name.”
“What’s odd about it? It’s precisely because it’s odd that he’s not an ordinary person.”
The guards continued their banter.
Most of them were born citizens. Their daily work was simply to register reports; as long as there was no external invasion, they faced no danger. It was routine—registering, chatting, boasting, clocking in and out.
In terms of status, the lowest-level gate guards like them weren’t much higher than ordinary citizens—slightly better benefits perhaps, but no real authority.
They couldn’t compare to those selected for the Nova Corps, who wore Nova armor and piloted all kinds of fighters and warships.
They too dreamed of joining the Nova Corps, soaring through the universe in warships and fighters, winning glory and reaching the pinnacle of life.
But to join the Nova Corps took more than talent—it required connections. Without connections, you needed luck, or a talent for flattery.
Good connections smoothed the way, and this was a truth that held in any world.
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Meanwhile, after gathering the information he needed, Harvey walked through the passage into the city.
He wasn’t in any hurry, but rather took time to observe the scenery and local customs.
The cities of Xandar were advanced and bustling—hyper-modern compared to Blue Star. Everywhere there were technologies Harvey had never seen before: floating discs that allowed people to fly while standing, data survey instruments that could investigate from great distances.
From time to time, star-shaped fighters swept across the sky, making little noise. Whether it was due to their performance or noise-dampening technology, Harvey couldn’t say.
His attire drew some curious looks as he moved through the crowd, but no one greeted him. Everyone knew that anyone dressed so strangely had to be an off-worlder.
And off-worlders fell into three categories: vacationers, refugees, or fearsome bounty hunters. None were worth getting involved with.
As Harvey made his way to the bounty bar Darm had mentioned, he realized he could only understand some of the languages he overheard—not all. Clearly, not everyone wore a universal translator.
Harvey’s purpose here wasn’t to cause trouble, but to find some bounty missions to start with—raise capital and establish the Order of the Void.
To establish a foothold in the universe and found a great organization, one’s reputation couldn’t be poor from the outset.
At his leisure, Harvey took in everything around him, and after about twenty minutes, he arrived at the approximate location Darm had described.
As he looked for the bar, he realized he couldn’t recognize any of the writing on the buildings or signs.
But he didn’t mind. His eyes glinted gold for a few seconds, and he quickly locked onto a lively bar about a kilometer away.
A moment later, in just two seconds, Harvey appeared at the bar’s entrance and went straight inside.
As soon as he stepped in, he was greeted by blaring music. Under colorful lights, several scantily clad dancers swayed to the rhythm.
Aliens of all shapes and sizes toasted and drank together, enjoying the show.
Bounty hunting was a quick way to make money. For the capable, it was an easy path to riches. But bounty hunters always walked a razor’s edge, so most spent their earnings freely, with little thought for tomorrow.
Harvey’s arrival drew a few glances, but the patrons quickly returned their attention to the dancers or the beauties in their arms.
Weaving through the crowd, Harvey approached the bar.
Behind it stood a beautiful blonde woman in a bunny-girl outfit.
She was intrigued by Harvey’s mysterious presence and unusual attire. She pulled out a transparent screen and scanned him—Kassadin, from C53, was all it showed. Nothing more.
“Sir, are you here to post a job or take one?”
Unable to find more information, the bunny-girl smiled enchantingly.
“To take a job. Where do I look?”
Harvey, understanding her perfectly, kept it brief.
“Mr. Kassadin, you seem to be here for the first time.”
“You can find the bounties at the board to your left.”
“I hope when you come back, we can share a drink.”
Her eyes sparkled seductively as she spoke in a soft, tempting voice.
From her scan, she knew Kassadin wasn’t a famous bounty hunter—just a newcomer.
But there was nothing wrong with newcomers. If he survived and returned with plenty of money, a drink together and a night’s company would earn her a tidy sum.