Chapter Fifty-Six: The Respectable Profession of a Bounty Hunter

After Harvey left Mogli, he returned directly to Xandar with five large crates through a void jump.

He decided to get some money and equipment first, open a bank account, and then invite Lacey for a few drinks at the Bounty Bar.

Using magic to lift his crates, Harvey entered the city on Xandar and casually asked someone where the Universal Bank was located.

After waiting in line and filling out forms, he spent several hours, and before sunset, he’d successfully registered his own universal bank card.

With the help of the staff at the Xandar bank, Harvey also acquired two universal translators and two universal communicators. The price was quite cheap—just over three thousand credits.

He tapped his right arm and saw a transparent panel pop up. Thanks to the universal translator, all the text was rendered in Blue Star’s language. He could access the internet freely, unhindered by any language barrier. The technology of the universe was indeed impressive.

Harvey decided to bring these back for Tony to study, hoping Tony might be inspired or even learn to manufacture similar tech. Ideally, he would also bring back a space fighter for Tony.

It would be troublesome to buy a space fighter directly without connections, but perhaps he could look into other bounties. If circumstances allowed, bringing back an intact one wouldn’t be too difficult.

When Harvey finished his errands and returned to the Bounty Bar, everyone present noticed the man in purple-gold armor and a golden mask appearing once more. The entire room seemed to hold its breath.

The reason was obvious: the Desert Calamity mission had been marked as completed by the client just over an hour ago. And the bounty hunter who completed it was none other than the very man before them—Kassadin.

A bounty that had gone unclaimed for a decade had been completed in less than a day by the newcomer. If Kassadin had spent a day traveling to Mogli, no one would be surprised. After all, it was only thirty light-years away, and with a personal space fighter and a wormhole jump, one could reach it easily.

But what truly astounded them was that Kassadin not only arrived but actually solved the problem. Many bounty hunters present, even those who hadn’t taken on the Desert Calamity mission, knew of its reputation. The entire stretch of desert was the creature’s territory; sending a fleet wouldn’t suffice. Even deploying devastating weapons would be futile unless they tore through the endless sands—nothing could threaten that cunning and formidable beast.

No one knew how Kassadin had managed it. All they knew was that his strength and methods were beyond imagination.

Harvey ignored the cautious and probing gazes around him and went straight to the bar, sitting at the counter across from Lacey.

“Miss Lacey, please bring me a few drinks, and a few for yourself as well,” Harvey said, smiling as he took his seat.

Lacey had assumed that this newcomer, so brash and arrogant, would meet his end in the desert. Yet here she was, not even half a day later, receiving the referrer’s reward—five thousand credits. That meant Aub Mogli, the client, had already settled the bounty and paid the organization’s handling fees.

Usually, for referring a new bounty hunter who completed their first mission, she’d receive maybe a thousand credits at most. But this time, it was five thousand outright.

Even now, Lacey could hardly believe it as she looked at the masked Kassadin.

“You really completed that mission?” she asked in disbelief.

“Of course,” Harvey replied. “Before, I didn’t have a universal translator, so I couldn’t understand the bounties or the rules. I have to thank you, Miss Lacey, for your introduction.”

“You helped me out. May I have the honor of buying you a few drinks and chatting for a while?” he continued, his tone warm with amusement.

He’d gained a lot this time—not only had he secured the basic equipment for navigating the universe, sparing himself the trouble of always needing someone with a universal translator, but he’d also absorbed enough evolution points from the Desert Calamity to evolve significantly.

Most importantly, he’d planted a seed on Mogli—a seed that, with time, would see Lyx recruit more of Mogli’s people into the Void.

But for now, he wanted Lacey’s guidance on how to connect his communicator to the bounty network—only then could he truly integrate into the universe.

“Mr. Kassadin, it’s my honor to accept your invitation,” Lacey replied, her surprise quickly replaced by a captivating, enchanting smile. She cast him a sultry glance, her voice soft and alluring.

There was no way she would try to swindle Harvey now—not when he was already a bounty hunter capable of completing a Class Three mission. Such individuals were celebrities in the hunter community. They needed no sponsors, choosing their missions at will. The best way to deal with such power was to cultivate a relationship, not to trick them for a quick profit.

Though Xandar had laws prohibiting violence and Lacey had some protection, anyone capable of completing a Class Three bounty was a dangerous force. If you dared to cross them, they’d dare to deal with you.

“Cherry, mix us some good drinks,” Lacey called to the bartender. “Mr. Kassadin has invited me for a few rounds.”

With a sway of her alluring hips, her long legs clad in sheer stockings, she stepped out from behind the bar and took a seat beside Harvey.

“Miss Lacey, could you show me how to use the universal communicator?” Harvey asked. “How do I connect to the bounty system directly?”

He tapped his right hand, and a projection appeared.

“Bounty hunters aren’t exactly respected in the universe, but it’s a legitimate profession,” Lacey explained. “All you need to do is search, and you can connect anytime.”

“It’s just that sometimes, when carrying out certain missions, you might cause unavoidable destruction, so you’re not always welcome on some worlds.”

“But generally speaking, as long as you don’t harm the people of Xandar, Kree, or Sovereign during your missions, being unwelcome on some planets won’t matter much—though you might end up with a bounty on your own head.”

As she spoke, Lacey leaned in, her slender, delicate fingers moving with the grace of a butterfly as she helped Harvey access the bounty network. The soft curves of her chest nearly brushed against him.

The other bounty hunters in the bar couldn’t tear their eyes away. Most of them had been outwitted by Lacey at some point, but none could deny her charm. She had a knack for reading men and knew exactly how to please them, offering both visual and sensual delight.

They remembered their first encounters with her—though they later realized they’d been duped, their impressions of her remained positive. Occasionally, when the mood struck, they’d pay extra just to spend an evening with Lacey, indulging in pleasure for the eyes, the body, and the soul.