After parting ways with Hou Wu at the guard post in the apartment area, Zhang Fan explained his purpose and handed his ID card to the security personnel at the entrance.
Zhang Fan did not take out the Marquis Charles's handwritten letter of recommendation because he was very curious about what kind of position he could obtain here based on his status.
"New here?" The staff member took the ID card and swiped it on the handheld card reader. "Royal Military Command Academy of the Duchy of Ryan... Second Lieutenant..."
"Sir, please take this." After the security personnel checked Zhang Fan's identity, their attitude improved considerably.
As the gatekeepers of Helenburg, these security personnel knew that what Prince Reinhardt needed most right now was talent with a background in the Reinhard Army. This lieutenant in front of them was fully qualified to have a room in the apartment, so they naturally treated him kindly.
Following the security personnel's directions, Zhang Fan arrived at a reception area resembling a sales hall. There, a receptionist registered his information, checked him in, and gave him a room key, telling him the time and place to meet the next day to receive his assessment task.
Zhang Fan really wanted to complain, what's the difference between this and staying in a hotel? It felt like walking into a pyramid scheme den.
The room is on the 20th floor, a small suite of 30 square meters. The bedroom connects to the living room, which also serves as a study and dining room. There is also a bathroom and a mini kitchen near the entrance. It is more than enough for one person.
The next morning, Zhang Fan took the elevator to the revolving Western restaurant on the 30th floor, where breakfast was served. He found a window seat, took a plate of poached egg macaroni, a bowl of vegetable and meat porridge, a piece of toast, and a cup of hot milk, and ate while looking down at the city.
As the capital city, Adelaide is much larger than Manchester. Due to building height restrictions in downtown Adelaide, this 30-story restaurant in Helenburgh on the outskirts of the city offers panoramic views of the entire city.
Adelaide is like a giant cake, divided into large fan-shaped areas by eight streets radiating outwards from the central palace and a series of ring roads.
In the city center surrounding the Royal Palace are the Rhine Cathedral, the National Theatre, the administrative center, and the locations of several national diplomatic missions and embassies.
The buildings there are the tallest and most beautiful in the entire Adelaide city center. As far as the eye can see, there is a cluster of Baroque and Gothic buildings with pointed and soaring towers.
The granite walls of Lane Palace are covered with ivy, bearing the marks of time, and look ancient and serene.
Zhang Fan touched the pendant on his chest; he desperately wanted to go inside and take a look at that place.
After finishing breakfast, Zhang Fan went down to the mission hall on the first floor to receive the so-called assessment mission.
Helenbergh is certainly not a place where you can eat and stay for free. To gain a foothold here, you must prove your abilities.
The way to prove one's ability is to complete these so-called assessment tasks. Those who can complete them stay, and those who do well can get a raise. Those who can't complete them are fired.
To demonstrate his eagerness to recruit talent, Prince Reinhardt personally visits Helenbergh at the end of each month to assess performance, and tomorrow is the 31st.
When Zhang Fan arrived at the mission hall, there were already many people gathered there. Judging from their accents, they came from all over the country.
The task hall displays a series of assessment tasks on a large screen, and computers are arranged around the hall for browsing. After selecting an assessment task, simply register and receive it at the front desk in the hall.
Zhang Fan glanced at the task list and roughly understood that the so-called assessment tasks could actually be understood as part-time jobs lasting 30 days, and the scope of the work was naturally the industry to which Reinhardt belonged.
It's quite interesting to test abilities through actual work. What's even more interesting is that Zhang Fan discovered these tasks were actually divided into levels.
The lowest-ranked F-level missions are simple tasks like running errands and delivering messages, while the highest-ranked S-level missions include assassinations and raids. Is it really that blatant?
Zhang Fan's attention was drawn to one of the S-rank missions. The mission involved helping Prince Reinhardt collect a debt from a small fiefdom called "Silin." The amount of money wasn't much, only a few hundred thousand gold Reinhardt coins, but why was the mission rated S-rank? Was there some mistake?
Zhang Fan went directly to the front desk in the lobby to designate this S-level assessment task.
"Sir, are you sure you want to accept this S-level assessment task?" The young lady in charge of registration at the front desk seemed a little surprised.
"Huh? Is there a problem?" Zhang Fan was a little confused. Of course he should take on such a simple S-rank mission.
"Hey bro, I advise you to give up on this S-rank mission." Before the receptionist could speak, another person picking up a mission next to her said, "Do you know how many people try to enter Helenburg and seek refuge with Prince Reinhard every day?"
"These tasks have been screened out by predecessors so many times, how could you possibly have a chance to pick up a leftover?"
"Hmm? Is there some kind of explanation for this mission?" Zhang Fan became even more interested. "What's Xilin like?"
"This task seems simple, but many people have already tried it, and without exception, they have all failed." The man spoke confidently, as if he were a senior instructing a newbie. "The key is that Xilin is dirt poor. Forget tens of thousands of gold coins, I'll eat my hat if you can even collect ten thousand gold coins!"
"It doesn't necessarily have to be money, right?" Zhang Fan asked the young lady at the front desk curiously. "For example, the 'equivalent' mentioned in the task description, like food or supplies, would that work too?"
"Can……"
"Sure my foot!" Before the young lady could finish speaking, the man interrupted again, "That godforsaken place, Xilin, is truly impoverished to the core. Its most valuable asset is probably its 'population,' but even in its poverty, it's still Prince Reinhard's fiefdom. Who would dare to resort to such underhanded methods? Forget it! I advise you to give up too. Tomorrow is the assessment day, don't waste your time."
"Is there a specific range for this 'equivalent'?" Zhang Fan ignored the man's advice and smiled as he continued to ask the receptionist.
"No," the receptionist shook her head. "Anything you think might be useful to Prince Reinhard is fine."
"I've accepted it!"
Ignoring the stares and whispers of those around him, who seemed to think he was an idiot, Zhang Fan accepted the seemingly impossible S-level simple mission without hesitation.
After leaving Helenburg, Zhang Fan went straight to the slums outside the East Gate. Sure enough, he asked anyone he could find and learned where Hou Wu was.
When Zhang Fan met Hou Wu, Hou Wu had just finished helping an employer move sacks and was settling his wages.
Zhang Fan saw Hou Wu accept 50 gold coins, and then he came over excitedly, inviting Zhang Fan to his place to talk.
Zhang Fan looked at Hou Wu, who was covered in sweat and whose shoulders were red from carrying things all day. He only earned 50 gold coins. No wonder he was so happy to receive a 100-coin tip from Zhang Fan.
Hou Wu lived in a tin shed with newspapers covering the walls. Although it was dilapidated, the place looked very clean.
There were two children in the room, one older than 16 and the other younger than 12. They were probably Hou Wu's two younger brothers.
Hou Wu took a stool, wiped it clean with his clothes, and then awkwardly invited Zhang Fan to sit down.
Zhang Fan explained his purpose, intending to hire him for 200 gold coins a day.
The reward was four times Hou Wu's usual wage. Zhang Fan thought the other party would agree immediately, but Hou Wu hesitated for a moment and then refused.
"I'm sorry, sir, I can't help you this time."
Hou Wu has to take care of his two younger brothers. He doesn't want to be away from his two underage brothers for long periods of time, so he can't do long-term, stable jobs. He has always done casual and short-term jobs because the wages are paid daily and the hours are flexible.
Almost everyone in the area near the East Gate had hired Hou Wu as a worker, so when people mentioned "monkey," they all knew who he was.
"Then forget it." Zhang Fan didn't insist. "Could you introduce me to someone familiar with 'Xilin'?"
"Sir, you said 'Xilin'?" Hou Wu was taken aback for a moment, then lowered his head to think for a while, and looked up to say, "Sir, I'll take this job."
"Huh?" Zhang Fan was somewhat surprised. "You just said..."
"Sir, Xilin is my hometown."
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