Signing a contract

Seeing Bai Jingshen walking towards him, Instructor Bennet called out: "Jingshen, come with me. Let's get you your temporary ID. Afterwards we can grab something to eat."

Not being used to someone casually calling his first name, Bai Jingshen was almost wanted to correct Bennet. After coming to terms with his situation now though, he tried his best to adapt himself to local customs. Therefore he followed behind Bennet without a complaint. He was still uncomfortable with his weakness however, so he decided to ask Bennet:

"Instructor. Can I train after eating? Also, I like books. Can I have some?"

"Sure thing, I'll organize it later for you. But I can't help you train right now. I have two more groups in the afternoon."

"Thanks.", answered Bai Jingshen shortly, but Bennet could garner, that this seemed important to him.

After making their way back through the hallway, Bennet led Bai Jingshen towards the reception, while asking loudly:

"Daliah, do we have the documents for my new recruit ready?"

The receptionist looked up from her work while replying:

"So, he actually passed, hm? Sure, Mr. Tal is as meticulous as always. Everything is prepared. We have the contact with Thobar Bionics. We have a temporary ID and his bracelet. Like this he shouldn't run into any trouble in the republic."

"Such things really got a lot easier recently. Obviously, everyone is just short on staff. I guess being short on staff equals to lagging behind in the race. Well, good for us I guess. Thanks. We'll grab something to eat, do you want something? I will be back for afternoon training."

Daliah handed over the prepared documents while thinking for a bit.

"Where are you going? Do you pass by Don's bakery? I'd like some sweets. Just surprise me.", answered a smiling Daliah.

"Sure, I wanted to go there anyways."

Bai Jingshen suspiciously looked at Bennet from the side. That guy really wasn't good at hiding his interest in Daliah. He was sure the woman in question picked up on it too, but it seems the Instructor was a bit too timid in that regard. Bai Jingshen smiled slightly, while grabbing his documents. Bennet nodded at Daliah and then took Bai Jingshen with him.

"Instructor?", asked Bai Jingshen once they were outside. "Do you need to eat?"

"No, but I still like it. Furthermore, I want to explain the contract and bracelet to you."

"Oh. I thought you wanted Ms. Dahlia."

As soon as Bai Jingshen spoke his mind, he noticed Bennets face turning red. This guy really was timid. Bai Jingshen laughed a bit, as Bennet faked a cough and reprimanded him: "Keep your mind on your own business, kid! Come on, why are you so slow. Let me bring you along."

With those words, the instructor grabbed Bai Jingshen's arm, enveloping him with his Qi. Then Bennet dragged Bai Jingshen behind him, as he raced down the car-less street with the speed of a Golden Core Realm cultivator. Quickly they arrived at a tall building at the education district's edge. With Bennet's speed crossing these about five kilometers didn't even take him a minute. He hoped to make Bai Jingshen dizzy as a small punishment, but when they arrived at their destination, Bai Jingshen didn't seem faced at all.

The younger man could only scoff at this weak try. Even in his sorry state, he wouldn't be bothered by a Golden Core cultivators speed. Especially as Bennet shielded him with his Qi. Not wanting to look at Bennet's annoyed face, Bai Jingshen decided to observe the building the just arrived at. He tried to understand were the just came to, as this building seemed to big for a restaurant.

Luckily Bennet quickly explained to him: "This is the Gentle Water Inn. It is known as a hotel, where even cultivators like to stay. As long as you work for Thobar we will arragnge a romm for you here. You should really try their name-giving hot springs when you have the time. They feel amazing! Higher class springs are even rumored to cleanse you body and soul. Sadly you would have to visit a Gentle Water Inn in one of the big five for that experience. Ok let's go in, the food here is great."

Bai Jingshen couldn't quite belief the rumors about body cleansing in a hotel. After all, who would place such an amazing spring in a hotel, opening it for others to use. Well, he threw this thought to the back of his mind for now and followed Bennet into the hotel.

A clean, but not overly luxurious sight welcomed Bai Jingshen upon his entrance into the hotel's hall. A few cultivators could be seen wandering around or sitting on soft looking sofas. Most of them made their way over towards an open double door. Bennet walked towards that direction too, with Bai Jingshen following behind. They entered a big restaurant, but Bennet stopped a passing waiter to ask for a private room.

Many cultivators had conversations, which they wanted to keep private, so a having private rooms was essential for a restaurant like this. The waiter even asked Bennet if they wanted a themed room, whereas the instructor answered with "Great Cultivation World" after throwing a glance at Bai Jingshen's robe.

The latter really felt more comfortable after he entered the room which really felt more like home for him. Looking around he spotted some lovely details like poems and paper lanterns hanging from the walls. Bennet and Bai Jingshen soon sat cross-legged around a small table. When the waiter showed them the menu, Bai Jingshen realized that he actually had a lot of hunger, a feeling which he hadn't felt in forever. Therefore, after a short contemplation the two man almost ordered have of the menu, before sending the happy waiter out of the room.

"Ok. Let's talk about work now.", began Bennet the conversation, while taking the contract off Bai Jingshen's and.

"Damn, haven't seen such an old-school contract in a while. Normally we would send them to your bracelet, but I guess you first need an ID and for an ID you need work."

Bennet seemed to find the situation funny, Bai Jingshen wouldn't get it. He asked something he was questing since the beginning:

"What use does this paper have anyways? Is this binding? Why not swear on souls?"

Now it was Bennet's time to throw a weird look at Bai Jingshen while explaining:

"Of course, it's binding. Don't try to break the contact, kid, or New Haven Guard would put you into prison. Well, enough of that, let's talk about its contents. So, this is a working contract between you and Thobar Bionics. The company will provide you with food, lodging and training. On top of that you get a salary of 4000 credits a week. You are legally obliged to work at least six months for Thobar, with a probation period of two weeks. You will join the RSS, whom you have met before. The RSS follows my instruction here in the Republic and follows Instuctor Hord in the New World. If you need anything, or want to do your own thing, you have to speak to us first. That's pretty much it. Any questions?"

Bai Jingshen shortly thought about it before asking:

"Seems fine, but one question. What is Thobar?"

Bennet was shortly thrown off, before chuckling.

"Oh, I forgot. You aren't from here. Let me explain: Thobar Bionics is the biggest developer of bionics in the republic. They have civil and military use. My arm here is an example of military bionics. The stronger your body becomes, the stronger bionics it is able to support. Of course bionics are immensely expensive and the high-class models are only used in big organizations.

Haa, I won't hide it from you though. Our situation right now isn't great. After the New World's descent, we were really unlucky. Hmm where to begin?

Right, have you already heard about scholars? They are the most coveted personnel right now. Their job is it, to combine our mana circuits with the Great Cultivation World's array formation and make them useable with the New World's immortal Qi."

After Bennet talked about immortal Qi, a jolt sped through Bai Jingshen's body and he listened with renewed interest. Maybe this New World was his long sought after Immortal Realm? Bennet didn't seem to notice and just continued:

"Scholars are even working on new cultivation arts, usable with immortal Qi. Everyone hopes they will be the one to create the strongest cultivation art or weapon and rise to the top quickly. So did the old Thobars, and they were very much successful at first. After arriving at the New World, their cultivation seemed to increase faster than many others. Sadly they became a bit to obsessed with their cultivation. They neglected Thobar Bionics and even fired their lead scientist, who managed to become a high ranking scholar. They seemingly started to distrust a lot of their employees. Maybe they already felt something, because they gave their daughter to a relative while trying to improve as fast as possible. Afterwards they started to take on more and more risks, before they died while exploring a secret realm. Mr. Tal managed to just so keep the company together, before their daughter Miss Elena Thobar came back. Even though she is a genius cultivator, holding the company together is a tough job for a 26-year-old girl."