Chapter 17 New Beginnings and Old Acquaintances (Seeking Investment and Readership)

The Yan Huang Safety Alliance comprises a total of seventy-two safety zones.

The division of these seventy-two safety zones is not random but based on the scale and level of protection of each zone, the smaller the zone number, the larger its scale.

Therefore, compared to District 32 where Lin Su had previously lived, District 11 was much more flourishing.

While hundred-story buildings were relatively rare in District 32, they seemed to be almost everywhere in District 11. Just sitting in the passenger seat while heading to the Mountain City University Research Institute with Qin Nan, Lin Su had already seen dozens.

This also diverted Lin Su's attention away from the newly acquired information about Guardian Beast Co-operation combat and the Phantom Beast Church.

Is this the place where I am going to live now...

Looking at the bustling streets they passed, Lin Su couldn't help but show a look of anticipation for the future on his face.

But then again...

Lin Su turned his head to Qin Nan, "Nan, where will I live from now on?"

"I've already got the approval; you are now my assistant researcher," Qin Nan said as she drove, her face lazy, "You just need to go through some formalities later, and you can move into the single staff dormitory provided by the Mountain City University Research Institute today."

"You'll have to handle your meals yourself. The cafeteria for students of Mountain City University is near the institute, and you can also order takeout," Qin Nan paused, "By the way, the salary for an assistant researcher isn't high, just two thousand Alliance dollars and five contribution points a month."

It's only in these special departments governed by the alliance that part of the salary is paid in the form of contribution points.

Five contribution points are equivalent to five thousand Alliance dollars, which means the monthly salary is about seven thousand...

That's quite high!

Lin Su quickly nodded, "No problem, no problem."

Suddenly, his expression shifted, and a pale yellow light emerged, quickly followed by Qiuqiu appearing in the car and burrowing into his arms.

"Meow! ฅ(´ω｀)ฅ" (I'm awake!)

After training for a whole six hours in the Spirit Martial World, Lin Su had kept Qiuqiu in the Beast Taming Space and hadn't let it out until now, allowing it to rest well inside the Beast Taming Space—it was finally awake.

The previous harrowing attack had perfectly spared this little guy.

"Your pet?" Qin Nan glanced at Qiuqiu, and her expression became a bit odd upon seeing its clingy behavior, "Xue Henqing? It doesn't seem to have the right temperament."

Hearing Qin Nan's voice, Qiuqiu peeked its head out from Lin Su's arms, curiously looking around.

"Meow?" (Where is this?)

"Qiuqiu, we've arrived in District 11," Lin Su explained to Qiuqiu then looked up at Qin Nan, "Nan, this Xue Henqing had some issues at birth, so its personality is different from other Xue Henqing."

He then briefly explained the reason.

After listening, Qin Nan nodded, "This situation is relatively rare. Due to their naturally aloof nature, Xue Henqing typically makes it more difficult to increase the bond co-operation index. It looks like you and Qiuqiu won't have that problem."

"But that's not important," Qin Nan suddenly stomped on the brake, steadying the car and her face revealed a predatory smile, stretching her hands towards the fluffy Xue Henqing, "Qiuqiu, let sister give you a hug~"

"Meow!" (So scary!)

Lin Su helplessly handed Qiuqiu over to Qin Nan, watching her satisfactorily petting the cat, "Um... is it okay to park here?"

"Didn't you notice we've already arrived?" Qin Nan was engrossed in Qiuqiu's beauty, not looking up.

We're here?

Lin Su was startled, then quickly opened the car door and got out.

Qiuqiu blinked, wanting to follow, but after twisting its body a few times, it couldn't escape Qin Nan's clasp.

"Meow…（｀ω´）" (Lin Su, save me...)

At the moment, Lin Su was too preoccupied to attend to Qiuqiu, since Qin Nan was obviously not going to harm it—it was just her cat-petting style that was a bit creepy.

His attention was fully focused on the majestic building now appearing before him.

A grand building standing one hundred fifty stories tall seemed to pierce the sky, and on its side, the characters "Mountain City Beast Tamer University Evolution Research Institute" were written in flourishing script.

This was completely different from the research institute he had imagined.

"Well, are you surprised?" Qin Nan appeared beside Lin Su, tapping his shoulder, as Qiuqiu, as if fleeing for its life, quickly burrowed into Lin Su's arms, still bearing stains of lipstick.

"Is this entire building the Evolution Research Institute?" Lin Su gasped, unable to help but ask.

"Yes, and there are some other research sites as well, arranged in other locations due to terrain limitations and other factors," Qin Nan crossed her arms, looking up at the building's signage, "Come on, let me take you to go through the formalities first."

…

Upon arriving at the institute, Qin Nan again demonstrated her brisk and efficient work style.

With her help, Lin Su swiftly finished the paperwork. He had just placed his luggage in the assigned dormitory and hadn't even had time to properly look at what his dormitory looked like when Qin Nan pulled him directly towards the laboratory.

According to her, you can check out the dormitory anytime, but once the spark of research inspiration vanishes, it's truly gone.

In Qin Nan's laboratory, Lin Su finally discovered what Qin Nan's research focus was.

The high-rank commanding race, Divine Light Butterfly.

This race initially started as the low-rank commanding race Illusion Thought Butterfly, one of the few spirit type creatures among those species humanity could contract with, and Divine Light Butterfly was an evolved form of Illusion Thought Butterfly, fundamentally a dual-type of spirit and light.