Azure Spirit Academy had one crucial location: the Task Hall.

As the name suggested, it was where tasks were posted. Anyone could post tasks here, and students could earn gold coins, Spirit Medicine, and other rewards by completing them. They’d also gain academic credits based on the task’s rank.

Credits were the Academy’s universal currency. Besides tasks, students could earn them through part-time jobs on campus.

But the Academy took a 10% commission fee on every completed task.

Credits were mandatory each semester. Failure to submit enough meant repeating a year—or expulsion.

That 10% commission was Lin Ming’s deepest hatred. To him, it felt like having his flesh carved off with a knife.

Lin Ming now stood at the Task Hall’s entrance. He glanced at the familiar grand hall, tugged the burlap sack on his back, and strode inside.

"Huh. Fewer people today. Whatever—better submit my task first." He frowned at the nearly empty hall but headed straight to a corner counter.

"Hey! Wake up! Task submission!" Lin Ming snapped. The clerk was slumped over the counter, drooling. A vein throbbed on Lin Ming’s temple.

"Wha—? Task?!" The clerk jolted awake, a trace of drool glistening on his chin.

"Over here, Long Yu. Wipe your mouth," Lin Ming said flatly.

"Oh! Heh—heh! Lin *ge*! Back already?" Long Yu wiped his chin, grinning.

"Don’t call me ‘ge’. We’re the same age. Stop freeloading on titles," Lin Ming sighed.

Long Yu was his classmate, working part-time here for credits. Lin Ming, strapped for cash, constantly took tasks. Long Yu’s bonuses depended on task volume, and Lin Ming’s loyalty boosted his stats. Hence the forced "Lin *ge*".

"Aw, Lin *ge*~ You’re my bread and butter! What’s one ‘ge’?" Long Yu leered.

"Ditch that. Why’s it so empty today?" Lin Ming gestured at the deserted hall.

"Freshman aptitude tests. Everyone’s watching the show. My commissions…" Long Yu groaned.

"Right. Process my task." Lin Ming dumped the sack on the counter.

"On it, Lin *ge*!" Long Yu tapped the counter’s Light Screen. Typing "Lin Ming" pulled up his task log.

**Task: Capture Jade Vipers**

**Quantity: Unlimited**

**Rank: C-Class**

**Reward: 50 credits + 1,000 Gold Coins per viper**

*Note: Jade Vipers—emerald-scaled, highly venomous Magic Beasts. Extremely elusive. Habitat: Outer Great Verdant Mountains.*

"Holy crap! That abandoned task? And *live* captures? Bullsh—! Details are garbage!" Long Yu yelped.

"Lin *ge*, you got scammed! C-Class pay for a Rank B nightmare!"

"Hmph. You missed one thing," Lin Ming smirked. His ahoge bounced gleefully.

"What?" Long Yu blinked.

"*Quantity*. No limit. This sack’s full. Just twenty." Lin Ming puffed his chest. His ahoge shot skyward.

"Hurry up. Inspect them. Pay me." Lin Ming’s eyes gleamed. After days of toil, payday had come.

"Hold on—let me calculate…" Long Yu’s mind raced: *50 credits + 1,000 coins × 20…*

"HOLY—! I’LL BE RIGHT BACK!" Long Yu grabbed the sack and bolted backstage. His bonus was secured.

"*Heh.*" Lin Ming’s grin widened.

Moments later, Long Yu returned, face twisted. "Lin *ge*, about those Jade Vip—"

"Hold it. First: are they Jade Vipers?" Lin Ming cut in.

"Yes, but—"

"Second: twenty live captures?"

"Yes, howe—"

"Then pay up." Lin Ming’s ahoge quivered impatiently.

"Lin *ge*… they’re *juveniles*! Barely breathing! How’d you even—?" Long Yu finally blurted out, exasperated.

"Task didn’t specify size. ‘Alive’ includes half-dead. Their bad wording—not my problem. Credits. Now." Lin Ming held out his hand. Only the reward mattered.

"Ugh. Fine. Exploiting loopholes like a pro." Long Yu tapped the Light Screen. A "COMPLETED" tag flashed over the task.

"Credits transferred to your Student Card. Gold Coins minus 10% commission—here." He slid a heavy sack of coins across the counter.

"*Grrr…* My heart bleeds." Lin Ming counted the coins into his Storage Ring, ahoge drooping pitifully.

"Seriously? Your credits today beat my *two-month* salary," Long Yu deadpanned.

"Oh—and reimburse my uniform. New Academy robes. Now." Lin Ming’s face tightened.

"You miss *nothing*, do you?" Long Yu muttered, tossing him a fresh uniform set.

"Foolish not to grab freebies. Changing room—now!" Lin Ming snatched the robes, mood instantly lifted, and dashed off.