"Don’t count on that. The disaster is certain to happen. Until it does, your client will remain unsettled, and the nexus won’t make a connection. The Company also needs the worlds it saves to generate new life and order. Without devastation, there can be no renewal."
"Protecting a stable world early would do little for the Company as a whole. But... if you prepare everything in advance, the nexus can connect to it and act the moment disaster strikes!"
"That’s cruel," Su Jin said with a sigh.
"It is cruel for us as well. Your colleagues keep dying in battle. I’ve heard even those at the very top fight almost without rest. For the future of all worlds, they must consider the whole. Some sacrifices cannot be avoided."
"Let’s leave that aside. I’ve wanted to ask you this: how do I get stronger? Do I just keep training my body?"
"Look at the Xinhuo Mark on your hand," the Steward said.
Su Jin looked down at it.
"Under certain conditions, it will improve your foundations. You can train the old-fashioned way, pushing your mind and body to their limits, though progress is slow. Or you can challenge enemies stronger than you and break through your limits in battle, at great risk of death."
"If one day the mark can no longer help you, you’ll be strong enough to rank among the elite at Company headquarters. The road is hard, but it is a clear one."
"There is one important side effect. Treasures that would permanently increase your strength will no longer do so. Instead, their power will be converted into healing of equivalent value."
"What if I use a gun or poison...?"
"Shortcuts won’t work. The mark can tell whether you truly pushed past your limits in a hard fight."
"What if I want to learn magic or other skills?"
"You’ll have to practice fighting techniques yourself, but your strong foundations will help you learn quickly. The stronger those foundations, the more powerful any abilities you gain will be. You must experience your own strength to understand it."
"Can I return to the office during a mission?" Su Jin asked.
"Of course not! The office remains on Earth. The nexus only sends you back when the mission is done. But you’ll be glad of this: I can call your family and friends while pretending to be you, keep them reassured, and even deal with small problems from here."
"That really is good news." Su Jin smiled in relief.
"When I travel here, there’s always a flash of golden light. What if someone sees it? And won’t it be strange if I appear out of nowhere in another world?"
"No. The nexus will make your appearance seem reasonable to those around you, as long as you don’t behave strangely."
The Steward looked at his watch and spoke faster. "Two minutes left. Don’t rely too much on what happened last time."
"Clients have unusual fates that make it easier for the Company to connect. They aren’t necessarily talented or helpful. Some cooperate, some are fools, and some may work against you. If you’re lucky enough to meet a very powerful client, they might sense the danger and connect with the Company without your help."
"Your last client was a decent one. And there’s something you did exactly right."
"What?"
"Your task is to save the client and help them connect to the Company. But you’re never saving only one person. You’re saving a group. One person cannot save a world. Changing the client’s fate requires talent, a safe and stable place, and the hopes of those around them."
"Put simply, you need the right time, the right place, and the right people. Supply whatever is missing, and you complete the mission."
The gate of light began to open. The Steward pulled a ball of light from his body and tossed it to Su Jin.
Su Jin looked down at his chest. "It’s powerful," the Steward said quickly. "Explore it yourself. The nexus will take it back after this mission. Every world is different, so don’t rely on last time. If you run into trouble, remember the wisdom of your ancestors!"
Su Jin stood and walked toward the gate. "What wisdom?"
"If you can’t win, apologize and kneel! It doesn’t matter if you embarrass yourself out there. Back home you’ll still have your dignity!" the Steward shouted.
Su Jin gave him a thumbs-up and vanished into the light.
....
A thick, complicated smell of sweat and body odor met his nose.
Su Jin opened his eyes and shook off a moment’s dizziness. He was standing in a street.
People in plain cloth clothes filled the area, many of them filthy.
Firecrackers cracked loudly.
A crowd packed the street for some kind of celebration.
Su Jin looked down. His clothes had become coarse cloth.
The change was only an illusion. He could still feel his tactical clothes underneath.
He looked around. The broad, straight street was lined with red-painted wooden buildings with upturned eaves and carved windows.
Red roof tiles caught the sunlight. Lanterns swayed at the mouths of the lanes.
Ancient times? An ancient world?
Su Jin pressed his lips together, uneasy.
He had been ready for another mission, but being dropped into an ancient world was still a shock.
The cultural differences would bring trouble. Fortunately, he had plenty of time this time.
First he had to locate the client, learn what disaster was coming, then make a plan.
Su Jin pushed through the crowd, looking around.
....
"My son, you leave for war today. Every day away from home is a day on the battlefield!" Shen Yuan said, clapping his son on the shoulder.
Outside the Zhenguo Estate, Shen Yufeng stood ready in armor, looking every bit a young commander.
Armored soldiers held the crowd back. In the open space between them crouched a huge beast with wings on its back.
It snorted and occasionally looked up at Shen Yufeng.
"You carry His Majesty’s mission and the honor of the Shen family. All these people came to see you off. Don’t disappoint me!"
"Don’t worry, Father. I won’t fail." Shen Yufeng glanced at the crowd, then walked toward the Wind Demon Kirin.
He climbed onto its back, and it soared into the sky, soon vanishing from sight.
The crowd screamed. Another round of firecrackers began to thunder.
"Aaaah!"
"Farewell, Young Heir!" "The young lord is a true hero!"
Su Jin pulled at his hair, his face twisting.
He stared hopelessly at the shrinking red dot until it disappeared, then screamed along with the crowd.
"Aaaah!"
There are monsters!
The client flew away! I lost the client!