RAAS Chapter 97: Origin World (4)

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With that scream, the outside world immediately erupted into chaos.

Earlier, with so many newcomers and the constant flow of people in the mercenary guild, no one had paid special attention to a single individual. After all, those who had traveled through countless worlds were used to seeing all sorts of things. It wasn’t in their nature to stop and observe someone without reason.

If Qin Mo hadn’t clashed with the Orderly Ones, no one would have noticed him.

But not only did he refuse to follow their orders, he also effortlessly subdued He Xin. This level of strength was not something an ordinary person could possess.

Then, people quickly connected the dots. Just three days ago, the Independent Alliance (the base of the Poachers) had issued an S-rank bounty. There was no need to say more about who this person was.

Due to the diverse species in the Origin World, many beings appeared humanoid but had entirely different soul structures. While humans relied on facial recognition, other creatures might identify each other by completely different means—perhaps even by scent or other unique characteristics.

As a result, distinguishing Qin Mo from the rest had been slightly challenging for some non-human entities. But now, they all hastily activated their communicators, linked up to the central plaza, and downloaded the wanted notice, imprinting the details into their minds. They were afraid to miss such a crucial opportunity.

After all, the bounty on the S-rank wanted notice was unimaginably high—more than twice the usual reward for missions at the mercenary guild! This was a once-in-a-century opportunity!

Although Qin Mo and Shi Qing were strong enough to take down two high-level poachers, money made people reckless. Some couldn't help but hold on to a sliver of hope.

What if—just what if—Qin Mo and Shi Qing had only killed Li Mi and Suoya by sheer luck, and their actual combat prowess wasn’t as terrifying as rumored?

And what if—just what if—the Origin World’s many powerful hosts banded together against him? Even if he was the supreme leader of the Orderly Ones or the Poacher Alliance’s overlord, he might not be able to escape unscathed.

If that happened, there would be an opportunity to strike in the chaos.

Seizing a massive bounty would be a one-time windfall. No more grinding through endless missions—instant fortune!

There wasn’t just one person with such thoughts—there was a whole crowd. Of course, there were also those who were clear-headed, standing aside and watching coldly. If they could add fuel to the fire, they would; if they couldn’t, they would just enjoy the show.

Regardless, the scene was already descending into chaos.

Shi Qing had sharp ears. The moment he heard the shout from outside, his heart skipped a beat. Naturally, he had no idea about the wanted notice—it had been posted in the central square, a place they hadn’t visited. Even Xin Er, despite coming back this time, hadn’t gone there. He had been guarding the Gate of Newborns and completely missed it. Moreover, Xin Er’s level wasn’t high, and his knowledge was still quite shallow. He had no idea that poachers had their own dedicated communication network. As a result, he was completely unaware that Qin Mo’s act of killing Li Mi and Suoya had already been reported to the Poacher Alliance in real-time, and that an S-rank wanted order had been issued immediately.

Shi Qing’s heart sank not because he knew any of this, but simply because he understood that being in the spotlight often meant an early death. On top of that, they had just boldly taken down a lawful faction member, making an enemy of that organization. Now, they were turning against another major faction. Offending both sides at once—what a reckless and absurd situation!

In his previous life, Shi Qing had lived a completely ordinary existence. But ever since following his host in this life, "ordinary" was no longer in his vocabulary!

The commotion outside intensified. Inside the Mercenary Guild, people selecting bounty missions immediately took notice. Though they didn’t yet understand the situation, they were all on high alert.

The atmosphere grew tense in an instant. Then, as soon as a group outside formed a team and rushed in, it was like lighting a fuse—the place erupted into chaos.

Someone, eager to stir up trouble, shouted, “Catch those two newcomers! They’re S-rank wanted criminals!”

No explanation of their alleged crimes, just two words designed to ignite greed: “newcomers” and “S-rank wanted.” The message was clear: “Catch them! These two naïve kids are carrying a fortune in gold bars!”

It was enough to make people’s blood boil. Eyes turned red, targets were locked on, and attacks began!

The moment those words were shouted, Shi Qing finally understood—damn it, I’m wanted?! Are you kidding me?!

The next second, Qin Mo tightened his grip on Shi Qing’s hand, swiftly maneuvering through the gaps in the crowd and charging toward the exit.

Shi Qing had no time for cursing anymore. To avoid slowing Qin Mo down, he pushed his movement technique to the limit. Though they held hands tightly, their speed was synchronized perfectly. They moved together, neither lagging behind nor getting separated, maximizing their pace.

The Mercenary Guild was packed with countless system users and hosts, some of whom were elite warriors—true experts. But there were also plenty of clueless bystanders. The people outside, knowing that wanted criminals were inside, rushed in like a tidal wave, eager to snatch a share of the bounty. Meanwhile, those inside saw Qin Mo and Shi Qing slipping out through a side door and instinctively surged toward the exit.

The side door, however, couldn’t accommodate so many people. Those inside had no choice but to break through the main entrance—where a flood of people was still pouring in. The two groups collided, and in the frenzy, explanations were lost.

Someone bumped into someone else, who then bumped into another, and in their blood-rushed state, tempers flared. Soon, a full-blown brawl erupted.

A punch here, a strike there—these weren’t just ordinary people throwing fists. These were powerful combatants wielding deadly abilities. And their attacks weren’t just single-target blows; most were area-of-effect techniques. A stray attack inevitably hit someone nearby.

At first, those on the receiving end might have been indifferent, but getting struck out of nowhere? Who wouldn’t hold a grudge? They retaliated.

Blow after blow, attack after attack. The scene quickly spiraled into utter mayhem. The Mercenary Guild was now experiencing the most chaotic and frenzied day in its history.

As the battle raged, emotions ran hot. It no longer mattered who was who—anyone in sight became a target for venting frustration.

And the wanted criminals?

Forget about them! I’ll settle this grudge first!

So, while Shi Qing had thought they were in serious trouble, he hadn’t expected that, after escaping just a short distance, there was… practically no one chasing them.

What a delightful surprise! Ha!

Despite the lack of pursuit, Qin Mo didn’t slow down, and Shi Qing had no choice but to keep up.

They ran for an unknown distance until they arrived in front of a massive, desolate building. Only then did Qin Mo finally stop.

Shi Qing had no idea where they were, but he trusted Qin Mo. The map Xin Er had left behind was in Qin Mo’s possession, so he must have found a relatively safe location using it.

The sky was gradually darkening—not in the way that marked the approach of night, but rather as if thick clouds were gathering, a storm brewing on the horizon.

Qin Mo led him into the building. It was just as desolate inside as it was outside—crumbling and in decay.

Yet, faint traces remained of what this place once was. Long ago, it had been a grand church, magnificent and awe-inspiring. Even under layers of dust, its stained-glass windows still shimmered with breathtaking beauty.

The building stretched deep, at least dozens of meters, with only a single floor. Looking upward, it felt as though one were gazing into the heavens, stirring an inexplicable sense of reverence.

Such a grand and majestic church, now reduced to this state of ruin.

Amid the dust and debris, one could vaguely discern the remnants of past conflicts—perhaps even a long-ago war that had played out here.

Destroy everything, burn the faith.

Drag you, who are high above, down from the altar.

Make you mine.

Shi Qing was momentarily stunned, then quickly snapped back to reality and turned to look at Qin Mo.

Qin Mo frowned slightly, soothingly stroking Shi Qing's neck. Seeing that Shi Qing was about to speak, he pressed a finger against his lips and looked toward the diagonal rear.

Shi Qing followed his gaze and saw a figure slowly emerging from the shadows.

The man was dressed in a purple long robe, far more exquisite in both texture and design than the orderly ones they had seen before. The collar was adorned with dark inlays, and a dark, unnamed flower hung from his left shoulder. Though it was blooming slowly, it exuded an extreme allure and an imposing presence.

Above the flower was a warm and jade-like face—fair skin, deep eyes, and lips curved in a gentle, pleasant smile.

As Qin Mo and Shi Qing both looked at him, the man showed no displeasure. Instead, he politely said, "Hello, I am Xia Zhe."

"I mean no harm. I simply wish to invite you."

Qin Mo gazed at him, his eyes trailing from Xia Zhe’s forehead to the flower on his shoulder, before he slowly spoke: "Second leader of the Orderly Ones, Hua Shi Xia Zhe?"

Xia Zhe seemed slightly surprised to be recognized so quickly, but he soon smiled and said, "Yes."

Qin Mo shifted his gaze away, his expression unreadable. "Is this an invitation to join the Orderly Ones?"

Xia Zhe replied, "I hope you will agree."

"Unfortunately, I’m not interested," Qin Mo said calmly.

Xia Zhe did not show any signs of anger. Instead, he added, "Think about it. I know you care about him." He glanced at Shi Qing.

Shi Qing met his gaze, unsure of what expression to make, but the other man simply smiled at him in a friendly manner.

"You should be able to sense it—I am also a system. A group led by a system will never harm another system."

"You care about him. We will help you protect him. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Not necessary." Qin Mo looked at Shi Qing. "He is mine. I can protect him myself. I don’t need anyone else."

Even after this direct rejection, Xia Zhe remained unbothered. He continued speaking in a mild tone:

"That's alright. You killed Li Mi and Suoya, which means you've already made enemies of the Poachers. Whether or not you join the Orderly Ones, we have a responsibility to protect you. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe."

Hearing this, both Qin Mo and Shi Qing felt uneasy.

At first glance, it sounded good, but the underlying message was clearly a threat.

"You killed the Poachers, so you’re already against them. Whether you want to or not, you are part of the Orderly Ones now."

Xia Zhe did not linger. He glanced around, seemingly sighed, then turned and left.

After Xia Zhe left, Shi Qing turned to Qin Mo and voiced his opinion that this man seemed nice on the surface but was actually dangerous, successfully making Qin Mo chuckle.

The two of them wandered around the dilapidated church for a while. Qin Mo then asked, "Are you tired?"

Shi Qing actually was. After running around all day, his legs felt like they were about to break, so he nodded.

"Turn back into your beast form. I'll carry you."

Shi Qing thought that was a great idea. He immediately transformed into a little panda and curled up in his host's palm.

Qin Mo gently and methodically smoothed his fur. After just a few strokes, the little panda in his palm drowsily fell asleep.

Lowering his head, Qin Mo placed a light kiss on the furry forehead. When he raised his head again, his dark eyes were deep and icy. His voice was low and hoarse:

"Come out."

"Your vigilance is really something, newbie."

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