1888: Memoirs of an Unconfirmed Creature Hunter-Chapter 54: List of Newly Appointed Hunters

After entrusting the handful of scales that carried the Guardian Deity’s benevolence and the weapon modification plans to Arthur, who had already plunged into a new bout of creative frenzy, Lin Jie finally ended the nonstop busyness that had followed his return to London.
After reuniting with William, they returned to the administrative district in The Underground City to complete the final settlement for this Scotland trip.
Waiting for them was still that stern-faced Level Two Intelligence Analyst, Phillips.
"Mr. Lin, Sergeant William, headquarters has delivered its final evaluation of your operation," Phillips pushed a document stamped with Geneva Headquarters' highest security wax seal toward them, "I must admit, in my three years as an analyst, this is the most high-caliber assessment I have ever seen given to a 'Town-class' assignment."
Phillips cleared his throat and began reading aloud the final settlement results.
"Commission number S-1888-C004, UMA investigation in the Loch Ness area of Scotland. Final task completion rating: 'Perfect.'"
"Executors Lin Jie and William Keane successfully confirmed the UMA's non-hostile nature, revealed its true form as an 'elemental life form,' and acquired its goodwill through peaceful contact."
"Your actions added an extremely valuable new entry to the Association's Record of Anomalous Creatures regarding 'friendly-type UMAs,' preventing potential major losses the Association might have suffered from intelligence errors in the future."
"Based on this, the base reward for the mission," Phillips paused, "has been raised from the originally scheduled 30 gold sovereigns to 50 gold sovereigns, and the base Association points increased from 30 points to 50 points, in recognition of your outstanding completion of the investigation and research core objective."
Although increased, these numbers still remained within a reasonably proportional range for a Town-class assignment.
Lin Jie nodded; he understood this was only an appetizer.
"Secondly," Phillips' tone turned serious, "regarding your encounter with and successful foiling of the Eternal Serpent cult's capture operation, after an emergency meeting the Evaluation Committee unanimously determined that your actions qualified as 'taking the initiative to engage and successfully dismantle a higher-level third-party hostile threat while executing the primary mission.' The danger and contribution of that action far exceeded the original commission level."
"Therefore headquarters has decided to grant an independent 'Special Contribution Reward' for this." Phillips looked at Lin Jie, an unmistakable hint of envy in his eyes, "Reward: 100 gold sovereigns, 150 Association points, and this incident will be entered into both of your permanent personal records as an important case to be used in future promotion and permission evaluations."
The numbers made Lin Jie's heart quicken involuntarily.
This was roughly equivalent to completing three high-difficulty Town-class missions.
Sergeant William's face also showed a rare expression of satisfaction.
This generous compensation was hard-won by the two of them with intelligence and courage, risking their lives in that ice-cold lake in Scotland.
"Finally," Phillips' voice grew even more solemn, "regarding Mr. Lin turning in the seized 'Astrological Oracle Tablet,' and... the fact that you handed over that 'Guardian Scale' which the UMA voluntarily gifted, and which the headquarters' Material Identification Department preliminarily evaluated remotely as being worth no less than a Kingdom-class item, while only collecting a symbolic small portion and allocating the majority to future equipment research and development..."
He gave Lin Jie a long, deep look.
"Headquarters believes that your conduct demonstrates the noblest qualities expected of an outstanding hunter: contributing to organizational development and exhibiting a strategic vision that prioritizes the greater good."
"Therefore headquarters has decided to award you a special personal honor—the 'Silver Cross' medal—and add another Special Contribution Reward of 150 Association points."
When the final figures were presented clearly before them, even though Lin Jie had been prepared, he still felt excited.
[Total gains: 150 gold sovereigns. Association points: base 50 points + special contribution 150 points + special honor 150 points = 350 points!]
For a newcomer this was an astonishing number.
A seemingly ordinary water-monster investigation had ended up yielding such a generous return.
After reciting all the rewards, Phillips pushed a brand-new booklet toward Lin Jie.
Embroidered on the cover in silver thread was the I.A.R.C. emblem and a prominent title.
—1888 Annual · Fourth Quarter · New Hunter Observation Register
"Congratulations, Mr. Lin." Phillips' voice took on a congratulatory warmth, "With the contributions you've accumulated from your first two missions, your name has reached the threshold to appear on this 'rookie list.' Although it's only at the tail end, it signifies that you have formally transformed from an apprentice who needed guidance into a genuine hunter recognized by your peers."
Lin Jie slowly opened the register.
This was a list specifically used to evaluate and observe the potential of new hunters. It did not require the enormous contributions or overwhelming power demanded by the legendary Record of Elite Investigators.
Although its entry threshold was not high, it was the first rung any aspiring power-wielder in the inner world had to step onto; the most promising new generation of hunters from around the globe competed here with their blood and wit.
Lin Jie's fingers traced across rows of unfamiliar names from all over the world; each name and note gave him a glimpse into a colorful organizational corner shaped by regional characteristics.
He saw the name ranked fifth from the Missouri branch in the United States—"Thunderbird Arrow" Winona Hawkeye. Her note said she was a young woman of Sioux descent, skilled in using a bow and arrows made from thunderbird feathers and able to call real lightning during storms.
Her achievement was single-handedly hunting down a Town-class UMA that could manipulate weather during the "Great Thunderstorm" paranormal incident in the American Midwest.
A chilling name then caught his attention. Ranked twenty-first from the St. Petersburg branch in Russia—"White Crow" Ivan Petrovich.
His note mentioned that he had been a retired captain of the Tsar’s secret police "Third Department," adept at tracking, camouflage, and silent assassination in polar environments.
His most astonishing feat was using a blizzard on the Siberian ice fields as cover, and alone eliminating a cult formed by seven shamans who worshipped "Baba Yaga" with a single dagger; his killing style was as cold and efficient as the Siberian winds.
Among these exotic names, Lin Jie finally saw a Chinese name that made him feel intensely familiar.
Ranked thirty-fifth: Zuo Yunxuan / Affiliated branch: Hong Kong (Accord) / Note: Exchange member from the Eastern mystical organization "Zhengyi."
This discovery stirred tremendous waves in Lin Jie's heart. The Taoist Zhengyi sect actually appeared in I.A.R.C.'s official register in the form of an "Accord"!
Only after flipping through several more pages did Lin Jie find his own name at the very bottom of that long list.
[Rank Ninety-eight: Lin Jie / Affiliated branch: London / Note: Holder of special alchemical ability 'Retrospective Sensing,' tactical planning ability rating: Extremely High.]