With a three-star hunter accompanying them, collecting blue mushrooms would undoubtedly be safer.
However, Li Fan felt it was overkill and, after a moment's thought, decided to return to Kula Village with Eudora to rest first.
"Eudora, after you submit your quest, will you change your base camp?"
Li Fan asked curiously on the way back.
According to the surrounding map seen in the village earlier, there were three other villages and towns near Kula Village.
For wandering hunters, they would typically complete a few hunting quests around one village or town before moving on to another.
The advantages of this were twofold: firstly, they could purchase the weapons and armor they desired.
Secondly, within a single village or town, there were only so many suitable hunting quests available within a given period.
"No, I came to Kula Village to take over a piece of forest land."
Eudora replied.
"I see."
Li Fan hadn't expected her to have business in the village.
By the time they returned to Kula Village, it was already afternoon.
Only two hunter teams remained at the entrance, waiting to depart.
Entering the village's only three-story building, the Hunter's Guild, they were met with a lively scene.
The layout of the guild hall resembled a modern bar, with rows of round wooden tables.
Hunters sat in twos and threes around the tables, some drinking, others chatting.
Amidst the crowded and noisy atmosphere, Felynes carrying trays of drinks and food weaved through the patrons, serving the hunters.
Behind the guild counter sat two receptionists.
The one in the green uniform was reading a thick book, while the one in the pink uniform was organizing stacks of hunting contracts.
Seeing the two and a Felyne enter, the green-uniformed receptionist closed her book and stood up, greeting them with a cheerful "Welcome to the Hunter's Guild!"
"Hello, I'm here to submit a quest."
Eudora said, presenting the contract.
After a brief inspection of the dragon-shaped stamp from the investigator, the green-uniformed receptionist asked them to wait and rummaged beneath the counter. Soon, she produced a small money pouch.
"Thank you for your contribution to the Hunter's Guild. Your reward is 4200z. Please take it."
The green-uniformed receptionist handed over the pouch.
"Thank you."
After Eudora took the money pouch, the green-uniformed receptionist took out a large square stamp and imprinted it on the contract she had just collected.
"Excuse me, if a hunter's license is lost, can it be reissued?"
Eudora asked this question on Li Fan's behalf.
"It can be reissued, but only by the branch where you took the assessment, or the headquarters that holds your hunter's file."
The green-uniformed receptionist explained.
"Is that so..."
Eudora's expression showed hesitation.
"If it's inconvenient due to the long distance, you can actually retake the hunter's license exam. Kula Village has a relatively small number of resident hunters, and the guild is currently offering free assessments."
Hearing that it was free, Li Fan perked up.
From the quest submission process he had just observed, he could tell that the Hunter's Guild had its own system of checks and balances.
Without a hunter's license, it would be extremely inconvenient to accept quests or hunt.
"Can I sign up here?"
Li Fan leaned closer to the counter and asked.
"Yes, the next group assessment is in half a month. Just provide your name and palm print to complete the registration. And I'll let you in on a secret, I'm participating in this assessment too."
The green-uniformed receptionist continued to explain enthusiastically.
"Okay, I want to sign up."
After completing the registration process, the green-uniformed receptionist handed Li Fan a small booklet.
"This contains the assessment content. My name is Shireen, and I look forward to your performance."
After bidding farewell to Shireen, Li Fan walked out of the guild hall with the booklet.
He hadn't expected it to be an open-book exam.
With absolute confidence, Li Fan opened the first page.
Assessment Item 1: In a set of eight containers, blindfolded, identify the container holding the dyed balls used to synthesize the coloring fruit by scent.
His confident smile immediately faded.
Assessment Item 2: Vigorously stir a healing potion in a bottle, add an appropriate amount of honey, and successfully mix a healing potion with a G-grade effect.
Assessment Item 3: Quickly assemble a trap mechanism and net within two minutes to form a pitfall trap.
...
"Seeing these assessment items must be giving you a headache. I also prepared for a long time before barely passing."
Eudora expressed her understanding.
"With a little effort... it shouldn't be too much of a problem."
Li Fan managed a somewhat strained smile.
"Let's each go back and rest. We'll meet at the Cat's Grill at the barbecue shop in an hour. My treat, to celebrate our successful capture of the Bulldrome."
The two then parted ways.
Li Fan had nowhere to stay, and all his belongings were on Tai Mei, so he had nothing to rest.
However, he could use this time to submit the collected blue mushrooms to Village Chief Bazel.
"Is anyone here?"
Seeing only a few Felynes basking in the sun at the entrance, Li Fan shouted.
"The Village Chief is hard of hearing, meow. You can go inside and find him."
A Felyne with yellow and white fur reminded him.
"Thank you."
Li Fan replied and walked in.
The interior of the room was simply furnished. At first glance, besides various display boards, the most striking item was a dark red Great Sword hanging on the inner wall.
"A Dragonbone Sword crafted from Rathalos materials..."
After staring for a long time, Li Fan murmured.
"Chosen one Li Fan, you have good taste."
As Li Fan turned, he was startled by Bazel, who was holding his lower back with one hand.
"Village Chief, don't you make any noise when you walk?"
Li Fan said, clutching his chest.
"You were just too engrossed. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Can I borrow some money?"
"What?"
Bazel turned his body and cupped his ear towards Li Fan.
"I knew it... I'm here to sell blue mushrooms."
"Oh, so you're selling mushrooms. Tell me the quantity, and you can place them on that shelf over there."
Bazel informed him.
"A total of 12 stalks, all fresh mushrooms picked yesterday."
Li Fan arranged the blue mushrooms on the shelf as requested.
"12 stalks... Hmm... that's 360z in total."
Bazel looked up and calculated, then opened the cash box and took out the coins one by one.
While waiting, Li Fan became bored and began to examine the display boards on the wall.
These were Bazel's plans for the future of Kula Village.
Fortress-level defensive walls, a forging workshop, a training ground, a large hunter's guild gathering hall...
If not for the words "under construction" beneath each display board, Li Fan wouldn't have believed these descriptions referred to Kula Village.
Of course, he also understood that these display boards were not for the villagers to see.
They were prepared for merchants who intended to invest in and expand Kula Village.
In other words, they were hand-drawn PowerPoints used to attract investment in the Monster Hunter world.
As he looked through them one by one, Li Fan paused in front of the display board for the arena.
An arena!
A bolt of lightning struck his mind.
It was not unusual for monsters like the Great Maccao to appear around villages and towns, as they could be tamed.
If the Bulldrome did not cause trouble and did not threaten the safety of the village, it could be grudgingly accepted.
However, if a three-star monster appeared near a village or town, regardless of whether it caused harm, the local Hunter's Guild would issue a hunting quest to eliminate it.
The only scenario that could logically occur in a village or town was an arena!
"Village Chief, how much would it cost to invest in building an arena?"
Li Fan asked excitedly.
"An arena... it would be about 800,000z."
Bazel's reply instantly extinguished the hope that had just ignited in Li Fan.