Walking through the portal, I arrive in an area reminiscent of the old western ranches I had seen back on earth. With a few major exceptions, such as office like buildings and structures that look like they went underground.

In fact, there are even some people running around in heavy leather gear with creatures, clearly trying to give them a workout.

My scan is telling me that not all places are like this, as there are different needs for different creatures. This one should do for what I need though.

As I had come out of the teleporter, one worker started running towards my location. A good sign that the people here are attentive and care about their job.

I see that as they ran over, they’re intensely studying me, as if trying to determine who I am and what my position in the world is.

Though, I guess that would only be expected in a world where nobles can make your life hell if you don’t treat them with the proper respect.

Almost as if confirming that, the female worker deeply bows as if I was a noble, and asks how they may help me today.

They typically only bow to a noble or powerful cultivator, but in situations where you’re unsure if they are, it can be a good way to protect yourself.

However, sometimes another noble might be offended if you bow to someone else, but not them first. So, that tactic is primarily used if you’re dealing with one person.

I quickly introduce myself by my name and that I’m a sect member. I also let them know that I’m planning on getting several contracts for recently tamed creatures and some temporary housing for them.

Their eyes widened slightly, and they bow again to me.

It is at that point that the creatures come through. After the third creature, their eyes widen further and further, displaying disbelief. By the time it gets past 10, they seem in shock.

The woman in front of me is at least a low Qi Condensation cultivator like me. So, they would know best how crazy it is to have so many creatures that are of a higher level than myself.

Taming cultivators will only go for creatures that are below them cultivation wise. The reason is that spirit beasts are typically much stronger than their cultivation level.

An exceptional tamer with special abilities might get one that has the same cultivation level as themselves. Alternatively, they might have a previous connection or artifacts that help make this possible.

The only other time that a cultivator or non-cultivator will have creatures following them that are of a higher cultivation level is if they get help from someone else at an even higher level.

The healing abilities I had shown earlier, and that they heard good things from The Alchemist Guild member, must have reinforced for them I was using special support from someone to get all these things.

Something worries me, though. I saw a hint of recognition in their eyes when they first approached.

Maybe I should ask about it As I get things sorted out.

Before I can start working towards this, the other workers are taking notice of the large number of animals coming through, and one worker runs towards one of the office buildings in a dead sprint.

Clearly, they’re looking to inform someone of what’s going on. It gives me a bad feeling, though I know it would be a normal action, especially if a noble had come through.

Keeping my eye trained on them, I mentioned to the woman in front of me that I would like to keep this somewhat of a secret. At least for a period of time.

She quickly catches onto what I’m saying and immediately starts sprinting towards him, yelling. She even hops on one of the horse-like creatures nearby, spurring it forward at faster and faster speeds to catch up.

It’s actually quite impressive.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that she reaches Him in time, as he disappears into the building and her soon after. After a small period, she comes out looking defeated. The young man quickly runs out as well with her.

Running towards me, they scream out apologies and are splayed out on the ground.

With most nobles, this would be the point where they lay down an unreasonable punishment. It wouldn’t be torture and death, since they work for and are likely part of the myriad monsters' group.

A normal noble would likely hesitate to dole out death as easily as they would for someone not affiliated with the group. That gives them a decent amount of protection from assholes.

Obviously, I will not do some shit like that.

I bring them to their feet, just ask him a few questions like who they contacted and what might happen next. The department head will come back and will look to welcome me, among other things. Likely attempting to recruit me into the group.

All good things.

At least until I get the thought to finally ask what I was wondering about to the young woman.

About why she looked like she recognized me.

Apparently, my actions at the sect reached a lot more people than I thought it would. The entire city knows of what happened on the way up. About buffing all the normal people that came along. Promising to take care of the ones who join my group.

Standing up against nobles as a potential noble myself, on the behalf of a relatively normal person (Mei Lin) and winning.

All very dangerous things to be spreading around.

The only saving grace is that it’s from the perspective of a noble fighting on the behalf of the people. Rather than a normal person standing up against a noble. If it was the latter, rather than a story that the nobles could gossip about, it would be a rallying call for other normal people to gather up and possibly challenge the system.

Which would obviously fail, because they don’t have the same resources and abilities that the nobles have. Cultivation really stacks the deck against the masses. One person can literally wipe out a continent if you get strong enough.

As they’re explaining this, I can see another worker running towards the young woman and whisper into her ear. With my scan, I’m able to discern what they said.

“Keep him here by any means. The branch manager and section chief want him brought into the group.”

Well, that’s sort of a good thing.

I don’t really see a need to rush out of here, especially if it can help me establish a good relationship with the group.

Turning to me, the worker woman asks if I would like to start with the contract part inside their office. She does it in such a casual way that if I hadn’t heard what they said that I think this would be a normal way to do this.

Though in some ways, it is.

It’s just how VIPs are treated, instead of normal cultivators. While minor nobles would be treated with large amounts of respect and would be invited inside the office for a more personal experience, there’s a complete difference if a section chief asks a person to join. It basically guarantees that they need the best possible experience.

As she brings me close to the office building, I have the creatures line up outside the building. While they have dedicated areas for the creatures, I insisted they are highly intelligent spirit beasts and would take offense to such a thing.

They quickly understood me and treated them as such.

They instead moved both the creatures and I toward another building, still an office building, but much larger to accommodate spirit beasts. Especially in this world of cultivation, even though a creature may be a spirit beast, that doesn’t mean they may not have human levels of intelligence or even higher. Tamers know that better than anyone.

So, treating them like a person is key when warranted.

They actually don’t take us inside, but beside this building, towards an open-air section with a few chairs and tables.

Within the building next to us are many people shuffling around and sorting through documentation. Likely, regarding the different tamed creatures that the branch handles.

I can’t help but take notice the interesting architectural style the buildings have, which is a mixture of the ancient city forms found in the outer city, but also very reminiscent of the office buildings that I saw on earth.

Despite the leather attire that she’s wearing, similar to that of an adventurer or a cowgirl, she seems completely at home in this more formal environment. True to form, she excuses herself for a moment, heading into the building and instantly switches into the more formal attire I’ve seen from the wealthier members of society. While bringing back and serving me tea.

It’s time to set up some contracts.