“Actually, to be precise, that guy wasn't a true Saint Rank. After all, he didn't even have the strength left to finish us off. Also, stop calling us 'Lord'; it sounds weird! Just call me Po Kong. And his name is Starlight. Unless something unexpected happens, he probably doesn't want you calling him that either.”
Po Kong frowned slightly after hearing the bearded man’s flattery, offering a correction to his conclusion and expressing dissatisfaction with the way they were addressed.
Having received their tacit permission, the bearded man visibly relaxed and began to discuss the details of the commission with them.
“My name is Laxi. I’m from the advance support team sent by the association after receiving your message, Mr. Po Kong. There’s another reinforcement team of about a hundred people behind us, though it seems they might not be of much use now.”
“This commission itself was rated as a Rank 4 commission by the association, largely due to the number of bandits and the harsh environment here. If it were just a standard bandit suppression, it would be a Rank 3 commission at most.”
“However, based on your descriptions and the results of the investigation on-site, a Saint Rank enemy actually appeared—and a mage using evil magic at that. The rank of this commission will definitely be significantly increased. Once we return to Violet, I’ll need you to come with me to report the situation so we can fairly calculate your merit points.”
“Once the reinforcements arrive, I’ll immediately have them conduct a more thorough investigation of the bandit stronghold’s location. I’ll make sure to give you a satisfactory answer.”
After Laxi’s explanation, Starlight gained a more direct understanding of the nature and difficulty of Adventurers Guild commissions. As this was his first time dealing with such things, he naturally raised no objections.
Soon, the three of them completed the preliminary investigation of the scene. After Laxi collected some samples of the trees that had been turned to ash, they returned to the edge of the marshland.
By the time they reached the docks, the reinforcement team Laxi had mentioned had just arrived in the vicinity. It was clear that the guild had indeed invested a significant amount of resources into this rescue operation.
While waiting for the wounded to receive treatment and rest, Laxi, as the team leader, shared what he had just seen and heard with the other adventurers in the group.
Whether or not he added some of his own subjective embellishments to the description, every other adventurer showed an expression of shock upon hearing it. Even the way they looked at Starlight and Po Kong became filled with immense respect.
Ultimately, after some discussion, Laxi decided to leave thirty members behind to conduct a thorough search of the bandit hideout to ensure no one had slipped through the cracks.
Meanwhile, he, Starlight, and Po Kong led the main group, escorting the wounded back the way they came.
Since most of the wounded had difficulty moving, it took this group of nearly two hundred people two days of arduous trekking to finally return to the inner city of the Violet City-State.
Tara’s caravan and the rest of the wounded were settled into a hospital near the embassy. The Camelbeasts that had been left behind were also brought over in advance. When the old man saw that the giant beasts who had traveled the world with him were safe and sound, he couldn't help but shed tears of emotion.
After a brief farewell to Tara and the others, the group headed to the Adventurers Guild to hand in the mission.
When they stepped into the guild hall, it caused quite a stir.
As soon as the group had left the marshland, Laxi had immediately sent someone ahead on horseback to rush back to the guild and submit a report of what he had witnessed.
The news that a bandit suppression mission—which seemingly wasn't very difficult—suddenly involved an evil mage suspected to be Saint Rank spread through the entire guild like it had wings.
One had to understand that due to years of unrest, there were only a few dozen known Saint Rank figures on the entire continent. Even a colossus like the Adventurers Guild, with its countless members, only possessed two.
Furthermore, most of these powerhouses were aloof and mysterious, rarely interacting with ordinary people.
And now, two youths had suddenly appeared who were capable of clashing with a Saint Rank powerhouse. This undoubtedly brought great encouragement and hope to the lower-tier adventurers.
Consequently, they received an exceptionally warm welcome upon their return. Many people even set aside their current business just to catch a glimpse of the two legendary young heroes.
Facing the bustling crowd, the experienced Po Kong appeared calm and collected, while Starlight seemed somewhat at a loss. Being stared at by everyone made him feel completely uncomfortable, and he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
In the end, the guild had to dispatch over a dozen guards to maintain order and separate the high-spirited crowd, which finally allowed them to reach the front desk to hand in the mission.
The person receiving them was still Nicola, whom they had met a few days prior. Seeing her, both Starlight and Po Kong breathed a sigh of relief. Nicola also seemed quite relieved to see them return safely and immediately began preparing the relevant mission documents.
“Since it involves a Saint Rank powerhouse, the guild has re-evaluated this mission and increased it from Rank 4 to Rank 7. Mr. Po Kong, Mr. Starlight, do you have any questions or anything to add?”
Nicola explained the change in mission difficulty directly and then looked at the two of them.
“No, just keep going,” they both shook their heads, signaling for her to continue.
“Alright. Since this is a temporary increase after the fact, the material rewards from the guild and the City Lord's Mansion will not change. Additionally, because Mr. Po Kong requested guild support, a portion of the fee must be paid to the support team, so the actual gold coins you’ll receive won't be much...” Nicola explained.
Po Kong waved his hand dismissively. “Money is a small matter. What’s important is how the merit points for this commission are calculated.”
“Well, about that... I checked the records, and Mr. Po Kong, you only reached Rank 6 a short while ago. This single mission isn't enough to promote you to Rank 7... and Mr. Starlight hasn't completed his registration yet... so...” At this point, Nicola became somewhat hesitant.
“Are you saying this merit can't be credited to Starlight? But he didn't contribute any less than I did! When it came to saving people and fighting the enemy, Starlight was a primary force!”
Hearing Nicola’s answer, Po Kong couldn't help but frown. He tapped the reception desk firmly with his knuckles, his tone revealing clear dissatisfaction. “Regulations are static, but people are flexible. Can’t you make an exception?”
As he spoke, he didn't forget to give Starlight a look, signaling him not to interrupt.
Starlight had intended to say that he didn't actually care about merit points, but seeing Po Kong’s look, he had no choice but to swallow his words.
Nicola looked quite troubled. “This... it really is a bit difficult to handle. After all, the regulations are right there. How about this: Mr. Po Kong, please wait a moment while I consult with my superior?”
“You people are just too rigid. Adding one more person won't actually affect anything. Don't tell me you think he isn't qualified to be an adventurer?”
“No, no, no, Mr. Po Kong, you misunderstand.” Nicola waved her hands frantically. “Please wait a moment, our supervisor will be here shortly!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a well-dressed man with a smile on his face walked quickly from behind the counter. Upon seeing Po Kong, he immediately greeted him warmly.
“Mr. Po Kong, I presume? I’ve already heard about your request. While doing this is indeed not quite according to the rules, it’s not entirely impossible. May I ask, Mr. Starlight, are you two willing to be considered a team? If so, we can process the relevant procedures for him immediately!”
“A team? I suppose so. After all, we saved those people together,” Starlight said, nodding honestly after hearing the proposal.
Having received Starlight’s confirmation, the man gave Po Kong a firm look, indicating it was no problem. He asked the two of them to wait a moment, stating he would handle the matter personally, and then turned to enter the office in the back.
Only two minutes later, he walked out holding a document stamped with a red official seal, which clearly listed Starlight’s registration details.
Just like that, through a series of efficient maneuvers, Starlight’s status was instantly transformed as he successfully completed his adventurer registration.
Furthermore, due to this exceptional commission, he jumped from the lowest Rank 1 directly to Rank 4 and received his own blue adventurer badge.
Rate on N.U.
