Lin Gui walked through the noisy recruitment area.
He arrived at the deepest part of the hall.
There, he found a long row of counters.
The grayish-white stone surfaces were polished as smooth as mirrors.
Behind the counters sat over a dozen staff members dressed in uniform.
Both men and women had the badge of the Transport Guild pinned to their chests.
It depicted an open book with a star floating above it.
Lin Gui walked up to an empty counter.
The staff member behind the counter was a young girl.
Her deep brown hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore a professional smile.
When she saw Lin Gui, her gaze swept over his floating staff.
Her smile deepened slightly.
"Hello, Lord Wizard."
"How can I help you?"
Lin Gui replied.
"I want to register for the transport team selection."
The girl nodded.
She pulled out a form from beneath the counter.
She handed it over.
"Please fill out this form."
Lin Gui took it.
He scanned it over.
The form wasn't large, but it held quite a bit of content.
Name, age, class, rank, and affiliated city-state.
These were all mandatory fields.
There were also several optional fields.
Past experience, areas of expertise, and highest combat achievements.
And.
The name of the Legendary leader.
Lin Gui's gaze lingered for a moment on the "Legendary leader" column.
Then he looked away.
He picked up the pen on the counter.
He began to fill it in.
The nib scratched across the paper, making a rustling sound.
When he reached the "Legendary leader" column.
He left it blank.
He continued down.
The final item required confirmation.
【Whether to participate in the preparatory transport team selection】
Following that were two options.
【Yes】 and 【No】.
Lin Gui's pen tip hovered in the air.
The girl noticed his hesitation.
She took the initiative to explain.
"The true transport team selection is in one month."
"As for the preparatory transport team selection..."
She paused, as if weighing her words.
"It is specifically prepared for those teams that have registered but do not have a Legendary leader."
"In the coming month, they will participate in various competitions."
"Team contests, individual duels, and simulated transport missions across the wilderness."
"Teams that perform excellently will be chosen by the Legendary experts participating in this selection."
"Ultimately, they will form teams that possess the true qualifications."
"To take part in the final transport team selection."
Her voice was calm, as if she were reciting a set of regulations she had long since memorized.
"This selection is only for bottom-tier adventurers who lack Legendary connections and resources."
She glanced at Lin Gui's blank "Legendary leader" column.
"Of course, participation is not mandatory."
"If you already have a Legendary leader, you only need to wait a month for the true selection to begin."
Lin Gui did not speak.
Having Legendary connections and having that person be willing to join a transport team...
For the Gold Rank adventurers who made up the vast majority outside.
This was practically an impossible task.
And that included him.
His pen tip hung between "Yes" and "No."
He paused for a few seconds.
Then.
He drew a checkmark over "No."
The girl took the form and scanned it.
Seeing the blank "Legendary leader" and the checked "No."
Her eyebrows twitched slightly.
However, she didn't say much.
She simply lowered her head and recorded it in the logbook.
"The registration is complete."
"Please arrive at the Coppergate City Transport Guild on time in one month."
"At that time, a staff member will guide you to the selection grounds."
Lin Gui nodded.
He turned and, manipulating his staff, floated away from the counter.
He wouldn't waste time participating in some preparatory transport team selection.
If that cargo from the Dalton family still hadn't been signed for by then...
He would have to return to Withered Wood Town.
That commission's reward would play a very important role in his future crossing of the Red Clay Desert.
He wouldn't give it up easily.
Since he had decided not to participate in the preparatory selection.
Then there was only one way left for him.
Recruit a Legend to list their name for him.
And that was...
By offering conditions they couldn't refuse.
For instance, money that far exceeded the stipend given by a high noble.
But before that.
One problem stood before him.
He didn't know where to find a Legend who wasn't already listed with a transport team.
His staff floated slowly forward.
Passing through the recruitment area where people were still shouting at the top of their lungs.
Passing through the constantly refreshing bulletin boards.
Just as he was about to float out of the hall.
A familiar male voice rang out from behind him.
"Little mage?"
The voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
And a hint of obvious pleasant surprise.
Lin Gui was startled.
He stopped his staff.
He turned around.
When he saw the other person's face.
His eyes widened slightly.
His gaze was full of surprise.
Outside the Transport Guild.
In the nearest cafe.
Eli sat opposite Lin Gui.
He wore deep blue scholar's robes with silver star patterns embroidered on the collar.
The thick ledger in his hand was placed by the edge of the table, its cover somewhat worn.
Behind his monocle was a pair of eyes filled with a smile.
Lin Gui looked at the person before him.
It felt like a dream.
Wasn't this... the North Wind caravan that had set out for the central city-states long before he did?
The sense of dreaming wasn't exclusive to Lin Gui.
Opposite him, Eli's mind was also filled with disbelief.
Setting aside those problems that left him dumbfounded.
The most reasonable explanation now should be...
This guest, who had asked them to deliver items to Dawn City while he went to the Wall of Sighs to handle some business...
Appeared to have caught up with them, even though they had been rushing the entire way.
While the speed of a single person was theoretically greater than a transport team moving with a heavy load.
And this little mage's absurd Levitation could speed things up to a certain extent.
But... this was simply too fast.
Eli rubbed the bridge of his nose.
He asked.
"If I may ask, how long did you spend at the Wall of Sighs?"
Lin Gui paused for a moment.
He was just about to answer.
"About tw—"
Eli quickly spoke to interrupt him.
"Ahem."
"Let's skip this topic."
He lowered his hand from his nose and looked at Lin Gui.
"You... are here for the selection meeting?"
Lin Gui nodded.
He didn't intend to hide too much from Eli.
Aside from the post office.
He simply said that his industry might infringe upon the interests of some nobles.
Therefore, he needed a transport team to give him backing.
It was just that right now, he had something very important to leave and do.
So he couldn't participate in the preparatory transport team selection competitions.
He needed to find a Legend on his own.
However, he didn't have the relevant connections.
Having finished speaking, Lin Gui looked at Eli.
Eli smiled.
"You want Captain Freya to introduce you to someone?"
Lin Gui nodded.
After learning that the North Wind was also here.
That was indeed one of his thoughts.
As the Captain of the North Wind, Freya definitely couldn't list her name for him.
But as a Mid-tier Legendary mage.
She definitely knew many Legendary mages.
And Legendary mages were the most likely to change their minds for money and list their names for him.
After all, those who lacked money the most were always mages.
Especially Legendary mages.
Rate on N.U.
