Rayne spoke with complete sincerity:
“In this operation to slay the Elite-tier monster, his intelligence and tactics played a decisive role. As captain, I recommend him to join the Adventurers' Guild and apply for an Apprentice Adventurer Badge.”
Dowal straightened his back, resting both hands on the edge of the counter. His old eyes, nestled beneath bushy, grey eyebrows, swept over the six of them one by one.
“The appraisal report is fine, and your achievement is genuine. However, there is something you all must understand first—the guild never issued a commission to hunt down a Goblin Hero.
“This Elite-tier magical beast was something you stumbled upon yourselves; it wasn't on any commission list. In other words, we don't know the specifics of this creature, whether it truly was a vicious monster or...”
Balen opened his mouth, his thick beard twitching twice. He was just about to shout when Dowal raised a hand to silence him.
“Let me finish.”
The dwarven branch president's voice wasn't loud, but every word carried weight. “As a party that hasn't even fully reached Silver Rank, you took the initiative to slay an Elite-tier magical beast without any guild intelligence, and you made it back alive with its magic core.
“In any of Rhode City's halls, this would be enough to warrant an exceptional promotion—but promoting you directly to Gold Rank is something I cannot do.
“I didn't make the rules. The promotion of a Gold Rank party must go through the headquarters' review, and it must be backed by achievements from official commissions. With just a single magic core, those paper-pushers at headquarters won't buy it.”
He looked at the varying expressions on the faces of the young people before him and nodded inwardly.
“However...”
He changed his tone, tapping his fingers twice on the counter. “Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. I've been a branch president for fifteen years; I still have the authority to make an exception and promote you to Silver Rank.
“Tonight, I'll make the call—everyone in your party, including this newcomer, will be exceptionally promoted to Silver Rank. Elliot, Balen, Gerak, and Misha will rise from Bronze Rank to Silver Rank. Rayne, you're already Silver Rank, so I'll record this achievement under your name, giving you priority for Gold Rank in the next assessment. As for you—”
His gaze fell upon Lu Mao.
The youth stood at the very edge of the counter, his cloak torn in several places, an unremarkable dagger tucked into his waist. When Dowal announced they couldn't be promoted directly to Gold Rank, he hadn't even batted an eye.
Dowal had heard that when heroes first embarked on their adventures, they were indifferent to fame and fortune, single-mindedly devoted to the people, and completely free of desires—information he had gathered from a secondhand copy of 《The Biography of the Staff Hero》.
He gave the boy another point in his mind.
Little did he know, Lu Mao simply had absolutely no idea what Gold Rank or Silver Rank even meant.
“Lu Mao, you're promoted straight from Apprentice to Silver Rank. Saves you the trouble of running three separate commissions.”
He pulled a stack of blank guild profile cards from beneath the counter and began to fill them out, holding a quill with his thick fingers. The nib made a scratching sound as it glided across the parchment. He continued talking as he wrote.
“Aside from your Silver Rank badges, each of you can claim a set of exclusive Silver Rank adventurer equipment from the guild's armory.
“They're all genuine dwarven-forged goods, ten times better than the junk you've scrounged from street stalls.”
Balen's jaw dropped.
His face, which had been flushed red with frustration moments ago, now completely lit up. He was about to speak, but Dowal glared him back into silence.
“Don't celebrate just yet. There's a condition.”
Dowal put down the quill, neatly stacked the completed profile cards on the counter, and leaned forward slightly, resting both hands on the counter's edge.
This posture made his already short stature look even shorter, but none of the six people present looked down on him—especially Balen.
To Balen, Dowal might actually be considered relatively tall.
“These things aren't free. My condition is this: from today onward, your party will be officially registered under Rhode City's Adventurers' Guild, Sixth Hall, and you will accept commissions under the name of the 'Steel and Fire Adventure Band.'
“For at least the next three years, all your commissions must go through the Sixth Hall. You are not allowed to accept private commissions from other halls or other factions without authorization. For the next three years, you belong to the Sixth Hall.”
Rayne fell silent for a moment, turning his head to look at his teammates.
This condition was neither too light nor too heavy.
Being affiliated with the guild meant a stable source of quests, logistical supplies, equipment maintenance, and official protection.
Around Rhode City, those wearing Silver Rank adventurer badges didn't have to queue to enter or exit the city gates, enjoyed discounts on supplies, and had the guild to back them up if any disputes arose within the city.
For a party that had just fought an Elite-tier magical beast, had lost most of their equipment, and was in dire need of rest and recuperation, this was an excellent option.
However, being unable to accept commissions from other factions for three years also meant losing the flexibility of taking private jobs.
For example, the Panacea offered for this commission to destroy the altar in the dungeon.
Something so rare that even the black market seldom saw it would never be offered by the guild as a quest reward.
But as for the true identity of their client, Lu Mao had not yet figured out how to explain it to Misha and the others.
He couldn't possibly convince them to give up on finding the client. They had risked their lives to go down to the ninth floor of the dungeon; even if finding the client might lead to their deaths, they would definitely still go.
Lu Mao saw this almost stubborn persistence in them.
“I accept,”
Misha was the first to speak, her voice soft but steady. “We've just fought several tough battles, and our equipment and potions are almost completely depleted. Besides, as long as we get the reward for this quest, it doesn't matter to me where we take commissions for the next three years.”
Hearing Misha's slightly excited tone, Lu Mao clicked his tongue, wondering if he should break the harsh truth to her.
Balen scratched his thick beard and grinned.
“Free Silver Rank adventurer equipment? What are we waiting for? This is a great deal. I agree.”
Gerak tilted his head to look at Rayne, then at Lu Mao, and shrugged.
“I'll follow the captain. If the captain agrees, I agree.”
Elliot nodded in agreement.
“Commissions through the guild channels are usually vetted, making their intelligence far more reliable than private commissions. This is a positive benefit for the party's overall safety.”
Lu Mao had no objections. He was just a greenhorn rookie who knew nothing and had no say in the matter.
Everyone's eyes fell upon Rayne.
The captain had not yet voiced his stance.
He looked at Dowal and asked,
“Silver Rank equipment for six people is highly expensive. Why invest it in us?”
Dowal seemed to have anticipated this question.
He pushed the profile cards on the counter aside, revealing a stack of documents pressed underneath.
They were the assessment evaluation forms for the Sixth Hall over the past three years. The edges of the paper were frayed, and the numbers circled in red ink were exceptionally glaring.
“Rhode City's Adventurers' Guild has six halls in total. The Sixth Hall ranks dead last, and we haven't produced a single Gold Rank party for ten consecutive years.”
Dowal sighed.
“The main guild assesses us every year, and I rank last every single time. If we can't produce a decent team this year, the Sixth Hall's budget will be cut by thirty percent. We won't even be able to afford firewood for this branch's kitchen.
“So, the reason I'm giving you these treasures is because I feel you are worth the price.”
He withdrew his hand and neatly restacked the profile cards, his tone returning to his previous businesslike manner.
“Those are the terms. Whether you accept or not is up to you.”
“We accept.”
Rayne did not hesitate any longer. He reached out and shook Dowal's calloused hand. “Three years. The Sixth Hall.”
A curve finally tugged at the corner of Dowal's mouth, revealing a few teeth stained yellow by smoke.
He slapped the counter with his palm, startling the receptionist beside him once again, and then roared toward the upper floor:
“Bring down the armory inventory list! Let these six pick their gear!”
The receptionist jogged upstairs, his footsteps clattering loudly all the way up the wooden staircase.
None of the other adventurers in the lobby were pretending to be busy anymore. The one-eyed swordsman flipped up his eyepatch, staring wide-eyed, while several Bronze Rank adventurers huddled together, whispering and casting frequent glances toward the counter.
They were extremely envious of the treatment the six were receiving.
Dowal lined up the six profile cards on the counter, pulled six brand-new Silver Rank badges from a drawer, and placed them one by one on top of their corresponding cards.
The surface of the badges was engraved with a pattern of two crossed longswords, their blades plated with a thin layer of silver that gleamed with a soft, cold light under the oil lamps.
“Come and get them. From this day forth, you are Silver Rank adventurers of Rhode City's Adventurers' Guild, Sixth Hall.”
Balen was the first to rush forward. He unpinned his bronze badge from his chest, stuffed it into his pocket, grabbed a Silver Rank badge, and pinned it in its place. He looked down at it, then held it up to the oil lamp, turning it over and over to inspect it. The grin hidden beneath his thick beard was impossible to suppress.
The others didn't react nearly as dramatically; aside from a bit of joy, they remained relatively calm.
Lu Mao was the last to walk over.
He accepted the Silver Rank badge from Dowal. It felt slightly cool to the touch, its edges still sharp, fresh from the mold.
【Quest 'Join Rhode City's "Steel and Fire" Adventure Band and obtain an Apprentice Adventurer Badge' completed】
【Death Return charges +1. Current remaining: 5】
【Detected host has obtained a higher-tier adventurer badge—Silver Rank adventurer】
【Achievement Unlocked: The Protagonist Always Skips Grades】
【Achievement Condition: Skip grades to promote as an adventurer】
【Death Return charges +1. Current remaining: 6】
【Major historical node detected. Would you like to save?】
He silently chanted, “Save.”
【Save successful. Anchor point updated. Current temporal anchor—'Silver Rank Party Formed'】
The receptionist trotted down from upstairs clutching a thick stack of parchment inventory lists, spreading them out on the counter.
The sheets were densely packed with the armory's inventory—weapons, armor, accessories, and consumables; everything they could possibly need was there.
Balen snatched the list, his short, thick finger tracing down from the very first line as he mumbled to himself.
“Standard steel axe—no, I have a better one myself. Enchanted heavy armor—this is good, this is good! How many sets do you have in dwarf sizes? Three? Bring them all out, let me try them on—”
“Are you picking out a wedding dowry?”
Gerak poked his head out from behind him, reaching out to drag the list slightly toward himself. “Let me see the dagger section first.”
“Wait in line, wait in line! I got the list first—”
Misha did not crowd around the inventory list.
She stood where she was, leaning on her staff, watching Balen and Gerak bicker over the order of the list. A small smile played on her lips.
Elliot had walked up beside her at some point. Without saying a word, he simply handed her a cup of hot tea.
“Thank you.”
“Mhm.”
Rayne leaned against the counter, watching his teammates chatter excitedly around the armory list. A rare, gentle smile appeared on his face.
Lu Mao didn't go to pick out equipment.
He stood by the entrance of the guild lobby, looking out through the grated window of the door.
Night had completely fallen over Rhode City. Under the moonlight, the shadows of the occasional passersby on the street were stretched long and blurry.
He was still thinking about that mysterious figure.
What would happen if Misha and the others went to claim their reward? Would they die just like last time?
If he convinced them not to seek the reward, would that person come after the party members to silence them anyway?
No, that wasn't right.
If the other party truly had no misgivings, they wouldn't have gone out of their way to wait in ambush at the entrance of the dungeon.
At least within Rhode City, there was still something that kept the other party in check.
“Lu Mao? What are you dazing out for? Come pick some gear! There's an enchanted dagger on the list; it's way better than the one at your waist!”
Balen's booming voice boomed over from the counter.
Lu Mao turned around, his face already wearing that harmless, innocent expression as he walked toward the counter.
He took the list Gerak handed him and pretended to scan down a few lines, but his mind was on something else entirely.
Would twenty-nine days be enough for him to investigate the other party's identity?
And why exactly twenty-nine days?
Could some major event be happening in a month?
Forget it, pick the gear first.
Only those who survived tomorrow had the right to think about what would happen a month from now.
He looked down at the entry for the "enchanted dagger" on the list, then felt the Shadow Affinity Dagger Lumu had given him at his waist. He took his hand off the hilt and pointed at another item on the list.
“Let me see this shield...”
In the guild lobby's fireplace, the firewood crackled and popped.
Outside, the night had grown deep, but Rhode City's night market was only just entering its liveliest hours.
The melody of an accordion drifted out from a distant tavern, floating into the lobby in fits and starts.
Meanwhile, in the twilight outside Rhode City's north gate, a tall, thin figure wearing a black cloak stood beside the ruins of an abandoned watchtower, looking down at the last trace of golden runes fading away within the cracks of the stone bricks.
He stood there for a long time. Then, he turned and walked silently into the depths of the wilderness.
Rate on N.U.
