Chương 392: Chapter 381 - Silver-Rank Adventurer

Alonso finished washing himself in the Guild's bathing room. The place looked like something from the 1500's, all stone tiles and wooden partitions, yet tucked into the wall was an EM-controllable mechanism that allowed him to adjust both water flow and temperature with precise pulses. The contrast was striking. This world had no automation, no electrical grid, nothing resembling modern infrastructure.

Yet because every native could use EM waves to some degree, they had woven small conveniences into daily life with surprising finesse. He certainly would not complain. Quite the opposite. Who didn't like a bit of comfort once in a while? Once he finished putting on his gear, he headed up toward Gregor's office. The Guild Master had suggested continuing their discussion after Alonso had cleaned up, and Alonso had taken a few minutes to wash the blood and dirt away.

His body healed itself quickly, but armour and clothing did not mend quite as neatly. He raised a hand to knock, but a voice reached him first.

"Come in." He pushed the door open. The office was bright and airy, the wide windows and rear doors left open to allow a soft afternoon breeze to drift in. Sunlight stretched across the wooden floor, warming the room with a calm, steady glow. He had learned earlier that this world, like Earth, orbited a single star. The days were longer here, around 35 hours, which explained the sun still hanging comfortably high in the sky.

"Hope our installations were to your satisfaction," Gregor said from behind the desk, leaning forward with a sly grin.

"They were," Alonso replied, entirely honest. Gregor nodded and flicked a silver token toward him. Alonso caught it and examined the fine etchings along its surface. Adventurer Guild Silver-Rank Name: Alonso Shemson Branch: Riviera, Brithelm Merits: 0 Alongside the written information, the token also carried his EM signature. He smiled as he slipped it into his pocket and looked back at Gregor.

"I will take this as passing the test?" he asked. In truth, he only wanted to confirm he did not owe the Guild 75 Silvermarks. Gregor huffed a quiet laugh.

"Yes. Yes, you passed," he said.

"In fact, you passed in a way I did not quite expect. You are an intriguing lad. I will give you that." He waved a hand lightly.

"And before you worry, I am not the type to pry into other men's business. Whatever mess or mystery sits behind you is yours to carry." Alonso nodded once, grateful for the restraint. Gregor leaned back in his chair, studying him with a mixture of curiosity and something closer to fond exasperation"That said, you are wasting a very fine talent, Mr Shemson," the Guild Master said, his tone more advisory than scolding.

"Your internal conditioning is rather low for the level of skill you showed out there. You are punching above your grade, which is admirable… but hardly sensible. A few more stat orbs would do you a world of good. Shouldn't be difficult for someone like you." He pointed at Alonso's boots, raising an eyebrow.

"And your gear. Saints preserve us, lad, your gear. A Silver-rank Adventurer stomping about in Grade 1 boots—now that is an insult to my branch's good name!" Alonso couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his mouth. What could he say? He had arrived in this world less than a day ago. Given the circumstances, he felt his current gear was actually quite good. There was also the matter of "internal conditioning" and "stat orbs." Was that their term for Stage Progress? Or perhaps something adjacent?

He certainly felt he could use some proper guidance navigating all this. He was about to ask when Gregor carried on.

"Anyway, as I just said… you have potential, Mr Shemson. Very good potential. The sort that would make half a county grind their teeth in envy." Gregor folded his hands over the desk, tone calm but intent.

"But potential is like a fine blade. Leave it unsharpened, and it rusts. Sharpen it well, and you might carve your name into the history books." He gave Alonso a long, assessing look.

"That is why I'd like to offer you an opportunity." Gregor leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.

"You may have the strength for Silver-rank, but you wield it like someone who taught himself in the dark. You fight on instinct and talent alone, which is impressive… but dangerous. One bad matchup, one wrong step, and all that brilliance turns into a tombstone." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"And I would rather you not become a waste of good potential. If you're willing, I could take you under my wing for a time. I can teach you how to refine that Faith of yours, how to strengthen your foundations, and how to avoid getting yourself killed before you've even begun to shine." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Gregor leaned back with an easy, almost lazy breath, though the conviction behind his words was anything but.

"I will even say this: if you work hard, and give it your all… I'd wager I can make you a Mithril-rank Adventurer." Alonso felt the weight behind the statement. A piece of Gregor's Will was in those words, steady and unwavering. Mithril-rank. The tier after Gold. The second-highest possible. Impressive for a native, no doubt. But to Alonso, it didn't hold the same meaning. Whatever ranks this world used… he will surpass them all. He had no choice.

For him, the ceiling was not Mithril, or even Adamantite—it was survival itself. The Tower demanded nothing less. Still, he had grown genuinely fond of this old man. Gregor was honest, confident, grounded, and skilled. Someone with a solid foundation from whom he could certainly learn much and accelerate his progress. He even wondered whether this was part of some special script, or if Gregor was an equivalent to the kind of figure Makoh had been for Ayu. Either way… the choice was obvious.

Alonso smiled and dipped his head slightly.

"I would very much appreciate your guidance, Guild Master." Gregor's smile widened, warm and genuinely pleased. He had come to this quiet corner of Brithelm more for retirement than ambition. His glory days felt long behind him, and most of his joy now came from reading Christine's letters, each one detailing her own exploits with her Mithril-rank companions somewhere far across the world. Yet here, unexpectedly, he had found a rare rough gem. The old passion stirred again.

He might no longer teach at the Academy, but that did not mean his story was finished. He saw much in Alonso. The Faith, the combat awareness, the composure, the blade-work bordering on genius. The boy simply lacked structure, resources and a proper environment in which to grow. Those were things Gregor could provide.

"Fantastic. And just call me Gregor. No need for formalities," he said with an approving nod. Years of experience had honed his ability to read character, and he liked what he saw.

"Now, first things first. Your main goal should be reaching the Fourth State in your Knight's Path. Everything before that is groundwork. To reach it, you will need more orbs to push your internal conditioning to its current limit." He pointed loosely at Alonso's boots with a faint groan.

"And you need better gear. Urgently." The man rose from his chair, his steps steady as he paced around the room.

"The solution to both problems is mid-tier Dungeons. I can write you a referral for the Hanging Oak. It is only a day's journey from here. I can also arrange a party of other Silver-ranks that match your level and—""Gregor," Alonso cut in gently.

"I did not come here alone. I have teammates." Gregor paused and raised an eyebrow.

"I see. And are they at your level?" Alonso hesitated.

"…No. Not yet. But I believe they can reach Silver-rank soon." Gregor studied him for a moment. Oddly enough, he felt relief. If Alonso had arrived with several others of his calibre, he would have had to worry about the sort of background that could erase guild branches with a sneeze. He folded his arms with a quiet hum.

"I understand," he said.

"And it is good that you value your companions." His tone softened, carrying the weight of many years.

"Just keep in mind what the journey of an Adventurer truly is." He stepped to the window, watching the wind ripple across the central market.

"This world is unfair, lad. Not everyone climbs at the same pace, and not everyone reaches the same heights. The higher you go, the thinner the air becomes, and fewer walk beside you." He turned back toward Alonso, expression calm rather than discouraging.

"If you choose to wait for them, that is your right. I will not tell you otherwise. Just remember that to reach the peak, you must let yourself grow in the company of those who can push you forward. Those beneath you cannot carry you upward, and you cannot carry them forever." He paused.

"There is wisdom in loyalty… and wisdom in knowing when your path demands something different."

"I understand," Alonso said. However… he had no intention of separating from them. Not unless it was absolutely necessary for their survival as a whole. As for their growth rate? Climbers possessed one huge advantage over the natives: their Awakenings. As long as they could reach the same level, those bonuses would ensure superiority. And he suspected there were even more mechanics at play, from titles to hidden systems that only Climbers could access. That meant they could improve much faster than the natives.

And raw talent? Alonso doubted this world could produce someone like Ayu, Chiara, or Leonie in their respective paths. Even the mysterious Makoh had taken Ayu as his disciple last stage. That alone spoke volumes about her potential. So when he had told Gregor that he understood, he meant it. He understood the reality. And from any perspective… he and the others had the greatest rate of growth in this entire world, and the potential to reach its peak and beyond. Gregor's gaze lingered a moment longer.

Even if Alonso's attachments might slow him in the short term, the old adventurer was not overly concerned. Sooner or later, the world forced everyone to face the truth.

"Alright, I won't bother you with more old man wisdom," Gregor said, chuckling as he eased the mood. He summoned a strange silver sphere to his palm with a controlled magnetic pull and tossed it lightly to Alonso.

"This contains valuable information about the surrounding regions. Local powers. Notable organisations. And more importantly… Dungeons. You'll find every low and mid-tier Dungeon in the West listed here, including the loot you can expect and the challenges inside." Alonso caught the device. At Gregor's words, his heart skipped a beat. This was perfect! Exactly what they needed right now.

"Go over it properly later and ask whatever questions you have," Gregor continued.

"You'll notice some entries marked for special events. I've written the triggers for all the low-tier ones, but the requirements for mid-tier special events are missing on purpose. You neither have the qualifications nor the strength for those yet." Alonso nodded. That likely meant something similar to what had happened with the Golden Goose and Jack — a challenge above the Dungeon's level. And clearly, not all Dungeons had such special events.

"As for your gear," Gregor said, tone shifting to practical business, "I cannot hand out Grade 3 or higher. Too rare and too pricey. But I can see what I have in Grade 2's. Some pieces are fully tempered, left behind by veterans or by adventurers who outgrew them. I can arrange something reasonable. Anything better, you will have to buy or earn yourself." Alonso was genuinely surprised. Gear free of charge! So this was what having a backer felt like, huh.

"Regarding orbs," Gregor went on, "if you want to delay tackling mid-tier Dungeons, you can attempt the remaining special events in the low-tier ones. There are only two more in the entire West, though. Beyond that, if you want coins or Merits, you may take on guild tasks up to your rank." Alonso bowed slightly, genuinely appreciative of the benefits.

"Thank you." Gregor waved a hand dismissively.

"No need for that. If you mean it, work hard and prove you deserve it." Alonso nodded. He would make sure to remember Gregor's help in the future. Even if he was destined to leave this world behind, he intended to ensure the old man would remain in comfort long after he was gone. He only hoped this world would not end up like the last one.