Chương 102: Satisfaction

If only the Adventurer Association also gave out a twenty-gold monthly allowance... Zelier couldn't help but think about it.

"Is it only Blackstone Town's youngest Silver-Rank Adventurer?" Zelier casually asked.

"What about the entire Kingdom of Ther?"

"Uh..." Ella froze. She clearly had never considered that question before.

"About that... I haven't looked into statistics that detailed yet."

"But... but with talent as exceptional as yours, Mr. Zelier, I believe that even across the entire Kingdom of Ther, you would definitely be considered an outstanding figure!"

"Little Ella, when are you going to praise me like that?" Grey leaned against the counter and yawned.

"Mr. Grey became an adventurer much earlier than Mr. Zelier, yet he still hasn't become a Silver-Rank Adventurer." Ella didn't hold back at all.

"I wouldn't even know where to start if I wanted to praise you."

"If there was a profession called Tavern Explorer, Grey would already be a Jade-Rank by now." Vaelis added.

"Are you saying I'd be that rank because I'm a womanizer? Sounds pretty good to me." Grey suddenly became interested. Vaelis turned his head away, clearly not wanting to deal with him. He knew exactly what kind of person Grey was. The more you pushed him away, the more stubbornly he stuck around.

"Mr. Zelier, please wait a moment." Ella said that before turning around and quickly heading into the back office. Not long after, she returned with a brand-new badge in her hand.

"This is your newly engraved Silver-Rank Adventurer Badge!" Zelier handed back his old iron badge and accepted the silver one. It was made from pure silver. The front still displayed the initials of his name along with the crossed sword-and-shield emblem, but the craftsmanship was clearly far more refined. Even the edges had been polished until they shone beautifully. Zelier then took out his pale purple Junior Mage Badge and placed the two side by side for comparison. There was no need to examine them closely.

The difference was obvious at a glance. Although the Silver-Rank Adventurer Badge was well-crafted, it simply couldn't compare to the Mage Badge, which carried an air of mystery and elegance.

"Then..." After putting the badges away, Zelier looked toward the independent passageway on the right side of the hall. Two guards stood there on duty.

"Now that I'm a Silver-Rank Adventurer, can I go inside and take a look?"

"Of course!" Ella nodded firmly. The guards at the entrance performed a routine inspection of everyone's badges. When they saw the Silver-Rank badges belonging to Marcus, Vaelis, and Zelier, they immediately nodded and allowed them through.

"They're also members of our team." Marcus pointed toward Grey and Gark behind him. The guards hesitated for a moment. But considering the team's unity, they ultimately stepped aside and cleared the path. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Please enter." This area was slightly smaller than the main hall outside, but it was much quieter. The floor was covered with polished stone tiles. Several oil lamps hung along the walls, and there was another massive commission board inside. However, the number of commissions posted there was far lower. Only a dozen or so papers were displayed. Around a dozen adventurers were inside. Every single one of them was Silver-Rank.

Their equipment and presence alone gave off an unmistakable feeling: These people were not to be trifled with. Unlike the lower-rank area, there were almost no cases of people looking for temporary teammates. Instead, groups of three or four gathered together, quietly discussing plans. They were clearly familiar companions who had worked together for a long time. When Zelier's group entered, many people inside cast discreet glances toward them. The veteran Silver-Rank Adventurers examined Marcus' team one by one.

When their eyes landed on Zelier, they lingered noticeably longer. That's probably the mage who has become quite famous in the Association recently...? Zelier noticed those scrutinizing gazes. But he didn't care much. He had only come here to see how intermediate commissions differed from lower-rank ones. However, the more he looked, the more shocked he became.

[Commission: Exterminate the "Griffin Queen" at Howling Peak] [Commission: Investigate the Disappearance Incidents in Weeping Marsh] [Commission: Hunt the "Lava Tyrant" in Scorching Ravine] The commission board displayed a series of terrifying monsters whose names alone sent chills down one's spine. Griffin Queen. Lava Tyrant. And the ominous-sounding Weeping Marsh. This was completely different from the [Difficult]-ranked monsters he had faced before.

Looking carefully, almost every commission involved a genuine [Challenge]-ranked monster. The danger level had increased dramatically. Of course, the rewards had risen accordingly. Even the lowest-paying intermediate commissions offered two or three times the reward of a three-star lower-rank commission.

"Sigh..." Looking at those tempting rewards, Zelier couldn't help but sigh softly.

"I really wish Cyr would come back soon."

"If she were here, maybe we could actually try some of these intermediate commissions." What exactly was she doing right now...? Marcus and Vaelis had similar expressions. Their eyes were filled with longing. The Mistwraith they had killed in Ashwood Forest before had only been a juvenile. If they truly faced a fully grown [Challenge]-ranked monster... What kind of scene would that create?

"If you guys really take intermediate commissions, I can carry your bags in the back." Grey leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Just give me a little share of the reward."

"Have you ever considered training harder and trying to break through?" Zelier looked at Grey. Although he wasn't an expert swordsman, he could still tell that Grey's swordsmanship was actually quite impressive. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to serve as the team's flexible support fighter.

"Breaking through sounds exhausting." Grey yawned.

"I told you, my life goals aren't that ambitious."

"As long as I can live comfortably, I'm already satisfied." Morning. The sun had already climbed some distance above the eastern horizon. Another night of sleeping until naturally waking up... What a wonderful feeling. Zelier stretched lazily before performing a smooth kip-up from the bed. With his old body, this little trick would have been impossible. But after choosing Mana Bond, even his everyday movements had become much easier.

After getting up, he performed his usual few minutes of shallow meditation, adjusting his mental state to its peak. When Zelier opened his eyes again, the entire world seemed slightly clearer and brighter. After washing up, he headed downstairs.

"Good morning, Zelier." Auro's energetic voice rang out.

"Good morning, Auro. Another shift change today?" Zelier waved back.

"Yeah. It's the beginning of the month." Auro smiled.

"You woke up later than usual today, Zelier."

"Because I knew you were working today." Zelier walked to his usual table by the window and sat down.

"If I woke up too early, I wouldn't get to see you."

"So I deliberately slept a little longer."

"Really..." Auro's cheeks seemed to turn slightly red. She wiped her hands with the edge of her apron.

"Zelier, you're really good with words."

"Hmph..." Zelier lowered his head and smiled. Not long after, Auro brought over his breakfast. Today, she wore a bright yellow apron that suited her perfectly. It made her look even more cheerful and radiant. Besides the usual bread and vegetable soup, there was also a small golden pie on the tray. Steam still rose from its surface.

"This is an apple pie I just baked." Auro looked both nervous and expectant.

"Try it and tell me how it tastes." Zelier cut off a piece with a knife and fork before placing it into his mouth. The crisp crust and sweet filling immediately captured his taste buds. The texture was excellent.

"Oh... not bad." Zelier praised it.

"If this was on the menu, I'd order it every day. It's really delicious."

"Hehe." Auro smiled happily.

"Never thought you'd have a talent for making desserts." Zelier finished the apple pie in just a few bites, speaking with his mouth still slightly full.

"Of course." Auro's eyes sparkled.

"This is my dream."

"I've always believed desserts are food that can bring happiness and joy to people."

"When I was little, even a single piece of candy could make me happy for an entire afternoon."

"I'm planning to save enough money someday and open my own dessert shop!" Looking at Auro's pure, hopeful expression, Zelier smiled.

"A dessert shop? That sounds pretty good."

"But..." Auro tilted her head curiously.

"I noticed that you seemed especially happy from the moment you came downstairs today."

"Did something good happen?"

"Of course." Zelier smiled mysteriously.

"Because today, something amazing is falling right into my lap."...... After breakfast, Zelier arrived at the Mage Guild. Since it was the beginning of the month, the guild was bustling with activity again. However, instead of going directly to the general affairs office to accept his mandatory commission, Zelier headed toward the elegant little building surrounded by Silver Birch trees. He arrived at the familiar door on the second floor and gently knocked.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

"Come in." Manlin's voice sounded from inside. When he pushed open the door, the room was still filled with the same warm and lively atmosphere. Morning sunlight spilled across every corner. Several newly planted Moonlight Orchids stretched their leaves quietly beside the window. Manlin was carefully watering several tender green seedlings. Her outfit today was simple yet elegant. She wore a light beige linen dress, with her hair casually tied up. The relaxed appearance gave her a gentle and graceful charm.