For a Player, the top priority is grinding monsters to level up!
But that's in a game.
In this real New World, especially with his low level, "safety" was Adam's utmost concern.
The Royal Tournament had ended, and the crowds, adventurers, and others drawn by the spectacle would soon disperse.
Adam had no official status in the Royal Capital. The buzz around Gazef and Brain's duel had kept scrutiny at bay, but once the city returned to normal, an outsider like him would stand out. Plus, the capital offered no suitable spots for leveling.
His next move was clear: head to the Re-Estize Kingdom's border city, E-Rantel. But his knowledge of the New World was limited, and the journey could be perilous.
Thus, Adam sought the Adventurer's Guild to find a team or caravan bound for E-Rantel.
In the Royal Capital, aside from the opulent noble estates near the city center, the largest structures were the Adventurer's Guild and the Mage's Guild, both in the commoner district.
Finding the Adventurer's Guild was easy.
Their locations reflected their status: neither guild was highly regarded by the kingdom's elite.
The Re-Estize Kingdom and the Baharuth Empire differed starkly in their cultures.
The Empire prized magic, while the Kingdom revered valiant warriors.
This contrast largely stemmed from Fluder Paradyne, the Baharuth Empire's "Imperial Court Wizard" And "national trump card." One of only four humans to surpass the Heroic Domain, he'd lived over 260 years, mentoring emperors from the Empire's founder to the current Bloody Emperor.
His influence naturally elevated magic's status in the Empire.
Adam noted silently, "Another high-tier job to plan for in the Baharuth Empire: Sage."
The Adventurer's Guild stood in the commoner district, a prominent four-story, square tower-like building.
As Adam approached, he saw a steady stream of people entering and exiting its grand doors.
He paused briefly, then stepped inside.
A wave of boisterous chatter hit him.
The guild's interior was surprisingly spacious.
Though crowded, it didn't feel cramped, as the hall lacked excessive decor or furniture.
The floor was polished wood, and a massive chandelier hung from the ceiling.
Directly opposite the entrance was a large reception desk, where staff conversed with several adventurer teams.
As Adam entered, a few glances flicked his way, but after a quick once-over, they turned away.
He wasn't surprised.
His shabby attire marked him as neither a formidable adventurer nor a wealthy client.
No one would bother with him.
This was deliberate, Adam had dressed plainly to avoid attention.
"How's this request?"
"The pay's too low. The guild takes 20%, and split among us, it's barely anything."
"What about this one?"
"Hiss, that's a Gold-rank task. We're not qualified, are we?"
"No, it's not too dangerous, just an escort mission, though it's a long trip."
"Heh, the reward's low for its rank, but with our current task count, completing this could push us to Gold rank!"
Chatter and debates echoed beneath the request boards lining the hall's walls.
Adam approached the reception desk, joining the queue behind other adventurer teams.
While observing his surroundings, he recalled details about adventurers.
The Adventurer's Guild ranked teams in eight tiers: Copper, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril, Orichalcum, and Adamantite.
These ranks didn't strictly correlate to strength, as all teams, regardless of prowess, started at Copper.
Unless deliberately hiding their strength or uninterested in advancing, a team's rank generally reflected its baseline capability.
The wait was short.
When his turn came, a young receptionist with wavy brown hair and brown eyes greeted him. She looked about sixteen or seventeen, close to Adam's apparent age.
"Hello, what's your adventurer team's name?" She asked politely, her expression neutral despite his worn clothes and outsider appearance.
"I don't have a team. I just have a question." Adam said softly.
"Oh, are you registering a team?" Assuming she'd grasped his intent, the girl bent down, retrieving a rough, yellowish paper form from below.
"No, I'm not registering a team." Adam clarified, waving a hand. "I just want to know if there are any caravans or adventurer teams heading to E-Rantel."
"Huh?"
The girl froze, form in hand. She glanced at him again, noting the short sword and water skin at his waist, realization dawning.
"You're here for the Royal Tournament, right? I mean, you came from a border city?"
"That's impressive, traveling so far alone."
"Five copper coins."
She rambled, piecing together her own narrative, then held out a calloused hand.
"Five copper coins?" Adam blinked, confused.
If he could read this world's script, he wouldn't have needed to ask the guild.
Despite years of education in his old world, he was effectively illiterate here.
"Of course, this is the Adventurer's Guild." The girl said, her face stern. "Non-members pay for any inquiry. There's no such thing as 'free' here."
As a powerful, transnational organization unbound by any nation, the Adventurer's Guild's strength wasn't just its skilled adventurers.
It lay in the vast, invisible intelligence network woven by its members.
Outsiders seeking that information paid a price, some secrets couldn't be bought with mere coin.
This was why the guild, though disdained by national elites, maintained covert ties with them.
Adam recalled the Slane Theocracy's rumored influence behind the guild.
***
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