The brunette girl seemed to notice Tang Zheng's hesitation, the corners of her lips curling slightly as she suggested:
"If you register as an adventurer, such questions would be free."
Her expectant gaze turned toward him.
Tang Zheng raised an eyebrow: "Can one register as an adventurer alone?"
"Adventuring is dangerous work. Anyone can register - there's no explicit rule about numbers. But realistically, for safety reasons, you need at least two people."
"Though, as I said, it's not strictly enforced."
The brunette lowered her voice conspiratorially at the end.
"How much to register as an adventurer?" Tang Zheng asked expressionlessly.
"One silver coin!" The girl raised a finger and wiggled it.
"I'll process it immediately."
The girl's eyes brightened as she spoke eagerly.
"No, I want the 5 copper coin question."
Tang Zheng pressed his hand over the silver coin, still expressionless.
With only 2 gold, 6 silver and 3 copper left, he'd need funds upon reaching the border city E-Rantel. Wasting money on adventurer registration was out of the question.
He had no time for adventurer guild missions anyway.
"That wall over there has an escort mission to E-Rantel. For such a long distance, the pay is barely above minimum for a Gold-rank mission - how stingy."
The brunette's expression soured as she listlessly pointed toward a bulletin board covered in postings, her tone implying something more.
"Probably going to be taken by that Silver-rank party."
"Since you seem clueless, let me warn you - if you want to tag along, you'd need permission from both the client AND the adventurer team taking the job."
Tang Zheng followed her gesture to see a four-member adventurer party. Understanding flashed through his eyes.
These were the same people he'd overheard earlier discussing their ambitions to become a Gold-rank team.
Tang Zheng removed his hand from the silver coin and pushed it toward the girl.
She picked it up, rubbing it briefly between her fingers before depositing it in a box below, then counted out eight copper coins onto the counter.
Tang Zheng nodded, pocketed the coins, and turned to leave.
The brunette blinked, watching his retreating back with a complicated, odd expression.
In all her time working at the Adventurer's Guild, no one had ever thanked her - adventurers tended to be crude sorts.
Especially not lowly receptionists like her!
"Despite looking so... well, plain, he's unexpectedly polite," she murmured to herself.
Now that she thought about it,
he was actually quite handsome. Most striking were his black hair and dark brown eyes - such coloring was rare here.
An outsider perhaps... or from another nation?
The girl's cheeks tinged pink.
Tang Zheng leaned against a wall in a corner of the hall and sighed.
Things were more troublesome than anticipated - or rather, he'd been too naive initially.
Needing approval from both sides made it virtually impossible!
Clients hiring protection wouldn't want outsiders joining, and adventurer teams wouldn't welcome extra baggage.
But reaching the border city E-Rantel was essential.
Both the Great Tob Forest to the north and the Katze Plains to the south were ideal leveling grounds. This wasn't a game world where monsters respawned.
To gain levels, Tang Zheng needed areas teeming with monsters!
as the border between the Li Yestige Kingdom and Bahāruth Empire, E-Rantel would offer... flexibility.
If safety was the only concern,
staying within Li Yestige Kingdom would suffice - dangers here were manageable.
Tang Zheng's lack of local knowledge meant traveling with adventurers could avoid unnecessary complications.
While well-informed about this world's broader aspects, his knowledge was too... high-level, lacking basic practical details.
With sufficient strength, it wouldn't matter.
But at his current level, avoiding trouble was paramount.
Tang Zheng pondered deeply.
According to the brunette, the journey from the capital to E-Rantel qualified as a Gold-rank mission due to distance.
His funds couldn't cover hiring an entire team.
Perhaps a compromise was possible.
E-Rantel lay at the kingdom's eastern edge, with the major city E-Rebell separating it from the capital. This was territory of Marquis Raeven, one of the kingdom's six great nobles.
Traveling first to E-Rebell, then onward to E-Rantel might reduce costs significantly.
But the detour would waste precious time - Tang Zheng's scarcest resource currently!
"Miss Daya, has anyone taken yesterday's commission?" A familiar, slightly nervous voice came from the reception desk.
"Perfect timing - your request was just accepted by a Silver-rank party. If unsatisfied, we can arrange a replacement," the brunette replied evenly.
"We have no special requirements."
The familiar nervous voice hurriedly responded.
Tang Zheng looked up in surprise toward the voice's source.
He blinked, not expecting to encounter an acquaintance here.
Was that E-Rantel mission posted by Enfirea?
His grandmother was a magic caster capable of third-tier spells - why would they need to hire adventurers?
During his moment of surprise,
Enfirea had already made contact with the Silver-rank party - the commission was clearly finalized.
After brief consideration, Tang Zheng rose and approached Enfirea's group.
"The journey may be arduous - I'll be in your care," Enfirea said softly to the four adventurers.
Their leader, clad in black light armor, thumped his chest plate heartily: "No worries! We've done several of these - your safety's guaranteed!"
The introverted Enfirea's cheeks flushed slightly with awkwardness, as if wanting to clarify something but holding back.
That wasn't quite what he'd meant to convey.
A voice suddenly interrupted from behind.