Lukas had been able to read fluently for quite some time now, thanks to months of studying with Aurora, daily practice, and the determination of someone who knew that knowledge was his greatest weapon. The large letters on the parchments were easy to decipher.

The missions were organized by rank, with colored seals attached to the parchments.

Iron Rank, gray seal, the most common.

Bronze Rank, brown seal, less common.

Silver Rank, silver seal, rare.

Gold Rank, golden seal, very rare, only one or two on the board.

The parchments also had different colors.

White for common missions, gathering, searching, and small services.

Yellow for combat missions, extermination, patrols, and armed escorts.

Red for high-risk missions, dungeon incursions, hunting dangerous beasts, and confronting armed and wanted bandits.

Lukas read carefully.

Iron Rank (gray seal) White parchment:

"Collect 20 Sun Herb roots in the Southern Forest. The roots must remain intact. Deliver them to Master Aldric’s potion shop. Reward: 8 copper coins. Danger: low, possible insects and small venomous animals."

...

Iron Rank (gray seal) White parchment:

"Search for merchant Grald’s lost dog. Last seen near the eastern stream. The dog is brown, with a white patch on its chest, and responds to the name ’Thunder.’ Reward: 1 silver coin. Danger: very low."

...

Bronze Rank (brown seal) Yellow parchment:

"Exterminate a pack of Red-Eyed Wolves. Location: Wind Hills, three hours east of the city. 8 wolves confirmed. Caution: they are fast and attack in groups. Reward: 5 silver coins + the beasts’ pelts, which may be sold separately. Danger: medium."

...

Silver Rank (silver seal) Yellow parchment:

"Escort merchant Kaelen’s spice caravan to the border city of Valen. Distance: 5 days of travel. Danger: bandits on the roads and possible beasts during the night. Reward: 4 gold coins. Danger: high."

...

Bronze Rank (brown seal) Red parchment (one of the few):

"Patrol the southern road between Great Rock City and Forest Village. Reports indicate bandit attacks on caravans. The bandits consist of three armed men, led by a man named ’Garran’ (wanted, see poster below). Reward: 10 silver coins. Danger: medium/high."

...

Besides the mission parchments, there was a separate section of the board dedicated to wanted posters.

They were larger than the mission notices, with crude drawings of the criminals, bearded faces, birthmarks, scars, and descriptive text.

Lukas read a few.

Wanted: "Garran the Ripper"

Description: Middle-aged man, dark hair, unshaven beard, left arm tattooed with a snake. Average height, strong build. Armed with a large knife and a small axe.

Crimes: caravan assaults, theft of goods, attacks on travelers.

Reward: 5 gold coins for his capture (dead or alive).

...

Wanted: "The Gral Brothers, Velk and Molk"

Description: Two men, twins, red-haired, freckled. Velk has a scar on his forehead. Molk has a gold tooth. They wear dark clothing and are always together.

Crimes: burglarizing noble residences, stealing magical artifacts, trespassing on private property.

Reward: 5 gold coins each (dead or alive).

...

Wanted: "The Market Shadow"

Description: Unknown. Has never been clearly seen. Operates within the Central Market, scamming people and pickpocketing. Leaves behind a black card marked with a drawn eye at the scenes of the crimes.

Crimes: theft, contempt toward city guards.

Reward: 8 gold coins for information leading to the capture (alive).

...

Lukas felt a chill run down his spine.

’This world is dangerous. Not only because of beasts. People too.’

...

"Lukas." Clavor called from the counter.

Mira, the middle-aged receptionist with her hair tied in a bun from their last visit, had not arrived yet. Instead, a robust middle-aged man stood behind the counter.

He wore a dark blue robe embroidered with the guild’s symbol on the chest, a sword crossed with a shield. A bronze badge was pinned to his chest, indicating his rank. His arms were thick and covered with old scars, and his eyes were small and dark.

Clavor placed a hand on Lukas’s shoulder and guided him toward the counter.

"Tell the man the reason for our visit." Clavor said, his voice low but firm.

Lukas realized his father wanted him to handle the negotiation.

’He wants me to learn.’

He took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and stepped up to the counter. The chest of silver threads rested firmly in his hands.

"Good morning, sir." He greeted politely, his violet eyes fixed on the attendant’s face.

"I came to sell silver threads produced by a Silver Thread Venomous Spider."

The man frowned.

His dark eyes scanned the small boy, barely a meter tall, childish-faced, white-haired, and then the wooden chest.

"What is this, kid?" His voice was rough and suspicious.

Lukas was not intimidated.

He carefully opened the chest and pulled out a spool of gleaming silver thread. The threads reflected the lamp light, shining like tiny stars.

He took a long strand, roughly a meter in length, and with a quick movement tossed it toward the attendant.

The man instinctively caught the thread.

Immediately, the thread adhered to his palm.

Like strong glue. As though it had fused to his skin.

The attendant tried to pull it away. The thread stretched but did not come loose.

He shook his hand. Nothing.

He used his other hand to try removing it. Nothing.

"What the hell..." He muttered, surprised. His dark eyes widened slightly.

Lukas smiled.

"These threads are produced by the Silver Thread Venomous Spider." He explained, his voice calm and instructional, like a teacher giving a lesson.

"They are extremely durable, elastic, and infused with mana."

The attendant finally managed to remove the thread after several attempts, using his fingernail to peel it away from his skin.

"They can be used as ropes stronger than ordinary ropes, bowstrings that won’t snap, indestructible hunting nets, traps, and even lightweight armor fabrics, lighter than leather and more durable than steel." Lukas continued.

He paused.

"If you inject mana into them, they become even stronger and can be controlled to stick or release at command."

The man examined the thread with new eyes.

He ran his fingers along its surface, smooth, cool, slightly tacky. He pulled on both ends; the thread stretched but did not break. He sniffed it; it had no scent.

"I’ve never seen threads this good..." He murmured.

"Silver Thread Venomous Spider, you said? They’re rare. Valuable."

"Yes." Lukas pushed the chest across the counter.

"What can you offer me?"

The man opened the chest.

Inside was a considerable amount of thread.

Some wound into small, medium, and large spools. Others were organized into straight bundles, tied with string like sewing thread. Most were thin, yet durable. A few strands were thicker, the ones Lukas had produced by concentrating more mana into them.

The attendant thought for a few seconds, calculating.

"Four gold coins for the entire chest."

Lukas looked at Clavor. His father nodded once in approval. Lukas turned back to the man.

"Deal. Four gold coins, then."

The attendant counted out the gleaming coins, four discs of pure gold, bearing the face of an ancient king on one side and an eagle with outstretched wings on the other, and handed them to Lukas.

Then, he carefully picked up the chest, as if it were a treasure, and stored it beneath the counter.

Lukas placed the coins into the small inner pocket of his new tunic.

His heart pounded with satisfaction.

’My first coins. Earned through my own effort.’

’The first of many.’

They left the guild.

The sun was already higher in the sky, warming the cobblestone streets. The city was fully awake, merchants shouting their offers, children running about, guards patrolling in pairs.

Clavor placed a hand on his son’s shoulder as they walked back.

"Good work." He said, his voice deep but warm.

Lukas smiled from ear to ear, feeling a new sense of pride.

"Thank you, Father. This will help a lot in the future."

Clavor did not ask what future. He simply nodded.

They walked in silence for a few moments.

"Tomorrow." Clavor finally said.

"It’s the Count’s party. Wear your best clothes. There will probably be other nobles there."

"Yes, Father."

As they returned to the inn beneath the now high sun, Lukas squeezed the coins in his pocket.

’Four gold coins.’

’It’s not much, but it’s a start.’

’Soon, I’ll sell more. I’ll accumulate more.’

’And one day... my zoo will become real.’

He smiled. The future felt closer now.