"When I was fifteen, I was just a kid who didn’t know squat. Forget adventuring, I was too scared to even watch the neighbors butcher a pig."

Gray looked all self-righteous. "But you, Lante, to have such grand ambitions at such a young age... I simply can’t refuse to help you! I agree to let Lante join our squad!"

Zelir was about to speak, but Valles, on the other side, spoke up as well.

"Actually, I don’t think it’s a bad thing for a young man to have a dream... It’s just one adventure. It’s good for him to get some experience."

’Valles, you’ve betrayed me too!’ Zelir was dumbfounded.

Even Marcus, who had been acting like a life mentor just a moment ago, said nothing more.

He silently raised his mug and took a sip, looking like he wanted to say something but held back, appearing rather sheepish.

’You bastards, selling out for Five Gold Coins!’ Zelir cursed inwardly.

"Hehe, Zelir, they all agreed!" Lante, completely oblivious to the subtle atmosphere at the table, turned to Zelir excitedly.

"I..."

With things having come to this, Zelir couldn’t say much more. He could only sigh in resignation, pressing his forehead, then waved his hand.

"Alright, alright... Come to the Adventurer’s Association tomorrow morning, then. We’ll pick a mission together."

"Okay! See you tomorrow morning!"

Lante left the Drunk Wild Boar Tavern, completely satisfied. Before he went, he even paid the bill for Zelir’s table.

Zelir glanced around the table. The others all avoided his gaze, looking quite guilty.

Gray pretended to be engrossed in tackling the meat skewer in his hand.

Valles was looking down, fiddling with his buttons.

Marcus, on the other hand, raised his mug and began counting the bubbles in the foam.

"Ahem..."

In the end, it was Gray, the most shameless of the bunch, who broke the silence.

"Ah, Zelir, don’t blame us. Seriously, how could I turn down such a sweet deal? Last time, I worked myself to the bone clearing out a Goblin Tribe and only got a little over seven Gold Coins for my share."

"This time, we get an extra Five Gold Coins just for taking him on one mission. Where else are you gonna find a deal that good?"

"Yeah..."

Valles chimed in, "Worst-case scenario, we just pick a mission with the lowest risk factor. It’s free money, might as well take it."

"..."

Zelir took a deep breath.

’Okay, I have to admit, I’m tempted too.’

’Five Gold Coins... that’s not a small amount of money.’

’I’m another step closer to my goal of saving up enough to buy a Magic Wand.’

"Fine."

Zelir relented. "But for safety’s sake, I think it’s best if we call Hill. Having a Middle Level Assassin with us can eliminate some potential dangers."

"She gave you a way to contact her?" Gray asked curiously.

Zelir took a cool metal token from his breast pocket. It was the token Hill had given him during the goblin mission.

A black feather forged from some unknown metal, cool to the touch. It made for a pretty badass personal sigil.

Zelir twirled the feather between his fingertips. "Anyway, after we’re done here, Marcus, you’re coming with me."

Zelir was still a little nervous about going to an assassin’s contact point alone at night.

Bringing along a tough guy like Marcus would offer some security.

"Okay." Marcus nodded in agreement.

...

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the group dispersed.

Marcus accompanied Zelir to the contact address Hill had specified.

By now, Black Stone Town had shed its daytime clamor, and most of the shops had already closed for the night.

The main road was empty, with only a few lanterns hanging from the eaves, casting a dim, yellow glow that stretched their shadows long.

Marcus was more familiar with Black Stone Town. He led Zelir through a series of twists and turns to a narrow alley with a well-hidden entrance—Dark Alley Street.

The moment they stepped into the alley, the temperature seemed to drop.

The light was completely swallowed by the tall buildings on either side, and the air was filled with a damp, musty smell.

"Do all assassins like to meet in places like this..."

Zelir cast a Lighting Skill, illuminating the path ahead.

The two of them carefully avoided the obstacles in the alley and finally found the "No. 7" door plate deep inside. It was a decrepit black wooden door, covered in mottled scratches, that looked like it would fall apart with a single hard kick.

Following Hill’s instructions, Zelir reached out and knocked on the door five times, not too hard and not too soft.

"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK..."

A moment later, a faint CLICK came from the door.

A small sliding panel, camouflaged as wood grain, opened from the inside, revealing a narrow slit.

Through the slit, a pair of wary eyes stared at Zelir and Marcus.

"Er... good evening."

Zelir still wasn’t quite used to this kind of rendezvous, which felt like something out of a spy movie. "I’m here to leave a message for Miss Hill."

"Token," the person’s voice was extremely hoarse.

Zelir pushed the metal black feather through the viewing slot.

The pair of eyes behind the door disappeared for a moment, then quickly reappeared.

The black feather was passed back out.

"What is it?"

"Please tell Miss Hill that the Marcus Squad is preparing to take on a new commission and needs her help. There’s an extra reward of Five Gold Coins."

Zelir said quickly, "If she’s willing, tell her to meet us at the Adventurer’s Association tomorrow morning."

As soon as he finished speaking, the eyes vanished, the panel slid shut, and the other side of the door fell back into dead silence.

"The Assassin’s Guild is so impolite..." Zelir couldn’t help but mutter.

"You should avoid places like this in the future."

Marcus looked up, scanning their surroundings. "I have a feeling someone’s watching us from the shadows."

"It’d be weirder if no one was watching." Zelir was already mentally prepared for that.

This was a place frequented by assassins, after all.

...

「The next morning.」

Lante stood at the entrance to the Adventurer’s Association. He took a deep breath, then pushed the doors open.

It was early in the morning, so there weren’t many people in the association, just a few Adventurers discussing something.

Lante spotted Zelir at a glance, as well as Marcus, Gray, and Valles. They were all there.

"Good morning, everyone!" Lante was the first to greet them, his attitude extremely respectful.

"Morning," Zelir replied.

"Oh! It’s Lante, you’re here!"

Gray, who had looked so fierce toward Lante yesterday, had a completely different attitude today. He enthusiastically walked over and slung an arm around Lante’s shoulders.

"How’d you sleep? You’re here so early. Looks like you’re fully prepared for this adventure. Not bad, not bad, full of Spirit!"

Lante was a bit overwhelmed by this sudden enthusiasm. "I’m... I’m fine."

"It’s your first time at the Adventurer’s Association, so it’s natural to be a little nervous. Don’t worry, we’ll look out for you," Valles, who usually had a poker face, also said with a serious expression of concern.

"Yeah!" Lante nodded vigorously.

Zelir shot a sideways glance at the two of them, finding it secretly amusing.

He turned his head and began scanning the association’s main hall for someone.

"Are you looking for me?"

A slightly teasing voice sounded, followed by that familiar, crisp scent.