Walking out of the merchant association Jellal crosses the street into enemy territory. Taking his first steps into the adventurer's guild he feels the excitement well up inside him. The institution itself doesn't matter to him. The important part is what it stands for; freedom.
Members are able to travel seamlessly between countries without any questions asked. Of course, the interconnected system linked between the branches has a good deal to do with that. If an adventurer becomes a criminal it'll be known to every branch, and by extension every country. This causes them to be a criminal everywhere instead of just where they committed the crime, balancing things impeccably.
For Jellal, who isn't planning on spending much time around people, the only thing that matters is the ability to move through cities as he pleases. Of course the detriment he would face for committing a crime isn't any different than what he would be dealing with if he didn't wear a disguise, making it easily dismissed for him.
He glances around the room as he walks in. The layout is spacious with the reception desks at the back of the room blocking off a quarter of the first floor and the stairs to the second floor. Scattered sporadically around the room are tables for adventurers to rest at and have a drink.
On the left side is a small section cordoned off housing a kitchen and bar. The right side is left bare, with the wall covered in different quests for people to take.
The quests are divided into three sections: escort requests, subjugations, and miscellaneous. These are further subdivided into ranks according to their estimated difficulty, labeled by a letter. Each rank has their own subdivisions labeled from one to five, with five the easiest and one the hardest.
Since he has time to kill before his order is ready he scopes out quests first. Even though he has no interest in acting like an actual adventurer he's still curious. Standing in front of the escort section he looks at a few examples.
The requests each have specific requirements for party rank and numbers. Some even specify certain skills required amongst the group in order for the quest to be accepted.
Moving along he takes a gander at the miscellaneous section next. The quests range from herb picking to cleaning up waste and everything in between. There are even requests to find lost pets and tutoring, truly a random smattering of options. Most of these types of requests are low rank, perfect for beginners. Occasionally a high rank will appear with extremely precise specifications for who can accept, and are most likely posted by people with high status.
Stepping in front of the subjugation section he scans over the quests. It's as you'd expect, the requests are mostly to eliminate monsters with the occasional bandit making their way onto the wall. Since he doesn't see anything particularly interesting he plans to get down to business.
As he's about to turn around he spots a familiar face hanging amongst the requests: Murdoc. Seeing the face of the bandit leader he killed he paper off the wall for a closer look. His eyes weren't mistaken, and to his surprise his bounty is ten gold. While it may not be enough to buy a house it's enough to cover living expenses for a few months at least.
Since Murdoc's already dead he folds up the paper into an airplane and floats it away with the wind. The guild staff are less than thrilled seeing someone throwing around their flyers and chase after it. The young lady reaches up to grab it only for a rogue gust of wind to cause it to spiral out of her grasp. Her second attempt ends with the plane doing a loop before turning over and flying the opposite direction. The quest to snatch the flyer continues for a short time before Jellal gives her a break and lets it float down naturally, ending up in her hands.
Having just embarrassed herself chasing after a paper airplane she angrily huffs her way over to the culprit. Using two fingers she pushes up her glasses as she interrogates the troublemaker.
[What do you think you're doing, throwing the flyer around like that?]
[I was doing you a favor. The dude's already dead so having his face plastered on the wall will lead to people wasting their time they could be using for something more important. You're welcome.]
[There haven't been any reports of Murdoc's death to date. How can you be so sure he's dead when last we've heard he's still at large? Do you really think our information network is for show?]
[I met the guy a few days ago, and since I'm here right now you should be able to guess how well that went for him. Maybe your information network doesn't spread inside bandit hideouts and that's why you didn't know. By the way, do I need to go to a specific window to register as an adventurer, or is any one fine?]
[To be able to take down a prominent bandit even though you haven't registered as an adventurer; you must be sooo powerful.]
[It seems your eyes aren't just for show after all.]
Jellal uses his thick skin to take her sarcastic response as a compliment, rendering her speechless. Her face turns red as she points at him, barely able to contain her inferno like rage.
[You-you! Go to any counter but the one I'm at if you want to register, humph.]
Unable to come up with a comeback she turns around and stomps back to the counter area, settling back into her spot.
Jellal scans the counters looking to see who his options are. He had hoped he would run into Sionia since it would make things slightly easier, but it appears that's a pipedream. Since he doesn't know anyone he heads to the only empty counter at the moment.
The staff members face sinks as he does exactly the opposite of what she told him. Stopping in front of her counter he gives a light wave as a greeting.
[You wouldn't happen to know where Sionia is right about now, do you? Of course, you can help me register if you'd prefer. I know, you must be wondering how you could be so lucky to bask in the light of a superior being such as myself. I can only say that good fortune is with you.]
[Since you asked for someone specific it can't be helped. I'm not skipping my duties, just being helpful to the newcomer.]
Finding a perfect excuse to escape she hops up from her chair and rushes out of sight. Not knowing how long he'll have to wait he pulls out his trusty chair, which has seen a surprising amount of use today. Kicking his feet up on the counter he rocks the chair back on two legs.
'Maybe I should buy a nice rocking chair to replace this one. It's done a good job until now, but it leaves something to be desired. Since I'll be outside a lot it'll need to be durable as well as comfortable. If I can find it, a waterproof coating would be preferable to reduce how quick it'll deteriorate.
Now that I'm thinking about chairs I haven't gotten around to looking for a proper throne either. It's necessary for a superior being to show their status after all. Wait! Why have two chairs when I can have one super awesome one? Who said a throne can't double as a rocking chair? Anyone who believes that rubbish lacks imagination. It's decided, if I have time after this I'll look for someone to make the ultimate all-purpose thrown/rocking chair.'
A lot of people give him dirty looks as he kicks back and relaxes at the counter, especially the staff. While they're contemplating what to do a guard walks into the building. Spotting Jellal he marches over as a vein bulges from his forehead.
[Care to explain why a group of fellow guards complained to the captain about being hamstrung into buying equipment. I know it was you so don't try to act like you're innocent.]
[Hey Kite, long time no see. Did the boss prepare funds for them or is he being a miser? I'm giving them to you guys at a good price so you should be overjoyed. Why be so grumpy? If your face is always scrunched up like that you'll get wrinkles you know.]
[Do you really believe the crap that comes from your mouth or is it all some elaborate act?]
[No crap here, just gold. Maybe you're too tense because of all the work you've been doing and somehow got the two confused. I understand, being around me is so glorious it can make you scatterbrained, but try to keep a hold of yourself.]
[If there's a person who's met you without immediately wanting to punch you in the face I want to meet them and get blessed because they're undoubtedly a saint.]
[Just being in my presence can't make people saints … that I know of. Maybe if I gave them a handshake being in contact with a superior being will heighten them above an average human, but becoming a saint may be tough. By the way, you didn't come here to chat right? I mean, I don't mind if you want to be around me, it's a totally normal reaction after all, but you have to remember your work. The people need you.]
Kite blinks rapidly as he stares at Jellal, unable to fathom the person in front of him. It takes all his might to stop himself from coughing up blood due to Jellal's verbal onslaught. Every part of his being urges him to leave the building before his brain starts melting from being too close to Jellal's ego.
[There's a wagon outside waiting for you. If you don't mind I'll be leaving to search for criminals as far away from here as humanly possible.]
With the eyes of a dead fish Kite stumbles out of the building, hoping to get away as quickly as he can. From behind him another verbal danger hits him, nearly causing him to fall down.
[I understand, truly I do. Being around me so much must have caused you to realize how small you are when compared to a superior being such as myself. It's okay though, if you work hard you can become an exemplary person. You may never come close to reaching the tops of my shoes, but it's okay you can still be a great figure by normal standards. Take care of yourself out there, and don't forget to keep your head up even though you'll never be me.]
Jellal gives Kite a heartfelt goodbye speech to cheer him up before heading out to load up the wagon. Next to the adventurer's guild two of the guards that payed for the items before wait for him. Jellal gives them a nod as a greeting before hopping into the back of the wagon and unloading the weapons and armor he collected from the bandits.
The guards are grateful they were given a wagon to transport the items after seeing how many they were actually being given. With the increasing prices of weapons and armor due to the arrival of the miasma, the fact they could get such a large supply on the cheap is an unexpected boon.
Originally they had thought he was planning to dump his junk on them. They never thought they were actually getting such a good deal.
After everything's unloaded Jellal jumps off the back of the wagon. The guards give him a hearty wave as they leave him to return inside. Walking back to the counter he takes a seat with his kicks on their desk, waiting for the staff to come back.
When she finally returns after having calmed down her face immediately starts twitching. It took a lot of convincing to get Sionia to agree to help her even though she's off right now, yet before she has a chance to arrive what's waiting for her is some disrespectful punk putting his feet all over the counter.
She can feel her blood pressure rise as she takes deep breaths, doing her best not to blow her top. Sionia walks out of the hallway behind her and pats her on the shoulder calming her down. Having someone she looks up to comfort her immediately blows away all the hatred she had built up.
[Hey long time no see, Sionia. You wouldn't mind going somewhere a little more private to talk would you?]
At the front door Silica had just taken a step inside when she heard a familiar voice once again. Suddenly deciding she forgot to do something she spun around and bailed, leaving Sionia to deal with everything on her own.
Hearing Jellal's voice Sionia couldn't quite place it until she saw her beloved little sister turn away and abandon her as if she would catch the plague by setting foot in the building. Instantly she knew who she's dealing with. Dejected she stared at Jellal, unsure what to do.
[Why is it you? No, how is it you? Who's the idiot that let you into our city? I want to file a complaint with their boss.]
[I know you're excited to see me, but we should go somewhere private first.]
Wondering if it's too late to switch careers she reluctantly leads him to the second floor. Entering a private room she drops heavily into her chair as if she's lost all her strength.
[So, what's so important you had to ruin my good day?]
[Don't be like that. We're friends aren't we? I just need a teensy bit of help with something. You see I want to register as an adventurer so I can travel the world as I please and visit all the cities. Unfortunately with the way I am it's a bit difficult to register in a normal way, and that's where you come in.]
[First as a sign of trust tell me how you got in. If there's a breach in the wall it could be catastrophic.]
[I came in through the gate just like everyone else, well maybe a little stealthier but at least I came in where I was supposed to. I could have opened a hole in the wall or dug a tunnel underneath the wall but I'm not some evil monster who would put an entire city at risk for no reason.]
[I don't like the way you phrased that. Aren't you saying you would put the entire city at risk if you had a reason?]
[It sounds so evil when you say it like that. Yes, yes I would. Of course I would need to be given a reason for something to occur. Like say, I don't know, people deliberately trying to keep me out of the city. That would probably be a good reason to find a permanent way in.]
The way he casually threatened the lives of the entire city made Sionia's scalp go numb. If someone else had said it she might have taken it as a joke, but she'd heard how strong this little goblin truly is from Mac, whom she trusted enough to watch over her sister.
With a potential disaster like Jellal skulking about things suddenly looked grim for Pavise. If they didn't give him a convenient way in he'd make his own. With such a casual statement he effectively held the entire city hostage. Yet, she found a silver lining in those dark clouds. His reason for becoming an adventurer wasn't just to get into this city but to travel the world. If they could get through these tough times they may be rid of him for good after a while.
[Listen, I want to help you. I really do. But I don't have the authority to do such a thing. Only the guild master can make someone's information private. Even then, it can still be accessed by the guild masters of other branches. There's nothing I can do.]
[I see. If I want things to go smoothly I need to get all the guild masters on my side. I might be able to convince them if they listen to reason. The only problem is whether or not they know what's good for them. Why don't we start by having a chat with this branches guild leader? You should have enough pull around here to help me with that right?]
Jellal wanting to meet the guild leader came out of left field, leaving Sionia stunned. She could get him a meeting, but it could damage her reputation if something happened or if it leaked outside. She and Mac have both already personally reported Jellal's existence to the guild master so he won't be completely blindsided, but that doesn't mean everything will be sunshine and roses either.
Silently she sat there mulling over her options. No matter what she has to keep the lunatic in front of her from doing irreparable damage to the city. That's especially true now, with the miasma throwing a wrench into things.
With no good ending in sight she gives in and tries to mitigate the damage as much as possible.
[Alright, I'll take you to see the guild master. What happens next is all on you. Whether he agrees or makes you into this city's mortal enemy it has nothing to do with me.]
[From what you're saying this guild master sounds like a swell guy. To tell you the truth, being the mortal enemy of the city isn't too bad of a result. I've been itching to test the walls durability and that would give me the perfect excuse to do so.]
Leading Jellal down the hallway Sionia began praying internally for cooler heads to prevail. After climbing to the third floor they stopped at the end of an empty hallway. In front of them is a closed pair of double doors with a mural of a group of adventurers fighting a dragon carve on them.
Jellal whistled to show how impressed he is by the carving while Sionia takes a deep breath and knocks.