I found the exhibition hall Aurelia had mentioned and placed the items up for auction on the pedestal. Since they were rather important for the timely development of our plans, I created a stronger protection formation than necessary. Unless high-ranked archmages snuck into this place without being noticed by Aurelia, there would be no chance of theft.
My task here was done. I went out into the city and asked around for the adventurers' guild. The adventurers' guild was located close to the city wall since the nobles of the kingdom disdained to have adventurers coming near them.
The three-story building stood out like a sore in the sea of ground-level houses and shacks. No one wanted to live near the city wall, it was after all the first place an enemy would reach after breaching said wall. Except for the adventurers' guild which was partially funded by the king, the people here simply didn't have the coin to build upwards.
I entered the adventurers' guild and saw a large reception area with various boards marked with one letter on the sides. The letters ranged from C to G and I assumed that they corresponded to an adventurers rank.
Wondering where the boards with the letters above C were, I walked to one of the receptionist booths. While I was walking there, a few unfriendly faces looked my way. Intimidation tactics were futile against me. At least when performed by a mortal. I kept walking unperturbed and merely ignored those idiots.
Inside the booth I approached, stood a middle-aged receptionist lady. She gave me a very professional smile before inquiring if I had come to accept or hand in a quest.
"I'm new here and would like to register as an adventurer. I'd like to use the combat test to have my rank determined, please."
My body looked rather young compared to the others here so I spoke in a higher pitch than usual to make it seem like I was younger. Seeing this, the receptionist lady relaxed, thinking I had just failed to notice the unfriendly stares.
"Of course, please fill in this form with your personal information. What rank would you like to be tested for?"
I didn't want to attract too much attention early on so I couldn't say triple-S. In fact, I didn't even know if they had that rank. A also sounded a little over the top... I'd go for C rank. That way I wouldn't be too far above Aurelia but still be able to do some rewarding quests. Hopefully.
"I'd like to take the test for a C-rank adventurer, please."
I answered while handing her the completed form. She looked somewhat taken aback by my statement but it couldn't be helped. Additionally, my statement must have ticked off some of those idiots from before. A big guy with a giant belly stomped his way over.
"Hey, newbie, what makes you think you are entitled to take that test. Just start from the bottom like everyone and hand over the test fees to me!"
As he said that, his fleshy hand grabbed my shoulder and intended to pressure me. The receptionist lady was panicking but decided to remain silent.
"Did I allow you to touch me?"
I turned in place, grabbed his wrist, and gave it a good twist. Snapping noises resounded as most bones in the guy's arm were broken followed by his pained howling. What a pain! I should have just killed him.
"What's going on here?"
An imposing voice boomed from the stairs as an elderly man clad in armor descended. The guy who was howling immediately ran over to the armored figure.
"Guild master, you have to help me! That guy just entered and attacked me! I was just minding my own business and he broke my arm!"
"Is that true? Violence is forbidden in the guild and violators of this rule will be strictly punished!"
"Why don't you ask that useless receptionist of yours what happened. Surely she can explain how the idiot got behind me and grabbed my shoulder asking me to give him my money while minding his own business."
The fact that the old man had chosen to just consider the things that spineless fool said to be the truth made me a little mad. The resulting leakage of my aura was already forcing some of the weaker guild members to fall to their knees.
"Keep your aura in check boy. You are harming innocent people!"
"Innocent? Half of them were smiling when the fatso tried to pressure me and the other half didn't care. The few decent ones aren't being harmed."
I had indeed seen a few individuals rise to their feet about to step in. They were the only ones that felt like nothing was happening. The old man looked around with a complicated expression on his face.
"Let's continue this discussion in my office."
He motioned for me, the fatso, and the receptionist lady to follow him upstairs. I retracted my aura and was about to follow him when the fatso began acting up.
"I refuse! I know that as soon as we are away from the crowd this lunatic will try to kill me again. You all saw what happened right?"
Right on cue the group the fatso had sat with stood up and launched into a tirade of how cruel and vicious I was. Trying to use the home-field advantage, eh? Not with me.
"Order. Sit down and shut up."
My voice was infused with a great amount of power and authority. The group of yapping idiots was suddenly silent and sat down obediently. With that out of the way, I resumed walking up the stairs.
The fatso was scared silly by this display of power and all strength left his legs. The receptionist lady was forced to help him up and act as a crutch for him.
While those two were still struggling to climb up the stairs, I had taken a seat in the guild master's office.
"I am Hartman, the guild master of the adventurers' guild's headquarters."
"Abel, traveling blacksmith."
"A man of few words, eh?"
"I don't like wasting time with people I will potentially have conflicts with."
"From what I've gathered this was merely a little fun that the older generation has with newbies. No need to overreact and break his arm."
"A prank? Let's put that to the test then."
I instantly appeared behind him and grabbed his shoulder applying enough force to shatter bones. The guild master took a step forward, drew his sword, and stabbed for my heart.
Before the blade could reach me I grabbed it between my index finger and thumb holding it in place.
"Now tell me, why did you overreact to me simply having a bit of fun? I didn't even get to ask you to hand over your money yet!"
"What do you mean?"
"I just attempted to replicate what that fatso did to me and your response was even more intense than mine. If I had reacted like you he'd be dead now."
Guild master Hartman was sweating profusely as he realized what had just happened. I let go of his blade and instantaneously returned to my seat.
"I understand your point. I'll be sure to handle the situation accordingly. Now, how about we put this matter to rest. Why does a traveling blacksmith visit the adventurers' guild?"
"A good friend of mine has recently settled down in the city and opened shop. I intend to sell some of my creations through her. She's also an adventurer so I thought I'd sign up too."
At that moment the door was pushed open and the fatso came stumbling in followed by the receptionist lady. The second he entered Hartman shot him a murderous glare.
"Wait outside, I'll deal with you later! Julia!"
A door at the side of the office was opened and another woman entered.
"What is it, father?"
"Please go to booth three and process sir Abel's guild application. Sir Abel, will you be taking the test?"
"I intend to do so, yes."
"I see. Then please follow me to the backyard."