"Young master," the girl called out to him when she returned with a pouch of coins.
"Two hundred silver coins, as promised, young master. Please check it."
"It is two hundred silver coins," the system's voice rang in his mind.
"No need. I need your help with something else, though."
"Please tell me, young master."
"I decided to take on this quest. Is there a procedure I have to take care of before accepting a quest?"
The girl nodded and took out a small form from her desk.
"You need to register with the Adventurer Guild, young master. Do you wish to join the guild now?"
"Yes, I do."
"Wonderful," the girl revealed all of her pearly white teeth with a wide grin.
"Please fill out this form, young master."
The form had pretty standard fields like name, cultivation level, party name, and party members.
Michael didn't plan to form a party, as he preferred to work alone. The only reason he was putting up with Gaya was because she had knowledge about this world, and he could use that knowledge to his advantage. He thought of her as Pink, his aide on Earth.
However, he did have plans to recruit more people as his subordinates and expand his influence throughout the world. This would allow him to sit back and enjoy the wealth created by them while growing stronger and stronger. For the time being, he liked to operate alone, like a lone wolf.
So, on the form, he only filled in his name and cultivation level, leaving everything else blank.
"Ghost?" The girl looked perplexed when she saw his name, but using names like this was quite common among adventurers, so she didn't ask any questions.
"Young master, if you don't know any party to join, the guild can suggest parties that are looking for an additional member."
"No need. I prefer to work alone."
"I'm right here," Gaya's voice sounded in his mind.
"But, young master..."
"I can look after myself, miss. Trust me."
"Pretty face and no brains, what a pity. Such a handsome lad, but he's going to end up dead," the girl sighed internally and nodded.
After one last glance at the form, a white light appeared from the girl's hand as she scanned the document using the light.
"Here's your adventurer card, young master. If you lose it, you'll have to pay fifty silver coins at any of our branches to receive another one. Each quest you successfully complete will give you points and add them to your card. The harder the quest, the more points you'll earn. And the more points you earn, the more high-value quests the guild will present to you."
As she finished speaking, she handed him his adventurer card, a yellow card the size of a credit card with his name etched on it.
"Young master, which quest would you like to take?"
He placed the notice on the table, but when the girl saw the notice, her eyes widened in shock.
"Young master, this quest... Are you sure you want to take it? This one has been marked by the disciples of the Morning Star Sect."
"Those troublemakers again, damn it."
"May I take it or not?"
Having read enough novels, he realized that many sects were known for bullying the weak, and he had no intention of being their victim.
"Young master, you can, but..."
"Let me guess, no one else wants quests with this mark?"
He pointed at the star mark in the corner of the notice, and the girl nodded.
"I'll take it. If they have a problem with it, they can come find me."
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 50 badass points and a teleportation scroll.]
"You shouldn't have done that, human."
He paid no mind to Gaya as he placed the card and the pouch in his pocket, then left the guild, leaving everyone who heard that he was taking the Morning Star's quest stunned.
"He's dead."
"What an arrogant kid. Look, he's just at the foundation stage."
"Look at his clothes, I bet he came from another kingdom and knows nothing about Elen."
On his way out, he overheard several people muttering about him as he exited the building and headed toward the tavern he had spotted earlier.
"Shit, human, that was a dumb move. If you get killed, they'll get me too, and how can you heal me if you're dead?"
"Relax, I'm not the one who dies, sweetheart; I'm the one who kills."
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 50 badass points.]
"You better not die, human. I don't want to get caught by those lowly humans and sold to Nagaland."
"We'll think about that later. Right now, I want to eat and get a good night's sleep while listening to the rain and thunder."
"Lucky Cat Tavern."
From the outside, the tavern appeared snug, intimate, and warm, with its outer structure made up of large and small marble stones.
It was impossible to see through the stained glass windows, but despite the sound of thunder and rain hitting the roof, the warm noises from within could be felt outside.
As he entered the tavern through the sturdy wooden door, he was welcomed by laughter and the friendly smile of a waitress.
The bartender was busy but still managed to greet him with a smile.
IThe interior of the tavern was just as charming as its exterior. Several walls supported the upper floor, adorned with rows of small candles. The walls themselves were a mishmash of various memorabilia, giving the place a quirky and eclectic vibe. It was unclear whether they had aimed for a specific style or simply hung up anything they found appealing.
The tavern was bustling with activity. Adventurers made up the primary clientele, creating an atmosphere of excitement. Several long tables were occupied by separate groups who had bonded over delicious food and lively conversation. Smaller tables were scattered about, where strangers seemed to be enjoying each other's company after chance meetings. Even most of the bar stools were taken, but nobody appeared to mind more company.
Navigating through the crowd, he managed to find an empty seat and waved at the waitress, who hurried over to him with a wide grin on her face.
"Welcome to Lucky Cats, young master. What can I get you?" The girl's beauty took him by surprise. In his world, she could have easily been a dazzling actress. Her perfect figure, golden blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and fair complexion all combined to create a stunning appearance. However, he refrained from commenting on her looks or making any advances, considering the potential harassment she might face from adventurers and strangers.
"What's on the menu?" he inquired.
"We have Pan-fried Lemon Yak, Smoked Beets, Lemon Mammoth, Tenderized Rice and Fish, and today's special, Poached Creamy Mutton," she replied.
These dishes were entirely new to him, and he eagerly anticipated trying them, especially the special.
"I'll have the special," he decided. "And for my drink, just hot water with lemon and mint leaves if you have any."
The waitress seemed slightly surprised by his choice but nodded and hurried back to the kitchen to place his order.
"Would you like anything?" he asked Gaya, his wrist lightly brushing against hers.
"Humph, how could I eat in a place like this? I have standards, human, unlike some," she replied disdainfully.
"Even with your cultivation crippled, you still act haughty. They should have broken your mouth instead of your meridians," he retorted, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hiss," she responded, hissing at him, which only made him grin wider.
After a few moments, the waitress returned with his order, and he handed her fifteen silver coins, telling her to keep the change. He inquired about the availability of rooms for the night.
"Of course, young master, we have a few rooms available, and if you'd like, I can assign you to our cleanest one," she replied with a brightened expression.
"How much for the cleanest room?" he asked.
"It's five silver coins per night, young master," she informed him.
He handed her another five coins as payment. "That's perfect. Please bring me the key and show me to my room when I'm finished with my meal."
"Great," the waitress responded with another smile and then proceeded to take other customers' orders while he indulged in his delicious meal.
As he finished his meal, the waitress returned to guide him to his room. It was not as luxurious as the rooms he had stayed in back in his world but resembled the kind of rooms one might find in a somewhat shady motel. The room contained a single bed, a small table, a chair, an old mirror, and a candle holder with a half-burned candle.
"System, do you have a clean bedsheet and a pillow? I don't want to sleep in that thing," he inquired, eyeing the bed with skepticism. The bedsheet looked ancient, and its various stains were enough to prompt him to spend some of his precious badass points.
"Five badass points," the system responded.
"Yeah, I'll buy it."
Upon exiting the system, he found himself equipped with a new, thick silk bedsheet and a fluffy cotton pillow.
After disposing of the old bedsheet and replacing it with the new one, along with taking off his boots, he eagerly climbed into the freshly made bed, ready for a comfortable night's sleep.