Chapter 368 - Dangerous Mission

 "Things have begin to calm down, it seem," Ryker said, taking a sip out of his cup. 

 The inspections have lasted for nearly 2 days before the Duke of Elkom put an end to it, and forced all the parties involve to compensate the people. 

 Some tried to cheat of the compensation but the Duke's punishment on one of the Noble expert that did so make the others learned their lessons.

 There are also several members of the Noble Familes that used their identity to oppress others and get what they wanted, which resulted in them being punished, their families even dispensing them to not be implicated.

 "But thing still dangerous with you holding that thing," Esran pointed out.

 On the table is the one thing the entirety of the upper echelons of Elkom Capital City is looking for, the Seed of Spirit Tree.

 To be honest, Esran wish to throw the thing away but they did not knew the true scope of the royal family plan, only a gist of it.

 "We just have to wait and see. For now, I am going to the Adventure Guild," Ryker told his brother before leaving the house.

 The bespectacled boy gaze at his older brother, whispering, "I hope you survive this game of the royal, big brother,"

-x-

 "Oh, what have everyone excited?" Ryker exclaimed. For some reason, the entire guild was filled with conversation, with what he believed is about a rich mission.

 He took a seat and tried to hear the speaking adventurers.

 "Looks like somebody wanted us to check the forest outside the city, and paid a lot for it too!"

 "Really, how much?"

 "200000 High-Grade Genesis Gold!"

 "Damn, so that's why everyone talking,"

 "Yeah, they all want to get the chance to claim the mission first,"

 Ryker rolled his eyes. While it maybe a lot to the adventurers, even to the Genesis Sea adventurers, to him, it was not that much. If the others heard him, they would have try to rob him in that instants.

 "Let pick another mission, there might be more fun ones just to be pick"

-x-

 As he come to take his reward, he heard a piece of somber news.

 "Looks like those guys just meet their end," 

 "Dammit, I just have my last drink with that guy. He owe me a drink as well,"

 As the guild was filled with whispers of dead adventurers, Ryker's eyes narrowed, as he begin to sense something is wrong.

-x-

 "Looks like another one bite the dust,"

 "He must try to get the reward, not caring that other people died before him,"

 "Tch, that mission is cursed I say,"

 Ryker rolled his eyes. Cursed, right. He looked at the large board with all the mission on it, eying the one with the reward of 200000 High-Grade Genesis Gold. Taking a good look at it, he take another mission before heading to the door.

-x-

 "That make it, how much already? 18 Genesis Sea adventurers that kick the bucket," Ryker heard one of the adventurers said, talking to one of the female receptionist with worries in his voice.

 "Yes, frankly, the Guild want to take down the mission and blocked the person who commissioned it," the receptionist said.

 "Than why the Guild did not?" the adventurer asked what he wanted to ask.

 "I think the higher-up wanted to give this mission one last chance. After this last person failed, they will throw it away," the receptionist said.

 Quickly walking away, Ryker head towards the mission board and take the so called cursed mission before heading to the receptionist.

 The receptionist looked at the commission he took before his eyes widened in fear. The man trembled before he lead Ryker to one of the office, where a Genesis Sea staff was looking at different document.

 The man merely glanced at him before asking, "Taking the cursed mission, well, your funeral," Ryker merely shrug as the man did not say anything but just throw a piece of paper detailing what he needed to do.

 On paper, it was easy enough. He merely need to check on a certain anomalies inside a nearby forest. But the death toll showed how dangerous the mission actually is.

 He read some of the stuff before thanking the staff before exiting the office.

-x-

 Sophia was busy making sure the Auction House is operating properly. After all, aside from the Grand Auction which only take place twice a year, along with some of the lesser auctions, the auction house is also a place for people to trade their items. 

 They could put their items on sale, which then the Auction House will circulate the news of the items through all of their channel. If another party is interested, the seller and buyer will negotiate, with the Auction House acting as intermediaries. 

 While one item might not earn that much, thousands on the other hand will make the Auction House earned a lot. Not to mention, some industries under her that is not involved with the Auction House.

 In less confusing words, she is absolutely loaded.

 As she was about to go through another documents regarding some sales, the communication token on her table buzzed. She picked it up before hearing the voice of someone she appreciated yet troubled with.

 "I have a proposal for you, but first, contact this group of people,"

 She listen to the name the person list out, before asking, "What is this all about?"

 The answer both intrigued and scared her at the same time.

 "Fine, I'm in,"

-x-

 "I will be leaving," Ryker told them before opening the door. A few second later, a knock was heard.

 "Who's there?" "Manager Sophia," hearing the name, Ina nodded, allowing Rina to open the door, revealing the brown-haired woman, though with changed attire this time.

 She wore a tight red bodysuit, with several pieces of armor covering some part of her body, namely her chest, thighs and arms.

 She looked at Tashirn before taking out a token. It was carved from normal iron yet it exude special aura, Ryker's aura.

 The Spirit Giant Tiger walked towards the woman who began to pat her head.

 "Let's get going, your human companion is waiting,"

-x-

 As Ryker walked out of the city, he spotted Tashirn, already waiting for him, with a brand new communication token attached to her harness.

.A small smile formed on his face.

 "Excellent. Let see if we can get a big fish from all of this bait,"