Ackster was a little surprised that he had suddenly gotten a date with Wilma just because he had responded to her flirting. But he decided to take it in stride.
Rather than it being a hindrance or a disruption to his training and goals, it could actually be an opportunity.
Besides, his first impression of Wilma was good. She had been very efficient and helpful when he had first come back to society after spending several weeks in the forests and wilderness. Although it was her job, she had still diligently shown Ackster to the showers and the room without judging him, despite his disheveled appearance and haggardly state.
Jim had also been a breeze talking to, but he had done his job and made sure that Ackster wasn't trouble. It had been Ackster who did most of the talking and established a friendly bond.
And then, just now, Wilma had also given him a great deal for the rock lizard skeleton. Of course, Ackster didn't really know how much a nearly intact skeleton like that would usually go for, but it didn't feel like Wilma was playing him for a fool. Why, then, would she invite him out?
Unless she were setting a trap for Ackster for some nefarious and illegal purposes, there would be no reason for her to trick Ackster into giving up the skeleton for less than its worth while claiming she gave him more.
Ackster pretty quickly decided that she didn't have any deeper thoughts behind her actions. If she did, the only way Ackster could find out would be to go along with it.
And if he suspected anything right now, he would just have to leave town and ghost her.
But getting close to Wilma, a capable receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild was an opportunity Ackster didn't want to miss.
He hadn't thought much of it last night when he first stopped by the Guild to get a shower and a room to sleep in, but when he had been there this time, and his mind had been a little sharper and more used to being in a crowded environment, he had seen it a little clearer.
Wilma wasn't just an ordinary receptionist. The guy Ackster had talked to this morning was, and Wilma was leagues better than him. Ackster had also noticed the respect the workers had when they packed up the skeleton on Wilma's orders. It was subtle, but it was clearly a deferential attitude that someone would hold toward a superior.
Even if she was just a head receptionist or something, she was still in a higher position in the Guild, one of the organizations with the greatest information networks in the world. She was probably professional and wouldn't easily divulge classified information to just anyone.
But what if Ackster wasn't just anyone?
He would have to be careful, but if he could get close to Wilma and get her to open up, he might have a way into the Guild's information network. It would make it easier for him to get information that wasn't easily accessible to the common people, especially if he were looking for events in the immediate surroundings of Ilto, such as a certain angel's Fall.
And depending on Wilma's position, he could possibly also get updates on the Guildmaster's state or at least the internal workings of the Guild. If there were some trouble up the ranks, Ackster would know that the Guildmaster wasn't reliable anymore and that he would have to give up on the idea of getting Dragon Slayer Kargas to use against the Dragon of Life.
Well, all that hinged on how well his date with Wilma went. But since his future could become a lot easier if things went exceptionally well, Ackster decided to do his best to charm Wilma, regardless of her intentions, hidden or not.
'Damn, I should have asked for recommendations for someone who can make my training equipment.'
Ackster's first order of business was to lighten his load and get rid of the rock lizard's armor. Considering it was bloody and smelly, most inns probably wouldn't want Ackster to store it in his room. He could find an expensive inn that had material storage or would let him store it in his room, but that would eat up most of his money.
And he needed that money for commissioning his training equipment and buying proper clothes.
However, Ackster didn't have to look for long before he found a place that seemed suitable. In fact, he found several smithies that were working hard to heat up their surroundings.
The Adventurer's Guild was a hotspot since adventurers came back with monster materials daily.
Naturally, the best location for stores and places that made use of those materials would be as close to the Guild as possible.
The same street as the Guild was filled with various shops and stores where adventures went in and out of, either selling their goods independently or buying new weapons, gear, potions, accessories, skillbooks, clothes, and whatever else adventurers needed.
Ackster didn't have high requirements for the training equipment. He just wanted it to be heavy. So, instead of choosing one of the popular crafting shops that seemed to offer works of outstanding quality, where he would have to wait to be served and probably pay too much, Ackster looked for a shop or place that was a little lonelier.
He found one quick enough that he wasn't even bothered by having to drag around the heavy rock lizard armor.
'Tommelier's.'
Ackster looked at the slightly crooked wooden sign with a name burned into it. He didn't see any customers about to enter. He also couldn't hear much from inside, so he just entered through the heavy wooden door.
The shop was squeezed in between two other houses. One seemed to be residential, and the other seemed to be an accessories boutique. Both of them seemed to be in a better state than the almost forgotten crafter's shop squeezed in between. Tommelier's didn't even have clean enough windows to window-shop.
But Ackster could see several armors and weapons on display inside, and they didn't look horrible. He wasn't expecting a masterpiece in the first place.
He just wanted someone to stitch together the skin with the rock lizard's heavy stone scales and create something wearable.
The door opened to the sound of a dusty bell almost chiming.