Listening to Field's words, Brittany was slightly stunned, then somewhat surprised, "Are you willing... to help me?"
"Why not?" Field chuckled.
"You're Hilda's friend, which makes you my friend too. And mercenaries take on tasks, don't they?" Brittany giggled, then looked at Field and asked, "So, Mr. Mercenary, how do you plan to help me?"
"It depends on what kind of help you need," Field replied.
Though he and Brittany had a bit of a standoffish relationship because Brittany could tell he had feelings for Hilda, Brittany was still Hilda's good friend, and their relationship was excellent. So, if he wanted to hold Hilda's hand, it was very necessary to establish a good relationship with Brittany. Therefore, he was willing to help Brittany solve her problems, especially since there was a commission involved. He could tell that Brittany was also a proud noble and wouldn't let him do tasks for free.
"Well, if I need you to deal with the head of the branch of that commerce guild in Grilac City, what would you do?" Brittany propped her chin on her hands, smiling.
Seeming to have entered the role of a businesswoman.
"Oh? Is he formidable?" Field asked.
"Not really, just platinum level, but his guards are tough," Brittany said.
"His guards are from the Golden Shield, a well-known guard team affiliated with the Bastion."
"The Bastion is a guild-like organization, mainly providing protection. They have professional guard teams."
"The opposing commerce guild is called the Golden Silk Guild, and the head of the branch is named Moken."
"His guard team, the Golden Shield, consists of eight main members, all secret silver level experts. Their captain, Maris, is a former member of the Imperial Shield Knights and a secret silver six-star."
"Can you handle it?"
Field shook his head, "Not at the moment."
Brittany rolled her eyes, "I thought you'd say you could."
"Come on, how can I fight eight secret silver levels when I'm only at the gold level?" Field shrugged.
"Gold level?!" a surprised exclamation came, and both Field and Brittany looked at Hilda, who had a shocked expression on her face.
"What's wrong?" Field was puzzled.
"You... you're gold level?!" Hilda couldn't believe it.
"Yeah, didn't I mention it?" "No!" Hilda was a little excited, "I always thought you were about the same level as me, at least platinum!"
"Is it too late to say it now?" Field chuckled.
"Hmm..." Hilda suddenly felt a bit lost, and Brittany looked puzzled, "What's wrong, Hilda?"
"It's nothing, let's talk about business," Hilda shook her head, then stared blankly at the ice cream in her bowl.
Field chuckled; it seemed Hilda was hit hard.
After all, she had always regarded Field as a target to catch up with. Suddenly realizing that her target was of a lower rank, and much lower at that, was a bit disorienting.
But now was the time to show the importance of a strong mindset.
Field believed that Hilda would soon recover. So, instead of comforting her, he turned to Brittany and said, "I'll take on this commission."
"You're taking it?" Brittany was taken aback. "But aren't you only gold level?"
"I'm gold level now. In a little while, I'll be platinum," Field smiled.
With his current rate of mana accumulation, it would only take him two or three months at most to advance to platinum level. By then, secret silver levels wouldn't pose a problem for him anymore.
"Platinum level can handle secret silver levels, and not just one, are you sure you're not joking?" "No, speaking of which," it was Hilda who spoke, Brittany looked at her, and she said with a wry smile, "Brittany, Field is really amazing. He can already crush Ferocious Wolf Demons at the gold level."
"Believe me, as soon as he reaches platinum, secret silver levels won't be a problem for him."
"Exactly!" Field snapped his fingers.
Brittany didn't expect Hilda to vouch for Field, but hearing Hilda's words, she felt much more reassured. So, she nodded, "Alright."
"I commission you on behalf of the Williams family. As long as you can deal with the head of the Golden Silk Guild branch or help me take over the clothing market in Grilac City, I will pay you a handsome commission!"
"No problem!" Field smiled. "You can start planning, and when you need me, just call."
"Great!" Brittany was also getting excited. As long as she could take over the market in Grilac City, she would be one step closer to realizing her dream, and she would also receive recognition from her family. She could prove to her family that her choice was the right one!
Just then, one of Brittany's attendants knocked on the door and then walked in, delivering a message to Brittany via magical transmission.
Brittany frowned slightly, then showed a face of annoyance and frustration.
"What's wrong, Brittany?" Hilda asked in confusion.
"The family is sending someone to inspect my properties, so I have to rush back to Haidu to personally receive them. It's really troublesome..." Brittany shook her head, then looked at Hilda.
"Sorry, Hilda, I won't be able to accompany you for a while."
"It's okay, you can stay here for a year, we have plenty of time to play together." Hilda smiled understandingly. "Then, when the time comes, I'll take you on an outing. I know a beautiful place."
"Hilda, you're so kind," Brittany affectionately hugged Hilda's arm and rubbed her cheek against hers, then stood up. "Well, you guys have fun. I'll leave first, and we'll have a big meal together when I'm done with my work."
"I'll treat you then!"
Field nodded with a smile, and Hilda waved goodbye, seeing Brittany off.
As she left, Brittany glanced at Field and Hilda one last time, but then remained silent and didn't say anything.
Field had just offered to help her, so she couldn't warn him not to have feelings for Hilda now. And in her view, even if she didn't interfere and even supported it, Field couldn't possibly pursue Hilda.
The gap between them was too great.
Even she, to this day, was marveling at the honor of knowing Hilda and becoming her good friend.
After seeing off Brittany, the private room was left with only Field and Hilda, along with a little kitten named QiQi, who was still enjoying dessert. Field took a sip of wine and asked, "How did you and Brittany meet?"
"It was an accident. I was traveling with... some elders from my family, passing by a village. We were playing by the water at the edge of the village when I met Brittany." Hilda smiled. "She played with me, and when she left, she even gave me a little dress she had knitted herself. That dress is still in my favorite wardrobe."
"So, you've been childhood friends," Field chuckled.
"What does childhood friend mean?" Hilda blinked, asking.
"It means you've known each other since you were kids, grew up together, and are very close friends."
"We've known each other for six years, so I guess we are childhood friends," Hilda nodded with a smile.
But then, she felt a bit emotional and said, "Field, why are you so amazing?"
"Hmm? What kind of question is that, and where should I start answering?" Field asked as he ate some post-dinner fruits.
"You're only at the gold level, and I've already reached platinum three stars, but I still can't compete with you..." Hilda's voice trailed off sadly.
"Platinum three stars? Weren't you platinum two stars?" Field asked.
"I got promoted the day before yesterday."
"So fast. You're only how old, and you're already platinum two stars. I'm only gold level, so you're much better than me," Field said.
"But you're about the same age as me. When I could defeat a platinum six-star at platinum two stars, I was quite pleased with myself until..." Hilda picked up a thick fry dipped in ice cream and looked at it blankly.
"Until you met me, and you realized that you're not much of a genius after all," Field finished her sentence for her.
"Then tell me, what truly qualifies as a genius?" Field smiled and asked.
"A true genius..." Hilda's eyes revealed hope and longing. She smiled slightly and said, "A true genius is someone who can stand alone."
"They have powerful talents and strength that ordinary people cannot reach."
"They dare to challenge themselves, their limits, and reach for higher peaks."
"They can wield their sword to face hundreds of enemies alone."
"They can also use their wisdom to cleverly achieve their goals."
"Such a person is a true genius."
"Like you."
"You have immense strength, excellent combat skills, and extraordinary wisdom."
"Swinging your warhammer can crush ferocious wolf demons, lifting your warhammer can forge the best weapons, and using your wisdom, you can capture half of the commercial magic weapon activities. And with a firm heart, even strong individuals like Uncle Mel have to take notice of you."
As she spoke, she looked at Field with admiration in her eyes.
"Field, you are the true genius."
"And me..." She looked at her own hands, suddenly feeling lost.
"I just have decent talent, a decent background, but even so, I'm still not as good as you, who stands alone."
"So compared to you, I feel like an ordinary person."
After saying that, the room fell into silence.
Hilda suddenly felt that perhaps her words were too negative, so she was about to smile and liven up the atmosphere. But Field's voice suddenly came.
"Are you really Hilda?"
Hilda was stunned, looking at Field somewhat puzzled, and Field also showed a puzzled expression.
"Why do you ask?" Hilda asked.
"Because the Hilda I know wouldn't say such pessimistic words," Field grinned.
"The Hilda I know is proud and wouldn't bow down in the face of difficulties!"
"A proud Hilda should hold her head high!"
"But I..." Hilda bit her lip.
But Field raised his hand to interrupt her, "The kind of genius you described is just someone labeled as a genius by society, not a true genius."
"What is a true genius?"
"Someone who can do what ordinary people cannot is a genius!"
"It doesn't matter if they have talent or not!"
"Even if their talent is utterly worthless, like mud in a swamp, if they can put in millions of times more effort, reach heights that ordinary people cannot, then no matter how their talent is, they will be called a genius!"