My platinum bullets are standard .50 Action Express, roughly equivalent to the weight of a coin. At the black market, I swiftly exchange ten of them for nine hundred gold coins. One gold coin equals a thousand crowns. We now possess nine hundred thousand crowns in buying power.
With money in hand, our next stop is a high-end tailor shop. Entering the Adventurer's Guild dressed in tattered rags would only invite suspicion, especially if we plan to spend hundreds of gold coins purchasing ranks.
Once properly outfitted, we make our way to the Adventurer's Guild.
The Guild is an expansive two-story building with soaring ceilings and walls adorned with intricately detailed maps. Notice boards filled with quests, bounties, and announcements line the interior, while long wooden tables and benches host adventurers engaged in hearty conversation. The atmosphere is vibrant and alive, a symphony of laughter, clinking tankards, and the occasional clash of weapons from sparring outside.
As we walk through the main hall, I notice something odd. Numerous pairs of eyes seem to follow us. Adventurers pause their conversations to glance in our direction, patrons turn their heads subtly, and even some of the staff behind the reception desk appear distracted. A hum of whispers trails in our wake, growing louder with every step.
Leaning closer to Sophia, I whisper, "Uh… are you sure your Euphonic Aura isn't active? Why are we attracting all these stares?"
Sophia glances around, a mischievous smile curling her lips. "Actually," she says, her tone playful, "I think they're looking at you, darling."
I blink, caught off guard. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Oh my, because you look so good right now!" she teases, leaning slightly toward me. "Just look over there. Even the staff members are swooning!" She says and gestures discreetly toward the reception desk.
I follow her gaze, my eyes landing on a group of receptionists. Sure enough, several of them are stealing glances in my direction, their cheeks tinged pink. One of them quickly looks away when I catch her gaze, her face flushing even deeper.
At the moment, I'm doing the same thing as Sophia—using the Chameleon Earrings to give myself a pair of fox ears and a tail. Yumi, too, has been transformed into a petite fox girl. Coupled with our freshly tailored clothes, we're masquerading as a wealthy fox-kin family visiting Vera for trade. The disguise is surprisingly convincing, and as long as it keeps our true identities concealed, I don't think I mind the extra attention it draws.
We make our way to the Adventurer's Guild counter, where we are greeted by a receptionist. Her emerald-green eyes contrast strikingly against her dark brown skin, and her neatly braided black hair falls gracefully over her shoulders.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild. How may I assist you?" she asks with a polished smile.
Sophia leans closer to me and whispers, "Jack, let me handle this."
I nod, stepping back as Sophia takes the lead.
"Hi," Sophia begins. "We're here to obtain our Identification Cards."
The receptionist—Amy, according to her nameplate—nods and retrieves a set of forms and a quill. "Of course. May I have your names?"
"Yes," Sophia replies smoothly. "My name is Lisa Crowhart. This is my husband, Edward Crowhart, and our daughter, Helena. Additionally, we'd like to purchase the highest rank available for my husband."
As Sophia speaks, she slides a hefty pouch of gold coins across the counter. The clink of metal against wood draws a flicker of attention from nearby adventurers, but Amy's reaction is more subtle. Her eyes dart to the pouch, and for a brief moment, her polished demeanor falters. She glances inside, her brows lifting slightly as she counts the coins.
"Yes, five hundred gold coins will suffice for the Crimson Rank. Shall we proceed?" she asks.
Sophia nods. "Yes, please."
Amy fills out our forms and then hands each of us a small, enchanted crystal. "Please place your hand on the crystal. It will record your magical signature for identification purposes."
Sophia hesitates, her smile faltering for the briefest of moments. "Erm, about that," she says, her voice dropping slightly. "Is it absolutely necessary? We trust the Adventurer's Guild, of course, but we prefer to protect our identities if possible. We are here for just a couple of days to trade with the royal families, dealing in rare monster parts—dragon scales, cyclops' eyes, and… basilisk's fangs."
"Oh, I see."
Amy pauses, her expression changing suddenly. It is now somewhat more serious. Then, she blinks, and her eyes transform, taking on the deep purple hue of amethyst.
Her gaze locks onto me, and a chill crawls down my spine. The air around her seems to thicken, her presence suddenly overwhelming, almost predatory. It's as if she's shed her facade, revealing something far more dangerous beneath. My instincts scream at me to step back, to ready myself for a fight, but I force myself to remain still.
Then, just as quickly as it began, the tension dissipates.
"To expedite our registration, we are willing to contribute an additional two hundred gold coins," Sophia offers, maintaining her composure.
"Oh, certainly," Amy responds, her lips curving into a subtle smile. She winks at me without Sophia noticing, giving me another wave of chills.
Honestly, what's with this dangerous woman? - I think, my mind racing. There's something about her—something that feels evil, calculating, and utterly dangerous.
We proceed to place our hands on the crystal, though it's more for show than function.
With that, the registration process is swiftly completed.
Amy then presents us with our new identification badges. They are sleek, card-like objects displaying our names, ranks, and small portraits that had magically materialized during the registration. My badge is Crimson Rank, while Sophia and Yumi's are Green Rank. They all have corresponding colors.
"Thank you for completing your registration," Amy says, "and I wish you success in your endeavors."
"Yes, thank you very much," Sophia responds.
And with that, everything is settled. We bid farewell to Amy and exit the guild.
However, as I watch Amy's expression one last time, I find her lips curved into a mischievous smile.
———————————-
Moments later, we find ourselves in a quaint tea house, the warm aroma of brewing tea creating a comforting atmosphere. The soft hum of chatter around us provides a discreet cover for our conversation. As we settle into our seats and place our orders, I reach into my pocket, retrieving my identity card.
There's something that has been gnawing at me, a question I dare not ask at the Guild.
"Sophia, do you recognize this?" I ask, sliding the card across the table toward her.
But beneath the identity card lies another, far more inconspicuous one. Its transparency makes it nearly invisible when stacked beneath the main card. If not for the subtle difference in thickness, I might not have noticed it at all.
Sophia's reaction is immediate and alarming. Her eyes widen, her complexion pales, and she visibly tenses.
"Oh gosh!" she gasps, her voice dropping to a frantic whisper. "Put it away! I'll explain later!"
Her reaction speaks volumes. Though she hasn't revealed anything yet, it's clear I've stumbled upon something significant. My curiosity remains unsatisfied, but based on her alarmed response, I already have a vague sense of the gravity of what she's hiding.
"Okay."
I slide the cards back into my pocket, ensuring they're hidden from view.