Noah Sherlock.
He really wasn't anything special, and Adonis didn't really know too much about him.
He was one of the earliest to desert the team, and he never really learned anything more about him after that.
So how… how in the world did this happen?
'He's the other 6 Star Adventurer in this City?!' Adonis fought to hide his surprise, and he was largely successful, for the most part anyway.
He would never have imagined Noah going that far, so this was yet another irregularity in the timeline that he didn't account for.
So many changes, yet Adonis found it difficult to trace the nexus event.
There had to have been an initial cause, else things would span in an infinite regress—which wasn't possible.
'He looks capable now.' Adonis closely observed Noah and realized just how much the boy had changed.
Noah's donned a long dark brown trench coat, wearing a light piece of metal armor underneath, along with a dark shirt, with matching trousers. His dark brown belt was tightly strapped around his waist too.
He had dark brown boots, and while his outfit was baggy enough for him to hide most of his Enchantments, Adonis could see quite a few.
For example, he had an earring on one ear, two rings on his hand, and then there was the necklace that hung around his neck, with a sword dropping at the center.
All in all, Noah looked the part of an experienced Adventurer, even though it couldn't have been up to a month since he became one.
'Was he that strong when he left? I don't think so…'
If Adonis had to guess, he would say Noah was carried by gear. However, to get good equipment, one needed a lot of money.
Where did Noah see the money required for so many equipment?
"So you're the newcomer, huh? Nice to meet you." Noah smiled as he approached Adonis, displaying a level of confidence he had never seen the previous Noah display.
Adonis had to stand to his feet and accepted the boy's outstretched hand. As both of them shook hands, Noah beamed brightly while he pretended to be slightly nervous.
"My name is Sherlock. Let's get along as fellow Heroic Rank Adventurers."
"My name is Sebas." He responded with a strained smile. "I hope you treat me well."
"Hehe! Leave it up to me!"
As Noah made this statement, in form of a joke, he chuckled a little. To say Adonis was surprised by all of this would be a massive understatement.
He simply took everything in with intense shock.
"Pfft! Leave what to you? Shouldn't it be the other way around?" The moment Noah heard Britta's sarcastic remarks, he turned towards her and fumed.
"Let the matter die, woman!"
"Why should I? I'm just stating facts, you know?" Britta responded with an even bigger smirk.
"Your Party members even had their asses handed to them recently. I wonder how you still have the confidence to show your face around."
"You seem to forget who they were up against."
"Doesn't matter. I'm sure it's because of your incompetence as a leader…" Britta folded her hands and looked away.
"Why you… ahh, I see what you're trying to do."
Noah was about to approach the lady, but he held off from doing so. Instead, he smiled and slapped his hand on his face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't pretend. You're trying to rile me up so we can fight, right?" He sighed, shaking his head.
"I won't fight you, though. There's no need."
"Tch…" Britta clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction and completely cast her gaze away from Noah, finally allowing the boy to cast his gaze in another direction.
"Jet, Lux… it's been about a day, hasn't it? Sorry for not greeting you earlier."
He beamed as he approached them, and they stood in order to shake his hand and offer their greetings.
"It's no problem. Nice seeing you again." Jet responded in his usual gentlemanly tone.
"…"
As usual, Lux said nothing, but her slight nod and firm handshake sent the same message as her professed sibling.
"Welp! The Guildmaster is late again, isn't he?" Noah collapsed on an empty chair the moment he was done with the greetings.
"I suppose I shouldn't even be surprised at this point."
The reason why Noah was present was for the same reason that Britta was. It was a tradition in the Adventurers City that whenever a new Heroic Rank Adventurer was to be announced, the current ones had to be present.
This was reminiscent of the 'passing on the torch' concept, except in a more colloquial manner.
Since the Heroic Rank Adventurers were recognized as the strongest in the Guild, it only made sense that they would share a sense of camaraderie with one another.
As such, everyone that gathered in the room were unofficially recognized to be the closest of comrades.
That was the effect of strength.
"Sorry I'm late…" Without any sign of the door opening, or any sound of footsteps, the Guildmaster made his entry.
As he spoke, he walked past the seated Adventurers so he could get to his position behind the desk.
All the Adventurers displayed some measure of shock once they heard his voice. None had sensed his presence prior to the time he spoke, causing them to react that way.
Even Adonis looked a bit puzzled.
'I'm sure my Passive Skills are all active. Why couldn't I detect him?' He wondered. 'It has to do with his Skill, doesn't he?'
Judging from how effective it was on even him, it had to be an A-Tier Skill, at the very least.
'I never met the Guildmaster in the past, since he died in the Dungeon Conquest, but…' Adonis cast his gaze on the man who now sat before them.
He had an aged face—one that showed him to be in his late fifties or so—with very low gray hair and a bushy beard. The man had an incredibly well-built body, all hidden behind his dark overall suit which resembled a priest's garment.
As he took his seat, his hulking frame rested on the chair and he stared at all of them with his narrow, icy-green eyes.
'… He's pretty huge.'