Jean continued her explanation with a more serious tone.
"For the Trakan Village mission, the minimum party size is five. We don't want anyone taking unnecessary risks by going alone or in a small group. However, there is an exception if one of the members holds a Silver Guild badge." She glanced toward a corner of the room where a woman with long white hair and sharp eyes sat alone at a table, reviewing some notes.
"That woman with the white hair is interested in the same mission. I suggest you talk to her. She's a Silver badge holder, and if you can recruit her, the Guild will allow you to take on the mission with just four people instead of five."
Ethan shifted his gaze to where Jean was pointing, observing the white-haired woman carefully.
Her eyes were piercing, her expression calm but intimidating, and from her posture, Ethan could immediately tell she was someone with great combat experience and exceptional skill.
"A Silver badge holder, huh?" Ethan murmured quietly, his eyes fixed on the woman. "Alright, Jean. I'll try speaking with her."
Jean nodded, giving a small smile before returning to her work.
"Good luck, Ethan. She's not the easiest person to approach, but if you can convince her, your team will be much stronger with her on your side."
Ethan took a deep breath and made his way toward the table where the woman was sitting. Every step felt filled with a subtle tension, as though he were approaching a resting lional ert but yet to bare its fangs.
He stopped in front of the table, looking directly at the white-haired woman, who was still focused on her notes.
"Excuse me," Ethan began, his tone polite but firm.
"I heard you're interested in taking on the Trakan Village mission. My name is Ethan, and I'm planning to take that mission as well. Perhaps we could work together?"
The woman didn't respond immediately. She remained silent for a few moments, slowly closing her notebook before lifting her gaze to meet Ethan's.
Her eyes were dark green, filled with calculation and hidden power. There was a cold aura around her, making Ethan feel that every word he spoke had to be chosen carefully.
"You want to work with me?" she finally spoke, her voice flat but carrying a hint of challenge.
"I don't like working with strangers, especially those who seem inexperienced." She glanced at Ethan from head to toe, assessing his capabilities in an instant.
Ethan gave a small smile, accustomed to the skeptical attitude of more seasoned adventurers. "I understand your hesitation, but I'm not just any adventurer. I have skills that could be useful in this mission, and Jean mentioned that if we work together, we can start the mission with a smaller team, meaning we can move faster and more efficiently."
The woman stayed silent again, her gaze not leaving Ethan, as if she were trying to read beneath his surface. "Your name?" she asked briefly.
"Ethan," he replied, keeping his voice calm.
"I'm Nyssa," she said curtly, her expression unchanged.
"And I'm a Silver badge holder for a reason. If I agree to work with you, you will follow my rules. I won't tolerate anyone slowing me down. Trakan Village is full of danger and mystery, and I don't have time to babysit those who can't take care of themselves."
Ethan nodded, accepting her conditions without protest. He knew that recruiting someone like Nyssa would make his journey much easier. "I understand. You lead, and I'll follow. What matters most is completing the mission safely and successfully."
Nyssa seemed to consider Ethan's words before finally giving a slow nod.
"Alright. We'll work together, Ethan. But remember, one mistake from you, and I won't hesitate to leave you behind." Her eyes glinted with a subtle threat behind her flat tone, but Ethan knew it was just her way of testing his seriousness.
"I won't disappoint you," Ethan said confidently.
Nyssa stood from her chair, her movements calm and deliberate, as if every action was carefully planned.
"If we want to succeed in Trakan Village, we'll need two more people to meet the Guild's minimum requirement. I know of a pair we can recruit. They're siblings one's an expert archer, and the other's a three-circle mage who frequently takes missions in the surrounding forests. Let's go meet them."
Ethan followed Nyssa out of the Guild, feeling that this partnership, though tense at the start, would be the key to his success in the dangerous and mysterious mission at Trakan Village.
And perhaps, beyond the mission, he might uncover the deeper knowledge he needed to fully understand and control the Devourer Power that was growing stronger within him.
In his mind, Valdraxx chuckled softly, as though he knew the real challenge had just begun.
"Nyssa is strong, but she's also very cautious. You'll need to be careful, Ethan. She could be an ally... or a threat."
Ethan simply smiled faintly. "I'll make sure she becomes an ally, not a threat."
With that, the two of them walked out of the Guild, heading toward a greater and more dangerous adventure.
The Trakan Village mission was now within reach, and Ethan knew this was only the beginning of something far larger.