As the sun sets, casting a warm glow over Befardo, Caiser looks at Liam with a mix of concern and curiosity. "The night is coming. Do you have a place to sleep?" he asks.
Liam shrugs, glancing around at the unfamiliar streets. "I don't. Ray, help me out here—what's the cheapest place to stay?"
Ray's voice comes through in his usual joking manner. "The cheapest place? The footpath."
Liam clenches his fist, annoyed. "Be serious for once, Ray."
"Fine, fine," Ray replies, his tone still hinting at amusement. "The Butterfly Inn is your best bet. It's called the beginner's starting point because it's affordable and popular with novice adventurers. But if you want better accommodations, the Sky Casket offers luxurious facilities—of course, that's only if you have the money."
"Butterfly Inn," Liam says confidently, surprising Caiser.
Caiser raises an eyebrow. "You haven't been here before, have you? How did you know about the Butterfly Inn?"
Liam smirks. "From somewhere you don't need to know about."
Caiser narrows his eyes but doesn't press further. "Alright, let's meet here tomorrow morning."
"Sure," Liam replies with a casual wave. "But there's a place I want to visit first."
"Where?" Caiser asks, now a bit worried. "Do you need any help finding it?"
Liam laughs lightly. "No, I've got it. Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble… at least not for you."
Caiser smirks, turning away. "Good, because I wouldn't help even if you did."
With that, Caiser leaves, disappearing into the bustling streets of Befardo. Liam sits down under a tree, gazing up at the darkening sky.
Ray breaks the silence. "So, where exactly do you want to go?"
"The Martiers Arena," Liam replies as he stands up, ready to explore. "I want to learn more about it."
Ray sighs, but there's a hint of excitement in his tone. "The Martiers Arena, huh? Alright, listen up. The arena is managed by both the Adventurer's Guild and the royal castle. You know about the guild—they handle monster parts, confirm kills, and pay out bounties. In Befardo, there are over 50,000 registered adventurers. Globally, the number is around 600 million. The guild system is standardized across all countries, making it easy for adventurers to cross borders. Your guild card also serves as a pass, offering various benefits. However, keeping your card active requires paying a monthly tax of 2 silver coins. If you don't pay for six months, congratulations—you've got a bounty on your head, equal to half of what you owe."
"So if I skip the taxes, my head will be worth at least 6 silver coins," Liam comments with a smirk.
"Exactly," Ray confirms. "Killing people is strictly forbidden in royalty-regulated areas, even with a valid reason. In noble regions, you can only kill with proper justification."
"Got it. Now, about the arena?" Liam presses, eager to learn more.
"Where do you think all the guild money goes?" Ray continues. "Aside from taxes to the royalty, most of it is invested back into adventurer welfare. The Martiers Arena is one of those investments. Every day, there's a contest open to anyone—even those without a guild card can join. You're allowed to participate only once a week. The rewards change daily, and today's first-place prize is a week-long stay at the Sky Casket, including meals. That's worth 50 silver coins. Compare that to the Butterfly Inn, which costs just 1 silver coin for a fortnight without food."
Liam's eyes light up with excitement. "Lucky me. I should hurry then. The arena opens at 6:00 PM, and it's only 17 minutes away."
"It takes about 13 minutes to walk there," Ray warns. "You'd better pick up the pace."
"Are there strong opponents there?" Liam asks as he quickens his pace.
"There are seven otherworlders currently in Befardo," Ray says casually. "But you're one of the few who started with five unique skills, so you're likely stronger than most."
Liam's eyes widen. "Seven otherworlders? Here?"
"Befardo is twice as large as your old city," Ray explains. "You'd have to be very unlucky to run into one of them by chance."
Following Ray's directions, Liam arrives at the imposing Martiers Arena. He heads straight for the registration desk, where a clerk hands him a needle and a parchment with a blank square on the front and jumbled text on the back.
"Ray, can you read this?" Liam asks, squinting at the messy writing.
"Of course," Ray replies smoothly. "It's a waiver. It says you can use any method to incapacitate your opponent, but killing them will result in severe penalties. You're responsible for any injuries you sustain. To register, prick your finger and place a drop of blood in the box."
Liam nods and pricks his finger without hesitation, pressing it against the square. "Is it done?"
"Yes," Ray confirms. "Now, show the paper to the guard and head inside."
Liam follows Ray's instructions, presenting the paper to the guard. He's directed through a door and into a large waiting room filled with people of all ages and sizes.
"How many participants?" Liam asks.
"At least 45," Ray estimates.
"How are they going to choose the winner with this many people?" Liam wonders aloud.
Ray chuckles. "The queen decides the format. She enjoys watching strong fighters in action."
Just then, Ray interrupts Liam's thoughts. "Here comes one of her butlers. The registration period must be over."
A tall, elderly man enters the room, radiating a powerful aura that immediately silences the crowd.
"The selection time has ended," the butler announces in a commanding voice. "We have 56 participants. You will be divided into seven teams of eight. Each team will compete in one-on-one matches until round four. After that, the format will change."
Hearing this, Liam's lips curl into a smile. "A team fight, huh? Sounds interesting."
Ray's voice rings in his head, filled with anticipation. "Yes, it's going to be very interesting."
Liam looks around at his potential teammates, feeling a rush of excitement as the room buzzes with energy. The night had only just begun, and it promised to be thrilling.