Chapter 17: Curiosities Answered
Marcus waited for Elaina’s shift to end. At five-thirty in the afternoon, he saw her walking out in her still cute receptionist uniform. She looked left and then to right as if looking for soone and when her eyes landed on him, she pointed and walked over to him.
"Good afternoon ma’am," Marcus said the mont she got near him.
"Don’t call
ma’am, I’m not that old and we are probably at the sa age."
"Fair enough? So what if I call you a lady? Lady Elaina." Marcus asked with a wink.
"That’s too formal. You can call
by my na. Elaina."
Marcus nodded.
"Alright, Elaina."
She stopped in front of him and folded her arms lightly.
"You’ve been waiting long?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Not really. I got here a few minutes ago."
Elaina glanced briefly at the guild entrance behind them. A few adventurers were still walking in and out while the lanterns along the street were being lit one by one.
The sun was already lowering behind the rooftops of Berm.
"So how long do you work?" Marcus asked.
"We work eight hours a day with a one hour break," Elaina answered.
Hearing that, Marcus was impressed but contained his reaction inwardly. That was a modern work schedule by the standards of the world he ca from.
"So, you ntioned a lot of questions over dinner?" Elaina recalled.
"Oh yes, that’s true. But I’m new to the town and I haven’t fully explored all the best in the town. Perhaps you can suggest a place where we could dine? It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive, just point it out and I’ll pay for every order."
Elaina raised an eyebrow.
"You’re confident."
Marcus shrugged.
"I just got paid. Though it’s not much, I have more in my pockets."
She gave a quiet laugh.
"Well, I know you are trying to impress
but it isn’t really necessary. We can just go to a not so fancy restaurant and you could still have your questions answered by ."
"Works for ," Marcus said.
Elaina nodded once and turned down the street.
"Follow ."
They walked side by side along the evening road. Lanterns hung outside the shops, their light beginning to glow as the sun sank lower behind the rooftops. The crowd had thickened. Workers returning ho mixed with adventurers heading toward taverns after a day of work.
A butcher was closing his stall while a baker carried trays of bread back inside his shop.
Marcus glanced around as they walked.
"So this part of Berm always this busy in the evening?"
Elaina nodded.
"Most people finish work around this ti. Farrs return from the fields, rchants close their stalls, and adventurers co back from quests."
Marcus gave a small hum.
"Makes sense."
They turned another corner and Elaina slowed.
"There."
Marcus followed her gaze.
A modest tavern stood along the street. The building was wooden with a faded sign hanging above the entrance. Warm light spilled from the windows and the sound of conversation drifted outside.
"Not fancy," Elaina said, "but the food is good."
Marcus pushed the door open.
"Good food is all I need."
They stepped inside.
The tavern was lively but not overcrowded. Several long wooden tables were filled with people eating and drinking. A pair of adventurers in leather armor sat near the wall discussing sothing over mugs of ale.
Marcus and Elaina took a table near the side.
A young server approached them.
"Two?"
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
The server placed two cups of water on the table.
"nu’s on the board," she said before walking away.
Marcus glanced toward the chalkboard near the counter.
Boar stew. Grilled river fish. Vegetable soup. Bread and cheese.
He looked back at Elaina.
"What do you recomnd?"
"The boar stew," she said. "It’s popular here."
Marcus nodded.
"Two bowls then."
He raised a hand and called the server back over to place the order.
Once the girl left, Marcus leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Well," he said. "Dinner secured."
Elaina rested her hands lightly on the table.
"And now your questions?"
Marcus smiled faintly.
"Right."
He leaned forward.
"So earlier you ntioned the capital guild branch in Blussel processes over two hundred thousand quests every year."
"That’s correct."
Marcus tapped the table lightly.
"That ans thousands of adventurers working through it."
Elaina nodded.
"Yes."
"And they make tons of money. Now my curiosity is that, can anyone start a similar business?"
"You an operating your own adventurer’s guild?" Elaina said. "As far as I know, only chartered guilds are allowed to operate."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Chartered?"
Elaina nodded.
"Yes. The Adventurer’s Guild operates under a royal charter issued by the Crown of Renshade."
Marcus leaned back slightly.
"So it’s not just so private organization anyone can start."
"No," she said. "The guild has legal authority granted by the kingdom."
Marcus rested his elbow on the table.
"What kind of authority?"
Elaina spoke calmly.
"The right to issue adventurer licenses. The right to post and regulate monster extermination contracts. The right to purchase and transport monster materials."
Marcus nodded slowly. The reason he asked this question was the realization that there is a lot of money to be made from the adventurer’s guild. And since the system works powerfully by having shit tons of money, this is the kind of business he should get into, not so playing adventurers picking herbs or grass or exterminating low-level monsters.
"But what about sothing more private? Like not an adventurer’s guild, more like how would you say this? Private militia?"
"You an a rcenary guild? That’s different. A private person can have one established but in the rcenary business, reputation matters most. Are you planning on starting your own rcenary-like business?"
"Kind of," Marcus replied.
"In that case good luck, but just as I have said, reputation matters. Based on your file, you are not a striking individual for the clients to even consider."
"Well that’ll change when my ti cos..."
The mont he said that, a man suddenly entered the tavern and shouted.
"Wyverns!"
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