CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: ANDRI’S PAST

"You can try reading it first." The child understandingly handed a booklet over.

Gauss took it and flipped through briefly. Although unsure about its authenticity, the illustrations made it look quite professional.

It included a simplified map of the town, marking important shops, town zones, the region for the caster apprentice gathering, and its time, as well as precautions and other information.

While called a guide, it’s actually a walkthrough compiled by someone else for travelers visiting Bitter Wormwood Town for the first time.

After verifying the content and feeling it unlikely to be fabricated, Gauss handed over twenty Copper Coins to the child.

Passing through the town center square, he saw that familiar luxurious carriage again just as he passed a bustling tavern. These were the same people he encountered yesterday.

Indeed, their destination was also Bitter Wormwood Town.

While Gauss was observing, coincidentally, the man in the silver-white chain armor shirt walked out of the tavern.

Their eyes met across the space once more, his brows instinctively furrowing.

It’s not surprising for Gauss to be in Bitter Wormwood Town, as he had already inquired about the caravan’s destination yesterday; merely surprising how coincidental the encounter near the tavern was.

After nodding to each other again, neither felt like talking, and soon they parted ways.

Gauss found a reasonably priced inn to stay.

He began to read the guide further and thoroughly.

During detailed reading, he discovered an interesting place aside from the gathering, the Caster Apprentice Mutual Aid Association.

The guide described it as not an official establishment, but rather a loose, spontaneous group by the town’s caster apprentices, with a development history spanning decades, allowing apprentices to exchange information, team up, assist with training, etc., on fair terms.

Considering that the gathering opens only in the evening.

Gauss decided to first visit the Mutual Aid Association to see if there might be unexpected gains.

Following the map from the guide, Gauss eventually arrived at a red-brick, three-story building.

This red-brick building appeared no different from surrounding residences; without the nameplate at the entrance, Gauss would’ve hardly been able to distinguish it from nearby buildings.

"Huh?"

Walking inside, Gauss’s attention was immediately drawn to a statue in the hall.

The statue wasn’t large, only about 90 centimeters tall, positioned on a display stand in the hall’s center, sculpted very detailedly.

Upon closer look, it seemed like a miniature version of an adult woman, standing proudly with arms akimbo, on the high display stand, looking down at him.

Gauss squinted, scanning the statue from top to bottom. The more he looked, the more familiar it appeared, suddenly realizing.

"Isn’t this Andri!"

Examining the statue’s face, it looked almost identical to Andri.

"Welcome to the Caster Apprentice Mutual Aid Association. I’m Vice President Lawrence." A man emerged from the adjacent office.

"Hello, I’m Gauss. May I ask about this statue?" Gauss purposely looked at the statue to confirm his conjecture.

"This is the first President of our Caster Apprentice Mutual Aid Association, Lady Andri, a powerful professional mage." Lawrence replied.

Just as expected! No wonder Andri recommended him here.

His mind drifted back to days past.

"If you wish to fully exercise, I recommend Bitter Wormwood Town; it’s a place where caster apprentices gather for mutual warmth, a location I visited many years ago and heard hasn’t changed much." Andri said seriously before seeing him off.

She mentioned visiting, but here she was the founder of the organization.

Gauss couldn’t help but shake his head.

"Can you introduce Lady Andri to me?" He asked out of curiosity.

Although he’d met half-elf Andri twice and received much care, he barely knew much about her. Now seemed a great opportunity to learn more about her information.

"Haha." Unexpectedly, upon hearing Gauss’s question, Lawrence, the self-proclaimed contemporary vice president, awkwardly scratched his head.

"The era in which Lady Andri established the association is too distant for us; all we know is she’s a kind lady, and reportedly last appeared as a Black Iron Level adventurer." Lawrence answered.

Oh? Gauss caught the last term, Black Iron Level, feeling a bit surprised.

Bronze, Black Iron, silver, Gold, Platinum; these are adventure level classifications by the Adventurer’s Guild.

Don’t let Black Iron Level’s second-tier seemingly inconspicuous appearance fool you.

Gauss once worked as a bottom adventurer and gathered information on potentially reachable levels in advance.

In theory, Gray Rock Town’s highest-level adventurers are Bronze Level, since higher-level commission tasks wouldn’t fall under the Adventurer’s Guild in Gray Rock Town.

Whereas in a city like Barry, Black Iron Level adventurers are considered reputable, capable of handling town-scale crises.

Thinking about when he saw Andri lying in a chair sleepily drooling days ago, he couldn’t help twitching his lips.

He suspected Lawrence might’ve overstated Andri’s level for gilding his association.

Originally, he guessed Andri was likely a Bronze Level adventurer.

Putting aside doubts about Andri’s strength for now, Gauss focused on the visit’s primary goal.

Given its name, the Caster Apprentice Mutual Aid Association’s function was clear.

After discussing with Lawrence, he found no major deviation from expectations.

Mutual Aid Association is its literal meaning, a place where caster apprentices help each other, with no monetary transactions, but labor exchanges.

The most common activities involve skill training assistance, simulated battles, and similar engagements.

"But if you wish for formal membership, you need 5 ordinary member recommendation letters or 1 official recommendation letter, are you aware?" Lawrence inquired.

Recalling briefly, Gauss definitely didn’t have 5 ordinary member reference letters but seemed to have received an envelope from Andri.

Upon opening, it revealed emptiness inside except for a paper stamped with a gold seal.

"Is this it?"

He tentatively presented the letter.

Lawrence received it, a touch of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

The magic tremor felt familiar, similar to one felt on the third floor, a magical remnant from Lady Andri.

Such a magic tremor can’t be faked.

Recalling Gauss asking him earlier about Lady Andri’s information, his gaze toward Gauss felt peculiar.

Though puzzled, since Gauss had an official recommendation letter, indicating he was trustworthy, Lawrence proceeded with assisting Gauss in processing his membership.

A few minutes later, Gauss received his member badge and clarified his reason for visiting.