CHAPTER 98: CHAPTER 92: WARLOCK

So, is he here to submit a quest today?

Petra wondered to herself.

Just as she was preparing to accept the task items and identity badge Gauss was handing over, he didn’t take out the items.

?

Her train of thought paused, unsure of what was happening.

But she quickly went into work mode, a professional smile on her face.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I’m here today to inquire about how exactly to advance to a bronze-level adventurer," Gauss said bluntly.

Petra had actually explained it to him once before.

Essentially, after completing 10 ordinary-level quests, you can gain the right to take on beginner-level quests, and after completing 3 beginner-level quests, you can apply to the Adventurer’s Guild to become a bronze-level adventurer. Once the guild verifies the quest process, a bronze-level badge will be issued.

Though a bit puzzled, Petra just assumed Gauss was preparing for the future, so she patiently explained the rules again.

"Where can I take on beginner-level quests then? I don’t see them in the hall." Gauss glanced at the hall, where the cork task notice board was filled with ordinary tasks for bottom adventurers.

"You need to get them from us receptionists specifically, but have you completed enough ordinary tasks?" Petra winked at him, her tone slightly hesitant. "According to the rules, we need you to show your badge to verify your task history."

ordinary tasks—not much, but no small number either.

With Gauss being so new, he might not have reached that goal yet.

Her intuition was correct.

Gauss’s task history indeed only had 8 ordinary-level tasks completed.

The first was with the Haylir squad, and the remaining seven were with the Levin squad.

Not meeting the prerequisite conditions at all.

But back in Bitter Wormwood Town, he "cheated" by taking two herb collection tasks and then buying the required materials from Lawrence’s herbal shop to submit for completion.

Thus, he quickly spent money to fill the shortfall for 2 ordinary tasks.

However, strictly speaking, this didn’t violate the Adventurer’s Guild’s requirements. Collection tasks just require materials to be submitted, regardless of how they are acquired—whether self-picked and collected or bought.

And for most adventurers, quickly completing 10 ordinary tasks doesn’t matter much, so it’s not considered exploiting a loophole.

"Hmm."

Gauss placed his identity badge on the counter table, waiting for Petra to check.

Petra took it and operated something under the counter.

Soon, she raised an eyebrow.

He actually completed them.

Although the speed of the last two collection tasks was too fast, with an obvious hint of padding, the first eight task histories were genuine battle tasks.

According to the Adventurer’s Guild’s unwritten rules, the proportion of combat-type quests exceeding 60% fulfills the basic requirements.

"Although you meet the requirements for taking beginner-level quests, I must remind you again: beginner-level tasks as assessments are solo tasks and must be completed by the examinee alone. The quest process will be reviewed afterward."

"You can take on 5 assessment tasks, and you need to complete 3 of them. Failing all 5 will result in a one-year cooldown period."

"Are you aware of all this?"

"No problem."

Seeing Gauss still looking somewhat confused, Petra felt a bit anxious inside.

In her view, Gauss was just an innocent newbie.

Completely unaware of the difficulty of advancing as an adventurer, he misunderstood that meeting the basic condition of ten ordinary tasks would allow him to smoothly advance and be assessed as a bronze-level adventurer.

In reality, ten ordinary tasks are not important at all. Many cautious bottom adventurers may complete twenty, thirty, or even more ordinary tasks, and yet still lack the confidence to take on advancement tasks if their abilities are insufficient.

Beginner-level tasks are extremely dangerous for ordinary people, and since they are solo tasks with no helpers, some newly initiated professionals even hesitate to take them on until they thoroughly understand their professional-level skills and carefully choose tasks.

"Gauss, what I mean is, beginner-level tasks can only be completed by adventurers who have advanced professionally. Isn’t it a bit too early for you to take them?"

Petra sighed and, hesitating a bit, gave a gentle warning rather than the usual formal procedure.

Bottom adventurers taking beginner-level tasks either waste their time by hesitating and giving up, or they end up on a self-destructive path. Every year, many new adventurers die from excessive confidence.

In her eyes, Gauss was a promising seedling with a bright future.

As a "guide," she didn’t want to see Gauss throw his life away lightly.

However, Gauss saw it differently.

After a battle with the Mantis People, he had gained a certain understanding of his own strength.

Although he relied on items, it showed that as an apprentice, he had the strength to face a challenge level 1 elite monster, even if he might be at a disadvantage.

And after advancing to a profession, his strength had increased several folds.

After thoroughly practicing various skills in Bitter Wormwood Town over the past few days, he was convinced that his strength should be sufficient to take the assessment.

After all, there’s no reason he couldn’t complete an assessment that most new professionals succeed at.

"No problem, lead me to take the task."

But seeing Petra’s still worried expression, Gauss shook his head.

Petra showed a hint of conflict.

Although she still had doubts about Gauss’s abilities, the Adventurer Association had rules. After Gauss fully understood the situation and insisted, she had to take Gauss, who met the conditions, to select a task.

"Garcia, help me take over the counter for a while." After calling someone over from the lounge at the back of the hall to cover her shift, she waved at Gauss, signaling him to follow her.

Walking on the way to the task reception room.

Her footsteps were somewhat heavy.

She couldn’t help but think of a few newcomer adventurers she had mentored in the past, who, like Gauss, were full of confidence, thinking they could complete beginner tasks. But the truth was, they never returned afterward.

With this thought, a slight sense of guilt arose in her heart.

She led Gauss along the quiet corridor on one side of the hall, walking to the end.

One side of the corridor was a room, very quiet, completely different from the noisy hall outside.

"You’ll come in with me in a moment, but don’t speak recklessly. Inside is a significant figure from our branch." Petra turned her head and said softly to Gauss, then took a deep breath and knocked on the office door.

"Come in."

A mature female voice came from inside.

Gauss followed Petra in.

Sitting behind the office desk was a red-haired woman, her appearance exquisite and beautiful, with a well-defined jawline yet not losing softness. What caught the eye was her orange-brown eyes, with flames seemingly dancing in the depths of her pupils.

"Little Petra, what’s the matter?"

"It’s like this, Lady Shirley, I have an adventurer here who wants to take the bronze-level assessment. I would like to request the one-star beginner commission files as the assessment." Petra seemed to have a lot of respect for the woman in the office, speaking in a much more serious tone.

"There’s no need to make it so complicated. You can just go upstairs and get a task crystal stone." The red-haired woman put down the book in her hand, paused on Gauss’s face for a moment, and then said to Petra, confused.

"Task crystal stone? Isn’t that only usable by professionals?" Petra whispered a question.

The red-haired woman just winked at her.

"But the person you brought is a professional, isn’t he?"

"Huh?" Petra was stunned.

She turned and exchanged a glance with Gauss beside her.

Gauss shrugged helplessly.

"Little Petra, you really should change this bad habit of judging others by their appearance." The red-haired woman chuckled lightly. After saying this, her gaze shifted to Gauss.

"My name is Shirley, I’m a Warlock. And you, this newly minted professional sir?"

From this handsome young man, she sensed a familiar yet strange fluctuation, very peculiar. It was because of this that she took a few more glances at Gauss.

"Gauss, caster." Gauss answered cautiously.

"Haha, cunning newcomer." The woman named Shirley laughed heartily. "However, that’s good. As professionals, we must always remain vigilant towards strangers."

She naturally understood the cleverness in Gauss’s vague response.

Caster is just a general term for a type of profession, which in detail means someone who can cast spells. It could be a Mage, Warlock, Wizard, or an endless variety of sub-professions, even some mysterious professions that have long disappeared.

It was because she sensed the special magic power fluctuation emanating from Gauss’s body that she couldn’t help but feel curious and wanted to trick this rookie.

Unexpectedly, Gauss was so cautious and didn’t fall for it.

But she wasn’t angry.

Instead, she expressed her admiration for Gauss.

Vigilance is a virtue for adventurers. How many adventurers have perished due to negligence and carelessness.

"Then, Lady Shirley, I’ll go upstairs to get the task and recording crystal stones first." Petra’s gaze lingered for a moment on Shirley and Gauss, always feeling the atmosphere was a bit strange.

"You go."

After Petra left,

Shirley gestured for Gauss to sit down.

"Would you like some tea?"

"Thank you."

"Are you a local? Do you have a mentor?"

"Not local, purely self-taught."

"Then your talent is quite good." Shirley shook her head, indifferent to Gauss’s reply.

After chatting briefly,

Petra soon returned with the task crystal stone.

Sensing Gauss’s unease, Petra bowed and then pulled Gauss away from the office.

"Then, Lady Shirley, we won’t disturb you further. We’ll head to the VIP room next door to handle the formalities first."

"Alright."

Only leaving Shirley behind the closed door, she blinked. Was it really necessary to be so cautious just because they chatted a bit longer?

Being dispatched to such a remote little town, it was rare to encounter a newcomer professional who looked interesting. She also wanted to chat a bit more.

But there would always be opportunities in the future.

Shaking her head, she buried her head back into the book in her hands.