Adventurers Hall was bustling with people.

The layout of Lincrest Town's Adventurers Guild building was quite similar to Grayrock Town's, both divided into two floors. The center featured a wide mission bulletin area and public service counters, while the second floor was reserved for areas only professionals could access. However, unlike Grayrock Town's rugged, practicality-focused style, Lincrest Town's guild hall was decorated with numerous potted plants. Emerald green vines climbed up stone pillars, creating a vibrant scene. Large-leaf spider plants, brightly colored phalaenopsis orchids, and various unnamed ferns were cleverly arranged in corners, windowsills, and area dividers, injecting a rare freshness and natural atmosphere into what should have been a sweat-filled space, slightly easing the tension that should have filled the air.

Currently, the first floor hall was filled with adventurers everywhere. Warrior apprentices wearing worn leather armor, ranger apprentices carrying bows and arrows, mage apprentices hugging staffs while whispering discussions, and newcomers who might have just arrived from distant towns covered in dust all crowded into the hall. Gathering in small groups of three or five, they whispered to each other, exchanging hearsay and unverified information in hushed tones, creating a buzzing background noise.

These past few days, the unusual activities in Emerald Forest had undoubtedly captured the attention of many low-level adventurers. Even though many of them had never been to Outpost 11 and didn't plan to have any involvement with this border outpost, this didn't mean the outpost's fall had nothing to do with them. In fact, this might be closely related to everyone's life and adventures.

The most direct impact, and the most discussed point, was that the number and activity frequency of nearby monsters might increase. Without the threat and clearing from the outpost, monsters from the forest depths might further expand their territory outward. This meant that when adventurers executed commissions around Lincrest Town's surrounding villages, farms, and more remote areas, they would need to be more vigilant even during travel, paying closer attention to any signs of movement. Who knew from which previously considered safe woods or abandoned mines a few cunning Goblins or Gnolls might jump out? For low-level adventurers relying on peripheral low-level tasks for survival, future work risks had undoubtedly increased.

However, besides these obvious risks, some keen-nosed adventurers also realized this turmoil wasn't entirely without benefits. Danger and turbulence often came with more commissions and higher rewards. Just like now, as morning staff posted "freshly released" commission task sheets on the bulletin board, numerous low-level adventurers instantly crowded around. Town garrison patrol and sporadic monster clearing commissions;

merchant guilds recruiting experienced adventurers for escort duties to ensure trade route safety to other towns;

plus many extermination and collection tasks. Rewards were generally more generous than usual.

"I saw this commission first, sorry."

"Stop crowding!!"

"Captain, this mission location is too far, we should pick another one."

"..."

However, besides these obvious risks, some keen-nosed adventurers also realized this turmoil wasn't entirely without benefits. Danger and turbulence often came with more commissions and higher rewards. Just like now, as morning staff posted "freshly released" commission task sheets on the bulletin board, numerous low-level adventurers instantly crowded around. Town garrison patrol and sporadic monster clearing commissions;

merchant guilds recruiting experienced adventurers for escort duties to ensure trade route safety to other towns;

plus many extermination and collection tasks. Rewards were generally more generous than usual.

After observing the first floor hall for a while, the team walked up the side stairs to the second floor. Unlike the noisy first floor, the second floor environment was much quieter. Thick carpets absorbed footsteps, walls hung with oil paintings depicting famous adventure scenes or trophy decorations. The number of people wasn't small, but most were professionals with steady auras and excellent equipment, either sitting in comfortable sofa areas conversing, leaning against railings overlooking the downstairs hall, or standing before specific task bulletin boards examining those more difficult commissions.

Due to the previous Outpost 11 garrison incident, Lincrest Town currently gathered more professional-level adventurers than ordinary towns. Some came from surrounding small towns, some from more prosperous inland areas. Gauss even saw several teams wearing elite 5-star badges. Adventurers of this level were almost the ceiling ordinary people could contact. Because adventurers at this stage might occasionally take lower-difficulty public town commissions for various reasons, but once promoted to Master stage, they often focused on more secretive, significant event commissions, generally active around large cities, or recruited by major forces, gradually fading from ordinary adventurer and civilian social circles.

Not only Gauss secretly watched those elite five-star teams, others were also whispering discussions. The gap between professional-level and professional-level adventurers was larger than the gap between professionals and low-level adventurers. Several 1-star adventurers looking toward the advanced team leaning against the railings showed envious expressions on their faces.

They were looking at a Dwarf, standing under 5 feet tall but with an extremely burly build. He had russet-colored beard, wore a set of heavy plate armor shimmering with magical luster, held an almost person-height heavy tower shield carved with mountain runes in his left hand, while his right hand gripped a heavy warhammer. Beside him stood another tall human female mage, wearing a deep blue close-fitting mage robe of fine texture with silver-threaded edges, robe hem fluttering without wind, faint icy crystal-like micro-light flowing. She had silver hair tied back with a simple mithril hairband, revealing a smooth forehead and slightly pointed ears. The third teammate was a male priest wearing spotless white ceremonial robes, golden short hair meticulously combed.

"That must be 'Iron Hammer'!"

"Heard he's from the Ironheart Clan of the Dwarf Kingdom." A tall, thin adventurer lowered his voice speaking to companions. "They say this clan has lived at volcano foothills for generations, extremely skilled at forging equipment. If only I could buy their clan's masterwork someday." His gaze lingered on the Dwarf's warhammer and tower shield, equipment even laymen could tell had exceptional quality.

His companion hearing this exclaimed in admiration: "No wonder they held out so long on the city walls that night. That priest is 'Light Healer' Elton? He healed my injuries..." Gauss listened to other low-level adventurers' whispers and nodded understandingly. Seems that night, "stealing the spotlight" wasn't just him—other famous teams also shone brilliantly elsewhere. But from low-level adventurers' discussions, besides him, most remembered were level 5 adventurers. Professionals at this level had significant strength improvements.

"Dragonkin Gauss is here too." Gauss's arrival also attracted considerable attention. "Gauss? He's an adventurer from our Grayrock Town, though people there call him Goblin Killer." Among the adventurers were also people from Grayrock Town, hearing this proudly introduced to those around them with shared honor. "Goblin Killer? Why's he called that strange title? Any reason? Details please." "It's like this..."

Gauss's trio arrived at the service counter, explained the specific situation to the receptionist, and soon someone guided them to a meeting room. Approximately twenty minutes later. Gauss's trio left the meeting room. The response received was quite satisfactory—although Outpost 11 had completely fallen, since the Black Forest investigation task was previously accepted and personally issued by Lincrest Town Adventurers Guild leader Rich, even though Rich was currently away, the local adventurers guild wouldn't renege. They just needed to explain the situation to upper leadership and apply;

rewards should come in about five days. So Gauss's trio hadn't worked in vain.

Exiting the meeting room. A loud voice with distinctive Dwarven accent suddenly sounded in the relatively quiet second floor space. "Hey, young man over there!" He stretched out a thick arm waving toward Gauss's direction, russet beard shaking with his movement. The speaker was precisely that level 5 Dwarven adventurer just being whispered about. Gauss looked around, confirmed no one nearby, pointed at himself with a confused expression. "Yes, stop looking at others—it's you! Young man, let's get acquainted."

His completely unconcealed shout instantly made many people's gazes on the second floor focus over. Gauss slightly frowned but didn't say anything more. The other's voice was a bit loud, but his tone held no other offensive meaning;

instead, it carried some familiarity. The Dwarf strode over to Gauss. When he came close, Gauss realized he was truly short. Probably slightly taller than Andni—if excluding his curly hair, maybe even shorter. He had to lower his head to see the other clearly. Though the Dwarf wasn't tall, his presence wasn't weak;

he calmly looked up meeting Gauss's eyes.

"I'm Thorin·Mithril, you can also call my nickname 'Iron Hammer', from the Ironheart Clan." The Dwarf proudly announced his name while curiously looking Gauss up and down, especially his right hand. "I'm Gauss, from Grayrock Town." Gauss didn't know what this level 5 adventurer wanted with him but simply introduced himself. "I know you—you're that 'Dragonkin' Gauss who transformed on the city walls, tore apart Bear Monsters with claws, right? Not bad, really not bad..."

Dwarf Thorin placed hands on hips, his huge warhammer making a soft thud on the thick carpet. He looked at Gauss, gaze showing some appreciation. After that night at Outpost 11, Gauss had indeed started gaining some fame—many people saw his transformation that night. On one hand, this indeed related to that dragon form being relatively rare in border towns;

on the other hand, it was inseparable from his profession. Since he later demonstrated spellcasting ability, many thus learned he was a spellcaster. And spellcasters with such "brutal" combat styles, skilled in close combat—even not limited to small town surroundings—were truly not common. Just many low-level adventurers didn't dare approach him for conversation.

But as a level 5 adventurer team member, Dwarf Thorin had no such reservations—he always had favor for powerful adventurers. "Nancy, you should learn more from this young brother—this is your mage role model." Dwarf Thorin turned head speaking boldly to his companion, that blue-robed human female mage. The female mage glanced down at the Dwarf, ice-blue eyes showing no fluctuations, only a kind of helplessness looking at a fool. "Learn from him tearing enemies apart with claws? Thorin, my spellbook doesn't have this skill... Perhaps you should go to the Royal Mage Academy, suggest they start a close-combat mage crash course, personally teach how to attack with headbutts—how does that sound?" "Oh right, you might need a teaching assistant since jumping up for headbutts only reaches others' knees."

Aria, originally silently watching nearby, instantly laughed hearing this, then quickly covered her mouth. Dwarf Thorin was angered enough to blow at his beard but seemed already accustomed to this teammate's speaking style, grumbling deeply: "Wasn't I praising his impressiveness? Being able to fight and tank makes a good man. Like you fragile mages, shattering at one touch, so worrying..." "Next time your beard freezes, I won't help thaw it."

Watching these two argue right before him. Gauss relaxed slightly. Though all level 5 professionals, they didn't seem difficult to talk with. Or perhaps, his strength had gained their recognition, hence showing equal attitude. "Ahem!" After arguing with companion female mage Nancy, Thorin coughed violently twice masking embarrassment. "Anyway, Gauss. You're quite good, I appreciate vigorous youngsters like you!"

He patted his thick breastplate, making clanging sounds: "How about it? Interested in joining my team?" Oh. Gauss finally had an epiphany. So here came another recruitment attempt. Just like Iron Arms team's Quick before, though this time the recruiting party had higher levels—already an elite full level 5 team, just one step from promoting to Master rank. The trio before him gave off strong presence too.

Thorin stared intently at Gauss, gaze lingering on Gauss's level 3 badge momentarily. How about it? My recruitment should be quite attractive, right? For him? He truly admired Gauss. When Gauss led the team charging out from the shantytown that night, he was leading defense against shantytown monsters at camp center, witnessing firsthand that violent combat style of tearing monsters apart. Thorin's teammates Nancy and priest Elton also cast glances toward Gauss. Though usually often found Thorin unreliable, regarding recruiting Gauss, they had no objections;

besides, Thorin had already mentioned this idea to them earlier. On one hand, his strength was indeed good—though a spellcaster, could also serve as melee profession, supplementing current team's shortage of only Thorin as warrior. On the other hand, from his willingness to actively escort dozens of low-level adventurers and soldiers fighting back from city walls to camp center, could tell his character was probably not bad, at least not some villain.

"Sorry, appreciate your invitation, Thorin."

"Eh?!" Dwarf Thorin's eyes widened—he didn't expect his invitation getting rejected so decisively.

"I told you, Thorin." Nancy pursed her lips. Recruiting geniuses was never easy—such people had their own pride.

"Is it because of these two teammates? If really necessary..." Dwarf Thorin hesitated for a moment, still attempted salvage.

"Sorry, my current team is just fine."

Somehow, Gauss disliked joining others' led teams from heart.

"O...okay." Dwarf Thorin opened then closed mouth, face showing some disappointment.

"Perhaps you could join my team later." Maybe finding Thorin quite interesting, Gauss joked.

Hmph, don't look down on people, kid. I'm Ironheart Clan's genius warrior!" Dwarf Thorin angered by Gauss's words enough to blow beard glare eyes. "Not joining then forget it, wait until I promote to Master stage later, even if you want to join then... I won't agree either." Though he quite admired Gauss, being invited to join a team by a low-level adventurer, even if later, was too insulting.

"Just joking." Gauss waved hand.

"Then I forgive you, kid. By the way, I've got some decent work here—interested in doing something big together?"

Huh?

Gauss thought the interaction had ended, never expecting Dwarf Thorin to bring up a new topic. Instantly his gaze toward Thorin filled with suspicion. Do something big? Surely not robbery? Quick-money jobs were all written in kingdom laws. And with such good deals, why seek out a level 3 adventurer like him on first contact? So suspicious...