The newcomer was an elegant young woman wearing a purple robe, with a wide-brimmed hat covering her face, though her curvaceous figure alone was enough to draw attention.

However, what truly made the adventurers erupt with excitement was the silver medal on her chest, which proclaimed her identity as a mage.

Among the many professions on this continent, warriors, assassins, and rangers were the most common and widespread, followed by knights. Since knights leaned toward defense and had weaker solo combat capabilities, they were slightly fewer than the first three, but overall, these four professions made up the choices for the vast majority of ordinary people, accounting for over 95% combined!

The remaining 5% consisted of priests, mages, and alchemists.

Priests possessed powerful healing and blessing abilities; mages could manipulate various elements, overturning mountains and seas with a wave of their hand; and alchemists, who required the most money to train yet were also the most lucrative, could brew various miraculous potions and create extraordinary items.

These three professions were extremely rare and incredibly powerful, thus earning them the title of "noble" professions.

For adventurers who frequently ventured out on expeditions, mages were the most prestigious among them.

Most priests served within churches, and while the potions and various items crafted by alchemists were powerful, their own combat abilities were rather lacking, so they rarely went out.

Only mages, with their devastating destructive power, could potentially become their teammates.

Who wouldn't want to team up with a mage?

If an adventurer party had a mage, they could treat them as the absolute core—no matter what situation they encountered, they only needed to protect the mage, who could naturally solve over 90% of the problems.

Even challenging opponents above their level wasn't impossible!

The records of bards were never short of stories about wise mages, supported by their teammates, defeating powerful enemies.

So, when a mage appeared at the Adventurers' Association, one could imagine how tempting it was.

Even if a naked beauty stood beside them, people's eyes would unhesitatingly focus on the mage.

Not to mention, this mage herself was quite "substantial."

"Mage, do you need teammates?"

"Beautiful lady, might I have the honor of treating you to dinner?"

"Mage, take me with you! I'm sick of desperately hacking away at goblins..."

Some were straightforward, some roughnecks pretending to be gentlemen, and others seizing the chance to go crazy—for a moment, the entire association hall was filled with all sorts of bizarre voices.

As Lin Mo struggled to tear his gaze away from the majestic peaks, his first thought was of the mage scroll hidden in his chest.

If she were a true mage, she would surely be able to decipher that scroll, right?

If he could get some guidance from her...

Lin Mo shook his head and quickly dismissed the thought.

The spell scroll in his possession had many unknown suspicious points—such a precious item appearing in a goblin nest on the outskirts of Roland Forest was truly bizarre.

Moreover, he knew nothing about this mage before him; rashly revealing the item probably wouldn't end well.

As Lin Mo pondered, the young mage waved her hand, declining the adventurers' enthusiastic invitations, and walked straight toward the counter.

By the time Lin Mo snapped back to attention, a fragrant breeze had already washed over him, and the towering peaks were less than half a meter away.

In such a situation, how could anyone resist taking a look?

Lin Mo instinctively glanced, but when he looked up, he met a pair of amused amber-orange eyes.

He smiled awkwardly and averted his gaze. The other party didn't seem to mind and instead turned to look at Lena behind the counter.

"Hello, I'd like to post a mission."

"Please go ahead!"

Lena was clearly very nervous, her whole body tense, and her words slightly stammering.

After all, this was a mage! Even ordinary adventurers weren't too keen on talking to her, let alone a noble mage—without a doubt, this was her first time serving one.

"Help me post a missing person notice. The person I'm looking for is... a disciple of the Saint Antonius Magic Academy."

The words from behind caused Lin Mo's retreating footsteps to pause briefly before he continued as if nothing had happened, hurriedly leaving the association.

As usual, he enjoyed a hearty dinner at Hot Hearth Grill before returning to the inn and carefully locking his door.

The moment he sat on the edge of the bed, Lin Mo let out a long sigh; his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He took out the scroll from his chest, unfolded it, and carefully examined it again.

"Devoted apprentice, set aside all anxiety and restlessness. Only with single-minded focus will the door to magic open for you."

Signed: Saint Antonius Academy Instructor·Archmage Elvith!

The mage who had entered the association earlier was from the Saint Antonius Mage Academy!

She was looking for a missing disciple from the academy, and he just happened to have a spell scroll from Saint Antonius Academy in his possession...

Even if the disciple's disappearance had nothing to do with him, as long as this scroll was in his hands, there was no way to explain it clearly.

He couldn't guarantee that the other party would have enough patience to ask about the scroll's origin rather than simply blasting him to death with a spell.

Fortunately, he hadn't impulsively approached her earlier.

No matter what had happened to that apprentice from the magic academy or whether they were still alive, Lin Mo didn't want to get involved in such trouble.

He only wanted to steadily complete missions, gradually accumulating strength and wealth.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

The sudden knocking made all the hairs on Lin Mo's body stand on end.

"Mr. Lin Mo, are you there?"

Bern's voice came from outside the door. Lin Mo relaxed, carefully tucked the scroll back into his chest, took a moment to calm his breathing, then stood up and went to open the door.

"You don't look too well. Are you injured?"

The moment Bern entered, he asked with concern.

"It's nothing, just a bit tired today. What's up?"

"Here's the thing—we've accepted those two missions. Tomorrow, you..."

"The previous mission is done. I can join you tomorrow."

"Great."

A smile instantly appeared on Bern's face. "I wanted to discuss the details of these two missions with you..."

Lin Mo couldn't clearly remember many of the details Bern mentioned later; his mind was full of the mage he had encountered at the association that evening. He couldn't be sure whether mages in this world had some unknown method to track him through this scroll.

But whether he left the scroll at the inn or discarded it in the city, it would only add suspicion and pointlessly give the searchers clues.

He could either keep it on him at all times or throw it into the forest.

Since they were heading out for missions tomorrow, he would decide then...