"Come in."
Gauss and Petra stepped into the office.
Shirley glanced up and immediately recognized the rookie adventurer who had piqued her interest the last time. Her gaze lingered on him for a second longer than necessary—after all, regardless of gender, good-looking people tend to get noticed. And as a warlock with a magical bloodline, Shirley's attraction to beauty was even stronger than most.
"Lady Shirley," Petra began, "Adventurer Gauss has completed all three promotion assessments. Please verify."
"Already?" Shirley raised an eyebrow as she took the recording crystal. She closed her eyes briefly, focusing, and then reopened them, her brown irises shimmering with curiosity.
"It checks out."
"Congratulations, Gauss. From this moment on, you're officially a Bronze-ranked adventurer."
Hearing that, Gauss finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
He wasn't jumping for joy or anything—actually, he felt strangely calm.
Maybe it was because he'd been confident all along. With strength far beyond a typical rookie, Gauss had never doubted he'd pass. So when the confirmation came, it felt less like a victory and more like the natural next step.
Still, he was happy.
"Come here for a sec," Shirley said, rising to her feet and walking over to a plain pedestal in the corner of the room.
"Put your hand on it."
"What's this for?"
"Registration. You'll get your official Bronze badge. It's a special magical item that links to your spiritual signature and syncs with the central guild database. No matter which branch you visit, your badge will verify your status and unlock your privileges."
Gauss placed his hand on the pedestal. It lit up briefly under his palm and then returned to normal.
He didn't feel anything in particular.
"All done," Shirley said.
As Gauss lifted his hand, a gleaming badge appeared on the platform.
About the size of an egg, the badge had a sleek indigo gradient, a six-pointed star at the center, and a green glow around the edges—like wisps of ethereal flame.
Minimalist design, but still stylish.
"That's your official Bronze Adventurer badge. Take good care of it—if you lose it, a replacement costs one gold coin."
"One gold?! For this little thing?" Gauss turned, stunned.
"Yup. Doesn't matter which guild branch—replacement always costs a gold."
Realizing she wasn't kidding, Gauss clutched the badge tightly. No way was he losing something this expensive.
"The badge also tracks your quest history."
"Oh, and don't forget your reward—1 gold and 30 silver from your last job."
"Thanks for the heads-up."
"And one more thing—the guild now gives all new Bronze adventurers a welcome kit. You're lucky. This benefit was added only in the last ten years. Back in my day, we didn't get squat."
Shirley conjured several items from thin air and laid them out on the desk.
"First, a Meditation Manual. I don't know your exact class, but most magic-based jobs rely on this. Meditation helps you gradually build and stabilize your mana."
Gauss nodded.
Andeni had told him about this. It was basically a magical training guide for mana control. Before hitting pro status, reading it could fry your brain. But once you were strong enough mentally, it became a key tool for progression.
Shirley was right—nowadays it was part of the newbie package. Lucky him.
"Next is the Monster Guidebook—a field manual with profiles and weaknesses for common monsters. Essential reading for any adventurer."
"Here's the Adventurer Handbook, too. It has answers to all your FAQs—how to level up, rank advancement, guild perks, and more."
"And last but not least—5 gold coins, as a starting bonus."
"That's everything."
"Wow—thank you!" Gauss said, beaming as he accepted the bundle.
Everything in it was exactly what he needed.
The meditation guide would help his mana training. The monster compendium would expand his combat knowledge. The handbook would clear up any confusion about his career path. And the 5 gold coins? That was a huge bonus—just in time for his upcoming shopping trip.
He hadn't earned that much even after grinding through three major quests.
It felt nice to finally receive something without bleeding for it.
"Well, I won't keep you," Shirley said with a knowing smile. "I'm sure you've got a lot to do now."
She didn't press him for small talk like last time, even though it was obvious she wanted to. She knew how it was—new Bronze adventurers always had things to handle after promotion.
"Thanks again," Gauss said, and with that, he and Petra exited the office.
"Heading to the second floor?" Petra asked with a smirk.
"Yup," Gauss replied.
He'd watched so many others climb those stairs. Now it was finally his turn.
And he wasn't just going up there to window-shop. He had plans.
The guild hall buzzed with its usual crowd.
"I'll grab your commission payout," Petra offered, taking his badge.
Moments later, she handed him a coin pouch.
Gauss peeked inside—1 gold, 30 silver. Perfect.
He gave Petra a nod and headed for the staircase at the front of the hall.
Two armored guards flanked the steps.
Gauss flashed his brand-new Bronze badge. The guards saluted and let him through.
Adventurers around the hall quietly took note.
Young guy. Black hair, green eyes. Carries a rapier. Not someone to mess with.
Gauss stepped onto the red-carpeted stairs, his heartbeat speeding up.
The stairs split halfway up, allowing access to the second floor from either side.
One step. Two steps.
Finally—he reached the second floor.
The view was completely different.
Spacious. Bright. The ceiling high and open, natural sunlight streaming in.
Compared to the cramped chaos of the first floor, this place felt like a whole different world.
Everything below seemed muted—almost soundproofed.
In the center of the hall, a glass dome let in the open sky, a vibrant blue that instantly lifted the mood.
Shops lined the perimeter—spell vendors, equipment sellers, specialized quest booths. Comfortable seating areas were scattered throughout. Small groups of elite adventurers, clad in high-end gear, sat chatting quietly.
Everyone here looked like they meant business.
And now, Gauss was one of them.