Outside, Calder was still waiting by the door, hoping that Rayven had done a successful transaction with the manager.
Clunk…
As soon as the door opened and Rayven came out, he immediately observed the young master's face.
'It must be a good deal…'
"Done already?" He asked.
"For now," Rayven replied as he walked toward the exit. "We'll be back in three days. Until then… I've got some gold to earn."
Calder tilted his head. "Gold for what?"
Rayven smirked faintly. "For getting strong enough to make Veltham regret breathing."
There was no way he'd like how the Veltham pushed their company to this state. They had to do something about them, but for him to help, he had to get stronger.
Calder had no idea how Rayven would do that, but he was here to support him no matter what.
***
Rayven and Calder then left the Aurora Hall…
The Sealed Catalyst was now off his hands, the auction was set, and more importantly, he had secured a smaller fee for the transaction. He felt that it was already a success.
Still, the mention of the newly discovered dungeon stuck in his mind.
From all the books he read, dungeons meant danger, yes, but they also meant profit. And with his Coinbound System, profit meant power.
'I should join its exploration no matter what…' Rayven thought as he needed to find other ways of earning money.
It would be such a waste if he couldn't even use his Coinbound System to its full potential.
Still, if he wanted to explore it—or any dungeon for that matter—he'd need credibility and access just like what the manager said.
Darius had mentioned the Mage Association, and the thought had merit. If he could register as a Tier 1 or Initiate Mage, he could take on mage-exclusive commissions, earn gold faster, and possibly gain entry into dungeon raids.
After all, he did already have three spells in his arsenal: Appraisal, Mana Flick, and Detect Mana Source.
They weren't the most fearsome combat spells, but they were legitimate magic—at least when cast through his system.
For now, however, Darius decided to gather information about the Mage Association, the Adventurer's Guild, including the 17th Dungeon that was recently discovered.
He couldn't just visit those places without knowing what they really were…
As soon as he returned to the gated manor of the Golden Coast Trading, Rayven swiftly visited his uncle to ask a few questions.
Thankfully, Albert was present in his office doing some paperwork.
"Uncle Albert, do you have a moment?" Rayven asked.
Albert looked up as he adjusted the spectacles perched on his nose. "For you, yes—but I'm afraid it won't be long. I have an audience with the city magistrate in half an hour. What is it?"
"I wanted to ask about the Mage Association, the Adventurers Guild, and the new dungeon that I heard about." Rayven said.
Albert gave a faint smile. "Ah. So you're finally interested in those matters. Unfortunately, I can't give you the details now... I'm up to my neck in work."
He waved toward the far end of the room, and soon, Rayven noticed that there was actually another person stacking some books.
"But you can speak with Rennard. He's been my steward for over fifteen years and knows more about the city's guilds and organizations than most people alive."
Rennard, a tall man in his early fifties, stepped forward with a bow. "Young Master Rayven, if you'll follow me, I'll answer what I can."
Rayven followed him into one of the side parlors, a space lined with bookshelves…
Rennard closed the door before speaking.
"Where shall we begin, young master? The Mage Association?"
Rayven nodded.
"The Mage Association is the recognized authority for all mage practitioners within Velmoria," Rennard began…
"They regulate magic use, grant certifications, and manage the archives of magical knowledge. If you wish to be taken seriously as a mage, or gain access to restricted research or some specific dungeons, the Association's approval is the most direct route. They offer ranks from Initiate upwards, and even the lowest rank grants privileges most commoners could never dream of. But… their standards are high, and the entry tests are notoriously difficult."
Rennard paused for a moment to look at Rayven seriously before he continued.
"They wouldn't accept just anyone who had talent in magic or was able to move mana. They needed you to show some real skills and knowledge of magic."
"I guess that's reasonable." Rayven muttered. "And the Adventurers Guild?"
"Far less formal, but no less important. The Guild welcomes fighters, mages, hunters, alchemists, anyone with useful skills. They assign missions ranging from escort work to monster subjugation, and they are often the first to receive dungeon-related contracts. Unlike the Mage Association, they care less about theory or knowledge and more about proven results. If you can complete jobs and survive, you'll rise in rank and gain access to better-paying commissions."
Rayven nodded slowly. This was quite a common concept of the Adventurer's Guild from the book he had read before, nothing too surprising at all.
"And the seventeenth dungeon nearby?"
Rennard smiled after hearing this.
"Ah, the Seventeenth. Discovered just last week in the northern foothills. The entrance is narrow and partially collapsed, but the few teams who have ventured inside have only mapped the outermost chamber. I do not have the complete report, but they found a familiar creature inside… It was something that could be found in another dungeon."
"What kind?" Rayven asked.
"They call them Skitterfangs… Insects the size of wolves, with hard shells and mandibles…" Rennard replied.
"Skitterfang…"
From this description, Rayven already knew that his Mana Flick wouldn't be effective against that.