Mercenary Guild

The school year ended, and the Ernst Institute welcomed the holidays. Most students chose to return home or travel through Fenlai City in groups. Lin Qin, however, carried his broadsword—carefully wrapped in cloth strips—and headed to the Mercenary Guild in Fenlai City all by himself.

The Mercenary Guild was a massive stone building that looked weathered by time. The men and women entering and exiting were all armed with blades and swords, exuding a rugged aura. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, alcohol, and a faint, lingering scent of blood. The clamor of noise, crude cursing, and the clinking of ale mugs blended together, creating an atmosphere starkly different from the tranquility of the institute.

Lin Qin walked into the hall calmly. The interior was spacious, with massive magic lamps hanging from the ceiling. The most eye-catching feature was the giant magic quest board on the front wall, where text in various colors scrolled constantly, representing quests of different ranks. From the lowest G-rank (finding lost pets, delivering letters) to the highest S-rank (involving Saint Realm powerhouses or national wars), the variety was staggering.

The hall was packed with people. Some stood around the quest board pointing and gesturing, others gathered at tables in the corners to discuss quest details loudly, while some leaned against the walls, cleaning their weapons with sharp, scanning gazes.

Lin Qin's arrival drew some attention. He looked too young; although his build was sturdy and his aura steady, his slightly callow face and the calm temperament that felt out of place in such an environment made him stand out.

"Hey, kid, you in the wrong place? The school district is over there!" a burly man with a scar on his face shouted at him roughly, drawing a burst of mocking laughter.

Lin Qin ignored him and walked straight to the counter. Behind the counter sat an expressionless middle-aged clerk.

"Register as a mercenary," Lin Qin said concisely.

The clerk looked up at him, tossed over a form and a low-level force-measuring crystal: "Fill out the form, test your strength. The minimum requirement is a second-rank warrior or equivalent mage. Registration fee is ten gold coins."

Lin Qin filled out the form efficiently. For name, age, and strength level, he wrote fourth-rank warrior—he habitually kept a bit of his strength in reserve. He then gripped the force-measuring crystal and channeled his battle qi. The crystal lit up with a steady, earthy-yellow glow, the intensity exactly at the level of a fourth-rank warrior.

The clerk confirmed there were no errors, collected the gold coins, and handed him a Black Iron Badge and a small booklet: "Black Iron Badge, G-rank mercenary. The manual contains the guild rules and explanations of quest ranks. Complete quests to earn points; points increase your rank. Alright, next."

The entire process was strictly professional, without a single word of small talk.

Lin Qin picked up the badge, pinned it to his chest, and walked to the quest board. He bypassed the trivial G-rank and F-rank quests, casting his gaze toward the E-rank and D-rank ones.

Most E-rank quests required a certain level of combat capability to complete, such as clearing out a small bandit group, hunting specific first or second-rank Magic Beasts, or escorting short-distance caravans. D-rank quests were more dangerous, potentially involving Magic Beasts above the third rank or more troublesome enemies.

His goal was to hone his skills through real combat and earn some cultivation resources. He carefully read the quest descriptions, evaluating his own abilities.

Ultimately, he chose an E-rank quest:

[Quest Rank: E]

[Content: Escort a small caravan to the neighboring Black Stone City. Estimated travel time: three days. The caravan has three guards of its own; two additional mercenaries are needed to bolster the defense.]

[Requirement: Third-rank warrior or higher, or equivalent mage.]

[Reward: Twenty gold coins, includes food and lodging.]

This quest had relatively controllable risks, the distance was not long, and there were local caravan guides, making it suitable for his first experience. He noted down the quest number and returned to the counter to complete the acceptance procedures.

Following the quest instructions, he arrived at the trade district in the west of the city and found the caravan preparing to depart. Several carriages loaded with furs and ores were ready. The caravan master was a slightly plump, sharp-eyed middle-aged man. In addition to the three guards wearing leather armor and holding weapons, there was another mercenary who had accepted the quest.

He was a man who looked to be about thirty years old, with a lean build, a scimitar slung at his waist, and a weathered look on his face. His aura was roughly that of a fourth-rank warrior. He glanced at Lin Qin, saw the Black Iron Badge on his chest and his young face, and frowned imperceptibly, but said nothing.

The caravan master saw Lin Qin and also hesitated: "Little brother, are you... sure you can handle this? We might encounter wild beasts or even bandits on the road."

Lin Qin didn't waste words; he directly released a trace of his fourth-rank warrior battle qi. The dense, heavy aura made the caravan master and the three guards straighten up.

"A fourth-rank warrior? My apologies, my apologies!" The caravan master immediately put on a smiling face. "With you joining us, this trip will be much more reassuring! My name is Old John, and this is Hake." He pointed to the fourth-rank warrior mercenary.

Hake also nodded at Lin Qin, the contempt in his eyes fading significantly. Strength was the most direct language in the mercenary world.

"Lin Qin," Lin Qin stated his name.

"Good, brother Lin Qin, brother Hake, let's set off!" Old John shouted, and the caravan slowly began its journey, driving out of the west gate of Fenlai City.