A Formidable Lineup

"Zeliel, what do you think?" Marcus looked at him inquisitively.

With an assassin joining the team, their overall versatility would improve greatly—scouting, hidden weapons, poisoning, harassment, and more.

And she was an intermediate assassin who had mastered battle aura. At critical moments, she possessed the formidable ability to deliver a fatal strike and finish off a target.

But no matter what, they still had to ask Zeliel for his opinion.

"Hmm... I suppose that works." After thinking it over, Zeliel agreed.

"That sounded awfully reluctant."

Hill rested her cheek on one hand. "You don't want me?"

"I do. Welcome to the team." Zeliel was the first to extend a hand to Hill.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do."

Hill shook Zeliel's hand and chuckled. "There aren't many mages willing to come to the Adventurers' Association for commissions anymore. And you've eliminated so many monsters in succession—the Mist Demon, the Giant Slime, and the Giant-winged Bat. Heh heh..."

Zeliel stiffened.

Why is an assassin gathering so much information on a mage like me?!

I don't have much money for you to rob!

If you want to kill someone, go kill those old bastards at the Mages' Guild!

Zeliel roared inwardly.

"That makes six people in the team."

Marcus looked around at everyone.

Three lower-ranked warriors, one intermediate ranger, one intermediate assassin, and a magic apprentice with exceptional strength.

This was the most luxurious lineup he had ever assembled in his adventuring career.

"We don't need anyone else, right? Six should be enough." Vales said.

"More or less." Zeliel nodded.

Marcus and Gak would hold the front, Gray would provide support, and Vales and he himself would be the absolute core of their damage output.

As for Hill...

She could just act as a free agent.

Assassins were generally positioned as free agents anyway.

Once the team lineup was settled, Marcus led them to the front desk to claim the mission.

"Ella, we'd like to accept this revenge commission."

"All right. May I ask who the team members are?" Ella began recording the information on paper.

"Hold it!"

A rough voice rang out, making everyone's ears ache.

A tall man with short stubble on his chin strode through the crowd toward the counter.

Five teammates followed behind him, each one looking distinctly hostile.

"We're taking this mission!"

The stubbled man slapped the table carelessly, completely ignoring Marcus. "Register us now!"

"Huh?"

Ella looked troubled. "I'm afraid that may be difficult, Mr. Drake... another team arrived first."

"Tch..."

The man called Drake gave a disdainful laugh.

His gaze swept over Marcus and the others, the mockery in his eyes undisguised.

"With just them? They should stay far away. Do they want to go throw their lives away?"

Even the members behind Drake laughed, showing them no respect at all.

"If you don't know how to speak, keep your mouth shut."

Marcus said coldly, "Move aside. We're taking this mission."

"Who are you telling to move aside?" Drake stepped forward.

"Are you deaf?" Gray mocked him outright.

"Just a lower-ranked warrior. No skills to speak of, but quite the temper."

Drake shoved his way forward, his tone fierce. "Looking to die?"

"You want to fight?" Gak stepped directly in front of Drake.

Two warriors behind Drake drew their blades three inches from their sheaths and each took two steps forward.

Gray refused to back down and moved to stand beside Marcus as well.

The atmosphere suddenly turned taut with drawn swords and bent bows.

Hill merely watched the scene from the side with great interest.

She said nothing, but at some point, a small dagger had appeared in her hand, its sharp silver gleam dancing and shifting between her fingers.

"Adventurers, please do not start a conflict inside the Association."

Ella was somewhat flustered. She bowed to both sides. "Please wait. I'll have the person in charge handle this!"

With that, Ella jogged into the room behind the counter.

The surrounding adventurers all watched with expressions of eager amusement.

"Who the hell is this idiot?" Zeliel asked Vales quietly.

"Drake. An intermediate warrior, vanguard type."

Vales recognized these people. They usually acted like tyrants in the Adventurers' Association.

"Besides him, their team has two other intermediate warriors, both swordsmen."

Three intermediate professionals in one team...

Zeliel narrowed his eyes slightly.

They had some capital, all right. No wonder they were so arrogant.

But he wondered whether an intermediate warrior protected by battle aura could withstand one of his Arcane Missiles.

Before long, Ella returned to the front desk, followed by a tall, upright man.

Though gray streaked his black hair and he had passed the age when a man's vitality was at its peak, his chiseled features and tower-like air of strength still displayed unquestionable authority.

Hogan, the person in charge of the Blackstone Town Association.

"Lord Hogan, they're the ones who want to accept the same mission," Ella said respectfully.

Hogan's gaze swept across the room, and Drake and Marcus both moved apart somewhat.

They still had to restrain themselves in front of him.

In his younger days, Hogan had been a high-ranking warrior and a Gold-ranked adventurer with immense prestige.

Now that he had stepped back from the front lines, he served as president of the Blackstone Town branch of the Adventurers' Association.

"President Hogan, we have three intermediate professionals, all warriors. We're strong, and we're definitely more reliable than Marcus's team!"

Drake eagerly introduced his team. "We're determined to win this Goblin extermination mission!"

"President Hogan, we also have two intermediate professionals, an assassin and a ranger, as well as a mage. We have great confidence in completing this mission," Marcus said as well.

Hogan's gaze slowly swept across them. After a moment, he pointed at Marcus.

"Marcus, this mission goes to your team."

"Thank you for your trust, President." Marcus placed one hand over his chest.

"Why?! They have one fewer intermediate professional than we do!"

Drake immediately grew anxious. "President Hogan, this isn't fair!"

"The key to this mission isn't the Orc Goblin, but the White-Haired Goblin."

Hogan glanced at the indignant Drake.

"If you cannot swiftly kill the White-Haired Goblin, the team will fall into a difficult situation. Are you confident you can deal with the magic it casts?"

"Your three intermediate professionals are all warriors geared toward direct confrontation. You could easily be tied down by the Orc Goblins. That is your greatest disadvantage."

Drake's rebuttal caught in his throat.

Drake's team also had six members: three intermediate warriors, two lower-ranked rangers, and one lower-ranked assassin.

Just as Hogan had said, their team's greatest weakness was their lack of a powerful ranged profession to provide firepower.