Large Joint Sweep Commission

After giving it some thought, he guessed that the difficulty of raising attributes was related to his base values.

When he had first crossed over, both his Strength and Constitution had been 4 points.

Back then, he could gain attribute points as easily as if they were being handed out for free with just a little training.

But the attribute related to archery was most likely Perception, and his Perception was already higher than the average person's 5 points.

Simply reaching the Proficient level (LV2) might no longer grant related attributes. He guessed that he might need a higher level.

In addition, he vaguely sensed an invisible ceiling.

It might be 10 points, or it might be 12.

Once he reached that threshold, the limit of an ordinary human, mere physical training would probably no longer bring any qualitative change.

To break through this bottleneck, the only path might be the "classed professional" system.

Only by completing the class advancement ritual could he unlock his body's limits and continue climbing higher.

As for whether becoming a classed professional meant he could only grow stronger by raising his class level, or whether there were other methods of enhancement, Lance currently knew nothing.

"Looks like I need to find some information."

The common introductory books sold in bookstores were clearly not enough. He needed more core information on classed professionals.

Even incomplete class information seemed to be something his panel could piece back together.

Just as he was considering where to ask around for information—

"Creaaak—"

The office door belonging to Supervisor Grayson opened behind him.

Lance instinctively turned around.

He saw Nia struggling out with an enormous roll of parchment in her arms.

The scroll looked rather heavy, and with several boxes of thumbtacks clutched against her chest as well, she walked with an unsteady sway.

"Hey! Lance!"

The moment Nia looked up and saw Lance spacing out, she immediately seemed to have spotted a savior. Happily freeing one hand, she waved at him.

"Come help me out! This thing is too heavy!"

Lance smiled helplessly, rose to his feet, and walked over, casually taking the huge scroll from her.

It weighed heavily in his hands. The parchment was far thicker and finer in texture than ordinary commission sheets, and a striking guild wax seal had been stamped across its header.

"What is this?"

Lance asked as he followed Nia toward the most prominent notice board in the center of the hall.

"The newest guild announcement."

Nia rubbed her slightly aching wrist and took a thumbtack from the box.

"That old guildmaster has finally gotten restless. He's planning something big."

It was still early morning, and only a handful of early-rising adventurers were organizing their gear in the hall. Few noticed what was happening here.

Lance spread the scroll open in the center of the notice board and helped Nia flatten its four corners.

As the scroll unfurled, its contents clearly appeared before Lance's eyes.

The title was written in vivid red pigment, carrying an air of grim menace.

[Copper Creek Forest Region · Large Joint Sweep Commission]

Lance's gaze quickly swept over the main text.

This was actually a call to arms for every registered adventurer in the guild.

And unlike the scattered little jobs of the past, the guild had clearly divided the combat zones this time and had even laid out detailed routes of advance.

Lance was astonished. This was a localized war against the monsters of Copper Creek Forest.

Standing before the notice board, Lance followed the red title downward with his eyes and carefully read the entire call to arms.

It had to be said that the guildmaster, who usually seemed capable only of calculating every copper coin, had made a major investment this time.

That shrewd old guildmaster had actually spared no expense, forcibly transferring a group of veteran classed professionals back from the more profitable dungeon to serve as the main force.

The call also clearly stated that all freelance adventurers had to register in teams.

When the time came, the guild would divide Copper Creek Forest into different combat zones and arrange for each team to advance along designated routes, plowing through the entire area as if combing hair.

But after carefully studying the advance map, Lance realized that the guildmaster had not been arrogant enough to try to completely sweep Copper Creek Forest.

That was unrealistic. Only a regular army corps could accomplish something like that.

The objective of this operation was very clear: merely push the human activity zone five kilometers toward the center, focusing on clearing out monster nests and hidden caves that threatened the forest's outer regions.

"This is quite the undertaking..."

Lance rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

That cautious, steady, step-by-step approach made him seriously suspect that the guildmaster had once served in the kingdom's regular army when he was younger.

Lance was actually quite looking forward to this operation.

After all, once the sweep succeeded, the danger level around Copper Creek Forest would plummet, and the stability of the environment would rise accordingly.

Then, whether gathering herbs or hunting solitary monsters, it would become much safer.

"I heard it's because the guildmaster reached a cooperation agreement with Violet Academy."

Standing beside him, Nia casually spoke as she organized the box of thumbtacks.

"That old man is making such a big show of it because he probably wants to clear the field before those pampered students arrive."

"After all, if those students show up and immediately get themselves killed, it won't be easy to explain to the academy."

"Students?"

"Why cooperate with them?"

Lance asked, somewhat confused.

He had only been involved in adventurer circles for a short time, after all, and there were still many things he did not understand very well.

"Did you forget about the dungeon mana riot a few months ago?"

Nia sighed and held up a finger, waving it in front of Lance.

"Back then, mages suffered the worst casualties."

Lance nodded. That major casualty incident had happened not long after he joined the guild, and he still remembered it vividly.

In an adventuring party, mages might possess formidable offensive power, but they were also the frailest. Once unexpected danger struck, they often had the lowest survival rates.

That disaster had practically wiped out an entire generation of local mages in Grayrock Town. Now, it was hard to find even someone on the street who could conjure a fireball.

"But sweep commissions can't do without mages."

Nia explained.

Lance froze for a moment, then understood what was at stake.

In a standard adventuring party composition, a mage's importance was irreplaceable.

Even mage apprentices who had not yet officially taken up a class possessed basic spells with area damage that physical classes could not compare to.

Especially when facing monster hordes like goblins, which relied on numbers to win, a mage's Fire Ring Spell was often more useful than three warriors hacking away with swords for half the day.

Not to mention specialized sweep operations.

Destroying monster nests, purifying contaminated land, and dispersing poisonous gas from caves—none of that dirty, exhausting work could be done without spellcasters.