Rex spent another hour or so, negotiating with Riley, earning a few extra coins, while sharing some of the lesser methods to learn of someones natural affinity for magical elements, basic or otherwise. Riley in turn could only shake his head and sigh in defeat. The methods ranged, starting from extremely simple ones to incredibly complex, depending on the element they wanted to figure out. Regardless, Riley was jolting down everything Rex said, as if the older man was back in his youth, meticiously scribbling down the words of his magic proffesor, afraid that not jotting down even a single word would be paramount to sacrilege.
Riley did slip in a few questions in regard to what Rex did to hide his usage of his space storage, only to recieve some cryptic response about seperate spaces anchored to living beings and their different wavelenght when compared to ones anchored to inanimate objects and how it is simple to hide said wavelenght once you are aware of it. Riley, who had developed his skill true sheer luck, not some meticuluous planning and experimentation, could barely follow the theoretical explanation, let alone apply it in practice. To him, it felt like Rex was trying to explain colours to a blind man since birth.
"Herberta told me you are having an advancement test to D class within a week. You would not mind if I spectated, would you?" the older man asked once they were done with their negotiations, Rex prepearing to leave the building. He needed to find an inn to settle in for the duration of his stay in the capital.
"I dont much care. Pretty sure you could aquire acess to said advancement test as a spectator regardless of my will." Rex just shrugged, storing away the gold coins he had recieved for the information he had provided.
"True, but this way I dont create animosity of any sort. As a smart young man you understood the nature of my request and replied in a manner that shows just that."
"Well, I can be rather brutish and simple too at times, as much as I dont like to admit it these days." Rex sighed, well aware of his own doings in a different world and different time. Riley chuckled at Rex's words "He, he. You talk like some of the old timers I know, having gone through countless battles, regretting things they have done in order to win, or survive, but still keep going forward."
Rex snorted a single 'hm' at that, waving to the older man and leaving the room. On the other side, Herberta was waiting, having returned a while ago, yet, noticing that Rex and Riley were still conversing, waited patiently just outside. As soon as Rex exited the room, she politely bowed to him and noticing that he was leaving, bid him goodbye. Rex in turn nodded his head and returned the farewells, leaving the guild's building, wandering off into the cuty.
"Sir?" Herberta spoke up once she was sure Rex had left, a questioning look adorning her face.
"A fascinating young man." Riley replied, his gaze locked on the couple of parchments in front of him.
"Anything the shadows need to look into?" she asked, a sharp glint in her eyes.
"Whatever you do, do not send our people to monitor him. I doubt someone of his make would apreciate being tailed. And I am sure he would notice. Its better to keep our distance and cultivate a prosperous business relationship."
"Sir?"
"I remember you said you are responsible for his advancement test, yes?"
"Yes sir. He arrived during my shift. It is why I could bring him over in such a timely manner after all."
"Mhm. Do pay attention then. Also, notify me when its going to take place. I want to personally see how he takes on that challenge."
"Understood sir. I will inform you as soon as possible." Herberta quickly confirmed, explaining in detail everything she had on the young man, the supposed timeline, test he is taking and every other detail, including his adventurer card stats. There were some oddities that Riley believed indicated that Rex was no ordinary adventurer. All he needed was time and opportunities to witness Rex in action.
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On hs way out, Rex stopped by the quest board for E ranks and inspected the notices still hanging around regarding what reagents or monster cores were wanted by certain individuals. Just as expected, numerous requests regarding all manner of drop items hung one next to another, every now and then some adventurer tearing some off of the board, moving over to the counter with recpetionists, no doubt to register their willingness to take on the job. With E rank board somewhat explored, he moved over to D rank one, examining those as well. It was aproximately a week he would have to wait, but, besides the search for new lodgings, Rex was quite relaxed, as if sensing something good paggening soon.
The rest of the day was spent wandering around the city, white after white building passing him by as he explored the central district. After around five different inns, Rex came to the rather obvious conclusion that this place, besides the street stalls and adventurer guild, alongside all its internal class halls, was meant for rich merchants, their families or noble born. Everything was very expensive, leaving even his, now notably fuller money pouch, to cry metaphorical tears as it refused to fork out money, just because Rex might have wanted to stay in one of those oversized and overstuffed with luxury inns.
Eventually, he left the central island all together, having asked some poor looking adventurer in his fourties, regarding the places to stay for an average new adventurer. Then, following the older man's suggestion, he moved towards Green district. Yet few more hours later, close to midnight, he finally found one of the inns he was told about by the poor adventurer. A decent place to stay at, for affordable prices, so long as you dont seek trouble, or create one yourlself.
Mama Beth, as the sixty something years old dwarf lady was called by the workers there, the owner of said inn, was more than clear in her explanation of the rules. Then again, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary she explained. Dont steal, dont kill, dont destroy the property and so on and so forth, the ussual normal things people would be told not to do and expected to behave as such. Just simple human decency, though, maybee because she was a dwarf, she herself was rather boisterous and lively, not at all how one would picture such aged lady. Then again, as far as dwarfs were concerned, she was just barely in her mid thirties, when compared to humans age.
The following week Rex planned to spend exploring the city during day and immersing himself in deep meditation and cultivation during the evenings and nights, and he did so for about five days, when in the middle of the night, his eyes suddenly shot open, dark, bloody light shining through them for a short while. Rex closed his eyes a short moment later, deeply inhaled and then exhaled, dark, ominous cloud of ethereal smoke coming out of his mouth as he did so.
"Breakthrough. Wonderfull." he murmured to himself, a small smile adorning his lips. He lifted his hand and flexed it, coursing mana through it, sensing the power he could now deploy without damaging his flesh. If he was sure that his skills and experience could allow him to easily take on whatever he would be tested with during his advancement trial few days later, now he sure he could simply stat check his opponent. He did not have to guess though. He could simply continiue as he had for a few more days and then find out. That did not mean he woudl start celebrating or anything. While he was now leagues above his previous limits, he was well aware that there was still a long way to climb, though now it would be much easier. Taking on groups or borcs and possibly groups of trolls would be doable, and whats more important, much more profitable for both his coffers and growth. And with that, he could stick his nose in more fun, yet potentially dangerous situations. Not to mention that with more powerfull monsters on his plate, he could empower his blood sword just that much faster, allowing him to reach a point where sword concept could be used much more freely, giving him yet another boost when it came to deadly combat. And so, with a pleased expression on his face, Rex returned to his meditation, spending the next few days in a simmilar manner, exploring the city and its floating island districts during the day, and meditating and expanding hsi decondary space storage during the night.
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"Morning. I am supposed to have my advancement test sometime around now? Receptionist by the name of Herberta said it would be around a week later and gave me this token. A weeks gone by, so I was wondering, it it ready?" Rex spoke to a different attendant manning the same workstation Herberta did last time he was around, placing the same token he recieved on the counter.
"One moment." Replied the relatively young man with blonde hair and blue eyes. Name plate with 'Airon' attached to his shirt just above his heart, taking the token and walking through the door behind counter, a plaque with 'staff only' hanging above it. he returned a couple of minutes later, with Herberta in tow. The woman instantly zeroed in on Rex, her gaze locked like a predator noticing their prey. Rex though, did not even react, let alone flinch at the hunter like attitude of the woman.
"I have been waiting for you. Follow me, the test is ready." Herberta spoke, her voice calm and indifferent. Rex just shrugged and followed her, not at all bothered by the rather odd attitude of the woman. Not like he had done anything noteworthy in the city, accidentally offending some hidden society, nor had he done anything untowards with her either. So, either the woman was having her special days, irritated with anyone who looked at her wrong, or someone spoiled her mood big time. Once again, he did not care either way. Okey, well, maybee just a little, but not quite enough to actually take action and dig deeper. He had bigger fish to fry, namely his test and then possibly some party hunting and whatnot. He could, of course, dive in the dungeon solo, just like how he used to do with his main body, but he was here, in this world to have a different experience, so finding a party of some sort, hopefully one that could keep up with him for a while longer than Light's Oak.
A five minute walk later, exiting the main guild building through the back, and reaching another one in its inner courtyard. This new building reminded Rex of a gym from his original home world. Large, blocky building with high ceilings, possibly fitting inside it a field the size of a bastekball court. He followed Herberta inside, seeing something alongside his expectations. A basketball court sized field stood before his eyes, with beach sand covering it, surrounded by elevated stands, providing seating for around a hundred or so spectators. Of course for his match, the seats were empty, except for one place where Riley was taking a seat, having entered around the same time as Herberta and Rex. Noticing Rex gaze in his dirrection, Riley made a light, but noticable nod towards him, recieving a similar nod from Rex in return.
In the center of the court, stood three people, two men, dressed in miple leather armor, one equiped with sword and shield combo, while the other was wielding double daggers, twriling both weapons in his hands, clearly not the patient type. Noticing Rex and Herberat aproaching, a knowing grinn apeared on his face, his gaze locked on the woman.
"Well, well, well. Nice to see you again Herberta." The dagger wielder stared "I had the feeling you have been avoiding me lately. Though you are giving me the cold shoulder." His gaze then moved to Rex, a sadistic glint flashing in his eyes "And here you are, with a random, not even good looking greenhorn in tow. Tsk, tsk tsk." he clicked his tongue "What a sad sight it is to see."
'Well, now I know why see is so iritated.' Rex thought to himself, his pace remaining the same, even as Herberta was slowing down just a tad bit, and Rex could almost swear he heard her jaw clenching. Once in front of the trio, he also could have a better look at the last of them. A woman, in herr mid twenties, mostly hidden by a green cloak, yet the same style leather armor as the dagger wielder could be seen just barely. Gray hair, shoulder lenght and hazel brown eyes. While she was no super model, she was notably above average in the looks department.
"So, who am I supposed to fight against for this test of mine, and what are the other two doing here?" Rex asked, starling the trio before him, their gazes locking on him quite quickly.
"Wait, this greenhorn is here for the promotion?" Exlaimed the dagger wielding 'cool kid of the block', clearly not expecting such an outcome. "The fuck? He is what, barely an adult?"
"Herberta, mind explaining?" Rex ignored the hothead, his head turned to the attendant.
"Ah, yes." the woman snapped out of her own thoughts, turning to face Rex. "Thats Tom." she started, pointing to the quiet and calm guy with sword and shield "he is here to spar with you today to see if you have what it takes to be D rank. He himself is low C rank, so we are sure he could make it challenging and safe at the same time. While you will be using sparring weapons, accidents do sometimes happen. It is best to have the examiner of a higher rank to avoid as much of such accidents as possible."
"And, sow what are the other two doing here? I dont think these are open to public." Rex spoke, playing the part of an annoyed youngster rather convincingly.
"What with that then?" the hothead asked, pointing towards Riley up in the stands, though he and his party, unlike Rex, did not know who was up there, their eyes not nearly as sharp as Rex, nor aware of the identity of the man like herberta. Though before she started to seethe even more, due to teh disrespect shown towards Riley, Rex interupted.
"I dont see how that would be any business of yours. All that matters is that he has my agreement on the matter. So, why dont you kindly leave the place and let us get on with the test. Dungeon and potential party members await me after all." Getting Rex's hint, Herberta closed her mouth, though clearly not entirely happy about the interruption.
"It is my younger brother you are about to fight against." the hothead arrogantly spoke up "It is only natural I stick around. Cant have an accident happen when I could easily prevent it." He then pulled out his adventurer ID, and nearly shoved it in Rex's face "And I would be more carefull with how I adress B class adventurers. Not all others are as patient and forgiving like me."
"You know, for someone with such a low mana pool, you do talk quite big." Rex replied, shutting the hothead up. "I dont mind taking him on Herberta. Would not want to bully the younger of the brothers." he added, looking towards Roberta as he spoke, then, looked at the younger man, still standing there quietly, his brow slightly forrowed "My apologies Tom, no offence towards you intended."
A moment of silence took over the court, untill a loud laughter echoed, courtesy of the other woman in here, standing next to Tom. "Ha, ha ha ha ha. Damn, Grey, he totally looks down on you! Ha ha ha ha ha." she continiued to laugh, slapping her thigh as she did so, clearly finding this all quite funny, what with the younger one of the brothers being asked to fill in. A vein visibly brightened on Greys face, the manclearly annoyed.
"You know, I would not mind teaching you some manners. He is totally asking for it, so no issues with the change, Right Herberta?"
"I dont think thats such a good idea, protocol states...." she started to respond, loud laugher filling the background, only to be interrupted by Grey. "Nah, he asked for it, so just go with the flow. It's either we do it here and now, or I have to find him later to teach some manners, Which is it gonna be, huh?"
"I dont care either way, though I suppose for your own safety, there would be better. Wouldn't want me to mistake you for some petty criminal, only to cut you down, now would we?" Rex shot back, his voice calm and relaxed, though the content of his reply, not so much.
"Sigh" Herberta sighed, her shoulders slumping at the situation. "Fine, Let if be so, but you are both to use practice weapons, as the test demands and when I say stop, you stop, or I will use force." she added, the last part nearly in a growl. She was not happy at how she was made to play along with the whims of two fools, or so she thought at least.
"Pick your preffered weapons." she spoke, gesturing to a table with a set of dull, but sturdy training weapons. As expected, Grey picked a set of daggers, much like the ones he had been playing with beforehand. Rex looked at the weapons before him, shrugged and picked up a simple sword, not that he would be using it all that much. The B rank adventurer was nothing to be concerned about, so he might as well use the opportunity and teach his senior in business some humility.