As Hikaru settled into the comfort of his hotel bed, he cast his eyes upwards to the ceiling above. Reflecting on his agreement with Prince Clay, he pondered the implications, quietly strategizing his next steps in the tranquility of the night. He then rose from his hotel bed to examine the silver flask, wondering where the ID mentioned by Prince Clay was embedded.
‘Where the heck is this supposed ID hiding? How on earth did General and Prince Clay even know there's an ID embedded in here?’ Hikaru pondered to himself while examining the silver flask for ages.
While Hikaru pondered the mystery of the hidden ID in the silver flask, frustration gnawing at him, he eventually shrugged off his thoughts with a dismissive wave. “Forget it, it's not important,” he muttered, deciding to call it a night and head to bed.
#*#*#*#
The next morning following a hearty breakfast, Hikaru set his sights on the Bailey Adventure Guild. Unlike his days in Windmore city, where he soared through the skies to reach his destinations, he now chose to traverse on foot to avoid being seen by other Kaya Clan members. He did this because he wanted to keep his innate ability a secret from the clan for as long as possible due to its origin. With ample time on his hands, he saw no reason to rush or attract unnecessary attention.
Upon his arrival at the Bailey Adventure Guild, Hikaru stepped inside, greeted by the bustling activity within. He was welcomed by a friendly female suncian attendant, with smooth mocha-coloured skin and long flowing locks, at the reception desk.
Tiana: "Welcome to the Bailey Adventure Guild! I'm Tiana. How can I assist you today?"
Hikaru: "Hello, Tiana. I'm here to register as a new adventurer."
Tiana: "Great! The registration fee is two gold coins, or you can use two Eden Beads if you prefer. Also, I'll need to see your ID card.”
In Erudite, most international establishments accept Eden Beads as a form of currency due to its widespread acceptance. However, local peddlers typically only accept the kingdom's issued currency. This is largely due to the tax system, which requires all establishments to pay taxes using the kingdom's currency. If they wish to exchange currency, they can do so at the merchant guild, but they must pay a certain fee for the service.
Note: Eden Currency Denominations
1 Blue Eden Beads= 100 Green Eden Beads= 10.000 Red Eden Beads= 10.000 Eden Beads= 10.000 gold coins.
Hikaru paid two Red Eden Beads and handed over his ID card. Tiana then accepted the payment and proceeded to fill out the necessary registration form. Once completed, she handed the form to Hikaru for verification, ensuring all the information was correct. Hikaru then participated in an Earthbound ritual performed by another guild employee to finalize the issuance of the Adventure Card, mirroring the ritual Hikaru experienced when obtaining his Citizenship Card.
With his Adventure Card issued, he surveyed the guild hall, where adventurers of all kinds mingled, exchanging stories and preparing for their next quests. Inspired by the lively atmosphere, Hikaru decided to explore the mission board, where various missions and assignments awaited eager adventurers.
He noticed that the mission board only displayed quests ranging from E-rank to B-rank. Turning to Tiana, he inquired: “Is B-rank the highest rank for quests, Tiana?”
Tiana's reply: "Oh no, not at all! There are higher-ranked quests available. But to access those, you'll need to head up to the second floor and have a chat with our Guildmaster. Only the guild staff, government officials, Guildmaster, and adventurers ranked B and above, are granted access to that floor.”
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In Erudite, all guild-type establishments are required to have a governmental office to ensure government oversight and prevent guilds from acting against the kingdom's interests. For Adventure Guilds, all quests must receive approval from this office before they can be undertaken. This is why high-level adventurers are highly valued citizens in any kingdom. Since adventure guild quests often address challenges faced by the kingdom's citizens, completing these missions indirectly benefits the kingdom.
Beside the mission board, there was also a notice board. Hikaru glanced at it and discovered two important notices from the kingdom. The first notice announced the official handover of the Aran mine to the Elvira Kingdom, scheduled to take place in three days, confirming Kaito's prediction. The second notice detailed Kaito's involvement in human experimentation and his status as a fugitive from the kingdom. It also offered a reward of one hundred platinum coins to anyone who managed to capture him alive.
Hikaru thought to himself: 'So that's how much the General is worth to the kingdom!’
Hikaru decided to postpone taking on any adventure quests until after his mission with Kaito was concluded. Leaving the adventure guild, he made his way to the merchant guild to exchange all his Elvira Coins into Bailey Coins. The merchant guild charged a 1% commission for exchanges using Eden beads, but a 10% commission for other types of currency. Despite having higher fee, Hikaru still proceeded with the exchange, knowing he couldn't use Elvira coins in Bailey.
He then headed to a nearby tavern for lunch. Situated close to Bailey University, it was bustling with students enjoying their midday meal. At one of the tables, he spotted a familiar face: Masaki, his cousin, was lunching with her friends, engaged in lively conversation. Masaki, now 16 years old, had grown into a striking young woman. Her heart-shaped face was accentuated by doe-like eyes that shimmered with a soft, soulful gaze. Her infectious smile lit up her features, radiating warmth to those around her.
As Hikaru glanced over at Masaki, she caught his eye and exclaimed: “Hey, isn't that Loki?”
Hikaru started to move away from the tavern, but Masaki called out to him: “Wait up, Loki! Come join us!”
Hikaru reluctantly accepted to her invitation, sliding into a seat at Masaki's table alongside her two friends. With cheerful introductions exchanged, Masaki took charge, ordering an array of dishes and generously declaring that lunch was on her. Conversation flowed as they shared stories and laughter, but soon Masaki's friends had to excuse themselves for another class, leaving Hikaru and Masaki to continue their chat.
Masaki pouted and voiced her worry: “I was so afraid you’d died in the war, you know. By the way, how come you’re here?”
In his mind, Hikaru pondered over his unique situation. ‘The original Hikaru did die, leaving me with conflicting feelings about her family. If they hadn’t sent the original Hikaru to war, and if he hadn’t died, I might not have ended up in this body.’
Hikaru chuckled softly, amusement twinkling in his eyes. “Aw, don’t worry, ducky,” he teased affectionately. “I’m as alive as ever. Just thought I'd drop by for a bit. Missed me that much, huh?”
Masaki then asked: “Are you back home? Maybe I should visit sometime.”
Hikaru replied: “No, I haven’t gone back yet.”
Masaki followed up: “Why not?”
Hikaru responded with a serious tone and a hint of deception: “Can you keep a secret, Ducky?”
As she nodded, Hikaru revealed the royal family patch given to him by Prince Clay and continued: “You know the Aran war was halted, right, Ducky? Some of the soldiers, including me, have been recruited for a secret mission by the royal family! So, can you please keep this encounter to yourself? If word gets out, it could jeopardize my mission!”
Hikaru thought to himself: ‘Luckily, I’ve come up with an excuse. Although I'm not particularly fond of Hideo’s family, I can’t implicate them in my problems. If I were to stay at the Kaya residence, my movements would be observed and somewhat restricted, so I can’t stay there.’
Masaki then also turned serious and replied: “Don't worry, Loki. Your secret's safe with me.”
Masaki then changed the topic and said: “You know, Loki, there's this fighting competition held by the university starting next Wednesday, and I've been chosen to represent my class. If you finish your mission by then, maybe you can cheer for me!”
Hikaru then asked: “Will your family be there?”
Masaki replied: “Yes, they'll be with other Kaya Clan members.”
Hikaru then responded: “Hmm, my mission will probably take longer than that, but I might watch it secretly.”
Masaki's expression shifted to one of concern as she spoke softly: “Forget I mentioned it Loki! Don't put yourself at risk just for a competition.'"
Hikaru reassured her: “Don't worry, Ducky. I'll only drop by if it's safe."
After a lively chat, Hikaru insisted on covering the meal, considering Masaki's limited pocket money as a university student. As they bid each other farewell, Masaki headed back to her university dormitories, while Hikaru made his way to the bustling market nearby. There, amidst the stalls, he searched for the perfect clothes to adorn with the newly acquired patches from Prince Clay. Next, he purchased adventuring equipment from a nearby blacksmith, which included steel armor that covered only the chest area, a pair of steel gauntlets with embedded light crystals that would illuminate when supplied with mana, a steel short sword, and a special belt to carry the sword.
Afterward, he returned to his hotel room, stowed away his shopping bags, and mentally prepared himself for his meeting with Kaito later that night.