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Ranking Exam, Part 1

Upon entering Reiner sneered at the crowd of people who sat at tables and waited in lines to speak with receptionists at their respective counters.

Regardless, Reiner took the lead and guided us back to Antoris’s office where he sat behind his desk with papers in hand while another person new to me seemed to be assisting him.

“Oi, old man… I’m back already,” Reiner remarked as he leaned on the counter of his desk, with a smirk on his face to which Antoris raised his brow with a short laugh.

"Ah, Reiner. You really want this to happen that bad, I don’t think I’ve seen you try this hard in a long time,” Antoris said with a chuckle causing Reiner to scoff.

"Don’t blame me, all these benefactors and clans are annoying,” Reiner remarked before he stood up straight with a growl.

"Now, this guy," He said pointing to me, "Is joining the guild now, along with this brat." Reiner added pointing to Lilith to which Antoris let out a small breath.

“An agreement is an agreement, I assume your third has her guild papers to?” He said noticing her golden plate hanging from her neck. Reiner pulled a slightly crumpled slit of paper from his overcoat which Antoris looked over for a moment before handing it to the man that was assisting him, “Pull up this… Miss Lilith’s file to verify her guild status,” he ordered casually and returned his attention to Reiner.

“I’ll never understand you Reiner, despite the years you've been with me, but I still find myself respecting your choices, perhaps it is because you are my favourite of the Big Four of the Adventurers Guild,” he chuckled like he was a friend despite Reiners rather unique personality.

Although Reiner didn’t seem to mention he was one of the big four to me, but it made sense behind the mere fact I made it this far and seeing as he was acting as my sponsor.

"Tch, whatever... so he can take the stupid exam now? I need him in my party already," Reiner remarked which only caused Antoris to let out a small laugh.

“Well, we’re still waiting for miss Lilith’s file to be brought up from our archives so, it won't take long at all. After I verify that, that will leave Kazu to sign a contract,” he explained which left Lilith to groan in annoyance.

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"Lilith is a gold rank! There’s nothing to check!” She unnecessarily butted in with a huff only to get a low growl from Reiner and a slight chuckle from Antoris.

“It takes some interesting characters to accept to be in a permanent party with you Reiner,” Antoris said to which Reiner only scoffed in return.

“Oi, old man just do what you're supposed to!" He sneered before the man assisting Antoris handed over a file from one of the many shelves lining the office walls.

Regardless, Antoris didn't question the folder handed to him and simply opened the cover of it and read the contents of the pages inside with a small nod of his head. “Well, it seems everything is in order. All that is left is you Kazu,” He stated as he pulled out and slid papers across his desk, for me to see, as well as a pen, to sign the paper. “I didn’t expect Reiner to be so excited about you Kazu. Out of mere second thought I did write an entire contract for your entry into the guild, this should please many demands other monarchs could argue against, so long as you follow the conditions you will be fine under the laws of Vectus," he said before I took a moment to read over the contract.

To sum it up the contract was pretty much what it seemed with strict and limited terms.

No leaving Vectus without permission of the guild.

No killing or harming any benefactor or clan, no matter the reason.

No threatening to leave the guild unless you leave with permission from the GuildMaster, or the contract becomes void.

The individual must not hide or attempt to alter their rank.

If any of the terms listed above is broken, the violating benefactor will be trialed and potentially executed under Monarch Law.

All terms stated here will be under the authority of the Monarch of Vectus.

Those were among the few that stuck out in my mind, but it definitely hit every mark I had expected and only one of those would put me at some risk. Hiding my rank needed to be done under all circumstances and if I was careful about it, I wouldn’t have an issue.

Regardless I did sign the contract, it was a small inconvenience to achieve my goal in finding bonds if that even existed and so far, I didn’t have big expectations on it.

Although I wasn’t going to just write off what Theitus told me, I had to try.

“… Is that all?” I remarked with some lingering thoughts before Antoris took back the now signed contract.

“It is, there is a Ranking Exam taking place this afternoon, I can have your entry arranged. Although only two of the big four will be Ranking today, one is off within Luceria on orders and Reiner whose sponsoring you cannot rank you,” Antoris explained which didn’t overly concern me.

“… Sure, that’s fine," I said flatly causing Antoris to nod his head.

"Very well then, I’m curious to see myself how well you do. Feel free to head to the ranking hall while I make these adjustments for you," Antoris said while Reiner took this as a chance to leave his spot with a small grunt.

"Tch, fine I'm going, we’re done here," Reiner remarked before he took his leave with me at his side and Lilith trailing my shadow.

Reiner led us through the Guild Hall to the ground floor and through a set of double doors near the receptionist counters, where the Ranking Hall could be found which left us to enter as a group.