Day 6 of the 3rd Era:

Location: Red Stone City, Red Dragon District, Ring Kingdom Venue: The Tavern of Soul Wolf Mercenary

With a recommendation letter from his father in hand, Blade entered the mercenary guild. He gazed up at the grand emblem of a wolf's head wreathed in ethereal smoke, baring its fangs. For a moment, he dreamed of an enchanting receptionist, but reality soon intervened.

His inner fantasies would have to wait, as the receptionist, who appeared in stark contrast to his imaginings, was an amiable yet corpulent woman. She made an effort to cheer him up with a wink and a warm greeting.

"Cheer up, young man. I'm here for you."

Blade's mood soured a bit as she seemed to read his thoughts. However, he maintained a polite demeanor, despite his disappointment.

With a forced smile, he replied, "I'm fine, aunty."

Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she inquired, "So, my handsome man, what's your name?"

"I go by Sword Blade."

"Ah, Blade, you know the rules, right?"

He nodded, already aware of the standard procedure.

"Good. Let me go over them again, just to be thorough."

Blade sighed but agreed, "Alright."

"To receive a temporary membership card, you can either hunt solo or in a group. In Ring Kingdom, for a temporary membership, a candidate has to hunt five wild wolves. Solo hunting offers an extra reward of up to 500 Ring Coins, while group hunting pays around a hundred or less."

Five hundred Ring Coins may sound substantial, but it's considered the most basic unit of currency in the Ring Kingdom.

"Do you have any prior training?" she asked.

Blade shook his head. "No."

"What skills do you possess?"

"I can hunt."

Aunty suggested, "I recommend you go for group hunting."

At that moment, three men approached.

"These are the Macro Brothers," the receptionist informed Blade. "They're well-known for helping newcomers, and they'll be your hunting partners."

"Is this because of the recommendation letter?" Blade inquired.

The receptionist nodded. "Yes."

"Are there no other members available?" Blade probed.

"Such as?"

"You know, the girl band?"

She explained, "They're currently on another mission."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"I see. Alright, see you next time."

"Goodbye."

Blade introduced himself to the Macro Brothers to break the ice. These men were exactly the kind that Mr. Earthling despised: burly and heavily armed. The bald one in the center, Macro, was the most talkative, while the other two remained silent. Macro regaled Blade with tales of his time as a mercenary, sharing stories of hunting and carousing.

Blade listened attentively as they recounted their experiences over the past five years, mainly focused on wolf hunting. It was indeed a profitable venture, but they revealed they had to commit to the mercenary guild to gain the opportunity. Blade quickly realized it was lucrative but required enduring a certain level of servitude.

These men received 400 Ring Coins for each mission, with the remainder distributed among the members. Blade's ears perked up at the mention of their earnings, even though he had some prior knowledge. He absorbed their words more earnestly as Macro elaborated on their exploits.

He mentioned, "Our founding Father laid an entrapment formation on the Black Mountain Range. Legend has it that a monstrous wolf was ensnared there, and these wolves are its descendants. Regular clean-ups are necessary, but now it's primarily used as a training ground."

The Founding Father referred to the first king of the Ring Kingdom. Blade found it fascinating that he was hearing about the deeds of his kingdom's hero on his very first day as a mercenary.

As Macro concluded his story, he emphasized an additional point: "You'll need to contribute to our expenses."

Blade had anticipated this request. "How much?"

"450 Ring Coins."

"Could you make it a bit lower?"

"Brother, it's necessary for our livelihood."

Blade had around 1,000 Ring Coins at his disposal. Seeing Macro's humble request, he eventually agreed, recognizing that he had limited room to argue given his need for their assistance.

"Welcome to the team, Blade," Macro said.

During the two-day carriage journey, Blade lamented the poor condition of the road and the ceaseless chattering of his companions.

After two days of travel, Blade glanced around to see if the rocky, rather unimpressive mountain before him was the grandiose base he had anticipated. He had envisioned a magnificent hideout, but the reality was underwhelming.

As they entered, Blade felt a glimmer of excitement, hopeful that the thrill of hunting awaited him.

"Brother," Macro cautioned, "we're entering the grasslands. Be cautious."

"Use your sword when you're hunting the wolves. We've got a heavy crossbow with us."

After the necessary preparations, Blade followed the Macro Brothers as they ventured deeper into the wild, tracking the lair of the wolf pack. He wondered if it was a wolf's den or the Macro Brothers' personal playground, considering how efficiently they navigated the terrain. Blade had imagined running into a pack of wolves on the way, but nothing of the sort happened.

After about an hour of tracking, they reached an elevated hill where Blade could see a cave ahead with five wolves sprawled around, looking more like fat pigs than ferocious predators.

These wolves appeared to be nothing more than hunting stock, bred specifically for this purpose. Blade felt they posed no real danger if the hunt was conducted cautiously.

"The hunt should be easy," Blade mused.

"Why do you say that?" Macro inquired.

"Because it's mating season, and they're just lounging around," Blade explained.

"That's right," one of the brothers confirmed. "It's the best time to bait them."

"Brother," the other chimed in, "you're going to be the bait."

"Me?" Blade was taken aback by their sudden suggestion.

"Yes," Macro stated confidently, "it's all part of the hunting program."

Blade struggled to comprehend this new development. "I had no idea."

"It's in the hunting manual," one of the brothers informed him.

"It is?" Blade responded, a bit shocked.

"They've sprung it on you," Macro explained with a sly smile. "It's a core test for joining our guild."

Unenthusiastically, Blade acquiesced, "What's the plan, then?"

"All you need to do is approach them, and the rest will depend on your wits."

"That's it?" Blade asked in disbelief.

"Yes, that's it," Macro confirmed.

Blade pressed, "But..."

The brothers reiterated, "Yes, it's a natural part of the test. You have to trust your comrades and leave your destiny in our hands."

With a sly smile, they added, "Brother, you understand that for a guild to be recognized worldwide, it has to have standards. The very first and most fundamental test is the 'Trust' Test."

Although Blade wanted to curse aloud, he kept his frustration in check. He had realized why there weren't many guild members in this particular branch. Many would undoubtedly quit when they discovered the nature of this initiation. Blade had assumed his father had obtained