"Huh? You're back so early today?"

Passing by Gauss's room and noticing the door was ajar, Aria peeked inside and was surprised to find him still in his room at noon.

"Yeah. There were some special circumstances today, so I didn't take any commissions." Gauss set down his book and looked toward the doorway.

According to his routine these past few days, after submitting the previous day's commission in the morning, he would immediately pick up suitable tasks to save time.

However, today he was somewhat concerned about the commission mentioned by the guild's Senior Director, so he didn't go to the bulletin board to search for assignments.

"Oh?" Aria's expression turned more serious upon hearing this.

As Gauss's longtime teammate, she knew her friend's temperament all too well.

These past few days, he was either killing goblins or on his way to kill goblins, never staying idle.

Or finding an open space to practice magic.

For him to be sitting quietly in his room reading a book like today was indeed an unusual break from routine.

Usually, he would read during travel, using spare time on carriages or birdbacks.

"That's quite a coincidence—I've also mastered the new spell 'Faerie Fire' today." Aria looked quite pleased, beaming with joy.

If you counted the days, you could roughly guess why she was so happy.

This girl had no hidden agendas—her mood was always written all over her face.

In just a few short days, from purchasing "Faerie Fire" to mastering it thoroughly, for her, this was a speed far beyond her past performances, even exceeding her own expectations.

So fast that even she found it unbelievable.

"That's quite the progress—congratulations." Gauss glanced at her radiant face and understood her joy.

"Hehe..." Aria, praised by Gauss, scratched the back of her head. "Actually... I feel like I've benefited from your influence, hehe..."

Aria said with a smile, revealing her white teeth.

"Do you remember what I mentioned last time about that mysterious energy merging with you and Serlandul?"

"I feel like my spell practice speed has significantly increased a lot."

"I can't explain the exact principle, but I can sense it greatly helped me practice Faerie Fire."

"Maybe your talent is finally being realized?" Gauss nodded.

"My talent probably isn't that good," Aria said honestly, shaking her head.

"Hard to say—you should believe in yourself more." Gauss continued, "As you know, I've always had a habit of reading. A very authoritative biography once wrote that human potential sometimes only needs an opportunity or arrives at a special period to be naturally ignited. So-called 'great instruments take time to complete' is exactly this—perhaps you're in that phase right now."

Aria stared at Gauss, silent for a long moment.

"Hehe. Then I'll take your auspicious words."

What she actually wanted to say was that she deeply resonated with Gauss's words.

After all, her opportunity was encountering Gauss in the Emerald Forest last year, after which her adventurer career seemed to turn toward a completely different direction.

She just felt those words might sound somewhat cheesy, so after thinking it over in her heart, the words remained at her lips.

"So, what special circumstances did you encounter today?" She couldn't help but feel curious about Gauss's earlier response.

Gauss pointed at the door.

Signaling Aria to close it.

He had kept the door open for ventilation and to immediately see returning teammates.

After all, his unusual stay in the room today was to discuss the morning's commission with Aria.

"So mysterious?" Aria shooed her pets back to her own room before closing the door and taking a seat on a chair.

"The guild gave me a non-public commission this morning—high risk, high reward. The content involves dealing with a group of goblins from the 'Blackfang' tribe. I temporarily told them I'd consider it first, then wanted to discuss this matter with you and Serlandul." Gauss used the Message cantrip to inform Aria about the morning's events.

The reason for such caution was considering the guild director's specific instruction not to leak the commission details.

But this was the limit of what he could do, and it was probably sufficient.

If someone really wanted to "eavesdrop,"

First, they'd have to decipher that cantrip, just happening to be monitoring his movements at this exact time, and remain undetected by his Awareness. Only by satisfying all these conditions could they learn about the commission details from his words.

But such a "figure" would inevitably have more information channels than most adventurers. This seemingly "covert" intelligence might not count as important news to them.

When Aria finished hearing the intelligence details, she also briefly fell into contemplation.

Although she habitually left most team decisions to Gauss,

This didn't mean she wouldn't think things through herself.

Although the possibility was small, if Gauss showed signs of poor judgment, she would have to step up and point out the problem.

"Blackfang tribe..."

This term wasn't unfamiliar to her.

Any adventurer with even slight knowledge of that monster war's history would have heard of the five major goblin tribes.

Imagine thousands of goblins flooding into human territory like an ocean—what a terrifying sight, enough to make one shudder just thinking about it.

It's said that even now, in some remote mountains deep within human kingdoms, descendants of those goblins from a century ago still exist.

If they decided to accept, this commission could become the highest-level task their team had undertaken since formation.

Even though the enemy strength and numbers encountered during the recent defense of Outpost 11 were greater, large-scale team commissions and independent squad commissions were still different.

Risk definitely existed with such commissions.

But... the guild's offer was really substantial.

The rewards were definitely enough to keep a team well-fed.

If relying solely on ordinary commissions, even including some beginner commissions only bronze-rank adventurers could undertake, who knew how many would be needed to match just this one.

Moreover, they had to consider time spent on travel, pre- and post-preparation—the expended energy and resources would be even greater.

And even commissions deemed within their capabilities might encounter unexpected situations along the way—there's no absolute safety once you embark on adventures.

Watching Aria's flickering gaze, Gauss knew she was starting to feel tempted, just like he had been when first hearing about the rewards.

Honestly, who wouldn't be dazzled by such rewards? Enough resources to train an "ordinary commoner" with no abilities or talent to a level 5 professional, with exchangeable content to choose from.

For him personally, since the commission target was a single goblin race, his special effectiveness against goblins could be maximized.

His current title had reached the third level of the [Goblin] series—[Goblin Slayer].

Possessing several special bonuses.

First, they'd have to decipher that cantrip, just happening to be monitoring his movements at this exact time, and remain undetected by his Awareness. Only by satisfying all these conditions could they learn about the commission details from his words.

Additionally, Bane included an extra special effect—critical hit, with a certain probability to trigger dramatically increased attack power.

But such a "figure" would inevitably have more information channels than most adventurers. This seemingly "covert" intelligence might not count as important news to them.

Just these three alone could allow him to perform far beyond usual against this specific goblin race.

When Aria finished hearing the intelligence content, she also briefly fell into contemplation.

Generous rewards, rapid accumulation of kill counts, increased experience for both racial talents, harvesting spiritual energy to nourish Clay Goblins...

"The rewards are quite good," Aria said, emerging from her thoughts. "But let's wait until Serlandul returns to decide. These two days will also give us more time to think."

"He should be back soon, right?"

Aria reasoned from her own perspective.

If that special energy worked so well on her, Serlandul, stuck at level 4 for so long, probably benefited significantly too.

At least from her personal feeling, if she were stuck at a level bottleneck, with such magical energy enhancement, advancement should proceed quite smoothly.

The two continued discussing some details in the room.

After quite a while, Aria finally left Gauss's room.

Regarding potentially temporarily joining teammates, her thoughts aligned with Gauss's—wait until Serlandul returned, the team formally gathered, then find opportunity to meet the others in advance.

If they didn't get along, they could decide based on circumstances then.

In the afternoon, Gauss decided to stroll around town and check if any shops sold magical clay.

Having been in Lincrest Town for some time now, apart from the first day searching for an inn, he seemingly hadn't properly observed this town during daytime.

Leaving the inn, Gauss walked leisurely along the streets.

Though lacking official statistical data support, just from visual observation, he judged the town's permanent population should be considerably larger than Grayrock Town's.

Even though the enemy strength and numbers encountered during the recent defense of Outpost 11 were greater, large-scale team commissions and independent squad commissions were still different.

While bringing vitality to the town, it also added some destabilizing factors.

For example, that "thief" and several "shop assistants" with bad temper he encountered nights earlier—fortunately his outstanding strength handled it, but an ordinary person would likely suffer silently in such situations.

"So, our Grayrock Town is still better."

"Though commerce is slightly less developed here, local customs are relatively simple and honest."

Holding observation intentions, Gauss unconsciously walked into an area he hadn't visited before.

If relying solely on ordinary commissions, even including some beginner commissions only bronze-rank adventurers could undertake, who knew how many would be needed to match just this one.

Pedestrians' clothing was much plainer, faces bearing life's hardships and exhaustion.

"Seems every glamorous town has its share of such slums."

In this slum, patrolling guards disappeared from streets.

Replaced by some local thugs wearing shabby leather armor, walking with arrogant posture.

But when these "locals" passed by Gauss, an unanimous phenomenon occurred.

Honestly, who wouldn't be dazzled by such rewards? Enough resources to train an "ordinary commoner" with no abilities or talent to a level 5 professional, with exchangeable content to choose from.

Then instinctively stepped aside to make way, eyes flickering to avoid Gauss's calm gaze, some even lowering heads like they'd done something wrong, not daring to meet his eyes.

Because it was daytime, Gauss wore his adventurer outfit for going out to execute commissions.

Plus ample afternoon sunlight—anyone not blind could tell this guy wasn't to be trifled with.

Gauss walked onward.

Not far ahead, noisy laughter from an alley entrance caught his attention.

Bane: Attack damage additionally increased by 30%.

The boy wore patched but clean clothes, tightly holding several old books carefully wrapped in oilcloth against his chest. A clear red mark showed on his face, eyes red but stubbornly biting lips to hold back tears.

Additionally, Bane included an extra special effect—critical hit, with a certain probability to trigger dramatically increased attack power.

A tall thug grabbed the boy's collar, spittle almost spraying onto his face.

Though judging from that shirt so dirty its original color was indistinguishable, stains were clearly accumulated over years, impossible from a single bump.

"S-sorry, I didn't mean to, I'll compensate... I'll wipe it clean." The boy's voice trembled, attempting to wipe with his hand.

"Compensate? Can you afford it? This is premium material!" The tall thug slapped away the boy's hand, then looked down at the books in his arms, reaching to snatch them.

"These worthless books seem worth a few copper coins—consider them payment!"

"No! You can't take them! These are borrowed from Mr. Colt! I need to return them!" The boy suddenly erupted with strength, firmly clutching the books.

However, two other thugs simultaneously grabbed his arms.

"Damn! Dare to resist!"

The tall thug cursed while raising his hand, poised to fiercely slap the boy.

Gauss, who had just passed the alley entrance, stopped, turned, and stepped into the alley.

Just as his muscles tensed, ready to act.

Suddenly, he seemed to sense something.

Stopped his movement.

A slender figure emerged ghost-like from shadows, reaching the thugs in several leaps, speed even faster than Gauss.

Arriving beside them, she gave almost no reaction time.

"Thump!!"

Her right leg whipped out three heavy kicks like a cracking whip, attacks precisely hitting thugs' abdomens.

The thugs couldn't even complete screams before eyes bulging, bodies curling like shrimp flying backward, crashing against walls before slowly sliding down.

"Ugh..."

The fallen thugs painfully clutched abdomens, rolling on ground.

From the woman's appearance to completing attacks—just a few blinks of time, the farce ended.

Clearly the strength gap between both sides was extremely large.

Gauss at the alley entrance stopped his advanced foot, muscles slowly relaxing.

Though prepared to intervene, if someone acted first, he had no intention of interfering.

However, when he clearly saw the woman's face, mainly those black eyes, his mind suddenly flashed to memories from several nights earlier.

"It's her?!"

The woman appeared around early twenties, face somewhat angular oval shape, features heroic.

Tall figure, probably 180cm, overall slender and lengthy build yet not weak—relatively tight clothing clearly showed her superior shoulder-neck lines and upright spine.

While bringing vitality to the town, it also added some unstable factors.

Seeing her, Gauss instantly recalled that night's woman, the "thief" encountered at the market.

Though she'd covered her lower face that night, entire body cloaked in black robe, only revealing eyes—his memory was exceptional, he wouldn't mistake that tear mole below her left eye.

The alley boy held his books, dumbfounded watching the three instantly fallen bullies and this heaven-sent figure, momentarily speechless.

The black-robed woman didn't even glance at the moaning thugs, just turned, eyes sweeping over the well-protected books in the boy's arms, pausing slightly.

"Though commerce is slightly less developed here, local customs are relatively simple and honest."

The boy suddenly snapped back, deeply bowing to her, voice filled with immense gratitude: "Th-thank you!"

After speaking, he quickly ran off holding his books.

Here buildings were noticeably shorter and shabbier than those along main roads, streets narrowed, air faintly permeated with damp wood decay smell.

Upon clearly seeing Gauss's face, her eyebrows raised, expression showing identical surprise.

Pedestrians' clothing was much plainer, faces bearing life's toil and exhaustion.

Gauss's earlier poised posture had been noticed by her.

For some special reason, she wouldn't miss such "seeing injustice" opportunities, so she acted one beat faster.

The two stood separated by still writhing, moaning thugs on ground, silently gazing at each other for a moment in the narrow alley.

Replaced by some local thugs wearing shabby leather armor, walking with arrogant posture.

Without any intention of staying, her figure swayed, her whole person merging into the alley's shadows like a phantom, silently sweeping into another branching path, vanishing instantly.

Gauss withdrew his gaze.

The original noise subconsciously paused, their arrogant momentum somewhat restrained.

That night's aftermath, he could actually sense the woman had indeed stolen items from those people's shops—this was why he hadn't dealt harshly with the shop assistants then.

Then instinctively stepped aside to make way, eyes flickering to avoid Gauss's calm gaze, some even lowering heads like they'd done something wrong, not daring to meet his eyes.

That night her speed was clearly not this fast, seemingly intentionally slowing down, just to stride away before everyone's eyes.

Because it was daytime, Gauss wore his adventurer outfit for going out to execute commissions.

Just passing strangers after all.

Though encountering twice consecutively was quite coincidental, and she gave him a special feeling.

But this world has many special people—no need to dwell on it.

How could anyone be more special than himself?

He wasn't an adventurer permanently stationed in Lincrest Town—they probably wouldn't meet again afterward.