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Join the Server“Sister, I’ll go queue up then.”
“Go on, good luck.”
Hilvyn went to register and join the line, while Elara settled into a seat closer to the front.
The surrounding area was already bustling with people. With the dungeon nearing its closure, more adventurers found themselves with free time, flocking to the assessment venue for entertainment.
Moreover, with the Harvest Festival just around the corner, many residents were also idle. The stands today were even more crowded than yesterday, with adventurers filling the front rows, leaving only a scattering of empty seats. The back rows were entirely occupied by residents, either sitting or standing.
“Number 27…”
It was only number 27’s turn now, meaning Hilvyn still had a considerable wait before her assessment.
No sooner had Elara taken her seat than a conversation, originating from two empty chairs away, drifted into her ears.
“These adventurers are all trash, what a waste of time.”
Elara subtly arched an eyebrow, her gaze flicking over with a corner of her eye.
It was a man clad in brown leather armor, accompanied by a shorter individual who appeared to be his teammate.
“I wonder if the Guild’s gone mad. A comprehensive assessment? Do B-rank adventurers have a death wish, not staying in B-rank?”
The man’s voice was not low, audible to everyone nearby, yet all chose to ignore him.
Unbeknownst to Elara, someone had already cautioned the pair before her arrival. However, the two had immediately flaunted their status as A-rank team members, prompting everyone else to mind their own business.
She redirected her attention to the arena. The current adventurer’s performance was indeed underwhelming, showing clear signs of exhaustion after casting just a few spells.
“There are a few empty seats around that adventurer in front.”
Footsteps sounded behind her again, drawing closer to Elara.
She glanced left and right, noticing several empty seats directly around her.
“Friend, there’s no one sitting around you, is there?”
A bald man’s head emerged from behind the empty seat beside Elara.
“No.”
“Hey! You, you…” The bald, burly man’s face registered surprise as Elara turned her head slightly. “You’re that A-rank senior!”
His teammates behind him also moved closer.
Elara turned to look at the four of them. Their faces did seem familiar, yet she couldn’t for the life of her recall where.
‘Damn it… calling me ‘senior’ and I don’t recognize them. How awkward…’
A fleeting look of bewilderment crossed her face.
“My apologies, I’m a bit bad with faces.”
“Heh-haha…” The bald strongman didn’t seem to mind Elara not remembering him at all.
“We met on the 50th floor of the dungeon. I even thought you two seniors had lost your teammates back then.”
At this hint, Elara instantly remembered the team—the one whose good intentions had led to a misunderstanding, and who had such a pleasant team dynamic.
“I remember now.”
“Haha, that’s good.”
The bald strongman and his three other teammates settled to Elara’s left.
Closest to Elara was the female team member who had bickered with the bald man in the dungeon.
“Senior…”
“Just call me Black Rose.”
“Senior Black Rose…”
Elara: ‘?’
Being called ‘senior’ repeatedly made her quite uncomfortable.
‘Never mind.’
The female team member continued, “Isn’t your teammate with you, Senior?”
“She’s going for the A-rank assessment later.” Elara nodded towards the entrance of the arena. “She’s queuing there.”
Her voice wasn’t lowered, and all four of them heard it.
“Senior, you’re actually so strong,” the female team member exclaimed in surprise.
They had all assumed that two individuals daring to venture into the last ten floors of the dungeon must both be A-rank adventurers. It was unexpected to learn it was an A-rank leading a B-rank.
This implied Elara’s strength was formidable.
Elara, however, was unaware of the immense waves of speculation churning in the four individuals’ minds.
“Our captain also took the assessment a few days ago.”
“Did they pass?”
“They passed, but it was a comprehensive assessment, not comparable to yours, Senior.”
“That’s quite good already.”
The bald strongman’s face lit up with joy upon hearing Elara’s evaluation.
The female team member was quite talkative, engaging Elara in a back-and-forth conversation, mostly answering her questions.
Since the adventurer currently being assessed offered little in terms of entertainment, Elara continued chatting.
From their conversation, she learned much about “A-” rank matters.
For instance, A-rank teams could only accept specially marked simple A-rank commissions, which would not feature powerful A-rank monsters. Their privileges were few, but still better than B-rank, and the passing rate for A-rank assessments was less than half.
“Damn it, this kind of trash also comes up to make a fool of themselves?”
The brown-armored man next to them started ranting again.
“If you can do it, do it. If not, get lost. You’re wasting time.”
A barrage of verbal attacks ensued, causing everyone around to turn away in disgust.
The bald strongman couldn’t bear it any longer. He leaned forward and called out, “Friend, can you show some respect for others?”
“And who are you?” Seeing someone interfering, the brown-armored man turned his aggression towards the bald strongman.
“Who I am isn’t importan—”
“You’re awfully nosy!”
The bald strongman’s words were cut off. The brown-armored man, wasting no breath, immediately declared his identity.
“I’m an A-rank team member. What business is it of yours?”
As the saying goes, a higher rank can suppress a lower one. Being part of an A-rank team, he was already among the strongest adventurers commonly seen at the Guild, even if he wasn’t personally A-rank.
Upon hearing this, the bald strongman’s confidence instantly wavered. He had initially thought A-rank might slightly close the gap with A-rank, but in reality, nothing had changed.
On the contrary, some B-rank adventurers even looked down on the A-rank tier. In this situation, even a fellow A-rank team member would find it difficult to meddle with another team’s members, let alone an A-rank like him.
“Tch, busybody,” the brown-armored man’s sneer deepened.
He was about to erupt again when Elara, in a voice loud enough for him to hear, said calmly, “Be quiet.”
Elara, resting her chin on her hand, stared straight at the arena, not even sparing him a glance.
The brown-armored man could only swallow the words he was about to utter.
The seats were not far apart, and he had heard the entire conversation between the bald strongman’s team and Elara.
Elara was A-rank. He was certain she wouldn’t specifically target him, but he also wouldn’t be so arrogant as to directly contradict or insult another A-rank adventurer.
He could only yield, turning to whisper to the shorter man beside him.
“Senior, thank you,” the strongman said, his face full of gratitude.
“It’s nothing. Watch the assessment.”
This wasn’t entirely done out of consideration for them. Firstly, the brown-armored man had been disturbing Elara, and secondly, it was a convenient way to support the strongman’s team.
Outwardly, she maintained a calm demeanor, but inwardly, she felt a quiet satisfaction. Such a ‘face-slapping’ moment truly brought a sense of contentment.
The assessment continued, with adventurers of varying strengths taking their turns, all undergoing the comprehensive evaluation.
“Number 41…”
“What number is your companion, Senior?” the female team member whispered.
“Can you please be quiet and ask fewer questions? Don’t disturb Senior from watching the assessment.”
The bald strongman nudged her, scolding.
The female team member turned her head, feigning annoyance. “Why are you so nosy?”
She was clearly using the brown-armored man’s earlier words against him.
“The next one is her.”
Elara had a good impression of this team’s dynamic and didn’t find them bothersome.
“Number 42, Bai Zhi, please proceed to the arena for the strength assessment.”
As the words “strength assessment” echoed, the spectators in the stands noticeably perked up.
“Here she comes.”
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