The Water Magician

CHAPTER TEXT:

September 2nd submission, the first half... I'm sorry.

At the same time, in the imperial capital adventurers' mutual aid association.

Five adventurers entered the Advanced Hall, the building on the left side from the main square.

While this isn't unheard of, it's quite a rare sight.

Normally, adventurers come and go through the entrance that connects directly to the waiting room at the back.

The front entrance facing the main gate and square is predominantly used by clients.

As the five adventurers entered the Advanced Hall, they headed straight to the reception desk.

This Advanced Hall is used for requesting services from third and second rank adventurers.

Naturally, the fees and preparations for rewards are high, so the clients here are usually wealthy merchants or members of the Shtaiif Layer.

Inside the building, there were no other adventurers, just a single client.

Because of this, the five stood out as soon as they entered.

The guides of the mutual aid association could tell at a glance that the five were not local adventurers from this Advanced Hall.

"Is there something we can assist you with?"

So, as usual, they asked.

It’s not impossible that there are clients who appear to be adventurers.

Or perhaps...

"We are part of the Boago third rank team 'Spring Hope.'"

"Welcome to the imperial capital adventurers' mutual aid association."

"Actually, we have come here on a request from Earl Bashu who oversees Boago."

"Yes."

"Our hope is to exchange information with other adventurers. Therefore, we would like to be allowed into the waiting room."

At Jun Luo's words, the guide frowned slightly.

It seems they said something unusual.

However...

"We had conducted a similar information exchange here at the imperial capital adventurers' mutual aid association before. Has the regulation changed?"

"No, that's not the case. Adventurers are free to exchange information among themselves without any issues. That hasn't changed. However..."

"However?"

"Currently, all adventurers affiliated with this Advanced Hall are out on assignments."

"All of them? In the Advanced Hall of the imperial capital... there must be hundreds of third and second rank adventurers, right? Surely there’s at least someone remaining?"

"Yes."

After that, 'Spring Hope' was shown all the waiting rooms in the back but...

"Really, there’s no one here."

The mage Baliri murmured.

"No, sorry, it’s not that I didn’t believe you."

"I understand it’s hard to believe. I've been a guide for nearly ten years at the mutual aid association, but it's the first time all the adventurers from the Advanced Hall are out."

In response to Jun Luo's words, the guide smiled wryly.

"Ah... could you tell us why this is happening?"

"I’m sorry, but that concerns the content of the request."

"Of course."

Jun Luo nodded at the guide’s words.

That’s only natural.

They wouldn’t just share that information.

But realistically, if no one is here, they can’t accept any requests.

What is the mutual aid association doing about it?

"Actually, everyone being out started today."

"What?"

"We've redirected all requests that seem manageable up to the fourth rank to the Standard Hall... To be honest, I don’t think the higher-ups have a clear idea of what will happen next."

"...And yet, everyone is out. No, they had no choice but to accept the situation that forced them out."

"Yes..."

Understanding the deeper meaning behind Jun Luo's question, the guide nodded.

In other words, these are requests that the higher-ups of the mutual aid association cannot refuse.

Such high-level requests are rare.

For example, the lord who requested 'Spring Hope', Earl Rosh Ten... It would be impossible for him to send all adventurers out.

In other words, even the upper echelons of the Shtaiif Layer cannot manage that.

If it goes higher than that, there’s only one possibility.

That is, the imperial family.

Either the emperor himself or the princes.

The power of ordinary princes does not differ much from the upper echelons of the Shtaiif Layer.

However, if we're talking about a prince, it’s entirely different.