Level Up Family

Marius had arrived at a broad room with many large boards with papers scattered about it, some with fierce-looking faces belonging to both man and beast. Curiously, some were a cross in between all kinds, with many of them being those of the Mantar race.

'Oh, so I guess that those are bounties, or maybe quests like in those role-playing video games.'

Marius thought with interest in his eyes as he looked at the scene, but after looking at them for a bit, he didn't waste any more time but traveled towards the nearest counter.

While walking, he bypassed quite a few tables filled with various persons, be it bunny ears people, elf-like people, large-bodied men and women a size close to Herculean, and other mixed varieties.

Even young teens fresh in their fifteens were moving about in groups, guided by aged men and women in armor as they carried large bags of weapons as if going on a hunting trip.

The air here was even livelier than that of the Fallen Star Inn's, but that didn't mean anything to everyone else as they carried on as if it were normal.

"Right this way, those looking to sign up, you can come over here!" A heavy voice said from a small counter on one side.

Marius and few others who seemed a bit new turned their sights over, but unlike everyone else, Marius, who looked over, showed a surprising look in his eyes when he thought.

'Is that the dwarf from the movie about that ring with the swordsmen and that cute little creature?'

Marius was a bit surprised as the dwarf shared a similar appearance to that movie entity, but he saw differences as he gave it a good look. Mostly, the beard and mustache, each of which was black and curled.

Marius shook off his surprise as he went over, but while moving, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes as he noticed that a few malicious eyes were staring at them at various corners of the large room. In fact, he felt that most of those gazes had a tinge of mock, with few being pity.

'Heh, let's see what you guys are playing at...'

Marius thought, feeling a bit excited, he didn't mind having a little fun before returning home to his lovely family.

The dwarf made a warm smile as he saw everyone arrived, his eyes squinting, showing a very gentle and warm appearance as he spoke, "Welcome, I can see that you are all interested in joining our Seeker's Union. You must each be a hero of your own right. Come quickly, I shall help each of you process all the necessary documents and details, then we'll get through to testing."

A few at the front of the line showed excited looks as they hurried to step up one by one to process their applications. However, those at the back of the line had different expressions on their faces.

When Marius arrived behind the farthest individual, he couldn't help but overhear some discontented whispers.

"Che! It's that Torn again, blast, wasn't it supposed to be Lisa's turn with the inspections?" A young lad with brown hair said.

"It's out luck; I just heard that Lisa had to turn in due to some sickness, now we'll have to go through that harsh Drilling Field acceptance test by that darn Torn. I wish I had just followed my guts and left today," A stocky man said with a look of regret on his face.

"What? Are you serious?" A timid looking man in the rear of the line exclaimed.

"Hey, do I look like I'm joking to you? I've seen it before!" The stocky man said with a hint of terror in his eyes.

The timid man gulped as he looked left and right before turning around and speaking offhandedly, "Well, I'm not feeling so well, I think I'll come back another..."

The timid man was about to finish his words while leaving the area, but who would have thought that things wouldn't go his way. Suddenly, the timid man bumped into the hairy chest of a large man with a violent air, glaring down at him as if he was like an ant.

With a gulp, the timid man took a step back as he stared at him before he spoke, "S-Sir, would you please excuse me? I would like to le..."

"No adult leaves the Seeker's Union as they please. If you enter the Seeker's Union as a nonmember, then it is a written rule that you must register and take part in a compulsory test. Only after failing or passing will you be granted the right to leave..."

The timid man had a startled look on his face when he heard those words, as did many others who didn't know; someone with more guts stepped out of the line and shouted, "Hey! Who do you think you are to tell us what we can and can't do? If I want to leave today, who will stop me?"

When a few other Seeker's heard this, they looked on with mocking gazes as some showed pity for the speaker. As expected, when the man finished his words, Torn, who sat behind the counter, frowned; he glanced at another person who had blocked off the path and nodded.

The new Seeker Candidates looked at this with worry; they watched as another person walked towards the speaker and slapped him across his face, causing him to spin in the air and crash onto a table. The man then fidgeted before he lost consciousness, with froth coming out of his mouth.

"Is there anyone else who would like to speak out about the rules of our union?" Torn said with a cold tone as now, one of his squinted eyes had opened, showing a look far different from his usual kind appearance.

The candidates trembled as no one dared to utter a sound of rejection. Torn then nodded, showing his usual gentle demeanor as he spoke, "Come quickly, we must hurry and finish the signing, then you must pay all your fees and go to the Drilling Grounds."

The candidates gulped as they forcefully swallowed their feelings of pride and did as they were told. It was soon Marius's turn; Torn looked at him with a strange look as, unlike everyone else, he didn't show fear.

"That'll be 15 Krills," Torn said as he stretched out his broad palm and crusty-looking palm; he intentionally made the price five more than the others.

Marius smirked and placed the krills in his palm; he then took up the token that everyone had received and followed along with the others towards the special grounds.

As he grasped the krills tightly, Torn glanced at Marius's back with sharp eyes as he thought to himself, 'I really want to see what you are truly made from...'

With that thought in mind, he called someone over as much to the surprise of everyone else. He had personally left to supervise this time's inspection, bringing a startle to everyone gathered as if a grand event was about to begin.

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