After receiving the firm order from her leader, a merchant guild employee immediately ran out carrying Arvin's letter of protest addressed to the King, as if carrying a time bomb ready to explode.
Hilda, who was still trying to calm her heart, asked carefully. "Then, Young Master... is there anything else you need besides selling all these magic crystals?"
"Yes, there is!" Arvin answered while tapping the table with his fingers. "I want to rent 9 large horse carts for freight and passengers, complete with their drivers!"
Hilda immediately took notes. "Alright. When is the departure time and where is the destination?"
"Tomorrow noon! Gathering point in front of this guild. And the destination is Vanzhas!"
Hilda's quill stopped moving. She looked up, staring at Arvin with furrowed brows.
"Vanzhas?" repeated Hilda. "Isn't that the capital of the Vedegra territory? Security and inspections are very strict there! Bringing a large entourage without an official travel pass will usually be detained at the border for days."
"You don't need to worry!" Arvin smiled thinly. "Everything will be fine. I guarantee it. The travel pass is ready."
Arvin took a handful of coins from the chest that had just been counted, then handed 600 Golds to Hilda.
"This is the down payment and rental fee," said Arvin. "35 Golds must be paid to each driver on duty! Don't cut a penny! While the rest is for the Merchant Guild's administration fee!"
Hilda's eyes sparkled. Usually, drivers were only paid 5 Golds for long trips. 35 Golds was a very luxurious payment.
"I understand, Young Master! I will ensure the best drivers we have will serve you."
"Is there anything else you need?" asked Hilda again, this time with a much more respectful and friendly tone.
"Nothing! I'm going to the Adventurer's Guild to hire some adventurers there! Thank you very much for your cooperation, Chairwoman Hilda."
Without further ado, Arvin turned around and stepped out, leaving the Merchant Guild.
As soon as the door closed and Arvin's figure disappeared, the silence in the lobby broke. The merchants and nobles who had been holding their breath immediately swarmed around the reception desk, scrambling to see the ten giant magic crystals up close.
"By the God of Trade..." muttered an old merchant while adjusting his glasses. "Look at the purity level! The energy is very dense. This could light up a city district for a hundred years!"
"This is the first time an academy student dared to make a scene at the Merchant Guild, refused tax exemption, and even insulted the King and the Minister of Finance like that." said another merchant with a mix of horror and awe. "Chairwoman Hilda, who exactly is that young man? Is he crazy or a genius?"
Hilda sighed deeply, wiping the sweat on her forehead with a handkerchief.
"He is Arvin Vedegra." answered Hilda quietly but clearly audible. "He is the eldest son of Duke Melvin Vedegra and Duchess Olive Vedegra."
Instantly, everyone's expression in the lobby turned pale. The name 'Vedegra' carried very heavy weight in the Astoria Kingdom.
No one ever expected that the handsome but rude and brave academy student was the heir of the most influential and feared Duke family in the kingdom.
Gossip about this incident would surely spread throughout the capital before sunset.
Meanwhile, on the capital streets starting to bustle with afternoon activities, Arvin walked leisurely towards the adventurer district.
Arvin looked up at the sky above him.
Fortunately, it's not that late yet. I still have time to go to the Adventurer's Guild then find lodging. But, do I still have time to go to the logistics market to buy food supplies and clothes for them? Ah, never mind, the important thing is I hurry and don't waste my precious time.
Arvin sped up his pace. The Adventurer's Guild building was already visible at the end of the street. Its building was different from the luxurious Merchant Guild. The Adventurer's Guild was made of thick wood and rough stone, decorated with preserved heads of hunted monsters. The atmosphere there was much wilder and noisier.
As soon as he arrived in front of the heavy double doors, Arvin sighed, preparing himself mentally to face a bunch of barbarians. He pushed the door open.
Creak...
The sound of the door opening was followed by the smell of cheap alcohol, sweat, and rusty iron. The atmosphere inside was very crowded. Hundreds of adventurers were drinking, arm wrestling, or just talking loudly.
However, like in the Merchant Guild, the crowd suddenly receded.
An academy student with a clean and neat uniform entering the den of rough adventurers certainly became a strange sight. Arvin became the center of attention.
"Wow! Who is that academy student? He is so handsome! His skin is so smooth." praised a scantily clad female adventurer sitting at the bar table.
"Tch, noble brat." chimed in a male adventurer with a scarred face while spitting on the floor. "What is he doing here? Looking for a lost cat?"
Arvin ignored the disparaging remarks and stares directed at him. His face remained flat and cold.
His steps continued forward through the crowd, approaching the reception desk where a young woman in a guild employee uniform was busy arranging documents.
"Welcome to the central Adventurer's Guild of the Astoria Kingdom." greeted the receptionist without looking up initially. But as soon as she saw Arvin's uniform, she straightened her back immediately. "I am Selvi, the receptionist who will serve you. Is there anything I can help you with, young man?"
"I want to hire Adventurers Rank C and above for a round-trip escort mission!" said Arvin firmly.
Selvi blinked. "Rank C and above? That rental fee is quite expensive, Sir. But alright. Approximately how many adventurers do you need and when is the departure schedule?"
"18 people! And the departure schedule is tomorrow noon! Make sure before noon they must gather in front of the Merchant Guild!" answered Arvin.
Selvi took notes quickly. "18 Rank C people... that's a large number. Then, where is the destination?"
"Vanzhas, the capital of the Vedegra territory!"
Selvi's quill stopped scratching. Her expression immediately turned worried.
"Vanzhas?" she asked hesitantly. "I-Isn't that city having super strict inspection and surveillance levels? Usually, wild adventurers are lazy to go there because of the complicated bureaucracy and fierce guards."
Arvin rolled his eyes lazily. "Why is the reaction of the Merchant Guild and Adventurer's Guild always the same? Are you afraid of bureaucracy?"
"You don't need to worry! Everything will be fine! The permission letter is with me. Here is my identity card as a guarantee!"
Arvin threw his identity card onto the table.
Selvi picked up the card and read it.
Name: Arvin Vedegra
Status: First Year Academy Student
Class: 1-A
Instantly, Selvi's face paled. She stared at Arvin's handsome face with a shocked and fearful expression. The Vedegra family was known as protectors as well as rulers of the harsh southern region with very strict laws.
"Y-Yes, Young Master Arvin! I will take care of it immediately!" Selvi immediately changed her tone to be very respectful.
She stood up and rang the bell on her desk, attracting the attention of the entire hall.
"ATTENTION EVERYONE! There is a priority escort mission! 18 Rank C adventurers and above are needed to escort a convoy to Vanzhas tomorrow noon! The pay is high!"
Initially, many were interested hearing the words 'high pay'. But upon hearing the destination 'Vanzhas', most adventurers sat back down. Vanzhas was known as a very law-abiding territory, the place most hated by free adventurers who liked to cause trouble.
"Are you crazy, kid? Hahaha. Even if you pay me high, I will never accept that mission. The Vedegra region is very strict in terms of laws, and the laws that apply there are very different from those in the capital. Besides you, I also can't fathom the minds of those who accept that mission." said the burly man again as if provoking the adventurers who had accepted the mission.