Chapter 35: Preparing for the Adventure

"So, I brought you these."

Guild Master Nova gestured to the stack of paper covered in writing on the desk, speaking to Li Rui, who was pressed closely against her back.

While she had been explaining the current situation in Golden Wheat Town, Li Rui had already begun flipping through the documents. They were all bounties for monsters. From Golden Wheat Town westward—Sentinel Town, Blackrock Town, and other villages, large and small, for which even the "Common Language Memories of Jay" held no information—all manner of monsters that had been sighted were recorded in this stack.

"Since you need to kill monsters to grow stronger, I’ve gathered every bounty for monsters I could find in the vicinity. See which ones you need."

Hearing this, Li Rui felt a warmth spread through his heart. He had only ever felt someone putting such dedicated effort into caring for his well-being before his mother had passed away. After looking through all the bounties on the table, he pulled one out.

Nova took it and glanced at it: "Undead?"

"Exactly," Li Rui nodded. "I killed an undead creature in the Low-Level Monster Forest before and gained some of its abilities, but if I use that power for too long, it might cause irreversible negative side effects."

"So that’s why you want to keep hunting undead." Nova nodded in understanding and pondered for a moment. "I recall you were operating with the 'Earth Claw' squad. What is your relationship like with them?"

Li Rui was stunned for a moment before replying, "It's quite good... but why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"Here is the plan: go back to my place, get some rest today, and recover. I will help you prepare what you need. Tomorrow, you will set off with them to hunt the undead and formally begin your path as an adventurer."

Golden Wheat Town was already doomed to fall, but before evacuating, there was still much she could do.

After Li Rui left, Nova retrieved the files for the "Earth Claw" adventurer squad and carefully reviewed the missions they had completed. As she read, her gaze suddenly locked onto the file for the archer, Kate.

A while later, she stepped out of the Adventurer's Guild and turned into the "Goblin's Left Ear" tavern next door. Seeing Nova arrive in person, the proprietor, Hawk, immediately put down the glass he was polishing and respectfully led her to his living quarters behind the tavern.

"Hawk," Nova said coldly after sitting down, "let's talk about 'Earth Claw,' especially that archer, Kate."

After acquiring enough information, she left Hawk's home and began preparing other "investments" for Li Rui...

...

The next morning, at the Nova residence.

Li Rui drifted awake from a warm, soft "cloud." Guild Master Nova was still fast asleep, several strands of her golden hair resting playfully against his chest.

Looking at the sleeping beauty who appeared so delicate and charming, he instinctively reached back to touch his lower back—there was no soreness as he had anticipated!

A surge of joy welled up in his heart. He raised his left arm, where an inconspicuous brown leather bracer was fitted against his wrist, feeling warm to the touch. With his right hand, he reached toward his neck and pulled out a simple silver chain with a pendant holding a milky-white gemstone that glowed with a faint, inner light.

'Constitution Bracer...'

Li Rui recalled Nova’s introduction when she had placed this enchanted gear on him last night. It boosted the wearer's Constitution by 1 point, making him tougher and more energetic. And the 'Restoration Necklace' around his neck was an even greater treasure; it accelerated stamina recovery, and more importantly, it stored one precious 'Level 1 Healing Spell' that could save his life in a crisis, though it required a recharge of mana after use.

It was these two pieces of precious enchanted gear that had allowed him to endure Nova’s enthusiastic demands last night, leaving him feeling full of energy even this morning. He couldn't help but stroke the gemstone of the necklace again, feeling the gentle energy contained within.

"Do you like your 'new toys'?" A voice filled with lazy amusement sounded in his ear.

Nova had awakened at some point and was lying on her side, propping her head up with one hand. She looked at him with a beaming smile, her eyes filled with a hint of playfulness and satisfaction.

Li Rui’s cheeks warmed slightly, but excitement quickly replaced the feeling: "It’s amazing, Nova. I’ve never felt this good."

"Don't get too smug." Nova smiled and pinched his cheek. "Equipment is just an aid; staying alive is the real skill."

Her fair, rounded arms pressed against the plush mattress, and her graceful figure outlined breathtaking curves in the morning light. "Get up. After breakfast, we'll go to the guild together. There’s a 'surprise' waiting for you."

...

Half an hour later, Adventurer's Guild, second-floor office.

"Knock, knock..."

Following the sound of thick-soled boots hitting the wooden stairs, three sturdy figures appeared before Li Rui and Nova. When Paul, the barbarian Garron, and the sword-and-shield warrior Brook saw Li Rui sitting behind the guild master's desk, arm-in-arm with Nova, the three of them immediately understood one thing.

'No wonder we couldn't find this kid after waking up yesterday!'

However, none of them were naive rookies; no one would be foolish enough to blurt out questions the other party might not want to answer.

"Guild Master." Upon reaching the desk, Paul, as the leader, was the first to place his right hand over his chest and bow slightly. Garron and Brook followed suit with fluid movements, fully expressing their respect for the Guild Master and the high-ranking professional.

"Yes, Captain Paul," Nova nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the three. "I remember 'Earth Claw' being a four-person squad. Where is your other member?"

Hearing Nova mention the missing person, a flash of embarrassment crossed Paul's face. Last night, the team's archer, Kate, had treated the three of them to a farewell dinner and suddenly announced that he was quitting adventuring to become a junior leader for the Lobus Gang, hoping to make it big in a large city.

The three of them still hadn't fully processed what had happened.

"Kate... he had some sudden personal business to attend to and cannot participate in squad operations for the time being."

Paul was kind-hearted after all, wanting to keep Kate's position open just in case the man decided to return one day.

"Is that so?" Guild Master Nova mused for a moment before continuing, "I called you here today mainly to have you assist Li Rui in completing a task. Since you're short-handed, why don't we add one of my people? How does that sound?"

Before they could decide whether to accept, Nova dropped a bombshell: "Assist Li Rui in exterminating a certain number of undead. The bounty for the mission is 1,000 gold coins per person."

"Thud!" x3

Paul and the others struck their chests firmly. "It is our honor to serve you!"