The first test
Silver-ranked adventurers were veterans with abundant amount of experiences in the industry. On top of them, stood gold-ranked comprised of special individuals with exceptional abilities. Even higher, the rare and monstrous platinum-ranked, based on current record only a dozen existed so far. The Association regarded people with these ranks as their elites.
Compared to rankers below them, aside from the obvious disparity in strength, two distinctions could be presented.
First, unlike lower rankers who relied solely on quest rewards to satisfy their hunger and needs, these specific rankers received fixed monthly remuneration from the Association as a token of appreciation and support, as long as their annual quest quota met. Silver rankers received 30,000 rune, gold rankers 60,000 rune, and 120,000 rune for platinum rankers.
Rewards from their quests might be greater, but the remuneration gave them a sense of financial stability, even when retired they still eligible to receive a third of that amount for the rest of their life.
As such, many adventurers strived to reach those ranks. A handful of them succeeded, most of them fell along the way, never to be heard again.
This generosity also showed the vast financial power the Association possessed, which according to rumor dwarfed even a great kingdom. After all, they were the sole entity with branches in every corner of the continent.
Second, access to privilege quests. As the name implied, they were quests originated from influential people, a country, or the Association itself. As one would expect, the danger involved in any of the available quest was steep, but so did the accompanying reward. Due to the difficulty, some even provided a fifty-percent down payment for trying, regardless of the result.
Skilled and valiant adventurers would not have trouble with money for life if they were able to consistently completed these quests.
Since becoming one of these ranks would involved a great monetary and trust related issues in the future, those receiving recommendation to enter would need to go through three test phases. Furthermore, the test could not be done in any of the Association's branches, the test was solely administered by the main office.
Around the beginning of this month, that main office was holding a test to promote a new gold-ranked adventurer.
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"So, what's the quest again?"
In front of the main office's grand four-story building, Alana, a beautiful, athletic emerald ranker with crimson bikini armor asked details of the quest to her companion while managing camping kit and other item in her horse's saddle bags.
"Checking up a frontier village"
Mikaela, an alluring silver ranker with similar revealing outfit gave a simple reply, and at the same time finished her preparation.
Every male that passed them could not help but notice the two adventurers, since seeing a pair of scantily-dressed mature women doing laborious activities while sweat flowing down on their well-developed figures was pleasant, and, well, arousing.
As a matter of fact, a group of no-good, possibly drunk men mistook them for mere harlots and forced the ladies to entertain them in nearby inn.
"Get back here!!!"
"Forgive usss!!!"
"Quick! Put us behind bars!! We were in the wrong!!!! Trust us!!!!"
Their sneering behavior was swiftly met with Alana's fury, and the group quickly realized they just angered the wrong target after they experienced how powerful she was. In less than a tenth of an hour, all ten men in the group were badly beaten and tearfully begged the incoming town guards to save them from the fuming female adventurer.
Seeing this uncommon scene, the guards glanced at one another in confusion, before they finally granted the men's odd wish and apprehended -saved- them for disrupting order.
"Quick-tempered as always I see…"
Mikaela chuckled at her friend's unchanging character. From her ferocious action, it was hard to believe she used to be a wizard like her.
"Couldn't help it, I HATE that kind of men!"
"Okay, okay, let me help so we can depart as soon as possible"
Mikaela gave a hand to her uncomplicated friend and the latter's preparation was finally completed.
"By the way, where's your favorite sword?"
"It's under maintenance. That's why I wear different set of equipment today"
Alana's usual weapon of choice was a great sword capable of decapitating or crushing her opponent with a single swing. However, it was not available at the moment. Thus, her current equipment comprised of a pair of round shields and short swords on her hands and waist, respectively, and a number of throwing knifes circled around her thighs.
Unexpectedly, this set might be more suitable for the quest at hand, in term of minimizing damage to her surrounding.
"You know, to still show disrespect despite your appearance, those guys must be really brave"
Or, maybe they thought she was costume-playing as warrior in the middle of the street to attract customers? That kind of thinking was possible.
"Bah! Whatever. Just fake bravery brought by liquor, nothing impressive"
Alana could not care less, to her their presence was lower than trivial, and putting any effort to discuss them was such a waste of time.
"…Say, Mikaela, is the quest really that simple? Checking up a village? Couldn't they just send anyone?"
"In my opinion, it only looks simple"
Mikaela was now undergoing the first phase to be acknowledged as gold-ranked adventurer. The task given to her was to complete a privilege quest, which contained an order to visit the newly established frontier village that lost contact with the government since two weeks ago. Previously, a group of bronze-ranked adventures and a band of knights were dispatched, unfortunately, none came back until now.
Moreover, the knights were at least in the same level as silver rankers.
This might simply because the village overran by beasts or notorious bandits. Or, something else was happening.
They had no clue, and she must found the answer by going there.
"…Are you sure just me is enough to accompany you? I'm only emerald-ranked, in case you forgot"
Matching the quest, the first phase had no time limit. Simultaneously, Mikaela was free to employ other adventurers with the same or a level below her current rank, and other third parties as help.
"Your rank is irrelevant, I know how capable you really are. Beside, I can't picture other trustworthy people to join"
Alana's rank was several level below silver, based on the rule as an adventurer she could not assist Mikaela in her quest. However, it was a different case if she participated as just 'Alana', a simple third party who aimed for monetary gain.
"I'm flattered knowing you trust me to that extent. I'll do my part to deserve half of the reward, and more"
Like their previous quest in Sandhaven, the payment arrangement was the reward would be divided equally between them.
Additionally, as the one taking the quest and Alana's employer, Mikaela was responsible to provide all the necessities to complete the quest.
She decisively purchased two warhorses that were several times more expensive than an average commoner's house as a mean of transportation to help them arrived in the village at the soonest. Though, even with the horses, three days still needed to traverse the distance.
Secretly, Mikaela also planned to buy a full-furnished magic tent like the one her benefactor had in his possession to have a little bit of comfort during the journey.
"…What?!"
However, after knowing the price from a general store, she decided a normal, yet good quality tent and various preserved foods would do the job.
Moreover, Alana and her were not the best person to do coordinated activities in a kitchen. In layman term, they could not cook, even simple task like boiling water would end up horribly.
"Everything's ready?"
"All set and ready to go anytime madam!"
Mikaela and Alana rechecked their belongings once again to ensure they were fully prepared. Afterward, the two adventurers skillfully mounted their respective horses and left toward their destination.
The test would prove to be more than what they imagined..