Black Card

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'Poor man. This woman isn't someone for social interaction and only a few people who could understand her that much since this woman isn't fond of talking that much and there are times it could lead into misunderstanding, but no one dared to outright refute to her face, lest they wanted to fall themselves into trouble.'

The receptionist thought and since she is one of the few people that could understand this woman then, she interprets the gesture from earlier as she speaks; "She meant to asked if that information that you got is a reliable source or not."

Ryan snapped from his thoughts when the receptionist interpreted the black hooded woman's gestures once more and Ryan felt thankful for this receptionist.

But at the same time, Ryan felt sorry for the other woman as she is the one who keeps on interpreting what the black hooded woman wanted to say.

After he collected his own thoughts, Ryan looked at the black hooded woman as he speaks; "Whether the information that I got is true or not, it can be useful as a hint and all we need to do is to investigate it ourselves in order to find out the truth."

Ryan explained his opinion and when the black hooded woman heard his statement, she had to agree with him since it made sense.

The black hooded woman just nodded at him and Ryan felt frustrated because he never heard the woman speaks again since they got into the reception area.

"Tricky one. We should go."

At last, Ryan finally heard the black hooded woman speaks but he didn't quite understand what she meant again.

'Seriously, Lady?! Do you have a problem with your speech? Do you want some gold coins for me to pay you so that you could talk longer?'

Ryan thought as he wanted to yell out his frustration at the black hooded woman but tried to compose himself as he didn't want to make a scene here.

While Ryan felt distraught because of the black hooded woman's unique attitude, the receptionist who happens to hear what the black hooded woman said, she froze on the spot as she couldn't believe what the receptionist just heard.

For the first time, the black hooded woman would take someone on the mission!

Not just that, but a newcomer would be her companion?!

Some of the adventurers in the area happen to hear what the black hooded woman stated and even though it's not that long but most of them understood her words.

All of them were shocked upon hearing those words coming from the black hooded woman and Ryan failed to notice how others perceive him.

"D-did you guys heard that?!"

"Seriously?! For the first time, she took someone to be her companion for the mission?!"

"Someone please slap me if this is just a dream or what?"

"I can't believe that this is happening!"

"What a lucky bastard! He doesn't know how lucky he was to be chosen by that woman to accompany her! Tsk! Just how did he convince her to tag along?"

"This would be an interesting gossip within the Capital city, even within the whole Empire, I presumed."

'What?' – Ryan just snapped from his thoughts when he heard the whispers around the guild, and he didn't have any idea on what these people were talking about.

More and more whispers and gossip once again resurfaced around the guild and Ryan didn't know why these adventurers were making a big deal out of it when he realized that they were talking about them, especially him.

He looked at the black hooded woman, but the said woman didn't look at him and still looking through the files that the receptionist had taken out from the archives.

The receptionist looked at Ryan and smiled as she gave a thumbs up to him, much to Ryan's confusion.

'O-okay? What just happened? I don't have any idea.'

Ryan thought as he frowns for a moment, and it looks like it would take another minute for the black hooded woman to finished looking through all the files that were laid out in front of her to analyze the situation properly.

After that, the receptionist composed herself as she speaks; "Now that everything is settled then, may I have both your cards for validation?"

Even though Ryan is still confused about everything from what he heard earlier, he took out his card from his pocket and gave it to the receptionist.

Also, the black hooded woman as well took out hers and passed it to the receptionist and that's the time Ryan took noticed of the different colors of their cards.

Since Ryan is registered as an E-Rank, the lowest rank for adventurers and what they called "the beginners" is where the newcomers are being tested for their strengths and weaknesses.

Ryan didn't know if his eyes are playing with him or what because he just saw the black card that the black hooded woman took out from her pocket as well.

At that moment, he felt his heartbeat runs wild upon realization that he didn't want to admit it because of his mistake.

'W-wait a minute! As far as I could remember, there is only ONE PERSON that holds a black card amongst all the adventurers within the Miris Continent! I can't remember that person's name but that person's features from the rumors, I remember it, somehow.'

Ryan thought as he held his chin to think carefully and then he suddenly remember the black hooded woman's appearance for the first time he laid his eyes on her…

Crimson-colored long hair and crimson-lilac eyes…

Crimson?

C-CRIMSON?!

His eyes widen in shock upon the sudden realization that hits him, and he immediately looked at the black hooded woman at his side.

Fear and awkwardness that he felt because of his past actions.

'I-If what I think who she is then, does that mean…. this black hooded woman is—'

"Mr. Ryan Wayne. Glad to finally know your name. My name is ALEXA, by the way. One of the receptionists of Adventurers Guild of the Main Office here at the Crown city."

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