Interested?

A bustling atmosphere.

That's what Alex walked into when he entered the mission hall.

However it seemed word had spread about Alex's feat of killing an F+ rank beast, as some adventurers stopped mid conversation to look at this promising newcomer.

The impression Alex had on the F rank adventurers in the room was vastly different from his first time entering.

People actually respected him now.

Anyone who could defeat a beast a whole minor level above themself was a talent that would surely rise to at least D rank in the future.

Most of the adventurers in the hall were F rank and so only had F or F+ rank soul cores. They couldn't afford to offend someone with potential like Alex.

"Brother, you killed that Sleeper?" Alex saw a random adventurer in silver armor walking over to him.

Although the Sleeper mission was only an F rank mission, many people knew about it due to it's infamy among the mission hall.

Many adventurers had attempted it, all of them but Alex had failed it.

Only half of the adventurers that took the mission failed it due to the same reason Alex had so much trouble with it.

There was just too little information about it, and they had run out of time and had to give up on it, allowing other adventurers to take it.

The other half either disappeared or died for various reasons.

Yet this random newbie outsider suddenly comes in and takes it as his first mission, and completes it? Some people were sure to be curious.

Especially after they found out the Sleeper was an F+ rank beast.

"I did kill it, what's it to you?" Alex responded to the man in flashy armor with caution.

After his talk with Morlock, the store owner, his views had changed on the other humans in the Primordial Expanse.

"You must be quite strong to be able to kill something above your level like that, I have an interesting offer for you, interested?"

The man chuckled.

"Sure."

Alex was going to hear him out since he had no reason to refuse.

"Great. What's your name? I'm Raymond, an Early E rank Adventurer. My team and I are looking for some adventurers to join us on a beast hive mission. Your strength fits our requirements perfectly."

"Just call me Alex, I don't have a last name." Alex answered.

Alex lifted his eyebrows in surprise. He appreciated Raymond's honesty as he really wasn't expecting him to give away such valuable information like that.

What valuable information?

Raymond's rank.

'Early E rank?'

Most adventurers never give away their real rank like that to someone they just met. The adventurer association only requires them to display their general rank, like F, E, D etc.

So far Albert was the only person other than Raymond who had revealed his real rank to him.

There is no requirement to give away whether they are in the early, mid or late levels within that rank. Only the adventurer association is privy to that information.

"What rank is the beast hive? I don't see how I will be of any use when you are clearly much stronger than me. Also, when do you depart."

Alex was becoming more and more interested. Raymond was at least more trustworthy than the other adventurers he had interacted with, apart from Albert.

"The leader is an E- rank beast, on the same level as me. There are also nearly two dozen F rank beasts of various levels following the leader of the hive. This is where people like you and the other members come in. You will deal with the beasts while I deal with the leader, that is the deal. We depart tomorrow at noon."

Alex started to consider the benefits of accepting Raymond's deal, but Raymond continued.

"Of course, you will be compensated very nicely. Every team member is guaranteed 1 F rank beast core, with more on the line depending on your contribution."

This sealed the deal for Alex, just for being there he would get a beast core. He was sure he could get more rewards as well now that his power had increased and he now had a weapon of his own.

Not to mention that this was a mission issued in the mission hall. This legitimised Raymond's words as the adventurer association wouldn't sully their reputation by lying about such a thing.

"I'm in."

Alex shook Raymond's hand and left the beast hall.

"Brother, I'll wait for you tomorrow. You won't regret coming, trust me! Remember, meet at the mission hall at noon!" Raymond shouted at the back of Alex while waving his hand.

When Alex left, other adventurers who heard his conversation went over to Raymond.

"Sorry guys, the team's all full now. Maybe next time!"

Naturally many adventurers in the hall were very interested in joining Raymond's team for this mission when they heard the most basic reward was a beast core.

However they could only leave with sighs when Raymond immediately rejected them without letting them get a word in.

They couldn't complain about it either, what were they supposed to do? 

Offend an E rank adventurer over feeling a little bit petty for not being chosen?

That would just be suicide.