Forming Party with Adventurer (2)

"Why would you be searching for a shooting wand?" Anderson remarked, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. His amusement was mirrored by Ms. Receptionist, who struggled to conceal her smile, her gaze dropping momentarily.

Gil had anticipated this reaction. Before coming here, he had familiarized himself with the shooting wand's reputation as a comical weapon. He couldn't believe this at first, but he eventually comprehended its rationale.

The weapon known as the shooting wand was referred to as a "magic rifle" by the player of Crossing Fate, likely due to the absence of the term "rifle" in this world's lexicon, thus adopting the name "shooting wand."

From its name alone, one could discern the weapon's functionality. Functioning as a mage's armament, it could rapidly discharge magical bullets. However, it hadn't garnered favor within this realm. This stemmed from its susceptibility to countermeasures against its magical projectiles.

The enchanting projectile materializes through the condensation of mana by the user. To counter this, one could deploy a mana shield or employ anti-magic equipment to intercept its trajectory. The shooting wand also proved ineffective against monsters with high defense stat.

Shooting Wand's sole practical application lies in its effectiveness for crowd control, whether facing monsters or people. Notably, the shooting wand also gained infamy for its role in suppressing riots, especially due to the vulnerability of many commoners to magic. Their inability to shield themselves from a volley of magic bullets made them easy targets for this weapon.

Dismissed as ineffective against monsters and primarily employed during riots, shooting wand was rated poorly by everyone. That's why it was valued as a joke weapon.

However, the weapon that Gil pursued was far from an ordinary shooting wand. The weapon of his desire was a gun of extraordinary caliber, as it graced the ranks of premium items that came with the game's deluxe edition. But he wanted to hide this information and took this gun for himself.

"Um, I've heard it has a really cool design, so I thought it would be a neat addition to my collection," Gil remarked, his words laced with a clear lie.

If Anderson were to uncover the actual capabilities of the Supernova, the possibility of betrayal could emerge, potentially leading Anderson to covet the firearm for his own.

"Why would you collect those useless weapons? Oh well, whatever, you noble brat always have something odd taste. Anyway, You decided to hire me or not? I'll find the other two people if you did."

Gil shifted his gaze to the Receptionist, seeking confirmation of Anderson's credibility. Ms. Receptionist comprehended his unspoken query and responded with an affirming nod. "Mr. Anderson is a B-Ranked adventurer, so he has a lot of experience in dungeon raids."

Seeking clarity, Gil inquired further. "Then should I make a formal request? And can I get the license now?"

Now Ms. Receptionist could no longer rebuff the request as Anderson agreed with Gil's request. "Yes, you still need to make the request, and I guess since Mr. Anderson is willing to accompany you to do a raid, then you can make a license. Kindly lay your hand on the crystal to facilitate the assessment of your stat."

Gil complied, reaching out to touch the spherical crystal. This enchanting orb served the purpose of meticulously scanning and cataloging an individual's attributes. In the game, it was a tool to monitor the progression of character attributes.

A projection materialized on the crystal's surface, displaying Gil's attribute information.

[Name: Gillian Exhecter

Rank: E

Stats:

STR : D (100)

INT: D (100)

CHA: D (100)]

Upon observing his attributes, Gil's expression shifted to one of despondency. It wasn't due to the lackluster nature of his attributes but rather the balanced distribution across all traits.

'Shit, why balanced start?' he mused inwardly.

In Crossing Fate, players were granted the liberty to allocate attributes according to their preferences at the start of the game. The pinnacle attainable rank for a single attribute stood at C, necessitating a corresponding reduction to E for the other.

Gil grappled with an even distribution of attribute statistics, an outcome that disheartened him. This sentiment stemmed from his awareness that this balanced distribution was a prerequisite for the elusive Harem route.

The game's design encompassed a deliberate focus on three attributes: strength, intelligence, and charisma, within Crossing Fate. Each attribute directly correlated to a specific love interest—Olivia representing strength, Emily tied to intelligence, and Aria linked to charisma. Should a player adeptly achieve perfect equilibrium in these attributes throughout the game, a coveted outcome known as the Harem ending would unfold—a conclusion marked by the world's demise at the hands of the final boss.

Gil held little concern about becoming entangled with the girls, as he had intentions to trample them. Yet, the unsettling prospect of the Harem Route's outcome lingered in his mind.

'There is no way that will happen. Sid was already on his hero journey, so it wouldn't happen. Y-yep, I just overthinking it,'

He reassured himself with a deep breath, attempting to quell his unease.

A brief pause ensued before Ms. Receptionist handed Gil a card—the newly minted proof of his adventurer status. Simultaneously, Gil exchanged a sack of gold with the Receptionist.

Upon catching sight of the transaction, Anderson emitted an envious whistle. "Dang, as expected from a rich boy."

Gil ignored the comment and directed his query to the Receptionist. "Five hundred in cash for my request. Should I need to fill in something else?"

"No need, sir. The guild would handle the form," the Receptionist assured him.

Interjecting at this juncture, Anderson chimed in, "I'll send you a message after I get the other guys. I won't take long, I promise."

"Sure, I'll be waiting. Then that's all, I guess?" Gil confirmed.

Affirming his question, the Receptionist nodded, "Yes. Thank you for using the Guild service, and also welcome abroad."

Having no other business, Gil bid farewells and promptly departed from the scene.

***

"What a handful that brat is. Dealing with him ain't easy, right? Luckily, I'm stepping in," Anderson remarked, punctuating his words with a wink directed at the Receptionist.

"Y-yes. Thank you," the Receptionist replied, her smile strained as she navigated the awkward interaction.

However, it was clear that her gratitude wasn't entirely sincere, given her less-than-favorable opinion of Anderson. Within the guild, he had garnered a reputation for his unruly behavior and womanizing tendencies, making advances toward every woman he encountered. Not only that, but he also had some bad rumors about himself.

Seeking clarification, she ventured, "Um, may I inquire about your choice of quest companions, Mr. Anderson?"

A roguish grin danced across his lips as he responded, "Hey, just Anderson works, sweetie."

The Receptionist maintained her awkward smile, her professionalism evident in her response. "I apologize, sir, but adhering to professional conduct is a guild requirement."

Recognizing the futility of his attempts, Anderson responded to the Receptionist's question."Oh well, I'm just going to ask Lack." As he uttered those words, the door swung open, revealing the very person he had just mentioned. "Speak of the devil himself," Anderson quipped.

A man and a woman entered the premises in tandem. The young man bore a youthful visage and well-maintained physique. Just as Anderson mentioned earlier. This was none other than Lack.

Beside him stood an unfamiliar young woman, her voluptuous figure accentuated by an enticing robe and pointed hat—a clear indication of her mage vocation.

Spotting the woman, Anderson wasted no time in approaching the pair. "Well, well. Look who's returned," he greeted with a broad grin.

The young man turned his attention toward Anderson. "Oh, it's Senpai. Good to see you here," he acknowledged.

Anderson enthusiastically gripped Lack's shoulder. "Man, look at you, grown up so fast, partying with hot lady now. Who is she if didn't mind to me to know?"

"Ah, we just temporary partying." Lack stammered, visibly blushing in response to the woman's mention. "Her name is Elise. Elise, this guy is my senior. His name is Anderson."

"Nice to meet you, Mr Anderson." Elise, the mage woman, greeted with a slight bow.

While bowing, Anderson saw Elise's cleavage at a glance. Lecherous thought came into his mind.

'Man, I want those huge tits.'

Luckily for him, an opportunity was present.

"Right, since you come back. I got an easy quest that makes some money. You want to join?"

"Ehh, but I just came back." Lack hesitated.

"It's all right. I said it's easy. It's just babysitting a noble brat into a dungeon. The pay is a hundred fifty gold each, you know." Anderson assured.

Lack's reaction was immediate. "Seriously? Count me in."

"But, I need two people. So if you don't mind, does Lady Elise want to join?" Both Anderson and Lack turned their attention to Elise, awaiting her response.

"Well, if you need me, then I don't mind," Elise answered.

"All right. It's decided then." Anderson confirmed with a grin, his eyes also inadvertently tracing Elise's enticing, sexy figure.