A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 271 Release Commission

The next day, Rorschach arrived at the Adventurers' Guild hall early. He needed to find Singlev and make sure he hadn't been recruited by any other employer.

The most distinctive feature of the Adventurers' Guild in Istani compared to other places is the abundance of maritime commissions. Although Storm City itself is not located by the sea, it is, after all, a prime location where all sorts of eccentric talents gather, resulting in numerous commissions for finding maritime treasures and serving as escorts for ocean-going fleets.

There was no wine in the hall, only a bard strumming his harp, uttering off-key tunes. His mushroom-shaped hair was long and bushy; if you covered his ears, you couldn't tell if he was an elf or a human. The others looked much more menacing; some adventurers were missing limbs, replaced by wooden stakes and iron hooks, and some wore eye patches. All of them were former sailors.

"Drake's Fleet, Royal Charter. Recruiting several adventurers with certain combat skills who are not prone to seasickness. Those with sailing experience are preferred. Participation in naval battles is required. Salary negotiable." A charter? Rorschach stared at the largest recruitment notice on the wall, not immediately understanding the scope of the recruitment.

Then he realized: it was probably because the pirates were openly recruiting people from the Adventurers' Guild and operating under a franchise, which meant that Captain Drake was one of the "Seven Warlords of the Sea".

Around the recruitment notice, a group of men were discussing it heatedly and eager to try. Most of them were dressed in tattered clothes, and while they weren't exactly handsome and refined, they were certainly burly and fierce-looking. Rorschach quickly spotted the dwarf standing out among the group of tough guys.

He patted Singhlev on the shoulder and immediately made a shushing gesture.

The dwarf's mouth was agape, but he managed to swallow back the shout of "Rorschach the Mage." Rorschach used a teleportation spell to tell the dwarf to find another place to speak.

The guild itself didn't have any alcohol, but there was bound to be a tavern nearby. The two ordered breakfast and chose a corner to sit down. Rorschach spoke first: "Are you planning to apply to be a pirate?"

The dwarf shook his head earnestly: "I will always be an adventurer! But it's not bad to sail to other seas; I can land on hot islands and explore continents that no other adventurers have set foot on."

With a clatter, the owner served the two breakfasts. Both were identical, the pub's top-of-the-line fare: gooey tomato stewed beans, two fried eggs, sautéed mushrooms, bread slices, and a little fried salted meat. And pale beer—a touch of alcohol was certainly more hygienic than some water that had been sitting around for who knows how long.

Now that no one would approach them anymore, Rorschach began to talk about the "Shadow City".

Upon hearing this, Singhlev forgot all about his meal: "I've been wandering around in this foggy place for so long, and I had no idea there was such a fun place!"

"Singer, this is no fun at all. It's said that once you enter it, your name will disappear from the outside world, and you might not even be able to return to the real world." Rorschach didn't know whether "Shadow City" was part of the real world, isolated by some force, or whether it was a region outside the real world itself.

The latter is obviously more dangerous. If he were isolated by supernatural forces, it would be easier to handle. He was confident that he could use magic to break the spell and escape.

"Okay, you're right."

"So that's it. Now I have to go to this mysterious place, and it would be best if I had a companion. Would you like to come with me? I'm willing to hire you and pay you a commission befitting a gold-level adventurer." Rorschach took out a small leather bag and slammed it on the table with a solid sound.

"Master Rorschach, why are you being so polite? I'm an adventurer, and I'm here to seek opportunities in dangerous places that ordinary people wouldn't dare to go!" Despite saying this, Singhlev still took the bag with his short, strong hands.

He opened the package and found only brilliant gold coins in perfect condition, without any twisted edges. There were old Valois francs and Imperial Eagle coins, their golden gleam making him squint. Considering that Singhlev was an international traveler, Rorschach also saved himself the trouble of exchanging more Istani gold pounds.

Rorschach, as the client, offered a way out: "Since you're an adventurer, let's follow the rules. I'll hire you; everyone needs to eat and live." To be honest, he wasn't very confident about entering the Shadow City. His biggest guarantee was the agreement between Rorschach and Cano: if Rorschach didn't write to him again within ten days, it meant he had lost contact and needed his master to rescue him.

The agreement couldn't guarantee his and his companions' safety during that time. If Kano had arrived late, he might have had to search for his good apprentice's body in the sewers of Storm City.

Ignoring these unlucky thoughts, Rorschach extended his hand: "So, that's it? You agree?"

"Of course!" The dwarf and the mage clasped hands.

There's another problem: Rorschach doesn't know how to get into the Shadow City! He absolutely won't go to Benedict; he can't let that suspicious elf lead him by the nose.

Out of caution, Rorschach had Singrev pay to publish two commissions:

The first is a missing person notice, looking for a young woman with brown hair, a teacher, who was wearing a linen dress when she went missing, and whose name is unknown.

Secondly, the recruitment of expedition teams requires candidates to be familiar with Storm City, various folk tales, and have a good memory.

They all used the name Singerev, while Rorschach remained behind the scenes.

Unlike guilds on the mainland that take a cut from commission fees, adventurers here specifically charge registration fees, data registration and storage fees, and page fees from commissioners. In other words, the more money you spend, the more space you occupy on the page and the longer you stay.

The guild staff glanced at the bulletin board, peeled off the expired commissions, and pasted theirs on.

"I've been an adventurer for so many years, and this is the first time I've ever posted a commission!" Singlev found the process very interesting. He even wanted to add his own money to buy the largest space to overshadow Drake's fleet, but Rorschach firmly stopped him.

The key now is to keep a low profile. Rorschach lowered his newsboy cap.

Soon someone arrived; it turned out to be the bard that Luo Xia had noticed from the beginning. He was carrying a small xylophone in one hand and two commissions that had been issued not long ago in the other.

"I think I am the person you are looking for." The bard had clear eyes, and his mushroom haircut had very neat bangs that covered his eyebrows. Rorschach also noticed the bard's prominent front teeth as he got closer. "My name is Freddie Reiner. If you are willing to visit the nearby tavern tonight, you will know that I sing well and am also skilled at various instruments."

Well, what a unique guy.

"Singrev, yes, that's me who signed it."

The old alias was used again: "Heisenberg." Rorschach's gaze was slightly diverted by the front teeth; he brought his eyes back to the other man's eyes. "We don't need a musician. How can you prove you can fulfill the commission?"

"This world doesn't need musicians, but it can't live without music! Okay, back to the point, because I know you're going to the shadow world of this city, right?" The poet Freddie waved two pieces of paper: "Many people have tried to enter the mysterious, dark, inverted place by sending two pieces of nonsense to hint at their intentions, but you are the first."

(End of this chapter)