The Guild Master was not in her office. Amos asked a passing staff member for directions and finally found her on the terrace on the second floor of the Gathering Hall.
"Guild Master."
The Dragon People Guild Master, who was silently gazing at the northern sky with a long, slender pipe in her hand, turned around. She noticed that the visitor's expression was not looking too good.
"Oh, it's Amos. Is something the matter?"
"Guild Master, Xia Zuo returned last night. He was severely injured and asked me to give this to you before he fell unconscious." Amos took out a small roll of parchment and handed it to the Guild Master.
The Guild Master's expression immediately turned serious. She put down her pipe, unfolded the parchment, and read the information recorded on it, while asking about Xia Zuo's condition.
"Is Xia Zuo's injury serious?"
"The external injuries are fine, but the problem is he inhaled the Chameleos's poisonous mist. The Ancient Dragon's poison is not something ordinary antidotes can cure."
At this point, Amos seemed a bit hesitant, but he finally asked his question: "Guild Master, I shouldn't be so nosy, but I still want to know why Xia Zuo went to deal with a Chameleos alone.
That's an Ancient Dragon!
Although Xia Zuo is the best Dual Blades user in our Minagarde Gathering Hall, an Eight-Star Hunter, no matter how strong a Hunter is, he cannot guarantee that he can single-handedly fight an Ancient Dragon and survive. That's too dangerous!"
Facing the visibly agitated Amos, the Guild Master sighed softly, "How could I possibly send someone to hunt an Ancient Dragon?
It was the Ancient Dragon Observation Bureau that sent a request for assistance. They lost track of the Chameleos deep in Eastern Shuleite. Perhaps influenced by 'that thing' in the Shuleite Ancient City ruins, the Chameleos might be migrating west.
As you know, the Chameleos has the ability to turn invisible, and the Ancient Dragon Observation Bureau's hot air balloons simply cannot pinpoint its location. That's why I sent Xia Zuo deep into Shuretsusen Hill to investigate the Chameleos's position.
I should have been more cautious. If an Upper Hunter team had been dispatched at the time, even if they encountered the Chameleos, they could have safely retreated by covering each other."
Hearing the Guild Master's explanation, Amos's expression looked better.
As long as Hunters weren't intentionally sent to their deaths, it was fine. Those Ancient Dragons are not something that can be dealt with by just one or two Hunters.
They are walking natural disasters; their very actions can cause widespread ecological changes.
Humans can only repel them by constructing sturdy fortifications, expending vast amounts of manpower and resources, and combining the strength of countless Hunters.
Do you really think Minagarde's city walls and those incredibly powerful city defense facilities are for dealing with Flying Wyverns? What a joke!
From their very design, they were intended to counter threats from deep within the Shuleite Mountains to the north.
Threats named 'Ancient Dragon'.
"Is there anything else?"
"There's one more small matter, I suppose."
Amos rubbed his forehead and said, "I recently took on an apprentice. Before she matures, I might need to invest quite a bit of time in her."
Understanding Amos's implied meaning, the Guild Master's expression softened, and a smile appeared in her eyes, "I understand. Cultivating the next generation is always a top priority. Go ahead and do it."
"Thank you for understanding. I won't disturb you any further." Amos nodded, about to leave, but suddenly remembered something and turned back around.
"I almost forgot, forgive my presumption, but perhaps the Gathering Hall should be more cautious in terms of task selection and intelligence."
The Guild Master put down her pipe, not displeased, but rather curious.
"Cautious? Specifically what do you mean?"
"Look at this Two-Star quest slip. Gordon just took it not long ago. You remember Gordon, right?"
"Of course, the young man from Kokoto Village. After all, he's a talent recommended by that 'Hero', so I've been quite attentive." The Guild Master smiled as she took the quest slip Amos handed her. After a few glances, her brows slowly furrowed.
"...The Qimian Tribe's Summer Festival, indeed, this was our oversight."
The Guild Master's expression became serious again, even more somber than when they were discussing topics related to 'Ancient Dragon' earlier.
Amos stated directly, "During the summer, at the festival where the Qimian Tribe gathers in large numbers, the King of the Gajalaka might appear. That's a monster whose danger level is almost on par with Upper Hunters.
If they encounter it, with the young man's strength, he might not make it back."
From a 'Hunter's' standpoint, Amos would not be polite about such matters.
The quest to subjugate 20 members of the Qimian Tribe being rated as Two-Star was not an issue, but the quest slip did not include a note warning about the possible appearance of the King of the Gajalaka. That was a big problem.
"Apologize to Gordon for me. I will cancel the quest and deal with the staff member responsible for quest rating," the Guild Master said seriously and earnestly.
But Amos waved his hand, "No need. I've joined the quest under the pretext of familiarizing my apprentice with the Hunting Field. If the King of the Gajalaka really appears, I'll handle it."
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you then." The Guild Master clasped her hands in front of her and bowed deeply.
"You're too kind. Farewell." After a brief goodbye, Amos left alone.
The Guild Master took out her pipe again, filled it with tobacco, lit it, and after a deep inhale, exhaled a long stream of smoke, as if to release the vexation in her heart.
"What a troublesome autumn."
At noon, Amos treated them, and Gordon enjoyed the most luxurious lunch he had ever had since he was born.
Even with the double discount of the Gathering Hall's internal discount and Amos's special treatment as an Upper Hunter, the meal still cost over 1500z.
Various unheard-of high-end ingredients greatly broadened Gordon's horizons.
Ghost-blue clams freshly caught from the port early in the morning, King Brocade Fish sashimi, sweet pine cone salad harvested from the Desert, white liver steamed with sake, Armor Crab shell roast—
And the most important main course—Red Wine Slow-Braised Rock Dragon Tail.
Initially, Gordon thought this thing was just a large piece of stone soaked in rich broth.
In fact, that wasn't wrong. According to Amos, this dish was meticulously prepared from the tail of a young Basarios, a Flying Wyvern monster known as the "Armor Dragon."
In the massive section of tail, over ninety percent was inedible bone and rocky shell. However, when it came to the thin, oil-rich layer of tender meat interspersed within it—
It was simply a work of art!
Even Hayata, who usually ate gracefully, couldn't help but eat a lot.
What the two young people didn't yet know was that many of these high-end dishes couldn't even be bought with money; only Hunters who reached a certain rank could "unlock" these special menus.
Was it also a kind of "encouragement mechanism" from the Gathering Hall?
Amos chuckled as he watched Gordon go from initial politeness and restraint to later wolfing down his food.
He greatly admired this young man.
There were many reasons: his excellent talent, having been promoted to Two-Star at such a young age; his iron-like physique, which could only be honed through sufficient effort; the kindness of saving his close friend and disciple; and the "sentiment" for which the Kokoto Hero was willing to vouch for him.
If it weren't for the fact that the other party was clearly a power-type and his basic combat style was already set, he would have wanted to take on another disciple.
Picking up his wine glass and taking a sip of the light fruit wine, Amos looked at Hayata, whose small mouth was also red from eating.
The young girl's talent was equally outstanding, and her mind was strong enough. Once she matured, she would be no worse than this boy, fully capable of inheriting his mantle.
Well, although there was no fate for them to become master and disciple, since he found him pleasant, he would teach him more things.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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