Chapter 41: The Gossip Gambit

Chapter 41: The Gossip Gambit

Sage’s eyes sparkled with joy and bubbling excitement as he erupted into a hearty laughter that reverberated through the empty Guild Hall.

After three minutes of unrestrained mirth, he finally settled down in his chair, the earlier worry that had clouded his mind now replaced by a deep sigh of relief and a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Damn... I didn’t expect this guy to help me so much."

He narrowed his eyes, a glimmer of determination shining within them. "I can’t let this opportunity slip away... it’s simply too valuable to waste. If I play my cards right, not only can I attract numerous clients for commissioned missions, but I can also draw in more Warriors to register as Adventurers. Most importantly, the reputation of the Adventurer Guild will soar."

A broad grin spread across his face, nearly splitting it in two. "This is like killing three birds with one stone! With this, the progress of building up the Guild will skyrocket."

"Hehehehe...! Well, Sir Cassian Thaumas, it seems you are more than just an Alchemist; you are the greatest PR tool to ever exist! Hahahah!" Sage couldn’t help but burst into laughter again.

His golden opportunity was none other than Alchemist Sir Cassian Thaumas. Sage planned to leverage Cassian’s identity as an Alchemist to attract countless people to the Guild.

"And also to make this plan work even, all I’ll need is for Cassian to mention, casually, to a few fellow Alchemists or wealthy clients where he got such swift service. Word of mouth from someone of his stature would be wildfire."

In this world, there are three highly respected occupations: Alchemists, Blacksmiths, and Runesmiths. These roles form the backbone of Warrior society and hold greater importance than even Mages. Without these professions, Warriors would struggle significantly in their development.

Alchemists craft potions using rare and exotic herbs and fruits for various purposes beneficial to both Warriors and ordinary people alike.

For example, a Mana Healing Potion can heal a Warrior’s wounds or cure ordinary individuals from deadly diseases instantly.

For Warriors who constantly risk their lives in battle and often sustain injuries, ranging from minor cuts to life-threatening wounds, having access to a Mana Healing Potion can be life-saving at critical moments.

Additionally, there are countless types of potions designed specifically for enhancing a Warrior’s capabilities in myriad ways.

Blacksmiths also play an essential role but hold slightly less status than Alchemists while still receiving significant respect.

They forge powerful weapons imbued with devastating abilities that allow Warriors to maximize their strength in combat.

In fact, during battles between two Warriors, the one wielding superior weapons or equipment is likely to emerge victorious unless unforeseen circumstances arise.

A well-crafted weapon can save a Warrior’s life or amplify their attack power significantly. High-ranking Blacksmiths can even create weapons with healing properties akin to those of Mana Healing Potions or forge apocalyptic weapons capable of annihilating thousands.

For kingdoms, empires, and various organizations, having a large number of skilled blacksmiths, especially those of high rank,is akin to possessing a team of nuclear scientists capable of creating nuclear arms. Blacksmiths are particularly valued by warlike nations.

Runesmiths hold a status comparable to that of alchemists. They possess similar abilities and can be just as destructive as blacksmiths. Runesmiths have the unique skill to inscribe runes, creating rune formations and talismans for both defense and attack.

For example, a runesmith can craft a Mana Gathering Array or Formation. When activated, this formation gathers surrounding mana, making it denser for warriors to absorb, thereby enhancing their strength.

There are also protective formations designed to safeguard specific locations. Many powerful nobles employ these formations around their residences; if an intruder attempts to breach the area, the formations activate or alert them. Runesmiths can inscribe runes on clothing, weapons, or even buildings.

These professions are crucial for major forces or organizations; having individuals in these roles significantly boosts overall strength.

As a result, practitioners of these three occupations are respected wherever they go. Even warriors,especially Mages that rare and command more respect than knights, do not receive the same level of reverence as those engaged in these crafts.

However, if a warrior happens to be both a mage and an alchemist or runesmith, the respect and admiration they garner will be unparalleled.

Sage sees Cassian as his golden opportunity for mission success because he is an alchemist.

Just imagine if word spread that Cassian Thaumas, the renowned alchemist, came to post a mission and completed it swiftly! The excitement would undoubtedly ripple throughout the city.

Sage’s eyes sparkled with fervor at this thought. With some carefully chosen words and a touch of exaggeration featuring Cassian prominently, he could create quite the buzz across the city.

But Sage faced an obstacle: "The ’no self-promotion’ rule imposed by the system is hindering my plans," he muttered in frustration.

The system had strictly forbidden him from promoting the guild; he couldn’t even mention it unless someone came directly to post or register. Outside those circumstances, discussing anything about the guild was off-limits.

"Can’t you just let me spread the word? The signboard at our entrance barely attracts attention! And those flyers we sent out? No results so far!" Sage thought desperately toward the system.

[Negative Host; rules cannot be changed.] The system’s cold response left him feeling defeated.

Sage sighed bitterly; he knew convincing the system was futile but felt compelled to try anyway. "What an absurd rule! I really hate restrictions like this," he grumbled under his breath before falling silent again.

He felt torn, as if he were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Right in front of him was an opportunity to quickly complete his mission and propel the Guild forward, yet he found himself unable to act because he couldn’t go out and seize it.

"Haaah! What a headache." Sage dropped his face onto the desk in frustration. "I was excited for nothing. I have food right here, but I can’t even eat it. What kind of torture is this?"

He lifted his head, resting his chin on the desk as he stared blankly ahead. "The only way out of this is to wait for that green-haired guy to come back, but who knows when that will be? If only I had someone else to handle this for me."

"Wait... what about that flatboard princess? Maybe she could help." Sage’s eyes lit up at the thought of Mina, but then he recalled her overwhelming strength and shook his head with a wry smile.

"Nah, her idea of ’spreading the word’ would involve challenging the city’s biggest gossip to a duel."

Frustration bubbled within him as he pondered his options. "If only I could find someone... someone good at gossip who knows this city like the back of their hand. Someone mature... someone who can twist words and exaggerate them just right... someone..."

Just then, a familiar voice floated into his ears, making his eyes widen in excitement.

"Hello kid, nice to meet you again."