Chapter 136: You’ll Find Out

Ernest’s laughter stopped.

Zishan realized the hall had become much quieter than before.

A man sitting near one of the corners leaned toward the person beside him. "Who is that man? Did you feel his aura when he laughed? He looks familiar, too."

Another guild member whispered, "Forget the laugh. Look at the woman behind the counter. She’s trying to act normal, but something’s wrong."

"You think he’s a high-ranking member?"

"No way. When was the last time somebody that important came here?"

A third person at the same table turned his chair slightly while pretending not to look toward the counter. "The last one I saw came from the main branch in the Sumwear Region. They have an entire city there that’s run by the Guild."

"You’re exaggerating."

"I’m not. My cousin worked with a caravan that passed through there."

"An entire city?"

"That’s what I said."

Zishan’s ears caught pieces of the conversation.

His gaze moved toward Ernest again. ’Main branch?’

Before he could ask, the woman behind the counter looked down at the badge once more. She had originally thought the man was merely one of the Guild’s higher-ranked members visiting from another branch.

Then, she noticed another marking. A tiny pattern worked into the border, almost hidden beneath the darker metal.

Her breathing caught.

’I was wrong.’ Her thumb froze against the badge. ’This isn’t just a high-ranking member. This is... this is...’

She forced her fingers to stop trembling before carefully placing the badge back on the counter.

"How may I help you, Esteemed Sir?" Her voice sounded steady, but she was panicking inside.

Ernest retrieved the badge and returned it inside his clothes. "I would like to register someone as a member of the Guild. Would you be able to handle that?"

"Yes, Esteemed Sir." The woman gave a respectful nod. "The Branch Head and Deputy Branch Head are currently away for a meeting, so I am responsible for membership registration until either of them returns, especially with someone at your level. I don’t dare be complacent."

Ernest studied her face for a moment.

The woman kept herself composed, but her facade could not fool him. A Crown Marshal unable to read through this lady? If he had failed to do so, then he wouldn’t deserve being one.

"You don’t have to be afraid," he said. "I’m merely here to assist somebody who wants to become a member."

Her shoulders loosened by the smallest amount.

"Of course, Esteemed Sir." She drew in a careful breath and looked toward the people behind Ernest. "May I know who you’ll be registering?"

Ernest turned.

Zishan was not looking at him.

In fact, Zishan was not paying attention to the counter at all. He had become far too occupied studying everyone around the hall.

One man sitting at a nearby table had arms nearly as thick as Zishan’s legs and wore something that could generously be described as clothing if a person was willing to lower their standards.

’Why does that guy look like he personally fought civilization and won?’

The man’s bald head reflected the light coming through one of the upper windows.

Zishan’s eyes moved higher. ’That head is shinier than gold. I could probably use it to signal aircraft.’

Then, he looked toward another table. A woman wearing revealing leather armor had wrapped both arms around a much older man who looked like he had spent several years losing arguments with his own face.

Zishan stared. ’What does that lady do? Why is she clinging to that ugly man? Is he influential or something? Gold-digger? Maybe he’s secretly handsome according to Cyrune standards.’

The older man laughed and pulled out a pouch of coins.

Zishan’s brows rose. ’Ah.’

After a while, his eyes shifted again. Someone wearing a hood had three knives strapped across one thigh, another person had what looked like a Beast skull attached to one shoulder, and a woman near the mission boards carried a staff taller than Ernest.

’Why is everyone here dressed like a side quest?’

A hand reached over.

Ernest pinched the side of his ear. "Kid, are you even listening?"

"Oww! Oww! Take it easy, old man!" Zishan leaned sideways while Ernest kept hold of his ear.

Ollie burst into laughter above him. "Big Brother!"

"Don’t laugh! Help me!"

Ollie laughed harder. Only then did Ernest finally release him when it had already been a minute.

Zishan rubbed his ear and glared. "What the hell is wrong with you? I was enjoying myself seeing so many strange people!"

Several nearby guild members heard that. Two of them turned toward him.

Zishan noticed and coughed. "Well... respectfully."

Ernest sighed. "I was about to introduce you because I’m planning to register you with the Guild. What exactly are you doing?"

"Oh, right." Zishan’s expression went blank for a moment. ’My impulsive ass is getting through me again. Damn this mouth!’

He looked toward the woman behind the counter.

She was staring at him now.

Zishan straightened slightly. "Hello."

The woman blinked. "Hello."

’Lady, you’re supposed to say ’Hi,’ but anyway...’

Ernest gestured toward him. "This is Zishan Walker."

Recognition flashed through her eyes.

It was brief, although Zishan noticed. ’She knows my name?’

He had gotten used to that happening more often since arriving in the capital, which was not exactly comforting.

Before he could ask, the woman turned toward Ernest. "Esteemed Sir, although you are of high standing within the Guild, membership procedures cannot be bypassed. Every new applicant must complete the required registration and assessment before receiving a Guild Rank."

"I know the rules," Ernest replied. "He’ll pass regardless of what assessment you give him anyway."

The woman paused.

Zishan turned toward Ernest. "Whoa, whoa, easy there, old man. Aren’t you too confident about me?"

Ernest looked at him. Then, he grinned. And it was not the kind of grin Zishan wanted to see from someone who knew far more about the Guild than he did.

Zishan’s face slowly changed. "Why?"

Ernest said nothing, but the grin on his face refused to disappear. Zishan stared at him for a few seconds longer, and the longer he did, the worse the feeling became.

’Why does it feel like this old bastard is cooking up something?’

Behind the counter, the woman had already started pulling several forms from underneath the desk while Ernest waited beside him with that same irritating expression.

Zishan finally shifted back slightly. "Wait."

Ollie leaned forward from his shoulders at the sudden movement, but Zishan barely noticed. His attention remained fixed on Ernest.

"Old man... what exactly is this assessment?" he asked.

Ernest looked at him with an innocence Zishan didn’t trust for a second. "You’ll find out."

Zishan narrowed his eyes.

That answer did absolutely nothing to reassure him. If anything, after everything he had experienced since arriving in Cyrune, hearing ’you’ll find out’ from someone wearing that kind of grin sounded less like an explanation and more like a warning.