Chapter 163: Summer Ranking Match

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Summer Ranking Match

’A great undertaking?’

Lance’s mind seized on the keyword.

He committed the book’s title to memory.

He then gripped the heavy Bronze Badge in his hand, stood, and gave the old man before him a deep bow.

"Thank you, President."

Lance’s thanks came from the bottom of his heart.

He knew the old President was likely using this as an opportunity to grant him this privilege.

In this world, knowledge was truly monopolized by various organizations.

Because knowledge often equated to Power.

Some knowledge even possessed immense power in and of itself; the mere act of knowing it could have a profound effect on a person.

What ordinary Adventurers could buy on the open market was typically limited to travelogues and common knowledge.

More esoteric knowledge required exorbitant fees, forcing ordinary Adventurers to save for a long time just to acquire it.

As for the core knowledge—the secrets of the Professional Tiers, models for Spells, and even information related to various High Tier Demons...

...that was all held in a death grip by the great noble houses and top-tier Mage organizations, who wouldn’t allow the slightest bit to leak out.

This was precisely the kind of foundation that a self-made, low-level adventurer like Lance desperately lacked.

Now, with the special access the old President had granted him...

...all the questions about combat he’d accumulated during his time at the Non-Professional Level, as well as the taboos he might encounter during his advancement...

...could be answered perfectly in that library.

"Alright, enough with the empty gestures."

"You only got this opportunity because of your outstanding performance on this commission."

Necros waved his hand dismissively, but the slight upturn of his lips showed he was quite pleased by the gesture.

"If you really want to thank this old man..."

The old President’s face grew stern as he spoke in a deliberately provocative tone.

"Then after you’ve successfully become a true Professional..."

"...just perform well in the upcoming ’Summer Crown’ this year and win another resounding exclusive title for our Guild."

The Summer Crown again.

Lance’s ears pricked up sharply.

This was the second time he’d heard this somewhat strange term.

The last time had been outside White Oak Manor, from Valeria.

He hadn’t had a chance to ask about it then.

He never expected to hear the term again today, in this very office, from the old President.

"President."

Lance couldn’t hold back his curiosity and took the initiative to ask the question.

"What exactly is the Summer Crown?"

"You should know that this world has countless Underground Cities, right?"

Necros didn’t answer directly, but asked a question in return.

Lance immediately nodded. This was basic common knowledge in this world.

"Every summer is a special period when the Ether Energy inside all the Underground Cities on the continent is most active."

Necros began to explain in detail.

"During this period, the consciousness of the Underground Cities becomes unprecedentedly active."

"This consciousness gets very bored during this period."

"To please itself."

"During the hottest month of summer, it will open a thirty-day-long frenzied festival for all the adventurers in the world."

"This is the revelry known as the ’Summer Crown’."

"It’s a fanatical festival for all adventurers across the continent."

Necros began to explain its rules in detail.

"Every year, the rules of the revelry sent down by the unified will of the Underground Cities are completely different."

"Sometimes it imposes strange restrictions on the Underground Cities, and other times it sets a goal that drives everyone wild."

"And for the entire month,"

"all the adventurers who step into the Underground City to participate in this revelry—all the battles, deaths, adventures, and cooperation they experience inside..."

"...will all be clearly recorded by the will of the Underground City, with continent-wide synchronized scoring and leaderboards."

Hearing this, Lance completely understood what the Summer Crown was all about.

’Isn’t this just a seasonal ranked event from the online games I played in my past life? The kind developers run in the summer to boost player numbers?’

’They even thoughtfully added completely random modifiers each season.’

’And all because the Underground City’s will gets bored.’

’So it just tosses out a few bones and makes all the adventurers in the world fight each other like gladiators according to its rules, all for its own amusement.’

’How utterly malicious.’

As Necros spoke of this, a trace of nostalgia appeared on his face.

It seemed he was recalling his own years as an Adventurer.

And the most talked-about aspect of the Summer Crown was its unique reward.

"For those adventurers who perform outstandingly under the rules and successfully rush to the top of the leaderboards,"

"they will be personally bestowed a gift by the will of the Underground City."

"That is to forcibly brand a unique, exclusive title onto their souls."

"A title?"

Lance had heard of "titled Adventurers" back when he worked at the Adventurer’s Guild, but he’d always assumed it was just a nickname people gave them.

He never expected it was actually bestowed by the Underground City.

In that case, he had met a titled Adventurer before: Gareth "Wind Chasing."

"That’s right." Necros nodded heavily.

"An adventurer who possesses an exclusive title, in future combat,"

"as long as they stimulate the Source Energy in their body, a faint, illusory image symbolizing that title will automatically appear around them."

"This not only represents glory, but also gives the Professional a tangible Attribute bonus in certain specific areas."

Hearing this explanation,

Lance silently exclaimed in his heart.

’Cool.’

’Isn’t this just a fancy, exclusive cosmetic effect? And one that comes with a stat boost, no less.’

’He suddenly felt that the Underground City’s will had the mind of a devious game designer.’

’No wonder the adventurers in this world are so obsessed with this event.’

’You get to show off and get a real power boost. Who could resist that?’

But Lance’s mind quickly cooled, and he immediately noticed something about this system that didn’t seem fair.

"President, since this Summer Crown is for all adventurers on the continent to participate in together,"

Lance frowned and raised his question.

"Then how can a low-level adventurer like me, who’s just on the verge of becoming a Professional, possibly compete with those long-established Advanced Professionals?"

"You can rest assured about that."

Hearing this question, Necros smiled and waved his hand.

"The will of the Underground City may have a twisted sense of humor, but it isn’t stupid."

The old President quickly cleared up Lance’s confusion with the facts.

It turned out the competition for the Summer Crown’s leaderboards was strictly divided by the major Tiers of Professionals.