/////Two Weeks Later/////

Two weeks have passed and Vincent was now on his way to the mercenary guild to cash in the twentieth quest. With this, he will be able to write off one of the two goals he set for himself.

"Welcome back, Mr. Cadmean." Greeted, Receptionist Lin with a stunning smile.

Not affected by the charm of the receptionist, He calmly answered back. "Thank you, Lin."

"You're welcome, I presume that the quest has been completed without a hitch?" She asked

In response, Vincent shifted his Paynes gray-colored rucksack forward, dipped a hand into the back, and brought out a small bundle bag, which he then gave to receptionist Lin.

"10 Cruel hound Dark Beast fur from Broscour forest, as requested." He said while handing it to her.

"Great!" She replied happily.

Receptionist Lin took the bag from him and passed it to an assistant. She went on to head into a room behind her, and soon later came back with a book.

She dropped the book on the counter and began to open it to a certain page.

Lin outstretched her hand to Vincent, "Your card?" She asked

Vincent reached into his jacket pocket and took out his Mercenary card, "Here". He said as he handed it to her

Receptionist Lin took the card and proceeded to dip it into a small bowl of black goo on her desk, She then placed it on a page in the book. The card on the book glowed with a small light then dimmed slightly after.

She took the stainless card off the book and gave it back to Vincent

The book was returned to the room for safekeeping.

This process brought no cause of alarm to Vincent as he has seen her do this many times.

She had explained to him once before that the process was to reflect the completion of the quest on his card and in their records.

"The quest has been registered as completed with evidence." She said upon returning

"1500 merit points have been recorded to your school record bringing your total merit points to 8960."

"And this is the quest reward of 1 gold coin and 34 silver." She reported as she gave him the bundle of coins, which he took.

"Also, Congratulations on the completion of your 20th quest"

"Thank you" He acknowledged, tucking the bundle of coins away.

"You're welcome, You know If you bring the body of the Dark Beasts you kill. You could also sell them to the guild for more money."

"I know, but to carry the body of the beasts from places like Broscour forest which is about 8 miles far, is quite a hassle for a student like me." He said.

'Also I'm too rich to care much.'

"Mmh, True" She replied thoughtfully. "If only you had a spatial ring, it wouldn't be so much of a burden"

"Isn't that too expensive for a student like me?" Vincent asked.

"Well it is, But with your B-Rank mercenary discount. you can probably afford a lower-ranked spatial ring from the guild shop."

"The guild has a shop," he asked, surprised at the new information.

Receptionist Lin nodded, "The Mercenary Guild has established shops all over Migas and Earth land. I can even give you the address of all the shops in Aemplefort."

'If I can get a ring from a shop. I would have an alibi to use the ring mother gifted to me without being questioned.' He reasoned.

[AN: Acquiring a spatial ring is very expensive, So it would be weird for an orphan like Vincent to somehow possess one, that's why he doesn't use the spatial ring in the open.]

"Please do."

"Ok"

Receptionist Lin extended her hand under the counter and pulled out a paper slip which she thereafter handed to him

"Here it is, On this paper are the locations of mercenary established or owned shops in Aemplefort."

Vincent took the paper and read through it, "Thank you" He said, and went on to keep it in his pocket.

"You are welcome, Anyway now that you have completed your 20th quest. You are forthwith eligible to take on A-Rank quests alone unless stated otherwise." She said

"You can also take a rank-up evaluation to be registered as an official A-Rank. Would you like to do so?."

"What's that?" Vincent asked, although already had an inkling of what it was.

"A Rank-Up evaluation is a mandatory test a lower-ranked mercenary takes to officially move into the next rank upon first completing the requirements. " She answered calmly

"The evaluation can either be a spar with an enterprise personnel or a mandatory quest that must be completed."

"The rank-up quest is not mandatory, you can always choose to remain in the B-Rank, and since you have completed the requirements you are allowed to accept quests of an A-Rank. However, to take on higher-ranked quests, you would have to pass the evaluation"

"Now that you understand, Would you like to partake in the rank-up evaluation.?" She asked again.

'Mmh, Moving to A-Rank would draw more awareness to my talent from the school but being a B-Rank should be enough for my school persona currently. I can always choose to move up to A-Rank during the next term or the one after that. There's no need to draw that much attention.' He figured.

"No," He replied after reasoning.

"Ok", She replied feeling a little dejected but she thought otherwise, 'It is good that you're not overconfident even with a streak of successful quests, Then I don't need to worry much.', At this thought, she smiled a little.

Vincent suddenly felt a cold shiver flow down his spine, he mistook it for his danger instinct so he stealthily went on alert

"Either way would you like t-... Is everything ok?" She sensed that Vincent was tense.

"Nothing, Just a little tired from the quest" He replied with a chuckle.

"Oh," She said in realization, "In that case, you should head off to rest now." Worryingly said Receptionist Lin.

"I'll take your advice, but I will head up first to see if any A-Rank quest catches my eye. Talk to you later." He said as he began heading to the second floor

"Ok, Don't stress yourself too much." She shouted after him.

/////

Vincent sauntered into the second floor and a figure immediately caught his eye.

Amelia before the bulletin board searching for a quest of choice.

He concluded that there was no need to approach and engage in unnecessary chatter, so he continued on his journey to the floor above him.

But then he saw that a tall burly man approached her and was relatively clingy to her personal space.

'She's an heir candidate, she can take care of herself.' With this thought, he went on to continue on his way but then again he remembered that he's not that kind of person.

Vincent saw that the man wanted to get a little physical, so he decided to interfere.

'Shit!'

"Young Miss Amelia." He shouted from across the stairs, gathering the attention of everyone in the room including the one who goes by the name.

'Vincent' She thought in surprise, recognizing the voice of the person calling her.

In a second, Vincent was by her side smiling at her. "Miss Amelia Maeth, it's a pleasure to see a core member of the Maeth clan here. How are you faring at Aemplefort school" He said in a mild tone, just enough for the third wheel there to also hear his words.

'Maeth, Aempleforth!' The burly man thought alarmed, 'Shit, I just tried to forcefully make a pass on her. I can get killed for this.'

"Mistress Amelia, I will take your leave now." The burly man immediately said politely with a bow, then he scurried out of there hurriedly.

Vincent let out a chuckle at the man's cowardice.

At this scene Amelia's face couldn't help but let out a beautiful smile "Thanks" she said

He was stunned at the sight, Amelia's smile made her devilishly beautiful face too much of danger, but he quickly recovered, "No problem, You didn't need my help."

"Thank you either way." She replied

A period of silence occurred after that, so having nothing to say Vincent greeted her goodbye and proceeded to go up the stairs to the next floor.

But before he could complete the stairs, A voice stopped him

"Wait!" He heard

Vincent turned his face to see Amelia walking towards him, she stopped when she was at a sufficient distance from him.

But she did not know that because Vincent was on the stairs, he was elevated enough to see her generous cleavage that her white shirt showed, he could barely strain his eyes away.

"W-What" He stammered with a slight blush.

[AN: No gamers mind for you :)]

"Take me with you." She demanded

"What?" He asked again, regaining his bearings slightly.

"You are heading to the floor above us right?"

"Yes"

"So that means that you are either eligible to take a quest there, or you have a group with you."

"And from the looks of it, you are the former"

'She is intuitive.', He thought.

"I am intuitive.'' She said smugly like she could read his mind.

"No kidding," Vincent said with a smile, "Either way, why do you want me to take you."

Amelia sighed and shifted her balance to the other foot, which caused her generosity to jiggle slightly.

"B-Rank quests are too easy for me, and on top of that there are only 3 B-Ranked quests up at this moment."

"Can't you wait until new quests come out?"

"I can do that… Or, You can let me partner with you on an A-Rank quest. If we complete it, I'll be eligible to take the quests alone and I won't bother you anymore."

"Sigh"

"Please, Do me this favor."

Vincent kept eye contact with her for a few moments.

"Fine, Follow me." He said and began to continue his steps

Amelia smiled brightly and followed after.

'I can bear with it for one quest. I just have to be careful not to show too much. It shouldn't be too hard,' He thought.

He will come to regret this thought.